Our climbs to achieve the Seven Volcanic Summits Challenge

Expeditions Unlimited is the only French-speaking operator to offer the 7 Volcanic Summits Challenge, which involves climbing the highest volcano on each of the seven continents. First proposed in 1999 in the spirit of the Seven Summits, it was only achieved for the first time in 2011 by Mario Trimeri and Trina Popescu, when they reached the summit of Mount Sidley in Antarctica. These summits have to be true eruptive volcanic centers and reach a topographic prominence of at least 1000 feet (305 m). It's a little-known challenge, and one that only a few dozen people have managed to date. The list is as follows: Ojos del Salado (6893 m) in Chile, Kilimanjaro (5895 m) in Africa, Damavand (5671 m) in Iran for Asia, Elbrus (5642 m) in Russia for Europe, Pico de Orizaba (5636 m) in Mexico, Mount Giluwe (4368 m) in Papua New Guinea for Oceania and finally, Mount Sidley (4285 m) in Antarctica.

This challenge is more accessible than the Seven Summits, in that it does not include either Everest or Denali in terms of altitude, physical and technical commitment. These volcanic peaks can be reached by trekking and are therefore considered "trekking peaks", with Ojos Del Salado and Elbrus requiring a little mountaineering experience. We can guide you through the entire Seven Volcanic Summits Challenge, at your own pace and in a natural progression of physical, technical and altitude difficulty. We recommend our web conference on the 7 Volcanic Summits in French with English subtitles.

Our participants’ reviews

Global rating: (2 reviews)

05/03/2024

Americas Climb Ojos del Salado volcano at 6893 meters in Chile

A unique and surprising experience (in a good way). I enjoyed the incredible landscapes of this volcanic desert, so hot during the day and cold at ni...

Laurent.B

05/09/2022

Africa Ascent of Kilimanjaro at 5895 meters Machame route

Fantastic trip with Expeditions Unlimited. Great organization throughout the journey, the guides went out of their way to make the experience unforget...

Stan F.

Ascension du Kilimandjaro à 5895 mètres en Tanzanie

Africa

Ascent of Kilimanjaro to 5895 meters Rongai route

Climb Kilimanjaro via its northern slope in 7 days, with breathtaking views over the Kenyan plains. The wild and little-used Rongai route reaches the Mawenzi volcano before the summit assault.

Duration: 11 days

Physical difficulty:Challenging

Expedition:Original

Technical difficulty:Easy

Activity:Trekking peak

Group size:from 4 to 6 participants

Guaranteed next departure on 15/01/2026

price from€2,750

International flight not included

Africa

Ascent of Kilimanjaro at 5895 meters Northern Circuit Route

Climb Kilimanjaro via its western slope in 9 days. The Northern Route is a rare and little-used route, particularly beautiful, and designed to reach the summit with the best acclimatization.

Duration: 13 days

Physical difficulty:Challenging

Expedition:Original

Technical difficulty:Easy

Activity:Trekking peak

Group size:from 4 to 6 participants

Last seats for the next departure of 14/01/2026

price from€3,350

International flight not included

Eléphants devant le Kilimandjaro à Amboseli

Africa

Ascent of Kilimanjaro and mount Kenya

Climb this legendary summit via the southwest face and the beautiful Machame route in 7 days, for better acclimatization. From the Shira Plateau to the Baranco Wall, a beautiful route.

Duration: 17 days

Physical difficulty:Challenging

Expedition:Exclusive

Technical difficulty:Climbing - Easy (F)

Activity:Trekking peak

Group size:from 4 to 6 participants

Last seats for the next departure of 08/02/2026

price from€5,600

International flight not included

Ascension du Kilimandjaro à 5895 mètres voie Machame

Africa

Ascent of Kilimanjaro at 5895 meters Machame route

Climb this legendary summit via the southwest face and the beautiful Machame route in 7 days, for better acclimatization. From the Shira Plateau to the Baranco Wall, a beautiful route.

Duration: 11 days

Physical difficulty:Challenging

Expedition:Essential

Technical difficulty:Easy

Activity:Trekking peak

Group size:from 2 to 12 participants

Last seats for the next departure of 14/02/2026

price from€2,650

International flight not included

Expédition à la montée vers le sommet de l'Ojos del Salado

Voyage lors de l'ascension du du Mulas Muertas à la descente avec la vue sur la Laguna Verde

Voyage d'aventure au sommet de l'ojos del Salado

Voyage d'aventure au Laguna verde de l'Ojos del Salado

Trekking au laguna verde à l'Ojos del Salado

Americas

Climb Ojos del Salado volcano at 6893 meters in Chile

Climbing Chile's highest peak at almost 7000 meters is one of the challenges of the 7 volcanoes. It requires no mountaineering technique or equipment.

Duration: 16 days

Physical difficulty:Difficult

Expedition:Essential

Technical difficulty:Climbing - Easy (F)

Activities:Trekking peak, Mountaineering

Group size:from 3 to 10 participants

Next departure on 16/01/2026

price from€5,990

International flight not included

Ascension du mont Giluwe dans les Highlands de Papouasie-Nouvelle_Guinée

Randonnée à travers un paysage brumeux de montagne dans les Highlands de Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée

Trekking et campement dans la forêt des montagnes centrales de Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée

Trek en direction du mont Wilhelm plus haut sommet de Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée

Trekking avec des femmes papoues marchant vers leur village dans les montagnes de Simbai

Papua

Climb Mount Giluwe volcano at 4368 meters in Papua New Guinea

As part of the ascent of the seven highest volcanoes in the world, Mount Giluwe (4368 m) enables you to get to know Papua New Guinea, the queen island of Oceania shared with Indonesian Papua, which…

Duration: 16 days

Physical difficulty:Difficult

Expedition:Exclusive

Technical difficulty:Climbing - Easy (F)

Activity:Mountaineering

Group size:from 4 to 10 participants

Next departure on 30/05/2026

price from€12,900

International flight not included

Voyage d'aventure avec une vue aérienne de l'Iztaccihuat et du Popocatepeti

Voyage d'aventure au cratère du Nevado de Toluca

Americas

Climb pico de Orizaba volcano at 5636 meters in Mexico

Duration: 15 days

Physical difficulty:Challenging

Expedition:Exclusive

Technical difficulty:Climbing - Easy (F)

Activities:Mountaineering, Trekking

Group size:from 4 to 10 participants

Next departure on 09/01/2027

price from€5,690

International flight not included

Route finding through snow rime 'mushrooms' on Mount Sidley's summit ridge.

Roped travel on Mount Sidley's summit ridge

Antarctica

Climb Mount Sidley volcano at 4285 meters in Antarctica

Be one of the few to have climbed Mount Sidley to 4285 meters, the highest volcano on the Antarctic continent, one of the seven highest volcanoes on the planet. Higher than the more active Mount…

Duration: 18 days

Physical difficulty:Challenging

Expedition:Exclusive

Technical difficulty:Climbing - Easy (F)

Activity:Mountaineering

Group size:from 1 to 12 participants

Next departure: ask us

price from€77,000

International flight not included

Ascension du Damavand à 5610 mètres en Iran

Central Asia

Climb Mount Damavand volcano at 5610 meters in Iran

With its 5671 meters, the Damavand, legendary volcano, deserves well of his nickname of "Roof of Iran". We start with the easy ascent of the magnificent Lashgarak (4256 m) and then the Alam Kuh (4848…

Duration: 14 days

Physical difficulty:Challenging

Expedition:Exclusive

Technical difficulty:Climbing - Easy (F)

Activity:Mountaineering

Group size:from 4 to 10 participants

Next departure: ask us

price from€6,250

International flight not included

Ascension du sommet de l'Ebrouz dans le Caucase

Expédition au sommet ouest de l'Elbrouz dans le Caucase

Europe

Climb Elbrus at 5642 meters in Russia

The ascent of the roof of Europe by a less frequented, but more committed way than the southern slope. Optimized acclimation, a contingency day and Ifremmont medical assistance are the hallmarks of success.

Duration: 12 days

Physical difficulty:Not Available

Expedition:Essential

Technical difficulty:Climbing - Easy (F)

Activity:Mountaineering

Group size:from 4 to 8 participants

Next departure: ask us

price from€2,450

International flight not included

Seven Volcanic Summits Challenge

Climb the highest volcano on each of the 7 continents

Our climbs to achieve the Seven Volcanic Summits Challenge

Our participants’ reviews

10 expeditions found

Africa

Ascent of Kilimanjaro to 5895 meters Rongai route

Africa

Ascent of Kilimanjaro at 5895 meters Northern Circuit Route

Africa

Ascent of Kilimanjaro and mount Kenya

Africa

Ascent of Kilimanjaro at 5895 meters Machame route

Americas

Climb Ojos del Salado volcano at 6893 meters in Chile

Papua

Climb Mount Giluwe volcano at 4368 meters in Papua New Guinea

Americas

Climb pico de Orizaba volcano at 5636 meters in Mexico

Antarctica

Climb Mount Sidley volcano at 4285 meters in Antarctica

Central Asia

Climb Mount Damavand volcano at 5610 meters in Iran

Europe

Climb Elbrus at 5642 meters in Russia

Activity

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