10 Less-Travelled Islands in Vanuatu

For wild volcanic landscapes in the far north, Gaua is one of Vanuatu’s great offbeat adventures. The island is best known for Lake Letas, a crater lake at the centre of the island, and Mt Garet, an active volcano rising from its eastern side.

This is the sort of place where adventure means trekking through rainforest, visiting waterfalls and travelling with a flexible attitude toward transport, weather and island timing. If you’re looking for a polished resort island, this is not it. If you’re looking for a proper Banks Islands adventure, now we’re talking.

Another remote beauty in the Banks Islands, Vanua Lava is a rugged volcanic island with villages, rainforest, waterfalls, hot springs and quiet coastal scenery. Its main settlement, Sola, is one of the more important centres in Vanuatu’s far north, but that doesn’t mean you should expect anything too busy.

Vanua Lava suits travellers who are happy to slow right down and let the island set the pace. Walks, village visits, coastal exploring and simple guesthouse stays are the kind of experiences to expect here, with far more nature and local life than conventional sightseeing.

Long, green and volcanic, Ambae is one of Vanuatu’s most distinctive islands. It’s dominated by the Manaro volcanic area, where crater lakes and highland landscapes give the island a dramatic character very different from the beach-first image many travellers have of the South Pacific.

Ambae is not a mainstream holiday stop, but that’s exactly the point. Travellers come here for local hospitality, village life, walking, coastal scenery and the sense of being somewhere that still feels far removed from the usual travel trail. Just check current access and island conditions before planning, as volcanic activity has affected travel here in the past.

Find more island-hopping ideas in A Guide to the Provinces of Vanuatu & the Best Islands to Visit.

Pentecost is famous for naghol, or land diving, where men leap from tall wooden towers with vines tied to their ankles. Travellers can fly in and out from Port Vila to watch land diving during the April to June season, but even with this world-famous tradition, Pentecost is still far less visited than Vanuatu’s main holiday islands.

Outside of land diving season, the island rewards curious travellers with waterfalls, villages, forested hills and a much quieter look at everyday life in Vanuatu. The experience is less about ticking off attractions and more about understanding why this island has such a powerful place in the country’s cultural identity.

Dark, dramatic and deeply cultural, Ambrym is one of Vanuatu’s most intriguing islands. It’s known for volcanic landscapes, black-sand beaches, wood carving, kastom ceremonies and the famous rom dance, making it a place where nature and culture feel especially close.

Ambrym’s volcanic treks to areas associated with Mt Benbow and Mt Marum have long attracted adventurous travellers, although access depends on safety, conditions and local guidance. Even without a full volcano trek, the island’s ash plains, villages and powerful cultural traditions make Ambrym feel like nowhere else in Vanuatu.

For more cultural experiences, see The Best Cultural Activities in Vanuatu.

Remote, rugged and sparsely visited, Erromango is one for travellers who want Vanuatu well away from the usual routes. The island has a fascinating and sometimes difficult history, including sandalwood trading, early missionary encounters and long-established village traditions.

Today, Erromango offers beaches, forests, caves, reefs and quiet settlements where tourism remains very limited. It’s an island to approach with time, respect and realistic expectations, as services are simple and local arrangements matter.

Mota Lava is another less-travelled gem in the Banks Islands, offering a gentler contrast to some of Vanuatu’s wilder volcanic destinations. It’s known for quiet village life, coastal scenery and access to nearby Ra Island, which is connected by reef and lagoon scenery depending on conditions.

This is a place for slow travel, beach walks, village stays and switching off from the outside world. You don’t come here for nightlife, unless your definition of nightlife includes stars, waves and trying to remember where you put your torch.

Waterfalls, rainforest and very limited tourism; that’s the short version of Maewo. This long, lush island is one of Vanuatu’s greenest escapes, with steep slopes, heavy rainfall, cascades and village communities that see far fewer visitors than the country’s better-known islands.

Maewo is ideal for travellers drawn to walking, natural swimming spots, local hospitality and quiet rural scenery. Facilities are basic, transport takes planning and the island doesn’t try to be a polished holiday destination, which is exactly why adventurous travellers will find it so rewarding.

For more nature-focused travel, see The Best Waterfalls in Vanuatu.

Set in the Shepherd Islands, Epi is a rewarding less-travelled island for those who want something quieter than Efate but not quite as far-flung as the Torres or Banks Islands. It’s known for laidback coastal villages, volcanic scenery, beaches, snorkelling and the possibility of seeing dugongs around places such as Lamen Bay.

Epi has a peaceful, low-key feel, with simple stays and local-style travel rather than big resorts. It’s a great option if you want to push beyond the main visitor circuit without diving straight into the deep end of Vanuatu logistics.

Small, steep and rarely visited, Futuna is one of those islands that quietly punches far above its weight in Vanuatu’s cultural story. In fact, many of the cultural performances and demonstrations visitors see at Efate and Santo culture villages trace their roots back to Futuna, from fire walking traditions to music, dance and village customs. If that doesn’t make you curious to visit the source, we don’t know what will.

Futuna itself is remote, rugged and scenically dramatic, with sheer coastal slopes, traditional villages and striking natural features like the island’s “Moon Rock”, a volcanic-looking coastal formation where the rock patterns are naturally sculpted into an eye shape.

This is not a place of resort comforts and easy sightseeing. Futuna is for travellers who want cultural depth, quiet island life and a real sense of stepping beyond Vanuatu’s usual visitor trail.

See more cultural experiences in The Best Culture Tours in Vanuatu.