Climb up the tallest volcano in Europe with this hiking route of Mount Etna. We'll hop onto the cable car and walk through landscapes filled with craters and lava. It'll be an unforgettable experience!
Hike Details
At the designated time, we'll meet at Monte Gebel, next to the Sapienza refuge. From here, we'll take a cable car that, in 15 minutes, will bring us to an altitude of approximately 2500 metres (8202 feet). Once we're at the top, we'll begin our hike across the slopes of Mount Etna. Ready for an adventure?
We'll start by exploring the lava flow from the great 2002 eruption. After hiking for around 40 minutes, we'll venture into an impressive canyon shaped by lava until we reach an altitude of 2750 metres (9022 feet). After a brief pause, we'll continue our ascent to the western base of the Barbagallo Craters, formed during the historic 2002 eruption.
As we continue climbing up, the landscape will become more and more breathtaking. At the highest point allowed by volcanic monitoring, we'll have a 30-minute stop for you to re-energise. Don't forget to bring something to eat!
Having eaten and rested, we'll admire Etna's active craters and its vapour and gas fumaroles. Afterwards, we'll circle the Barbagallo craters before initiating an exciting descent down a sandy slope in the direction of Bove Valley, an ancient volcanic caldera of impressive dimensions.
Lastly, we'll head down to the cable car station, which will take us back to the Sapienza refuge, where this 5-hour activity will come to an end. What an otherworldly experience!
Itinerary Adjustments
Please note that, for security reasons, the itinerary may be modified depending on volcanic activity and weather conditions.