Vanuatu Expedition

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Most national governments provide regularly updated foreign travel advice on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all destinations and activities on your trip. Please refer to our website's safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trips here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/travel-alerts We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, flight tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. Your group leader or local representative will accompany you on all included activities, however, during your trip you'll have some free time to pursue your own interests or relax and take it easy. While your group leader or local representative will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your Intrepid itinerary, and Intrepid makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your group leader or local representative has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it's deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Intrepid's operational safety policies can be viewed on our website at the link below. We recommend that you take a moment to read through this information before travelling, and would appreciate any feedback on how safety is being managed on our trips. CRIME Crime against travellers in Vanuatu is rare. Crime in Vanuatu increases on weekends and in the weeks leading up to holidays, such as Christmas, Easter and Independence Day (30 July). Watch your belongings on buses and taxis, especially at night and avoid going out alone after dark or to isolated places. OPTIONAL TOURS & ACTIVITIES Not all tour operators follow high safety and maintenance standards. If you plan to do an optional tour or adventure activity: check if your travel insurance policy covers it, ask about and insist on minimum safety requirements, always use available safety gear, such as life jackets or seatbelts. If proper safety equipment isn't available, use another provider. SNORKELLING If you choose to snorkel on this trip, follow these basic rules when snorkelling: • Swim together in small groups and keep an eye out for each other: don’t snorkel alone • Don’t venture too deep • Don’t snorkel if you have been drinking • Don’t touch the coral or swim too close to the coral: coral cuts can get quickly infected • Don’t pick up shells or marine life: some shells have poisonous hosts. If you have a coral cut or graze then please clean it immediately with peroxide or Betadine or another antiseptic. Keep it covered and treat it regularly. SWIMMING In the hot summer months, there can be jellyfish in the tropical waters and some of these can leave a nasty sting. Reef shoes are recommended whenever you are swimming, to avoid coral cuts or other marine nasties such as stonefish. Never swim alone and always check with your leader before going swimming.

15 years and up

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