Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# Vanuatu- Best islands for traditional culture? Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea
carmerb 10:20 UTC 22 Jun 2011 | Hi, I'm planning a trip to Vanuatu and I'm mainly interested in non touristy kastom villages and traditional ways of live in general. Which islands would you recommend? Tanna seems the place for kastom villages but, what about Malekula, Pentecost and Santo? Thanks! |
Laszlo 18:32 UTC 22 Jun 2011 | Tanna, Santo and Pentecost On Malekula, traditional dress is only worn for special occassions. Ambrym is similar. | 1
carmerb 17:43 UTC 28 Jun 2011 | Thanks a lot for your reply! Would you say that Tanna is better or I can have the same insight into traditional culture in Pentecost and/or Santo? I ask that because I would like to visit the last two anyway and Tanna would imply to go in the opposite direction. Do you think it would be worth? Best Regards Carme | 2
Laszlo 17:54 UTC 28 Jun 2011 | The cultures are different and I liked Tanna most, but if you are otherwise only planning to go North, those two islands should be fine. | 3
carmerb 15:59 UTC 01 Jul 2011 | Thanks! | 4
carmerb 16:42 UTC 01 Jul 2011 | Hi again, I hope I'm not making too many questions, but is very helpfu to talk to someone who has been in the place... I have read about Ipai and Yakel in Tanna. Would you recommend any other village in Tanna, Pentecost or Santo? I have also read that visitors may not be very welcomed. Is that the case? Are people unfriendly? and what about the naghol, is it mean for tourists? Thanks a lot. Regards | 5
Laszlo 20:33 UTC 01 Jul 2011 | I have not been to Pentecost, where the traditional villages seem most commercialized (high fees for both just visiting and taking pix), probably due to the heavily-promoted and hugely popular and expensive naghol. In both Santo and Tanna all villages I've visited were very friendly and welcoming. | 6