Summit Craters from Etna Sud - 3350m • Aitne Med

Details

Level

Intermediate

Age

Distance

9km

Altitude

+500mt -800mt

Start

08:30 (The exact time will be confirmed the evening before)

Duration

6 hours

Meeting point

Rifugio Sapienza – AITNE Office (inside Terrazza dell'Etna Restaurant)

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Trekking to the summit craters of Etna is one of the most extraordinary experiences that can be had in Sicily. A scenario with an almost otherworldly aspect and the most diverse that can be imagined from daily life.

The ascent is carried out by cable car up to an altitude of 2500m and then by 4×4 up to an altitude of 2,850m. From here our trek will begin. After having crossed the lava flows of recent years with still very hot spots, you will continue uphill at times steep to arrive at the edge of the Bocca Nuova crater (3250m), opened in 1968, probably the most impressive crater on Etna

Going around the Bocca Nuova you find yourself on the edge of the Voragine, the heart of the Central Crater. From the top we can have a 360° gaze, and if the weather permits, we can see the Aeolian Islands and almost all of Sicily to the north

From the top we begin the descent along a steep but easy slope of ashes and scoria passing through the craters of the 2002 eruption and from a vantage point over the Valle del Bove, a spectacular volcanic amphitheatre 8km long and 4km wide. From here we continue to the cable car arrival station to return to the starting point.

Inclusions

Guide
Shoes
Helmet
Windbreaker jacket
Backpack
Trekking poles
Insurance

Exclusions

Two-way cable car & one-way bus 4x4 (€ 65)
Food
Water

Extras

Packed lunch on request
Pick-up on request

Important Info

The tour may be subject to change due to bad weather conditions or an increase in volcanic activity.

Not suitable for

Asthmatics Heart patients People with joint problems

Media Gallery

Getting ready for the tour

Clothing and Footwear

Hiking boots with good grip
Layered clothing to adapt to temperature changes
Windbreaker or K-way (provided if needed)
Gloves and hat (especially in colder months)

Recommended Gear

Trekking poles (provided if needed)
Lightweight backpack for personal belongings
Sunglasses and sunscreen for UV protection
Headlamp (if the tour includes cave exploration)

Food and Hydration

At least 1.5L of water per person
Energy snacks or packed lunch (if required for the tour)

Optional Accessories

Camera or smartphone to capture breathtaking views
Binoculars for observing the landscape and local wildlife

All equipment provided by the organization, such as hiking boots, trekking poles, and helmets, is included in the tour when specified.

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Manuel Teufel

We did the Mt. Etna North tour with Aitne Med yesterday. The tour was exceptionally well-organized, and the group size was ideal. Communication beforehand via WhatsApp was seamless and super helpful. The trekking pace up the craters was perfectly set and well-adapted to the altitude. During our regular short breaks, our guide, Vincenzo, provided detailed explanations about Mt. Etna and took the time to answer everyone’s individual questions. He even adjusted the routes on the spot to best fit the wind and weather conditions. What impressed us most was when someone injured their ankle during the descent—Vincenzo didn't hesitate for a second and carried them on his back for the rest of the way down. A huge thank you to the entire team at Aitne Med for such a fantastic experience yesterday!

Corentin Aubry

Une randonnée vraiment incroyable, qui nous en met plein les yeux du début à la fin. Notre guide, Marco, a vraiment été au top et nous avons pu voir tout ce qui était possible. Là communication pour planifier l’excursion a été top et le prêt de matériel (chaussures, doudounes …) est bien pratique.

Daniela Bosch

Wir hatten heute eine fantastische Tour auf den Ätna. Unser Tour-Guide Vincenzo war von Anfang an sensationell: Beim Aufstieg hat er ein sehr angenehmes, moderates Tempo gewählt – ideal für die doch anstrengende Höhe. Bei den regelmäßigen Pausen hat er uns extrem spannende Details über den Vulkan erzählt. Auch das gesamte Guide-Team hat klasse gearbeitet und die Route spontan an Wind und Wetter angepasst. Was Vincenzo aber beim Abstieg geleistet hat, verdient besonderen Dank: Als ich mir leider den Knöchel verknackst habe und nicht mehr weiterlaufen konnte, hat er mich ohne zu zögern den halben Berg Huckepack nach unten getragen! So viel Einsatz, Hilfsbereitschaft und Empathie sieht man selten. Wir haben uns zu jedem Zeitpunkt zu 100 % sicher und bestens aufgehoben gefühlt. Vielen Dank, Vincenzo – du bist der Beste! Absolute Herzensempfehlung!

Elysia Oakham

Fantastic tour with Vincenzo, very friendly and knowledgeable, one of the best things we've ever done! Highly recommend.

Lorie Davidson

Great experience. It is a must do if visiting the area.

Sebastian

Gipfelkraterwanderung an der Nordseite war überragend. Ist natürlich alles sehr wetterabhängig. Wir hatten gutes, sonniges Wetter und standen dann am weissqualmenden Kraterrand. Absolut imposanter Anblick! Alle Führer sehr professionell und vom Fach. Man bekommt hohe Wanderschuhe, Thermojacke und Helm gestellt. Aktuell zahlt man noch Vorort 50€ für den 4x4 Transport und 5€ Parkgebühren.

Alice Fox

Exceptional tour to teh summit. good organisation and Marco was amzing guide, very knowledgeable, explained many things about Etna and Sicily, Shared his contacts and sent photos and videos after a trip! Amazing, will be repeating the tour soon again. Also, it was great that people leading the toyr are true Etna and Volcano fans. Fantastic and Inspirational!

Cecilia Gherardi

Abbiamo fatto il tour sul versante nord dell'Etna quindi quello con più escursione rispetto al lato con funivia. Escursione bellissima e nemmeno troppo faticosa per chi è abituato alla montagna (400m di dislivello). Max come guida è stato super competente e chiaro, siamo riusciti a vedere crateri sommitali e la colata di lava di agosto 2026. Consiglio di farla come esperienza perché è unica.

Domenico Miscioscia

Esperienza non consigliata con guida GIOVANNI, in data 17/09. Sia chiaro che alla guida 'non frega nulla delle recensioni negative', come ha tenuto a sottolineare a tutto il gruppo, sfidando a lasciare un feedback non buono. Mentre tutte le altre guide portano i propri gruppi a ridosso del cratere Bocca Nuova, la superbia di Giovanni lo porta a screditare i suoi colleghi che fanno percorsi che egli ritiene non opportuni e non tiene minimamente in considerazione il desiderio e le aspettative di chi partecipa all'esperienza. Per onore di cronaca, ci ha infine in parte accontentati, dopo un'estenuante opera di convincimento che è valsa il suo mancato saluto al termine dell'esperienza.

Summit Craters from Etna Sud – 3350m

Inclusions

Exclusions

Extras

Important Info