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Volcanoes and Cultures - Adventures in the South Sea
15-day volcano and photo expedition to Ambrym and Yasur volcanoes, Vanuatu
"Your Vanuatu Volcano tour was a fantastic mix of hard core volcanoes and cultural Vanuatu life." (Shellie B., Australia)
Strombolian activity of Yasur
Strombolian activity of Yasur
Beach on Ambrym (Photo: Marco Fulle)
Beach on Ambrym (Photo: Marco Fulle)

Volcanoes and Cultures - Adventures in the South Sea

15-day volcano and photo expedition to Ambrym and Yasur volcanoes, Vanuatu
Tour type
Volcano expedition: photography - active volcanoes - nature & culture
Difficulty
Moderate
Group size: 4-10
Duration
15 days / 14 nights
2-16 Jul 2024
Price per person
4490 € $£¥
Are you ready for adventure?
The contrast between unspoiled rain-forest, coconut palm beaches, primitive culture and moon-like landscapes surrounding lava-spitting volcanoes could not be bigger: join us on an expedition to the two most active volcanoes of Vanuatu: Ambrym and Yasur.
The expedition is also an immersion into the diverse and rich traditional culture of the islands, the daily life in remote jungle villages where you meet the very hospitable and welcoming people of Vanuatu.
A great mix of adventure, breathtaking landscapes, unspoiled tropical beaches, friendly people and exotic culture awaits you.
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  • Multiple days for close observation of the active volcanoes Ambrym and Yasur
  • Option to abseil into Bembow crater on Ambrym
  • Charter flight Port Vila to Ambrym with scenic rounds over Lopevi and Ambrym volcano for aerial photography
  • Breathtaking moonscapes, unspoiled rainforests, pristine beaches
  • Intense experience of traditional life and culture of Vanuatu
  • Delicious food (rich buffets with roasted pig and chicken, vegetables, tropical fruits etc)
  • Custom dances and local music
  • Small groups
  • Accompanying geologist/volcanologist expert in Vanuatu's volcanoes

Tanna + Ambrym 15 days (itinerary when no lava lakes on Ambrym)

Day 1: Arrival on Vanuatu (Port Vila, Efate Island)
Arrival at the Airport of Port Vila & transfer to Port Vila town.
Day 2: Flight to Tanna - Transfer to Yasur volcano
In the morning, we fly to Tanna island. A 4WD pick-up brings us accross the island to a simple, but charming guesthouse directly at the feet of Mt. Yasur volcano. After lunch, we drive and hike to Yasur volcano to enjoy its spectacular volcanic activity from close, as long as we wish...
Day 3: Day-trip to Port Resolution beach & Yasur volcano
Relaxing day-trip to Port Resolution combined with a magnificent lunch on one of the world's most beautiful beaches... Visit of Yasur volcano for sunrise/sunset.
Day 4: Custom dances of Imao - John Frum village - Yasur
Optional early morning / sunrise excursion to Yasur volcano. Walk to the village of Imao to see unique custom dances with an
amazing panoramic view on Yasur volcano.
After lunch, transfer to the village of John Frum : meeting (and lunch) with village chief; side-trip to Sulfur Bay at the foot of Yasur to bathe in hot springs, visit of the local museum dedicated to the memory of John Frum.

If this falls on Friday, option to assist the all-night long dancing celebrations. Option to visit Yasur volcano again in the evening / night.
Day 5: Flight Tanna - Port Vila, free afternoon
Optional morning visit to Yasur volcano.
Transfer to airport, flight Tanna - Port Vila. Transfer to the hotel, free afternoon. Farewell dinner at the seafront (not included).
Day 6: Flight PV to Ambrym. Port Vato
Flight to Ambrym. Panoramic flight in a private charter to see the Lopevi volcano and fly over the Ambrym caldera (Weather permitting). Road to the village of Port-Vato and welcome ceremony. Possibility to discover the spectacular customary dances, ROM DANCE from the north of the island. Dinner with local music. Accommodation in very simple homestay accommodation. bamboo bed or on traditional mats. Normally simple accommodation but with a lot of charm in a village family. (The charm of the accommodation is not guaranteed this year because Ambrym suffered a very strong cyclone in March 2020, so the reconstruction of the houses can take several months or a year).
Day 7: Hike into the Ambrym caldera
Hike with porters into the caldera of Ambrym, set up base camp.
Day 8-9: 2 spare days on Ambrym
Depending on conditions and preferences, these 2 days could be used for additional excursions in the caldera or in one of the villages of Ambrym.
Day 10: Crossing of the caldera - descend to Endu
Cross the entire caldera and descend to the east coast of the island to the charming and unspoiled village of Endu on the east coast, where you'll be welcomed with lots of smiles. A welcome ceremony and a wonderful local dinner wait for you.
Day 11-12: Culture and Traditions of Endu
Two full days to discover the traditional culture and life of the village Endu: visit the schools, see dances, magic, medicine, local crafts and assist the preparation of the pig - the highest of ceremonial meals.
Day 13: Endu - Lopevi volcano and lava tubes - flight back to Port Vila
Transfer early morning to Toak or Penapo village; views of Lopevi stratovolcano. Discover the famous tradition and art of sand-drawing of Toak, a declared Unesco immaterial heritage.
On the way to the airport, visit lava tubes in Penapo; refreshment and flight back to Port Vila. After transfer to the previous hotel.
Day 14: Tour around Efate island
Day-tour to explore Efate island: visit a famous waterfall and the "Blue Hole".
Day 15: End of tour
Transfer to airport or own extension (recommended: 1-day tour on Efate).
Dates and details
Booking inquiry

Arrival info:

The tour starts and ends in the capital Port Vila on Efate Island where international flights arrive (usually from Brisbane or Sydney in Australia or via Aukland New Zealand). Participants normally arrange their own flight tickets, but on request we can help with that.

Important note

Early booking essential: Due to the limited availability of flights and numerous logistic challenges involved in this expedition, you should sign up at least 6 months in advance. This is also normally the date when we need to decide whether or not a tour can run.

Tour guide

The expedition will be accompanied by VolcanoDiscovery team volcanologist Yashmin Chebli. Yashmin is trained geologist with a university Master's degree and member of SGF (Société Géologique de France). He has been working as tour guide and expedition leader to actives volcanoes, volcano photographer and consultant for more than 30 years. His areas of expertise include the active volcanoes in Italy, Vanuatu, the Hawaiian Islands, Guatemala, RD of Congo, Tanzania, Costa Rica and others. Besides his mother tongue French, Yashmin speaks several languages including English, Italian, and Spanish.
Website: www.vanuatu-expedition.com (photos) and Youtube channel!
Yashmin Chebli explaining a pumice deposit

Additional info

Physical requirements

The climb up to and down to the Ambrym caldera is strenuous and takes about 4-6 hours in often hot conditions, but the path is relatively easy and not excessively steep. Inside the caldera, the hikes from the base camp to the volcanoes take about 1-2 hours.
Camping inside the caldera is adventurous, and will not offer much comfort, but the experience will be rewarding! No special skills are required to descent on the first terrace of Bembow volcano (-180m).
Hiking up Yasur Volcano is easy and takes about 1 hour.

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