Vanuatu & New Caledonia Adventure

Halo! Welcome to Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu. Your adventure begins today with a welcome meeting at 5 pm at your accommodation tonight. If you arrive with time to spare before the welcome meeting, maybe head to the heart of the city for Port Vila's produce market and the waterfront promenade, just a short walk away. There's also the option of hiring a sea kayak from the hotel and taking to the ocean for a true taste of the Pacific.

Today, you'll discover some of Efate’s best spots. A 25-minute scenic drive will take you to the exclusive kayak base on the Rentapao River. Experience Vanuatu’s rainforest and village life as you paddle its safe waters for 3 hours. After a French-style lunch at the river’s edge, transfer upstream to the river cascades, a great place to swim, relax and shake off any jet lag. You'll be back at your hotel by mid-afternoon, allowing ample time to discover more of Port Vila and choose a place for your optional dinner tonight.

It is an early morning start today for your Air Vanuatu flight to the legendary southern island of Tanna. From there, it's a short transfer to your beachside bungalow, your home for the night. After an included local lunch, begin the first of your amazing Tanna hikes. The world's largest banyan tree is high on a ridge overlooking the coast. Your path there will loop back through scattered villages, food gardens and rainforests – a great opportunity to meet ‘the happiest people in the world’ going about their daily lives. On the way back to your bungalow, stop at a kava bar for some refreshments. Watch the sunset with your group tonight, keeping an eye out for the whales that cruise along the coast (from July). You'll have dinner as a group and a chance to swap stories by the campfire.

Get ready for a big day today! Start with a drive across the spine of the island to your new accommodation and a John Frum village hidden in the rainforest at the foot of a smouldering volcano. Road conditions permitting, you'll have a short dip in the Sulphur Bay hot springs before travelling to Port Resolution, named after one of Captain Cook’s ships. After lunch, return to the foot of the volcano and hike along a rutted road to the rim of the volcano (a driving option to the crater carpark is also available for those who would prefer). Throughout the hike, you'll feel the ground shaking and hear the volcano rumbling, and finally, as you arrive at the crater rim in the late afternoon, you'll be amazed at the firework show that awaits. Return from the volcano in the evening for a late dinner at your beachside bungalow.

This morning, you'll head into the jungle-clad hills to a ‘kastom’ village. The community here has long rejected modern life and conserves many aspects of traditional lifestyle. Learn about traditional rites of passage along with their proud links to Prince Phillip as your leader guides you around the village. While life around them is definitely changing fast, it's an interesting insight into a community at the cusp of making decisions about the future and how tourism can help conserve long-held practices. Have lunch at a local cafe in town and a stop at a coffee shop brewing local beans before returning to the airport for an afternoon flight back to Port Vila.

After Tanna's spectacular culture and rainforests, today you'll head to a pristine tropical island renowned for its marine conservation area. It's a scenic drive to Emua wharf and you'll stop at a coffee roasterery along the way. Take a short boat ride to Pele, where you'll sit down for a local lunch on the beach. Then, go snorkelling in the lagoon (weather permitting) or in the marine conservation area. Expect lots of fish, the occasional turtle and plenty of hard corals and small canyons to explore. This afternoon, you'll have the option to take a boat over to Nguna for a challenging 3-hour volcano walk. Alternatively, you can go for a few easier walks around Pele's villages. Your accommodation for the night is at beachside bungalows on Pele hosted by the village women.

This morning, take an easy walk into Nguna’s main village to visit the historic church and community sites, before heading back to Efate for lunch at a locally-owned restaurant. Here, there are more great snorkelling options available for those missing the water. Take in the lovely views across the islands, then drive back to Port Vila, this time along the east coast road, meaning you also get to do a round-Efate tour. There are lots of roadside markets to explore and plenty of photo opportunities. Stop for a swim at the sublime Blue Lagoon or one of the local coves around Eton village. Make a final stop at a new distillery, for a delicious tasting of local liquers. Arrive back at your Port Vila accommodation for your final night together in the late early evening. Finish the trip with an optional farewell dinner, a fantastic way to finish your Vanuatu adventure.

The first half of your adventure comes to an end this morning after breakfast. Say goodbye to the people in your group leaving this morning and enjoy a free day of relaxation at your own pace. Maybe ask your tour leader about the optional Discovery Bushwalk tour to visit more villages and communities nearby, or for other recommendations on what to do tonight in Port Vila.

After breakfast, head to the airport for a flight to New Caledonia (not included). There are no activities planned for today except for another welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight, so you'll have the day to explore. Perhaps visit the Tjibaou Cultural Centre, Museum of World War II or St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Cathedral. The market at Port Moselle is a great place to go people-watching, as well as see all the tropical produce, seafood and souvenirs on offer.

After breakfast, join your small group on a drive into the secluded Blue River National Park. This spectacular slice of nature in New Caledonia’s centre is a sanctuary of local flora, wildlife and biodiversity. Deep red earth contrasts with striking green mountainscapes and lakes in this provincial park, which is approximately 9000 hectares of untouched national land. Head deep in the park on foot and in a 4WD, stopping by the Guepyville and Drowned Forest lookouts across the wooden Perignon Bridge and along the Cagou Birds Trail, hopefully spotting iconic Caledonian birdlife. Find a scenic spot by the riverside and enjoy an included French-style picnic provided by your guides. Continue into the rainforest through the Giant Kaori trees dotted through the canopies, looking out for the cagou birds high above and then maybe stop for a refreshing swim. Later, return to Noumea for a free evening.

Today, leave Noumea behind and drive to Boulouparis. When you arrive, hop on a boat with your group for about 30 minutes to the natural marine reserve of Tenia Islet. From here, you can choose to go on a self-guided snorkelling adventure with the colourful fish or, alternatively, head out on an island walk. When you’ve had your fill of activities, sit down for a picnic lunch with your leader before heading back to Boulouparis. Drive to Bourail, where you’ll spend the night, stopping at Fort Teremba on the way – this old prison once housed convicts in the 1880s. Your night is free in Bourail, so maybe ask your leader where the best local eats are.

This morning after breakfast, you’ll head out to see some of the highlights of the seaside, including Turtle Bay and Nera Beach. Go on a few short walks and lap up the gorgeous ocean scenery. Head to the picturesque Poe Beach – a UNESCO World Heritage site – for lunch with a view. The beach is only 2 km away from the barrier reef, so this is a gorgeous spot for a swim, too! After, you’ll visit the Parc des Grandes Fougeres, or Giant Fern Park, for a guided walk deep in the lush rainforests. Your local guide will take you through parts of this World Heritage-listed site, featuring around 13,000 species of fern, 70% of which are endemic. Later this afternoon, head to a remote Kanak Village for a memorable night with local villagers. Deep in the foothills of New Caledonia’s mountain range, these villages are a haven for nature lovers. You’ll be welcomed into tribal culture, learning about the customs and traditions of the local people. Tonight, you’ll stay in simple dormitory-style accommodation in a fare (village house) and be treated to the traditional dish bougna for dinner.

This morning, you’ll have breakfast with the group and then head out on a walk to a local waterfall. When you return to the village, take some time to learn about daily life here – Kanak communities across New Caledonia comprise around 44% of the island population and share significant connections to spirituality and the land. You’ll sit down with your hosts for a homemade lunch of local, organic food, which is a great chance to swap stories. Later, say goodbye to your hosts and return to Boulouparis, then on to Noumea for your final night.

With no activities planned for today, you’re free to leave the group after breakfast this morning. That doesn't mean your adventure has to come to an end! If you would like to spend more time in Noumea, just speak to your booking agent to organise additional accommodation.