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Etna Trekking Tour
- private trekking tours on Etna volcano -
"Just to say what a great trip to Etna and thanks to Rosario for showing me such wonderful sights. It was fantastic!" (Tom Salt, UK)
In short
Tour code: ETN_PRI
Tour type: Trekking: active volcanoes
Difficulty: Varying, depending on your preferences & itinerary
Tour character: varying from easy to challenging (depending on chosen route)
Best travel period: all year
Duration: day trips (4-12 hrs)
Dates:
Custom and scheduled dates no scheduled dates at present
Price (p.p.): From 75 EUR p. P.
(1-20 participants / prices for smaller or larger groups on request.)
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 |
Arrival info:The tours usually start at La Spaienza mountain hut at 1900 m elevation on Etna's south side. On request, we can include transfers (e.g. from Taormina or Catania) for you at additional cost.
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)
Note:
ca. 4-5 hrs total / moderate
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.
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Etna's summit craters - long circuit (ETN_C02)
Note:
ca. 7 hrs total / moderate
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.
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Variant 3: Etna's summit craters - up and down (ETN_C03)
Note:
ca. 8-10 hrs total / moderate-challenging
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.
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Variant 4: Etna's summit craters & short mountain traverse (ETN_C04)
Note:
ca. 8-9 hrs total / moderate
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.
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Etna's summit craters & full mounatin traverse (ETN_C05)
Note:
ca. 10-12 hrs total / challenging
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.
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