Vanuatu Volcano Tour

Hi everyone,

I'm going to Vanuatu in September and I'm going there mainly for the volcanoes. Unfortunately I will only have about 2 weeks time. Reading the LP guide and online it seems easy to do the Ambrym volcanoes and Yasur on Tanna in that time frame, but I would really also like to include Lopevi if possible. So I wonder if anyone has recent experience that would allow to answer the following questions.

(1) AMBRYM: I realize access to the volcanoes from the North is closed in September, so I would start right from the West/South. I'd like to camp near the craters for at least two nights to maximize the chances of having good weather and nice views.
- Is there an open lava lake in at least one of the craters these days? I heard they sometimes retreat underground.
- Is the way to the ash plain ok to find alone, i.e. without a guide, from say Emiotungen or any other village in the South/West? If a guide is needed, how much would they charge for say a 3-4 day trip?
- What's the food and water situation like? Would I need to bring everything from Vila? Would guided trips also arrange for food and water to bring along for a few days on the ash plain? Is rainwater collected on the ash plain drinkable after treatment or too contaminated by the volcano?

(2) LOPEVI: This one seems to be a bit off the beaten track, so my main concern is getting to the island and back without spending too many days idle in-between transport connections.
- I'll be on Ambrym already for its volcanoes, and the Air Vanuatu schedule would make it very difficult to also fly to either Paama or Epi given my roughly twoweeks times frame. Is it possible to charter a boat and guide from somewhere on Ambrym (e.g. Ulei) for a trip to and up Lopevi?
- Has anyone here climbed Lopevi? If so, how long does it take from the shore to the crater at the top (assuming it's not erupting at the time) and back down to shore?

(3) YASUR:
- What are cheap bungalows/campgrounds in less than 1-2 hours hiking distance from the volcano?
- I read about the entrance fee, is that per day or only once? I plan to stay somewhere close to Yasur for a few days and after taking a guide up the first day/night, return on my own for another few days/nights for taking film/pictures.

(4) Is it safe to do all this traveling alone in the first place? I have traveled extensively alone and often with camping equipment in Indonesia and I never had to fear about guides taking off with my stuff etc. and they always stuck to the rates agreed to before departing on a hike. But I'm completely new to the South Pacific.

Thanks for reading through all these questions and perhaps even answering a few!!

Cheers,
hshdude

I think Vanuatu is generally a safe place to travel. I feel very safe and comfortable there. People are helpful, wellmeaning and relaxed.
However, I've had theft issues. I had $500 stolen from my wallet. I'm not really sure where or at what point as I didn't look in the wallet for a few days and then when I looked the $ was gone.

Also when I received my luggage off the plane at Tanna, it was evident that someone had gone through it all (but not taken anything).

Also, the Australian proprietors of one place I stayed at in Tanna had complained of theft of various small items by local staff, such as batteries and torches.

Yehyeh, thanks for the reply! No real reason to worry then, great!

You'll love Vanuatu. It's where I go to relax and get away from the demands of the world. It's just a totally different experience.

I've been on Yasur last year. There is a village that offers accomodation right next to the entrance, I think they are called Jungle Oasis. You can book them through a local agency in Port Vila. From there you can hike up. Most or all other hotels drive up to the parking area. I am not sure if you would be allowed to walk up by yourself, they are pretty well organised and very concerned about safety.

I was at Yasur on Friday night and it is impressive. Erupts regularly (every couple of minutes) with lava flying into the air and sometimes landing within twenty metres. It couldn't really land much closer without an enormous explosion though, so we felt quite safe. I stayed at Yasur Tribe Bungalows which I wouldn't really recommend- very basic, and just unorganised; shower ran out of water after two minutes, others staying there missed their flight out because the driver and vehicle didn't show. Next day I had to get us up and find our guide (?) and transport to the airport. Then it was all a mad rush. Ripped off by their brother at Nambawan (No 1) Tours in Port Villa. He gave me the transfers money from airport to Yasur and return 2000 Vatu. Ends up it cost that one way, then he claimed he had given me 10,000 Vatu. After lengthy phone conversation I just paid again as I couldn't afford to miss my flight out of there. You are at their mercy. However most natives from Vanuatu are exceptionally friendly and helpful, just don't expect to be in a hurry.