OK! TRAVEL
White sands, tropical beauty And A rich culture AWAIT visitors to tanna, the pacific island With A quirky royal link
philip fans
This month, royal fans will be toasting the Queen on her official 95th birthday.
But for villagers on the South Pacific island of Tanna, it’s all about her late husband – they viewed the Duke of
Edinburgh as a great deity, whose spirit lives on and will eventually come to rest in their tropical paradise. The Prince Philip Movement linked him with the legend of the son of a volcanic mountain spirit who travelled to a distant land and married a powerful woman. The Queen and Prince Philip’s visit to Vanuatu in 1974 strengthened the belief and islanders would pray to Philip, asking him to protect their crops. The Duke was said to be flattered and sent his worshippers signed portraits. During 100 days of mourning, they will now consider Philip’s successor – with Prince Charles a very likely contender.
Where to stay
With its white coral sands, Tanna, meaning “earth”, is one of 83 islands in the Vanuatu archipelago and offers some seriously dreamy spots to lay your head. Rockwater Resort (rockwaterresort.com) in Ipak Bay is an over-12s-only destination, boasting a pool overlooking a private beach and unique rock suites that are cool in more ways than one!
At the Water Grass Ocean Resort And Spa (whitegrasstanna.com) you can stay in a traditional thatched “bure” and explore the marinescape with the resort’s
Volcano Island Divers.
For five-star luxury tinged with adventure, Tanna
Evergreen Resort & Tours (tannaevergreenresorttours. com) offers activities such as horse riding and watersports.
Or choose to live the high life in the treetop towers of
Castle Tree House at White
Sands, with breathtaking views of Mount Yasur.
What to do
The top tour is a visit to Mount Yasur, the most accessible active volcano in the world. It offers a spectacular show from the crater rim as streaks of lava shoot into the air. Visitors are ferried up the 360m peak in 4x4s, covering the last 10 minutes on foot.
At Blue Cave, you can take a plunge and enjoy the magical sight of sunbeams reflecting off the crystal-clear water – or you might like to treat your skin to a scrub with fine black ash from the riverbed at Sulphur Bay, where the waters run like a hot bath.
Alternatively, visit the village of Leitouapam and venture inside the trunk of the giant banyan tree, getting lost among its roots. At 80m high and covering an area of around 200m, it’s said to be the largest of its kind on Earth.
Where to eat
Tanna is bursting with culture and the town of Lenakel has a mishmash of small local restaurants and takeaways. It’s recommended that you go earlier in the day though, because the best grub often gets grabbed very quickly!
Open three days a week, the colourful and lively Lenakel Fresh Produce Market is also a popular tourist attraction. Due to the volcano, the land on Tanna is rich in nutrients, producing healthy crops, and many of the island’s resort restaurants make the most of the local fare. Those boasting an ocean view are especially popular – watching the sunset to the sound of crashing waves is the perfect accompaniment to your meal. report: charlotte rawlings and michelle garnett photos: alamy, getty