25 Best Things to Do on Tanna

Standing at the rim of an active volcano while lava bombs tear through the air above you isn't something most people get to tick off their list.

Often described as the world's most accessible active volcano, Mt Yasur on Tanna Island has been erupting continuously since at least 1774, when Captain Cook observed ash clouds rising from the sea. Today, Entani Company Ltd, the authorised tour operator, takes visitors right to the crater rim to witness lava bombs, billowing sulphur and the deep, chest-rattling rumble of one of the Pacific's most extraordinary natural forces.

Tours depart at sunrise, during the day or around 6 pm for the popular sunset and night visit, when exploding magma lights up the sky against the dark. From the car park, it's just a five-minute walk to two lookout points, where you'll stand behind a wooden railing watching three active vents cycle through strombolian and vulcanian eruptions, sending magma reaching up to 1,000°C into the air.

Your guide leads the safety briefing before you head up, and a face mask, jacket and enclosed shoes are strongly recommended. Walk-ins are welcome, though many accommodations will arrange the booking on your behalf.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Vanuatu is its kastom villages; communities that follow traditional Ni-Van customs and are refreshingly uninfluenced by modern technology and colonial ideologies. On Tanna, a trip to Yakel Village will likely change some of your own perspectives on life in the South Pacific.

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.

A natural attraction that can't help but produce stunning photos, Blue Cave is a stunning cavern accessed from the ocean, yet has a dazzling array of sunbeams piercing through the roof.

Tucked along Tanna's rugged north-west coast, the Blue Cave is one of Vanuatu's most extraordinary natural secrets, and this three-hour tour is your ticket inside.

A 30 to 40-minute boat ride along the coastline brings you to the cave entrance and, if you're lucky, you might even spot dolphins along the way before you slip into the water and swim your way in.

How you enter depends on the tide; at high tide, a brief dive beneath the rock gets you there, while low tide allows a straightforward snorkel or swim through. Either way, what's waiting on the other side is well worth it.

Snorkel gear and life jackets are provided, groups are capped at six guests per boat, and guides brief you on everything before you enter. Once inside, the time is yours to swim, snorkel and soak it all in.

Two departures run daily, at 9 am and 1 pm, with pickup from your accommodation or the tour office near Whitegrass Airport.

Soak in natural hot springs at the foot of an active volcano, guided by the son of a local chief through village life, kastom culture and hot pools.

At the base of Mt Yasur, the natural hot springs of Sulfur Bay offer one of Tanna's most unique and hands-on experiences, taking you from cool coastal shallows all the way up to a steaming 70°C source.

The "Sulfur Bay Hot Springs and Cultural Tour" is led by Isaac, son of the local chief, who guides you through the graduated spring pools while sharing the rhythms of everyday village life along the way.

You'll pass village gardens, a school and a hospital, and learn about the role of pigs in Tanna kastom culture before reaching the upper source.

If the timing works in your favour, you'll also get to soak in the springs with Mt Yasur putting on its volcanic show in the background (sunset is the sweet spot for this).

It's raw, it's real and it's genuinely unlike anything else on the island.

If you're looking for a place to snorkel in Tanna, the two "Blue Holes" are awesome spots where vibrant corals line a dip in the coral reef.

Tanna's blue holes are the kind of underwater secret that rewards those willing to time their visit right. Just a five-minute walk from White Grass Ocean Resort, Blue Hole 1 sits in a sheltered cove where local villagers welcome swimmers warmly before you wade roughly 50 m across the reef to reach four large reef openings, interconnected by tunnels and swim-throughs at depths of around 8 m inside the hole and up to 15 m on the outer reef.

The route you take depends entirely on your sense of adventure and skill level, with several cave and swim-through options giving access to the outer reef. Plan your visit at low tide so the deep holes are clearly visible.

Wildlife here is seriously impressive: coral formations, dugongs, turtles, moray eels, reef sharks, blue-spotted rays and the occasional dolphin are all on the cards, with whale songs drifting through July to September.

Blue Hole 2 is a short 800 m walk from the resort's front entrance along the road towards the next village; follow the signs, walk 50 m across the reef and enter from the north-eastern tip.

Note that a Marine Park fee applies, so check the current rate at reception of White Grass before you head out.

Guests of Rocky Ridge Bungalows enjoy free access to both blue holes; non-guests approaching from that side pay 1,500 VT. Bring your own reef shoes and snorkel gear.

Visitors can join traditional dances, watch hands-on demonstrations and share freshly cooked local food in a welcoming village setting that offers a genuine glimpse into everyday kastom life.

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.

Believed to be the largest banyan tree in the world, the Giant Banyan Tree on Tanna is a living giant stretching approximately 200 m (656 ft) wide and 80 m (262 ft) high, thought to be around 800 years old based on oral history passed down through generations.

Your guide and custodian, Sam, kicks things off with an introduction to the male and female banyan and its deep significance in local kastom, before taking you to the tree itself (just a three-minute walk from where you're dropped off).

This is a male banyan, which in Tannese culture holds particular importance as the tree of chiefs. Sam points out the best photo spots, shows you the original trunk and, if you're game, demonstrates vine swinging from the ground up to the main branch. Visitors can have a go on the smaller vines.

The tree sits in a valley fed by rich volcanic soil and a natural spring, home to flying foxes, bats, wild chickens and snails. There's no fixed duration; you stay as long as you like.

If you've ever wondered what happens behind the scenes before coffee reaches your cup, this is a fascinating glimpse into the craft of coffee production.

Just a five-minute walk from White Grass Airport, Tanna Gardens is your chance to see one of Vanuatu's only small-batch coffee operations from the inside out.

The guided "Factory Tour" walks you through the full production process, from the moment raw parchment arrives from local farmers through to drying, hulling, hand grading, roasting and grinding, all done on-site. The team explains what's happening and why at every stage, making this far more than just a look around a shed.

It's worth knowing this is a factory tour rather than a farm visit; the fields and nursery are planned as a future add-on. After the tour, three roasts are available to try: a light medium, a medium espresso-friendly roast (the bestseller) and a dark roast with a smokier, more acidic profile.

Inland from Lenakel, visitors can walk through productive village gardens, learn how local plants are used, watch traditional cooking and games, then join a lively kastom dance beneath a banyan tree.

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.

On the road from Lenakel towards Mt Yasur, the scenery shifts from lush island landscapes to a stark sweep of black volcanic ash, making the journey itself one of Tanna’s most photogenic experiences.

The Ash Plains on Tanna are one of those landscapes that stops you mid-journey and makes you question whether you've driven onto another planet. Located along the route from Lenakel to Sulfur Bay, passing through the eastern interior of Tanna on the way to Mt Yasur volcano, the Ash Plains are a dramatic reminder that visiting Mt Yasur is about far more than the volcano itself.

The drive unfolds in three distinct stages: a sealed climb out of Lenakel with sweeping coastal views and your first glimpse of Mt Yasur in the distance; a descent toward the volcano where the sealed road gradually gives way to ash (literally); and then the Ash Plains themselves.

Here, black volcanic ash stretches across the landscape, broken only by green trees and stubborn bushes pushing up through the surface. It is, as more than one visitor has put it, impossible to take a bad photo.

That's right, even in Tanna you can go scuba diving and Volcano Island Divers, the island's exclusive diving operation, which offers recreational dives, as well as certifications.

Volcano Island Divers is Tanna's first and only SCUBA dive operation, based out of White Grass Ocean Resort & Spa and run by a resident PADI Dive Instructor alongside locally trained PADI Divemasters.

With more than ten dive sites to choose from, ranging from beginner-friendly house reefs to a 30 m deep experienced-level wall, there's something for every level of diver. Sites are selected daily based on conditions and the experience of those on the trip, so you're always in good hands.

Underwater, expect encounters with dugongs, sea turtles, moray eels, reef sharks and blue-spotted rays, plus swim-throughs, caves and grottos that make every dive feel like an exploration. Between July and September, you may even hear whale songs on your descent.

Not yet certified? The "Discover Scuba Diving" half-day course requires no prior experience and takes you from a short briefing straight onto the coral reef. From there, courses run all the way up to PADI Divemaster level. For non-divers, a two-hour "Snorkelling Safari" by boat runs twice daily.

Apera Beach can be accessed through Apera Beachfront Bungalow. Beach access is free for everyone, including non-guests and outside visitors, with no entry fee required.

Visitors simply pass through the Apera property to reach the beach. As a courtesy, let the host know before heading down; no formal permission or advance arrangement is required.

There is also a coastal lookout accessible by a set of stairs carved into the rock. From the lookout, visitors can enjoy elevated views over the beach and surrounding coastline.

The paradisical white-sand beaches of Port Resolution would trick you into thinking you are not only a short drive away from a spewing active volcano!

This magnificent bay, framed by towering cliffs, serves as your gateway to some of east Tanna's most spectacular beaches and snorkelling spots. The charming Ireupuow village provides essential amenities with its basic shop, local market and simple restaurant, making it an ideal base for yachties and visitors from land.

A short walk west of Ireupuow brings you to the cliff-top Port Resolution Yacht Club where it's possible to grab a meal, and you'll reach the protected marine sanctuary at Yewao Point, where calm waters offer exceptional snorkelling opportunities right up to where the coral reef begins.

Another path north of the village unveils a glorious stretch of white sand leading to premium surf breaks, with deep swells rolling along 2.5 km (1.6 mi) of coastline to Yankaren Para.

Just near the geothermal walk, Shark Bay lies approximately 730 m (800 yards) from the intersection leading to Port Resolution, making it an easy add-on while exploring this side of Tanna.

Shark Bay is a small, enclosed tidal bay on the south-east coast of Tanna, best known as a natural nursery for blacktip reef sharks, and yes, you can often spot them cruising through the shallow water below the cliffs without ever getting your feet wet.

The main draw is watching the sharks from elevated viewpoints above the bay, offering a surprisingly dramatic experience alongside sweeping views over the rugged volcanic coastline.

Worth noting: when we last visited, the access road was closed due to a fallen tree. That said, local operators based at Port Resolution are still offering guided walks down to the bay, so don't write it off just yet.

Shark sightings are never guaranteed (they are wild animals, after all). Not far from Mt Yasur, it pairs well with a bigger day out in the area.

Just beyond the beaches of Port Resolution, the landscape takes a hotter turn with a short geothermal walk through bubbling springs, steam vents and colourful volcanic clay.

A locally guided walk through the geothermal landscape on the western shore of Port Resolution bay, the "Port Resolution Hot Springs & Clay Paint Walk" is a half-hour experience is one of the most hands-on ways to feel the raw volcanic energy of Tanna Island. This activity takes place on the opposite side of the bay from the Ireupuow village area, so factor in a little extra time to get there.

Led by a community guide, the walk follows a sequence of stops along the black-sand shoreline and hillside trails above the bay, where Mt Yasur's geothermal activity bubbles up in surprisingly accessible ways.

First, you touch the hot spring water directly, then move to a second spring where bananas and eggs are cooked in the geothermal heat and eaten on the spot.

From there, you climb to where steam vents before reaching the final stop: a hillside deposit of naturally coloured volcanic clay in shades of red, orange, blue and green, where your guide paints your face with the earth itself.

Timing matters here; aim for low tide, as the springs run cooler when the tide is high.

For one of Tanna's most memorable overnight experiences, swap a conventional bungalow for a tree house, where simple rooms are raised among the branches and, in some cases, positioned for views towards Mt Yasur.

Some of the better-known options include Tanna Volcano View Tree House, Yasur Backpackers Treehouses and Glowing Mountain View Tree House, all offering the sort of rustic, close-to-nature stay that suits travellers coming to Tanna for adventure rather than resort-style comforts.

Other tree house-style stays around the volcano area include Treetop Lodge, Thomas Yasur View Lodge, Sky High Lookout and Castle Tree House.

Standards vary considerably, so expect simple facilities, basic bedding and a distinctly local style rather than luxury. What you're really staying for is the setting: waking up among tropical greenery, listening to the sounds of rural Tanna and, depending on the property and weather, catching sight of Mt Yasur looming in the distance.

Iwaru Beach is a long, secluded black-sand beach on the south-western side of Tanna, around 15 minutes' drive south of Lenakel, with a raw, untamed feel that sets it apart from the island's more developed coastal spots.

The dark volcanic sand, thick green vegetation and rocky outcrops give it a wilder character, while the largely undeveloped shoreline, backed by forest and gardens, makes it a peaceful spot for beach walks, relaxing and watching the ocean roll in.

The waves here are strong, making it a genuinely exciting destination for experienced surfers (though beginners should take note). Iwaru Beach Bungalows overlooks the shore and recommends surfers bring their own boards. Day visitors can also pay an entry fee to access the beach for swimming, snorkelling or simply soaking up the atmosphere along the shore.

One of the beach's most distinctive natural features is Iwaru Rock, a large dark rock sitting offshore in the surf.

Much of Tanna sits well away from any light pollution, which makes it a genuinely excellent spot for stargazing. On a clear night, walk a short distance from the main villages and you'll often find a sky absolutely packed with stars.

Near Mt Yasur, the experience takes on a different quality altogether. When the volcanic activity and cloud conditions align just right, the lava's glow reflects off the smoke and low cloud above the crater, casting a faint red or orange light into the night sky.

Pair that with a full spread of stars overhead and you have one of the more unusual after-dark sights anywhere in Vanuatu.

To stay close to the volcanic glow after dark, base yourself near Mt Yasur. Yasur Backpackers Tree Houses, Glowing Mountain View Tree House, Tanna Volcano View Tree House, Tanna Tree Top Lodge and Jungle Oasis are among the closest.

Named after actor Will Smith, who visited Tanna while filming the National Geographic and Disney+ series Welcome to Earth, Will Smith Kava Bar is a small roadside nakamal in Lenakel and one of West Tanna's most unexpected and charming cultural stops.

Pull up a seat in the late afternoon or evening, order a shell of locally prepared kava and do as the locals do: sit, talk and unwind.

Kava bars are important gathering places throughout Vanuatu, where communities come together at the end of the day, and this one is no different. It's a simple, unpretentious spot rather than a tourist attraction, which is precisely what makes it worth stopping at.

A painted mural of Smith on the bar's wall has since become a quirky photo opportunity for travellers passing through. First-time kava drinkers needn't worry; just ask for a shell and follow the lead of those around you.

Lenakel Market is the beating heart of everyday life on Tanna Island, offering an unfiltered glimpse into daily Ni-Vanuatu culture that no polished tourist attraction can replicate.

From aromatic fresh herbs and homemade pastries to towering bunches of coconuts and traditional kava root, the agricultural bounty here is genuinely impressive.

Rows of freshly harvested cabbages, carrots, broccoli, bananas and other locally grown produce are carefully arranged on colourful woven mats and traditional baskets, just as they have been for generations.

What makes this market special is its simplicity: farmers and vendors sell directly to the community, with no fancy displays or tourist mark-ups in sight. The local vendors will greet you with the warmest smiles as they share their finest produce, and beyond the food, you'll find locally crafted items that make for perfect mementoes of your time in Vanuatu.

And when a village is influenced by Western culture, particularly from World War Two airdrops, you may get the unique output of a "cargo cult", as is the case with Lamakara Village, also known as John Frum Village.

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.

Tucked near the crater gate on Tanna Island, the Volcano Museum (known locally as Haos Blong Volkeno, or "Volcano House") is a small but surprisingly rich educational stop that pairs perfectly with a visit to Mt Yasur.

Also known as the Maison des Volcans, the museum covers the science behind Yasur's two eruption styles: Strombolian (glowing magma bombs) and Vulcanian (blocked-vent explosions with ash showers), alongside data on magma temperatures of around 1,000°C and its status as one of the world's highest degassing volcanoes.

Beyond the geology, it also explores the traditional knowledge and stories of the communities that have lived beside Yasur for generations, giving you a cultural lens to go with the scientific one.

We'd recommend visiting before heading up to the crater; the context it provides genuinely changes how you experience the eruptions.

Tanna isn't just about volcanoes and kastom; its forests, gardens, wetlands and coastal areas also make the island rewarding to explore with your eyes turned towards the treetops.

One bird to look out for is the Tanna fruit dove, a Vanuatu endemic whose name comes from Tanna, where the species was first described.

Other birds recorded around Vanuatu include the iridescent shining bronze-cuckoo, white-rumped swiftlet, ground-dwelling buff-banded rail and Pacific black duck, particularly around forest, scrub and freshwater habitats.

Birdwatching here doesn't need to be a formal tour either. Early mornings are particularly pleasant for walking through quieter rural areas, gardens and forest tracks, stopping whenever calls or movement catch your attention.

Just remember to bring your own binoculars, as specialist birdwatching equipment isn't widely available to hire on Tanna.

For more wildlife to look out for around the islands, check out 10 Animals & Birds Found in Vanuatu.

For a quick taste of everyday life on Tanna, keep an eye out for gato, Vanuatu's simple take on a doughnut.

Rather than the heavily glazed or filled doughnuts you might be used to, gato is typically a humble piece of fried dough: soft and bread-like inside, lightly crisp outside and usually only mildly sweet. The snack is found across Vanuatu and is also made and sold on Tanna.

You'll often come across gato around local shops, bakeries and busy community areas, making it an easy snack to pick up while exploring the island. It's best enjoyed fresh while it's still warm, whether as a cheap breakfast, something to have with coffee or simply a bite between sightseeing stops.

It might not be one of Tanna's headline attractions, but trying a fresh gato is one of those small local experiences that makes travelling around the island all the more memorable.

Swap the fiery Mt Yasur for something more cooling at the Louniel Waterfall.

Standing approximately 20-30 m (66-98 ft) tall, this dramatic cascade provides the perfect opportunity to cool off from the island's heat and humidity in its plunge pool.

The adventure begins with a scenic journey along a rough dirt road, no matter where you are staying, followed by a pleasant 15-minute walk through tropical vegetation to reach the waterfall's base.

Most trips are conveniently organised through local resorts and bungalows LINK#A081, ensuring easy access to this natural wonder.

Many excursions combine the waterfall visit with a trip to the nearby black sand Louniel Beach, creating a perfect half-day adventure.

The most challenging thing about seeing all the sites on Tanna is that there are no vehicle rentals and no easy way to experience its natural wonders on your own. That's where Tanna Volcano Transfers & Tours come in.

Founded by Charlie, a dedicated teacher from Lautapunga Village, this community-focused operation offers genuine cultural immersion alongside spectacular volcanic adventures.

Their diverse offerings include afternoon and sunrise Mount Yasur volcano tours, the fascinating "Blue Cave & Yakel Tribe Tour", and comprehensive hiking experiences around Mount Yasur and Tanna Island. Multi-day packages (one to three nights) provide seamless transfers, accommodation at Chez Nous Bungalow, all meals, and visits to Mt Yasur, Blue Cave, and the traditional Yakel Tribe Village.

The smorgboard of experiences means you'll get to experience Mt Yasur as part of full-day excursions or afternoon or sunrise tours, while more active travellers will dig the "Hiking around Mount Yasur and Tanna Island" experience.