Things to do in Mount Etna
Etna is a Sicilian volcanic complex that originated in the Quaternary; it is the largest volcano in Europe, and it is among the world's most active ones. The imposing Sicilian volcano has, over time become an important attraction for tourists who arrive each year on the island, since it is one of the few active volcanoes in the world easily accessible by anyone.
Located on the eastern coast of Sicily, within the territory of the province of Catania, it presents a surface characterized by a rich variety of environments: cityscapes, dense forests and desolate areas covered by magmatic rock and periodically subject to snow at the higher altitudes.
There are in fact, specialized guides and off-road vehicles that safely lead the visitors to the summit craters. Throughout the year, organized trips allow travellers to closely explore this marvel. Many of these tours start from Catania and aim to hike naturalistic trails, accompanied by expert guides, to discover and appreciate places of extraordinary naturalistic value within the reserve of Etna Park.
In addition, Mount Etna is full of lifeless lava caves that were created in numerous eruptions. Tourists participating in these tours can get down into the underworld of the volcano, equipped with helmets and caving lights, to appreciate this natural wonder!
This volcano is one of Italy's most important natural treasures. On the 21st of June 2013, the thirty-seventh session of the UNESCO Committee, which met in Cambodia, made Mount Etna a World Heritage Site.
Our recommendations in Mount Etna
Mount Etna Tour to 2900m from Taormina
Europe's highest volcano looms large over Sicily, so this family-friendly tour takes you as close to the top as you can. You'll be driven to Rifugio Sapienza, then swap to a cable car and 4x4 vehicle to reach the main crater at about 2,900m above sea level. The views and lunar landscape from here are nothing short of breathtaking.Nature trails, caves, woods, and lava flows typify the landscape that leads to the top of Mt Etna. And after pick-up from your hotel you'll be driven to about 1900m above sea level at Rifugio Sapienza on the south side of Etna, where you'll hop off the bus to unearth some more.On the way you'll learn all there is to know about Mt Etna and its explosive past. And don't worry – there'll be plenty of facts for the little ones to take in, too. Then, you'll get to see it all for yourself during some free time. Switch to a cable car and jump into an off-road vehicle that'll take you rumbling along to the main crater. You'll want your camera for this one.
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Taormina & Mount Etna 1900
Mt Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe and a true icon of Sicily. By coach, cable-car and minibus you‘ll ascend 1,900 mts above sea level to one of the famous mountains main craters. What's more, on this full day experience, you‘ll get to visit one of Italy's most beautiful towns, Taormina.
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Mt Etna 4x4 and wine-tasting tour
Europe's highest active volcano looms large over everyday life in Sicily. On this thrilling tour, you'll hop on a 4x4 off-road Safari to explore some of the hardest-to-reach parts of the north slope of Mt Etna. Carmelo, one of our local expert guides, explains, “The 4x4 cars take routes that're planned around the health and safety of the local environment.” You'll visit the Sartorius Craters as well as lava fields and caves, and also drop into a winery for a tasting.You'll begin your adventure with both on-road and off-road exploration on a 4x4, visiting the impressive 2002 lava front, a testament to the volcano's power. Then, you'll traverse through the dense woodland to reach the Sartorius Craters, formed during Mt Etna's eruptive episode in 1865 that reshaped the northern slopes of the volcano. Along the way, you'll learn about what life is like living next to an active volcano, whilst witnessing the resilient vegetation that thrives in that environment.There's time for a walk amid the unique landscapes. At 1,750 metres above sea level, you'll get some great views of the sprawling volcanic surroundings. You'll round off with a short hop to visit a lava cave before ending the tour at a local winery. Here, you'll sample some of their wines during a tasting session along with a selection of typical products of Etna, like artisanal cheeses, locally grown olives and honey. A great way to end a day of exploration.
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Alcantara Gorge & Mt Etna to 2900m
Mother Nature's two greatest gifts to eastern Sicily were the spectacular Alcantara Gorge and Europe's largest active volcano, Mt Etna. On this full day excursion, you'll discover these two natural wonders – paddling in the water of the gorge and climbing up to 2,900 metres in the volcano in a variety of transport modes.
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Mount Etna Tour to 2900m from Taormina
Europe's highest volcano looms large over Sicily, so this family-friendly tour takes you as close to the top as you can. You'll be driven to Rifugio Sapienza, then swap to a cable car and 4x4 vehicle to reach the main crater at about 2,900m above sea level. The views and lunar landscape from here are nothing short of breathtaking.Nature trails, caves, woods, and lava flows typify the landscape that leads to the top of Mt Etna. And after pick-up from your hotel you'll be driven to about 1900m above sea level at Rifugio Sapienza on the south side of Etna, where you'll hop off the bus to unearth some more.On the way you'll learn all there is to know about Mt Etna and its explosive past. And don't worry – there'll be plenty of facts for the little ones to take in, too. Then, you'll get to see it all for yourself during some free time. Switch to a cable car and jump into an off-road vehicle that'll take you rumbling along to the main crater. You'll want your camera for this one.
de, en
Taormina & Mount Etna 1900
Mt Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe and a true icon of Sicily. By coach, cable-car and minibus you‘ll ascend 1,900 mts above sea level to one of the famous mountains main craters. What's more, on this full day experience, you‘ll get to visit one of Italy's most beautiful towns, Taormina.
en
Mt Etna 4x4 and wine-tasting tour
Europe's highest active volcano looms large over everyday life in Sicily. On this thrilling tour, you'll hop on a 4x4 off-road Safari to explore some of the hardest-to-reach parts of the north slope of Mt Etna. Carmelo, one of our local expert guides, explains, “The 4x4 cars take routes that're planned around the health and safety of the local environment.” You'll visit the Sartorius Craters as well as lava fields and caves, and also drop into a winery for a tasting.You'll begin your adventure with both on-road and off-road exploration on a 4x4, visiting the impressive 2002 lava front, a testament to the volcano's power. Then, you'll traverse through the dense woodland to reach the Sartorius Craters, formed during Mt Etna's eruptive episode in 1865 that reshaped the northern slopes of the volcano. Along the way, you'll learn about what life is like living next to an active volcano, whilst witnessing the resilient vegetation that thrives in that environment.There's time for a walk amid the unique landscapes. At 1,750 metres above sea level, you'll get some great views of the sprawling volcanic surroundings. You'll round off with a short hop to visit a lava cave before ending the tour at a local winery. Here, you'll sample some of their wines during a tasting session along with a selection of typical products of Etna, like artisanal cheeses, locally grown olives and honey. A great way to end a day of exploration.
en
Alcantara Gorge & Mt Etna to 2900m
Mother Nature's two greatest gifts to eastern Sicily were the spectacular Alcantara Gorge and Europe's largest active volcano, Mt Etna. On this full day excursion, you'll discover these two natural wonders – paddling in the water of the gorge and climbing up to 2,900 metres in the volcano in a variety of transport modes.
de, en
Mount Etna guided sunset tour with Sicilian dinner
Watching the sky light up with shades of orange and then burn out into darkness while standing atop a volcano is a special sensation. This drama-rich tour takes you to Mount Etna – a must-visit when in Sicily. You'll head to an altitude of almost 3,000 metres to catch the sunset and then relax over a traditional meal to round off your adventure. You'll go by minibus to Etna, then, as the terrain becomes rockier, you'll switch to a 4x4 vehicle. As you make your way to 2,900m above sea level – the highest point that's safely reachable – there'll be stops to take in the harsh, lunar landscape and the lava-smothered flanks of this towering mountain. Make sure you're wearing comfortable walking shoes and warm layers – it gets cold at high altitude. After admiring the views from near the summit, an expert alpine guide will take you to a less exposed 2,500m, where you'll watch the sunset in a more comfortable location. Then on the way back, you'll stop at a chalet restaurant for a typical Sicilian dinner.
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Half-Day 4x4 Tour of Mount Etna with Lava Cave and Local Tastings
Book this half-day guided 4x4 tour to explore the natural wonders of Mount Etna with local tastings.
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Mount Etna and Alcantara Gorges guided tour from Taormina
Enjoy a small-group experience with a certified guide at your disposal as you explore mammoth Mount Etna and the distinctive Alcantara Gorges.
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Taormina & Mount Etna to 2900m
Mt. Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe and a true icon of Sicily. By coach, cable-car and minibus you‘ll ascend 2900 mts above sea level to the famous mountains main crater. What's more, on this full day experience, you‘ll get to visit one of Italy's most beautiful towns, Taormina.
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Travel along many dormant craters, explore an ancient lava cave and taste typical Sicilian products while you experience an unforgettable sunset in the beautiful Etnean area.
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Etna North Private Trekking and Wine Tasting with Light Lunch
Explore Mount Etna with a volcanological guide and conclude your adventure with a typical Sicilian tasting.
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Full-day Etna 4x4 Excursion with Winery Lunch from Catania
Explore one of the most famous sights in Sicily and the world: the Mount Etna!
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Full-day Etna 4x4 Excursion with Winery Lunch from Taormina
Explore one of the most famous sights in Sicily and the world: the Mount Etna!
en, it
How to get there
Mount Etna
Catania
Italy
Reviews Mount Etna
“The guide on the coach was excellent. The guide at Mt Etna we had no contact with on arrival we just had to follow the group. On the day the wind was very strong. The route to the highest point was by foot and a short cut was being taken, because of the wind. We were being sand blasted by ash and the route up a hill was difficult for many. Some said it may be OK when we get to the other side. But we didn't know and turned back as did many others.”
“This trip was very expensive. Going to the top of the volcano was great, but overall this was too long a day! We were picked up at 6.25 and our hotel wouldn't provide breakfast. We spent 8.5 hours on a bus, returning back to resort knackered. There is a 2 hour stop in Taormina which was too long and lengthened journey time back and also meant we hit rush hour traffic on the return journey.”
“It was far too long. From a 14 hour day we spent 9 hours on the coach. We lost 2.5 hours to drop offs and pick ups. Eg we were picked up at 6.40am, but didn't get on our way till 8.15am. Absurd. Please reduce the group size and be up front about the travel times. The destinations themselves were fine but ruined by the travel in a cramped coach. Will not recommend to friends.”
“The trip itself was good and both Etna and the gorge were amazing. Unfortunately the guide was rude and seemed more interested in getting home early than our enjoyment of the trip. Lots of other companies do tours of Etna, so I would recommend booking with someone else so you don't get stuck with the guide we had.”
