Following on from last year’s success, Iceland is once again offering an exciting insight into its volcanic nature as the Inside the Volcano experience re-opens to visitors this summer. From 15th May to 10th September 2013, visitors will be able to step inside the magma chamber of Thrihnukagigur, an extinct volcano just 20 miles from the capital of Reykjavik – currently the only place on earth where a huge volcanic magma chamber is accessible and safe to explore.
Thrihnukagigur, which has been dormant for over 4,000 years, remains one of the few volcanoes on Earth which is safe to explore inside. This is due to the rare geological occurrence where its magma solidified onto the chamber walls leaving a huge magma chamber, rather than the magma cooling into hard lava and closing the chamber, which happens after most eruptions.
Visitors will be wowed by the enormous bottle-shaped magma chamber whose height is the equivalent to three Statues of Liberty’s and ground space is similar to three basketball courts. The 120 metre descent through the crater will be accompanied by specially trained guides in a cable lift.
The tour lasts for six hours with one hour inside the volcano. Prices start at 37,000 ISK (approx. $215/185) per person, including pick up and drop off in Reykjavik, a guide, all safety gear and a traditional Icelandic meat soup for lunch.
