Adventure

Mount Etna: Excursion to the Base of the Summit Craters

4.9 / 5

24 reviews

Activity provider: Etna Experience Excursion
Adventure

Mount Etna: Excursion to the Base of the Summit Craters

Activity provider: Etna Experience Excursion

From US$ 217.36 per person

Enjoy an adventurous day on Mount Etna. Catch the cable car and a special 4x4 vehicle to a height of 1.7 miles to the base of the summit craters and then hike 1.2 miles on a lunar landscape.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
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Covid-19 precautions
Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
Duration 8 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
English, Italian
Small group
Limited to 8 participants

Experience

Highlights
  • See the base of the summit crater
  • Visit Mount Etna at two different altitudes of 2000 meters and 2750 meters
  • Enjoy a lunch of typical street food products and Etna DOC wine
  • Take a trek on the South side of Etna to visit a volcanic cave
  • Reach the highest possible altitude while visiting the volcano with a guide
Full description

Your expert guide will pick you up at your accommodation in Catania, or another central location, around 8:30 AM. The guide will drive you to Rifugio Sapienza where you will the cable car to 2500 meters. Here, a 4x4 vehicle will take you to the maximum reachable height of 1.7 miles (2750 meters). With the guide, enjoy the magnificence of the volcano in front of the impressive Central and South-Eastern Craters, which are surrounded by ancient and recent lava flows. Return to Rifugio Sapienza to head in the direction of Monte Nero Degli Zappini. Take a nature walk with your guide to discover the geological and botanical aspects of Etna. Stop for a delicious lunch of authentic Sicilian baked goods accompanied by water and Mount Etna wine. In the afternoon, you will visit a volcanic cave and use helmets and torches to safely explore the depth of the volcano. Your expert guide will teach you some basic information about speleology and the fascinating phenomenon related to eruptions.

Includes
  • Transportation in a Jeep or minibus from Catania
  • Guide
  • Cable car ticket
  • 4x4 unimog ticket
  • Trekking with a geologist, volcanologists, or agronomists
  • Picnic, water, and wine
  • Equipment, if required
  • Insurance
    Not suitable for
    • People with heart problems

    Select participants and date

    Participants

    Date

    Meeting point

    Meet the guide in the center of Catania, at a meeting point close to your accommodation.

    Open in Google Maps ⟶
    Important information

    What to bring

    • Comfortable shoes
    • Water

    Not allowed

    • Sandals or flip flops
    • Luggage or large bags
    • Unaccompanied minors

    Know before you go

    • Please note that you will not reach the summit of Mount Etna at 3343 meters, you will reach the base of the summit craters at 2950 meters
    • There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if the minimum number requirements are not met
    • If the weather conditions or volcano status do not permit access to the summit area the tour will reach the maximum altitude of 2000 meters and you will receive a 50% refund
    • When there is snow the cable car must use a snow cat vehicle, which increases the price by 30EUR per person
    • All children must be accompanied by an adult
    • You must advise us when booking if you require trekking shoes or a jacket
    • You must advise us when booking if you require an infant seat
    • Please advise us of any dietary requirements
    Customer reviews

    Overall rating

    4.9 /5

    based on 24 reviews

    Review summary

    • Guide
      5/5
    • Transportation
      4.8/5
    • Service
      4.7/5
    • Organization
      4.7/5

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    Star rating:

    Full day on Mt Edna with a group of 8 + awesome guide. Transportation provided in minivan, hiked around 2 volcanic craters, one old / one more recent. Combo gondola/ 4x4 small bus to reach slightly below summit. Lava fields are extensive, multiple craters and Mountain View’s. I found the hike to the 2nd crater challenging as it’s steep and you’re trudging through loose volcanic sand/rubble. After touring the craters our guide found a great spot for a picnic lunch- it included a variety of local foods so we had a chance to try the local fare, wine and water included! Following lunch we drove to a lava cave - our group was the only one there. Another very short hike to reach the cave and a bit of a challenge to enter- cave was fairly small but a good example of a lava cave. Our guide was knowledgeable regarding the geology of the area and was always very safety conscious. This tour is considered their “easy “ tour due to the assist of gondola & bus - beware if out of shape/older.

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    March 25, 2023

    I was disappointed that the tour was changed due to mist at the top. I have climbed many mountains and very very few have no mist at the top.this surprised me that even though lots were going up in the cable car our tour was changed.Also found our tour very rushed .more of a marathon than a tour. But the guide was excellent 1st class. My advise to other travelers is if you want to get to the top dont use this tour company. The day we had our tour the weather was great but mist at the top of which you get on all mountains but our tour was changed.no cable car .no jeep at the top.no going to the top.was very disappointed at that .

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    March 25, 2023

    Le temps n’était pas au RdV mais nous avons pu monter à 2900m. La guide a été d’un grand professionnalisme. Elle parlait parfaitement français et à été d’une grande attention et amabilité. Je regrette que compte du prix, on nous fasse payer 1€ pour le café demandé après le repas Pizza.

    March 25, 2023

    Product ID: 192573