Article Highlights:

  • Even dormant volcanoes can erupt with little warning, posing risks to uninformed travelers.
  • Volcanic ash can ground flights and close roads, leaving tourists stranded or at risk.
  • Popular destinations like Sicily, Hawaii and Indonesia are hotspots for eruptions and tourism.
  • Travelers should monitor alerts, have contingency plans, and rely on evacuation services like Global Rescue.
  • Emergency medical rescues, like one conducted on Mt. Tambora, highlight the hidden dangers of volcano trekking.

 

 

Volcano tourism is flowing. From the lava-spewing peaks of Hawaii to the brooding calderas of Indonesia, adventurers are increasingly drawn to the raw power and otherworldly landscapes of Earth’s most dramatic geological features. But beneath the allure of crater hikes and lava-viewing tours lies a complex web of risks — some obvious, some invisible until it’s too late.

For travelers exploring an active or dormant volcano, preparation isn’t optional. It’s essential.

 

Dormant Volcano Doesn’t Mean Safe

“Dormant doesn’t mean safe — a volcano can shift from quiet to deadly with little warning, like a sleeping giant that wakes without notice,” said Harding Bush, a former Navy SEAL and associate director of security operations at Global Rescue. “Tourists need to stay alert and prepared.”

Travelers often assume that if a volcano isn’t actively erupting, it poses no danger. That’s a dangerous misconception. Dormant volcanoes still have the potential to erupt, sometimes violently and without obvious precursor signs. Some of the deadliest eruptions in history came from volcanoes considered quiet.

“Even when a volcano appears calm, the environment around it is anything but,” Bush added. “It’s like standing on a frozen lake in spring: the surface may look solid, but danger lurks just beneath.”

 

Active Volcano? Eruption and Lava Flows

Traveling to a volcano that’s already active adds another layer of risk. Geologists track seismic activity and issue alerts, but nature doesn’t always follow a schedule. “Whether a volcano is dormant or not, eruptions are not always predictable,” said Bush.

At any point, tourists may face:

  • Lava flows that can move fast enough to destroy everything in their path.
  • Sudden ash clouds that reduce visibility and air quality.
  • Earthquakes and landslides triggered by underground shifts.
  • Flight cancellations and road closures due to airborne ash.

“Volcano tourists must know that airports may close, and roads can become impassable due to ash fall. Travelers should be prepared to change plans quickly and use alternate routes, by land, sea or air if needed,” Bush warned.

One of the most recent examples occurred in Sicily, where renewed activity at Mount Etna grounded flights at Catania Airport. Authorities scrambled to respond as lava flows and ash plumes created widespread disruption. “This situation is a reminder of how quickly a natural event can interrupt even the best-planned trips,” Bush said.

 

Grounded by Ash, Trapped by Terrain

Volcanic ash is far more dangerous than it seems. It’s not like soft campfire ash. It’s made of pulverized rock, fine enough to stay airborne for miles but sharp enough to shred engines. “Ash clouds pose serious threats to aviation safety. Volcanic ash can damage aircraft engines and systems,” Bush explained.

That reality was made crystal clear in 2010 when Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull eruption shut down much of Europe’s airspace for days. Bush recounted a personal story: “I was stranded in Anchorage for days trying to get to Kodiak Island while there was an eruption 160 miles away on the Kenai Peninsula.”

Travelers don’t even need to be volcano tourists to be affected. A single eruption, hundreds of miles away, can bring a journey to a standstill.

 

A Real Rescue on a Dormant Volcano

Even volcanoes that haven’t erupted in centuries present serious hazards. Just ask Cheryl Gilbert, a seasoned hiker and senior executive who was trekking Mt. Tambora, the deadliest volcano in modern history, when she broke her leg during a steep descent.

Though the volcano hadn’t erupted since 1815, its remoteness turned Gilbert’s injury into a high-stakes emergency. “I came down on the foot, and I heard it crack,” she recalled. With no road access and limited communications, her hiking partner contacted Global Rescue despite a weak signal.

The evacuation was challenging: first, a makeshift bamboo stretcher trek through dense jungle, then a medical escort flight across the Indonesian archipelago. “The nurse made all the difference,” she said, praising Global Rescue for their logistical expertise and critical care. “Having someone with me who was Indonesian and could negotiate with people and deal with all the medical stuff was a lifesaver.”

 

What Global Rescue Can Do

“If you’re caught in an unexpected volcanic eruption, Global Rescue can provide emergency medical field rescue, medical evacuation and advisory support to help you navigate the crisis and get to safety as quickly as possible,” said Bush.

When eruptions occur, Global Rescue issues alerts, advises travelers on alternate evacuation routes and coordinates emergency transportation, whether that’s via helicopter, sea transport or chartered plane. “Eruptions can affect all travelers, not just volcano tourists,” Bush added.

“Volcano tourism has grown in popularity as adventurous travelers seek thrilling experiences,” said Matt Aubin, Global Rescue’s director of partner sales. “Lava field hikes, crater tours and eruption viewings offer a front-row seat to nature’s most powerful spectacle. While we haven’t seen a spike in volcano-specific tourism, it’s often part of the experience when visiting places like Iceland, Italy or Hawaii.”

And while eruption-related rescues remain rare, the risks — both environmental and medical — are real.

 

The Global Rescue Connection

Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue, believes travelers are now more risk-aware than ever. “Today’s travelers understand that emergencies are not hypothetical. Whether it’s a volcanic eruption, civil unrest, or a medical emergency, the ability to get help fast can be life-saving. Emergency evacuation protection is no longer optional, it’s essential,” he said.

“Travelers have learned that anything can happen during a trip, especially since the pandemic,” Richards added. “Their mindset has made a tectonic shift, moving travel protection for emergency evacuation from ‘optional’ to ‘obligatory.'”

A Global Rescue travel protection membership covers emergency medical evacuations from the point of illness or injury to the nearest suitable medical facility or the hospital of your choice. “The closest medical facility isn’t always the right one,” said Dan Stretch, Global Rescue operations manager. “Global Rescue gets you to the most appropriate hospital for your illness or injury.”

Even if your trip doesn’t involve lava flows or ash clouds, a twisted ankle on a crater rim or an asthma attack near sulfur vents can become life-threatening without immediate help.

“Our team of medical professionals includes paramedics, nurses and doctors,” said Michael Lovely, operations supervisor at Global Rescue. “We handle calls for cuts and stomach upsets to more severe illnesses and injuries, like chest pains and serious trauma.”

When nature turns dangerous, having backup you can trust can mean the difference between being stranded — or being saved.