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Melanesian Encounter
Melanesian Encounter
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Port
Easo, Lifou, New Caledonia
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$59.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximatley 2 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Drive through the ancestral area of the Xepenehe tribe to a quiet seaside village on the northwest coast of Lifou Island.
At Sandalwood Bay, where the original trading port once operated, you’ll visit a Xepenehe tribal village.
Notice that the chief’s hut is twice the size of the commoner huts. Its multifunctional space serves as a home and residence, a place for hosting special guests, and a meeting area for customary exchanges important to Kanak spirituality and symbolism. Learn of the great reverence the Lifou people have for this ennobling cultural emblem.
A bougna is New Caledonia’s traditional dish cooked in an underground oven, featuring tubers, vegetables and meat marinated in coconut milk. Your hosts will demonstrate how the bougna is prepared and cooked before you enjoy the food.
Notes:
Local custom requires removing hats and shoes before entering houses. Shade is limited; to avoid sunburn, wear light, long clothing suitable for use as a cover-up. Bring a hat and sunglasses; wear biodegradable/reef-safe sunscreen. Bring bottled water. Modest attire is required for visiting local villages; knees, shoulders and midriffs must be covered; short shorts and swimwear are not allowed. It is important to ask permission before taking an individual’s photograph. The transportation is not air-conditioned or equipped with a PA system. Local escorts and students will act as guides. Limited tourism infrastructure is part of the charm here; you are trading breadth of guide experience for authentic interaction. Please bring your spirit of adventure and bear with any language difficulties or operational surprises that may crop up. Restroom facilities are rustic. Large groups will be split into several smaller groups, with the guide traveling on the largest vehicle and offering narration for everyone at the various points of interest. The drivers of the smaller vehicles often do not speak English but will do their best to point out the highlights for you.