Tanna Island Full Day Tour: Mt Yasur Volcano & Hot Springs

Walk the ash plains of an active volcano while it erupts overhead

A full day guided tour of Tanna Island, Vanuatu, that takes you to Mount Yasur volcano, hot springs, shark bay and several cultural sites with a local English or French-speaking guide and hotel pickup included. The tour climbs to the smoking rim of Mount Yasur in the afternoon, where the volcano rumbles and ejects lava and ash hundreds of meters into the air. A moderate fitness level is needed for the volcano climb and the day runs 10 to 12 hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day tour of Tanna Island

• Visit Machikchiky Coconut
• Explore the Cannibal Village
• See Shark Bay
• Relax at Local Hot Springs
• Visit Port Resolution
• Climb Mount Yasur volcano rim
• Watch volcanic activity at Mount Yasur

The Experience

The day starts with hotel pickup and moves through multiple Tanna Island stops—machikchiky coconut plantation, the cannibal village, shark bay, and the local hot springs—each one guided by someone who knows the island and its history. You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle between sites, and coffee or tea is provided to keep you going through the morning and early afternoon.

The afternoon builds toward Mount Yasur. You climb to the smoking rim of the volcano—the most accessible active volcano on earth—and stand close enough to watch it rumble and spit lava and ash hundreds of meters into the open air. The ash plains themselves are part of the experience: you walk across ground shaped by the volcano's own activity, with the crater and its light show directly overhead. This is not a distant view from a safe platform; you are on the rim itself, in the majestic surrounds, as the volcano performs.

The tour is run by Tanna Volcano Transfers and Tours, a community-owned company, so the money spent here circulates through the local population. Your guide speaks English or French and has the knowledge to explain what you are seeing and why the island looks the way it does. The full day commitment—10 to 12 hours—means you see the island's range of landscapes and geology without rushing any single stop.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers between sites.
• a local guide fluent in English or French.
• coffee and tea.
• all entrance fees and taxes for each site visited, including Mount Yasur.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Tanna Volcano Transfers and Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see an active volcano up close and understand the full geography of Tanna Island in a single day. The local guide and community-owned operation mean you are supporting the island directly, and the full day pace lets you move through multiple ecosystems and cultural sites without feeling rushed between stops.

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Top questions

What is Mount Yasur actually like when you get to the rim?

Mount Yasur is an active volcano where you can stand at the smoking rim and watch it erupt in real time—lava and ash shoot hundreds of meters into the air. The volcano rumbles continuously, and the ground beneath you is the ash plain the eruptions have built over time. It is the world's most accessible active volcano, so you reach the rim on foot without technical climbing or special equipment.

How fit do I need to be for this tour?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The climb to Mount Yasur's rim and the full day of walking across multiple sites demand stamina, but the pace is set by the guide and the group. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnant travelers.

What other sites does the tour include besides the volcano?

The full day tour visits machikchiky coconut plantation, the cannibal village, shark bay, the local hot springs, and Port Resolution, all with your local guide. Each stop shows a different part of Tanna Island's culture, geography and history before the afternoon climb to Mount Yasur.

Does the tour include pickup from my hotel?

Yes, hotel pickup is included in the tour price. Your guide will collect you from your accommodation and return you at the end of the day. The tour uses an air-conditioned vehicle to travel between sites.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide speaks English or French. You can request your preferred language when you book.

How long does the full day tour take?

The tour runs 10 to 12 hours from pickup to drop-off, allowing time to visit all the island sites and spend the afternoon at Mount Yasur's rim.