Volcano Hunting in Nisyros

Moving on from Kos on my Greek Island hopping adventure with MDFV, we were heading away from beaches and sunbathing, on a more adventurous root. 

Today I would be stepping inside the crater of a volcano.

Better get sailing to Nisyros then.

Nisyros is one of the most stunning and picturesque of the Greek islands and is very much unspoiled by tourism, with barely a tourism industry. 

Going off these views I half don't want to tell you about it, as I want to keep it a little tourism free secret. But it really is too beautiful not to share.

According to Greek mythology, Nisyros was created during a battle between the Gods and the Giants. Poseidon, the Greek God of the sea, chased the Giant Polyvotis down to Kos, where he chopped of a part of it and hurled it at Polyvotis, which struck him and he sank to the bottom of the sea.

The piece he cut off became a new island; Nisyros.

As we hiked it up the mountainous terrain, in the distance we spotted the volcano crater. 

It's rather a daunting sight, but also one of beauty. A real stand there and gaze in wonder moment, 

The last eruption was in 1888, which caused the volcano collapse, leaving the crater you see. The volcano is still active, so yes technically it could still erupt again. Gulp.

We slowly walked along the rim of the crater, looking down into it. 

It's really so hard to sum up in a photo just how unbelievably impressive it was. The colours, the texture, just the sight of it was incredible. 

I guess that's the warning about it potentially erupting then.

Well we'd trekked this this far, might as well just go for it. 

There is a small, very steep slope down to the belly of it, sensible footwear only please.

Inside the crater is just the most amazing feeling.

I got chills from being inside, as it's so vast and colossal. 

Across the floor of the crater, are active fumaroles. These are vents from which volcanic gas escapes. 

It does get rather hot and steamy, so sunglasses might also be good for your eyes. 

Oh and yes, it does smell actually, so maybe a peg?

Keen to soak in more of those amazing views, we started to trek up the mountains the other way.

It's not too steep- although gets steeper than this picture- but its far to the top, so the height is actually huge. 

But at the top, the views are worth that trek though.

You just really can't beat this. Being at one with nature. 

It brings a sense of balance and calm to my life. 

Not too sound too cheesy now, but can I be excused from saying the phrase "Feeling on top of the world".

To me travel is not too about sitting in some swanky bar drinking cocktails and lunging by a expensive pool, it's about experiencing other cultures, discovering the natural world and continually growing as a person through exploration.

Here's to many more days like this one.

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