Description
The Etna summit craters hike begins at the Piano Provenzana ski area, where 4x4 vehicles take you up the Summit Craters trail through a part of the volcano shaped by recent eruptions. On the way you pass side craters, fresh lava flows and lava tree molds, as well as buildings half swallowed by the lava.
The vehicle stops at the Pizzi Deneri Volcanological Observatory, a research station that went up in the late 1970s. From there you continue on foot, by the path the volcanology guide judges best for the weather, the volcano's behavior and the group's condition. Five hours in all, the outing takes you to the crater terraces.
- Voragine, which became Etna's highest point after the 2024 paroxysms
- Bocca Nuova, next to it
- Southeast Crater, dating from 1971
- Northeast Crater, formed in 1911
Time at the top is short and set by the guide, since the summit is unstable, and reaching the highest point is never part of the plan. If conditions are not safe, an alternative hike is offered. The 4x4 takes you back down from about 2,800 meters. Good fitness is needed, and the hike is not for children under 10, pregnant women or people with heart or breathing problems. Hiking gear is provided. Food and drinks are not, and the 4x4 ride is booked separately from the hike.