NO.B. THE CABLE CAR AND 4X4 TICKET MUST BE PAID AT THE MEETING POINT, 45 € PER PERSON IN CASH TO EXPEDITE CHECK-IN, THANK YOU. 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. The return will be on foot to the Cable Car for about 3 hours of total walking. The Guide, having evaluated the weather and volcanic conditions at the time of the excursion, may at his sole discretion interrupt the stay in the area and decide to return the group to the starting point.
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.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Etna excursion 3000 meters with 4x4 cable car and Trekking lasts about 4–5 hours. The itinerary has 5 stops.
Prices start at $63 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.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is The meeting point is at our Baita, next to Rifugio Sapienza, 30 minutes before the start of the tour. To be paid locally 45 € per person in cash for the round-trip Cable Car and the one-way Jeep. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN, IT, FR.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 25 participants.
except for children under 6 years old
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 4.7 out of 5 across 714 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Gruppo Guide Alpine Etna Sud.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
The trek was amazing. Giovanni, our guide, was friendly, cheery, knowledgeable and happy to explain as we progressed. Whilst some parts were quite difficult we were not rushed and all members of our party were able to progress at a good progress. Giovanni gave plenty of of breaks during which he was able to share his knowledge.
Highly recommend this experience, you get a cable car & a bus up and then hike to approx 3000m. Our guide was excellent and very informative
We had a wonderful experience with Grupo Guide Alpine Etna! Everything was super well organized. The provided equipment (boots, coat and socks) is definitely a big advantage for people like us who didn't come prepared for the cold! The landscape is absolutely breathtaking and Clara's wonderful guidance made everything better. 10/10 experience, would 100% recommend!
Absolutely recommended! Going to Sicily and not visiting Etna would really be missing out. It was my first time on such a high volcanic mountain, and it was a very unique experience. The landscape and microclimate are completely different from anything I had seen before. Our guide, Antonio, was very enthusiastic and clearly passionate about Etna and volcanoes in general. He explained everything in an interesting and easy-going way, which made the whole trip even better. You need a reasonable level of fitness for the hike, but it is definitely not exhausting. We had plenty of time to stop, rest, and enjoy the views. It was not crowded. Definitely worth every penny!
Thank you so much. Gruppo Guide Alpine Etna Sud.
We participated in the 11 o'clock excursion with Clara as our guide. The experience was really positive, the landscape of Mount Etna is truly breathtaking and the guide manages to convey her enthusiasm for the place to you, answering every question and curiosity one might have. Highly recommended
Grazie per averci scelto, alla prossima. Gruppo Guide Alpine Etna Sud.
It was a unique experience, to be repeated. The guide Clara was wonderful and super competent. Highly recommended
Grazie a voi alla prossima. Gruppo Guide Alpine Etna Sud.
We had actually booked the crater tour, but due to the weather these were closed and we were offered this tour instead. Above all, our mountain guide Clara was super and also managed the weather conditions great for our group. In some parts, visibility was not even 50m. However, the atmosphere was still great.
Vielen Dank. Gruppo Guide Alpine Etna Sud.
We had the tour with Clara, super nice and helpful. At the beginning we had concerns because of the thin air up there and whether we would manage it with a normal/average fitness level, but enough breaks were taken to catch our breath, take pictures, and enjoy the view. Besides, Clara always explained something interesting to us. We would definitely recommend it!
Thank you so much. Gruppo Guide Alpine Etna Sud.
Great experience, thank you to Antonio for the passion he shared for Mount Etna. Wonderful memories, grazie mille!!
Merci beaucoup a vous. Gruppo Guide Alpine Etna Sud
This experience was great. It was definitely more physical than I expected but not difficult. Walking could be tricky with parts very slick and some with deep ash. Guide was awesome at explaining everything and monitoring people’s health for altitude sickness. He was very knowledgeable and had a love of Etna while explaining all the things he taught us. Views were compromised due to fog and showers but was still worth the effort.
Thank you so much. Gruppo Guide Alpine Etna Sud.
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Etna excursion 3000 meters with 4x4 cable car and Trekking | 4–5 hours | 4.7 (714) | $63 | |
 Etna Morning Trip | 6 hours | 4.7 (1,394) | $68 | View |
 Mt. Etna and Taormina village full day tour from Catania | 9 hours | 4.8 (1,317) | $112 | View |
 Mount Etna Half-Day Small Group Tour from Taormina | 6 hours | 4.9 (698) | $100 | View |
 Etna Tour in 4x4 or MiniVan | 5 hours | 4.8 (623) | $74 | View |
 Mt. Etna Sunset Experience - Breathtaking Adventure from Catania | 5 hours | 4.8 (564) | $69 | View |
 Tour Etna and Wine Tasting | 8 hours | 4.9 (426) | $166 | View |