Etna: Trekking to the summit craters at 3,400 meters

Overview

This itinerary combines adventure, nature and geology in a unique experience on Europe's highest active volcano. The tour starts at Rifugio Sapienza (1,900 m) with a cable car ride to 2,500 m, followed by a 4x4 transfer to 2,850 m. From here, a 2-hour trek leads through recent lava flows and volcanic ash to the summit craters at 3,340 m. You'll walk along the crater rim to see "La Voragine" and "Bocca Nuova," then continue to the Southeast Crater, the most active in recent decades. After enjoying the panoramic views, you'll descend sandy slopes to 3,000 m for a lunch break. The hike continues past the 2002/2003 Barbagallo Craters, into a lava flow canyon and to the panoramic viewpoint over the Valle del Bove an ancient caldera. After a final stretch past the 2001 lateral crater, you’ll return to the starting point by cable car. In the event that reaching higher altitudes is not possible due to weather conditions or volcanic activity, the tour will continue along an alternative route