Cooking class in Vanuatu: Make simboros and coconut milk

Make simboros, press coconut milk, walk the gardens where the food grows

A two-hour cooking class at Eden on the River in Vanuatu where you prepare simboros (a local delicacy) and make coconut milk from fresh coconuts, guided by the property's team. You explore the kitchen gardens to see manioc, island cabbage, and coconuts growing, learn about kava's place in the culture, and eat what you've made with a tropical fruit platter. Choose self-drive or book transfers from your hotel.

The experience

The class starts with your hands in the work: you learn to prepare simboros, a local dish that sits at the center of Aelan slow-food traditions, guided by staff who know the recipes and the stories behind them. Then you move to the gardens (manioc, island cabbage, coconuts), and see where these ingredients actually come from. The team explains kava's cultural significance as you walk, so the food stops being abstract and becomes rooted in place.

The second half is about making coconut milk from fresh coconuts, which means you're extracting it yourself rather than watching a demonstration. Afterward you sit down to eat what you've prepared, served alongside a tropical fruit platter. The property sits on the river, so if you want to relax by the water instead of exploring the gardens and playground, that's an option too.

Two hours total. Light refreshments are included. You can either drive yourself to Eden on the River or book the option with transfers from your hotel. Both versions include the guide in English and all fees and taxes.

What’s included

• Two hours of hands-on instruction in preparing simboros and making coconut milk.
• a guided walk through the kitchen gardens to see manioc, island cabbage, and coconuts.
• light refreshments.
• the meal you've cooked with a tropical fruit platter.
• and a live guide in English. All fees and taxes are included. Transfers from your hotel are included only if you book the option with transfers.

Options for this experience

2 options

Island Cooking Self-DriveGuide in English · 10:30 and 13:00Light refreshments are served

Island cooking class, transfers providedGuide in English · 10:30 and 13:00Light refreshments, and pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:30 and 13:00

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (13 to 90 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 18 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Stroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Eden on the River

Is this one for you?Book the self-drive option if you have a rental car or prefer to arrange your own transport. Choose the transfers option if you'd rather have pickup from your hotel and skip the navigation. Either way, the two-hour format fits a half-day slot without consuming your whole afternoon.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What exactly is simboros and why does it matter in Vanuatu cooking?

Simboros is a local delicacy central to Aelan slow-food traditions. The class teaches you to prepare it the way the property's team does, and the guide shares the stories and techniques that connect the dish to the island community.

Do I make the coconut milk myself or watch someone else do it?

You make it yourself. The class includes hands-on instruction in extracting coconut milk from fresh coconuts, so you're doing the work, not observing.

Will I see where the ingredients come from?

Yes. You explore the kitchen gardens at Eden on the River and see manioc, island cabbage, and coconuts growing there. The guide explains how these ingredients connect to the dishes you've prepared.

Does the class include transfers from my hotel?

Transfers are included if you book the Island Cooking With Transfers option at checkout. If you choose Island Cooking Self-Drive, you arrange your own transport to Eden on the River.

What happens after we finish cooking?

You eat the simboros and coconut milk you've made, served with a tropical fruit platter. The property also has a river, gardens, and a playground, so you can relax or explore depending on what you prefer.