Etna excursion 3000 meters with 4x4 cable car and Trekking
Description
NO.B. THE CABLE CAR AND 4X4 TICKET MUST BE PAID AT THE MEETING POINT, 45 € PER PERSON IN CASH TO EXPEDITE CHECK-IN. (Due to maintenance work from 5 to 20 May the Cable Car will be closed; alternatively a 4x4 vehicle will be used) An unforgettable hike: ascent by cable car and 4x4 bus up to 2850m. From here the route begins on foot, a fascinating stage will be that on some extinct craters, eruptive vents and lava fractures. It will continue to Barbagallo craters at 3000 meters. From here you can observe the majestic Summit Craters You will visit the effusive mouth of the 2002 eruption and from here you will descend along the sands to Montagnola from where you will observe the Valle del Bove, a great volcano-tectonic depression. Breathtaking views that few other places in the world can convey. The return walk by cable car allows you to take a last look at this enchanting lunar landscape, for about 4 hours of total walking
Tour Options
Itinerary
We start from the hut of the Etna Sud Alpine Guides, continue by cable car up to 2500 meters and then with an off-road vehicle we reach 2850 metres.
The first stop will be the viewpoint of the Valle del Bove, a large horseshoe-shaped volcano-tectonic depression located in the eastern sector of Etna, it is very important from a volcanological point of view as several outcrop along the walls. On fine days the view is breathtaking.
A very important stop is the Barbagallo crater at an altitude of about 3000 meters. Going up along the sandbanks, you will reach a lava flow channel dating back to the 2002 eruption. Going up the channel, you will arrive at the effusive mouth of the same eruption. we will continue towards Torre del Filosofo (2920 meters) along the recent still hot lava flows (21-05-2023). After the lunch break we will walk along the edge of the Barbagallo crater admiring the summit craters and the entire eastern coast of Sicily, from Taormina to Syracuse.
After the walk on the edge of the Barbagallo crater, before starting the descent, we would have the opportunity once again to admire the summit craters of Etna, Central Crater and South-East Crater, with their inevitable plume of gas.
The return by cable car will take place along channels of volcanic sand, admiring, on fine days, a breathtaking view, which ranges from the Ionian coast to the interior of Sicily.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- except for children under 6 years old
- Not recommended for travelers with respiratory problems
Reviews(600)
It should be noted that even though the elevation gain is only 150 m, we tackle a fairly steep slope right from the start. If the group consists of "young people," the "older ones" have more difficulty, and the stops should be more frequent.
A real experience! From the heat at the coast to the fresh air on the mountain, and then great views of Mount Etna, what more could one want…
If you love the mountains and hiking, you cannot miss it! We booked the summit craters tour (€130) departing at 9:30 to fully enjoy the day; the weather was favorable, allowing us to enjoy a wonderful view of both the top of the volcano and the coast and the sea all the way to Syracuse. The guides' website provides all the necessary information that must be followed carefully since the environment you find yourself in is the harsh one of high mountains. If I must find an aspect that could be improved, it is the creation of groups. The difference in physical fitness requires the guides, rightly, to adjust the pace to that of the less trained group members. This can lead to a slow pace with many stops, which, for experienced hikers, can be a bit frustrating. One solution, although perhaps a bit complicated to implement, could be to create groups of hikers with a more similar level of physical preparation. While another more feasible option is to more clearly indicate on the website the difficulty related to the physical effort that this excursion requires.
Ci dispiace per l’inconveniente, ma purtroppo può capitare avere in gruppo escursionisti più lenti ed è giusto adattare l’andamento del tour. Speriamo di rivederci presto e grazie per averci scelto.
A beautiful tour of mount Etna, however, the description is vague and misleading, and we didn’t realize that we would be hiking down from the peak of 3000m down back to the cable car at 2500m. Normally not a problem, except for the fact that you are hiking down some very steep parts of the crater… this is not an average tour, and while they provide equipment, it would’ve been nice to know in advance that this is for medium to advanced hikers and that there is easily potential for falling, which happened to both my partner and I, and I got cuts on my hands and had some shards from the volcanic material get stuck in my hand… so for that, I can’t recommend this specific tour operator, the only reason this gets a 2 out 5 is simply because of the nature of going up mount Etna to 3000m was absolutely beautiful, so just go find a different operator if you’re not up for a steep hike down the volcano for 500 meters
Good morning, the tour is very well described. The 4x4 is only up and it is indicated that you walk down, infact everyone else every day know. So it's not fair to leave such a bad review because you didn't read well through the description, we will ask to get it removed.
Unclear price. It mentions "starting from 55 euros" but an additional 45 euros must be paid on-site in cash, so the total cost of the excursion is 100 euros.
Quando acquista il biglietto è ben specificato che il il trasporto non è incluso, e si paga la mattina stessa dell’escursione al punto di incontro. Ci dispiace che recensite negativamente un nostro servizio per una vostra negligenza. Vi preghiamo di andare a rileggere quello che c’è scritto sulla nostra pagina e poi di togliere questa recensione.
It has been an incredible experience; our guide Andrea has been fantastic, explaining a lot about the rock formations, and the route was quite extensive given the weather conditions. 100% recommendable
Grazie per averci scelto, speriamo di rivederci presto. Gruppo Guide Alpine Etna Sud.
The Etna 3000-meter tour was a fantastic experience and a true adventure! There was a great atmosphere among the group the whole time, and we learned a lot of fascinating information about the volcano. We are especially grateful to our tour guide, Clara, who was incredibly kind, attentive, and professional. She took great care of everyone’s safety during the trekking. On top of that, she took amazing photos of us throughout the tour and shared them with us afterward, making this day an unforgettable memory. We highly recommend it!
Thank you so much, we hope to see you soon again. Gruppo Guide Alpine Etna Sud.
Great moment with a guide who is attentive and pedagogical in an unforgettable environment
Merci beaucoup. Gruppo Guide Alpine Etna Sud.
On the day 6/18/26, we had a great experience. The guide is very experienced; he followed us and helped us during a few small moments of difficulty. He told us many things about Etna and showed us breathtaking views. I recommend him.
Grazie a voi per averci scelto. A presto.
Day trip with the family, it was very interesting! Salvo, the guide, was friendly and knowledgeable, managing to engage both adults and children! He shared many interesting things about Mount Etna. Very professional 🔝. Great experience. The price of the cable car ticket is a bit expensive compared to the age of the facility with other facilities in the Dolomites, (54€, a similar amount gets you to Marmolada with 3 much more modern cable cars) Anyway, the whole package is well organized. Recommended.
Grazie a voi per averci scelto, alla prossima.
