Volcano adventures: the worlds top active volcanoes you have to visit
By
Staff, AccuWeather
Published May 4, 2020 4:46 PM EDT
Photo by Mohamed Hassan
mohamed Hassan from Pixabay
Volcanoes have long fascinated humanity and are a true example of the raw power of Mother Nature. Majestic, unpredictable, and powerfully destructive, a volcano is the epitome of how nature cannot be tamed. Active volcanoes have been and still are the subject of unlimited hours of study. They are also more accessible than ever with the technology we have access to today. With the recent volcano eruption on White Island in New Zealand and the Taal Volcano, in the Philippines, it goes to show that what may seem like a completely dormant volcano can surprise us all. If you're fascinated by volcanoes, here are some of the best volcano treks and tours worth doing in your lifetime.
So majestic, yet so brutal. From Kilauea, to Nevado del Ruiz, to Mount Bromo, these volcanoes have the potential for devastating effects.
Before you begin planning an epic volcano tour to the Hawaiian Islands or any other popular volcanic region, it's important to bear in mind that dormant volcanoes are still active volcanoes. In short, a dormant volcano is still considered ''active'' even if it hasn't erupted in decades. An extinct volcano, on the other hand, is no longer active. So, before your adventure vacation takes you on a hike up the ridge of a dormant volcano, it's wise to do some thorough research beforehand. Guided tours are always recommended. Whether a volcano has recently erupted or is consistently quiet, make sure you're up-to-date on its activity levels and weather news before your adventure.
Without further ado, here are some of the top volcanoes across the globe that are hotspots for tourism.
On Sept. 9, Italy's Mount Etna erupted, sending lava and volcanic ash into the night sky.
Mount Etna is one of the world's most famous volcanoes. It is also considered the longest erupting volcano in written history -- with its very first eruption recorded in 425 B.C. It's still a very active volcano to this day, erupting more frequently than most volcanoes across the globe. Found outside the Sicilian city of Catania, Mount Etna stands 11,000-feet and is the largest volcano in Europe. Even though Mount Etna is still very active, it's considered a relatively safe active volcano for tourists to visit. It's peppered with a number of walking trails that allow you to hike to the summit and get a good view of this natural phenomenon.
Photo by Garrett Sears
Garrett Sears on Unsplash
Made famous by its enormous eruption back in 2010 which stranded millions of tourists for over a week, the Eyjafjallajökull volcano is found in Iceland. While this country is otherwise well-known for the Blue Lagoon and Thingvellir National Park, this iconic volcano is one of the most breathtaking to visit in the world. Sitting at a 5,500-foot summit, the four-mile trek to the mouth of the volcano itself is a little sketchy, so a guided tour is always recommended. Otherwise, you could trek a longer round trip along the 15-mile Fimmvörðuháls trail. Here you will encounter incredible landscapes of waterfalls, natural lava fields, and the backdrop of glacier Mýrdalsjökull. One quick peek and you’ll see why it’s a top destination for volcano tourists.
Sep 15, 2015; 9:00 AM ET Japan’s Aso volcano erupted on Monday morning, September 14, sending a cloud of volcanic ash and steam over its crater in Kumamoto Prefecture. The thick ash caused flight cancellations and delays at Kumamoto Airport.
Head to Kyusho, a large island off the coast of Japan to find the volcanic Mount Aso. This huge volcano is well-known for having one of the largest calderas in the world, measuring 16-miles in diameter! Within this caldera, you'll find five volcanic peaks, most notably, volcano Nakadake. It's an active volcano that sits at a summit of 4,900-feet. There are a number of ways to reach the Nakadake crater, but the most popular include by bus and on foot, which is a 30-minute trek along a ropeway service. But it's wise to double-check whether this ropeway service is open before you decide to trek to the volcano. Mount Aso is found in the Aso-Kuju National Park and also offers a number of peak hikes if you're looking to explore the region further. When you're done, head to the nearby hot spring villages of Tarutama, Jigoku, and Aso for a little relaxation.
Photo by Tyler Lastovich
Tyler Lastovich on Unsplash
If you're an avid Lord of the Rings fan, you'll know all about the iconic Mount Doom. And yes, it's a real place -- not just an imaginary one found in Middle Earth. The iconic Mount Doom was brought to life by the towering Mount Ngauruhoe volcano, located in New Zealand's Tongariro National Park. This is the oldest national park in the country and also a UNESCO World Heritage Area, so you know it's going to be spectacular. Mount Ngauruhoe is an active volcano that can be reached via the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing, dubbed one of the best day hikes on the planet. The 12-mile hike will take you through varying landscapes. You'll get to marvel at crater lakes, glacial valleys, natural lava flows, and moon-like scenery. The 12-mile hike can be completed in 7-8 hours, but the hike to the volcano summit is an additional 3-hours.
Photo by Charlotte Gupta
Charlotte Gupta from Pixabay
This is yet another famous volcano found in Italy. It's probably one of the most notorious, too, known for completely annihilating the town of Pompeii in A.D. 79. It is also mainland Europe's only active volcano. Since the devastating eruption over Pompeii, the volcano has erupted roughly 3-dozen times. It is still considered a relatively dangerous volcano because of its close location to the bustling city of Naples. You can explore this volcano and the surrounding region by heading to the Vesuvius National Park. Here you'll find 9 different trails weaving across the landscape. Trail 5 which leads to the Gran Cono is the most popular. Otherwise, trail 4 offers some of the best views of the entire park.
Lava gushes from the Kilauea volcano at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on April 13, making for stunning footage.
One of the top tourist destinations is Hawaii. It’s not just for the sun, sand, surf.If the Hawaiian Islands are known for anything else, it would be their majestic volcanoes and volcanic landscapes. Hawaii itself is home to five active volcanoes, with four of these located on the Big Island. These volcanoes include Kilauea, which recently erupted in 2018, Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, and Hualalai. The island of Maui is host to the Mount Haleakala volcano. Head to the Volcanoes National Park located on the Big Island of Hawaii. Here you will be able to explore the region with a number of attractions and open trails. However, the park's iconic lava lake inside Halema'uma'u Crater or the lava flowing out of Pu'u 'Å'Å Crater is still closed. But, you can access the famous crater rim trail as well as other famous tracks including the Devastation Trail, Sulphur Banks Trail, and KÄ«lauea Iki Overlook.
Photo by Iswanto Arif
Iswanto Arif on Unsplash
If you're planning an epic volcano tour, it's best to keep abreast of the conditions (How to prepare for a volcanic eruption), volcano activity and forecasted weather for your trek. Luckily, AccuWeather allows you to do just that from the palm of your hand. Other than accurate weather updates, we provide insights on global weather patterns, major weather news, climate change, and severe weather warnings -- including volcanic activity. For more travel-inspired content, click here.
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News / Travel
Volcano adventures: the worlds top active volcanoes you have to visit
By Staff, AccuWeather
Published May 4, 2020 4:46 PM EDT
Photo by Mohamed Hassan
Volcanoes have long fascinated humanity and are a true example of the raw power of Mother Nature. Majestic, unpredictable, and powerfully destructive, a volcano is the epitome of how nature cannot be tamed. Active volcanoes have been and still are the subject of unlimited hours of study. They are also more accessible than ever with the technology we have access to today. With the recent volcano eruption on White Island in New Zealand and the Taal Volcano, in the Philippines, it goes to show that what may seem like a completely dormant volcano can surprise us all. If you're fascinated by volcanoes, here are some of the best volcano treks and tours worth doing in your lifetime.
So majestic, yet so brutal. From Kilauea, to Nevado del Ruiz, to Mount Bromo, these volcanoes have the potential for devastating effects.
6 active volcano tours you must do
Before you begin planning an epic volcano tour to the Hawaiian Islands or any other popular volcanic region, it's important to bear in mind that dormant volcanoes are still active volcanoes. In short, a dormant volcano is still considered ''active'' even if it hasn't erupted in decades. An extinct volcano, on the other hand, is no longer active. So, before your adventure vacation takes you on a hike up the ridge of a dormant volcano, it's wise to do some thorough research beforehand. Guided tours are always recommended. Whether a volcano has recently erupted or is consistently quiet, make sure you're up-to-date on its activity levels and weather news before your adventure.
Without further ado, here are some of the top volcanoes across the globe that are hotspots for tourism.
On Sept. 9, Italy's Mount Etna erupted, sending lava and volcanic ash into the night sky.
1. Mount Etna
Mount Etna is one of the world's most famous volcanoes. It is also considered the longest erupting volcano in written history -- with its very first eruption recorded in 425 B.C. It's still a very active volcano to this day, erupting more frequently than most volcanoes across the globe. Found outside the Sicilian city of Catania, Mount Etna stands 11,000-feet and is the largest volcano in Europe. Even though Mount Etna is still very active, it's considered a relatively safe active volcano for tourists to visit. It's peppered with a number of walking trails that allow you to hike to the summit and get a good view of this natural phenomenon.
Photo by Garrett Sears
2. Eyjafjallajökull Volcano
Made famous by its enormous eruption back in 2010 which stranded millions of tourists for over a week, the Eyjafjallajökull volcano is found in Iceland. While this country is otherwise well-known for the Blue Lagoon and Thingvellir National Park, this iconic volcano is one of the most breathtaking to visit in the world. Sitting at a 5,500-foot summit, the four-mile trek to the mouth of the volcano itself is a little sketchy, so a guided tour is always recommended. Otherwise, you could trek a longer round trip along the 15-mile Fimmvörðuháls trail. Here you will encounter incredible landscapes of waterfalls, natural lava fields, and the backdrop of glacier Mýrdalsjökull. One quick peek and you’ll see why it’s a top destination for volcano tourists.
Sep 15, 2015; 9:00 AM ET Japan’s Aso volcano erupted on Monday morning, September 14, sending a cloud of volcanic ash and steam over its crater in Kumamoto Prefecture. The thick ash caused flight cancellations and delays at Kumamoto Airport.
3. Mount Aso
Head to Kyusho, a large island off the coast of Japan to find the volcanic Mount Aso. This huge volcano is well-known for having one of the largest calderas in the world, measuring 16-miles in diameter! Within this caldera, you'll find five volcanic peaks, most notably, volcano Nakadake. It's an active volcano that sits at a summit of 4,900-feet. There are a number of ways to reach the Nakadake crater, but the most popular include by bus and on foot, which is a 30-minute trek along a ropeway service. But it's wise to double-check whether this ropeway service is open before you decide to trek to the volcano. Mount Aso is found in the Aso-Kuju National Park and also offers a number of peak hikes if you're looking to explore the region further. When you're done, head to the nearby hot spring villages of Tarutama, Jigoku, and Aso for a little relaxation.
Photo by Tyler Lastovich
4. Mount Ngauruhoe
If you're an avid Lord of the Rings fan, you'll know all about the iconic Mount Doom. And yes, it's a real place -- not just an imaginary one found in Middle Earth. The iconic Mount Doom was brought to life by the towering Mount Ngauruhoe volcano, located in New Zealand's Tongariro National Park. This is the oldest national park in the country and also a UNESCO World Heritage Area, so you know it's going to be spectacular. Mount Ngauruhoe is an active volcano that can be reached via the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing, dubbed one of the best day hikes on the planet. The 12-mile hike will take you through varying landscapes. You'll get to marvel at crater lakes, glacial valleys, natural lava flows, and moon-like scenery. The 12-mile hike can be completed in 7-8 hours, but the hike to the volcano summit is an additional 3-hours.
Photo by Charlotte Gupta
5. Mount Vesuvius
This is yet another famous volcano found in Italy. It's probably one of the most notorious, too, known for completely annihilating the town of Pompeii in A.D. 79. It is also mainland Europe's only active volcano. Since the devastating eruption over Pompeii, the volcano has erupted roughly 3-dozen times. It is still considered a relatively dangerous volcano because of its close location to the bustling city of Naples. You can explore this volcano and the surrounding region by heading to the Vesuvius National Park. Here you'll find 9 different trails weaving across the landscape. Trail 5 which leads to the Gran Cono is the most popular. Otherwise, trail 4 offers some of the best views of the entire park.
Lava gushes from the Kilauea volcano at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on April 13, making for stunning footage.
6. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
One of the top tourist destinations is Hawaii. It’s not just for the sun, sand, surf.If the Hawaiian Islands are known for anything else, it would be their majestic volcanoes and volcanic landscapes. Hawaii itself is home to five active volcanoes, with four of these located on the Big Island. These volcanoes include Kilauea, which recently erupted in 2018, Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, and Hualalai. The island of Maui is host to the Mount Haleakala volcano. Head to the Volcanoes National Park located on the Big Island of Hawaii. Here you will be able to explore the region with a number of attractions and open trails. However, the park's iconic lava lake inside Halema'uma'u Crater or the lava flowing out of Pu'u 'Å'Å Crater is still closed. But, you can access the famous crater rim trail as well as other famous tracks including the Devastation Trail, Sulphur Banks Trail, and KÄ«lauea Iki Overlook.
Photo by Iswanto Arif
Check the weather before you go volcano trekking
If you're planning an epic volcano tour, it's best to keep abreast of the conditions (How to prepare for a volcanic eruption), volcano activity and forecasted weather for your trek. Luckily, AccuWeather allows you to do just that from the palm of your hand. Other than accurate weather updates, we provide insights on global weather patterns, major weather news, climate change, and severe weather warnings -- including volcanic activity. For more travel-inspired content, click here.
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