Hiking on Mount Yasur volcano on Tanna Island, Vanuatu

Hiking on Mount Yasur volcano on Tanna Island, Vanuatu

Not a soul or sound was heard on the Mount Yasur volcano - apart from the deafening eruptions, that is

The first few weeks of our trip had been active enough. We hiked, climbed, caved, canyoned, kayaked, and more. It would have been perfectly acceptable to spend a few days on a beach on Tanna Island and soak up the Pacific sun.

However, you don't go to Tanna without seeing the "old man", the volcano Mount Yasur, and we were no exception.

alt="Mount Yasur Volcano">Atlas & BootsThe Mount Yasur volcano can be seen from the entire island

The imposing volcano dominates the skyline and can be seen from almost everywhere on Tanna. Whether gliding over the ash plains that surround the volcano or watching the plumes of smoke drifting into the sea, there is no way to escape the dominant influence that Mount Yasur volcano has on the island and its inhabitants.

We hiked for 45 minutes from the dirt trails below, listening to the rumble cascading down the mountainside. We excitedly ran ahead to get a first overview. Kia turned on her camera to record our approach. She couldn't even finish her first sentence before an almighty explosion interrupted her performance. Laughing nervously, she continued walking.

There are two craters that form the Mount Yasur volcano, each as violent as the next. We stopped at the larger one and watched gray smoke rise into the sky. As we approached the smaller one, we found that it offered a better view.

Here you could look directly into the volcano and watch as the molten lava broke viciously at the bottom. We continued riding amid eruption after eruption, each accompanied by an explosive bang that made us recoil from the edge of the crater.

At dusk the volcano is intoxicating. In the dark it is downright frightening. As the light faded, the colors became clearer: the bright yellows, deep oranges and hot reds, all coming alive against the pitch black background.

With each explosion came a mass of molten lava as rocks spewed into the sky. Sometimes I watched the downpour from the crater rim and wondered if it would rain down on us.

alt="Mount Yasur on Tanna Island in Vanuatu">Atlas & BootsMount Yasur volcano erupts

“Are we really sure?” I asked myself nervously, remembering the story of a Japanese tourist and two National Geographic photographers who were killed by the Mount Yasur volcano a few years ago.

I could understand why they had gotten so close: the photographer in me was mesmerized, capturing long exposures and wide angles of the action below. At 6 p.m. all other visitors began their descent. Luckily we had asked our driver to meet us later so we had more time there in the dark.

Shortly after sunset we realized that we were completely alone on the mountain. There was not a soul around and not a sound to be heard except for the deafening eruptions below.

“It’s best you go back, I guess?” asked Kia.

“Maybe just ten more minutes?” I replied as I repositioned my tripod for another shot.

Mount Yasur volcano

• alt=“Mount Yasur Vulkan von unten“>
• alt=“#vulkanselfie“>
• alt=““>
• alt=“Der Vulkan Mount Yasur bricht aus“>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>

Port Vila on Vanuatu's main island of Efate has an international airport with regular flights to airports on Australia's east coast (book via skyscanner.net).

old=““>

Lonely Planet South Pacific contains a comprehensive travel guide to Vanuatu, ideal for those who want to both explore the main attractions and take the road less traveled.

Mission statement: Atlas & Boots

      .