On the slopes of Etna, the path reveals the volcano. The 2001 eruptive vent emerges, a lunar landscape of basalt rocks. The warm soil underfoot and the smell of sulfur indicate active fumaroles. In front of us, the mouth is a lateral explosion crater, walls with layers of lava. Glowing rocks convey the dynamics of the magma that shaped this place. Although many years have passed, the eruptive vent is still active, with fumarolic activity and fractures in the ground. The landscape shows volcanological signs, such as the presence of volcanic bombs and new fractures. We stop, aware of the geological process. The eruptive vent, with its volcanological spectacle, offers a unique opportunity to understand the internal dynamics of the volcano. The panorama, dotted with lava formations, is a visual lesson in Etna's geological history. With this show in our hearts, we continue the journey, taking the memory of these places with us.
Cave of the Carcarazzi Craters It is a vertically developing cavity located within the eruptive apparatus of the 1766 eruption of the Calcarazzi mountains, and like all cavities of this type, the walls are extremely unstable as they are made up of welded slag. In the eruptive fracture some magma remains which is consolidating, but a superficial part of the fracture can remain empty and accessible through the explosive or effusive vents, giving rise to a type of volcanic cave. Although the eruptive systems of Etna are very numerous, cavities of this type open only in a few of them, in fact most of the secondary craters remain occluded by the pyroclastic material at the end of their activity.
The excursion reveals the volcano in its grandeur. Once we reach the view over the Valle del Bove, the ancient caldera welcomes us like a geological amphitheatre. Layered walls of lava, pyroclasts and ash narrate the volcano's tumultuous history over the centuries. The formation of the caldera is the result of complex geological processes. During an eruption, rapid emptying of the magma chamber can cause collapse of the top, known as caldera collapse. This event creates the vast amphitheater-shaped depression, like the one we admire today in the Valle del Bove. Lava flows and pyroclastic deposits have further shaped the caldera over time. The view over the Valle del Bove becomes a window on the volcanological history of Etna, a story written in the rock stratifications. The magnitude of this geological formation offers a unique opportunity to explore the internal dynamics of one of the world's most active volcanoes.
Visit to the vineyards and cellars where Etna doc wine is produced, with tasting of white, rosé and red wines of Etna
Lunch with typical Sicilian products in a mountain hut
One of the best tours of our 2 weeks in Sicily. Very knowledgeable and personable guide. Made many stops along the route up Etna, including to see the olive oil harvest and making/pressing of the oil and wine tasting. Unlike many other tours, the tasting and mill tour entrance fees were included, as was lunch. Small groups tours like Alessandro's are a great way to meet locals and other travelers. Highly recommend!
Fun and informative. Surprises all day. Lunch at Mt Etna was good. Unfortunately for us it was cloudy and visibility was limited but still a good trip.
Absolutely wonderful day with Alesandro. He was so knowledgeable and took us to some great places around Etna. The wine tasting and vineyard was exceptional!
Amazing! The tour guide is thoughtful and really knowledgeable. The food and wine were delicious. Dress in layers.
Alessandro the great! He knew so much about Etna. More than just the geological part but also the history, agriculture, and people on and around Etna. The wine tasting was lovely and lunch was fantastic. Worth every penny!
Absolutely amazing tour. Our guide Alessandro was what made our day, he was knowledgeable, friendly and overall great guy. Food was reasonable at our stop. Recommend highly
It is not a jeep tour. You do not go near the top. The wine tasting was incredible. It is almost 10 hours from our pick up to drop off. Our driver Max was wonderful with great English.
An excellent experience with Alessandro. He was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about volcanos and Mount Etna and the local region. Tour started with delicious wine at a family vineyard on the slopes after a walk through the vines and the opportunity to see the locals at work picking and sorting the grapes. The tour up Mount Etna was really informative taking in historic lava flows, tunnels and breathtaking views, ending with a lovely lunch at a chalet restaurant near to the cable car to the volcano summit.
Fantastic day! Alessandra and his team were brilliant and so knowledgeable. Fun, friendly bunch and great value for money
A terrific blend for those wanting to know more about Etna, without climbing it. Allesandro is a font of knowledge and a delight to be with. Hos passion shines through. Loved the vineyard visit also. We were so lucky to be there when the folks were harvesting grapes by hand, and we saw the first part of the journey onto wine. A great local visit.
We had a wonderful time. Allessandro and his team were so professional. Provided clear instructions the night before and they were so accomodating to my 5yr old son on the trip. You can tell he is super passionate about his job.
Lots of wasted time. Not what we expected at all. Saw more trash than Mt Etna. No mountain trekking guide was good but seemed to want to sell us stuff from his friends
Alessandro is a very enthusiastic and kind host who really wanted to give his group an excellent experience.
A very enjoyable trip, the guide was excellent and extremely witty. I felt the volcano's unique beauty and the locals' love and respect for nature, both of which were captivating.
Do not even hesitate to take this tour- it was AMAZING ! Alessandro definitely takes pride he what he does and it shows. From our initial booking, with me sending him a barrage of texts with questions ( via WhatsApp ) he ALWAYS responded in a timely fashion. In addition coordinating our pick up times and drop off with the ships schedule was effortless. The tour itself was so informational and his knowledge down to every last detail was fantastic. Got to see and do a lot of things on this magnificent tour !
Antonio made our day on Etna a truly memorable experience. Yes, it’s important to see the lava flows across the mountain and get a chance to hike through them. But from a granita stop, to a winery visit, to stops along the road to learn the smallest of details, we learned so much throughout the tour. He clearly loves what he does and that makes the best kind of guide. Throughout the tour, he was stopping to take pictures to send to us - plus did a drone shot in one area. Logistics were a breeze too. Despite booking last minute, he made sure we had clear instructions on how to meet our driver (Taormina isn’t conducive to easy navigation) and everything was taken care of each step of the way including protective equipment. I’d recommend this to almost anyone visiting. There were some kids and older travelers. This tour isn’t too grueling, but even if you want to do a hike to the top separately, thus is a good way to learn about the mountain before submitting and take in experiences from that are integral to Etna.
Unusual experience…. at first I was like “wait what” and thought maybe this was a mistake as we jumped in this locals Nissan (not Jeep, lol he said that’s just what they call all 4x4) and our first stop was for gas …. but actually this turned out to be an unforgettable day. He loves Sicily and loves the history of Mt Etna and if you want to hear the passion from a local this is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. Wine tasting at a local vineyard (best wine ever) even eating his homemade bread and jam with the wine, stopping at the lava quarry and lava flows and eating atop Mt Etna were all highlights! We came in on a cruise ship and his pick up spot was just outside the port (we walked and totally easy/doable walk). Overall an experience we won’t forget.
What a wonderful experience learning about Etna and the area around it. Alessandro was a wonderful, friendly and knowledgeable guide. We really enjoyed our experience. I would highly recommend it to everyone. I told Alessandro, I'll be back. My grandsons will have a blast!
Alessandro made the tour, he was passionate and authentic. The tour let you experience everything in the area from granita to wine and all of the history of etna.
Highly recommend, Alessandro is very knowledgeable and gives a unique tour one of the best tours I’ve ever had in Europe.
Alessandro was awesome! He was very informative, knowledgeable, engaging and funny. We really enjoyed his passion for vulcanology and all the friends he introduced us to while teaching about Sicilian culture.
Alessandro was amazing, very knowledgeable on everything about Mt Etna. We saw things and learned more than I expected. I would definitely recommend. Alessandro was very personable
This was an excellent tour, the tour guide and his wife were excellent. On the way up Mt Etna began smoking. The tour guide was extremely informative. We stopped at a winery where we saw a little movie of how the wine was made many years ago in the 1865. They also had cherries, lemons and other fruits on the farm. We saw a round Rainbow called an Angels rainbow which is very rare. We ate at the only restaurant on Mt Etna. My salad was excellent, but people complained about the food, which was all carbohydrates.
Great way to see Etna off-road and enjoy local wines. Our guide Alessandro went above and beyond to take loads of photos for us. Even used a drone for magical photos
Our family booked this trip when we arrived in Sicily. It was a great choice and we had the best guide, Alessandro! He was amazing and made the day exceptional !!
Alessandro was very knowledgeable and enjoyed the whole trip. Had a great time recommend for families. Going inside the vents of the volcano was fun
Fun tour with local information, wine tasting and a short walk up an old crater. Pick up and drop off from hotel was very convenient. Our driver Alex and guide Alessandro were great. When a storm rolled in Alessandro guided is off the crater and got us off Etna quickly and safely. Highly recommend
Wonderful experience……. Alessandro did a phenomenal job showing lava flows and explaining what we were seeing. Best excursion of our cruise! Highly recommend this excursion….. well worth time and money!
Very professional tour guide with passion and love for Etna. A lot of contents to enjoy! Strongly recommend to check it
I recently went on an Etna tour with Alessandro as our guide, and it was an experience filled with fascinating insights. Alessandro, being locally born and raised, brought a unique depth of knowledge to the tour. He shared captivating stories about the history of eruptions, the local flora and fauna, and the natural landscape, which made the journey feel both educational and immersive. One of the highlights of the day was the wine tasting. The selection of local wines was excellent, and it added a memorable culinary touch to the excursion. Alessandro provided great context about the winemaking traditions in the region, which made each sip even more enjoyable. However, the tour did leave me wanting more in terms of hiking and scenic stops. There were few opportunities to pause at truly breathtaking vistas to take in the landscape and capture photographs. A bit more time for hiking and savoring the views would have made the experience perfect. Overall, it was a wonderful tour with an outstanding guide, a delightful wine tasting, and rich local knowledge, though it could be improved with more chances to explore the mountain’s scenic beauty up close.
Alessandro was so knowledgeable about Mt Etna we couldn't ask for a better tour guide. If you want history and very detailed information about Mt Etna I would highly recommend
A fabulous informative day with the fantastic Alexandro. He clearly loves the vulcano and has so much knowledge. Highly recommended - especially if you like unique experiences off the beaten track.
Our Mount Etna tour was one of the highlights of our trip! Alessandro was an amazing guide, friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about Etna's history. He shared fascinating details about the volcano's many eruptions, the changing crater landscapes, and the local legend of Polifemo, Galatea, and Aci. We also enjoyed delicious cannoli, fresh almond cookies, and cappuccinos at a local bar, sampled wonderful wines at a winery, and had a fantastic meal at the restaurant at the top of the mountain. We highly recommend this tour, especially if Alessandro is your guide!
Alessandro is a very nice guide. He's in real expert reguarding Etna. We learned a lot and would never forget this beautiful day.
We had an incredible experience on the Jeep Volcano Tour! What stood out most was how authentic the entire excursion felt. Alessandro was extremely knowledgeable and provided fascinating explanations about the volcano’s history, geology, and local culture, making the experience both educational and enjoyable. The tour was perfectly rounded with a wonderful wine tasting featuring local wines, and a stop for some delicious Italian food. It was a fantastic way to experience Mt Etna up close and personal. Highly recommend booking this experience!
This was a really good experience, sadly we got a huge storm so we had to forego the top of Etna, still was a very pleasant time. Watching a storm from that height was also something to see!
Great excursion to take! Knowledgeable guide. Nice variety of things to see and do. Highly recommend.
This tour did not disappoint in any way!!! We are a family of 4 including a 7 and 4 year old and this tour was excellent!!! Alessandro was outstanding. He gave very clear instruction prior to the tour and the tour was everything we could’ve hoped. He was so great without our kids! Took pictures and gave so much history and information. You can feel his passion for the volcano!! Book this tour before it’s gone, it’s worth every penny!
This was such a great experience in a small group! Alessandro took us to great places that were very local and not touristy at all. He was well prepared and well equipped. He was also very funny and told great stories. We got to know Mount Etna very well from him. If you can, book this tour.
Fun, Flexible tour guides. Alessandro and his wife were wonderful tour guides.We explored Mount Etna and their wineries. It was very informative tour which included a very nice lunch. Unfortunately, we had a rainy day so our tour guide made the best of day. Our family had a lot of fun. I also loved that Alessandro took photos of our group and videos which help make our tour very memorable.
WOW!!! What an adventure with such a knowledgeable guide. This was great. This experience was amazing. We walked into a volcano vein, had a wine tasting…incredible wine.
Fantastic tour! Alessandro was both knowledgeable and personable making the experience so much fun and informative. I highly recommend!
Great trip! We were picked up directly at our hotel it was super smooth. Alessandro was very fun to be with, very knowledgeable about Sicily and Mt. Etna. All around a great experience and the best way to learn and experience the area. Highly recommend!
We saw a lava cave, Etna wine tasting, lunch, and the Etna craters! More than we expected. Our guide Alessandro was great! He tailored our day as well to our abilities, was patient, funny, told great stories and also knows a lot about the area. We loved the wine tasting and Alessandro’s videos.
I wasn't sure what to expect when at the meeting point. As soon as Alessandro turned up and greeted us so warmly. I knew we were going to have a great tour. What a nice guy, really funny and so passionate about his vocation. A great insight into the volcano and how it shapes the way of life all around it. As the day went on, it became apparent this man knows just about everyone and is universally loved! It's definitely money well spent and I'd recommend this trip to anyone that likes a bit of adventure. He really pulls out all the stops.
Alessandro was magnificent! He was so generous, kind, helpful and funny. He took special care inside the cave. He is extremely knowledgeable about Mt Etna and volcanoes. You absolutely need to book his tour- it is the best experience we had in Sicily.
Wear good waterproof shoes/boots. Depending upon the time of year you could be walking on melting snow and ice.
Fun and varied trip to Etna with interesting guidance. Taste wines, go caving, trek Etna and enjoy local food.
Alessandro was fantastic. Will definitely use him again and am referring friends. We had some really nice experiences I don’t think we would have had any other way, some were surprising like snow shoeing! We went to a small village bakery and an off the beaten path winery for locals. We were picked up and dropped off at a very convenient location. Every part of it was fantastic.
BUYERS BEWARE We booked a tour while on a cruise ship. When the cruise ship ran late to the port, we contacted the tour operator asking whether we could have a delayed start. We were told that a delayed start would not be possible. Which is weird since IT WAS A PRIVATE TOUR and the Jeep would’ve been for just for the four of us so it would’ve completely been possible for the driver to just wait for us. At first, they said there would be a possibility of a refund since we weren’t able to make the tour. After following up with them for two days, they ultimately came back and said that no refund was possible, and offered us an unspecified discount on a future booking — for the NEVER eventuality that we ever try to book with them again. Their claim was that the driver had already driven out at the time they got our note that’s our cruise ship was running late. But there is no way that the drivers time was worth the 700+ that they kept.
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