Visit to the Etna top craters
There are several ways to visit the Mt. Etna top craters, both from the North and from the South side.
Starting point for the North side is Piano Provenzana and for the South side Rifugio Sapienza.
Northern tracks are more beautiful and allow to get up to the highest crates (3300 mt). These tracks are only open in the summer.
Southern tracks are more famous, more scenographic and comfortable.
Beeing an active volcano, it is important to verify the feasibility of a specific track or variant before booking. Thank you!
View here the different alternatives:
From North:
Starting point: Piano Provenzana (1800 a.s.l.)
Variant 1
Up to 2800 a.s.l. and back
- by off-road bus up to 2800 a.s.l.
- 20 min. walk with volcanological guide (languages spoken: Italian and English)
- return by off-road bus
Duration: 120’
Difficulty level: easy
Variant 2
Up to 2800 mt a.s.l. and trekking up to 3300 a.s.l. and back
- by off-road bus up to 2800 a.s.l.
- trekking up to 3300 a.s.l.
- descent by foot and by off-road bus
Duration: 180’
Difficulty: challenging
From South:
Starting point: Rifugio Sapienza (2000 a.s.l.)
Variant 1
Up to 2900 mt and back by jeep and cable car
- cable car up and jeep up to 2900 a.s.l.
- walk and visit to the craters with a certified guide (languages spoken: Italian and English)
- return by jeep and cable car
Duration: 90’ - 120’
Difficulty level: easy
Variant 2
Up to 2900 mt by jeep and cable car and trekking up to 3000 mt
- cable car and jeep up to 2900 a.s.l.
- trekking up to the top (if allowed) and visit to the craters with a certified guide (languages spoken: Italian and English)
- return by jeep and cable car
Duration: 240
Difficulty level: challenging
Variant 3
Up to 2900 mt by jeep and cable car and descent to the Bove Valley or to Sapienza lodge
- cable car and jeep up to 2900 a.s.l.
- trekking back to the Bove Valley or to Sapienza lodge with a certified guide (languages spoken: Italian and English)
Duration: 240’
Difficulty level: medium/easy
Variant 4
Cable car (and return) up to 2500 a.s.l. and trekking up to 3000 a.s.l.
- cable car up to 2500 a.s.l.
- trekking up to the top (until allowed) with a certified guide (languages spoken: Italian and English)
- return to the Sapenza loddge by cable car
Duration: 240’
Difficulty level: medium
Variant 5
Cable car up to 2500 a.s.l., trekking up to 3000 a.s.l. and descent on foot to the Sapienza lodge
- cable car up to 2500 a.s.l.
- trekking up to the top (until allowed) and descent to the Sapienza lodge with a certified guide.
Duration: 360’
Difficulty level: challending
Variant 6
Trekking up to 3000 a.s.l. and descent to the Sapienza lodge
- trekking up to the top (until allowed) with a certified guide (languages spoken: Italian and English).
- return by cable car or trekking back to the Sapienza lodge
Duration: 360’
Difficulty level: very challenging