Enjoy the atmosphere of afternoon lighting
Our high altitude excursion, as an alternative to visiting the summit craters, is organized on the southern slope of the Etna volcano, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will meet the guide at 1900 meters in the Sapienza refuge area and after a short briefing you will reach an altitude of 2500 using the famous Etna cable car. From here the trek will begin which will take us to the edge of the Barbagallo craters, at the base of the summit craters, in approximately 1.30/2 hours. Here, at 2900 meters above sea level, you will admire the surreal panorama from this height with the soft afternoon lights that illuminate the slopes of the volcano up to the sea coast. Unique landscapes that make this experience on the most active and largest volcano in Europe special. Furthermore, you will find yourself on the highest point of the island and will therefore be able to enjoy a breathtaking view of a large part of Sicily: the Ionian Sea, Taormina and then beyond the mountains surrounding Etna, the Nebrodi and the Madonie. After watching the sunset from this wonderful place, the descent will be entirely on foot and you will have fun running on the volcanic sand gullies.
IMPORTANT NOTES: The excursion may undergo variations depending on weather conditions or civil protection provisions at the sole discretion of the organization and/or guide. Due to the high altitude and the physical effort required, this excursion is absolutely NOT permitted for people with heart conditions or any other physical condition unsuitable for hiking. For people over 50, a preventive cardiological examination is recommended.
Included / Excluded
To help you plan your trip, we have put together a list of what's included and what's not included in your tour package. Also look at the equipment checklist
- Official authorized Etna Guide (Mandatory)
- Helmet (Mandatory)
- Neck warmer ETNA Unesco - GIFT only with us!!!
- A voucher for a free etnean food tasting
- Maximum 20 people per group
- Rent shoes - Jackets - Hiking poles
- Packed lunch
- Ticket for cablecar 4x4 (50€ by cash)
Tour Map
Our meeting point for the excursion is in Rifugio Sapienza Etna South turistic area (1900 mt a.s.l) on front the ticket office of Cable Car Funivia dell'Etna.
Itinerary
Our excursion to the summit craters is designed to give you the best visit experience considering less exposure to volcanic risk conditions. Our itinerary takes place on the northern side of Etna and is led by expert guides authorized by the Italian government and covered by insurance policies, equipped by radio and GPS devices
At the meeting point we will have a briefing to meet your volcanological guide, to check the equipment and for the last details before leaving. We recommend maximum punctuality because transport carriers must leave at the scheduled times. Otherwise you may miss the excursion.
The first part of the ascent takes place with the cable car up to an altitude of approximately 2500 metres. The cost of this service (€50) is NOT included in the participation fee and you’ll paid it by cash to the guide or ticket office.
After leaving the cable car the guide will take you from 2900 m to the edge of the Barbagallo craters, the place of eruption 2002, to enjoy the spectacular scenery offered by this majestic volcano. You will be in direct contact with the the feeling of the main crater. From this altitude the panorama will allow you to observe the Sicilian island from its highest point.
After visiting the higher trail we will descend by hiking with the soft sunlighting accross the sandy gullies. A really fun experience
ONLY WITH US
ETNA BANDANA as a Gift!
Only with Etna Summit Craters will you receive a beautiful and very useful gift at the meeting point. A multi-purpose "bandana" neck warmer and hair band that can be used to mitigate the breathing of volcanic gases during our excursions. The value of this bandana is €15 but by booking online on this website it is free for each participant!
*The image is illustrative only and the style of the bandana may be different
