Private Tour

Private Tour to Aelan Chocolate Factory in Port Vila

Overview

Available languages

English

French

Mobile ticket

It is an unique experience to learn how the chocolate is made from the beans to the bar and taste the different chocolate from different islands origin and with local ingredients such as coconut, coffee, local nuts (Nangai), sea salt, kava, cristallized ginger, cristallized turmeric, cocoa nibs and chili pepper.

Aelan Chocolate Makers has a strong social responsibility as it is owned at 80% by the local NGO ACTIV (Alternative Communities Trade In Vanuatu), which assists the cocoa producers and the local communities from the archipelago of Vanuatu for best agricultural practices training and market access.

The ACTIV centre made of local materials regroups the Aelan Chocolate factory, the extra Virgin Coconut oil factory and the Handicraft centre with the Island shop, which is access-free. The facility is suitable for family with kids and wheel-chairs.

There are beautiful gardens surrounding the structures and gorgeous blooms and fruit are on show throughout the year.

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Transportation options are wheelchair accessible

All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

chocolate testing

What To Expect

The Aelan chocolate factory is located at the ACTIV Centre where are also located a Virgin Coconut oil factory and a handicraft centre with a shop with all the range of local products such as chocolate, spices, oil and handicrafts.

30 minutes • Admission Included

Options

Private Tour to Aelan Chocolate Factory in Port Vila

Reviews

4.59

82 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Chocolate lovers must do
DaleBaileyHolidays,
Oct 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00
Great little tour showing how the chocolate is made and where it comes from. Great tasting different types but couldn’t do any more tasting after the 16 we tried. Take water.
Not much of a tour, nice chocolate tasting
Gail D,
Jul 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00
I took the bus out to Aelan chocolate factory. It’s not too hard to find but the entrance is not obvious so I walked by it twice before knowing where to enter. The tour is 1000 vt and is pretty basic. You sit on a bench outside where they roast the cocao beans so the aroma is womderf. The guide tells you about the chocolate making process. She gave me a dried cocoa bean to taste and a roasted cocoa bean afterwards. Then she lifted up plastic flap so I could see the roaster and the grinder. Then it was time for the tasting. I strongly recommend bringing some kind of palate cleanser with you. I had water which was ok but tea or coffee probably would have been better. After you taste all the varieties of chocolate, you can shop in their store. The chocolate bar prices are significantly higher than at Au Bon Marche Nambatu or the airport shop in the international departure lounge. They sell roasted cocoa beans, cocao powder and nibs along with vanilla beans, pepper, and coffee. If you like chocolate and want to know what you’re buying, the tasting is worth the 1000 vt. If you want to know how chocolate is made, there are probably better tours out there.
Chocolate tasting box ticked. But that’s it.
janey pat71,
Mar 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00
We arrived expecting to have a tour of the facility. Instead we sat on a bench and a lady spoke to us for 5 minutes over the cacophony of a crushing machine. We could make out about each 4th or 5th word and got the gist of what was happening. That was the tour. Then we went to the tasting area where things got fun. Another staff member went through each chocolate, the various tasting notes and how each island had different characteristics. We tested about 12 chocolate varieties in all, ending in their famous kava variety. From there we were left to our own devices and found our own way to the shop where we could buy chocolate to take home with us. To be honest, calling it a tour is stretching it a bit. It’s a chocolate tasting with a lecture on the side. The staff were lovely and knowledgeable about the chocolate but that was about it. The different varieties were interesting and you could definitely tell the difference between the chocolate from each island but it felt quite rushed. Also, if you don’t like dark chocolate, this is not the tour for you!! No milk chocolate here! It was interesting and we felt like we were supporting local business but we’ve ticked that box now.
Waste of money
Globetrot 44,
Oct 18, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00
The place is small and the tour is literally looking at machinery pieces through a window and plastic cocoa bean replicas. The tour guide was not very knowledgable, rushed through the tastings and clearly did not care about it at all. The place is small and honestly quite disappointing.
Very interesting
marcb84,
Nov 9, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Excellent visit, with a bilingual English-French guide. We tasted 8 types of chocolate, first depending on the geographical origin of the beans from 3 other islands of Vanuatu, then chocolates with kava, coffee, ginger, chili,... Very interesting experience
Check tour times before going; can catch local bus from Vila
arekkusub,
Jul 30, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00
Post-twin cyclones there is no cafe or handicrafts at the moment, just the simple tour, but it's nice to learn more about the operation overall, and the chocolate tasting is very satisfying if you're into testing your palate and identifying the island-by-island differences.
If you have nothing better to do ...
SteveandDD,
Jun 12, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00
We chose not to do a tour but took ourselves there. It is a small enterprise, basically a group of shipping containers with a verandah and cable table. I'm not sure if the tours are being held as it was quite disorganised, there was a small group of people there at the time. We purchased two large blocks of chocolate to help them on their way. More conveniently, the Aelan Cafe downtown would be a better option.
Great experience
510mariahn,
Feb 11, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I went with a friend while we were staying in Port Vila and it was a great learning experience. The team here are so knowledgeable and passionate about what they do, and they do it very well. Highly recommend
Aelan Chocolate Factory: Delicious rain or shine!
jeety,
Jan 18, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00
Aelan (Island) Chocolate Factory is a small enterprise that produces an incredible variety of award winning chocolate bars. Nestled in its tropical gardens, the factory has a unique setting, and unique tasting chocolate. Taste test the five chocolate varieties, each created from cacao beans from one of five Vanuatu islands. While prepared to an identical recipe, each carries the individual flavour of its own island. Compare, and pick your favourite! Aelan also produces flavoured chocolate including coffee, turmeric, ginger, cocao nib, chilli, coconut and, would you believe, kava chocolate! Sadly they aren't selling from the factory post Covid, but pop into town (Port Vila) and buy lunch and an assortment of chocolate delights (cakes, biscuits crepes etc) from the Aelan Cafe. Load up there with all your favourite chocolates to take home. A very enjoyable, very tasty experience!
Island Tour with Roger Roy
Kate H,
Apr 21, 2020
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Firstly I would like to say Roger Roy from Blue Express took us on an Island Tour which was great to accommodate wheel chair friendly travel. We visited a few places & I must say the Chocolate factory was a stand out of the day. Interesting how the process of making the most beautiful flavours in chocolate. Congratulations to all involved. Also the ramp facility was great wheelchair access.