Mt Yasur

It is found on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu and is a permanently active volcano. Stronger eruptions are accompanied by ground shakes under your feet. The not so high volcano, measuring only a tad over 300 metres, has uninterruptedly spat out lava for thousands of years. It is one of only a few places on earth where you can peek into the lava filled crater of an active volcano. Visitors take a walking track from the car park to the crater rim. The most spectacular eruptions occur after the sun goes down.

I have been to Mt Yasur five times, and every time I approached the crater rim it was with a slight sense of fear. No one can guarantee that another eruption will not create a dangerous situation for those visiting the volcano. Locals remember an accident from a few years back, when an unsuspecting Japanese tourist was killed instantly by a falling lava bomb. The local guide who rushed to save her was also killed. Fortunately the volcano is constantly monitored, and when its activity rises beyond a set threshold, tourists are not allowed to climb to the crater rim.

The drive to the foot of the volcano is not easy, as you have to cross Tanna island from west to east by a bumpy road which is sealed in only a few places. A four wheel drive vehicle is essential, and the drive takes between 1.5 and 2 hours – although a great tourist attraction in itself. The road leads through dense tropical jungle, and passes through local villages as it climbs into the highlands. From this point you get stunning views of Port Resolution Harbour and Mt Yasur smoking in the distance.

The volcano is known as the lighthouse of the Pacific, and its glowing lava once upon a time was a guide to captains of passing ships, including Captain James Cook who named the harbour after one of his ships. You will need at least two days to visit the volcano and take in all the other things that the area has to offer. Green Lite Travel can take care of all the travel arrangements to this unique place and we guarantee that the experience and memories will remain with you for years

Boguslaw Nowak