Article cover image

A Photography and Volcano Tour: Expedition to Batutara

Indonesia
Galih

Tour Guide, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

| 2 mins read

Strombolian Eruption

There is a volcanic island on the middle of Flores sea. This island is known as Pulau Komba by the local fisherman. On the north-west side of the island, there is an active volcanic vent that gives spark of fire almost every 30 minutes. Spectacular lava extrusions warn the fisherman not to get closer to the island. This is the volcano, the Batutara. "Batu" is rock and "Tara" is Fire. The name of the volcano is literary means the Fire Rock. Batutara is one of the most active volcano on the east part of Indonesia ring of fire. Not many Indonesian know the existance of this volcano, because of its remote location.

Lava Boms of Batutara

Strong and Mild strombolian eruptions occure regularly in a short period of time. Sometimes small Pyroclastic flow happen as lava deposit on the crater rim pushed away by the eruption. Our camping ground is a perfect and save spot to observe and photograph the volcanic activity. Lava boms sometimes thrown away at unexpectable distance. Therefore, everybody must be aware of the danger. Volcano eruption observation is somehow very danger, but we have very strict safety SOP for our volcano tour that have to be obeyed.   

Sunset at Batutara

There is no public transportation service to get here. Tour to Batutara is not an ordinary tour. It is an expedition because there is no comfort accomodations. It is an adventure to explore a remote area on the middle of nowhere.