Etna excursion 3000 meters with 4x4, cable car, and trekking in Sicily
by Gruppo Guide Alpine Etna Sud
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.€110Overview
The tour begins at the Etna Sud Alpine Guides hut in Sicily. Participants take a cable car ride up to 2500 meters, followed by a 4x4 vehicle ascent to 2850 meters. From this point, the trekking portion starts, crossing extinct craters, eruptive vents, and lava fractures. The route continues to the Barbagallo craters at about 3000 meters, where hikers observe recent lava flows and the summit craters of Mount Etna. The trek proceeds into a lava flow channel formed during the 2002 eruption, including a visit to the effusive vent from that event. The path then descends along sandy slopes toward Montagnola, offering views of the Valle del Bove, a large horseshoe-shaped volcano-tectonic depression. After the walk, the return to the starting point is by cable car, descending volcanic sand channels with views of the Ionian coast and interior Sicily on clear days. The walking portion lasts approximately four hours, with the entire tour taking four to five hours. An alpine and/or volcanological guide leads the tour. Socks, shoes, jackets, and helmets are provided. Cable car and 4x4 tickets are not included and must be purchased onsite. Lunch is not included. The tour is not recommended for children under six years old or travelers with respiratory problems.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Mount Etna
The tour starts at the Etna Sud Alpine Guides hut, then continues with a cable car ride up to 2500 meters. From there, an off-road vehicle carries participants further up to 2850 meters.
40 min
Valle Del Bove
The first stop is the viewpoint over the Valle del Bove, a large horseshoe-shaped volcano-tectonic depression on Etna’s eastern side. This area is volcanologically significant due to several exposures along its walls. On clear days, the view extends widely.
30 min
Barbagallo Craters and Lava Flow Channel
A key stop is at the Barbagallo craters, about 3000 meters high. The route ascends sandy slopes to reach a lava flow channel formed during the 2002 eruption. Walking up this channel leads to the eruption’s effusive vent. The path continues toward Torre del Filosofo at 2920 meters, passing over still-warm lava flows recorded on 21-05-2023. After a lunch break, the walk continues along the Barbagallo crater rim, offering views of Etna’s summit craters and Sicily’s eastern coast from Taormina to Syracuse.
120 min
Mount Etna
Before descending, hikers have another chance to see Etna’s summit craters, including the Central and South-East Craters, which emit gas plumes.
20 min
Cable Car Descent
The return uses the cable car along volcanic sand channels. On clear days, views span from the Ionian coast to Sicily’s interior during the approximately 90-minute descent.
90 min
Meeting point
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
End point
The meeting point is at our Baita, next to Rifugio Sapienza, 30 minutes before the start of the tour. To be paid locally 45 € per person in cash for the round-trip Cable Car and the one-way Jeep
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Etna excursion 3000 meters with 4x4, cable car, and trekking in Sicily
by Gruppo Guide Alpine Etna Sud
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.€110Overview
The tour begins at the Etna Sud Alpine Guides hut in Sicily. Participants take a cable car ride up to 2500 meters, followed by a 4x4 vehicle ascent to 2850 meters. From this point, the trekking portion starts, crossing extinct craters, eruptive vents, and lava fractures. The route continues to the Barbagallo craters at about 3000 meters, where hikers observe recent lava flows and the summit craters of Mount Etna. The trek proceeds into a lava flow channel formed during the 2002 eruption, including a visit to the effusive vent from that event. The path then descends along sandy slopes toward Montagnola, offering views of the Valle del Bove, a large horseshoe-shaped volcano-tectonic depression. After the walk, the return to the starting point is by cable car, descending volcanic sand channels with views of the Ionian coast and interior Sicily on clear days. The walking portion lasts approximately four hours, with the entire tour taking four to five hours. An alpine and/or volcanological guide leads the tour. Socks, shoes, jackets, and helmets are provided. Cable car and 4x4 tickets are not included and must be purchased onsite. Lunch is not included. The tour is not recommended for children under six years old or travelers with respiratory problems.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Mount Etna
The tour starts at the Etna Sud Alpine Guides hut, then continues with a cable car ride up to 2500 meters. From there, an off-road vehicle carries participants further up to 2850 meters.
40 min
Valle Del Bove
The first stop is the viewpoint over the Valle del Bove, a large horseshoe-shaped volcano-tectonic depression on Etna’s eastern side. This area is volcanologically significant due to several exposures along its walls. On clear days, the view extends widely.
30 min
Barbagallo Craters and Lava Flow Channel
A key stop is at the Barbagallo craters, about 3000 meters high. The route ascends sandy slopes to reach a lava flow channel formed during the 2002 eruption. Walking up this channel leads to the eruption’s effusive vent. The path continues toward Torre del Filosofo at 2920 meters, passing over still-warm lava flows recorded on 21-05-2023. After a lunch break, the walk continues along the Barbagallo crater rim, offering views of Etna’s summit craters and Sicily’s eastern coast from Taormina to Syracuse.
120 min
Mount Etna
Before descending, hikers have another chance to see Etna’s summit craters, including the Central and South-East Craters, which emit gas plumes.
20 min
Cable Car Descent
The return uses the cable car along volcanic sand channels. On clear days, views span from the Ionian coast to Sicily’s interior during the approximately 90-minute descent.
90 min
Meeting point
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
End point
The meeting point is at our Baita, next to Rifugio Sapienza, 30 minutes before the start of the tour. To be paid locally 45 € per person in cash for the round-trip Cable Car and the one-way Jeep
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.