Etna and Alcantara Gorges Tour – Trekking, Lava Cave and River
Description
This tour combines in a single day a guided trekking on Mount Etna up to about 2000 meters above sea level, a visit to a lava cave with helmet and torch provided, and access to the Alcantara Gorges. During the excursion on Mount Etna you will follow an easy/moderate path of about 3 km between side craters and recent lava flows. The Certified Environmental Guide provides explanations on the volcano's geology, flora and eruptive activity. At the Alcantara Gorges there is free time to walk inside the basalt canyon and along the river. Entrance ticket included. The tour is operated in small groups (max 8 people) with transport by air-conditioned minivan and equipment included.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Guided trek on the north side of Etna through unique volcanic landscapes, including ancient lava flows, side craters and birch woods. The Guide will explain the volcano’s eruptive history, its current activity and the geological features that make it the highest active volcano in Europe. The route is simple and suitable for everyone, with panoramic stops for photographs and naturalistic explanations. from the top of the Sartorius craters the view extends to the Mediterranean sea.
Guided tour of a lava cave formed during an eruption of Etna. Wearing a helmet and flashlight, travelers will enter a volcanic tunnel to discover how lava flows form and how underground cavities are formed. The Guide will illustrate the geological processes that shaped the cave and recount episodes related to the volcano’s historical eruptions, making the experience engaging and safe.
Visit to the Alcantara Gorges with access via municipal stairs. Once they reach the riverbank, guests can take off their shoes and enter the canyon to walk among the spectacular basalt walls shaped by water. The Guide will explain the volcanic origin of the gorges and the formation of the characteristic basalt columns, leaving time to explore, take photographs or cool off in the river waters.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Guests residing in Taormina will be picked up at specific meeting points in the city center. Guests staying in Giardini Naxos, Castelmola and Letojanni will be picked up directly from the property indicated at the time of Reservation.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Maximum 8 people per van
- We can take care of food intolerances
- A minimum level of moderate fitness is required
- A minimum level of moderate fitness is required
Reviews(52)
We spent a wonderful day on Mount Etna and everything went perfectly. The pick-up and drop-off service directly in the van was a unique convenience, allowing us to enjoy the experience without any worries. Special praise to our two guides, Vito and Giampiero/Gianpaolo: very good, prepared and able to transmit all their passion for the territory. The itinerary was very rich: we climbed up to 2,000 meters above sea level, we explored a fascinating lava flow cave and, to top it off, we visited the beautiful Alcantara Gorges. Highly recommended excursion to anyone who wants to experience the magic of Etna in total relaxation and safety!
Grazie mille per questa splendida recensione! Siamo felicissimi che la giornata sull'Etna sia stata così speciale, dal pick-up fino alle Gole dell'Alcantara. Passeremo il vostro plauso a Vito e Giampiero, che saranno felici di sapere di aver trasmesso tutta la loro passione. Vi aspettiamo di nuovo in Sicilia! 🌋
A fantastic trip with Vito to see the Alcantara Gorge followed by Mt Etna’s lava fields and cave. Vito was really friendly and very knowledgeable about the history and geology of the volcano. Pickup and drop off at the cruise port in Messina was very efficient
Hi, We are glad that Vito delivered such a fantastic day between Mount Etna and the Alcantara Gorges!
Today, we were taken along by Giampiero from Sicily Active. We received a fantastic explanation of the historical and geographical background of Mount Etna. Afterwards, we visited a lava cave and then thoroughly enjoyed a tasty lunch. We concluded the day with body rafting in the Alcantara Gorge. An amazing experience that we will never forget! Thank you very much, Giampiero from Sicily Active!!!
Thank you so much for these wonderful words! We're thrilled to hear you had such a memorable day with Giampiero — from the Etna history and geology, to the lava cave, lunch, and finishing with body rafting in the Alcantara Gorge. We'll be sure to pass your thanks on to him personally. Come back and see us again soon! 🌋
Wonderful experience on Mount Etna and at the Alcantara Gorges. Thanks to Vera for the impeccable and precise organization. Thanks to our guide Vito who, with attention, passion, and professionalism, told us about Mount Etna as a living and powerful place, guiding us to the discovery of a magnificent place and always in safety.
Grazie mille per queste bellissime parole! Siamo felicissimi che abbiate vissuto un'esperienza così speciale tra l'Etna e le Gole dell'Alcantara. Passeremo con piacere i vostri ringraziamenti a Vera, per l'organizzazione, e a Vito, che mette sempre passione e professionalità nel raccontare l'Etna in sicurezza. Vi aspettiamo per la prossima avventura! 🌋
I did the half-day tour of Mount Etna. Our guide, Davide, was incredible. In addition to being particularly kind and professional, he gave us a lot of information, each piece more interesting than the last. A thousand thanks for this unforgettable experience!
Merci infiniment pour ce beau message ! Davide sera très touché de lire vos mots, il met toujours autant de cœur et de professionnalisme à partager sa passion pour l'Etna avec ses groupes. C'est exactement ce qu'on veut offrir : une expérience riche, humaine et inoubliable. Au plaisir de vous accueillir à nouveau en Sicile !
Hi! Thank you very much for the wonderful experience. We had a fantastic time and really enjoyed the excursion. Everything was very well organised from beginning to end. A special thank you to Vito, who was an excellent guide — very professional, knowledgeable, friendly and attentive throughout the tour. We’ll be very happy to leave a review and recommend Sicily Active to others. Thank you again for such a great experience!
Thank you so much for these kind words! We're thrilled you had such a fantastic time and that everything ran smoothly from start to finish. We'll be sure to pass your compliments on to Vito — he'll be delighted to hear this, and it's exactly the kind of professionalism and care we aim for on every tour. Thank you for choosing Sicily Active, and we truly appreciate you taking the time to leave a review and recommend us. We hope to welcome you back to Sicily soon!
We had an absolutely amazing experience on the Mount Etna and Alcantara Gorges tour with Sicily Active. Everything was perfectly organised from beginning to end. The booking process was very easy, and the team was always extremely helpful, replying quickly whenever we had a question. The tour itself was one of the highlights of our trip to Sicily. It was exciting, fun and very well planned, allowing us to enjoy both the incredible landscapes of Mount Etna and the beautiful Alcantara Gorges without having to worry about any of the logistics. A special thank you to our guide, Carmelo, who made the experience even better. He was friendly, enthusiastic and very knowledgeable, sharing plenty of useful and interesting information throughout the day in a way that was always engaging and never boring. He created a relaxed and fun atmosphere while also making sure that everyone felt comfortable and safe. For anyone looking for a genuinely enjoyable Mount Etna and Alcantara Gorges experience, where everything is taken care of for you, I highly recommend booking with Sicily Active. Excellent organisation, fantastic service and an unforgettable tour. Definitely 5 stars!
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We're absolutely delighted that the Mount Etna and Alcantara Gorges tour was a highlight of your trip to Sicily. It's great to hear the booking process and communication were smooth too — that's exactly what we aim for. We'll make sure to pass on your kind words to Carmelo — he'll be so happy to hear this! Creating that relaxed, fun and safe atmosphere while sharing his knowledge is what makes him such a great guide, and it really shows in your experience. Thank you for the fantastic 5-star recommendation and for choosing Sicily Active. We hope to welcome you back to Sicily for another adventure soon!
The trip was amazing, I and my girlfriend saw the hot lava and our dream came true. We definitely recomended. I must express a big gratitude to our guide Vito. He was absolutely perfect and professional, but in the most kind way. He was proactive, explained really interesting things and facts. Some tips: Take the your own snack (it is not provided by agency) and choose clothes you don't mind getting dirty.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review, and congratulations on making your lava dream come true! 🌋 We're thrilled you had such a great experience with Michael — he truly brings passion, professionalism and genuine care to every tour, and we're glad that came through for you. Thanks also for the great tips for future travelers — bringing your own snacks and wearing clothes you don't mind getting dirty are spot on! We really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and recommend us. Hope to welcome you and your girlfriend back to Sicily again soon!
We had a great experience on this excursion. Our guide, David, was excellent. His explanations were clear, concise, and very informative. He shared a lot of interesting information throughout the tour while keeping everything easy to follow. We really enjoyed the experience and would definitely recommend it.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear you had a great experience and that David's explanations made the tour so enjoyable. We'll be sure to pass along your feedback to him. Hope to see you again soon with Sicily Active! 🌋
We truly loved this tour ! Firstly, “Sicily Active” came up in my search on Mt. Etna tours among the world wide tour companies. Being local, I thought we would give them a try, and I’m sure glad we did. The price was reasonable for a full day tour. Our guide Carmello was a wonderful human being ; friendly, caring and very passionate about his job , and Sicily. Our tour included not only Mt. Etna, but the Alcantara gorge. It was a fantastic day ! Thank you “ Sicily Active” and especially, Carmello !
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We're so glad Sicily Active stood out in your search and that you gave us a try. It's great to hear Carmello made the day so special with his passion for both Etna and Sicily — we'll pass along your thanks to him. Thrilled you enjoyed the full day combining Etna and the Alcantara gorge. Hope to welcome you back soon! 🌋
