Excursion to the craters of Etna
Finding information on the internet has become really complicated due to the numerous offers.
What we recommend is to ask for information from those who experience the volcano every day, without relying on associations or categories totally distant from this environment. Given the variability of recent volcanic activity, the routes to the top have changed almost every year. We as volcanological guides are always busy working in the highest part of the volcano.
Having said that, be wary of offers that guarantee you the ascent to the craters and then take you to the lowest altitudes without your realizing it.
Always ask whoever offers you the product if it matches the offer proposed to you, in order to understand if they intend to perform a service honestly or not. All this to allow you to rely on real professionals authorized and authorized by law to climb to the top of the Etna volcano.
The work of the Volcanological Guides takes place above all above 2000 meters of altitude up to the summit of the volcano at an altitude of 3300 meters. As a category of professionals we take care of leading tourists in active volcanic areas and in the highest altitudes of the Etna volcano in this case, both on foot and with the help of means of transport, regularly authorized by the Etna Park.
Therefore, if you wish to reach the summit, you must contact our category of professionals, Mountain Guides or Volcanological Guides authorized by law.
Excursions above 3000 meters of altitude up to an altitude of 3300 meters
Please note: Having said that, since we work as professionals at the high altitudes of the volcano, excursions close to or above 3000 meters leave in the morning from 7:30 to 9:00 and are as follows:
- Excursion to the craters of Etna in case of high risk and craters at the top closed to the public
- Excursions to the top with ascent by off-road vehicle (one way) from an altitude of 1800 meters to an altitude of 2800 meters + ascent in trekking to the crater up to an altitude of 3300 meters and descent on foot to the starting point at an altitude of 2800 meters from the north
- Excursion to the summit by cable car (round trip) from an altitude of 1900 meters to an altitude of 2500 meters + off-road vehicle up to an altitude of 2750 meters + trekking on foot to the summit at an altitude of 3300 from the south
- Crossing of Etna from South to North or vice versa
These excursions have a very variable duration according to the excursionist’s needs, usually they last 5 hours or even 8 hours for the crossing of Etna from South to North and are clearly suitable for those who are used to going mountains and who regularly perform physical activity.
Excursions up to an altitude of 3000 meters
Excursions up to a maximum altitude of 3000 meters have scheduled departures at 10:30 and 13:30. These have a maximum duration of 2-3 hours, in this case they are more touristic trips where both the ascent and the descent by motor vehicles are foreseen with short but interesting trekkings, here is the link with the details:
- Excursion at an altitude of 3000 meters on the northern slope
- Sunset excursion at an altitude of 3000 meters on the north side
Attention all excursions are carried out in compliance with the ordinances in force and the levels of volcanic risk at the time of the execution of the requested excursions.
Escursione a piedi (andata e ritorno) al di sotto di quota 2200 metri : Excursion on foot (round trip) below an altitude of 2200 meters
PLEASE NOTE: THE MOTOR TRANSPORT MEANS to which we refer are special means officially authorized by the Etna Park and by the Etna Municipalities which allow access above an altitude of 2000 meters and do not work below this altitude!.
Compliance with regulations
All the routes develop in compliance with the ordinances in force, which are published by the various Municipalities based on the levels of volcanic risk (for more details open this page) communicated by the Civil Protection and the Institute of Volcanology. The activity of the volcano in fact changes daily and the risk of eruptions can undergo variations at any time, if this risk increases then the mayors of the municipalities concerned limit access to certain areas by setting altitude limits. The guides know these areas and avoid them or modify the itinerary of the trip based on their experience and on the communications of the researchers in the event of transiting through prohibited areas.
How to book?
To book, you can reply by email to: info.guidevulcanologicheetna@gmail.com, providing your data (name, surname, actual date of the excursion, number of participants and mobile phone number), by sending a message to our number on whatsapp: +39 345 5741330 active every day from 9:30AM to 19:00PM.
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Email: info.guidevulcanologicheetna@gmail.com
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© Volcanological Guides Etna Nord – Law 22 April 1941, n. 633
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Our group is made up of Guides belonging to the Regional College of Alpine and Volcanological Guides of Sicily, the Italian legislation provides that these professionals are the only ones authorized to lead groups in active volcanoes and throughout the island (Framework Law of 2 January 1989 No. 6 and Regional Law of April 6, 1996).