Lamen Bay is popular with cruising yachts (the season runs from June to October each year). The star attraction here is Bondas the friendly dugong ("cow fish"' in Bislama) although sometimes he is away for a few days to a week. There is a waterfall you can visit if you're waiting for him to show up. Or just hang around on the beach.

Tankyu tumas Beryl for updating us.

Costs and Booking
Epi Paradise Sunset Bungalows aims for a higher standard and sets a higher price but the rates are flexible, depending on the length of stay and number of meals. Breakfast and dinner are included in the bungalow rates. For campers, breakfast is 200 Vatu and Lunch or Dinner are 500 Vatu. Tours are generally informal and flexible. Exchange Rates.

Tasso, the owner/manager is a friendly and helpful person. Nowadays he is trying to get his son to run the business. You can call Epi Paradise Sunset Bungalows on 5649107 (Tasso's mobile). They sometimes have groups staying in the high season (May to October) and it's a good idea to call ahead.

Accommodation and Food
Epi Paradise Sunset has three bungalows and one more under construction in January 2009. One bungalow has two triple rooms (three single beds in each). Another has three double rooms (one double bed in each). The newer family bungalow has two rooms (one is a double and the other has a few single beds inside). The bungalows have fly screens on the windows and the beds may have mosquito nets. There's solar powered lighting and a generator is run in the evenings. It's a good idea to bring a small padlock to lock your door.

Paradise Sunset has separate male and female toilets and showers (all modern). Sometimes there is hot water (you might have to remind Tasso). Bath towels, toilet paper and bathing soap are provided. There are water shortages in the dry season and you may find there is no active shower at this time (September, October).

Paradise Sunset serves mostly western style food. Dinners may be beef or fish (Tasso's son has a fishing business) with rice, salad and some aelan kaekae. Breakfasts may be small pancakes or gato with tea or instant coffee. The quality is good and the servings are generous.

The restaurant sells COLD Vanuatu Tusker beer for 350 Vatu a bottle and soft drinks for 200 Vatu a can. There my also be wine on sale for 1500 or 1600 Vatu a bottle.

Transport
Paradise Sunset Bungalows is about 1.5 km from the Lamen Bay airstrip. There will be trucks at the airport when flights land although it's a pleasant walk. Follow the road, past Epi High School, past the market house and then along the beach (follow the wheel tracks).

First surveyed: September 2004 by Stephen.
Last updated: March 2011 by Beryl.

Visitor Ratings for Epi Paradise Sunset Bungalows, Lamen Bay Rate it

Date	Ratings	Comments
12/09/2012	Standard Location Value	Stayed in early August when the annual Lamen Bay canoe race was on which is held the first Friday in August. This is a community event hosted by Tasso of Paradise Sunset Bungalows and includes many children’s sports activities that tourists are encouraged to participate in, eg swimming, beach races, beach football and volleyball, tug-o-war and mens, womens and yungfulla canoe races. Tasso and his family were great hosts, and the accommodation was a bit better than your usual island bungalow. There are more bungalows now with a newly built concrete building that has triple and single rooms. Tasso states that he can sleep up to 21 people now, but the infrastructure (shower and toilet) would be tested with that many people. While we were there we didn’t see the dugong or turtles, but other tourists that were there at the same time had seen both the dugong and massive turtles over the previous week. There is great snorkeling off the old wharf and around the top of Lamen Bay.
20/08/2012	Standard Location Value	It took some time for us to get to like the place, may be the bad weather didn't help. We stayed 11 nights in the end! Tasso and Lekon are great hosts, preparing excellent food! We could help them celebrate Independance Day at Rovo Bay too. And Yes, Bondas is still alive and kicking, finally found the beast after extensive searching - quite some experience floating along with that friendly creature nearby! Bondas is not yet a legend.
07/08/2012	Standard Location Value	PART 3 - We never saw the dugongs in Lamen Bay, but had a fantastic time scouting for them but had a great time swimming with giant turtles. We flew in and out of Valesdir because the connections from Lamen Bay didn't suit our other commitments, but in hindsight I would definitely only do one leg from Valesdir. The road up to Lamen Bay is pretty rough and we've travelled a fair few roads in a few different islands. I wouldn't like to go on that journey in the wet season. Cost for the 2 hour trip was 10,000 vatu (so each way) - so around $140 NZD each way. It was an adventure in itself and again adds to the memories.
07/08/2012	Standard Location Value	PART 2 - They also donated fish to MANY MANY people over several villages on their final night in the area. So very generous of them. I have to agree with comments re. the beds - after the first night sleeping on a 3 inch foam mattress, we asked if there was a spare one to add to our mattress and this was delivered, - thanks to Tasso - who was ALWAYS obliging. Yes sometimes you wont' get what you ask for immediately, but you can't ever be in a hurry when in Vanuatu, it's just the way it is. As for the roosters and dogs - that is one uniform thing we've noticed in other Pacific Islands - it's just part of the make up and you have to accept that living within the confines of a village, that the noises of village life will be close by - like the bells for early church / prayers.
07/08/2012	Standard Location Value	PART 1 We have stayed at a few Ni-Van owned / run bunglaows over the past 3 years and they have all been of a great variation in standards and facilities, but always we expect them to be what I'd term as basic - similar to camping, but with a solid roof over your head. Paradise Sunset Bungalows are older and as with many things we have come across in Vanuatu - maintenance doesn't seem to be a priority. Shower roses didn't work but we got water so happy with that. Toilets were fine. There are 2 toilet / shower / basin rooms in set up. We really enjoyed our time on Epi - mainly due to the people around us - we had connected with some families from Epi that had been fruit picking in a town near to us in NZ. The food at the bungalows was great - not in a small way, thanks to Peter Phillips - Skipper of Wild Blue fishing charters who were in the area from Port Vila, who with his kiwi fishermen donated massive fish to the cooks 2 nights in a row - so we ate like royalty.
04/07/2012	Standard Location Value	The Sunset bungalows is really nice place to stay. Mosquito nets, toilet western food with an island twist and cold beer ensure comfort on a much higher level than most Ni-Vans ever experience. Excellent place for a shorter visit If you are planning to stay longer search for Willie Graham the chief of Lamen Bay and Melanie his wife. Homestay at their place is an experience which you will never forget. Everything is really basic, but for 1000 VAT pp including food (local island food) you will see and learn the true Vanuatu. Willie`s phone number: 5635392
01/07/2011	Standard Location Value	We stayed here for one night before leaving Epi. The bungalow was clean, neat and had a nice communal eating area which was nice to meet all our fellow travellers. We arrived in Lamen Bay without a booking but a local lady showed us to the bungalow and a couple of hours later we found Tasso to inform him that he had two more guests. Lamen bay is a lovely spot, but there hasnt been any sightings of Bondas the friendly dugong for a long time.
17/01/2011	Standard Location Value	Stayed 4 nights Jan 10 Very happy with the meals and the service Tasso and Douglas were very helpful.
19/07/2010	Standard Location Value	I stayed here for 3 nights in early July with 2 friends. We had trouble getting hold of Tasso because TVL was down. However we booked through a booking agency. Because of limited flights during this period we had to fly into Valesdir and the agency assured us that Tasso had organised a truck to pick us up and drive us to Lamen Bay (about 2 hours drive). Unfortunately when we arrived there was no truck for us! However, we managed to find someone to take us, no trouble (6500 vatu). We shared a basic 4 bed room with clean sheets, hole-free mosquito nets and towels. There is generator power until about 9pm and then solar power is available. There are two shared bathrooms, each lockable with a toilet, basin and cold shower. The breakfast was included in our payment and was amazing! Hot cakes, french toast, local bread, fruit etc. Dinner was also fantastic (although not included when you book through an agency, so it is better to try and book directly through Tasso).
13/05/2009	Standard Location Value	Very nice place, clean and tidy. Food was EXCELLENT. Great snorkeling at the south point and towards the wharf with really lovely coral and fish. Protecting the area has really paid off. Took a long time to find the dugong in the pea soup of the lagoon but eventually he showed up and did his underwater vacuum cleaner act. In the meantime we saw huge numbers of very large turtles and also uncountable numbers of baby sea snakes in the sand. J.S., New Zealand, Jan. 2006.
20/04/2009	Standard Location Value	Tasso is friendly as usual but has stepped back from the business and his son is more interested in fishing than bungalows. I suppose the place improves for the high season. I lost my faithful head lamp, left behind in the room, when I went over to Nikaura. I'm still sore that I didn't get it back after I asked for it, twice.
22/12/2008	Standard Location Value	My wife and I stayed in May 2008. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. The food was good too and there was plenty of it. The snorkelling was great. Buy a waterproof camera. You won't be disappointed. I did catch two photographs of a dugong cow and her calf complete with attached pilot fish as well. We had to take a boat out to Lamen Island to see them though. If you want somewhere to just relax and forget the pressures of the outside world, you won't be disappointed. Mind you, I'm sure you could say that of most places in Vanuatu (unless you are the sort of person who only likes 5 star hotel accommodation - in which case stay at home). It's basic, but what do you expect.
03/02/2008	Standard Location Value	Very, very hot in summer! New Year's Eve festivities were noisy and spectacular. Food was great, hosts friendly, beautiful swimming in the bay, accomm was ok but shower/loo block very basic, water for washing/flushing not always available. Beware the waterfall walk, it is 7 hours of hard slog climbing through the jungle on incredible slopes, steep and a real challenge. Tasso sells some alcohol which you'll need after the walk .... Didn't see any of the 5 resident dugongs but we went on a boat around the harbour to look. Couldn't get to Nikaura due to landslides closing the road. I'd go again but only in cooler months and for less than a week. Take solar torches for gifts if you can.
30/08/2007	Standard Location Value	Walked of the plane into paradise.
22/12/2006	Standard Location Value	Great place to be. Good basic facilities and excellent food. The local people are fantastic. Recommended.
01/05/2006	Standard Location Value	Arrived there to find paradise. Swimming, walking, sleeping and eating. The best food served up in Vanuatu. A really top place. J & R - Aus.
15/02/2006	Standard Location Value	These people are so friendly! Lamen Bay is beautiful. The turtles popping their heads out of the water everywhere you look. And, of course, the dugong (seacow) makes this one of the most special places to go! Hilda from the Netherlands
08/12/2005	Standard Location Value
04/12/2005	Standard Location Value