Description
The Etna summit craters hike is the one for walkers who want the top of the volcano, not just a view of it. A certified volcanological or alpine guide waits for you at the ticket office in Piano Provenzana, in Linguaglossa. A 4x4 jeep takes the group up to 2,800 metres, a compulsory extra that you pay for separately.
On foot, an easy stretch of about an hour and a half climbs to the rim of the Bocca Nuova, also called La Voragine, at 3,250 metres. The guide explains the geology and history on the way. The path then goes clockwise to the Central Crater and the North East Crater, which dates from 1911 and whose rim you may reach if the weather allows.
On a clear day you can look out to Stromboli, Calabria, Taormina, Catania and the Aeolian Islands. Fourth and last is the South East Crater, among the liveliest of Etna, overlooking the Valle del Bove. Going down takes about 30 minutes on a sandstone slope that is steep yet manageable, ending at the volcanological observatory, where a jeep waits to bring you to the meeting point.
- Guide and accident insurance
- Helmet
- Not included: hotel transfers, meals, drinks and tips