Tour code: ETN_PRI
Tour type: Trekking: active volcanoes
Difficulty: Custom (variable)
Duration: half and full day (4-12 hrs)

---

Dates:

Custom and scheduled dates
no scheduled dates at present

Price (p.p.): from 85 EUR p. P.

---

Included:

• Certified VolcanoDiscovery mountain guide
• Jeep and/or cable car transfers as specific for each version
• (For version 4 & 5:) transfer between Etna North and Etna South

Enjoy Europe's most active volcano on a private day-tour with one of our expert mountain guides! Stand on the roof of the Mediterranean,- Etna's majestic summit towering at about 3300 m a.s.l.,- and enjoy a breathtaking view around. To peer into the abysses of Europe's largest active volcano's craters is an experience of a lifetime.
In a small private group, an experienced guide from our team brings you all the way up to Etna's summit (if weather, your condition, volcanic activity and regulations by authorities allow it).
Depending on the chosen itinerary, this tour requires moderate to excellent physical condition, adequate clothing and takes between 4 and up to 12 hours total duration.

Variant 1: Etna's summit craters - short circuit (ETN_C01)

Day 1:

Transfer to 2800m - visit summit area - return transfer (4-5 hrs) Start at La Sapienza mountain station (1900 m elevation), take cable car and/ or jeeps to bring you quickly to ca. 2900 m elevation. From there, climb to the summit crater(s) (ca. 1-1.5 hrs climbing, 200-400 m difference). The exact route of ascend and which of the summit craters can be visited will depend on weather, fitness, activity etc. Spend ca. 1-2 hrs in the summit region, descend to the point of departure and descend (optional break in the 2900 m elevation area to observe the impressive newly formed craters of the eruption in 2002-2003). Jeep/cable-car descend back to parking area at La Sapienza.

Etna's summit craters - long circuit (ETN_C02)

Day 1:

Transfer to 2800 m - visit summit area - hike back to base (1900 m) Start at La Sapienza mountain station (1900 m elevation), take cable car and/ or jeeps to bring you quickly to ca. 2900 m elevation. From there, climb to the summit crater(s) (ca. 1-1.5 hrs climbing, 200-400 m difference). The exact route of ascend and which of the summit craters can be visited will depend on weather, fitness, activity etc. Spend ca. 1-2 hrs in the summit region, descend to the point of departure; short break in the 2900 m elevation area, then visit the impressive newly formed craters of the eruption in 2002-2003. Descend towards the new crater formed in the 2001 eruption and walk to a phantastic viewpoint on the rim of the Valle del Bove. Descend all the way back to La Sapienza along a soft sandy slope (great fun!), cross recent lava flows and craters and peer into a deep cave on the way back.

Variant 3: Etna's summit craters - up and down (ETN_C03)

Day 1:

Hike from 1900 m to the summit craters (3300 m) and back A good day's day hike: start near La Sapienza mountain station from ca. 1800 m elevation and walk a very scenic route along the dramatic west rim of the Valle del Bove up to ca. 2900 m elevation (3-4 hrs). From there, climb to the summit crater(s) (ca. 1-1.5 hrs climbing, 200-400 m difference). The exact route of ascend and which of the summit craters can be visited will depend on weather, fitness, activity etc. Spend ca. 1-2 hrs in the summit region, descend to the point of departure; short break in the 2900 m elevation area, then visit the impressive newly formed craters of the eruption in 2002-2003. Descend towards the new crater formed in the 2001 eruption and all the way back to La Sapienza along a soft sandy slope (great fun!), cross recent lava flows and craters and peer into a deep cave on the way back.

Variant 4: Etna's summit craters & short mountain traverse (ETN_C04)

Day 1:

Transfer with cable car+jeep to 2900 m (Etna S) - summit area - descend to Etna's north side (or vice versa) Starting at La Spaienza, you the cable car + jeep brings you to 2900 m on Etna's S side near the base of the north-east crater. Climb the summit craters from there (ca. 300 m climbing). Spend ca. 1-2 hrs in the summit region, then cross to the spectacular N rim of the Valle del Leone (at Pizzi Deneri) and finally descend on the N or NE side skiing down a great ash slope. A car brings you back to the point of departure on Etna S.

Etna's summit craters & full mounatin traverse (ETN_C05)

Day 1:

Full traverse of Etna on foot, starting at around 1900 m and back on the other side For serious trekkers, there are several options to cross the volcano from North to South or vice versa,- each is very strenous (climb up and down about 1400-1500 m) but equally rewarding. A very good way is to start at the north side of Etna at around 1700 m elevation, climb to and follow the east rim of the Valle del Bove to the base of the NE crater at around 2900 m, then climb the summit crater area (from which side will depend on the weather), and descend as in tour variant 2, arriving at La Sapienza on the S side late in the afternoon or in the evening. From there, we arrange transfer back to the point of departure. It is also possible to do the tour in the opposite way and there are several alternative routes on parts of the tour as well. The decision on which route should be made based on the weather and other conditions at the time.

Grotta del Gelo excursion (ETN_GDG):

Day 1:

Excursion to Grotta del Gelo Early start in 4x4 vehicle to get to the trailhead near Monti Pizilli at ca. 2400 m elevation on the NE rift zone. Conditions permitting, the summit area is crossed with spectacular morning views; alternatively, the transfer is through Etna North climbing the 4x4 road on the NE rift zone. From there, it's a 3 hrs hike through bizarre lava fields with many beautiful structures, recent cinder cones and eruptive fissures until the Grotta del Gelo cave is reached in the late morning. Its location is one of the most remote of whole Etna! We visit of the cave (ca. 1-2 hours), using crampoons to get onto the ice inside which forms a small permanent glacier normally present all year. After lunch break at the cave, we hike back (ca. 3 hrs) along a remote trail back towards the NE rift zone at lower elevation and circel part of Etna's NE fland between 1900 - 1600 m elevation, gradually entering more and more into beautiful and dense pine, birtch and chestnut forests. On the way, a second great lava cave can be visited, the "Grotta dei Lamponi", with huge lava channel structures. In the early afternoon, we arrive at a well-serviced mountain hut, where we will have a drink or late lunch. From here, it's ca. 1.5 hrs transfer back by car circeling Etna's east side along one of Etna's most scenic roads. Arrival back at Etna South in the late afternoon.

-> Look at the detailed itinerary!

-> Details, further info & prices

-> Booking inquiry