Adventure trekkings with "Blue Island Adventures"
The
Millennium Cave
 About An hour from Luganville town. Jungles walk to the Vunaspef village though the homemade bamboo bridge. Discovered by the villagers in the Vunaspef village in 2000.
Walk through tropical rainforest, explore the dark cave full of bats and swallows, high ceiling about 50 meters high, 3-4 km long, have splash in the waterfall. Lunch break in the tropical rainforest on the river side, then the most amazing experience, swim down the river through the tropical gorge. More bush walk back to Vunaspef village.
The
villagers of the Vunaspef didn’t know about the cave until
a dog went missing while they were hunting wild pigs. Later, a
man nearly fell into the hole (luckily escaped) unaware of how
deep it was. Then they found the mouth of the cave, but were
too scared to enter.
In 2000, a German TV crew was invited by Santo's explorer Glen Russel to explore with villagers then discovered the enormous cave, they named "Millennium Cave"
Don’t
underestimate this tour as it could be dangerous. Huge rocks could
get slippery if you don’t have right shoes for walking or
are unaccustomed to jungle treks.
This hard adventure tour (not
as hard as the Marakai trip) is the
most popular tour in Santo now. Full day tour 7 - 8 hours depends
on your walking speed. Not suitable for the children under 10
years old. 4WD transfer, life jackets, torchs are provided.
Duration of the tour: About 7 – 8 hours
Things to bring: walking shoes or thick dive boots,
swim wear, towel, change of cloths, dry bag(if you bring dry camera), insect
repellent. |
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Blue Pool Adventure
 Just opened up on May 2007 by Vunaspef village.
About an hour walk from the village, you will see the pool of river where you can swim, jump off wall, then you swim and walk through the river to meet Bamboo rudder. You can get on it if you are tired or you don't like to swim much. Walk and swim three different rivers with different scenery. Very pretty. You will feel refershing in
the rainforest. One of the river has full of coral and shell from long ago... Not so hard as Millennium Cave. Suitable for most ages.
Duration
of the tour: About 7 hours
Things to bring: walking shoes or dive boots,
swim wear, towel, change, dry bag(if you bring camera), insect
repellent.
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Bamboo forest & river tour
 Another creation of the Vunaspef village.
About a hour walk from Vunaspef village, you will arrive in the middle of the bamboo forest. Absolutely amazingly beautiful.
Explore the rainforest. The River run through the forest full of freshwater prawns. You can swim and play.
Suitable for most ages.
Duration of the tour: About 5 - 6 hours
Things to bring: walking shoes or dive boots,
swim wear, towel, camera, insect
repellent.
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5 Rivers
 About 2 hours walk from Vunaspef village, treck through bamboo forest. Not so hard walk as the Millennium cave. The island surround by 5 rivers. Swim in the river, walk through rainforest. The local will catch fresh water prawns from near by river to cook for your dinner. Have a talk with the family, help them make kava and cook the dinner to experience their life style. Stay in the local hut, sleep in your sleeping bag on the weaving mat.
Next day, the guide will take you for a walk to swim in the waterfall.
Things
to bring: Trekking shose or walking shoes, swim wear, towel,
clothes for 2 days, dry bag(if you bring camera), insect repellent,
clothes to wear at night, sleeping bag, air mat, air pillow,
water bottles, snacks.
Available for hire: Air mats, Air pillows, Sleeping bags, Torches.
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Vunaspef
Village Stay & 3 days trekking
 The best way to experience and learn the ni-Vanuatu (Vanuatu
people) normal way of life, their culture while getting a
little fitter like they are.
Stay at their local hut, sleep on
the sleeping bag, eat their local lap
lap (wrapped food in leaves, then cooked in the ground), have
cold showers outside, experience a genuine Kava ceremony (not
like normal Kava bar in town), sing along with their string band….
with 3 days trekking. Millennium Cave tour, Blue Pool tour, and
Bamboo river tour.
Things
to bring: Walking shoes or dive boots, swim wear, towel,
clothes for 3 days, dry bag(if you bring camera), insect repellent,
clothes to wear at night, sleeping bag, air pillow,
water bottles, snacks, gifts to village children if you wish.
Available for hire: Air mats, Air pillows, Sleeping bags, Torches.
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Vunaspef village & 5 rivers
 Including Millennium Cave Tour.
Customised over night tour. Recommend to stay at 5 rivers for the first night, then Vunaspef village next day with Millennium Cave tour on 3rd day. Two tours in one. Great experience, and fantastic treking and village experience.
Duration of the tour: Over night tours
Things to bring:Sleeping bag, walking shoes or dive boots, swim wear, towel,
clothes for 3 days, dry bag for dry camera, insect repellent, clothes to wear at night, sleeping bag, air pillow,
water bottles, snacks, gifts to village children if you wish.
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Marakai
Village Tour (from Central Santo)
4WD will pick you up from Luganville to take you to Butmas. Take about a hour and half drive. Riki & other guides will meet you there, then start trekking. About 4 hours walk to get to the custom village called Fortsunel. You will be asked to wait for a while for the villagers to get together to welcome you.
They bring you to their Nakamal (community hat). You are allowed to walk around village after their welcome. They like to show you how to make weavings, their custom way of work.
 Around sunset, there is a Kava ceremony for you. You will be expect to drink at least one shell (they use coconuts shell) to appriciate their welcome, however, if you are not able drink it, then ask your guide to stand behind you to take your shell on your behalf.
People in the custom villages are very polite and very respecfull.
You will be asked to follow your guide's advise while you are in their village.
While you are talking to Chief & their family, woman will bring you some kai kai (local meal) for you. Most likely, Taro & some cabbages. More you eat, they will like you.
 Just reluxe, have some kava, have some thier kai kai. The Nakamal is where you drink kava, eat meal, talk with others, and sleep. They will offer you a weaving mat. You will place your air mat and sleeping bag. That is where you eat your meal and to sleep.
If you wish to make your own food, then you will be expect to share with all your villagers or at least with chief's family. So, we recommend you to eat what you offered.
Next morning after the breakfast(more taro & cabbages), good-by to the chief and villagers, trek for about 2 hours to get to pure custom village "Marakai"(see the article).
 You will be asked to stay in their guest house until the chief and villegers return from work in their garden, could be a hour or 4 hours. Woman will bring some food for you while you wait.
When they get together, they will all lined up sing a song of Nagriamel which they used sung at Jimmy Steven's village.
Shake everyone's hand after the singing, give your gift to chief and then you are free to walk aboud the village.
Man or woman which ever your sex is, they will take you to the near by creek to have a swim(wash) yourself. Watch how they prepare kava, how to cook Taro in the ground and food. Chief might show you how to make fire from the special wood, and
how to make salt. It is very interesting that how they know such things.
99% they don't make money, so they don't buy anytyhing except kerosine lamp when they are lucky. They do not want money from you as once you are welcomed, you are part of their family. However, they welcome some gift like sugar. salt, candles, matches, fishing lines, cotton & needles etc, anything you can bring.
 They will welcome you with Kava ceremony, then feed you with their
normal meal like Taro and island cabbage. They only eat meat on
special occasions. Most likely they don’t know you are coming to their
village until when you get there, unless we can send coconuts telegraph,
so don’t expect to receive a big feast. But you will find their hospitality is better than any other villages.
For your last night, Riki & guides will take you to a place called Mire Mire the large hat blong to the Fortsunel village. Soround by rainforest and pretty river. Riki can take you to near by waterfall if you would like.
Please do not expect everything to go on the plan. You might get caught by river fllow because of sudden raining. You might decide to stay few more nights to see and experience more of their life style. So, have a reluxed plan just in case. Most of the parts in the jungle don't have phone connection.
Things to bring: Backpack, an extra backpack
for your guide, sleeping bag, rolling or air mat, air
pillow, snacks for during the trekking
for you & guides, gloves, minimum amount of change of clothes,
weather proof bags for your backpack, trekking shoes, thongs
or sandals to wear at village, hand held GPS(if you like).
Available for hire: Air mats, Air pillows, Sleeping bags, Torches.
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Marakai
Village Tour (from South Santo)
 You will be transferred to South Santo about
an hour drive from Luganville, there you leave your vehicle, and start
the walk with guides.
Walk
along the banks of the Wylapa River, and swim across the river,
headed for high attitude… On the way up, the guide will
show you “the rock” which they believe it is the“Ark
of Noah”, you have a small rest to see how far you walked
up…
We plan the tours from our own experience, so we know exactly
know what we am talking about.
This is much harder than the trek through Fortsunel village.
There are many villages there for you to see and stay, we recommend minimum 4 nights
5 days stay.
First night stay at Tavunbotari village, then True Custom village
“Marakai”(see the article)…stay there for two night, then
Charakatui village for your last night…
 They will welcome you with Kava ceremony, then feed you with their
normal meal like Taro and island cabbage. They only eat meat on
special occasions. They don’t know you are coming to their
village until when you get there, unless we can send coconuts telegraph,
so don’t expect to receive a big feast.
Things to bring: Backpack, an extra backpack
for your guide, sleeping bag, rolling or air mat, air
pillow, snacks for during the trekking
for you & guides, gloves, minimum amount of change of clothes,
weather proof bags for your backpack, trekking shoes, thongs
or sandals to wear at village, hand held GPS(if you like).
Available for hire: Air mats, Air pillows, Sleeping bags, Torches.
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Mount Tabwemasana
 Mt Tabwemasana (1,879 meters) is highest peak in Vanuatu, also one of the highest mountain in the pacific.
You will be transfered from Luganville by 4WD to Tassiriki village in the west coast. It will take you about 4 hours due to the bad conditioned road. Take about 4 hours boat ride from Tassiriki to Kerepua village. An over night in the village's guest house.
Early next morning, take your guides from the village to start trek. About 10 hours climb to the base camp. The guides will cook easy meal for you. An over night at the base camp in your tent. Depart early next morning.
About 4 hours climb to the Summit. Have a good rest, and enjoy your view, then climb down for about 5 hours to return to the base camp. Another night in your tent, depart early morning, climb down for about 9 hours to return to Kerepua village. Have a good rest at village.
 You will have choice to leave from Kerepua village back to Tassiriki, or walk about 2 hours to Wusi village. The village is famous for making pottrey. An over night in the village to see how they make the pottrey(seasonal). Boat transfer back to Tassiriki, then 4WD back to Luganville.
You will need to prepare well in advance for this tour. Take minimum 2 weeks to send message to Kerepua village.
Things
to bring: Trekking shose, towel,
clothes for 6 days, waterproof bag for your backpack, insect repellent,
tent, mosquito net, sleeping bag, air mat, air pillow,
water bottles, snacks. You will be popular person if you take some gifts for the village children.
Available for hire: Air mats, Air pillows, Sleeping bags, Torches.
The photos of Mt Tabwemasana taken by ©Mike Wilgar www.runningwateradventures.com.au
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