Port Vila Lelepa Island Day Trip with Snorkeling & BBQ

Havannah Harbour and the boat ride to Lelepa

The day begins with pickup from your resort in Port Vila and a drive of about 35 to 40 minutes around the coast of Efate to Havannah Harbour. This long, sheltered stretch of water on the northwest side of the island is one of the calmest anchorages in Vanuatu; during the Second World War it served as a base for Allied fleets, and today its shores are lined with villages, coconut plantations and small resorts.

From the shore a boat takes you on a 15 to 20 minute ride across the harbour to Lelepa Island, a hilly island covered in forest with white beaches and clear lagoons. On the way, keep watch for dolphins, which are sometimes seen in these waters. On arrival your hosts welcome you with a tropical refreshment and a short introduction to the plan for the day on Lelepa.

Snorkelling in the Lelepa marine sanctuary

The heart of this Lelepa Island tour is the snorkelling. The village protects a marine conservation area off the island, where fishing is restricted and reef life has flourished. Snorkelling off the boat, you float above corals while thousands of colourful reef fish swirl around you, and you can see giant clams resting in their natural habitat, their mantles glowing in blue, green and purple.

The crew also takes you to a sunken plane wreck lying in clear water, now covered with coral and alive with fish, which makes a memorable sight for snorkellers. Masks, snorkels and fins are provided, and the guides keep an eye on the group in the water. This activity is for swimmers; please follow your guide's advice, do not stand on the coral, and never touch the marine life.

Beach time, kayaking and the barbecue lunch

Back on the beach there is time to paddle a kayak along the shore, swim in the calm lagoon or simply relax in the shade. Around midday your hosts serve a beach barbecue lunch of local beef and chicken, grilled over the fire and served with crispy bread and fresh salad, often with fish from the island. Vanuatu beef, raised on open pastures, is famous across the Pacific.

After lunch you can take a light afternoon siesta in a hammock or on the sand with a book, before the afternoon activities begin. The beach is quiet, with soft sand and turquoise water, and it feels far away from the busy life of Port Vila. Bring a towel, swimwear, a hat and reef-safe sunscreen to enjoy it fully.

Bush walk and Chief Roi Mata's Domain

In the afternoon a local guide leads a short bush trail into the rainforest behind the beach, explaining the plants the islanders use for food, building and traditional medicine. It is a gentle walk that shows how closely life on Lelepa is tied to the land and the forest, and a good chance to see tropical birds and giant trees.

Your guide also tells the story of Chief Roi Mata's Domain, Vanuatu's only UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 2008. It links three early seventeenth-century sites on Efate, Lelepa and Artok islands associated with the legendary paramount chief: his residence, the cave on Lelepa where he is said to have died, and his burial site on Artok. Strong oral traditions and taboos have protected these places for centuries.

Village visit, crafts and farewell

The day ends with a visit to the local village on Lelepa. Over a hot cup of tea or coffee you meet the islanders, browse handicrafts and wood carvings made in the village, and learn about daily life on a small Pacific island. The women of the village often display woven baskets, mats and jewellery, and buying a piece is a direct way to support the community.

Before you leave, the village children sing a few songs as a farewell, a warm moment that many travellers remember long after the trip. Then the boat takes you back across Havannah Harbour, and our driver returns you to your resort in Port Vila in the late afternoon, after a day of sea, sun and culture. The tour runs every day except Saturday.