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Etna Summit Craters | Expert Hikers | Walk Down (Guide Only)

140 Reviews 4.84 out of 5 stars Based on 140 reviews collected by City Sky Diving and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 96% of reviewers | Sicily, Italy
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 14 (0) days in advance.

5 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
and 2 more
French, Italian
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Overview

Trekking in small groups

Ascent by off-road vehicles along the panoramic northern slope up to 2,825 meters. From there, the hike continues on foot through volcanic scoria and lava bombs, with a 500-meter elevation gain, reaching the rim of the Central Crater at 3,380 meters.
After a stop at the summit to observe the volcanic landscape, the descent is on foot down to 1,800 meters (approx. 7 km), crossing large gullies filled with soft volcanic sand.

Main data:
• Total distance (round trip): 12 km
• Maximum altitude: 3,380 m
• Minimum altitude: 1,800 m
• Ascent: +500 m
• Descent: -1,580 m (the long downhill section may be more demanding than the climb)
• Difficulty: Suitable only for experienced hikers

Note:
Participants who decide during the excursion to return by bus from 2,850 m to 1,800 m must pay €70 instead of €50.

What's Included

  • Entry/Admission to Mount Etna
  • Trekking poles, trekking shoes, helmets, warm jacket, extra socks, extra backpack
  • Insurance in case of accidents
  • Transport service from your accommodation
  • Hat and gloves (during autumn, winter and spring)
  • Parking ticket (€5 for the entire day on weekdays and €8 on Sundays and public holidays.)
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Meeting Location

Meeting point

Etna nord-Piano Provenzana
Via Provenzana, 95015 Linguaglossa CT, Italy

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

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Piano Provenzana

Piano Provenzana is the tourist area on Etna’s northern slope, quieter and less crowded than the south, with an authentic atmosphere surrounded by volcanic landscapes.Here you meet your volcanological guides. Before departure, you can use the restrooms or stop at the café for breakfast, coffee, tea or a pastry.Your guides will then explain the itinerary, give a safety briefing and provide the equipment needed for the hike.Piano Provenzana stands amid the lava fields of the 2002 eruption, which destroyed the tourist area on October 27, 2002. You can reach the meeting point by car along a paved road. In winter, snow chains or winter tires may be necessary.You will then board authorized 4×4 vehicles with your guides for a panoramic ascent along Etna’s northern flank. Crossing lava fields and passing lateral craters, you climb to approximately 2,960 m, where the guided trek towards the summit craters begins.
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30 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Itinerario Crateri Sommitali

Meet your guides at Piano Provenzana at 7:45 a.m., departing between 8:00 and 8:15 a.m. Afternoon departures at 1:00 p.m. run from May to October.Board authorized 4×4 vehicles for a scenic 9.5 km drive up Etna’s wild, less crowded northern slope, with smaller groups for a personal experience. Climbing from 1,800 m to 2,960 m, the route passes forests, recent lava flows, lava channels, eruptive fractures and lateral craters over 40 m deep. Your guides accompany you throughout the drive and hike.The unpaved track offers views of northern Sicily, the Aeolian Islands, Strait of Messina, Calabria, and the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas. On clear days, you may also see the Madonie Mountains, Gulf of Catania, Syracuse, Augusta and the vast Valle del Bove.Discover Etna’s changing scenery, from green woodlands and dramatic craters to a high-altitude volcanic desert. The drive ends near 3,000 m, where your summit trek begins.
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30 minutes Admission Ticket Included

Mount Etna

From 2,960 m, reached by authorized 4×4 vehicles, the guided trek leads towards Mount Etna’s summit craters: North-East, Voragine and Bocca Nuova. The ascent covers about 5 km, with 550 m of cumulative elevation gain.As volcanic activity changes, guides select the safest permitted route, adapting it to gas emissions, heat, fractures and weather conditions.At altitudes of 2,960–3,323 m, good fitness and hiking experience are essential; mild altitude effects are possible.The return is entirely on foot, descending from around 3,300 m to Piano Provenzana at 1,800 m: approximately 7 km with 1,500 m of elevation loss. This descent requires strong knees and may feel harder than the climb.The route crosses soft volcanic scoria, sandy gullies, recent lava fields and Piano delle Concazze, before following 2.5 km of rocky ski slopes.Total hiking distance: about 12 km. Duration: approximately 6 hours. The itinerary may change for safety reasons.
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4 hours Admission Ticket Included

Piano Provenzana

Piano Provenzana, on Mount Etna’s northern slope, is easily accessible by private or rental car via fully paved public roads.Surrounded by pine forests and spectacular lava fields, this tourist area was transformed by the October 2002 eruption, which destroyed its original facilities and created a fascinating volcanic landscape rich in geological history.Visitors will find souvenir shops, cafés, restaurants and bars for breakfast, lunch or a coffee, as well as places to refill water bottles. In winter, Piano Provenzana becomes a ski resort, while in summer it serves as a starting point for guided hikes and volcanic excursions.Designated blue-lined parking areas are available for cars and camper vans. If you have booked an excursion, you will meet your volcanological guide directly at the designated meeting point.Quieter and less crowded than Etna’s southern tourist areas, Piano Provenzana offers an authentic experience on Europe’s highest active volcano.
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30 minutes Admission Ticket Included

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Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • We recommend not to use contact lens, because of the exhaled volcanic gases and of ash. This last one could easily cause problems, if pushed.
  • The trekking requires a discrete preparation on a physical level. Being a path that develops at high altitude, it will be easy to accuse symptoms of fatigue. It is required attention, since it is a volcanic active area, subjected to constant gaseous exhalations and composed by a soil constituted by inconsistent and unstable rocks.
  • Without adequate shoes you are not covered by insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions (8)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Etna Summit Craters | Expert Hikers | Walk Down (Guide Only)?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (CET).This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund. Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

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Activity code: C-167552P3

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.84
140 reviews

Average 4.84 out of 5 stars based on 140 traveler reviews collected by City Sky Diving and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
128
4 stars
7
3 stars
2
2 stars
1
1 star
2
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 14 (0) days in advance.

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What's Included

Activity name

  • Entry/Admission to Mount Etna
  • Trekking poles, trekking shoes, helmets, warm jacket, extra socks, extra backpack
  • Insurance in case of accidents
  • Licensed Volcano Guide
  • Transport service from your accommodation
  • Hat and gloves (during autumn, winter and spring)
  • Parking ticket (€5 for the entire day on weekdays and €8 on Sundays and public holidays.)
  • 4x4 Off-Road Transfer (One Way Only) from 1,800 m to 2,825 m (€50 per Person, Payable on Site)
  • Those who choose to return by bus from 2,850 m to 1,800 m must pay €70 instead of €50

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • This type of itinerary, in relation to the type, is suited to people in good physical health, not suffering from particular diseases (breathing ones, or hypertension).
  • The excursion could be subjected to variations at the discretion of the Guides, or it could be interrupted in case of changes of the environmental, climatic or volcanic conditions, so as to undermine the safety of the entire group.
  • For the success of the excursion and for its correct carrying out, it’s good to know perfectly your health conditions and, if necessary, let the Guide know about them, in order to reduce the occurrence of any problems and to avoid any risks.
  • The excursion will be carried out according to the limits established by the ordinance in force published by the competent authorities in case of volcanic explosions, the volcano guides must respect it. In this case the guides must stop where it is still safe to arrive for the safety of the entire group.
  • The route consists of the ascent and the walking along the crater edges, this may cause dizziness to susceptible individuals.
  • We recommend not to use contact lens, because of the exhaled volcanic gases and of ash. This last one could easily cause problems, if pushed.
  • The trekking requires a discrete preparation on a physical level. Being a path that develops at high altitude, it will be easy to accuse symptoms of fatigue. It is required attention, since it is a volcanic active area, subjected to constant gaseous exhalations and composed by a soil constituted by inconsistent and unstable rocks.
  • Without adequate shoes you are not covered by insurance.
  • Pregnant women who have passed the third month of pregnancy are not allowed to take part to any excursion activity.
  • Because of the continuous and unpredictable evolution of the volcanic activity, the excursions could undergo variations, or, in extreme cases, be cancelled, at the discretion of the guide for safety reasons.
  • The excursion is not suitable for children under 12 years old
  • Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

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