Start at 1,900 m. After check-in/tickets with your guide, take the cable car to 2,500 m, where the trek begins. Gain ~500 m over lava fields, craters, lava channels and hot fumaroles to 3,000 m—the maximum altitude allowed by summit ordinances—at the base of the South-East Crater, Etna’s most active cone. This tour explores the upper slopes of Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano and the second most active worldwide. The route stays above 2,500 m with safe, regulated summit views. From a safe distance, admire the South-East Crater, source of many recent eruptions; access to the cone is closed by Zafferana and Civil Protection due to extreme heat, instability, and potential collapses when magma is shallow. Descent: on foot from 3,000 m to the cable-car station, then cable car back to the start. Duration: ~5 h • Distance: ~6.5 km • Gain: ~500 m (may vary) • Difficulty: E – for hikers used to high altitude.
This was a bucket list hike. Exceeded expectations all around. Made all the better by Filippo. He was amazing. He is a PhD geologist and provided lots of great knowledge. And all the right encouragement to get each of us to the top. The trip down was as interesting as the trip up.
Great organisation. We enjoyed very much the trek "Crateri del Rift". Our guide Podlo made this day unforgettable. Thank you.
Due to the recent eruptions, it was unfortunately forbidden to hike to the summit crater. It was offered to us to get a reduced guided tour instead. The peak craters could still be observed from a save distance. Afterwards the tour continued along multiple older and smaller craters as well as lava caves downhill to the start point. I can absolutely recommend the tour. The guide was very friendly, professional and provided multiple historical and geological information and about local flora and fauna. The view during the whole tour was absolutely stunning and a memory which we will not forget.
Great view, great guide, great tour! We had a lot of fun and really could enjoy the south side of the ETNA! It was easy to find the guides. There is also a place for breakfast or to get sandwiches from directly at the meeting point.
Just perfect probably best experience of my life for the moment ! Thanks again !! And we did not fail to drink and eat at Vincente's health that same evening as agreed ;) best wishes !
Ho molto apprezzato l’escursione, pause ben studiate e momenti formativi inerenti le peculiarità geologiche. Consiglio molto il tour, vale sicuramente la pena per meglio apprezzare un vulcano meraviglioso. I really loved the experience, well-planned breaks during the hike and interesting teaching moments about geological history and peculiarities. I strongly suggest the experience, it’s a great opportunity to enjoy this amazing nature’s masterpiece.
i am an experienced hiker, and i went with my sister who doesn’t have much experience but is in good shape. it’s a good ‘in between’ hike which has enough fun and challenges for experienced hikers, and yet is approachable for the leisure-walkers. a good physical condition is required though, fyi. our guide Vincenzo was wonderful, very friendly and giving us all the necessary detailed informations about the craters and the volcano. you can borrow jackets, sticks and hiking boots from them if you don’t have (included in the price). bring gloves, beanie, neck warmer: it’s high altitude mountain. people tend to forget that the air is scarce up there and it is much colder. come prepared and you will have a wonderful time :) the booking was very easy to make, just call and a friendly assistant will take care of everything.
Our family did the hike up to the maximum safe altitude today, and absolutely loved the experience! Our guide Daniele was fantastic: very knowledgeable and friendly. We all definitely learned a lot about the Etna volcano today! Though the usual cable car ride up to the starting point was not available due to maintenance, the hiking more than made up for it. Trekking through an old lava tunnel was a definite highlight!! Walking around the 2002 crater was just as incredible. Grazie ragazzi!
I Had a great experience! I was alone, but that was No Problem: the group was 6 other people, very friendly, so we had a good vibe in the group. Most importantly our Guide was a very friendly and good man. Vincenzo Not only Made Sure we get to know a Lot of interesting facts about Etna/vulcanos, he also showed us good spots, He knew the good ways and is Just the Kind of Guide you Hope to get! I think i dont have to explain that a active vulcano is worth the visit. Especially in Winter i can highly recommend it! The Snow makes it even better.
Super guides with a strong expertise about Etna activity. We were a 30 people group from different nationalities but they split the group into IT / EN which removes the language issue.
Very positively surprised by this tour. Great combination of spectacular views and contrast between volcano’s dark landscape and bright snow, blue sky and great sun light. Our guide Vincenzo Greco was great with both much fun and knowledge sharing. It is not just a hike on a volcano, but rather an adventure on an active volcano and you have to do it once in your life time to understand what it means. Go high enough (2,900 mt) to fill the heat of the earth in a quite cold landscape where sometime the wind will remind you how strong is mother nature! I was hesitant to do it but I definitely recommend it. Better to be reasonably fit for this hike.
Fantastic experience with my husband and our two children, aged 9 and 11. Our guide was Domenico, a very knowledgeable and friendly guy. The van was driven by Marco, who was also very skilled, and I must say that it is not easy to navigate into those places. We were lucky enough to see the site of the last lava flow from a few weeks earlier on the Valle del Leone, which then leads to the Valle del Bove. Then a splendid sunset at the summit. I highly recommend dressing warmly and in layers because the temperature fluctuation is very high; at the beach it was 104 degrees, but at the summit it was truly very cold; some people were not dressed appropriately and stayed in the van.
Fantastic excursion to the summit craters thanks to Antonio Scuderi. Antonio proved to be an exemplary professional: prepared, attentive to every need of the group, and capable of conveying a strong bond with the volcano. Breathtaking landscapes, perfect walking paces, and top-notch organization. A 5-star experience that I recommend to anyone who wants to climb to the summit of Mount Etna!
Very nice excursion in a not too large group (about 15 people). First with a 4x4 bus to a plateau where our guide Antonio already told some interesting things about Mount Etna. Then by bus back down a bit, before descending on foot for another 3 hours. Along the way explanation of Antonio who knows everything about Mount Etna, previous eruptions, the flora and fauna, the soil etc. Walk down (with a little uphill now and then) seems easy, but the bottom is often of loose sand, pebbles and grit which I (55yrs) still found quite tough
Wonderful experience with my 3 children and my husband. Very knowledgeable and kind guides. We were in the subgroup with Santi, who was truly skilled, prepared, and engaging.
Wonderful experience. We were able to see safely and having fun the main lava flows related to the ongoing eruption. We started from the north side with 4x4 buses and arrived at an altitude of 2900 meters and from there we continued on foot for about 4 km until we saw the main lava flows. The return was very impressive as we trekked during sunset. We walked for another 4km and then took the buses that took us back to Piano Provenzana. Wonderful experience, I recommend you do it and do it with this group of expert volcanological guides that will allow you to discover the secrets of Etna without ever making you feel in danger.
Spectacular experience both for the view we could admire: Sicily, the Aeolian Islands and Calabria below, and the summit craters of Etna, with their peculiarities. A big thank you to the guide Daniele who provided us with competence, passion and sympathy information regarding the geological aspect, the formation of craters, flora and fauna but who was also very helpful in 'helping us in the most difficult passages. Rosanna and Carlo.
We were on Etna in late April and chose the volcano guides Etna Nord for our tour to the summit craters. I highly recommend it, Giordano our guide was very prepared and managed to transmit his passion and expertise to the group, also fascinating the children who followed him throughout the tour and learned so many things that they still remember perfectly. I highly recommend this tour
We learned a lot during our trek with Andrei! During our expedition it was very windy and uncertain as temperature, Andrei put us in confidence and adapted! The day became clearer and we were able to enjoy a magnificent show
Guide Andrea gave us many very good geological explanations, my partner is a volcanologist and also enjoyed it. Many cracias!!
Beautiful experience thanks to the guide Filippo Greco who was very kind! It's the second time we climb and we're already planning the third
The experience we had with my son is priceless. Beyond the uniqueness of the place, our guide, Andrea, was able to awaken our five senses. The view of the landscape would be enough in itself to dazzle you. In addition, there is an exchange of views with Andrea, similar to the one you could exchange underwater with a fin whale in the Mediterranean Sea. A feeling runs through you; one that this man is where he should be, like a master in his home who honors you with a kind sharing. Then it introduces you to the smells of flowers that survive in these extreme conditions. You discover a concentrate of aromas, essential oil in its pure state. Your hearing is filled with the geological explanations provided by Andrea that delight you and the absence of noise. You rediscover that silence is one of the hardest things to refute. It encourages you to touch the volcanic stone, which is airy, rough, light and strong, which makes you stronger, soothes you and brings you joy. On the sides of this breathing giant, you come out of this experience with a taste for adventure. Your sixth sense is also awakened and you are overwhelmed with the intimate feeling of being one with the universe, in perfect harmony. The words of Charles Baudelaire cross your mind: “There, everything is just order and beauty, Luxury, calm and voluptuous.” Pronouncing a big thank you for this experience is an understatement. I'm still shouting: "Thank you!"
We booked 50/57 with Teen 16 the 4x4 tour with subsequent hike only base Andrea- our guide bilingual English / Italian very exciting and authentically explained everything - you could tell he loves the volcano Up we went with a 4x4 bus and in about 2.5 hours down to the base 2 small eruptions of the summit crater seen The tour is absolutely worth the money and you have a unique experience 5 Stars
A big thank you to Raphael, who passed on his passion and knowledge about volcanoes. The whole decorated with freshness, many moments of laughter, with a visit in French. We felt his love for France 🇫🇷 It was very nice, we had a great time 🌟 I highly recommend
An unforgettable and very interesting experience. The Guide described and accompanied us to the places of the most recent eruptions. Very nice and interesting hike.
Mount Etna has been the highlight of our holiday so far. Not only the fantastic surroundings contributed to this, including Unimog ride up to 2,800 meters, but also the guide (Raffaelo) who shone above all with his expertise and wit. This man fits this job like a fist on the eye. This tour is highly recommended, but you should also bring a basic fitness!
Hiking with Raphaelo: very nice, lots of explanation, we have not seen the past time. We highly recommend 👍😁.
Beautiful views. Great guides, very prepared and very kind. The walk is not too difficult and the equipment provided is good.
Beautiful experience and super prepare and nice guides. Safe excursion, divided into groups by language. Recommended for all
It was a beautiful hike / trekking, an experience that I highly Recommendation to those who love nature. Arturo our Guide, a true Pro, attentive and very empathetic. Excellent organization!
Very welcome, Guide who spoke very good French. The explanations were great, our Guide is an Etna enthusiast. We caught our eyes with our children aged 12 and 14!
Beautiful hike, very varied and pleasant. Small group of 9 people. Our Guide Vincenzo, passionate about his work, shared with us all his knowledge, speaking French and with great humor. We highly recommend!
Fantastic hike enriched by thunder emitted by the crater Voragine !! Perfect organization managed by the volcanologist guides Etna Nord, they provide clothing suitable for the cold and above all they provide boots and socks. This is not the first time I have used these guides, prepared and enthusiastically tell all the details of various lava eruptions even those of a few centuries ago.
Beautiful experience. We saw an eruption a few meters away. The view is beautiful and the visit itself exciting. It is worth the amount spent which is not insignificant
Perfect organization! Mirko, our guide, very friendly and helpful, as well as extremely competent given that he is a volcanologist and answered our curiosities very clearly. He accompanied us very carefully to the vicinity of the crater where we were also able to admire the extraordinary spectacle of the eruption from a "small" vent. Highly recommended excursion and experience to do at least once in a lifetime!
Fantastic experience, very competent, prepared and well organized staff! Seeing the craters of Etna so close is truly impressive, I recommend everyone to try this experience
Excursion on 05/31/24, wonderful day. Climb to an altitude of 2900 with 4x4 vehicles and reach the craters accompanied by the guide Domenico. Descent on foot to Piano Provenzana with guide Nikos. Both guides very knowledgeable and helpful.
Unique experience to absolutely try with a truly prepared and professional guide, who made us enjoy this experience to the fullest.
An extraordinary experience was this excursion with our guide Vincenzo who was adorable and shared with us his passion for Etna.
Besides the view which was truly sublime, the guides were very friendly. Domenico spoke French very well and his explanations + anecdotes about Etna were just as good. I highly recommend if you are passing through the area!
Very nice experience. The guides and scenery were incredible. They explain everything there is to know about Etna! Despite the cold, if you are well covered everything goes well. In addition, the guides lend you shoes, bags, helmets and poles if you need them. Quite a sporty hike but doable for everyone. Choose a sunny day to enjoy the beautiful landscape. I recommend !
We had a great trip - everything was just right. We were with our guide Vincenzo and 9 other participants. We took the cable car up to 2500m on the south side and then set off. Vincenzo is a great guide who always keeps an eye on all participants, explains things really well and runs at a pace that everyone can keep up with. There were some more challenging climbs - no problem for healthy people with a good level of fitness. We took enough breaks to enjoy the great landscape and the great view of the sea and the clouds. We felt very well looked after at all times. Everything was very well organized. We will definitely come back and do a tour from the other side.
Beautiful excursion. Perfectly organized tour and ultra-prepared guide: upon arrival we were able to borrow practically everything we might need for the visit. Once we set off, the tour allowed us to enjoy numerous panoramic points over a landscape that seemed lunar. A big thank you to the guide Vincenzo who accompanied us on this unique experience
January 2024, my brother and I, Etna tour organized super well! The very knowledgeable guide explained all the information to us as best as possible. The route was in perfect safety, despite the difficulties of the season. Super recommended!
Very worthwhile climb for people with good fitness. The atmosphere of the summit crater is an absolute highlight, the explanations from the guide Daniele with excellent English were comprehensive. Price/performance OK Before booking the tour, it is advisable to study the weather websites.
Beautiful experience. Our guide (Nikos), an expert and educated person, accompanied us throughout the journey, giving us essential information to understand every aspect of this immense volcano. Thank you!! Gloves and a hat or ear band are essential because the cold wind blows constantly at the top.
An excursion that will always remain in our hearts and memories. A family trip with my 11 year old son, seeing the summit craters is a jaw-dropping, speechless sight, it seems like being catapulted into a parallel, magical, powerful, unique world. The guides accompanied us in a professional way, explaining many details, including geological ones, of the place and their great experience. They always reassured us by leading us with enthusiasm. Given the optimal conditions they also showed us as much as possible, also because at the top of a volcano he is the one in charge and today he gave us an impressive visit. Etna north highly recommended!!! We'll be back
In addition to the unique landscape in the world, we found in Raffaello a very professional guide, who enriched us with useful information to make us feel and understand Etna even better. A colossus, the pride of Sicily Raphael passed on his knowledge of volcanology lightly. And even in four languages, almost simultaneously. In short, a guide without borders. I would describe Raphael as a crater full of information, ready to explode to give the interested ear all the supreme KNOWLEDGE!!! Thanks Raphael. HI, Mauro and Sigrid
Fantastic experience, very prepared and valid guide that took us to the top of the summit craters of Etna safely, giving us the opportunity to admire a unique spectacle, the living earth that breathes in front of us.
Very well organized hike, with loan of poles, shoes (and new socks!) and jackets for those traveling light, and led by a friendly and professional guide (safety instructions, explanations on the formation of different craters etc...). For good walkers. With a fairly steady pace (relatively short breaks to respect the timing of about 6 hours). Prefer high shoes because the descent is essentially (over 1000m) by sliding at long strides in deep sand (30-40 cm). Yesterday 22 June, a large part of the ascent and descent took place in the snow, to be taken into account in the choice of shoes (with light trekking shoes, wet feet and full of sand at the finish). At the top, exciting tour of the various craters, if you are lucky you will hear the core of the volcano rumble in a cloud of ash and water vapor... Descent to the observatory, at the end of the descent from 3300 to 2800m, with a totally lunar vision. The flora of the floor below is unique (astragalus or mother-in-law cushion, rumex, tansy...). A beautiful hike full of thrills and beautiful landscapes. Upon arrival, you will find a form on your windshield, with a telephone number to call to bring the car park guard to whom you will pay 3 euros.
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