Christopher Horsley

Chris Horsley is an expedition leader, presenter, and volcano access specialist working in some of the world’s most extreme environments.

He began working on active volcanoes in 2013, specialising in rope access and crater rigging, before going on to guide and lead expeditions from 2016 onwards. Originally from the United Kingdom and now based in the Scottish Highlands, his work is defined by international operations in some of the most volatile volcanic regions on earth, including Vanuatu, Italy, Iceland, Nicaragua, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Across these locations, he has led and executed complex expeditions within active systems such as Mount Yasur and Nyiragongo—operating in remote, high-risk environments where access requires a combination of technical rigging, logistics, and on-ground decision making. His work has resulted in multiple first descents into active volcanic craters for scientific, film, and exploratory purposes.

Chris now works internationally across film and television as an expedition leader, safety and location manager, and on-camera presenter. His work has featured across major platforms, including SPHERE for MSG, Vice, Google, BBC, CNN, IMAX, ABC, and many more.

This experience led to the development and presentation of his own television series, Exploration Volcano (produced by Back2Back Productions), an eight-part series for BBC Earth and Dave documenting access into some of the world’s most extreme volcanic environments. The series combines expedition logistics, technical rigging, and storytelling, offering a rare, first-hand perspective from within active craters.

Beyond volcanoes, Chris has undertaken a number of expedition-led film projects in remote regions. As a whitewater kayaker, he has completed first descents in Madagascar, including the Manía River, as well as a recent descent of the Kunene River along the border of Angola and Namibia.

He also completed a 900km descent of the Blue Nile from its source in Ethiopia to the Sudanese border, documenting the journey and its environmental and cultural implications—particularly the impact of large-scale dam construction on the indigenous Gumuz people.

Chris has spent extended periods living with remote communities, including four months with a river tribe on the Sepik River in Papua New Guinea. This work informs ongoing development of documentary projects focused on remote cultures, land rights, and the pressures faced by indigenous communities in the context of industrial expansion.

He continues to work at the intersection of exploration, filmmaking, and access—developing projects that combine technical environments with human stories, both in extreme landscapes and closer to home in the Scottish Highlands.

Marum Crater, Ambrym, Vanuatu - Google Street View 2017