When travelling to Espiritu Santo, you’ll likely hear a lot about Millennium Cave. It’s often listed as one of the best things to do in Vanuatu – and for good reason. But once you hear about the price or the level of difficulty, you might hesitate to sign up. Based on my experience doing the Millennium Cave tour in 2018, I’ll walk you through what to expect and how to prepare, so you get the most out of this epic Vanuatu adventure.
Is the Millennium Cave trek expensive?
This is an expensive activity. The price we paid included transport to and from Luganville, but not our lunch. Make sure you pack lunch and drinks. It’s a full-day guided adventure that takes you into one of the most remote parts of Santo.
But it’s easier to accept the price when you realise the money supports the local community. When we visited, the funds helped provide education to more than 125 children – a number that had been growing every year.
In some places in Vanuatu – like the Mele Cascades in Port Vila or Mount Yasur Volcano in Tanna – we felt the entry fees were steep for what was offered. But that wasn’t the case here. Not only does the money go to a good cause, but the experience itself was excellent. Our guide was knowledgeable, passionate, and shared lots of interesting stories.
What’s the itinerary of the Millennium Cave trek?
Your day starts at the tour office in Luganville, just after the Sarakata River bridge. Make sure you start there, otherwise it might mean you’re going with a rogue operator, which is risky and does not support the local community.
From there, a 4WD takes you to Nambel village – a 45-minute ride through the countryside. We sat at the back of the truck and had a great time chatting with local school kids who joined us for part of the ride and even shared their snacks – a cousin of the cacao bean we’d never seen before.
From Nambel, it’s a 20-minute walk to Vunaspef village, the landowners of Millennium Cave. While this first walk isn’t hard, it’s already quite slippery and includes a bamboo bridge that gives you a taste of what’s to come.
From the village, it takes about 1.5 hours to walk to the cave. Going through the cave takes around 30 minutes. You then stop for lunch near the river before scrambling over rocks for another 30 minutes (a light canyoning section), followed by a 45-minute leisurely swim. The final leg is a 30-minute walk back to the village.
After a short rest, you’ll walk back to Nambel and return to Luganville by car. So in total, you’re looking at roughly six hours of adventure.
How difficult is the Millennium Cave tour?
We’re used to long and challenging hikes and didn’t find this one too hard, but I definitely wouldn’t recommend it for first-time hikers or people with mobility issues. And I absolutely recommend that you check the weather forecast and postpone your hike it if it has rained or if rain is forecast (see these reviews).
Here’s what makes the trek physically demanding:
- You’ll walk for around four hours, depending on your group’s fitness
- The terrain is slippery and uneven – you need good balance
- You’ll climb steep wooden ladders and scramble over rocks
- You’ll walk in a river and explore a pitch-dark cave with just a torch
- There’s a short but technical canyon section
- The tropical heat and humidity can make it tougher
That said, the path has been improved a lot by the locals. I never felt unsafe, but keep in mind the safety standards may be different from what you’re used to (e.g. wooden ladders, no helmets, basic anchoring). As long as you’re in good health, take your time, and listen to your guide, it’s doable. Don’t hesitate to speak up if you feel unsure – the guide can help you navigate tricky spots.
The cave itself is large, with space to move and good airflow. I didn’t find it scary at all, but if you’re claustrophobic, you might.
Are you covered for adventurous activities by your travel insurance? I recommend double-checking to avoid bad surprises if an incident happens. Adventurous activities are often extra. Some travel insurance like WorldNomads* and Covermore* make it easy to include adventurous activities.
Is the Millennium Cave tour worth it?
That’s a big yes from me. We could not have wished for a better tour – it was adventurous, cultural, scenic, and very different from anything else we did in Vanuatu. We actually regretted there was no volcano trek on Tanna, but the Millennium Cave tour made up for it.
Although some parts of the track have been improved to make it more accessible, it still feels very wild and natural. Our guide was fantastic – not only did he make us feel safe throughout the more technical sections, but he was also keen to share his knowledge about the forest and his culture. As we walked through the jungle, we learnt how villagers use different plants for food and medicine, and we had the chance to try local fruits we’d never seen before, including what they call their “local apples”, plus some of the best bananas and passionfruit we’ve ever tasted.
The cave itself was stunning: huge, dark, and echoing with the sound of bats flying overhead. The feeling of walking in complete darkness with only a small torch, surrounded by towering rock walls, was unforgettable. After the cave, the canyoning section was heaps of fun. I actually wished it had lasted a bit longer! The final swim in the river was a peaceful way to end the day, with dramatic cliffs and greenery all around – although I found the water a bit too refreshing for my liking.
It wasn’t at all a walk in the park, but it was easier than I expected, and I was really glad I didn’t let the “adventurous” label put me off.
Can you do the Millennium Cave tour with kids?
The tour isn’t designed for young children, but some families with older kids do it. I’d say it depends less on their age and more on their fitness and confidence in the water. I can think of children I know who would love the experience and others who would be terrified and exhausted. There is also a certain level of risk in this kind of activity that only parents can evaluate for their own child. Children need to be able to:
- Walk for several hours on uneven ground
- Climb up and down ladders (which would be too high for young kids)
- Swim or float confidently in deep water for up to 45 minutes
There were no life jackets or wetsuits provided when we went, so you need to be well-prepared. If you’re unsure, check directly with the tour operator – they’ll know if the tour is suitable based on current conditions and your child’s age.
We met a family who completed it with two children (around 10 and 12 years old), and they loved it, but they were used to hiking and outdoor activities.
If the kids are too young, this should not necessarily stop the entire family from joining the tour. I recommend asking the office about available options. Maybe people in the village can look after the young children while the rest of the family goes on the hike. I spent a few hours waiting for my partner in a Ni-van village, and many children were happy to find a new face to play with. They might also be able to organise more family-friendly tours from their village to the river or the jungle.
How to go to Millennium Cave
You cannot go to Millennium Cave for a self-guided visit. You need the authorisation of the landowners who will provide a guide for you. And you cannot drive to Vunaspef village with a car rental. Only experienced drivers can manage this unsealed road in bad condition. Plus, we were limited to a zone with our car rental that included most touristy sites on Santo but not Millennium Cave.
Your only option to visit Millennium Cave is to book a tour.
You can visit their official website for all the information about booking your Millennium Cave tour. The best is to contact them in advance by phone (+678 547 0957) or email (bookings@millenniumcave.com).
You can book in person at the tour office in Luganville (just after the Sarakata River bridge) or ask your accommodation to help organise it. It’s best to book at least a day in advance, especially in peak season.
Tours usually leave around 8.30 am and return by late afternoon. Group sizes vary – ours was small (six people), which made it easier to go at our own pace and hear the guide clearly.
What should you bring?
I recommend asking your guide what you should or should not take with you on the hike. You have the option to leave stuff at the village. Keep in mind that all the things you take may get wet.
Here’s what we brought and what we recommend packing:
- Closed water shoes or reef shoes with good grip (essential – it’s slippery)
- Quick-dry clothes (you’ll be wet for most of the day) – I always opt for long sleeves and pants to protect my skin from scratches, the sun and insects
- Light waterproof bag or dry bag (for your lunch and valuables)
- Torch or headlamp (you’ll be given one, but bring your own if you prefer hands-free)
- Water bottle (at least 1.5L per person) – We read from the Australian Government’s Smart Traveller website that “tap water in the major urban centres of Port Vila and Luganville is generally safe to drink,” so we filled up our water bottles from the tap at our accommodation before the Millennium Cave tour.
- Snacks and lunch (nothing is provided)
- Towel and change of clothes (leave them in the car for the return)
- Insect repellent and sunscreen (apply before you start) – but it’s better for the environment if you were long sleeves and pants instead!
- Basic first aid supplies if you have sensitive skin or previous injuries (but don’t do the hike if it’s recent!)
We chose to take my underwater camera as it’s made for adventurous activities, and we didn’t want to risk breaking our phones.
Responsible travel tip: Using water bottles rather than single-use plastic bottles makes a huge difference in the waste you leave behind while travelling. We managed to use tap water in our water bottles even when we went outside the urban centres thanks to a filter. It was very convenient as it saved us many trips to the shop and we never worried about having water. And it’s also cheaper! We use this flexible Sawyer Water Filtration System* that can be fixed to many usual bottles, comes with a pouch to pour the filtered water into containers and with a straw so you can drink directly from the source. Alternatively, I also like the LifeStraw water bottle with an integrated filter*.
Where to get your picnic for the Millennium Cave tour
My favourite place to grab food before the Millennium Cave tour is the Luganville market. It’s perfect for picking up fresh fruit and local snacks like peanuts. For groceries, head to LCM on the main road – it’s the go-to shopping centre for expats and has a good selection. We were pretty excited to find French pâté for our sandwiches – something we really miss and don’t come across often in Australia! If you’re planning to stock up, the best pâté we had on the trip was actually from Bon Marché in Port Vila, near the traditional market.
If you didn’t have time to shop beforehand, there’s a petrol station with a decent convenience store just across the road from the Millennium Cave tour office. You can also check with your accommodation the day before – they might be able to prepare a sandwich for you or recommend somewhere close by where you can get one.
Stay overnight at Vunaspef Village for an authentic experience
If you’re after an authentic Vanuatu experience, consider spending the night at Vunaspef Village after your hike. The accommodation is basic compare to most accommodations in Santo, but comfortable enough for a good night’s rest – and it’s a great way to connect more deeply with local life.
Just remember to dress appropriately in the village out of respect for local customs. Women are expected to cover their legs down to the knees – tying a sarong around your waist is an easy option if you’re not wearing long pants.
We found the idea of staying even more tempting during the hike, especially when our guide started catching crayfish straight from the river for dinner. These are prepared specially for visitors – we were surprised to learn that the villagers don’t eat them themselves.
Unfortunately, we found out too late this was an option and had already our booking arranged elsewhere. We thought about going back without doing the trek but didn’t find time in the end.
When is the best time to visit Millennium Cave
The tour is weather-dependent and can be cancelled if it rains too much. Sometimes only part of the tour will be cancelled, depending on how safe the tracks are. If you want to maximise your chances of doing the Millennium Cave tour, plan it early in your stay. That way, if the weather isn’t suitable, you’ll still have time to reschedule.
Vanuatu’s wet season runs from November to April, with the heaviest rain usually falling in the first few months of the year. It’s likely that tours get cancelled more often during that period.
A couple of days before our trek, it rained heavily. The track was very muddy and slippery, but still manageable. If heavy rain is forecast for the day before and during your tour, it might be worth reconsidering. The experience is much more enjoyable in dry weather and can become dangerous in wet weather.
Have you been to Millennium Cave? Did you find the hike challenging? Share your experience in the comments below!
Where is Millennium Cave (Vanuatu)?
Millennium Cave is located on Espiritu Santo, the largest island in Vanuatu. Reaching the cave involves a 45-minute drive from Luganville, the island’s main town, followed by a 20-minute walk through coconut plantations and across a bamboo bridge to the village of Vunaspef, where the tour begins.
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Love your work. We’re planning a trip to Vanuatu over Christmas and New Years and your website has been really helpful and super detailed. Thank you!