Tanna's Whitegrass Airport is the gateway to one of the Pacific's great spectacles: Mount Yasur, among the world's most accessible active volcanoes, which has been erupting more or less continuously for centuries. The short hop from Port Vila puts you within a rough island drive of standing on a crater rim at dusk watching lava fly.
Book an airport transfer to Tanna Airport
Fixed-price private transfers with English-speaking drivers. Meet-and-greet included.
Getting to and from Tanna Airport
## Getting to Tanna
Tanna is reached by a roughly forty-minute domestic flight from Port Vila to Whitegrass Airport on the island's west side, operated by Vanuatu's domestic carriers. From the airport, the volcano lies on the opposite, eastern side of the island: a four-wheel-drive transfer of forty-five minutes to an hour and a half across unpaved roads that wind through jungle, villages, and finally the bare volcanic ash plain. Most accommodation arranges the transfer, and many visitors stay near the volcano to shorten the evening run to the crater.
Nearby hotels in Tanna Airport
## Visiting Mount Yasur
The classic visit is in the late afternoon: entry gates open around 4.30pm so that visitors reach the rim for dusk, when every eruption glows against the darkening sky. The entrance fee has recently been around 9,800 vatu, and a local guide is essential rather than optional; conditions change quickly and the guides judge which rim viewpoints are safe on the day. Do not attempt the volcano independently. A morning visit is also possible for those who prefer daylight.
Powered by Stay22 — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Practical info & when to visit
## When to go and tips
The dry season from April to October is the best window, when the island's rough roads are at their most passable. Stay at least two nights: one for the volcano, one for Tanna's kastom culture, hot springs, coffee, and reef. Bring sturdy shoes, a warm layer for the exposed rim, and dust protection for cameras. Flights and island transfers are small-scale, so book ahead in the peak months.