Culture & discovery
Lifou

A small gift (traditionally a 500-franc note and a manou, or coffee or a T-shirt) offered with an introduction of yourself when arriving at a host's, when leaving and before visiting a place on customary land.

The ‘jewels’ cave at Luengöni can only be visited with a local guide, the Jila and Devil's caves are on customary land, and a right of way is requested for Kiki beach.

The caves in the cliff were used as burial sites for chiefs, and the bones still lie there. The place must be respected.

Thatched huts, traditional huts and meals of fish, lobster or bougna with local families. No customary gesture is needed if booked in advance; most only take cash and cheques.

Drehu is the language of Lifou and gave its name to the customary area; French is spoken by all the providers listed.

Wetr in the north (main village Hnathalo), Gaïca in the west (Dueulu) and Lösi in the south (Mou). Wé, on the east coast, is the main town of the island and of the Loyalty Islands Province.

Built in 1898 on the headland overlooking Santal and Jinek bays, forty years after Catholic missionaries arrived at Easo (April 1858); feast day every 8 December.

The history, cultivation and preparation of Lifou vanilla, with a tour of a vanilla plantation, an animal park, vanilla coffee tasting and a shop; by reservation.

Layers of fossilised coral above the lagoon, a staircase down to the water and humpback whale watching from July to September.