Etna Excursion 3000 Meters: Unforgettable Ascent with 4x4 Cable Car, Trekking and Geological Marvels
4.7
204 Ratings
Città metropolitana di Catania

Embark on an unforgettable Etna excursion, ascending 3000 meters with a 4x4 cable car, trekking through geological marvels, and witnessing breathtaking panoramas. Join us for a 4-hour adventure!

Duration: 5 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Mount Etna - We start from the hut of the Etna Sud Alpine Guides, continue by cable car up to 2500 meters and then with an off-road vehicle we reach 2850 metres.
  • Valle Del Bove - The first stop will be the viewpoint of the Valle del Bove, a large horseshoe-shaped volcano-tectonic depression located in the eastern sector of Etna, it is very important from a volcanological point of view as several outcrop along the walls. On fine days the view is breathtaking.
  • Crateri barbagallo - A very important stop is the Barbagallo crater at an altitude of about 3000 meters. Going up along the sandbanks, you will reach a lava flow channel dating back to the 2002 eruption. Going up the channel, you will arrive at the effusive mouth of the same eruption. we will continue towards Torre del Filosofo (2920 meters) along the recent still hot lava flows (21-05-2023). After the lunch break we will walk along the edge of the Barbagallo crater admiring the summit craters and the entire eastern coast of Sicily, from Taormina to Syracuse.
  • Mount Etna - After the walk on the edge of the Barbagallo crater, before starting the descent, we would have the opportunity once again to admire the summit craters of Etna, Central Crater and South-East Crater, with their inevitable plume of gas.
  • Etna Cable Car Bar 2500m - The return by cable car will take place along channels of volcanic sand, admiring, on fine days, a breathtaking view, which ranges from the Ionian coast to the interior of Sicily.
What's Included
  • Guided service by experienced Alpine and Volcanological Guides
  • All necessary gear provided, including socks, shoes, jackets, and helmets
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
  • Cable car and jeep ticket
Additional Information

An unforgettable excursion: ascent by cable car and Jeep up to 2850m (tickets not included, €45 per person to be purchased at the meeting point). The walking route begins from here, a fascinating stop will be on some extinct craters, eruptive vents and lava fractures. We will continue up to the Barbagallo craters at 3000 meters. From here you can observe the majestic Summit Craters and admire recent lava flows (01-12-2023), until you reach the inside of a lava flow channel. We will visit the effusive vent of the 2002 eruption and from here we will descend along the sandy slopes to Montagnola from where we will observe the Valle del Bove, a large volcano-tectonic depression. Breathtaking panorama that gives visitors a feeling of arcane power that few other places in the world can convey. The return on foot by cable car allows you to take a last look at this enchanting lunar landscape, for approximately 4 hours of walking in total

  • except for children under 6 years old
  • Not recommended for travelers with respiratory problems
Location
Etna Alpine Guides Excursions
The meeting point is at our hut, next to the Rifugio Sapienza, 45 minutes before the start of the tour. To be paid on site €45 per person for the return cable car and the one-way Jeep
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.7
(204 Ratings)
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Meaganb768
Oct 2, 2024
An amazing and educational experience - Thanks, Fabio! We had a great time on our tour of Mt. Etna - truly a once in a lifetime experience. The terrain was absolutely stunning and Fabio educated us with lots of geological info. I will say we may have underestimated the physicality of the trip. My mom, who is in her 60s and not the most agile especially after a knee replacement and broken ankle, had a bit of trouble with some of the trickier parts - with steep inclines and loose soil. But my brother and I helped her out and Fabio also helped her himself through the tougher climbs - so sweet of him. So I would say maybe bring/rent some hiking poles if you feel you may need some help with stability and make sure you're in decent shape for inclines. Otherwise they give you boots, socks, jackets, and helmets, which were all very helpful and nice to not have to pack ourselves.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Excursion09107326588
Sep 28, 2024
An amazing tour, thanks to Fabio! - We had a great day on the Etna vulcano. Our guide, Fabio, was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. He knew everything about the geological and recent history of the vulcano. His English was great as well. We toured some amazing places with great views. We definitely wouldn't have gotten there without a guide. We had the 10:30 tour, which included almost an hour of waiting at the gondolas. Maybe the 9:30 tour has less waiting. We were there on a 30° day with clear skies, no jacket was needed.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marthak369
Sep 28, 2024
Mount Etna Trek - The sights on Mount Etna were exhilarating. Our guide was excellent (Vincenzo). He imparted so much information and took us all over the site. It was a lot of up and down over the trails. Some of which were a bit tricky but was fun and exciting. This tour is not for people with mobility issues. It is fairly dusty so if you have breathing, a mask might be good to have on you. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michelat778
Sep 24, 2024
Family - Unforgettable experience.....Michele sympathetic and competent expert Guide described in a timely and precise way what we were admiring and trampling (in Italian for us and in French for a small group of 8 people)..... recommended for all
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Nele_l
Sep 23, 2024
Great tour - The tour is really good. Not too hard and not too easy. Just right. Our guide Vincent was really knowledgeable and great at explaining the geological history of Etna.
Review provided by Viator
Paolacampanaro
Sep 22, 2024
Above expectations - Very interesting. Very nice. Really above expectations. Guide Giuseppe was really good, welcoming and reassuring with us. You lie to the whole team. We will be back for sure
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Q8943kydonatom
Sep 15, 2024
Amazing - Unbelievable experience, the guides were excellent and very informative The staff communicated very well with us But be careful if you are older it will take it's toll on you
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Armandom886
Sep 12, 2024
Great hike! - Really fantastic experience! The guides, very competent and attentive, manage to enrich the adventure with interesting explanations. Try it!
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693darrinh
Sep 11, 2024
Amazing experience - What an amazing experience just has to be done, I’ve done and seen some great things on this holiday but this caps it. Some may say it’s expensive but it’s a once in a lifetime trip and the infrastructure required is immense. Just some info for others Car park is charged 1/2 day full day €3.50/€6.00 You get tickets at an office just before the cable car station on the right. It was cash only when we visited and there is an ATM near the toilets. Also don’t pay for toilets as there are loads of free ones. €78 gets you the tour to 3000m which includes cable car, 4x4 to about 2500m then the guide who tells you about everything at 3000m it’s about an hour with the guide. The tour at the top gives plenty of opportunities for photos and loads of info from the guide about the area. Take note about shoes and jackets it was cold and windy at the top and can rain in an instant. Beware when it’s windy as it can blow the find debris around stings your legs (which is ok) but can get in your eyes so some sunglasses do help. My partner did the whole trip and let’s say if she can do it so can most people. Although there are paths there is a lot of loose shale so take note of what the guides say and good trainers or hiking boots a must. There are self guided tours but you’re not allowed over 2500m without a guided and if you’re adventurous you can walk from bottom to top. Going by other advise you don’t need priority as it doesn’t get you in past the queues you just bypass the queue to get a ticket. From our experience just turn up on the day, we were leaving around 2 and we did notice a lot of the cable cars were going up empty. Last cable car down was 5.15 but that will change to an earlier time soon. Hope this is of help because it was a little confusing at first.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
478sannel
Sep 26, 2024
Lovely experience! - Unfortunately, we couldn't get to the top. This was not possible according to the organization. Unfriendly welcome, but very nice walk! Nino was a very good Guide with a lot of experience! Thank you Nino! You get shoes, stockings and greenhouse on the spot if you don't have them yourself.
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October 2024
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