Travel
Bucket List: 11 Unbelievable Volcanoes (You Can Actually Visit)
Slide Nr 1Beautiful, powerful, unpredictable – humans have stood in awe of volcanoes since time immemorial, weaving them into our cultural myths and imbuing them with meaning, importance and even personality. And for as long as we’ve been gawking at these formidable forces of nature, we’ve been dreaming of getting up close to witness their magnificence firsthand. For the brave souls who would like to make that dream come true, we’ve gathered this list of incredible volcanoes all around the world that you can actually visit – if you dare.
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Bucket List: 11 Unbelievable Volcanoes (You Can Actually Visit).
Slide Nr 2Mount Bromo, Indonesia – Indonesia may be best known for its spectacular beaches, but with close to 150 volcanoes – nearly half of which are active – the Southeast Asian country is also a prime destination for anyone looking to get up close and personal with one of nature’s most beautiful and destructive forces. The highly active Mount Bromo in East Java is one of the top Indonesian volcanoes frequented by travellers, prized for its scenic beauty as well as its spiritual significance: visit in August to witness the Kasada festival, in which local Hindu believers curry favour with the gods by throwing offerings of food and money into the volcanic crater. Though it is possible to hike Mount Bromo’s 2,329 metres, many visitors prefer to ascend nearby Mount Penanjakan and watch the sun rise over Bromo’s dramatic cone.
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Bucket List: 11 Unbelievable Volcanoes (You Can Actually Visit).
Slide Nr 3Mount Rinjani, Indonesia – Heading west to the island of Lombok, Mount Rinjani towers 3,726-metres over its own eponymous national park. This behemoth last blew its stack in 2016, in a moderate but unexpected eruption that necessitated the evacuation of more than 1,000 tourists in the park. Despite the mountain’s volatility, outdoor enthusiasts continue to be lured by the prospect of gazing upon Mount Rinjani’s massive 50-square-kilometre caldera with its stunning blue crater lake, natural hot springs and ‘baby’ volcano cone, Mount Barujari – but they need to undertake a two-day hike to do so. Any hardy souls who want to press on to summit the mountain’s peak should add at least another day’s trek to the itinerary.
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Bucket List: 11 Unbelievable Volcanoes (You Can Actually Visit).
Slide Nr 4Mayon Volcano, Philippines – If picture book perfection is what you’re after, look no further than Mayon Volcano on the island of Luzon. Proudly dubbed “the world’s most perfect volcanic cone” by Philippine tourism authorities, Mayon rises majestically from the surrounding tropical landscape as if conjured by a painter’s brush. But don’t let its splendour fool you: Mayon is the country’s most active volcano, and local villages and cities have been evacuated multiple times in recent years when the mountain began to rumble. If you ask us, this shapely beaut is best admired from afar, however if you simply must take a closer look, you’ll find tour companies offering ATV excursions to the foot of the volcano, as well as zip lining from the top of the lava wall.
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Bucket List: 11 Unbelievable Volcanoes (You Can Actually Visit).
Slide Nr 5Mount Etna, Italy – Not exactly a secret tip, but Sicily’s bellowing beast earns a spot on our list for the sheer number and array of thrills she offers, from hiking and cycling up the 3,357-metre-high mountain to skiing down it – not to mention the opportunity to peer into the maw of Europe’s tallest active volcano. Relatively young at 500,000 years, Etna is currently having growing pains: she erupted more than 50 times in 2021 and grew 30 metres taller. Typical teenager, huh? If you’re still working up the courage to face such a moody marvel, hop aboard the Circumetnea railway that skirts the base of the volcano on a scenic three-hour joy ride.
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Bucket List: 11 Unbelievable Volcanoes (You Can Actually Visit).
Slide Nr 6Mount Teide, Spain – Less than 70 kilometres from Tenerife’s sangria-fuelled party playgrounds, yet somehow worlds away, Mount Teide National Park is well worth turning in your beach towel for. The ethereal landscape, dotted with curious lava rock formations and rugged flora, is presided over by the 3,718-metre Mount Teide – Spain’s tallest mountain. A ride in the panoramic cable car is an absolute must, but if you want to see the volcanic crater and reach the summit, you’ll have to hoof it – it’s a 3-hour hike from the upper cable car station to the mountaintop. We recommend visiting in May and June, when the unique endemic flowers put on a colourful display.
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Bucket List: 11 Unbelievable Volcanoes (You Can Actually Visit).
Slide Nr 7Piton de la Fournaise, France – Smoke-belching mountains may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of France, but the country’s department of La Réunion, an island in the Indian Ocean, is home to the 2,631-metre Piton de la Fournaise – one of the world’s most active volcanoes, which grumbles and sputters lava at least a couple of times every year. The mountain can be explored on foot, on horseback, by mountain bike or even on a Segway, taking in the Martian landscapes and incredible views out to sea. But don’t stop there: guided tours of the volcano’s lava tunnels allow you to venture deep in to the bowels of this geological wonder.
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Bucket List: 11 Unbelievable Volcanoes (You Can Actually Visit).
Slide Nr 8Cotopaxi, Ecuador – A truly imposing 5,897 metres high, Ecuador’s second-tallest mountain holds court in its own national park about an hour outside of Quito. Most visitors enjoy the park’s picturesque landscapes and perhaps do the short but strenuous hike to the Refugio José Rivas at 4,800 metres, but it is possible to climb this colossus given the proper gear, physical fitness and an experienced guide. The snow-capped peak is often shrouded in clouds; come during the dry, windy season from July to October for the best chance of viewing Cotopaxi in all her glory.
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Bucket List: 11 Unbelievable Volcanoes (You Can Actually Visit).
Slide Nr 9Villarrica, Chile – Found among the scenic riches of Chile’s Lake District, the town of Pucón is a mecca for adventure seekers who come to hike, raft, kayak, snowboard and, of course, marvel at this 2,860-metre beauty that dominates the Pucón skyline. Scaling the snow-covered mountain isn’t for the faint of heart, but hikers are rewarded with the chance to glimpse a lava lake – a very rare sight. They also don’t have to worry about hiking back down: many tours include a heart-pounding sledge ride back down to the base.
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Bucket List: 11 Unbelievable Volcanoes (You Can Actually Visit).
Slide Nr 10Lassen Volcanic National Park, USA – Unlike many other volcanoes on this list, the major draw at California’s Lassen Volcanic National Park isn’t a lava-slinging, show-stealing volcanic peak, but rather a veritable hydrothermal wonderland. Miles of paths and boardwalks wind through incredible dramatic landscapes with bubbling mud pots, steaming fumaroles, hissing geysers and boiling pools. As beautiful as the scenery is, hikers are advised not to leave the marked paths, as the mud, steam and water are generally blistering-hot and acidic. In fact, one of the most popular routes, Bumpass Hell Trail, is named for an early settler who, in 1865, stumbled upon the hydrothermal area in the worst way possible – he accidentally fell into a scalding mud pot and burned his leg so badly, it eventually had to be amputated. Be careful out there, folks!
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Bucket List: 11 Unbelievable Volcanoes (You Can Actually Visit).
Slide Nr 11Mount Tongariro and Mount Ngauruhoe, New Zealand – The Lord of the Rings fans will recognise these iconic landmarks: Mount Tongariro and its surrounding national park stood in for Mordor in the epic films, with Mount Ngauruhoe playing the role of the fiery Mount Doom. Walk in Frodo’s footsteps along the 19-kilometre Tongariro Alpine Crossing, which takes you along active volcanic craters, past mineral-rich emerald lakes and along old lava flows for an unforgettable day hike in a truly unique place. Note that the option to climb Mount Ngauruhoe as a side trek is no longer allowed, out of respect for the indigenous Māori people who hold the mountain sacred.
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