Easy Trekking Discovery of Etna's Nature and Flavors, Sicily
Duration: Part day (6 hours) Difficulty: Super Easy
Why we love this tour
Satisfy all senses as you discover Mount Etna. A visit to Sicily isn't complete without exploring the volcano, and without tasting local wine and produce.
- Discover Mount Etna's fascinating elements
- Explore the Silvestri Craters & a lava cava
- Reach 2,000 m (6,562 ft) or more via cable car
- Follow an expert guide with great knowledge of the area
- Taste Italian produce at a famous local farm
- Great for families
The largest of Italy's three active volcanoes, Mount Etna is an explorer's fantasy. The volcanic soil is ideal for vineyards and orchards, which are spread across the lower slopes of the mountain, and this tour lets you see, feel, hear, and taste everything the area has to offer.
Following your hotel pickup, we make our way to Rifugio Sapienza, a high mountain refuge standing at 1,935 m (6,348 ft) above sea level. En route, we enter a world of panoramic views and stop for photos. Your guide shares info about the area's volcanic history as we continue on, visiting sites of the last eruptions and the Monti Silvestri inactive craters formed during the Mount Etna eruption of 1892.
From there, you have the choice of trekking one of Parco dell'Etna's nature paths, which reach 2,000 m (6,562 ft). If you prefer saving your energy, you can skip the trek and take a cable car, which gets you to a height of 2,504 m (8,215 ft) in only 15 min. From there, you hop on a 4x4 minibus and reach 2,900 m (9,514 ft) at Torre del Filosofo.
The scenery here is stunning as you look out at endless clouds, natural wonders, and down to the sea. You admire the dominant central crater, the SE crater, and the lava flows characteristic of Etna's landscape while your guide safely leads you to spots where you can see the volcano's activity.
After our return to Rifugio Sapienza by cable car or minibus, we receive our safety equipment and explore a lava cave, formed in volcanic rock.
Our final stop is Zafferana, a city on the coast of the Ionian Sea that draws its resources from the volcano. Apart from seeing the abstract landscapes of the area, we also visit a famous organic farm with plenty of delicious samplings of local honey, wine, oil...though not a full meal, you definitely don't leave hungry!
At the end of our discovery, we return you to your hotel. You may have been on tours before, but this is guaranteed to be one of the top experiences on your list. Etna is one active stratovolcano that does not disappoint.
Need to know before you go
The minimum age for this tour is 3.
Pickup time for the Catania area starts at 8:30-8:45 a.m.
Pickup time for Aci Trezza & Aci Castello is at 9:00-9:15 a.m.
Total transfer time (pickup + drop-off) is about 1.5 hr. It takes about 1 hr to reach our high point at Etna from Catania. We spend 2.5-3 hrs in Etna, 20 min in the lava cave, and 30 min on the farm.
If you'd like to reach Catania by bus, you can find information about prices and departure times on www.interbus.it.
The cable car and cableway+minibus are purchased on the spot, with cash (euros) or credit card, on the day of the tour.
What to bring: Windbreaker, tennis shoes, water, hat, and sunglasses.
Cancellation
Your booking will become valid after we receive your payment and send you a confirmation email.
Cancellations can be done up to 24 hours before the trip with 100% reimbursement.
For later cancellations, there is no compensation. On rare occasions, the tour may need to be postponed due to bad weather. In these circumstances, we will offer you alternative dates or we will refund you 100% of the paid amount.
Meeting point
Pickup at hotel or the agreed-upon location.