Embark on a thrilling trek to the northern summit of Mt. Etna, exploring ancient craters and recent lava flows. Experience the grandeur of this extraordinary volcanic environment and enjoy panoramic views from the roof of Sicily.
Embark on a thrilling trek to the northern summit of Mt. Etna, exploring ancient craters and recent lava flows. Experience the grandeur of this extraordinary volcanic environment and enjoy panoramic views from the roof of Sicily.
- Piano Provenzana - This is the Etna Nord tourist area located at Piano Provenzana. It is less crowded than the southern slope, offering a more authentic experience closely tied to the volcanic landscape. Here, visitors meet the guides for their excursion. Before setting off, they can use the restrooms, stop by the café for breakfast, and enjoy a…
- Piano Provenzana - This is the Etna Nord tourist area located at Piano Provenzana. It is less crowded than the southern slope, offering a more authentic experience closely tied to the volcanic landscape. Here, visitors meet the guides for their excursion. Before setting off, they can use the restrooms, stop by the café for breakfast, and enjoy a coffee or tea with a pastry.
Next, there is a brief meeting with the guides, who provide all the necessary equipment and information for the hike.
This meeting point is situated within the 2002 lava flow. The tourist area of Piano Provenzana was destroyed by the eruption on October 27, 2002. The access road is fully drivable, allowing visitors to reach the starting point with their own vehicle. In winter, it is advisable to carry snow chains or use winter tires.
From here, visitors board 4×4 vehicles with the guides for a scenic drive up the northern flank of Mount Etna. The route traverses lava fields and lateral craters, ascending to 2,960 m, where the trek to the summit begins.
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Itinerario Crateri Sommitali - Meet the guides at 7:45 a.m. at Piano Provenzana, with departure between 8:00–8:15 a.m. An afternoon start at 1:00 p.m. is available from May to October. Travel by authorized 4×4 vehicles along a 9.5 km scenic track on Etna’s wild, less touristy north slope, where groups are smaller for a more personalized experience. The route ascends from 1,800 m to 2,960 m, crossing forests, recent lava flows, a lava-flow channel, eruptive fractures, and lateral craters over 40 m deep. Guides accompany visitors throughout both the drive and hike.
The unpaved road offers views of northern Sicily, the Aeolian Islands, Strait of Messina, Calabria, the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas, and, on rare clear days, the Madonie range, Gulf of Catania, Syracuse, Augusta, and the vast Valle del Bove.
This itinerary showcases Etna’s landscapes—from lush woodland and dramatic craters to the stark high-altitude desert—culminating near 3,000 m, where the trek to the summit begins. -
Mount Etna - From 2,960 m, reached by authorized 4×4 vehicles, the summit hike of Mount Etna begins. The guided trek covers about 5 km with a 550 m ascent, leading to the summit area with four main craters: North-East, Voragine, Bocca Nuova, and South-East.
Due to the daily changes in volcanic activity, guides select the safest path toward the most active yet secure crater, adjusting the route if gas, heat, or fractures necessitate it. High rocks and fumaroles mean paths can change at any time.
Altitude ranges from 2,960 to 3,380 m, so participants must be fit and report any health issues, as mild altitude effects are possible.
At the top, visitors walk the rims of active craters to observe fumarolic gas, vivid mineral colors, and recent lava formations, with sweeping views of Sicily, the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas, the Aeolian Islands, and Calabria.
The descent follows soft scoria channels for 4 km and 600 m of drop, covering a total of 8–9 km over about 5 hours, before the 4×4 ride (25–30 min) back to the starting point.

- Comprehensive accident insurance
- Safety with protective helmets
- Quality trekking gear included
- Expert Volcanological Guide
- Comprehensive accident insurance
- Safety with protective helmets
- Quality trekking gear included
- Expert Volcanological Guide
- Off road vehicle (from 1800mt to 2825mt round trip): 60 Euro per person to be paid on the spot
- K-way (rain jacket), hat and gloves (during autumn, winter and spring)
- Parking ticket (3 Euro full day)
- Transport service from your accomodation
- Lunch
- Off road vehicle (from 1800mt to 2825mt round trip): 60 Euro per person to be paid on the spot
- K-way (rain jacket), hat and gloves (during autumn, winter and spring)
- Parking ticket (3 Euro full day)
- Transport service from your accomodation
- Lunch
Departures commence from Piano Provenzana on the less-traveled, wild north slope of Etna, offering smaller group sizes for a more personal experience. Off-road vehicles navigate a scenic path across ancient craters and recent lava flows, reaching an altitude of 2,825 meters. From this point, a 500-meter uphill trek meanders through volcanic bombs and…
Departures commence from Piano Provenzana on the less-traveled, wild north slope of Etna, offering smaller group sizes for a more personal experience. Off-road vehicles navigate a scenic path across ancient craters and recent lava flows, reaching an altitude of 2,825 meters. From this point, a 500-meter uphill trek meanders through volcanic bombs and scoria to the Central Crater at 3,380 meters. At the summit, enjoy the vast, distinctive volcanic landscape and the expansive views from the “roof of Sicily” (visibility is subject to weather and volcanic activity). The descent follows the same path, concluding with a gentle walk down soft scoria channels back to 2,825 meters, where 4×4 vehicles transport you back to Piano Provenzana.
- 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 Guides know about them, in order to reduce the occurrence of any problem and to avoid any risks.
- We recommend not to use contact lenses, because of the exhaled volcanic gases and of ash. This last one could easily cause problems, if pushed.
- This type of itinerary, in relation to the type, is suited to people in good physical health, not suffering from particular disease (it is strongly discouraged to those who suffer from cardio-vascular problems, breathing problems or hypertension).
- The excursion is not suited for children under 12 years old
- The excursion will be carried out according to the limits laid down by the ordinance in force.
- 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.
- It is required also to be careful, since it is volcanic soil, often inconsistent and unstable.
- The excursion requires a good preparation on a physical level. Because of it results to be a high height path, it would be easy to experience symptoms of fatigue.
- Trekking is not recommended for those who does not do physical activity regularly.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.