As travelers what is a holiday without some adventure. As a traveler we all seek thrill, we all love nature, and we all love to experience things that are unique. What if we give a prefect combination of all these? Yes we are talking about Volcano tourism. At present there are around 1500 active volcanoes in the world, and what could better than seeing a volcano in action.
In this blog we have listed some of the best active volcanoes that should be on your bucket list. Yes visiting them would be a trip of a lifetime. To witness the power of mother nature, which can cause destruction and also be beautiful at the same time will be unforgettable.
Mount Aso, Japan
It is also known as Land of fire. At 1600 feet the best thing about this volcano is that it is still fuming anjd you can see the smoke coming out from its top. Mount Aso has a total of 5 peaks. It is the most acti9ve volcano in Japan, and it is world’s second largest active volcano.
For sightseeing there are ample of avenues here, like Rope way, hiking and cycling. The last times it got erupted was October 2021. Before planning a trip do check for restrictions, because on many occasions the access is restricted due to excessive emission of Volcanic gases.
Mount Vesuvius, Italy
It holds the celebrity status in the list of volcanoes. It was Mount Vesuvius that wiped the ancient roman city of Pompeii. It hasn’t erupted since 1944, but scientists keep a close watch on it. While hiking to the top you will encounter steam rising from parts of the crater, and the smell of Sulphur.
There are a total of 11 hiking trials here, but the best one is number 5 as it starts directly from the car parking. The hiking to the top is least going to take 30 minutes. Once on the top you can admire its beauty with tour guides telling you everything about Vesuvius.
Kilauea, Hawaii
Hawaii is home to many active volcanoes, but none of them is as active as Kilauea. It has been erupting since 1983 and the last time it erupted was January 2023. Like no other volcano it has around two dozen craters. The destruction it caused in 2018 was incomparable with jet of lava shot up in air.
It is located in a national park, where the only hotel nearby is Volcano House, and there are no major establishments around it. To access this volcano you got to take a private tour, helicopter ride or a jeep ride. Owing to its popularity it is visited by 3 Million travelers each year.
Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland
When it last erupted in 2010, it caused a lot of problems for Europe, with clouds of ash, and European travelers getting stranded at airports for 6 days. This volcano is 1651 meters high, and is highly unpredictable. One can take helicopter and jeep rides of Eyjafjallajökull.
If you want to hike to the summit, it is going to take 7 to 8 hours. But the experience is going to be worth it. Thanks to the volcano tourism you can also view the after effects of the eruption of this mountain from the Thorsmork Glacier Valley. To get here you can drive through the south shore.
Mount Etna, Italy
Standing at 11,000 feet it is one the tallest and most active volcanoes in the world. The last eruption was recorded in March 2017. IT has been declared as UNESCO World heritage site in 2013. There are several tours of this place, you can chose to take a car ride, hike or even cable car ride.
This is the place where you would witness live eruptions. They happen few times every day, with a jet of lava being shot up in the air. This pride of Sicily also attracts travelers for it skiing avenues around it. When here you can also enjoy wine tasting tours around Mount Etna.
Arenal, Costa Rica
At one point of time it erupted more than 40 times a day, but has been considered dormant since 2010. In 1968 it destroyed the small town of Tabacon with its eruption. Now Tabacon has reinvented itself as a spa town with numerous hot natural springs. It has emerged to be one of best spa destinations.
The surroundings of Arenal are breathtaking, with lush green forests, diverse wildlife, and a amazing bird watching avenues. The Arenal natural park also offers zip lining. The La Fortuna Waterfall situated at its footstep is another great spot. The waterfall is 200 feet tall and worth a plunge.
Mount Merapi, Indonesia
There are more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia, and Mount Merapi is the most active of them. The latest eruption that took place was in 2020. In 2010 the eruption of Mount Merapi had caused lots of destruction which forced the authorities to ban settlements around Mount Merapi.
During day time the peak becomes very hot, and its advisable to hike the peak during evening. It is strategically located on the borders of Yogyakarta and Java province. From the village of Selo the travelers can hike for the summit even though its officially closed for visitors.
Whakaari, New Zealand
New Zealand has many active volcanoes, and is also one of the countries in the Pacific ring of fire. Whakaari (Maori Name) or the white island is an island type volcano where only 10% of the volcano is above sea level. It is situated roughly 30 miles from the bay of plenty.
The last eruption was in December 2019 and it also caused fatalities. One can witness here steam vents, steaming acid lakes, hot volcanic streams, hot rocks, and lots of sea birds. The volcano offers hiking tours and also helicopter rides over the volcano.
Volcanoes are hot destinations!
