I think it’s safe to say that one of the coolest things I have done in my life is visit one of the world’s most accessible active volcanoes- Mt Yasur Volcano in Vanuatu! If you are planning a visit to Vanuatu, then I would highly recommend adding a visit to Mt Yasur volcano to your itinerary.
Mt Yasur Volcano is on Tanna Island which is located 45 mins south by air from Port Vila. The volcano is known for its spectacular and persistent relatively mild eruption activity that consists of regular small to violent explosions from one or several vents. It’s been continuously active since Captain Cook observed ash eruptions in 1774 (and possibly for centuries before).
Tips for Travelling Vanuatu
Travel with an eSim: Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store that solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving travelers access to eSIMs (digital SIM cards). More than one million people are already using Airalo’s eSIMs.With eSIMs from Airalo, travelers can download and install a digital data pack for over 200 countries/regions and get connected anywhere in the world as soon as they land.
Compensation for delayed or canceled flights: Since 2013, AirHelp has helped more than 10 million passengers understand their rights and receive up to €600 in compensation for delayed or canceled flights.
Book the cheapest Hotels: Hotellook — a service that helps you find and compare prices on hotels around the world, provided by a leading reservation system. Today, Hotellook.com offered to put together information on more than 250,000 hotels in 205 countries, working with data from more than 10 online booking systems, such as Booking.com, Agoda.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, and others.
Car Rental: Rentalcars.com is the world’s largest online car rental service. They make eight million bookings a year (and counting) in over 60,000 locations across 160 countries. Rentalcars.com offers 24/7 customer service, connect you to the biggest brands in car rental and their website is available in 43 languages.
Trip Advisor: Travelers across the globe use the Tripadvisor site to discover where to stay, what to do, and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than one billion reviews and opinions of nearly eight million businesses, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants, and discover great places nearby.
Find the cheapest flights: WayAway is a flight aggregator that provides travelers with the best rates on airline tickets. Users can also purchase the WayAway Plus membership plan, which gives cashback on flights, accommodation, car rentals, tours, and more.
Is it Safe to visit Mt Yasur Volcano in Vanuatu?
Just like the title indicates- I visited Mt Yasur Volcano and survived! Despite the volcano being one of the main tourist attractions in Vanuatu, the summit has been kept untouched with minimal fencing and signs. This somewhat adds a thrill to the experience whilst also providing an obstruction-clear view. Standing at the edge of an active volcano does however have its hazards. As with anything risky, following the instructions of your guide and using common sense is key. I believe the main threat comes from the projectiles. When an explosion happens, don’t panic (or scream loudly like I did lol).
Visit Mt Yasur Volcano Tour Options
There are many tours available that will take you to the summit of Mt Yasur. I’ve been told it’s best to take an organised tour as they have security guards around the summit of the volcano that will demand you pay a fee if you try to hike up there on your own. I organised my tour through Whitegrass Ocean Resort & Spa, where I was staying during my time on Tanna Island. I also saw a booth at the Port Vila airport called Air Taxi Vanuatu, where instead of staying on the island you can book a day (or night) trip to see the volcano.
What to expect on your visit to Mt Yasur Volcano
I have to say that I absolutely loved my experience visiting Mt Yasur Volcano! We had a really friendly and fun local driver who took us to the far side of Tanna through the mountain region known as ‘Middle Bush’. We passed many remote villages and even saw some wildlife before we crossed over Mt Loanialu. At 522m high, we stopped on the side of the road to take photos of the volcano in the distance where we saw glimpses of Tanna’s East coast.
Not sure what to pack? See my Packing List for more tips!
After making our way back down the mountain we made another stop at the Mars-like landscape of the volcanic ash plains. Once we reached the base of Mt Yasur, we were greeted with a safety briefing and Custom dancing to keep us safe on our journey to the top.
Standing near the crater and watching the lava exploding from deep within the volcano is one of the most incredible things you could ever experience in your life!
Pro Tip: Pack a light jumper or jacket. Even on the most hottest day, it can get quite cool at the top and it is extremely windy!
Important Note: If you want to fly a drone, do so from the ash fields. When we checked in for our tour at the base of the volcano we were told we had to pay a 10,000 Vt fee!
There’s honestly nothing quite like what you’re about to see. And the magnificence of the volcano gets even better as the sun starts to set and you can see the glow of the lava from deep within the vents below.
We paid 15,750 Vt pp through Whitegrass Ocean Resort & Spa
Other things to do on Tanna island in Vanuatu
Visit the Blue Cave
If you’re staying on the island and have the time, I would highly recommend a visit to the stunning Blue Cave. You will travel by a boat to the small cave opening which is accessed by swimming under half a meter of water. The gorgeous grotto is lit from above by a shaft of light filtering down through a hole in the cave’s roof. The effect is absolutely magical!
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