Etna and Alcantara Gorges Excursion with lunch
Description
Discover Etna and the Alcantara Gorges! The perfect mix of adventure and refreshing relax! The excursion begins by SUV or minivan (up to 8 people), together with our experienced guides. Our first stop is an off-road trip to the 2002 eruption lava fron. Continuing along the Via Mareneve, in the middle of the Ragabo pine forest, we will arrive at the starting point of our trekking to the Monti Sartorius craters. We will continue on foot, starting at 1650 metres and arriving at an altitude of 1750 metres, an easy walk suitable for everyone. We will then explore a lava flow cave, the Grotta dei Ladroni, equipped with helmets and torches. We will stop at a local chalet or restaurant for lunch (included in the price: a first course, water and coffee/tea). After lunch, we will reach the characteristic Alcantara Gorges, also known as the Larderia Gorges. A refreshing and relaxing visit to a wonderful place. You can cool off in the Alcantara river in the middle of the canyon of the Gorges!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Transportation by SUV or minivan from the meeting point to all the points of interest included in the tour, with return to the original meeting point at the end of the tour. First stop to visit the lava flow from the massive 2002 eruption. Main hike of approximately 3 km along the typical “bottoniera” side craters of the Sartorius Mountains. Exploration of the Grotta dei Ladroni, a lava flow cave. Lunch at a local Etnean chalet or restaurant, included in the price: a first course dish, water and coffee/tea.
After lunch (included in the price: a first course dish, water and coffee/tea), we will pass through Castiglione di Sicilia, one of “Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages”, and arrive at the Alcantara Gorges, also known as the Larderia Gorges. The Alcantara Gorges lava canyon is located in the municipality of Motta Camastra, it's a masterpiece of nature carved out over thousands of years. With walls up to 25 meters high and passages barely 2 meters wide. The entry fee to the Alcantara Botanical Park is included in the price; we will stop for about 1 hour for a free visit of the Alcantara Gorges.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
After submitting your booking you will be contacted to schedule the exact pick up time. We kindly ask you to keep an eye on notifications via app, email, WhatsApp or direct calls.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- NOT suitable for cruise ship passengers due to scheduling conflicts.
- For safety reasons, due to volcanic activity or particularly unfavorable weather conditions, the tour may be modified or canceled at the guide’s discretion. We’re here to have fun together, but safety comes first.
Reviews(292)
We booked an English guide and were pleasantly surprised that Salvatore and also Massimo speak perfect German. The buses were super punctual at the agreed-upon meeting point. It is an experience to see the cooled lava flow and to climb one of the many craters of Mount Etna, to experience the grotto that one would not expect. Lunch was a pleasant break. The pasta was homemade. A very special experience awaited us with the Alcantara Gorge. The rock formations are unique and the ice-cold, max. knee-high water is a wonderful way to cool off. The tour is perfectly organized. I recommend it to everyone.
We had an excellent day with our two children aged 8 and 6 (boy and girl). We loved it! Really, the guides Luca and Vincenzo are adorable people! Superb guides! We were staying in Noto and had a 1 hour 20 minute drive, which could make us quite irritable. And yet… the day was so magnificent that we were simply happy! The quality of the contact and organization of the guides, who never left me for a day in confusion or worry before arriving at the meeting point, was more than appreciable. I highly recommend it and I wish them all the good they deserve.
Excellent organization and friendly staff. We traveled with Jacqueline and Alfio and they were very friendly and knowledgeable.
We had a fantastic experience on this tour. We went at the beginning of August, so it was very hot, but overall the hiking and cave exploration were manageable and well worth the effort. The perfect ending was cooling our feet in the icy waters of the Alcantara River after the hike. Our guide was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the experience even more enjoyable with clear and engaging explanations throughout the tour. The food was also great! We highly recommend this excursion to anyone visiting the area!
This trip was well worth it for our family of four. The day broke up our weeks vacation of beach, shopping, and eating, and allowed us to soak up culture, history, and excursion. The hike to see the crater on Etna was more like a difficult walk than a hike. The views were great as you can clearly see the closest active crater on Etna. The lunch was very good, pasta, cappuccino, and gelato. The Gorge we were unprepared for unfortunately. If we were to do this again, we would 100% bring water shoes as the river is all rocks. The river is also very cold. But refreshing in summer heat. The guides were all friendly, knowledgeable, and engaging. Many of them were family members so it was great. Very good way to spend a day in Sicily and see many sites all at a once. It’s along day, you will be tired at the end. Great trip!
The pick up point was clear, the stops were really interesting and Mario was an excellent and knowledgeable guide. We went with our 2 year old and 5 year old and Mario accommodated so well for them. The lunch was yummy and the views were fantastic, including the gorge (although water shoes are advised as very uncomfortable with bear feet). We had such a great trip.
We had an excellent day on this excursion to Mount Etna and the Alcantara Gorges! We had initially wanted to book via TripAdvisor, but there were no spots left available. We therefore contacted the provider directly, who was extremely professional and did everything to add us to the group. A big thank you to them for their responsiveness and kindness! Our guide, Mario, was wonderful. He is passionate about his job and his explanations were always very interesting. We are French and our English is not perfect, but Mario always took the time to check that we had understood well. When a word escaped us, he did not hesitate to show it to us on his phone or to rephrase. We really felt included throughout the visit. The hike on Mount Etna was magnificent. We discovered the impressive volcanic landscapes and ancient lava flows, a truly unique setting. Then, we took a break at a restaurant where we had our breakfast (at our own expense), then we returned there for the lunch included in the excursion. We tasted pasta with ragu as well as a local pasta specialty. The Alcantara Gorges were also a real favorite. The landscape is superb! The water is very cold, but that is part of the experience and it is really worth the detour. The day went by at an incredible speed because we enjoyed every moment so much. We recommend this excursion 100%, and especially with Mario as a guide! Signed: Mathilde & Mathieu
Great experience with so much to see. Amazing day with a great guide. Brought our toddler with us and she had a good time. Clean van.
Was a wonderful experience, being inside one the lava tube was the best part. The gorges is definitely worthy, and it works so well after a very hot hiking!! Very refreshing! Mario, was an excellent guide, he took us through the volcano explaining every detail from the pick up point, very knowledgeable, friendly and approachable. Would highly recommend.
It was a very beautiful experience and our guide Vicenzo was top-notch! Beautiful day, we recommend it
