Etna – Useful Information on Excursions: Crossing and Summit Craters

Etna – Useful Information on Excursions:
Crossing and Summit Craters

Useful tips and information about the Etna Crossing, What to do on Etna and which excursions to choose

Seasonal Excursions

Guide to Climbing the Summit Craters

Regarding the ascent to the summit craters of Etna, in the winter, spring, and autumn periods, everything depends on the snow/ice conditions.

Ascents in Winter

In winter, the summit craters can only be visited by booking a ski mountaineering / crampons tour with a private guide (this type of excursion is not a group excursion as it requires experience and above all training). The price for a private guide in this case depends on several factors, so it is advisable to contact us to have a clearer idea of possible costs.

From Spring onwards…

If by the end of April, the snow and ice have melted, we will organize the following excursion with ascent from 1800 to 2830 meters with 4×4 vehicles.

If you prefer, you can also not use the 4×4 transport and start the trekking ascent already from Piano Provenzana (1800 mt) to meet your guide near the Etna Observatory (at 2800 mt) – we will take care of sending you the GPS location of the meeting via Google maps link on your mobile phone – and then join the group for the final ascent up to 3300 mt, where a guide is mandatory. In this case, we recommend starting from Piano Provenzana by 5.30 / 6.00 AM.

Information about the Etna Crossing from the North

Regarding the crossing, it is an activity suitable for those used to doing sports and regular physical activity, given the length of the route of over 18 km and the hours spent walking at altitude up to 3300 meters for a total of about 8/9 hours, it is an activity for expert hikers.

Normally it is available upon reaching a minimum number of 6 participants, but given the difficulty of the trekking, it is a tour that is not booked very often.

Regarding costs, for the guide service only, taking into account the possible passage in prohibited areas (for which the guide must assume exclusive responsibility) due to recent volcano activities, it is to be agreed at the time of booking by calling our number: +39 3455741330.

Attention

PLEASE NOTE: if you are alone or a couple, you must pay the full amount for the exclusive private guide service for you; things change if you are a group, where the cost of the guide is diluted based on the number of participants.

Services and Exclusions

What is included and what is not in the guide service

Excluded from the guide cost:

4×4 transport ticket (only ) from 1800 to 2800 meters altitude – arrival altitude varies based on snow conditions) at the price of €52 per person
Transfer service -> for the return from the south (end point of the excursion) to the north side (starting point of the excursion) at a cost of €170 for the whole group (if formed), not per person.

Included and recommended:

It would be better to start from the north side, because the summit area is more accessible, and then perform the descent on the south side.

The sum provided for the guide also includes any equipment, such as: jackets, shoes, helmets, poles, and additional backpacks.

Booking Methods

If you wish to book the private guide service, we require an advance payment of 50% of the amount 1 week before the date of your excursion (our company policy), in order to guarantee the guide for the requested date and the visit is thus guaranteed 100%, obviously always taking into consideration the variables (volcanic and meteorological).

Once the advance payment is registered, it is non-refundable if the tour is canceled by you. If instead we need to cancel due to bad weather conditions or volcanic activity, the sum paid will be refunded 100%.

Compliance with regulations

As mentioned earlier, it is obvious that all routes must respect the ordinances currently in force, which are issued by the various Municipalities based on the volcanic risk levels communicated by the Civil Protection and the Institute of Volcanology.

The volcano's activity actually changes daily and the risk of eruptions can undergo variations at any time; if this risk increases then the mayors of the involved municipalities limit access to certain areas by setting altitude limits.

The guides know these zones and avoid them or modify the trip itinerary based on their experience and communications from researchers in case of transit in prohibited zones.

Ready for the adventure on Etna?

We always invite you to contact us a few days before the requested date, so we can provide greater certainty about which tours will be available.

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