Etna, Summit Craters

My husband and I booked a guided hiking excursion on Mount Etna with AITNE on October 22, 2026, based on a personal recommendation. We are experienced hikers and have participated in many guided hikes around the world. Unfortunately, this became one of our most frightening and disappointing experiences. **The accident** We booked the 4-6 hour guided tour from the south side of Mt. Etna to the top via Cable Car and bus and back down hiking to the cable car. Our group was fairly small in terms of people. I think we were about 10-12 people. Our guide, was initially friendly and knowledgeable, emphasized the importance of safety, and created a fun experience. We got to the top without incident and the ascent went well. However, during the descent, he encouraged our group to run down a steep volcanic ash slope. My husband had already begun descending when the guide explained the technique for running downhill in more detail to the rest of the group who were further behind. He fell, striking a rock hidden beneath the ash, injuring (dislocating) his shoulder and suffering multiple cuts to his face when his sunglasses broke. Thankfully, he was wearing a helmet, and the consequences were not even more serious. We understand that hiking involves risks and that accidents happen. But this was a guided hiking excursion, not a technical skills lesson. My husband would have descended more cautiously had he not been encouraged to run. **The response after the injury** What happened afterward was just as concerning. We did not receive the first-aid assistance adequate with supplies for his injury. We were given help and supplies from another guide and asked fellow hikers for ibuprofen to help manage my husband's pain. Our guide arranged for us to take a bus down without an additional charge, which we appreciated. However, he stayed with the rest of the group rather than accompanying us to medical attention. Thankfully, Francesco, known as "Chiccio," a guide from a different company, stepped in to help. He assisted us through the cable car and accompanied us all the way to the medical station at the base of the mountain. We were extremely grateful for his kindness and assistance. Our group had only one guide. This became particularly important when my husband was injured, because our guide said he could not remain with the other participants and accompany us to receive medical assistance. Many guided hikes we've experienced have had two guides, one at the front and another at the back. I would encourage prospective customers to ask AITNE about its staffing arrangements and emergency procedures before booking. **The company's response** After returning home, I contacted AITNE to explain what happened and request a refund. The owner, defended the descent technique and declined our request. In his correspondence, he explained that running or taking small jumps down volcanic ash slopes is a normal technique and compared the situation to a ski instructor encouraging students to try new movements, even though they might fall. I found this comparison poor. We booked a guided hiking excursion, not a skiing or technical skills lesson. Our concern was never simply that a fall occurred. It was that participants were encouraged to run down a steep slope without sufficient advance instruction, and that the support available following the injury was inadequate. The owner also disputed our account of the first-aid supplies, stating that our guide had antiseptic and dressings available. That differs from what actually happened and of the assistance we actually received. We continue to disagree about how the situation was handled. **The company's promotional footage** After our experience, I visited AITNE's official website (www.aitnemed.com) and noticed that its homepage promotional video depicts hikers moving rapidly downhill on volcanic ash slopes. This was particularly noteworthy because the company's initial response disputed that our guide had encouraged running, while its subsequent response acknowledged that running or taking jumps is a technique its guides regularly explain to guests. My concern is not simply that this descent technique exists, but that customers should be clearly informed about the risks, given the option to descend more cautiously, and properly supported if an injury occurs. **My advice to other travelers** Mount Etna is an extraordinary place, and we recognize that hiking on a volcano involves inherent risks. We do not expect guides to prevent every accident. However, we do expect clear safety instructions, appropriate precautions, and effective assistance when someone is injured. What disappointed us most was not only the accident itself, but the response afterward and the company's unwillingness to acknowledge our concerns about how the situation was handled. Before booking with AITNE, I strongly encourage other travelers to ask whether they will be expected or encouraged to run downhill, all of their safety practices, how many guides will accompany the group, what first-aid resources are available, and what procedures are in place if someone is injured. Additionally, we were not asked to sign any paperwork or otherwise notified of the overall risks on the hike. Everything was happening "in the moment" and unlike the U.S. where you have to sign waivers of your understanding, that was not a practice here. I hope sharing our experience helps other travelers make informed decisions and avoid going through what we did.

Our guide Marko was brilliant, very knowledgeable about Etna and the island. Amazing to see and hear the explosions at the crater. All equipment included, so felt very safe throughout.

Amazing experience with an amazing guide

It was incredible! An experience of a lifetime

The whole trip was amazing, our guide Vincenzo made this experience very interesting and took us to better places then the rest of the groups, definitely recommend

If they change the itinerary due to the activity level on the volcano maybe rethink this tour. We were given the option to take the cable car up and walk down but it was not explained that we would be walking in moving volcanic gravel at a steep decline. If give the more details about the decent or given the option to take the cable car down since we were made to pay for a round trip ticket but only use it one way, we may have made a different choice. They did offer to let us cancel and maybe we should have done that.

I had a great experience on the Mount Etna tour, thanks to our guide, Vincenzo. He was attentive, supportive, and clearly passionate about what he does. Since we weren’t very experienced with hiking, he regularly checked in on us to make sure we were doing okay, which we really appreciated. He also encouraged us to push a bit further to reach the crater, and I’m glad we did. Even though we were able to see just one crater, it was absolutely worth it. Overall, it was a memorable experience, and I would highly recommend this tour, especially with such a thoughtful guide.

I went to the Etna summit craters tour with the guide Vincenzo. He was very passionate about Etna’s uniqueness and gave it over to us. All the atmosphere was really great and he cared that no one gets left out.

We were on Etna with our guide Vincenzo and the other group's guide Guiseppe at the end of May and it was an amazing experience. It was freshly snowed, beautiful views at the beginning. The guides were very nice, it was fun with them and we felt safe, there was a great atmosphere in the group. We learned a lot of interesting informations. The rented boots were very good. It was great!

It was a beautiful, impressive and interesting experience to reach the top, at two of the active craters of the Etna volcano. The guide we went with was very good and we felt wonderful. He gave us a lot of interesting information and was full of life.

Simone was a really good guide worried about the security of the group, showed us amazing views and explained us all of the story of Etna. We really recomend! Thank you!

Vincenzo is a her good guide, Guiseppe as well :-). They are both very diligent. We received a lot of information on out way up and down. We can truly recommend them.

A great way to experience Mt Etna the hike had it all, epic scenery, lessons in geology and our guides made it all fun adventure full of laugher and knowledge while constantly practicing safety, thank you 🙏. Fantastico

Very beautiful tour and the guide was very nice and explained everything abaut the vulcano.

I did the "Summit Craters from Etna Nord – 3350m" tour on the 5th on November 2025. We were very lucky with the weather, the sky was so blue and we had a very good visibility! The trip on the 4×4 to reach 2800 m made the tour even more exciting. Not only the 4×4 was shaking on our way, but also the landscape around was incredible! Our guide Vincenzo was very thoughtful with all the group, making sure everyone was feeling good and was safe! He also shared a lot of facts and curiosities about Etna in different spots, wich allowed us to take a rest and learn more about Etna and what we were seeing. Moreover, he also showed us a lot of pictures and videos from past explosions. Grazie Vincenzo! I recommend this tour to everyone that seeks to see a more raw and adventurous side of Etna. Bring good hiking boots, Windbreaker jacket, water and snaks and you will love it!

There are agencies that take you where you want to go. And then there are agencies that turn the journey into an experience. Aitne Med is one of the latter.

We booked our Mt. Etna summit hike with AITNE MED after comparing several guide services, and we were really glad we did. From the start, their communication was clear, responsive, and professional — which made planning from Catania much easier. AITNE provides decent gear as part of the package if needed. We used their boots, which were perfectly adequate for the 4-hour climb, and brought our own jackets (but they have them available if needed). The hike itself was intermediate/moderate (altitude) but incredibly rewarding, and our guide Vincenzo made the experience exceptional. He was positive, upbeat, and extremely knowledgeable about both the local area and Etna’s geology. Throughout the ascent he stopped to explain the volcanology, pointing out features and recent activity in a way that made the science behind the landscape come alive. A couple of practical notes: lunch is not included on the summit hike, so bring your own snacks, and transport from Catania to the meeting point on Etna can be pricey (it’s a long drive). AITNE doesn’t provide direct pickup but can easily arrange a reliable driver if needed. Overall, we had a fantastic experience and would highly recommend booking with AITNE MED for anyone considering an Etna excursion. If you can, request Vincenzo — his energy and enthusiasm really make the climb unforgettable!

Awesome trip. Vincenzo was a great tour guide. Very friendly, helpful and always had a view on his group to make sure everyone was secure and good. Tour was very good to walk if you are fit. Some experience with hiking is still very recommended. Especially as the tour contains quite steep parts. We had a great day, lots of fun, nice pictures and amazing views from the summit.

Amazing hike! 6 hrs to the craters in a group of 10. Was super windy but they gave us an extra jacket and proper hiking shoes. You do need proper shoes. The guide was great! Bring water, snacks and sunscreen!

We had a fantastic experience with our guide, Vincenzo! He is incredibly passionate about what he does and made our visit to Mount Etna truly special. Vincenzo explained everything in a very engaging way, sharing fascinating information not only about Etna but also about volcanoes in general. His enthusiasm and knowledge made the tour both fun and educational. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide — highly recommended!

Very nice trip, well organized with all gear needed for loan. Took a bit of time before leaving the parking lot, and had to pay separately for the 4x4 bus to the start of the trek. There was a lot of groups going to the craters at the same time, but did not feel too crowded. The guide gave info about historical and geological things along the way, and was nice. Went with my son, 11yrs old, and he had no problem making the hike. Really impressive to see the smoke and the huge craters and eruption sites along the way!

The publicity referred to needing a moderate level of physical fitness which my wife and I believe we both have Upon arrival we were quizzed by staff as to whether the trek was suitable and had we any experience of hiking at altitude and that it was a 5 hour hike - it was also very windy (most people wouldn’t I suggest) My wife was told “this is not for you” Upon reflection and not wishing to feel under pressure the whole way we decided not to participate and obtained a refund for the tour cost We then paid 104 Euro to get the bus up and back to the 2500 m point and amused ourselves at lower levels as we had to wait for our transport which had factored in the 5 hour tour We were fully aware that the original tour required payment of 65 Euro for transport up but were surprised that payment was only accepted in cash , hence the need to locate an ATM at short notice No doubt the tour is a fantastic experience , I just think that the marketing could be more specific if customers are going to assessed on arrival so it doesn’t become a wasted trip

Well organised with full equipment provided. nevertheless we would have appreciated to visit some craters closer such as Bocca nuova where others groups from other companies went while we were hiking. Experience could be improved just listening to customers....

We climbed to the craters with a 10 and 11 year old. Giuseppe, our leader was paced, safe and informative. I couldn’t recommend it enough. go raibh maith agat

Our guide Marco was amazing. This hike is not for the faint of heart but he made sure the pace was doable and everyone felt safe and comfortable. This is a once in a lifetime experience I recommend for anyone!

We booked on with Aitne and the communication throughout was fantastic. The day before our tour we were offered the approach from the North which would get us to the crater lip, brilliant! On arrival we met Massimo who kitted us out and recommend we grab a coffee while others arrived. We then all were transported to suitable elevation in 4x4 before we started our trek to the crater. Massimo explained the history and geology of the volcano at points on the way up. We traversed around the lip before retreating to a suitable point for a spot of lunch. Once back at the 4x4 we were moved to a different location which was the scene of the 2002-03 eruption. For completion we walked through a lovely forest before returning to the car park. All in all, very enjoyable. But please be aware you will hike up steep terrain to high altitude. You need to be fit!

Is a bit physically demanding but the guide was supernice and the hike beautiful. I suffer a bit the heights but the guide (Vincenzo) helped me to get down from there…a supernice guy

What an Incredible experience, Marco our guide did a phenomenal job, Informative, Super nice, and so passionate in what he does, did a great job keeping us safe, Thank you again Marcos! It truly it was definitely the most physically challenging experience I have ever done in my life, so do HIGHLY recommend to PREPARE PHYSICALLY as it it physically demanding but worth seeing!! Mount Etna was magnificent and the view point breathtaking and being above the Clouds and seeing Lava just stream downhill what an experience, overall HIGHLY RECOMMEND it is something you can’t go without seeing at least once in your life!

The experience was planned as family adventure, however, it was not suitable for children under 12 and under our guide advise I was left behind with our toddler. Although, the website did not advise on participants age and there was no information about children when we were booking the trip. We paid for the whole family and only when we were at the volcano meeting point the guide looked at us unbelievable that we were bringing our toddler along. So please do your separate research from the website info, for the trip you are booking. Nevertheless, I had to stay at the meeting point with our toddler for over 5 hours waiting for the rest of the family to enjoy the hiking trip. If I knew, I could have planned my day better :-( The rest of the family had a lovely time on the trip and really enjoyed the hiking although they said was quite difficult for untrained people like them, and they would recommend it. At the end, I was also happy with Viator, because they refunded us for two people (me and my toddler) not attending the hike, which was not cheap for my family. Thank you.

in spite of the restriction of 3k altitude (placed upon all tour groups) nino (our guide) managed to show us many interesting things and made sure it was a great experience

Very disorganized tour. We left from the base lodge about 1,5 hours late, and it was not clear how to divide the 60+ of us into three equal groups. As a result we ended up in a group that was 75% French, with a tour guide who spoke very little English. It was a beautiful hike, but recommend staying away from this company.

As a hiking enthusiast, this was a must-do on my 62nd birthday trip to Sicily. My daughter arranged the tour when we returned from hiking in the Dolomites. Our guide was Massimo and he was incredibly knowledgeable, gracious and patient. His focus was on safety and he was accommodating of all fitness levels and hiking paces. Our hike was on October 16th and we were grateful to share it with new friends from several countries. The views were magnificent and the camaraderie and conversation were lovely. Since my husband is working in Sicily, we will definitely do this again when friends visit. Thank you, Massimo! 💚

We had a clear day on Etna and a very good guide, Vincenzo. A very impressive 4 hour walk from 2500 meter (upper station of the funicular) to 3000 meter and back. Along beautiful craters. Vincenzo told us a lot about Etna and vulcanology. An unforgettable experience. Good to know that the price of the funicular (50 euro pp) is not included. The walk is not very entiring, but you experience the altitude. The guide looked very well after the group.

Our guide, Fabio was great! Very knowledgeable. Kept the pace well for the group. Keep in mind this is a long and sometimes strenuous hike! Beautiful scenery. Cable cars are extra.

We loved to be lead by our guide Simone. Very considerate and one could see that he is really engaged by his profession and eager to answer any questions, definitely not someone who just does his job but burns for his profession. The group dynamic was good, the equipment available was appropriate and uncomplicated to obtain as well to return. Last but not least, the tour itself was breathtaking, offering stunning views at the steaming mountaintop of mount Etna. We were very fortunate to get some beautifull weather on the mountain, as it was forecast to be much worse the day before.

We were very lucky in as much as Etna actually erupted 2 days after we stood on the top looking down into the crater. An absolutely amazing experience and box ticked for sure.

We booked a guided tour to the top of Etna in August 2024. Just before the trip we were informed that the central crater could not be visited due to the high risk of eruption, so we were not sure if the tour was worth it. But when the tour started we were proved wrong. Our guides were Giuseppe and Simone. They both did a great job and managed to capture our attention and interest in the volcano right from the start. We learned a lot about the history and the volcanic processes. We climbed to an altitude of 3000 meters and were able to enjoy a wonderful view over the old and recently formed craters. At the top we could inhale the gases coming from the lava, feel the heat of the lava stones and have a nice picknip at the top. Last but not least, we got some local (secret) tips about the Sicilian food and drinks from Giuseppe. I would highly recommend to book and do this tour if you are visiting Sicily.

Excellent experience. Guides were professional and helpful. The climbing was tought and not easy, but the guides were there to help and supervise. It's definitely an experience to be done, but it's better if you have a sufficient lever of training.

Truly a breathtaking experience. Due to activity, we weren’t able to go to the very top of the volcano, but our guide Massimo made it a very worthwhile journey.

Amazing mind-blowing experience. Our guide Mario was very caring and good at setting the pace during different moments. Highly reccomend!

We went for a tour with the Aitna group, and had Simone as a guide. The staff: Sympathetic and very quick to answer questions and requests, organised and reliable, everything you wish for when climbing an active volcano. The guide: Taking his time to explain, to help, to answer questions, professional and Sympathetic too. The gear: We got hiking boots, and helmets, the rest we already had. Quality was good and enough for the climb. The tour itself: A long ride with cable car, followed by 4x4 busses, until reaching higher ground, and starting the hike. The hike itself goes 500m up, and is steep, a bit of condition is required, although the guide checks regularly on everybody, gives hint, and adapt the pace depending on needs. Once on the top, not going to spoil anything you'll see by yourself :) and the going down part was fun, due to the consistency of the path itself. Thanks a lot to Simone and his colleagues for a great discovery and cheer up guys! 5 stars deserved :)

My wife and I enjoyed the trip a lot! Our guide, Simone, was very engaged and took care of all member members of our group. So the pace was quite slow, but ideal for a family with small kids who also joined. Also you get all relevant equipment like shoes, jacket and a backpack, if needed. BUT as most other companies the information for this trip is really lacking: 1) in addition you have to pay for the cable car and 4x4, which are obligatory 60-78 Euro per person! This should be mentioned before 2) They should mention that a typical ffp2 mask is recommended due to the gas on top of the mountain 3) you get informed half a day before to bring cash for the cable car, but you don’t get any receipt At the end the trip was worth the money, but it felt kind of a ripoff to get informed about the additional cost right after the free cancellation period

Highly recommend! AITNE tour, and SIMONE did a fantastic job! We saw all the major craters on top of Etna, and most importantly, they kept our safety the first priority. It was a great deal, about $65pp, which included the full guided tour. The gondola (up/down) and the 4x4 (saves quite a bit of time) for up only was €60 extra, payable in cash. Simone was very knowledgeable and certified volcanologist, giving us both Etna historical information and generic volcano knowledge. Spoke great English. Definitely do this tour, you won’t regret it.

We took the summit trek with 8-9 year old kids. At the meeting point we were warned several times that the trek might be too hard for them due to the high altitude. We all had to sign that we are aware of the difficulty of the trip and that we are all healthy and ok. They were extremely cautious and also very kind. They told us we could turn back at a certain point with the third guide, if we found the trek too difficult. Thankfully, the kids had no problems. The guides took care that we all went steadily and with the pace of the slowest ones in the group. They made sure everyone was ok and provided us with all the information we needed. In the end we had a great time and finished the trek with a smile. The views of all the activity on the top and druring the trip were breathtaking! The guides explained everything on the way and made the trek even more interesting. I would like to add that the trek is appropriate for fit people and those who do not have issues with high altitude. Nevertheless, we really did feel safe with our guides.

Hey there. just got an AWFUL experience with AITENE and thought it would be advisable to WARN other fellow travellers before they book a tour to Mt. Etna with this sham of a company... I Booked a trip with AITENE via GetYourGuide based on a clearly MISLEADING description of the tour, designed to attract any client they could lay their hand on, regardless of whether this type of tour and its difficulty level actually suits such potential customers. in GetYourGuide the activity was described as suitable to anyone who is less than 90 years old and does not have any heart and/or respiratory problems. Reading throgh the description here in TripAdvisor , I must say it's not much better and possibly even worse, as they state specifically that a "moderate level of fitness" is required, namely, should be sufficient. Now I am a HEALTHY woman in her late 40s, attending regularly her local gym 4-5 days a week and doing a very brisk walk (on average 7 kph, when according to UK NHS a brisk walk would be considered to be already at 4.9 kph/3 mph ) for 45-50 minutes each session or a total of at least 180 minutes per week. Therefore, I am well within the range of "moderate fitness" exercise level according to UK NHS (150 minutes per week of activities including brisk walking). Also, in case you were wondering, i've never experienced any heart failure or respiratory problems like asthmatic episodes, while engaged in this physical activity... Therefore, it was REASONABLE to assume that the tour would be suitable for my level of fitness and general health condition... Oh boy, was I wrong and MISLEAD by this MISINFORMED tour description provided by AITENE in their ZEALNESS for customers' money...Ultimately, I had to get off the tour in the middle, after much physical pain, numbness in both of my upper thighs, not to mention the frustration and discomfort in the midst of a vacation trip... To top it all, when asking for the bare minimum, like a sheer acknowledgement of their responsibility in posting misleading information and appropriately refunding merely the ticket price for an activity that i was not able to complete and would have never chosen to do had their been a genuine description of the dfifficulty level, my request was DENIED, and quite RUDELY, if i may say so... Marco Tomasselo, who presended himself as the DIRECTOR of the company, NOT only REFUSED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND DEMONSTRATE A MINIMAL ACCOUNTABILITY, BUT IN FACT EVENTUALLY BLAMED ME FOR NOT BEING FIT ENOUGH FOR THE TOUR ... why sure, blame the victim who also happens to be a customer. And this comes from a company that allegedly prides itself for its commitment to customers satisfaction... In CONCLUSION: do yorself a favor and DO NOT rely on the DISINFORMATION provided by AITENE tour company 🤨🤕. Better yet, opt for ANOTHER more trustworthy tour operators that genuinly describe the level of difficulty - chances are that if anything goes wrong (for whatever reason) - they will also take responsibility and demonstrate a decent accountability. It is really quite simple, when a company CHEATS IN ONE DOMAIN, REST ASSURED THAT THEY WILL ULTIMATELY END-UP DISRESPECTING AND CHEATING YOU AS A CUSTOMER IN OTHER RESPECTS as well.. .. Stay safe and have a wonderful trip to Sicily or elsewhere 😊 😇 P.S. I will not be surprised if Marco or one of his agents will write a response essentially trying to smear me, while BSing about my choice, lack of fitness or anything else they come up with. Unlike their obvious financial insentives, my only interst is that fellow travellers will not find themselves in any situation that requires responsibility and accountability of AITENE. I'm afraid my case demonstrate their clear incapability in both respects...

It was a fantastic adventure, great guide who was brilliant with our 7 year old. Downside, this is proper hiking, and while the boots and jackets were ok, there needed to be more information on the likely conditions and terrain as we would have come better prepared.

We had an amazing time. The company is very well organised, answering all our multiple questions, arranging a pick up, providing information and equipment. We had a brilliant guide, Simone, who was knowledgable, passionate and patient. We saw a resplendent Etna and the route up, though tricky at times in the snow and wind, was fabulous. It was spectacular, highly recommended!

The guide was very knowledgeable, the tour was well paced and very interesting. I really liked the entire experience. If you want just to hike around the mountain it is free to a certain point, and you can do it on your own. But in order to go to the crater this can only be done via a tour. And I would say that you shouldn't underestimate that this an active volcano. So there are no regular "mountain paths" and marks to follow. When there is an eruption only the guides would know where to pass, etc., and everything changes so I would definitely take a guide if you want to go to the top.

Really good experience. AITNE will contact you telling where to meet etc. Please note the additional cost which is for the cable car and the bus (€78 per person at the time of writing you can pay cash or card at base of the mountain). When we arrived for the excursion the lady from AITNE was trying to put us off from doing the walk as in her opinion we were not gonna be able to do it. We were gonna prove her wrong. We were pretty fit, no heart issues and excited so nobody was gonna stop us! Our guides, Fabio and Massimo were fantastic. They began the walk with a few reassuring pointers saying we are walking up slowly and they were considerate to the young and the slow in the group and were very accommodating to my two teenage daughters. We had breaks and both guides provided education on Etna. We had a great time proving the lady wrong. Though AITNE provides you with a jacket and boots, takes some additional layers with you as it can get cold up there. Its weird as you are sweaty and cold at the same time! Also take food and water with you. I hope you all enjoy walking up there as much as we did!