Description
This Etna summit craters trek with pick-up from Catania gets you onto the volcano without any transport worries, because the journey out of Catania and back, from the city or nearby towns, is part of the tour. The scenery is lunar: smoking craters, fields of black lava and views that change at every bend.
The route goes up by cable car to 2,500 metres, then in 4x4 Jeeps to about 2,900 metres. From there a guided trek leads to around 3,350 metres. At the top you look over the main active craters, among them Bocca Nuova and Voragine together with the north-east and south-east craters, amid fumaroles and mineral colours. When the air is clear the horizon takes in the Ionian shore and the Calabrian mountains. A lava flow channel is part of the walk.
Qualified guides explain the old lava flows and the story of the volcano. Count on four to five hours of walking at medium difficulty, and you do not need to be an experienced hiker.
- licensed volcano guide and insurance
- helmet, boots, socks, jacket and backpack
Cable car and Jeep tickets are paid on site, and the lunch box and drinks are extra. Bad weather or volcano conditions can change or cancel the tour, and then you get a full refund.