Most Booked$80 USD ppAbout 3 hours
All tours
Inside the Exclusion Zone
Plymouth Buried City Tour
Inside the exclusion zone. A modern-day Pompeii, up close — with the guide who lived the eruption and has been telling its story for over 40 years.
4.9 on TripAdvisorKing's Honour Award (MBE) · 40+ years guiding
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Duration
4 hours
Difficulty
Easy · Light walking · Age 12+
Group size
1 to 30 people
Route
Observatory → Plymouth → St. George's Hill Fort
The Experience
Inside Montserrat's modern-day Pompeii
I'll take you into Montserrat's volcanic exclusion zone for a series of stops at the most important sites of the 1995 eruption — places that quietly tell the story of an island that lost its capital and rebuilt itself around the loss.
We start at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory for a short film on the eruption. Then I'll drive you across the Belham River past the abandoned Montserrat Golf Course on the way down to Plymouth Port, the Old Government Headquarters, and the abandoned village of St. George's Hill — finishing at the French-built St. George's Hill Fort, the closest safe view of the Soufrière Hills Volcano itself.
Bring your camera and binoculars. You'll go home with photographs — and an understanding of my island — that no other tour on Montserrat can offer.
4 on TripAdvisor
“Six of us in a private, air-conditioned van. Scriber picked us up from the dock at Little Bay and drove us right into Plymouth — walking around the ruins, the hotel viewpoint, and the Volcano Observatory. Very nice and informative.”— nep1984
What makes it special
Moments you'll remember
Inside the Volcano Observatory
A 15–25 minute film on the eruption, then meet the scientists who track Soufrière Hills in real time.
Plymouth Port & The Jetty
A guided look at the abandoned port — once the heart of Montserrat's trade and travel.
Old Government Headquarters
Stand before the seat of government left frozen in ash. Montserrat's Pompeii in full view.
St. George's Hill panoramas
Wide-open views over the buried city of Plymouth and the surrounding abandoned villages.
St. George's Hill Fort
A French-built fortification offering the closest safe view of the Soufrière Hills Volcano itself.
Belham Valley crossing
Cross the ash-filled Belham River past the once-vibrant Montserrat Golf Course on the way in.
Itinerary
What you'll see, in order
Stop 1
Pick-up at your port of entry
We collect you from the ferry terminal, airport, or your accommodation and head straight for the volcano zone.
Stop 2
Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO)
A guided stop with a 15–25 minute film on the eruption and the active devastation, plus the chance to meet the scientists monitoring the volcano.
Stop 3
Belham River & old Golf Course (drive-through)
Cross the Belham River and pass the former Montserrat Golf Course — once a vibrant draw for elite golfing enthusiasts, now reclaimed by ash. No stop; commentary along the way.
Stop 4
Plymouth Port & The Jetty
A guided stop at the abandoned port — the island's former gateway, left silent by the eruption.
Stop 5
Old Government Headquarters
Guided viewing and photo op of the buried seat of government — a modern-day Pompeii frozen in time.
Stop 6
Abandoned village of St. George's Hill
Guided viewing and photos from panoramic vantage points over the buried city of Plymouth and surrounding villages.
Stop 7
St. George's Hill Fort
A French-built fortification offering the closest safe view of the Soufrière Hills Volcano. Guided commentary and photos.
Stop 8
Return to your drop-off point
Back to the port of entry or your accommodation. End of tour.
The fine print
What's in the price
Included
- Pick-up & drop-off at your port of entry or accommodation
- Entry fee to the Montserrat Volcano Observatory
- Personal narration & storytelling by Scriber
- Dust masks available on request
On you
- Food & drinks
- Gratuities (appreciated)
Before you go
Come prepared
Wear
Comfortable closed-toe shoes — there's light walking on uneven, ash-covered ground.
Bring
Camera, binoculars, sun hat, water, and a light jacket if you burn easily.
Children
Ages 12 and up — the terrain inside the zone isn't suited to little ones.
Weather
Runs rain or shine. In heavy rain we may swap stop order for safety.
Book your spot
Ready when you are
A restricted-access tour inside the exclusion zone — Montserrat's modern-day Pompeii. Limited dates and group sizes, with a safety briefing before we go in. Transport can be purchased when you book (up to 4 persons) — contact us for larger groups or any questions.
Secure your spot online — free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Booking 5 or more? Message us for group pricing.
FAQ
Answers at a glance
Continue the journey
More ways to discover the island
Half day · Free cancel 24 hrs