Etna Alcantara

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The Etna Alcantara excursion takes you on a fascinating journey that begins at the foot of Mount Etna and winds through the spectacular history and nature of Sicily. You will walk along dormant craters, explore lava flow caves, and enjoy breathtaking views. The tour culminates in the Alcantara Valley, where you can refresh yourself in the crystal-clear waters of the river of the same name.

Duration

6 ore

Difficulty

Facile

Max Altitude

1.900 m

AVAILABLE IN FULL-DAY FORMULA

Between History, Nature, and Crystal Waters

An unforgettable journey that begins at the foot of Etna, starting from the charming context of historic villages that nestle on its slopes, immersed in centuries of tradition and surrounded by lush forests within the Etna Park.

The tour’s route will see us walking along the edge of dormant craters, a journey into the heart of the volcano to understand its structure and the history of its eruptions. Together we will discover the hidden wonders inside a lava flow cave, visiting it safely. Our journey continues with an off-road adventure along ancient lava flows, reaching panoramic points from which to enjoy breathtaking views.

We will traverse changing landscapes, from lava flows to lush forests of apples, cherries, vineyards, hazelnuts, chestnuts, oaks, holm oaks, junipers, turkey oaks, roverella oaks, pines, birches, beeches, and more. We will explore magical places like the Dogale, islands of vegetation spared by the lava, and Piano Provenzana, with its views over the azure Ionian Sea and the traces of the 2002 lava flow.

We will continue with a lunch featuring typical Sicilian delicacies, prepared with seasonal products from Etna and accompanied by excellent Etna DOC wines. We are able, upon request, to offer various basic alternatives.

After lunch, the tour heads towards the wonderful Alcantara Valley. Starting from the picturesque village of Castiglione di Sicilia, we will venture to the Alcantara Gorges, an impressive natural formation of volcanic stone created by a lateral eruption and shaped by the waters of the river of the same name. For those who wish, the experience concludes with a refreshing dip in the river’s crystal-clear waters.

Pick-up at your accommodation.
S. Venerina
Milo
Trekking on Dormant Craters
Technical stop with panoramic view from a Refuge (optional coffee break)
Off-road through the woods to admire the old “Mareneve” road.
Stop at Piano Provenzana destroyed by the lava flow of the 2002 eruption.
Lunch at a typical refuge or Etna D.O.C. wine tasting.
Visit to the Alcantara Gorges.
Return to the hotel.

Recommended equipment

Trekking shoes (or sneakers), layered clothing, waterproof jacket, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, swimsuit, and towel.

Included services

Pick-up from your accommodation, insurance, helmets (with disposable earphones), sticks (on request), torches, water, and multilingual guide, lunch.

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Additional services:

Typical Sicilian tasting

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Reviews

TripAdvisor

This was a fun way to spend a half-day! We were picked up at the resort we were staying at (Monaci) and drove some back roads to the north side of Etna. The landscape is amazing and our guide showed us some lava flows that were really something to be seen, as they extended way down the mountain/volcano. The bus ride to the top was interesting - wear something warm as it is quite cool at the highest point of your trip. We ended up having lunch at the area where the buses depart from - it was a good way to wrap up the trip!

Amazing!! Our guide, Marco took us in his jeep to Mt. Etna. He picked us up at our hotel and talked to us the entire drive giving us interesting information about the area!! He took us as high as he could in his hero where we transferred to the vehicles that are allowed higher and with a geological expert. Although I have to say, Marco at times gave us more information than the expert. After the incredible visit to 2900 meters, we made our way down. Marco then brought us to a beautiful place in the woods near a lava tube where there was a full picnic with wine and flowers and blankets and pillows all set up for us!! We ate, learned how to make (and eat) Granita the right way!!!

Our day out with Marco was amazing. He was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. He made the whole experience engaging and added a real personal touch that made us feel like we got something extra special. I would definitely recommend Etna Mareneve Escursioni for your tour of Etna. Completely worth it!

We had a wonderful private excursion to Mount Etna. The tour guide David was extra accommodating, was very knowledgeable with the history of our tour and extremely attentive to us. We highly recommend Mareneve if you are looking for the best tours of Mt. Etna.