9 Days  •  8 Nights

Luxury Vanuatu: Islands, Volcanoes & Beaches in Comfort

Efate (3N) - Espiritu Santo (3N) - Tanna (2N)

Tour Includes

Accommodation
Meals
Sightseeing
Transfers
Local Guide
Activities
Overview

About the Trip

Vanuatu is one of the most beautiful, dramatic and authentic corners of the Pacific, and this nine-day luxury journey lets you experience its finest islands, natural wonders and culture in comfort and style, staying at Vanuatu's most beautiful retreats. You relax at exquisite retreats on beautiful Efate, savour the dazzling white sands and luminous blue holes of Espiritu Santo on private excursions, and stand before the roaring Mount Yasur volcano on Tanna at sunset. Throughout you travel with private guides, enjoy the finest available accommodation and dining, indulge in spa treatments, and are wrapped in the genuine, famous warmth of ni-Vanuatu culture. Blissfully uncrowded and deeply authentic, Vanuatu offers a luxury escape of dramatic natural wonders, dazzling beaches, refined comfort and heartfelt warmth, unlike anywhere else in the Pacific. For the discerning traveller seeking beauty, drama, comfort and genuine authenticity far from the crowds, this journey through extraordinary Vanuatu is deeply rewarding and unforgettable.
Highlights

Trip Highlights

  • Staying at Vanuatu's finest island retreats, in blissfully uncrowded and beautiful settings, is the great luxury of this journey. Vanuatu remains wonderfully unspoiled, and its best retreats, from exquisite boutique resorts and private island hideaways on Efate to beautiful beachfront lodges on Santo and characterful eco-luxury on Tanna, offer refined comfort, idyllic settings and warm, personal ni-Vanuatu hospitality in surroundings blissfully free of crowds. You relax in beautiful rooms and beachfront bungalows steps from the sand, dine on fresh island and French-influenced cuisine, indulge in spa treatments, and savour the peace and privacy of a country where mass tourism has never taken hold.
  • Standing before the roaring, glowing Mount Yasur at sunset, in comfort, is an awesome and dramatic highlight. Mount Yasur, one of the world's most accessible active volcanoes, has been erupting for centuries, and standing on its rim at dusk, watching, feeling and hearing it roar and hurl glowing molten rock high into the darkening sky, is an overwhelming, primal and utterly unforgettable spectacle, one of the most dramatic natural experiences on earth. Staying at a beautiful eco-luxury retreat on Tanna, you experience this awesome volcano in comfort and privacy, perhaps with a sunset dinner.
  • Savouring the dazzling white sands of Champagne Beach and the luminous blue holes of Santo, on private excursions, is a beautiful highlight. On this luxury journey you experience Santo's most beautiful natural wonders on private excursions, at your own pace and in comfort. You relax on the dazzling white sands of Champagne Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches on earth, at the best times to enjoy its beauty, and swim in the extraordinary crystal-clear blue holes, pools of impossibly luminous turquoise water welling up amid the jungle. Travelling privately, you savour these magical wonders in comfort, without crowds or rush.
  • Indulgent spa treatments, refined private dining and comfort throughout make this a deeply relaxing and luxurious escape. This journey is designed for indulgence and refined relaxation. At Vanuatu's most beautiful retreats you indulge in spa treatments using tropical botanicals, unwinding in beautiful settings by the sea, and enjoy refined dining, delicious fresh island cuisine and French-influenced flavours, prepared beautifully and served in idyllic settings, from candlelit private dinners to elegant restaurants overlooking the lagoon. Throughout, you travel with private guides, enjoy personal service and the finest accommodation, and savour the peace and comfort of a luxury escape.
  • Beautiful Efate, with its lagoons, cascades, reefs and island cruises, offers beautiful, gentle experiences in comfort, a lovely highlight. Beautiful Efate offers a wonderful array of experiences to savour in comfort. On private excursions you can swim in the stunning Blue Lagoon, visit the magical Mele Cascades, snorkel vibrant reefs, and cruise to beautiful offshore islands, all at a relaxed, luxurious pace. Staying at an exquisite retreat, perhaps in beautiful Havannah Harbour, you relax on beautiful beaches, indulge in spa treatments, and savour refined dining and personal service. These beautiful, gentle experiences offer a lovely, relaxed beginning and end to your luxury journey.
  • Above all, this journey offers the finest of Vanuatu, dramatic natural wonders, dazzling beaches, refined comfort and heartfelt warmth, in comfort and style. Vanuatu is one of the most beautiful, dramatic and authentic corners of the Pacific, and, blissfully uncrowded, it offers a luxury escape unlike anywhere else. Over nine days you experience beautiful Efate, the dazzling beaches and luminous blue holes of Santo, and the roaring Mount Yasur on Tanna, all in refined comfort, with private touring, the finest available retreats, indulgent spa treatments and refined dining, wrapped throughout in genuine ni-Vanuatu warmth.
Itinerary

Day by Day

A detailed day-by-day plan for this 9-day journey.

Day 1

Your luxury Vanuatu journey begins as your flight arrives at Bauerfield Airport on Efate, where you are met with a warm ni-Vanuatu welcome and transferred privately to your exquisite island retreat. Vanuatu is one of the most beautiful and authentic corners of the Pacific, and the sense of arriving somewhere special, in comfort, is immediate. On arrival you are welcomed with warm, personal hospitality and settle into your beautiful room or beachfront bungalow, and the rest of the day is yours to relax and savour the beauty of your surroundings, taking a first swim in the warm lagoon, indulging in the beautiful setting, and soaking up the peace and privacy of your idyllic retreat. This evening, a beautiful welcome dinner of fresh island cuisine introduces you to the luxury journey ahead across the islands. As you settle in beneath the star-filled sky, the beauty, comfort and warmth of Vanuatu begin to work their magic. Rest well, ready to savour the finest of extraordinary Vanuatu.

Your Journey This Day
Bauerfield Airport
Arrival · Private
Efate retreat
Meals Included
Breakfast|Dinner
Day 2

Today you savour beautiful Efate's natural wonders on a private excursion and indulge in a relaxing spa treatment. With your private guide, you swim in the stunning Blue Lagoon, a beautiful pool of clear, luminous blue water, and visit the beautiful Mele Cascades, a series of turquoise pools and waterfalls amid lush rainforest, which you climb, swimming in the cool, clear pools along the way, all at a relaxed, private pace. You take in the lush beauty of Efate's interior. Returning to your retreat, you indulge in a relaxing spa treatment using tropical botanicals, unwinding in a beautiful setting by the sea. This evening, a romantic private beach dinner is arranged, candlelit beneath the star-filled sky, a beautiful and refined celebration. As the stars fill the clear Vanuatu sky, you savour the beauty, comfort and warmth of your luxury escape on beautiful Efate.

Meals Included
Breakfast|Dinner
Day 3

Today you enjoy the beautiful waters and islands of Efate at a relaxed, luxurious pace. You might take a private cruise to a beautiful offshore island in scenic Havannah Harbour or the outer islands, snorkelling over vibrant reefs teeming with turtles and colourful fish, swimming in warm, clear lagoons, and enjoying a beautiful lunch in an idyllic island setting, or simply relax at your exquisite retreat, indulging in the beautiful setting, spa treatments and personal service. The beautiful cruise or relaxed retreat day offers blissful, refined island time. As the sun sets over the beautiful coast, you enjoy a beautiful dinner at your retreat, savouring the beauty and warmth of Efate. Relax this evening beneath the stars, savouring the comfort and beauty of your luxury escape. Rest well, for tomorrow you fly to the dazzling beaches and luminous blue holes of Espiritu Santo.

Meals Included
Breakfast
Day 4

Today you fly to beautiful Espiritu Santo, famous for its dazzling beaches and luminous blue holes, and transfer privately to your beautiful retreat. On a private excursion, taking in the lush beauty of the island, you journey to the world-famous Champagne Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches on earth, a perfect crescent of dazzling, soft white sand lapped by impossibly clear, warm turquoise water and framed by lush greenery, blissfully uncrowded. There you swim and relax on the perfect sand, at the best time to enjoy its beauty, and savour a beautiful beachside lunch. The beauty is extraordinary. As the sun sets, you return to your retreat in comfort. This evening, indulge in a beautiful dinner and relax in refined comfort, savouring the dazzling beauty of Espiritu Santo beneath the star-filled sky, and the comfort of your luxury escape.

Your Journey This Day
Efate
Flight · Domestic
Espiritu Santo
Meals Included
Breakfast|Dinner
Day 5

Today you savour the extraordinary crystal-clear blue holes and pristine reefs of Espiritu Santo on private excursions. With your private guide, you journey to a blue hole such as the Nanda (Jackie's) or Riri, a pool of impossibly clear, luminous turquoise-blue freshwater welling up amid the lush jungle, so clear you seem to float on air, swimming in the cool, magical water surrounded by rainforest, at a relaxed, private pace. You might also snorkel a pristine, uncrowded coral reef teeming with turtles and colourful fish, or relax on a beautiful beach. Travelling privately, you savour these magical wonders in comfort. As the day ends, you return to your retreat, enchanted by the luminous blue holes. This evening, indulge in a beautiful dinner and relax in refined comfort, savouring the extraordinary beauty of Santo and the comfort of your luxury escape.

Meals Included
Breakfast
Day 6

Today you savour the beautiful beaches, pristine reefs and refined relaxation of Espiritu Santo. You might journey to the beautiful Port Olry, a stunning beach of white sand and clear turquoise water with offshore islets, blissfully uncrowded, where you swim, snorkel and enjoy a beautiful lunch, take a private boat to a beautiful offshore islet to snorkel pristine reefs, or simply relax at your beautiful retreat, indulging in spa treatments and the beautiful setting. The beauty of the beaches and reefs and the refined comfort make for a deeply relaxing day. As the sun sets over Santo for the last time, you enjoy a beautiful dinner, savouring the beauty and warmth of the island. Relax this evening in refined comfort, reflecting on the dazzling beauty of Espiritu Santo. Rest well, for tomorrow you fly to Tanna and its roaring volcano.

Meals Included
Breakfast
Day 7

Today you fly to extraordinary Tanna, home to the roaring Mount Yasur volcano, and transfer to your beautiful eco-luxury retreat, set amid lush surroundings with the volcano nearby. After settling into comfort, in the late afternoon you journey to the awesome Mount Yasur and climb to its rim as the sun sets. There you stand before the roaring volcano and watch, feel and hear it thunder and erupt, hurling glowing molten rock and ash high into the darkening sky, an overwhelming, primal and utterly unforgettable spectacle, the ground shaking and the fountains of glowing lava lighting up the night, experienced in comfort and privacy, perhaps with a sunset toast. Awed and exhilarated, you descend in the darkness and return to your retreat. This evening, dine in refined comfort, savouring one of the most dramatic experiences on earth and the comfort of your beautiful retreat beneath the star-filled sky.

Your Journey This Day
Espiritu Santo
Flight · Domestic
Tanna
Meals Included
Breakfast|Dinner
Day 8

Today you experience the extraordinary living culture and beauty of Tanna in comfort. On a private excursion, you visit a custom village, where communities keep ancient traditional ways of life (kastom) alive largely unchanged, meeting the people, learning about their traditional way of life and beliefs, and perhaps witnessing a traditional dance, a genuine and profoundly moving encounter with a living, ancient culture. You also explore beautiful Tanna, perhaps its giant banyan trees, hot springs, ash plains and beautiful beaches, at a relaxed, private pace, and relax at your beautiful retreat. If you wish, you can visit Mount Yasur again. The combination of profound culture, beautiful nature and refined comfort is captivating. As the sun sets over Tanna for the last time, you enjoy a final beautiful dinner, savouring the extraordinary experiences and comfort of your luxury journey. Rest well, for tomorrow you begin your journey home.

Meals Included
Breakfast|Dinner
Day 9

After a final, relaxed morning in comfort, you fly back to Efate and are transferred privately to Bauerfield Airport for your onward international departure. You leave deeply relaxed and enchanted, having experienced the finest of Vanuatu in comfort and style, beautiful Efate with its lagoons and cascades, the dazzling beaches and luminous blue holes of Espiritu Santo, and the roaring Mount Yasur on Tanna, all wrapped in the genuine, famous warmth of ni-Vanuatu culture, with private touring, the finest retreats, indulgent spa treatments and refined dining throughout. The images stay vivid long after you land, the glowing volcano against the sunset, the dazzling white beaches, the luminous blue holes, the star-filled skies, and the warm ni-Vanuatu smiles. Vanuatu offers dramatic beauty, dazzling beaches, refined comfort and heartfelt warmth in abundance, and you depart deeply refreshed, treasuring your idyllic luxury escape, and already dreaming of a return to these extraordinary, beautiful islands.

Your Journey This Day
Tanna
Flight & departure · Domestic and private
Bauerfield Airport
Meals Included
Breakfast
Route Map

Where You Will Travel

Package

What's inside the package?

Inclusions

  • 8 nights accommodation
  • Daily breakfast, daily breakfast, a welcome dinner, a private beach dinner and some dinners at island retreats
  • Airport and island transfers
  • Touring, cultural visits and activities as per itinerary with expert local guides
  • Domestic flights between islands as specified
  • Custom village, volcano and site fees as per itinerary
  • the finest available retreats, private guiding, an Efate lagoon and cascades excursion, private Santo Champagne Beach and blue holes tours, a Mount Yasur sunset excursion, a spa treatment and all domestic flights

Exclusions

  • International airfare
  • Visa or tourist card fees where applicable
  • Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Premium wines, spirits and additional spa treatments
  • Optional private charters and additional excursions
  • Meals not mentioned in the itinerary or inclusions
  • Drinks unless specifically stated
  • Optional excursions and experiences
  • Personal expenses and gratuities
  • Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Best Time to Travel

Know when to go.

Place
Vanuatu
Conditions
Hot, wet
Daily max temperature
30°C
Monthly rainfall
300mm
Weather data is based on monthly averages. Popularity rating
Good to Know
  • Visa & entry: Most nationalities can visit Vanuatu visa-free for stays of up to 30 to 90 days with a passport valid for at least six months, onward travel and proof of accommodation; requirements can change, so we confirm the exact process for your nationality before travel
  • Currency: The currency is the Vanuatu Vatu (VUV); cash is essential outside Port Vila and Luganville, as cards are accepted mainly in larger hotels and resorts. Carry Vatu for custom-village fees, markets, guides and rural areas, and change money in the main towns
  • Best time to visit: The drier season (roughly May to October) is the most popular and comfortable, with pleasant, less humid weather ideal for touring, volcanoes, beaches and diving; the wetter season (November to April) is hotter and more humid with heavier rain and a cyclone risk, though it is lush and green
  • Kastom & etiquette: Vanuatu has an extraordinary living traditional culture (kastom), and many villages maintain ancient customs; always ask before photographing people or ceremonies (a fee may apply), dress modestly, respect custom sites and taboos, and follow your guide's advice. Bislama, English and French are widely spoken
  • Mount Yasur volcano: Tanna's Mount Yasur is one of the world's most accessible active volcanoes, and visits (usually at dusk) are arranged with local guides who monitor activity and keep to safe viewing areas; access depends on the volcano's alert level, and we follow official guidance at all times for your safety
  • Getting around: Vanuatu's islands are linked by domestic flights (Air Vanuatu) and, in places, boats; touring is by 4x4 on often rough rural roads, especially on Tanna and Santo. All inter-island flights and transfers specified are arranged and included, and schedules can be flexible, part of the island adventure
  • Health & malaria: Malaria is present in some lowland areas (notably Santo, Malekula and the northern islands, less so on Efate and Tanna), so anti-malarial prophylaxis and insect repellent are recommended; consult a travel clinic well ahead, ensure vaccinations are current, and take comprehensive travel insurance
  • Money & power: Tipping is not traditionally expected but is appreciated for good service; bring cash for custom fees and souvenirs. Power is 220-240V with Australian-style type I plugs, so bring an adapter, and note that power and connectivity can be limited on the outer islands
FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes this a luxury journey in Vanuatu?

Vanuatu is beautifully unspoiled rather than glitzy, and its luxury lies in exquisite island settings, blissful seclusion, private guiding, dramatic natural wonders and genuine, personal warmth. You stay at the finest available retreats, tour privately, savour the volcano, beaches and blue holes without crowds, and indulge in spa treatments and refined dining. The sense of savouring an unspoiled, dramatic country in comfort and privacy is a rare and precious luxury, unlike the more developed islands of the Pacific.

Can the balance of drama and relaxation be tailored?

Absolutely. We can adjust the balance of dramatic adventure, the volcano, culture, and relaxed beach and retreat time to suit you, add more island time or additional islands, and choose the retreats and experiences that match your style, from exquisite beachfront resorts to characterful eco-luxury near the volcano. Everything is private and flexible, tailored around your interests, pace and comfort, for a seamless and deeply rewarding luxury journey through Vanuatu.

What meals are included?

Daily breakfast is included, along with any meals named in the itinerary and, at remote island and volcano stays, often dinner (half or full board where dining options are limited). Vanuatu's food is fresh and delicious, reef fish, tropical produce, island vegetables cooked in the traditional lap-lap, and French-influenced cuisine in Port Vila, and we advise fully on the meal arrangements for each stage of your trip.

Are the domestic flights included?

Yes, the domestic flights between islands specified in your itinerary, on Air Vanuatu, are arranged and included, along with all airport, road and boat transfers. Vanuatu's islands are spread across the ocean, making these flights essential, and schedules can be flexible, which is part of the island adventure; we build in sensible connections and handle every detail.

Do I need a visa for Vanuatu?

Most nationalities can visit visa-free for stays of up to 30 to 90 days, with a passport valid for at least six months, onward travel and proof of accommodation. Requirements can change, so we confirm the exact, current process for your nationality before travel, so there are no surprises on arrival in the islands.

Is it safe to visit Mount Yasur volcano?

Yes, Tanna's Mount Yasur is one of the world's most accessible active volcanoes, and visits are arranged with local guides who monitor its activity and keep to designated safe viewing areas, usually at dusk when the eruptions are most spectacular. Access depends on the official alert level, and we follow official guidance at all times; it is an awesome and unforgettable, well-managed experience.

When is the best time to visit?

The drier season, roughly May to October, is the most popular and comfortable, ideal for volcanoes, beaches, diving and touring. The wetter season is hotter, greener and quieter, with heavier rain and a cyclone risk. The spectacular Pentecost land diving takes place roughly April to June. We advise on the best timing for your interests and any events you wish to see.

Can the itinerary be customised?

Absolutely. We can adjust the balance of volcanoes, culture, beaches, diving and island time across Efate, Tanna, Santo, Pentecost and beyond, time your trip to the land diving, add or extend islands, and tailor the pace, comfort and budget to you. Every itinerary is a flexible starting point for your ideal Vanuatu adventure.