Iabam Island Backpackers
Yabam Island is small island, with only a couple of families living in harmony with the island and it's surrounding reefs. The Wild PNG Backpackers, is absolute beach front and you can snorkel directly off the beach. There can never be a crowd here!
- Accommodation is absolute beachfront - an unforgettable experience!
- Wander at your leisure around the beautiful island!
- Outstanding snorkelling right off the beach in front of the Backpackers!
- Go fishing or sailing in a traditional wooden sailing canoe
- Fish nearby deep reefs by booking a WildPNG Banana Boat, or fish directly off the beach.
Yabam Island, supports only a couple of families that subsist and live in harmony with their tropical paradise. The island provides everything they need to live. They have small gardens on the island to provide local vegetables that grow in the tropical environment and they fish everyday on the abundant surrounding reefs.
The WildPNG Backpackers Hostel, is operated by them and provides a small income to allow for added expenses such as the kids school fees.
Located absolute beachfront, with killer views of the beach and nearby mainland, the Backpacker Hostel is a traditional bungalow style, made entirely from local materials by hand. It has a thatched roof and slatted walls and floor, allowing cool breezes to waft through during the heat of the day.
Yabam Island, offers you the chance to simply unwind on a tiny tropical island, sip on local coconuts, swim and snorkel from the beach and engage with the local family. Night times, we reccommend sitting around the camp fire and just chatting with your island hosts.
There are near by offshore reefs offering truly spectacular fishing and snorkelling. Check out the Wild PNG Banana Boats to get you there and back if you're looking to enjoy and activity like this.
Coming from Alotau, there are Taxi's to take you to Eastcape (About 200 Kina each way), or better yet, jump onto one of the Public Motor Vehicles and go one way with the locals for 12 Kina each way. This will get you to East Cape. From there you can negotiate with a local Banana Boat driver who can transport you to Leilei Gana Island (Usually you need to provide your own fuel as well), or book a transfer with Wild PNG Transport and Wild PNG Banana Boats. We run daily between the Wild PNG Backpackers Alotau and at East Cape, Leilei Gana and Nuakata Island. See the link at the top of this page to add transfers to your itinerary.
Days are usually warm but nights in winter (May - Sept) can be a little cool. So bring a light jacket for night time if visiting in winter.
You can pay for meals prepared by the locals, in their traditional style daily, or you can bring your own food. If you are planning to prepare your own meals, we suggest you bring your food and basic cooking pots and plates and eating utensils with you from Alotau, as there are no shops that sell this type of gear outside Alotau. We suggest you bring water treatment tablets, or be prepared to boil your water prior to consuming it.
Your accommodation, sleeping mattress, mosquito net and pillow. Drinking water is available on the island, but we suggest you bring water treatment tablets or be prepared to boil your water prior to consuming it.
Transfers and Meals.