ETNA SUMMIT TOURS

Departure h.8:30 • Duration: 6 hours
Difficulty grade: Advanced

Reach Etna’s summit craters, on tours that will make you touch the sky, dominating the island landscape at the summit of Europe’s highest active volcano.

Definitely challenging excursions, but also highly valuable in terms of landscape and emotion.

You will reach the peak of the highest active volcano in Europe, the roof of Sicily: a truly intense experience in which you will face the force of nature and come close to the power of the volcano.

These excursions are not for everyone, but you only need to be moderately trained to enjoy our tours to Mount Etna’s summit and take an unforgettable experience back home from your trip to Sicily.

Our volcanological guides, experts in the area and the history of the volcano, will be at your side during the cable car or 4WD bus ascent and summit trek, so you won’t have to worry about safety.

Surely these are the most thrilling excursions offered by Etna Est and are waiting for you to lead you to the summit for a unique and powerful experience!

Discover all our available tours to get to Etna’s summit craters:

ETNA SUMMIT – NORD

La montée aux cratères sommitaux est une expérience de vie unique qui a comme sujet et scénario le versant nord de l’Etna.

La localité de Piano Provenzana est le point de rencontre par excellence de cette partie du volcan, et plus précisément, vous rencontrerez le Guide Volcanologique à 8h00 à la billetterie Etna Travel service.

Le guide prendra quelques minutes pour le briefing, puis la montée commencera avec l’utilisation de véhicules spéciaux 4X4 (tickets non inclus) qui vous mèneront à l’altitude de 2950 m.

Après avoir pris quelques photos du paysage, nous commencerons le trekking sur des champs de lave anciens et récents pour atteindre le bord des cratères sommitaux à 3330 m d’altitude.

Nous commencerons le trekking sur toute la zone du sommet, en admirant le cratère du Nord-Est, le cratère du Sud-Est, la Nouvelle Bouche et le Gouffre. L’activité de dégazage avec les innombrables fumerolles rendra le paysage suggestif et unique au monde. Notre trekking autour du sommet peut varier en fonction de l’activité volcanique du moment.

Nous commencerons la descente à travers des sables volcaniques pour atteindre Piano delle Concazze : le panorama à couper le souffle nous montrera la Vallée du Lion et la plus célèbre Vallée du Boeuf, nous donnant un scénario unique et inoubliable.

Les 4×4 spéciaux nous mèneront au point de départ.

Départ h. 8.30 a.m. – Etna Nord Piano Provenzana (Map)

50€ p.p.
PRIX DU BILLET POUR LE 4X4 : 60 € p.p. (à payer sur place le jour de l’excursion en espèces au guide afin d’éviter la file d’attente)
MAX 10 PAX GROUPS


ETNA SUMMIT – SOUTH SIDE

If you choose to experience with us the extraordinary tour to Etna Summit Craters from the south slope, our meeting place is at « La Terrazza dell’Etna » bar at 8.30 am.

After a short orientation briefing we will head for the Etna Cableway Company (ticket not included at a cost of € 78 to buy on the spot) to reach 2500m above sea level  from where we start our trek up to the highest altitude reachable.

During the approximately two-hour ascent, with a few breaks to catch our breath and enjoy the view, we will walk through an incredible moonscape of more or less recent lava fields until we reach the summit craters.

The close-up view of Etna Summit Craters is really amazing, a scenery that one rarely gets a chance to experience and that you will carry in your heart forever.

Beginning the descent towards the cable car, we will also see the crater originated in 2001, still smoking, at an altitude of 2700 m above sea level.

The tour, lasting about six hours, will rightfully become one of the most beautiful and unrepeatable memories of your trip to the mythical Sicilian island.

Departure h. 8,30 – Bar « Terrazza dell’Etna » (Map)

50€(+ 50€ cablecar) – MAX 20 PAX GROUPS


ETNA SUMMIT AT SUNSET

The excursion to the Crateri Sommitali at sunset starts at 14:30 at the bar « La Terrazza dell’Etna », our meeting point with the volcanological guide who will lead you in this magical experience!

After a short opening briefing, we will catch the Etna cable way (ticket not included, €60, to be purchased on site) to head up in altitude. Once we reach 2500 metres above sea level, we will start our trek to the summit craters, at an altitude of 3000 metres.

The two-hour climb includes 2 or 3 stops to enjoy the glorious landscape in front of our eyes while we recover our breath.

We will then walk among an incredible moonscape made of lava fields and craters, a scenery looking out of this world.

We will leave this incredible place to experience the colours of sunset: a 360° view that will leave you speechless!

With our torches switched on, we will start our descent by foot back to our starting point.

The city lights will provide the perfect background to end this tour you will carry among your most intense travel memories!

Departure h. 8,30 – Bar « Terrazza dell’Etna » (Map)

60€(+ 50€ cable car) – MAX 20 PAX GROUPS


Additional Information

In particular for this type of excursions, Etna Est guides have the authority to make changes to the excursions or stop the tour at any time if safety conditions are not good enough due to weather or possible volcanic hazards.

In order to avoid any risk, it is good to be fully aware of your health conditions and inform your guide about them. Here are some important notes regarding safety:

  • Pregnant women who have passed the third month of pregnancy are not allowed any kind of hiking activity.
  • For anyone with heart problems, asthma and dizziness, any type of hiking activity is not recommended, whether at lower or higher altitudes
  • For all hikes but especially those leading to the summit area, due to the continuous presence of windblown volcanic ash, the use of contact lenses is forbidden
  • The excursions may, at the guide’s discretion, be changed or interrupted if weather conditions, environmental causes, or possible volcanic risk pose any source of danger.
  • It is also at the guide’s discretion to stop the excursion for any reason that may compromise the safety and thus the physical integrity of an individual or the entire group.

The fee to participate to Etna Summit tours includes:

  • Insurance
  • Guide for the duration of the excursion
  • Trekking pole
  • Anything expressly provided for in the program

Here is the recommended equipment to take part in the Crateri Sommitali Etna hike:

  • High-necked hiking shoes
  • Trekking poles (rental available on site)
  • Rock helmet (free rental available)
  • Spare T-shirt
  • Long pants (recommended)
  • Pullover and windbreaker (k-way)
  • Backpack (10-20L)
  • Gloves and cap (recommended)
  • Sunglasses (recommended)
  • Sunscreen (recommended)
  • Water, at least 1.5L
  • Snacks and packed lunch