Description
The Mount Etna north side trek begins at Piano Provenzana, around 1,800 metres up, where you meet your guide. Easy volcanic trails lead through a beech forest and then out onto the lava fields left by the 2002 eruption, an event that transformed the area.
Along the way you cross old lava flows and follow the edge of lava channels. The guide explains how Etna erupts and tells stories of its history, and you reach the lateral craters of 2002 and the dark ground that contrasts with the forest around it. The views over the north slope make it a good walk for photos.
- A certified guide
- Trekking shoes and poles
- The visit to the 2002 craters
The trek takes about two and a half hours and is moderately easy for most fitness levels. Food, drinks and the transport to Piano Provenzana are not included. In winter the trail is often under snow, and snowshoes can be rented at the meeting point. It is not suited to pregnant women or to people with mobility, heart or respiratory problems.