13 Best Cultural & Kastom Villages in Vanuatu

The Naversa Small Nambas Cultural Tour is one of the most genuine cultural experiences in Vanuatu, taking you deep into the living traditions of Malekula's Small Nambas people on Wala Island.

Led by Chief Flavien and the community of Narworu village, this two-hour immersion begins the moment the tamtam drum beats your welcome, and young women place a salusalu garland around your neck and hand you a fresh drinking coconut.

From there, a series of traditional dances unfolds: the Bird Dance, the Fish Dance, the Boat Dance and a women's performance tied to the Namaki ceremony of establishing a new chief.

In between, you'll sample seasonal dishes from the village kitchen (think purple yams cooked in bamboo with coconut), visit the nakamal (the men's sacred learning space) and watch a fire-making demonstration before a final dance where you're welcome to join in.

The tour runs twice daily at 8:30 am or 12:30 pm, every day of the week, with 24 hours' advance notice required. Transport from Lakatoro is available.

Imaio Cultural Village (meaning "My Home" in the local language) is one of south-east Tanna's most genuine cultural experiences, welcoming visitors with handmade neck garlands, traditional kastom dances, hands-on demonstrations and a taste of freshly cooked local food.

From the moment you arrive, women and children in traditional dress greet you before the Napa Napan dance kicks things off, performed by the village ladies, with men and children joining in afterwards and guests warmly invited to participate.

The hands-on demonstrations that follow cover fire-making from dry wood, a traditional stretcher carry using woven leaves and a coconut demonstration showing just how many ways coconut features in daily village life.

Food is cooked over the fire and served fresh: think taro, sweet potato and manioc. The experience wraps up at a small village market, where purchases go directly to the families here. Overnight stays in a traditional village hut are also available, with meals and cultural activities included.

Lowinio Cultural Village, set inland from Lenakel on the island of Tanna, offers one of Vanuatu's most genuine kastom experiences, and every moment here feels real, lived and unscripted.

It begins before you even arrive, with a guided garden walk through a fully self-sustaining community, where your guide points out taro, kava, kumala, cacao, soursop and local nut trees, explaining how each plant is used for food, medicine, weaving and cooking.

At the village, children's traditional games set the tone before a kastom cooking demonstration (the menu changes daily, keeping things fresh). On our visit, we tried local spinach wrapped with manioc and coconut cream.

Then comes the highlight: group dancing beneath a banyan tree, where you're warmly encouraged to join in, followed by traditional face painting for the ladies and a farewell that involves shaking hands with what feels like the entire village.

Experience the mesmerising tradition of Santo Fire Walks, where Chief Bule brings the sacred kastom ceremonies from Pentecost Island to Santo.

Your engaging host Chief Bule serves as an excellent master of ceremonies, keeping audiences captivated with fascinating facts while being open to questions throughout the experience.

The experience begins with a traditional welcome dance before moving into the nakamal for weaving and cooking demonstrations, where you'll sample food cooked in a bamboo. You'll then experience freshly squeezed kava tasting, watch the art of sand drawing and witness a powerful dance where a young boy must show his courage as he relies on nothing but plants and vines to carry his weight.

The spectacular finale features the actual firewalk on scorching hot rocks with no foot protection whatsoever, including dancing on the heated stones.

Energetic dances accompanied by local drums and ankle-rattling navaranke nuts create an unforgettable atmosphere, concluding with refreshing local treats.

One of the most popular cultural village shows on Santo, Leweton Cultural Village brings the remote cultures of the Banks Islands a little more in-reach.

This remarkable faux-village has been constructed using only traditional methods; no nails or modern tools in sight, to give you an example of authentic Ni-Vanuatu architecture.

You'll witness captivating traditional dancing, participate in a genuine kava ceremony with the opportunity to taste freshly squeezed kava, and be mesmerised by the famous water music performed by talented ladies from the Banks Islands.

The experience features an authentic fire-making demonstration where your hosts, wearing vibrant traditional costumes, showcase traditional cooking methods over open flames. You'll have the chance to taste fire-cooked foods like roasted banana, bringing you closer to the authentic flavours of island life.

Throughout your visit, you'll be comfortably seated under the shade of traditionally thatched roofs while singing and cultural performances bring the distinct culture of the outer northern islands to Santo.

Booking in advance is essential as the village needs time to prepare for guests, with a minimum of two people required for the experience. You can find them through their Facebook page to arrange your cultural immersion.

A favourite among Port Vila's tour companies, Pepeyo Cultural & Educational Village offers one of the most accessible cultural village experiences.

Located in Teouma (just 15-20 minutes from Port Vila), this Melanesian cultural journey takes you through eight fascinating areas that showcase the ancient traditions of Futuna Island. With no set times, tours run throughout the day in this laidback experience that's not bound to any particular timeframe, though the team ensures everyone has a good time.

Upon arrival, you'll be greeted by Futuna's island warriors (try not to be startled!) as your entertaining host shares knowledge throughout the experience. You'll discover traditional fishing techniques that have fed families for generations, learn about farming practices for crops like yam, taro and kava, and witness sacred ceremonies that are still part of daily life. The demonstrations of traditional housing construction and food preservation methods are simply captivating.

But the real highlight? The incredible cultural performances featuring traditional dances, bottle and bamboo piano music, and the jaw-dropping spectacle of firewalking on hot volcanic rocks. It's this main show that draws guests from the many tour companies running around the island, who come in and out throughout the day (there's a reason why this is one of the most popular culture villages on Efate).

The short walks through lush tropical bush between each area are accessible for everyone, with wheelchair-friendly paths and plenty of seating throughout the site.

Hidden in the lush bushland of Teouma, Jiarofa Agritourism Village is a lesser-known cultural village that offers an authentic glimpse into Futuna island life through four to five different stations set within a stunning forest environment.

Experience hands-on learning through guided plantation tours showcasing traditional taro-farming methods, including the cultivation of unique varieties like mara (which we can best describe as "blue cheese bananas"). Participate in weaving and crafts workshops, traditional cooking classes, and witness mesmerising cultural dance performances where Futuna islanders use homemade instruments to create an uplifting ensemble!

The village also offers fascinating insights into traditional health practices, including frank talks on how women deal with their menstrual cycle in remote islands, as well as herbal medicine talks and ancient food preservation techniques.

One of the most spectacular experiences is witnessing Futuna's fearless fire walking ceremony on hot rocks!

The Small Nambas Cultural Tour in the village of Rano is one of the most genuine and immersive cultural experiences on Malekula, where traditional dances, ancient customs and hands-on village life come together in a single unforgettable day.

You'll be guided through the entire experience, from the moment the drums signal your entry to the grounds, to ceremonial dances performed by the men and women of the community around the nakamal.

The men's dance retells a powerful story of conflict with a neighbouring island, while the women perform the Reibi, or flower dance, in honour of a new chief.

Beyond the dancing, you'll visit a cave kitchen, try your hand at traditional fire-making and taste freshly cooked laplap served on a woven plate. Sand drawing, palm leaf weaving using the niro technique and a closing dance where guests are invited to join in round out the day beautifully.

The tour runs daily, including Sundays after lunch, though we recommend confirming arrangements in advance.

One of the easiest cultural villages to get to from Port Vila, Ekasup Cultural Village is a popular choice with cruise ship passengers.

A native tribesman greets you before taking you on a short walk through the tropical rainforest to this award-winning cultural village.

Set across 25 acres of land, this living museum is thoughtfully designed to showcase distinct aspects of traditional Melanesian life, inviting you to discover their ancestral culture and lifestyle.

Meet the Chief and his Warriors from the island of Futuna, who demonstrate traditional weapons including clubs, spears, bows and arrows, whilst your guide shares fascinating tales of cannibalism from the not-so-distant past. You'll learn about traditional food preservation techniques, witness the preparation of laplap (a local dish), and discover the secrets of Melanesian custom medicine using remedies derived from herbs, roots, bark and leaves.

Experience the ingenious fishing techniques developed by generations of islanders, observe game trapping methods, and be amazed by the ancient art of sand drawings. Watch captivating performances by the Futuna Youth featuring traditional Pacific music, rhythms and dances, then browse handcrafted souvenirs including woven baskets, mats and hats made by the villagers themselves.

This comprehensive cultural experience offers a captivating glimpse into how villagers preserve and prepare food daily, providing genuine insight into indigenous life in Vanuatu.

Local tourism operators Malakai and Rachel from Pui Lodge offer an extraordinary cultural immersion through their flagship "Fanafotua Man Bush Trail" experience.

This full-day adventure begins with a one-hour drive followed by a one-hour walk to reach a remote kastom village.

The experience centres around authentic village living, starting with a ceremonial presentation to the village chief where guests present calico fabric (usually made to make island dresses) as a traditional gift. You'll witness traditional fire-making demonstrations, enjoy traditional dancing performances and observe traditional food preparation methods firsthand.

The highlight is participating in a kava ceremony whilst observing genuine traditional living practices within the village community. For those seeking deeper immersion, overnight stays in the village are available, allowing you to truly connect with local customs and daily life.

Note that weather conditions can affect availability, as rain makes bush trails dangerous.

One of Tanna's most genuine cultural encounters, the Yakel Cultural Village takes you deep into a living, active kastom community where real traditions, not recreations, are still practised daily.

Welcomed with a neck garland placed by one of the village children, you'll move through six stations with your guide Kammy, covering everything from traditional house construction and cyclone shelters to lush self-sustaining gardens growing coffee, cacao, kava, taro and vanilla.

You'll meet Chief Albi, learn about ceremonies including circumcision, marriage and the Tokatan. Walk through a floral archway to watch kava being prepared the traditional way (chewing and spitting technique included) before tasting a full shell yourself.

The tour ends with a kastom dance under the banyan tree where the whole village turns out, men stomping to the beat while women and children circle around them. It's something else. You will also be able to visit the women's handicraft market where handmade goods are laid out for purchase.

An integral part of the 4-5-day Manbush Trail through Malekula is trekking to and staying in kastom villages such as Lanvo, Lebongbong and Lawa. Along the trail, deep in the territory of the Small Nambas and Big Nambas tribes, your local guides will share ancient stories and traditions of the "manbush" way.

Starting from Red Graon near Unua on the east coast, you'll journey deep into dense jungle, crossing rivers and summiting Mt Lembale at 800 m (2,625 ft) above sea level.

This strenuous five-day trek takes you through rarely visited parts of the island, where you'll encounter remote hill tribes and experience authentic manbush living first-hand. Sleep in traditional village guesthouses and handmade bush shelters during overnight rainforest camping, feast on local delicacies, and witness ancient cultural practices in remote villages.

The adventure includes challenging river crossings, scenic mountain views, and, on clear nights, possible viewing of the nearby Ambrym volcano. Your trek covers substantial distances - including a demanding 15 km (9.3 mi), 8-hour hike on the first day and a 20 km (12 mi) stretch through pristine rainforest on day four.

The trail concludes at Southwest Bay, where you can relax at the beautiful South West Beachfront Bungalows and unwind after your epic adventure. Experienced guides and porters accompany you throughout the journey, with all meals and accommodation included.

The Manbush Trail can be arranged through the Vanuatu Travel Information Centre or Miss Raela Ravun, who can be contacted directly for bookings and arrangements.

One of the best examples of the "cargo cult" culture, Lamakara Village on Tanna is best known for its annual John Frum Day.

On Friday nights, the village of Lamakara on Tanna Island come alive with one of Vanuatu's most extraordinary living cultural traditions: the John Frum singing experience.

The John Frum movement has roots going back to the late 1930s and became strongly tied to the arrival of American servicemen during World War Two. Followers regard John Frum as a spiritual figure connected with renewal, prosperity and the preservation of kastom, and American imagery such as the US flag and military-style dress still features in ceremonies today.

On Friday evenings, the community gathers with guitars for an evening of singing that blends kastom, spiritual belief and Christian influences in a way that most visitors to Tanna never get to witness.

Ask Isaac about joining the community for the night as part of the Sulfur Bay Hot Springs and Cultural Tour.