A complete excursion for nature lovers. We will visit one of the most interesting areas of Etna, with lava flow caves, side craters, lava flows and, in the afternoon, the gorges of the Alcantara river will amaze us with columnar basalts and freezing waters.
Tour Options
Etna & Alcantara
Pickup included
Itinerary
Mount Etna
300 min
Once on-board of our 4×4 jeeps, we will make our way towards Etna’s hill. We will leave the wonderful “Riviera dei limoni” (Lemons’ coast), to approach Etna’s villages. We will then get on the road that leads through the volcano’s slopes, crossing old mulattiere (ancient mule drivers’ roads) and coalmen paths, we are soon at about 1000 mt altitude where a protected area of 720km² begins. We also come across cold and dried lava flows that, like black highways, tear the mountainside.
Surrounded by uncontaminated greenery¹, we can enjoy the view of chestnut trees, pines, oaks, beeches as well as endemic plants like Etna’s birch and Etna’s brooms2. Eruptive cones, lava flows, lava valley stand out in front of our eyes, testifying the volcano’s incessant eruption activity that carves out its own shape since more than 500.000 years.
We will get into a fantastic Nature trail, inside the Etna Park, heading towards the craters. We will arrive on the top of a lateral crater, created by an eruption with the typical buttons’ line progress, called “bottoniera”. What is a crater? It is a pyroclastic slagheap that has been thrown out from the volcanic shaft and, once placed around the eruptive vent, creates a cone. Once we get to the edge of the lateral crater, in the exact point where incandescent lava used to come out from volcano slope, we will explain to you the features of Etna’s eruptions. You will have the opportunity to admire all of the different colours that lava turns into, as a beautiful reflection of a rainbow, and experience first hand all of the different kinds of consistency of pyroclastic rocks.
We will be able to see very few plant species that manage to survive in very extreme conditions both in winter and summer.
Let’s deeply penetrate in the heart of the wood to discover what’s hiding below the volcanic hard surface. Suddenly a crevice in the ground appears by our eyes: one of the about 190 Etna lava flow caves. We start our underground adventure: leaving the surface, we enter into the mountain deepness to discover its most hidden secrets, visiting a lava flow cave.
After having explored the most interesting Etna area, we take a break enjoying a nice lunchtime in a typical mountain hut/chalet that seems to have landed here in Sicily directly from Alps. We can try traditional dishes of our Sicilian kitchen, delicious mountain specialities, since in Sicily we are lucky to have both exquisite seafood and delicious mountain food, typical from the inland areas.
Piano Provenzana
30 min
Eruption of 2002,
Honey tasting, typical products, liqueurs and "Fuoco dell'Etna" (liquor)
Gola Dell'Alcantara
Admission included50 min
Coming down we come out from the protect area of the Etna Park and we go towards the Alcantara Valley. We meet the river for the first time near the Castiglione di Sicilia’s bridge and, from this moment, our path is intertwined with it until we reach the gorges.
We leave the jeep and go down walking until we get the riverbed: we are now in the deepest point of Alcantara gorges, facing 25 meters tall basalt cliffs that proudly stand all around us. Here we can touch the icy water of Alcantara river and the bravest of us can even plunge in the water and venture for a few dozen meters inside the gorges.
What's included
Included
GST (Goods and Services Tax)
Authorised tour guide
Typical products tasting, such as honey, liquors, creams.
Helmet
Air-conditioned vehicle
trekking sticks
Torches
Insurance
Not included
Lunch
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick up at your hotel or agreed place (Catania, Nicolosi, Acireale, Giarre, Zafferana, Linguaglossa, Giardini Naxos, Taormina, Letojanni or close areas) with extra price
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
5.0
34 reviews
5
33
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
Important Information
Service animals allowed
Specialized infant seats are available
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tell us in advance about any special needs or health issues, such as allergies, heart disease, pressure problems, walking difficulties, handicaps. We will do our best to let you enjoy the tour to its full extent. Thank you!
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Etna & Alcantara take?
Etna & Alcantara lasts about 8–9 hours. The itinerary has 3 stops.
How much does Etna & Alcantara cost?
Prices start at $148 per person for this Sicily experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel Etna & Alcantara for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. Pick up at your hotel or agreed place (Catania, Nicolosi, Acireale, Giarre, Zafferana, Linguaglossa, Giardini Naxos, Taormina, Letojanni or close areas) with extra price Pickup points include Hotel Eden Riviera.
What languages is Etna & Alcantara offered in?
The experience is available in DE, EN, IT, FR.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 15 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Specialized infant seats are available
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Confirmation is sent by the operator within 24 hours of booking.
Is Etna & Alcantara worth it?
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 34 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by EtnaWay.
Reviews(34)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
2
230katrinl
August 6, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Great Etna and Alcantara Gorge experience
Our excursion to Mount Etna and the Alcantara Gorge was a great, fun, and unforgettable experience. Our guide Christian provided us with a lot of interesting information about the volcano as well as the country and its people. In the gorge, the teenagers really got their money's worth. Everything was well organized. As cruise passengers, we were picked up from the port and also dropped off again on time. A highly recommended trip with well-deserved 5 stars. Thank you!
Operator response
Thank you so much for your wonderful review and the 5 stars!
We are thrilled to hear that you, especially the teenagers, had such a fun and unforgettable experience exploring Mount Etna and the Alcantara Gorge. Cristian will be delighted to know that his stories and insights about the volcano, local culture, and people made your trip so special.
We are also glad to hear everything ran smoothly from pick-up to drop-off.
Thank you once again for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back to Sicily in the future!
Best regards,
EtnaWay Team
V
V8576MMevel
July 18, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Amazing-Expert Guide and Incredible Sights!
We had an incredible time on this tour! Our guide Cristian was fantastic; we asked him every question under the sun about volcanos and he knew the answer to everything. Big tip for the river: make sure to bring shoes for the water! The rocks are not fun to walk on barefoot! We had a great day. Etna was stunning and we were in good hands with our guide. Highly recommend this to anyone!
K
kerstinsE8914JQ
June 28, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Unforgettably good
Our trip was absolutely wonderful and expertly led by our guide, Claudio! He possesses such extensive knowledge and guided us superbly and safely around Mount Etna—even in German, which was a huge plus for us.
Many thanks for a beautiful and unforgettable day!
P.S. The team handling the bookings is also incredibly friendly and attentive!
Operator response
Dear Ms Kerstin,
Thank you so much for this beautiful feedback!
We are absolutely delighted that Claudio made your day around Mount Etna so safe and unforgettable, and that his German insights added a special touch to your experience.
A huge thank you from our booking team as well! We look forward to welcoming you back for another wonderful adventure.
Warm regards,
The EtnaWay Team
K
kerstinhQ4461HU
May 31, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
A great trip with Cristian
We took a private tour with Cristian on our cruise. 2 sisters with 4 kids between 11 and 20 years old. Due to the time pressure of the docking time because we wanted to see Etna and Alcantara with pickup at the ship. It was the best decision. First a hike on Etna to the craters, lunch, and cave exploration, and then on to the Alcantara Gorge. We saw and learned a lot on the way.
We had a great day and had a lot of fun. Cristian speaks perfect German, and you can ask him anything and get an answer 😊 it was never boring. Really highly recommended.
Operator response
Vielen Dank für diese tolle und ausführliche Bewertung! Es freut uns sehr, dass wir euren Familienausflug während des Kreuzfahrtstopps so perfekt organisieren konnten. Schön, dass euch die Kombination aus Ätna und Alcantara-Schlucht so gut gefallen hat und ihr viel Spaß mit Cristian hattet.
Herzliche Grüße,
Das EtnaWay Team
6
655paulah
May 19, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
An absolutely magical tour of Etna
We had a magic day with Virginia on a small group tour that ended up being just the two of us. The tour was super professional and our guide was a real expert - also super friendly.
The trick around the craters was amazing and swing the Skicenter that was hit by lava in 2002 was truly special - with a visit to a guy that takes foots of the eruptions
Lunch was beautiful at a small refugio
Operator response
Thank you so much for this beautiful review! We are delighted that you had such a magical experience on Mount Etna with Virginia. It sounds like you truly enjoyed the trek, the history of the 2002 eruption, and that special local touch with the eruption photography.
Best regards,
The EtnaWay Team
J
Jessica_G
October 6, 2025 · via Viator
Mt. Etna
It was an amazing day of visiting Mt. Etna but so much more!!!! Culture and food and history. We loved every minute. Lunch was AMAZING. Our tour guide was phenomenal.
S
Sabine T
September 20, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Etna and its history
We had a fantastic day with our guide Eddy who introduced us to Etna and its long history since the dawn of time and also the history of Sicily thanks to its great cultural knowledge. An unforgettable day. Thank you again. Sabine
Operator response
Merci beaucoup pour votre avis, nous sommes heureux que vous soyez satisfait à 100% de notre service et de votre visite de l’Etna et que vous ayez apprécié une expérience formidable dont vous vous souviendrez certainement pendant longtemps.
Nous espérons vous accueillir à nouveau lors de vos prochaines vacances en Sicile et vous souhaitons tout le meilleur d’ici là !
Meilleurs vœux de toute l’équipe d’EtnaWay et à bientôt pour votre prochaine aventure !
S
Sabine_T
September 19, 2025 · via Viator
The discovery of Mount Etna and its long history
An extremely rewarding experience thanks to the quality of our guide (Eddy) who, through his historical culture and vulcanological knowledge, made this day exciting. We recommend it to anyone who would like to discover Etna and its environment and spend as beautiful a day as we do.
R
rogerswindale
June 23, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Etna & Alcantara
Our guide was so good! He knew everything and anything about Etna and the local area. And he spoke to us in English and Italian (we’re both trying to learn the language). The walk around craters and the other stop-offs were absolutely stunning. There were only five of us in the group so it didn’t feel too crowded
Operator response
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the tour in such an intimate group and that our guide could help you practice your Italian while sharing his passion for Etna! It’s fantastic that the crater walk and the landscapes left such a great impression. We always try to keep our groups small to guarantee exactly this kind of authentic and relaxing experience.
Best regards,
Your EtnaWay Team
R
R2326EBmauriziol
October 7, 2024 · via Tripadvisor
Fantastic tour on Etna and Alcantara Gorge
The tour on Etna and the Alcantara Gorge were impressive. Our guide Sebastiano has always answered all questions and was a really very likeable person. We can really only recommend this trip with EtnaWay.
Operator response
Hallo und vielen Dank für Ihre Bewertung. Es freut uns sehr, dass Sie ein wundervolles Erlebnis auf dem Ätna hatten und von Anfang bis Ende mit unserem Service zufrieden waren. Das Lob geben wir natürlich gerne an den Rest des Teams weiter. Wir wünschen Ihnen für die Zukunft alles Gute und hoffen, Sie beim nächsten mal wieder bei uns begrüßen zu dürfen.
Viele Grüße vom gesamten EtnaWay Team.
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