After a seriously hot holiday? If you’ve always been fascinated by the beauty and forces of nature, exploring a volcanic landscape may be the dramatic holiday you’re after.
Guided tours world-wide can bring you face to face with some of the 1500 active volcanoes in the world (three are in New Zealand), of which 20-40 are erupting at any given time.
Visiting active volcanoes can be physically demanding but the unforgettable experience of these mesmerising sites is well worth the effort. New Zealanders may have grown up with volcanoes but, with the exception of the Taupo Volcanic Zone, our volcanoes have become sentimental landscapes rather than a thrilling adventure.
Rangitoto may be picturesque but for a fiery experience it’s well worth a trip to the Kilauea volcano on Hawaii. Kilauea is the world's most active volcano, followed by Etna in Italy and Piton de la Fournaise on La Réunion island.
“Volcano chasers”, as they’ve become known, are experienced in reaching global eruptions at short notice. Dr Tom Pfeiffer, founder of Volcano Discovery, thinks the appeal is in the immediacy and uniqueness of the experience.
“I love Hawaii because it’s very gentle and powerful,” he says. “I also love Mount Etna because it’s very capricious - like the Italian character.”
Yasur Volcano in Vanuatu has been in almost continuous eruption for hundreds of years. A tour here will bring you close up to the active crater where spectacular lava eruptions are visible, including Strombolian eruptions which eject glowing lava up to 350m high.
In many cultures volcanoes are revered as gods explains Warren Costa, a native Hawaiian volcano guide. “We consider the lava to be the actual body of the god Pele. It’s a case of look, touch but take absolutely nothing, lest you want some bad karma courtesy of Pele. Every day we get packages from tourists returning rocks they took on holiday” says Costa.
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