Go to Tanna or stay in Vila

gq_dq01:38 UTC29 Jun 2009

Hello

I have a three day stopover (actually two days and a half) in Vila on my way to New Caledonia. I have the option of spending all my time in Efate or try to head to Tanna the first day and come back the next and then have all of the last day for Efate. The flight Vila to Tanna leaves in the afternoon at 2:30pm getting there 3:15pm and then the next day leaves at 3:45pm so I get a whole 24 hours in Tanna and more than 24 hours in Vila.

Can I get a lot done in the 24 hours in Tanna - is it worth going? Flight is around US$230 round trip.
Is there a circle island lagoon tour I can do on the third day on Efate?

Thanks

Laszlo03:10 UTC29 Jun 2009

The standard tourist thing to do on Tanna in one day is visiting the volcano and the kastom village of Yakel. You will have to hire your own transport to reach them in such limited time, so that adds to the overall costs.
If that's all the time you have, and are still keen to go, it might be worth checking out the offers of travel agents once in Vila.

Circle "island lagoon" tour?
Efate is not an atoll - it offers circle island tours rather than circle lagoon ones! :-)

I'd say if you decide to go to Tanna, it might be more interesting to add another day there than to see lsss interesting Efate.
But then again, flying back to Vila just before connecting with an international flight would carry a certain amount of risk - when I was on Tanna airport workers in Vila went on strike and there were no flights at all for a day or two!

newfie4313:04 UTC29 Jun 2009

The airport on Tanna is on the opposite side of the Mt.Yasser Volcano and will require a 2-3 hour trip to get there. If you want to be there for the evening viewing you will need to have arrangements made for pick up at the airport and head direct to the volcano. The kastom village can be visited the next morning. The volcano was the highlight of our trip and I really recommend every effort to get to see it. We dealt with Glenda at www.melanesiantours.com(sp?) - maybe she can work out the details for you, she did a great job for us. There are a number of tours from Pt. Villa that take you for ocean trips but I'm not sure if they go all around the island, again, Glenda could help you with that. Good luck with your planning.

gq_dq02:58 UTC30 Jun 2009

"Lagoon" tour. Just got back from Tahiti Bora Bora so I guess it's clear where I left my mind behind.

Laszlo03:03 UTC30 Jun 2009

Well, be prepared for something different! :-)

Go to Tanna or stay in Vila Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Vanuatu
gq_dq01:38 UTC29 Jun 2009	Hello I have a three day stopover (actually two days and a half) in Vila on my way to New Caledonia. I have the option of spending all my time in Efate or try to head to Tanna the first day and come back the next and then have all of the last day for Efate. The flight Vila to Tanna leaves in the afternoon at 2:30pm getting there 3:15pm and then the next day leaves at 3:45pm so I get a whole 24 hours in Tanna and more than 24 hours in Vila. Can I get a lot done in the 24 hours in Tanna - is it worth going? Flight is around US$230 round trip. Is there a circle island lagoon tour I can do on the third day on Efate? Thanks
Laszlo03:10 UTC29 Jun 2009	The standard tourist thing to do on Tanna in one day is visiting the volcano and the kastom village of Yakel. You will have to hire your own transport to reach them in such limited time, so that adds to the overall costs. If that's all the time you have, and are still keen to go, it might be worth checking out the offers of travel agents once in Vila. Circle "island lagoon" tour? Efate is not an atoll - it offers circle island tours rather than circle lagoon ones! :-) I'd say if you decide to go to Tanna, it might be more interesting to add another day there than to see lsss interesting Efate. But then again, flying back to Vila just before connecting with an international flight would carry a certain amount of risk - when I was on Tanna airport workers in Vila went on strike and there were no flights at all for a day or two!	1
newfie4313:04 UTC29 Jun 2009	The airport on Tanna is on the opposite side of the Mt.Yasser Volcano and will require a 2-3 hour trip to get there. If you want to be there for the evening viewing you will need to have arrangements made for pick up at the airport and head direct to the volcano. The kastom village can be visited the next morning. The volcano was the highlight of our trip and I really recommend every effort to get to see it. We dealt with Glenda at www.melanesiantours.com(sp?) - maybe she can work out the details for you, she did a great job for us. There are a number of tours from Pt. Villa that take you for ocean trips but I'm not sure if they go all around the island, again, Glenda could help you with that. Good luck with your planning.	2
gq_dq02:58 UTC30 Jun 2009	"Lagoon" tour. Just got back from Tahiti Bora Bora so I guess it's clear where I left my mind behind.	3
Laszlo03:03 UTC30 Jun 2009	Well, be prepared for something different! :-)	4