Island Explorer

Two small islands off north Efate, reached by boat, with no domestic flight needed. On Island Explorer, a three-day trip with a Vanuatu Ecotours guide, you walk on Nguna and stay on Pele, in a simple beach bungalow run by a group of village women who cook with produce from their gardens and, with luck, the day's catch.

Day one starts on Nguna: climb Mt Marou, a 472-metre extinct volcano with views over the Shepherd Islands, or take an easier walk between coastal villages. Day two is yours on Pele. Walk around the island in about three hours, wading in places, snorkel the marine conservation area and look for giant clams, or simply rest on the beach.

The drive to and from the north-coast wharf follows the west and east coast roads, so you see all of Efate on the way. Both islands belong to the Nguna-Pele Marine Protected Area, set up by local communities to look after their reefs.