The Etna tour - Half day with tour guide was fantastic. Saro was an excellent guide. He was patient with our group and guided us up the hike on Mt Etna. I was even afraid to do the lava tube, but he convinced me I could do it, AND I did!! This was the highlight tour of our trip.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Helmet and light - Hiking poles
- Certified and Licensed Tour Guide of Sicily
Excludes
- Funivia dell'Etna
- Lunch
- Cratere Silvestri
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Traveler pick up offered
Itinerary
Trek past volcanic craters, ancient lava flows that give the volcano a lunar landscape, the breathtaking beauty of Etna's landscapes under the soft glow of the morning sun. I will lead you through ancient forests, past extinct craters, and across the moon-like lava fields that testify to Etna's dynamic nature. We'll walk and explore the area at 2000 meters, and old lateral craters. We will visit a volcanic cave, a lava tube and I will share the rich geological history of Mount Etna with the breathtaking views. We'll cap off the morning's adventure with a visit to a traditional Sicilian farm, where you can indulge in a tasting of local products and wines. It's the perfect way to relax and reflect on the morning's experiences while enjoying the flavors of Sicily. Since the 2nd of October 25 , you need a ticket to visit the small Silvestri Crater. We'll visit others for free, but if you wanna go to the small one, there is an entry ticket of 5 euro per person.
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
Truly excellent tour. Our guide, Saro, was knowledgeable and great at helping two sets of couples who moved at two different paces both get to enjoy the tour at their pace
We had an incredible experience exploring Mount Etna with Saro! He was an outstanding guide, taking us through a fascinating lava cave and on an unforgettable hike up to 2,000 metres. His knowledge, passion, and enthusiasm made the entire experience so enjoyable and memorable. We felt safe, well looked after, and truly immersed in the amazing volcanic landscape. If you’re visiting Sicily and want to experience the beauty and wonder of Mount Etna, I highly recommend Saro. **Thank you, Saro, for such a fantastic adventure!** 🌋🇮🇹
If you think you would enjoy listening to a man passionate and very knowledgeable about Etna National Park and the Etna volcanic experience, who has a great sense of humour and is very engaging with excellent English then this small group tour is for you. My group of three all enjoyed the day immensely……it was an education. Compliments to you Saro for the excellent guided trip.
The 5 star rating for Saro is certainly deserved. He is passionate about Mt Etna & enthusiastically shares his knowledge of the volcano & park. The small group tour lent itself to a more friendly experience. We enjoyed the stop at the end to relax with a glass of wine and a sample of local food. Saro was very responsive to questions before booking and even checked in afterwards. He also went out of his way to pick up and drop off our group of 4 at our accommodations. Highly recommend!
It is a good opportunity to get a first hand impression of the volcanic system of Mt Etna with an experienced Guide. All went very smoothly, from the pick up on time in Catania, to the informative walks and stops at various craters including a fascinating walk inside a lava tube, to the final return to the city after a very impressive tour.
Saro was our guide and did an outstanding job! This tour is physically demanding so be prepared. We climbed down into a huge lava tube and climbed up steep and high craters and it was so worth it! Saro is knowledgable and shared so much great information and really cool experiences with us. We stopped at a beautiful little vineyard and wished we had had a little better experience there. The staff were very busy with another group and not able to attend to us. We had really hoped to have some of the Granita that our tour guide recommended but we ran out of time. Overall, still an amazing experience!
The Etna tour was a highlight of our 15 days in Italy. Saro is punctual, polite, knowledgeable, humorous and sensitive to the needs of the group. He is extremely passionate about Etna. We were treated to amazing views of the coast and craters, experienced a manageable walk where we learned about the features of volcanoes and explored a lava pipe. You will not regret choosing this trip.
We were altogether 6 people on this excursion. Saro, our guide, gave his heart to show us the Etna in more than 1/2 a day. He was absolutely knowledgeable about anything to do with the vulcano, its creatures great and small, its vegetation, people, and also anything else to do with his home town Catania as well as his homeland Sicily. Although we did the trip the „peak season“ and had excellent weather which surely contributed to many other people being there with us, Saro had such a passionate way of sharing his feelings and knowledge appealing to every sense there is and well adjusting to us in the group, it felt as if we were wrapped up in a sheltered bubble. This made us forget about all the other people around us, even in really busy spots like the Sapienza Refuge. Also the official beginning and end of the tour, a charming farm shop with regional products and a coffee and granita space was well chosen and felt friendly and welcoming. - Excellent trip which is highly recommended!
Saro was an exceptional guide. Extensive knowledge and passionate about his subject. He kept our small group engaged and amused for the whole tour. A much better way to experience it rather than taking the cable car.
Saro was an extremely knowledgeable and passionate guide who kept us all engaged for the whole duration. Very worthwhile doing the walk with a guide rather than taking the easy option on the cable car.
We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of Mt Etna and our time with our guide, Saro Trovato. His extensive knowledge and passion for Mt Etna was undeniable and very refreshing. He is an educated and certified guide, and his love for his job was easy to see. At the end of the day we felt we had made a friend. We highly recommend Saro for this tour, and our hope is to return one day.
Just book it. Saro is amazing. Funny. Insightful. Warm. Passionate. 100 percent Catanian. We had a blast on Mt Etna (Mamá) and Saro created a beautiful tapestry of how Mt Etna is woven into every aspect of life for the people living in Catania. We hiked. We descended into a lava tube. We tasted amazing olive oil and jams made from the rich soil of Mt Etna. And most importantly we made a new friend, Rosario or Saro. If you want to understand the people, food, architecture, weather and just about anything involving life in Catania, you MUST start with Mt Etna and how she gives life to the people living in this very special city of Catania. Thank you Saro for an amazing day. And thank you Mt Etna for sharing all your wonders with us today.
Our tour with Saro exceeded our best expectations. We met our group near our lodging on the mountain. Saro led us on an informative tour, which explored the geological history of Mount Etna and its cultural impacts. We hiked to lower craters, explored a lava tube, and tasted local specialities at a small farm. A high energy, highly informative guide! So fortunate to have landed at this tour. Thank you, Saro!
Small group so very hands on experience. Saro is knowledgeable and passionate and knows Etna inside and out. Great stories, really knowledgable but a lovely genuine guy as well. Great to be in the hands of someone so passionate. A great day.
Excellent. Saro was so knowledgeable and personable. He is an excellent guide. Very interesting to learn about the history and geography of Mount Etna. The walk/ hike was manageable. I would highly recommend.
Saro is knowledge about the volcano is amazing! He goes the extra mile than any other guides we saw that were cutting the tours short and not using correct helmets etc or etiquette. He is knowledgeable, kind, super smart and knows his way around everything. He knows a lot about the eruptions of Etna historically until today, patiently showed us every detail, made us feel super comfortable while we saw other guises hurrying up guests. I would rate him the best of the best and we travel globally. I also left behind my hiking vest and my credit cards at a farm far far away and realized it only when he dropped us in town. He went above and beyond and retrieved it. Speaks fluent English and is a delight. Highly recommend him. He made our trip so worth it.
Knowing about it is not like living it and walking through it. Saro made it unique. He’s so knowledgeable and loves his job to an extent that makes it memorable to us. The craters, the old lava, the latest lava, they make mount Etna alive and each one has a story. We also visited a cave which described its formation by the power of nature. Wow wow wow and so wonderful.
This tour is worth every penny ! We absolutely loved it ! Saro, our guide, made this experience amazing. He is very knowledgeable and was taking care of the guests. He never rushed us and we had time to enjoy the view. We had a 3 months old baby and a 10 year old with us and he always made sure we were good ! I would recommend this tour and would go back anytime. We appreciated our time !
We had a truly amazing day with Saro visiting Etna. Saro was extremely friendly and made us feel very welcome. He also knew Etna inside out so not only do you feel very safe but anything you want to know he can answer!! He clearly has a deep passion for the mountain, his job and Sicily and this comes across!! It was fascinating visiting the lava fields, craters and lava tube and afterwards he took us to a beautiful farm and vineyard for a delicious lunch. I don’t often bother writing reviews but this was an exceptional service so I highly recommend!!
Saro, the tour guide, is very nice and knowledgeable about the volcano. Highly recommended the tour.
Highly recommended! We really enjoyed the Etna visit, Saro is a great, passionate and knowledgeable guide.
Saro is an incredible tour guide. He is very personable and extremely informative. He is genuinely interested in providing an excellent experience to people so they can get the most out of the tour. He clearly loves his job and wants people to have the best experience possible. In our group, we had teenagers and also older adults (70's) he was able to accommodate to everyone - going fast enough for the teenagers but slow enough for the elderly. I cannot suggest enough to book this trip with Saro !
Sometimes the universe gives you gifts, and finding Saro as our guide on Etna was absolutely one of them. My wife and I had an incredible day exploring the volcano with someone who clearly loves Sicily, Etna, and sharing its stories with others. Saro strikes that rare balance of being highly professional, exceptionally knowledgeable, and genuinely fun to spend the day with. His passion for Etna is contagious, and his warmth, humor, and larger-than-life personality made the experience feel personal and unforgettable. From the moment we met, we felt welcomed, engaged, and completely at ease. He brought the landscape to life through stories, history, geology, and local culture in a way that never felt like a lecture—just a fascinating conversation with a friend who happens to know everything about Etna. This combination of expertise, authenticity, and enthusiasm is reflected in everything he shares with you. We left with amazing memories, beautiful photos, and a much deeper appreciation for Sicily. If you're visiting Etna, do yourself a favor and seek out Saro as your guide. We cannot recommend him highly enough.
Billed as half day tour but in fact 7 full hours of truly memorable experience. Saro was caring, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. He made every moment magical and brought to vibrant life Sicily’s true mother- Etna. The climb, the cave, the farm stop - perfect!
Great walking on old craters. Not for those who are not sure footed. Larva tube was creepy! Not good if you are claustrophobic.
Saro was the excellent and very informative! Spent a lot of time explaining everything! We had a great time!
Saro is the best tour guide we have ever had! He was wonderful in communicating prior to the trip and very accommodating with picking us up. His knowledge and passion of Mount Etna is second to none. The hike and lava tunnel was amazing and the surprise stop at the beautiful winery was a perfect way to end our day. Saro even made the extra effort to drop us off at the cruise terminal.. Five stars is not enough for the experience Saro gave our family!
What a great experience! Saro was the perfect guide; hugely enthusiastic, knowledgeable, thoughtful, very safety conscious and generous with his time. He has such a passion for Etna and the area. The fact that our group contained returning customers who brought their children to experience what they'd experienced several years earlier says everything. The lava tube visit was amazing. Other trips probably go higher and walk further, but do not underestimate what a superb, rounded experience this is of everything that Etna is. Fantastic value for money.
I had researched tours rather extensively in anticipation of seeing Mt. Etna, and I found Saro Trovato’s reviews stood out from all the others. The reviews were most definitely correct—he is indeed an exceptional guide, passionately in love with Mt. Etna, and so excited to share, not only her beauty and ecology, but her significance to the health and welfare of Sicily and its people. The farm stop we made at a winery on the way home was the icing on the cake. Saro was thoughtful, inclusive, compassionate and careful with each guest, and created an atmosphere for fantastic group dynamics. In fact, one of the young men in our group asked the tour group to go for dinner (30-65 years old). We all simply didn’t want the day to end, it was so very special. My husband and I were celebrating our 40th Anniversary. This day could not have been nicer.
We had an unforgettable day with Saro on Mount Etna! Friendly, super informative, and genuinely passionate about the area. He made the hike relaxed and fun, tailoring the route to Etna’s mood and making sure we saw the best spots possible. Because he’s so open and welcoming, he took us to his friend’s farm where we tasted delicious local products, was lovely, authentic. If you want a guide who’s personable, knowledgeable, and goes the extra mile to make your day special, choose Saro! You’ll get the best out of Etna no matter its mood! Ciao me frati 🙌🏽
Best guide and one of the best excursions I have ever done. Mostly because our guide was so good Extremely knowlegable and friendly.
Our Mount Etna tour was absolutely amazing… Saro was probably the best guide we’ve ever had on any excursion!
This was a fantastic tour ! Our guide Saro Trovato was such a great ,funny and very knowledgeable of all things Mt.Etna . He was very engaging with the 6 of us, and very helpful to this old lady (me )in the lava tube .We didn't find the gelato cart at the end of the tube , but it was well worth the hike .We went to a winery afterwards with lots of tastings of foods and liquors ,of course we had to purchase a few things! pick up and drop off close to our hotel . a perfect day !!
Saro was a great guide. He provided lots of personal stories and images of Etna's power ans ever changing landscape. The lava tube was also an amazing experience.
We had an amazing day from start to finish. We hiked up Mt Etna and then visited a lava tube. We stopped at a lovely local farm for a brief tasting too. Saro picked us up at our hotel and dropped us off. Saro is a terrific guide. His knowledge of the volcano and Sicily in general, was a lovely way to start our trip. I highly recommend!
Being on top of Mt. Etna was truly a once in a lifetime experience! The views were spectacular! Would definitely recommend when visiting Sicily!
A wonderful experience. Our guide, Saro, was both knowledgeable and engaging. He took time to explain thoroughly and looked out for struggling clients.
Great experience! A lot of knowledge and so much fun!
My father and I had an absolutely incredible experience on Mount Etna with our guide, Saro Trovato. From the moment we started, the communication was seamless and the pick-up/return process was incredibly convenient and comfortable. Saro is an exceptional guide—friendly, highly knowledgeable, and his English is excellent. Since there were only three of us on the tour, it felt like a private, tailored experience. We explored several fascinating craters and a lava tube, and even had the chance to do some light hiking. The views are truly spectacular; the nature here is like nothing I have ever seen in my life. Pro-Tip for Travelers: If you are visiting while there is snow, come prepared! You will definitely need gloves, sturdy boots, proper layered clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Good physical form is a plus :) As a perfect end to the trip, Saro took us to a local farm on the way back where we could taste and buy authentic local food and wine. I cannot recommend Saro enough—he made our trip to Etna unforgettable!
We had an absolutely fantastic experience on our Etna tour with Saro. From the very beginning, he was everything you could hope for in a guide - friendly, knowledgeable, engaging, and it was really enjoyable spending the day with him. His passion for Mount Etna and deep understanding of its history, geology, and local stories made the entire tour incredibly interesting and memorable. Saro has a wonderful way of explaining things so that everyone can understand and stay engaged, and he created such a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere throughout the tour. We came away with a much greater appreciation for this incredible place. If you’re planning an Etna tour, I cannot recommend Saro highly enough. He truly made our experience special and unforgettable. Thank you, Saro!
What a great day with Saro! His knowledge and passion for Mount Etna was contagious. We 100% recommend this tour. His attention to detail, his flexibility in order to meet the needs of the group were much appreciated. He had anything and everything you might need, no matter the weather conditions. We hiked in sunshine, fog, and even snow but we never felt uncomfortable. The small group personal atmosphere ensured you learned a great deal!
We had a great time visiting Mt. Etna. We were lucky to get a private tour with our guide, he picked us up in the centre of Catania and already explained a lot during the drive. Saro is a very friendly and kind guy and very passionate about Mt. Etna. He did not just show us the craters and lava cave, but also told us a lot about the relation of the people living around and Mt. Etna, a story about respect and connection. Saro did also emphasize his words with pictures from bygone times and current photos and footage. We were able to ask a lot of questions and get them answered with enthusiasm. Saro is also a qualified tourist guide and is well connected with other tour guides and volcanologists. The tour to Mt. Etna with Saro is definitely worth it and I'm glad we chose him above other, more touristic tours with larger groups. We learnt a lot in those few hours and really enjoyed it. It was an unforgettable experience with such a kind, knowledgeable and passionate man. If you're looking for an experience, where you actually learn a lot about Mt. Etna and the Sicilian culture, that's the perfect tour.
We had an absolutely outstanding experience on our Mount Etna tour, and it was entirely thanks to our incredible guide. Antonio was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about Etna and the surrounding region. His explanations about the volcano, its history, and the landscape were fascinating and easy to understand, making the entire experience both educational and memorable. He went above and beyond to make our day special. He was attentive to every detail, made sure everyone in the group was comfortable, and tailored the experience so we could see the most interesting and beautiful parts of the mountain. He never rushed us and was always happy to answer questions and share stories. Antonio is engaging, and clearly committed to giving his guests the best possible experience. His enthusiasm for Etna was contagious and made the tour feel truly unique. If you’re considering a tour of Mount Etna, I cannot recommend this guide highly enough. An unforgettable experience!
Our guide Saro was very professional and knowledgeable. He was able to cater for all levels of fitness with ease and brought many personal insights into life in Sicily which broadened our understanding and appreciation of what we were experiencing. The scenery was also spectacular!
We had such a wonderful time on our tour, it was honestly perfect. Saro is a fantastic guide. His thorough knowledge about Mount Etna and the local area made the day even more enjoyable. Thank you again very much!
My wife and I were on vacation, and Mt. Etna was on our list of places to see. It was truly one of the highlights of our trip. Saro, our tour guide, made it all the better with his wealth of knowledge and his passion for the volcano. By the end of the day, we had learned so much about history, geology, and botany that we felt truly connected to the land beneath our feet. It was a special day full of laughter, learning, and some of the most incredible views you may ever see. My wife and I plan to return to Italy soon, and when we do, we will be trusting Saro again for another wonderful tour. (Beepada Boppada Boop!)
You can not visit Sicily without going up Mount Etna. And if you want to visit Mount Etna with a friend, you should definitely look for Saro. He is very friendly, joyfull, funny, has a lot of knowledge and he will tell you a lot of interesting stories about the mountain and the volcano. I felt like I wasn’t visiting with a guide, it felt more like having a nice day with a close friend. He came and picked me up from my accommodation in Catania, so he does offer this option as well. Of course, at the end of our journey, he drove me back. After coming down from the volcano, he drove me to a nice agricultural guesthouse to taste some amazing local produce and drink some local drinks. Everything was on the house, but you could also buy whatever you wanted to take back home. He speaks English (besides Italian, of course). I will definitely meet him again the next time I visit Sicily.
On-time pickup, and Saro was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. We stopped at a scenic lookout to admire Mount Etna, went inside a lava cave, the tour is highly recommended!
Our guide Saro was so knowledgeable and helpful in the midst of a very cold and windy hike! It was well worth the effort!
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