South Etna Tour
5,0
Up to the hot crater and underground in a lava cave
09:00 - 16:00
2800M
MEDIUM
max. 10 people
Itinerary
MEETING POINT
We meet in front of the Monte Gebel restaurant at the valley station of the cable car. Here we are already at 1900 m above sea level in the UNESCO protected area “Etna Park”. To get to know each other, we have breakfast with the guide and grab a snack for the lunch break.
Our guide will also give you the equipment if you don’t have everything yourself: trekking poles, windbreakers, backpacks, helmets, lamps and trekking shoes (let us know the size when booking).
Together we take the cable car up to 2500 m altitude, where the trekking begins.
TREKKING – CRATER – VALLE DEL BOVE
As we leave the upper cable car station, we see the summit craters towering before us. Accompanied by our expert Italian-speaking guide, we visit the craters of the eruptions of 1762 (Montagnola), 1792 (Cisternazza) and 2001 (Laghetto – Escrivà). We walk on solidified lava flows towards the “Valle del Bove” valley and discover lava fields, craters and lava flows of different ages and colours, sometimes the soils are rough and irregular, sometimes soft and sandy.
Arriving at the Valle del Bove viewpoint, we find ourselves right on the edge of this huge indentation on the eastern side of Etna, with a steep drop up to 1000 meters in front of us and the summit craters towering behind us.
LUNCH BREAK
We reach the Laghetto lateral crater, formed in about a month during the 2001 eruption.
We sit in a cozy place and take our lunch break, but be careful: the ground here is still warm, so don’t get burned!
DEPARTURE
TASTING OF HONEY, CREAMS AND LIQUEURS FROM ETNA
CAVE OF THE THREE LEVELS
RETURN - UNTIL THE NEXT ADVENTURE
Highlights
Meeting Point
- at the cable car station in front of the Monte Gebel restaurant (seen on Google Maps); there are many (paid) parking spaces available!
Recommended equipment
- High hiking shoes (low shoes get filled with sharp volcanic sand) and long trousers or high socks. When socks are put on over shoes, they prevent sand from entering the shoes, like gaiters.
- Clothing suitable for the weather and altitude, in layers: during the winter season snow clothing included. Gloves and hat; in summer, windbreaker, cap, sunglasses and sun cream
- 1.5 l water per person
- Packed lunch
Services included
- Insurance coverage throughout the tour
- Authorized Italian-speaking guide (tour guide, AIGAE-GRE tourist guides, with BLSD certificate)
- Ticket for cable car transport up to 2500 m: ascent and descent €50 p.p.
- Equipment: trekking poles, windbreakers, rucksacks, helmets, lamps and trekking shoes (please let us know your shoe size when booking)
- Breakfast
- Tasting of typical products: honey, cream, liqueurs
Services not included
- Everything that is not listed under ‘Included Services’.
Services on request
- Pick-up from hotel or other meeting point (price to be agreed)
- Hiking shoe hire
- Child seats for transfer
Important information
- Please inform us in advance of any special circumstances: health problems, allergies, heart disease, blood pressure problems, limited mobility, disability. We will find the best solution for you for an unforgettable day on Mount Etna.
- Activity at this height is not recommended for women from the third month of pregnancy onwards.
- Changes may occur or the tour may be cancelled if the guide deems it necessary if weather or volcanic conditions threaten the safety of the group.
Reviews
Reimar Suess
Wir haben eine wunderschöne Wanderung erlebt. Sebastiano ist ein toller Guide, der für den Ätna “brennt” und zusätzlich zu dieser Begeisterung fundiertes Wissen über die Natur und den Vulkan mitbringt. Toller Service, dass EtnaWay auch noch Ausrüstung (in unserem Fall die vergessenen Wanderschuhe) bereitstellt. Alles in allem absolut empfehlenswert!!
Susanna Borek
Wir hatten eine fantastische Tour mit Christiano! Er hat super viel gewusst und keine Möglichkeit ausgelassen uns mehr über Aetna, seine Entwicklung und auch die Geschichte drumherum zu erzählen! Wir waren mit 2 Kindern (4 und 8 Jahre) unterwegs, war super!! Wanderschuhe sind besser als Sportschuhe 😉 Sehr empfehlenswert.
Francisca
Hiking in Etna was an incredible experience. Gianpaolo is very easy going and a great guide who knows a lot about Etna. Not only did he taught us a lot about vulcanos, but also how Etna has shaped the Sicilian culture.
Our group got a bit of a cloudy day, but has Gianpaolo kept telling us, Etna is never boring! And as the clouds moved, we did get to see great views.
It was a great hike (we also got to visit a lava tunnel), and I learned a lot more than I was expecting!
mikhail glazunov
We took the top craters hiking tour. It was a high quality hiking experience. Organized very well, in an enjoyable and safe way. Christian, the guide, was super friendly, speaking English, German and Italian. Truly unforgettable experience.
South Etna Tour
200€
Per person
Meeting point on Etna
280€
Per person
With round trip transport
- Equipment and Cable Car Ticket
- Breakfast and Tasting
* Children under 13 pay €10 less!
Children under 3 years old do not pay
