Tour photos: pictures taken during our expeditions and tours to volcanoes / VolcanoDiscovery

Group photo on Nea Kameni volcano, Santorini (Greece, Sept. 2005)

Tour photos:

In this section, we post photos taken during some of our tours. Sometimes, it can take quite a while until we find the time to actually work through the hundreds of photos from tours and post them...- please be patient!

Participant Jay Ramji kindly sent us some of his great photos he took during the Volcanoes & Spices tour to northern Indonesia's active volcanoes in Nov 2019:
Link: Jay's photo website (Photo: Jay Ramji)

Volcanoes & Spices - volcanoes of northern Indonesia: tour photos Nov 2019 (21 Images)

Milos is one of the most scenic and geologically interesting islands of the Mediterranean. Here are some impressions from our geologic walking tour on Milos in May 2018. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Milos Island, Greece: tour photos May 2018 (124 Images)

Massive lava flows showing some of the most impressive columnar jointed prisms are exposed in the canyon of the Azat River, beneath the village of Garni, famous for its preserved Roman temple. The excursion from the temple down into the river valley should not be missed if you're interested in geology and visit the area. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Symphony of Stones - prismatic lavas at Garni, Armenia (23 Images)

Some impressions from various excursions during our Walking and study tour in Armenia, taken during the pilot trip in June 2019. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Armenia 2019: tour photos (95 Images)

Participant and team member Andrej Nikiforov witnessed the ongoing activity in Anak Krakatau's crater lake during the Krakatau Volcano Special tour in Nov 2019. Here some impressions: (Photo: AndreyNikiforov)

Krakatoa volcano, Nov 2019: eruptions from Anak Krakatau and impressions (40 Images)

A selection of Markus Heuer's photos taken during the tour to Italy's volcanoes in Oct 2019: (Photo: Markus Heuer)

Volcanoes of Italy tour Oct 2019: impressions by Markus Heuer (72 Images)

During our pilot expedition to the northern Kuriles in July 2019, we managed to reach the very remote and isolated island of Raikoke, which had just had a major eruption 3 weeks earlier. The eruption had transformed a previously lush, completely green island full of life into a hellish ash desert: (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Kurile Islands, July 2019: Raikoke volcano (16 Images)

Some impressions taken during our recent Kamchatka expedition in Sep 2019: Excursion to the saddle between Koryaksky and Avachinsky volcanoes:
Go to: Part 1: Karymsky, Mutnovsky and Gorely | Part 2: Tolbachik to Shiveluch | Part 3: Tolbachik (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Kamchatka, land of volcanoes and colors: impressions Sep 2019 - part 4: Koryaksky and Avachinsky (24 Images)

Some impressions taken during our recent Kamchatka expedition in Sep 2019: visit of Tolbachik volcano from the south during 13-14 Sep 2019, during a rare window of exceptionally clear weather, with visibility over hundreds of kilometers.
Go to: Part 1: Karymsky, Mutnovsky and Gorely | Part 2: Tolbachik to Shiveluch | Part 4: Avachinsky & Koryaksky (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Kamchatka, land of volcanoes and colors: impressions Sep 2019 - part 3: Tolbachik (88 Images)

Some impressions taken during our recent Kamchatka expedition in Sep 2019: the plateau between the northern and southern volcanoes groups, with fantastic and rare views of 6 volcanoes at once: Ushkovsky, Klyuchevskoy, Kamen, Bezymianny, Zimina, Tolbachik... We then traveled to the north side of Klyuchevskoy and on to erupting Sheveluch. Photos taken during 9-13 Sep 2019.
Go to: Part 1: Karymsky, Mutnovsky and Gorely | Part 3: Tolbachik | Part 4: Avachinsky & Koryaksky (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Kamchatka, land of volcanoes and colors: impressions Sep 2019 - part 2: Tolbachik to Shiveluch (64 Images)

Some impressions taken during our recent Kamchatka expedition in Sep 2019: Karymsky, the great Mutnovsky gorge and a visit on a lava flow field at Gorely volcano:
Go to: Part 2: Tolbachik to Shiveluch | Part 3: Tolbachik | Part 4: Avachinsky & Koryaksky (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Kamchatka, land of volcanoes and colors: impressions Sep 2019 - part 1: Karymsky, Mutnovsky and Gorely (40 Images)

Photos taken during our recent Etna Discovery tour in late May 2019. Our group was lucky to witness the short eruption of Etna which started 30 May and ended a few days later. Photos taken by Tobias Schorr. (Photo: Tobias Schorr)

Etna Volcano Discovery: tour photos May 2019 (159 Images)

Balos is a small bay and beach on the caldera side near Akrotiri. It can be accessed from a trail leading down from the caldera rim above or following the coast, starting at the caldera beach with its access road. Both can be combined to a highly interesting short round trip of about 1-2 hours.
It is one of Santorini's least crowded and best places to swim inside the caldera. Until today, it is also used as a small harbor and boat shelter, as well as a famous place to collect capers. Most likely, the Balos Bay was already used as harbor in Minoan times. Remnants of Minoan building had been found on the cliff above during the 19 and 20th centuries (but unfortunately construction and erosion have by now destroyed most of it).
Geologically, it is also of particular interest: along the coast, the cliffs expose an old basaltic-andesitic cinder cone in cross section where a transition from water-magma interaction (phreatomagmatic activity) to purely strombolian-type eruptions (magmatic activity) is brilliantly recorded. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Santorini Island, Greece, spring 2019: Balos hike (20 Images)

Impressions from our geologic walking tour on Santorini during 3-11 May 2019: (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Santorini Island, Greece, 3-11 May 2019 Fascination Volcano tour photos (119 Images)

A selection of photos taken during the Santorini walking tour 4-12 May 2019 by our photographer and tour guide Tobias Schorr. (Photo: Tobias Schorr)

Santorini Island, Greece, spring 2019: tour photos May 2019 (134 Images)

Before going to Fira for our caldera hike to Oia during our geologic walking tours, we decided to make an additional stop in the traditional village of Vothonas, one of the most scenic and still largely untouched-by-tourism on the island. It is located at the feet of the northern slopes of the Pirgos hill. It had developed from cave-house settlements in the area where several of the large characteristic pumice canyons meet to a form a broad valley. Besides an excellent place to study the traditional cave-house architecture, it offers excellent outcrops of the massive pumice layer from the 1600 BC eruption. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Santorini Island, Greece, spring 2019: impressions from Vothonas (20 Images)

Normally, our last excursion during the geologic walking tour leads us to the non-volcanic basement, which forms the highest mountain Profitis Ilias and its neighbor Mesa Vouno, where the Ancient Greek city of Thera was located and whose excavated ruins are certainly a highlight that should not be missed during a visit to Santorini.
Spectacular views, very interesting geological formations, and - in spring - extraordinary spring colors by the rich flora, wait for you. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Santorini Island, Greece, spring 2019: hike from Pirgos to Prof. Ilias, Ancient Thera to Perissa (92 Images)

Santorini Fascination Volcano tour photos Sep 2006 (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Santorini Fascination Volcano tour photos Sep 2006 (50 Images)

Another excursion during the geologic walking tour is the 12 km hike from Fira to Oia, a classic walk considered one of the best and most scenic hikes in the world and one of particular geologic interest as well. It leads through the elegant streets of Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia as well as old mule paths, and for most of the time offers breathtaking views over the northern caldera of Santorini, which was the site where the violent Minoan volcanic eruption around 1600 BC took place and reshaped the island forever. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Santorini Island, Greece, spring 2019: hike from Fira to Oia along the caldera (36 Images)

On our second excursion during the geologic walking tour, we visit the most interesting sites along the southern caldera, an abandoned pumice quarry, as well as the excavated Minoan town near Akrotiri. The images here show the first part of a tour as on 30 April. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Santorini Island, Greece, spring 2019: Caldera hike (36 Images)

Normally, our first excursion during the geologic walking tour, we visit the area of the oldest volcanic rocks of Santorini found in the SW peninsula near Akrotiri and the lighthouse. It is a very varied walk along beaches, the caldera, through fields on old, mostly forgotten trails and mule tracks. Geologic highlights include spectacular submarine tuffs and lava domes, often with fantastic hydrothermal alterations. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Santorini Island, Greece, spring 2019: tour on Akrotiri peninsula (48 Images)

The winter 2018-19 was particularly rainy in Greece. As a result, Santorini island was exceptionally green even at the end of April, when Tom guided our regular geologic walking tour on the island. Images taken on 27 and 28 April: (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Santorini Island, Greece, spring 2019: spring time at the caldera (20 Images)

Katharina kindly sent us a selection of the photos she took during the tour in the Saronic Gulf in Mar-April 2019: (Photo: Katharina)

Methana & the Saronic Gulf: tour photos April 2019 by Katharina W. (30 Images)

Impressions from one of the most interesting volcanic areas of Greece, taken during our recent tour to the Saronic Gulf in April 2019, by Tobias Schorr. (Photo: Tobias Schorr)

Land of Theseus - Methana & the Saronic Gulf: tour photos April 2019 (59 Images)

Impressions from Santorini Island during a geologic study tour in March 2019. (Photo: Tobias Schorr)

Santorini Island in spring - tour photos March 2019 (92 Images)

Canary Islands: tour photos Feb 2019 (Photo: Tobias Schorr)

Canary Islands: tour photos Feb 2019 (164 Images)

Thomas Spinner (abenteuer-vulkan.de) sent us some impressions from the Karangetang Volcano Special tour 11-16 Feb 2019: (Photo: Thomas Spinner)

Karangetang volcano special 11-16 Feb 2019 (8 Images)

Our latest tour to Krakatau during 18-24 Nov rewarded participants with a night filled with fireworks, observed from a paradise beach. What a view! (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau volcano (Indonesia) Nov 2018 eruption: a night on the beach (28 Images)

Ronny shared some of his photos from our recent expedition to Krakatau, showing the "normal" life during such a trip: (Photo: Ronny Quireyns)

Krakatau expedition Oct 2018 - Ronny's tour photos (24 Images)

Most autumns we organise a 15 days study and walking tour to the volcanoes of Southern Italy, starting in Naples where we visit Vesuvius and the Phlegrean fields before sailing of to the Aeolian islands to explore Lipari, Vulcano and Stromboli before our grand finale on the summit of Mt Etna in Sicily. Besides an unrivaled diversity of volcanic deposits, structures and phenomena this tour also includes many archaeological, relaxing, cultural and gastronomic excursions - combining all the best aspects of southern Italy! Our 12 - 26 October 2018 tour was guided by volcanologist Dr Ingrid Smet who put together the below photo diary of the trip - we hope you enjoy it! (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

Volcanoes of Italy - The Grand Tour: photo diary of our October 2018 tour (212 Images)

Santorini is not only a highlight when it comes to present a natural showcase of fantastic geology and volcanic history deeply interwoven with Europe's ancient history, but it is also a very photogenic island. Tobias Schorr presents a selection of photos taken during our Santorini walking tour in Oct 2018: (Photo: Tobias Schorr)

Santorini, Greece: tour photos Oct 2018 (80 Images)

Impressions from our Walking tour to Nisyros island in Oct 2018: (Photo: Tobias Schorr)

Nisyros Island, Greece: tour photos Oct 2018 (70 Images)

Impressions from our Tour to Kamchakta during Sep 2018: (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Kamchatka Sep 2018: tour photos (96 Images)

Ivana Dorn presents a selection of her pictures taken during the Sakurajima Volcano Special tour 25-29 March 2018: (Photo: Ivana Dorn)

Sakurajima volcano March 2018: Ivana's photos (20 Images)

Along with a small group of our recent Vanuatu Volcano Tour, expedition leader Yashmin (see also his website vanuatu-expedition.com) and his group had perfect conditions to observe the very active lava lakes in Ambrym's Benbow and Marum craters from close: (Photo: Yashmin Chebli)

Ambrym volcano, Vanuatu: lava lakes in Sep 2018 (12 Images)

Along with a small group, Tom Pfeiffer stayed on the island group during a Volcano Special tour from 13-19 Oct. Some impressions from the volcano and the tour: (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Krakatau volcano: eruption Oct 2018 - miscellaneous (32 Images)

Our latest group on the Krakatau to Bali tour was lucky enough to catch the latest eruption of Krakatau in its full splendor. We present a small selection of photos taken by expedition leader Galih showing the spectacular strombolian activity from the summit crater.
If you're interested in visiting Krakatau with us, please check the Krakatau Volcano Special expedition page. (Photo: Galih Jati)

Krakatau volcano in eruption Sep 2018 - tour photos from our expedition leader Galih Jati (12 Images)

Geologist and VolcanoDiscovery tour guide Dr Ingrid Smet took a small group of travelers on a 7 days exploration of Kilauea shield volcano on the Big Island, Hawaii, from 17 to 23 March 2018. Below you find her photo diary of the VolcanoAdventures tour 'Pele's Fire and Myths' which explores both historic eruption sites of Kilauea as the ongoing volcanic activity at its summit and East Rift Zone as well as local fauna and flora, traditions and mythology.
Check our next group departures if you want to join in on one of our Hawaii volcano adventures and explore these fascinating volcanoes with one of our experienced volcano guides! (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

Hawaii - Kilauea volcano: tour photos March 2018 (127 Images)

Nyiragongo volcano & Mountain gorillas: tour photos Jan 2018 by Michael Wareham (Photo: Michael Wareham)

Nyiragongo volcano & Mountain gorillas: tour photos Jan 2018 by Michael Wareham (10 Images)

Some impressions of our 'Desert, salt and volcanoes' expedition to Erta Ale and Dallol from 13 to 26 January 2018 - all images taken by participant Anastasia Ganuschenko. The new fissure eruption site which opened up on Erta Ale's flank a year before is still very active; now that some of the early lavas cooled down one can get very close to some of the lava lakes and hornitos that are still active. And thanks to the rainfall that finally came after about 4 years of drought the colourful scenery with salt deposits, acid lakes and small geysirs at the hydrothermal site of Dallol was once again looking its best!

Besides the 14-days tour group departures that we organise to this destination from mid November through to mid March we also offer customised tours at chosen dates for small groups and individuals. Please contact us through email for more information on such private expeditions to Erta Ale and Dallol! (Photo: Anastasia)

Erta Ale volcano + Dallol: tour photos Jan 2018 by Anastasia Ganuschenko (25 Images)

Upon request we organised a privately guided 3 days geology tour on the island of Santorini from 8 to 10 February 2018 of which tour guide and geologist Dr Ingrid Smet compiled this selection of photographs.
The islands looked very different from summer time when they are overrun by tourists and the heat has dried up most vegetation. Although the weather is of course less sunny and with higher chances of rain and clouds - and strong winds which sometimes result in the cancellation of all flights - it is well worth visiting Santorini in the winter time to take in the unique and quiet atmosphere and see the colourful winter and early spring flowers...

For many years now we organise 8-9 day group tours to Santorini both in autumn and springtime (Fascination Volcano tour) but if you can also contact us for a private multiple day tour at any custom date. (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

Santorini Island, Greece: February 2018 geology tour (106 Images)

Ivana took part in our tour to Krakatau to Bali in June and presents us a selection of her pictures.
"The photos are in a chronological order ... By looking at the photos again I feel the same excitement as it was during the tour. It was amazing!"
Photo copyrights: Ivana Dorn (Photo: Ivana Dorn)

Krakatau to Bali (Java, Indonesia) tour June 2017: photos by Ivana Dorn (68 Images)

During 3-18 Sep 2017, Tom and 10 participants went on our first pilot tour to Kamchatka. Overall, the tour was fantastic!
Highlights included a 3 days stay at remote Karymsky volcano, exceptionally good weather conditions for Gorely, Mutnovsky, Uzon and Valley of Geysers, Klyuchevskoy volcano, a large explosion from Sheveluch, great company and lots of fun! The following is a quick first impression of the tour in pictures sorted chronologically. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Kamchatka volcano tour Sep 2017 - tour diary (191 Images)

This photo diary is a compilation of images from different participants on our 12 - 18 April 2017 Kilauea Volcano Special guided by geologist Ingrid Smet. It also includes photographic documentation of the unofficial ´pilot´ extension that the small group undertook afterwards to explore the other sites, nature, wildlife, scenery and gastronomy of the Big Island.

During their stay on Hawaii the Kamukona lava ocean entry that started in July 2016 was still ongoing so that they had the chance to observe this volcanic acitivity from land, on the sea and in the air. They also watched on a different occasions the lava lake inside Halema´uma´u crater inside Kilauea´s summit caldera, which was at such a high level that the lava spattering could be seen from ca 2 km distance. Unfortunately there were no on-land lava break outs that they could get to as was the case for the March 2017 Kilauea Volcano Specials. (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

Kilauea Volcano Special, Hawai'i: tour photos April 2017 (231 Images)

Ingrid Smet´s photo diary of our 4-11 June 2017 Nyiragongo lava lake and mountain gorillas expedition in Rwanda and DR Congo, as well as some safari images of the 2 days extension she afterwards undertook in Akagera National Park. (Photo: Ingrid Smet)

Nyiragongo volcano & Mountain gorillas: tour photos of our June 2017 expedition (218 Images)

A selection of photos taken during our Expedition to Erta Ale and Dallol in early February 2017 by participant Stefan Tommasini - Fotografie mit Seele (website). This Danakil expedition was particulary unique: on one hand a new eruptions started at a fissure on Erta Ale´s flank which let to the partial collapse of the active craters in the summit caldera; on the other hand it was pouring with rain when our group was at Dallol, which is known to be the hottest and driest place on earth... The rain however intensified the colours and activity at Dallol´s hydrothermal deposits, and the flank eruption created a vast lava field with multiple lava lakes and pahoehoe flows. (You can find a short overview of the 2017 flank eruption and Erta Ale volcanic activity update at the end of June 2017 through this link) (c)

Erta Ale + Dallol Feb 2017 - photos of the flank eruption at Erta Ale by Stefan Tommasini (15 Images)

$A selection of photographs taken by Ingrid Smet during our June 2017 Nyiragongo lava lake and mountain gorillas expedition in the DR Congo which included a 3 days / nights stay on Nyiragongo volcano. On 6 June the group completed their hike to the summit in dry weather (the people coming up in the next two days were not so lucky) but had to wait a few hours for a first glance onto the red hot lava lake until the clouds around the stratovolcano´s summit and the thick volcanic gasses inside the caldera had temporarily lifted. The next 2 days (7 and 8 June) visibility into the caldera was usually best in the mornings and at intervals during the night, with more clear circumstances in the early morning and right through to dawn and sunrise on the 8th of June. The world´s largest lava lake (about 220 m across) is situated some 400 m below the rim of Nyiragongo´s summit caldera (a diameter of 1.2 km). When visible, the surface of the active lava lake was continuously in motion as exploding gas bubbles create small degassing fountains that recycle the cold black crust back into the red hot liquid lava. Strong degassing also occurred from the edges of the lava lake, the 2016 hornito and along the southern fracture zone. (Photo: Ingrid Smet)$

Nyiragongo volcano (DR Congo): expedition to the lava lake (June 2017) (40 Images)