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Tour code: VAN_SPP
Tour type: Photography tour: active volcanoes - nature & culture - adventure
Difficulty: Moderate
Group size: 6-12
Duration: 14 days

Dates:

24 Jun - 7 Jul 2019
27 Nov - 10 Dec 2019

Price (p.p.): 3190 €  ? 

Included:

• All transfers as described in the itinerary
• Domestic flights between Efate, Ambrym and Tanna
• Full board on Vanuatu (including water) except a few meals as specified
• Accommodation in guesthouses, hotels and camping
• Porters, camp hands and local guides
• Professional photographer and expedition leader Ulla Lohmann and/or Basti Hoffmann

Tour guide:

Diese Reise wird veranstaltet und organisiert von Ulla Lohmann und Basti Hofmann:
Ulla Lohmann - ist eine anerkannte, internationale Fotojournalistin, Leiterin auf Abenteuer- und Expeditionsreisen. Ullas Tätigkeit umfasst Dokumentarfilme und Artikel u.a. für ARTE, GEO, National Geographic. Sie organisiert auch Kletterworkshops ind en Alpen, National Geographic Studentenreisen nach Australien und vieles mehr. Ullas Spezialgebiete sind der Südpazifik und Papua Neuguinea. Website: ullalohmann.comBasti Hofmann - ist ein alpiner Kletterlehrer, Logistics Manager und studierter Geologet mit über 20 Jahren Erfahrung. Er ist ein begeisterter Filmer und Fotograf, mit vielen Auszeichnungen durch National Geographic, BBC, Terra X, ZDF und anderens. Website: bastihofmann.com/.com
Auf vielen Reisen arbeiten Ulla und Basti zusammen.

You will be picked up at the airport, either by us or by our appointed transport.
Transport to Port Vila and check into Hotel Vanuatu Holiday (www.vanuatuholidayhotel.com), a clean hotel close to the city centre, situated in lush tropical garden with swimming pool. Free afternoon, possibility to buy snacks for Ambrym at the supermarkets in Port Vila (5min walk from the hotel, western food choices, like muesli bars, dried fruits…). Meeting at 18.30h at the hotel reception for early dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Flight to Ambrym Island. Drive with 4x4 to our village (1 hour), where we’ll pitch the tents in Jimmy’s garden under palm trees. Jimmy will be our main guide for the next days. Tour of the village and possibility to swim in the ocean (Black sand beach), Assessment of the weather.
Sumptuous dinner with local food made by Jimmy’s family and friends. All local women help, everyone provides a different dish.

The program for the next days depends on the weather and can be altered!
If the weather is bad and if it is raining on top of the volcano, we’ll spend an extra day at the beginning in the village with Jimmy and his family (visit of the school, learning how to make copra, visiting cocoa plantations, learning how to surf the waves « local method », have a traditional kava ceremony…)

Early morning: Meeting of the porters (1 porter per person, carries 15 kg in your bag pack, please- no suit cases!).
Four hours hike up the mountain (700m altitude gain) with lunch break (snack). Arrival at the base camp inside the volcanic caldera, Installation of the tents. The porters return to the village; our guides will remain with us.
Afternoon: Optional hike to Benbow (1.5 hour) or Marum (2 hours), depending on conditions of the volcanoes and of the weather. Dinner

Hike to Marum (2 hours from the Base camp).
On the way, we stop to observe the craters Niri Membelsu and Niri Membelsu Niritatem. Niri Membelsu is a side crater to Marum and also has an active lava lake. We arrive at Marum, who features a permanent lava lake.
We stay there until dark, not to miss the mazing photo opportunities, and return with the moon light to the base camp.
Breakfast and dinner at the camp, lunch (snack) on the volcano.

Hike to Benbow (1,5 hours from Base Camp) with its lava lake of 40-50 m diameter. The lake can only be seen from the first terrace. Therefore, if the conditions permit, we will descend 200 m into the crater, protected with ropes. You will be wearing a climbing harness, helmet and gas mask. No previous knowledge required.
We stay there until dark, not to miss the amazing photo opportunities, and return with the moon light to the base camp. Breakfast and dinner at the camp, lunch (snack) on the volcano.

Day to discover the caldera. Hike through a small palm tree forest with orchids to a historic lava flow with small lava tubes (1 hour).
If you wish, we can abseil down (50m) to explore the geological features. Depending on the weather conditions, we can return in the afternoon to the Marum, Benbow, or Niri Membelesu.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the camp.

We traverse the caldera by foot though spectacular landscape and descend on the other side of the island.
We overnight in the village from our second guide. The children will be there to greet us, and the family will prepare a nice meal. Possibility to swim in the ocean and to have cold water showers. Opportunity to wash the clothes or to give them for washing to the girls (at a small extra charge).
Camping in the tents with the sound of the waves.

Spare day to allow for bad weather and to experience the real village life.
Relax in the village! We will visit the village, learn about copra, cava and carving and visit a
coconut plantation. We will witness an impressive local dance - and learn all about it. In the evening, there is a small feast and you can try traditional kava.

Drive to the airport, flight to Port Vila, short stopover at the airport for lunch, Flight to Tanna.
Transfer in 4x4 to our accommodation. Ascent of the volcano at night (with 4x4, 10min hike to the rim). Breathtaking fireworks of Yasur volcano almost 100% guaranteed! Drive or hike back (30min) to the guest house, Dinner.
Opportunity to recharge batteries (we have electricity through generator every night). Our guest house has basic bungalows, cold water showers and real toilets (shared facilities).

Day at the Beach! 4x4 drive to Port Resolution for a delicious lunch at the beach. Swim and relax at the beautiful white sand beach (Feel free to bring a mask and snorkel).
Return in 4x4 and drive to Yasur Volcano in the afternoon. 10min walk to the top.
Observations at night. If the situation permits, we will hike around the crater (1 hour) and descent in the ash plane in the dark. Hike back (30min), dinner.

Visit of a custom village, where we will learn about the traditional life, how to plant
vegetables, how to care for kava, and where we will see a wonderful custom dance with the volcano as back drop. At sundown, we will have a traditional Kava (local drug: Grinded root of a plant), which the tribal elders use to talk to the spirits.
Visit of the volcano in the evening to witness its spectacular eruptions from another point of view . 45min hike to the top, and 30min hike down.

Hike through the Ash Plane, and observations of its geological features. Continuation to the custom village of John Frum (together 1,5 hours): A tribe, which prays to the Americans as gods. Chief Issak Wan explains why, and how he talks to the volcano.
Option 1: Spend the rest of the day in the village, and witness the Friday night ceremony, where people dance themselves in trance and pray all night long to their god. The men will have a kava with the other men, and the women can help preparing the food or have a swim in the nearby hot springs. Hike back to Jungle Oasis (1,5 hours)
Option 2: Hike back to Guesthouse, and ascension of the Volcano (2,15 hours). Observations at night. Late Dinner.

Optional morning visit to Yasur volcano.
Transfer to airport, flight Tanna - Port Vila. Transfer to the hotel, free lunch & afternoon. Farewell dinner at the seafront (not included).

Transfer to airport or own extension (recommended: 1-day tour on Efate).

Additional info:

Physical requirements:

The climb up to and down to the Ambrym caldera is strenuous and takes about 4 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.

Arrival info:

The trip can be combined with the Expedition to Papua New Guinea.
Otherwise, 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.

AMBRYM WAS EPIC!!!!

"Hi there Tom,

First up - AMBRYM WAS EPIC!!!! Thanks so much for the opportunity Yasmin is a fantastic guide and what can I say about the crater lakes?
Unbelievable! Everyone has been absolutely raving about the photos I bought back-hopefully you'll get some business off the back of it, you guys deserve it."
(Kat S. from Brisbane, about the Vanuatu volcano expedition)

One of the best volcano trips you can ever think to do is this one." Volcanoes in the South Sea

"One of the best volcano trips you can ever think to do is this one. I went with Volcano Discovery in 2012 (http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/). First is the traverse of Ambrym Island and the overlook of the asonishing lava lake on Marum. Then the nightime visits to Tanna Island down south in the archipelago where Yasur volcano has a Strombolian eruption about 40 times an hour - plus shockwaves. And the Vanuatu people are some of the nicest anywhere.
(Richard Henley, Australia, about the Vanuatu Volcano tour)

... the most outstanding holiday of my entire life (Vanuatu Volcano Expedition).

"Hi Tom, ... , I was on the May Vanuatu expedition. I have to say that it was the most outstanding holiday of my entire life."...
"Tom, You're welcome to quote me by name, but I should add a bit more.
I've done several expedition tours with various outfits over the years,
and VolcanoDiscovery is clearly the best that I've encountered."
(Bruce V., Australia, about the Vanuatu Volcano Expedition).

Thank you for the wonderful trip to Vanuatu

"Dear Tom,
Thank you for the wonderful trip to Vanuatu. We enjoyed the challenging trekking and picturesque scenery very much.
Special thanks should go to our professional and charming guide Yashmin."
(Larissa, Russia, about the recent Volcanoes of the South Sea tour on Vanuatu)

the trip was superb and Yashmin did a wonderful job!

"Hello Tom: the trip was superb and Yashmin did a wonderful job! I came back fitter than before and looking forward to the next trip. Yashmin has convinced me to put Guatamala on the list!"
(Richard H., Australia, about the Vanuatu Volcano tour)

Your Vanuatu Volcano tour was a fantastic mix...

"Dear Yashmin and Tom

Thank you for a wonderful, awesome holiday.
Holidaying with volcanoes was Craig's wish holiday and it definitely lived up to his expectations.
...
Your Vanuatu Volcano tour was a fantastic mix of hard core volcanoes and cultural Vanuatu life. I really enjoyed the time we spent in Endu while we both found the volcanoes amazing.

Yashmin thank you for your quiet persistent handling of the Air Vanuatu troubles. I am going to email them some feedback, but this will probably not make much difference.

Thank you again. I am not sure if other volcano tours are in our future, but if they are are we will do them with you.
Shellie"
(Shellie B., Australia, about the recent Volcanoes of the South Sea Vanuatu volcano tour)

"I had a great trip recently to Vanuatu" Vanuatu Expedition

"
Just wanted to let you know I had a great trip recently to Vanuatu on your volcanoes in the south sea tour. After a few hiccups at the beginning Ulla and Basti were able to get things sorted and we set out on our adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, seeing the 2 things that I had always wanted to see......boiling lava and an exploding volcano! If Yasur was in my backyard I would love to watch it every night!
It also made a big difference to share the adventure with friendly, easy going people from around the world. Ulla and Basti were fantastic, very accommodating and nothing was ever too hard. This was my 2nd tour with volcano discovery, Volcanoes of Java being my first last year. I would recommend either of these trips to anyone who is seeking a volcano adventure."
Kristy W (Australia)

a cool trip in a really cool group - Vanuatu expedition

"Back home. It was a cool trip in a really cool group. Thanks to Ulla Lohmann and above all also Basti everything went smooth despite logistic challenges on location.
The experience of both gave us a great insight into the culture and people of Vanuatu. The video from this trip will this time be a professional one, as the SWR film team was with us. In November, you can see an impression from this tour on "Länder, Menschen,Abenteuer". Perhaps you'll see me in there as well."
(Alexander Günther, Hanover, Germany)

...What a genuinely life changing experience!... (Ambrym volcano tour)

"Wow Tom!
What a genuinely life changing experience! I'm speechless!!!
Yashmin and the guides were first class and I am forever grateful for dealing with such experienced people!
I want to go again! Thanking you
Tim J C." (Australia)

"Hi, I liked the Vanuatu trip, I think it was pretty professionally run and I would travel with Volcano Discovery again it's a good company and the people that travel on it are all nice..." (Antony, Australia about the Volcanoes in the South Sea expedition to Vanuatu)

Es war SUPER (Trip to Vanuatu)

"Hallo Tom,
kurze Naricht nach der Reise: es war SUPER!!!!!
...bien cordialement
Gilles" (Sarregueminnes)

Feuerberge der Südsee - Rückmeldung

"So urteilte ein Kunde über die 14 tägige Reise, welche als Expedition ausgewiesen wurde.

Das Reiseprospekt informierte im Voraus hervorragend über die zu erwartende Erlebnisse.
Die Durchführung der im Prospekte angegebenen Ankündigungen war vorbildlich. Alle Fahrzeuge bzw. Flugzeuge, die für die Transfers erforderlich waren bis auf einmal pünktlich, was unter den gegebenen Umstände ( auf Ambrym und Tanna existieren keine asphaltierten Strassen bzw. keine funktionierende Infrastruktur) eine ausgezeichnete Leistung darstellt. Zugleich blieb es jedoch möglich unter bestimmtem Umständen und mit Zustimmung der Reiseteilnehmer, dort wo das gewünscht wurde vom Reiseplan abzuweichen.

Für die Reiseleitung konnte die Fernseh-Moderatorin und Fotojournalistin Ulla Lohmann verpflichtet werden. Aufgrund Ihrer außergewöhnlichen Kenntnisse der Südsee und deren Bewohner konnte Sie nicht nur viel Wissenswertes vermitteln, sondern wegen Ihren vielen früheren Kontakten mit den Insulaner Tabus durchbrechen und der ganzen Gruppe
von neun Personen die Warmherzigkeit dieser Insulaner näher bringen. So waren Besuche bei den verschiedenen Dorfbewohnern einer der Höhepunkte dieser rundum gelungener Reise. Ihre hervorragenden Kenntnisse als Photographin und Hobby Vulkanologin führte zu mehreren sagenhaften Besuchen der Feuerberge mit gigantischen Ausblicken, die von den Besuchern – auch mit ihre Hilfe – auch fotographisch zu absoluten Höhepunkte werden konnten.
Auf den ältesten Expeditionsteilnehmer – immerhin deutlich über 60 Jahre alt – wurde stets Rücksicht genommen ohne das dies zu Einschnitte für die Jüngeren führte. Ich kann diese einmalige Reise jeden Vulkan – bzw. Südsee Liebhaber nur empfehlen."
(G. Franquinet, Teilnehmer der Pilotreise Mai 2009)

Ronny's mail about the expedition

"Hi dear volcano lovers,
... I also wanted to thank everybody for making this tour so great!

Especially our professional and charming Ulla, for guiding us around Vanuatu, and Tom for the initiative/organization.

Hope we'll meet again sometime, miss you all,
Ronny" (Vanuatu expedition)