Mount Etna Summit Tour Review – Best Experience in Sicily

I spent 10 days road tripping through Sicily and if you ask me what was the most unforgettable experience, it was the Mount Etna Summit Tour I did! 🤩

Mount Etna is the world’s MOST ACTIVE volcano, so going all the way up to its summit craters at 3000 metres (9842 ft) is going to fix you with adrenaline!

In this blog post, I am sharing with you my experience and review of the guided tour I did alongside some general tips for hiking the summit of Etna.

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Where is Mount Etna?

Mount Etna is located in eastern Sicily in Italy. The closest city is Catania (53 min drive), but it is also not that far away from Taormina (65 min) which is the most popular town in Sicily. Etna is above the convergent plate margin between the African Plate and the Eurasian Plate.

How to get to Mount Etna?

Because of its close proximity to Catania and Taormina, the best is to fly to Catania Airport.

I recommend renting a car because Sicilian roads are in general very good and it’s the easiest way to move around the island.

Read my blog: Sicily 10 Days Road Trip: Ultimate Sicily Itinerary

If you’re not into renting a car and road trip, then you can book some of the tours from Catania or Taormina to Etna. It is not that easy to get to Etna with the public transport, so I would avoid it.

As mentioned in the beginning, in this blog post, I will review the summit tour you really don’t want to miss!

Mount Etna Summit Tour

Firstly, let me say that you can’t visit Etna summit craters without a guide! It is simply not safe and not allowed. We’ve seen a few couples obviously ignoring this safety rule and who took a route that didn’t look safe at all! (very steep climb, while we went through another path that only guides know about!!)

Guides know the best, safest and easiest routes + they share so much knowledge about mythology, history and geology of Etna, you’d really want to learn from them!

This is the tour I’ve personally done that I will review now and which I ABSOLUTELY recommend! 👉 BOOK THIS TOUR

Route of our Mount Etna Summit Tour

Now, let’s see what our tour looked like! 🌋

Rifugio Sapienza

No matter how you arrive at Mount Etna, whether with your own car or with a pick-up by the tour operator, Rifugio Sapienza at Etna South will be your meeting point. If you’re coming with a car, there’s a big parking lot where you can park your car.

At Rifugio Sapienza, there are restrooms you can use which I recommend because the hike will take around 3.5h to 4h!

Also, there’s a small restaurant/buffet, so if you didn’t pack your lunch, then you can buy some sandwiches or calzone pizza and something to drink.

✅ TIP: While the hike is moderate-difficult, to get and keep the strength I always recommend having some protein bars with you.

Cable car

Rifugio Sapienza is at 1900 metres (6233 ft) above the sea level, so to reach your starting hiking point, you will take a cable car which will take you to 2500 m (8200 ft) above the sea level. With this tour, the cable car ticket will be INCLUDED in the overall price. You will be given a ticket by your guide. Make sure to keep it somewhere safe because you will need it for a return ride to Rifugio Sapienza. If you lose it, you will need to buy another one at your own additional cost.

Views are already pretty spectacular 🤩

Cratere del Laghetto

Your first stop after you get off the cable car will be Laghetto Crater. It is located at about 2580 metres (8464 ft), next to the much higher and steeper Montagnola, an ancient 18th century crater.

Laghetto Crater was formed in 2001 during the huge eruption and it was formed right in the middle of the small valley of the lake Pian del Lago. This valley was once filled with water, during the thaw season when snow started to melt. The lake was visible for 2-3 months and then it would evaporate in the summer. I loved it when our guide told us how it is possible to witness changes at Etna during your lifetime which is not the case with every volcano. Pretty cool if you ask me! 🤩

💡Alongside these interesting fun facts above, it was at this point when our guide told us that if Etna erupts while we’re there, its lava flow speed is slower than the humans’ running speed, so we can run to escape it. 😅

Lava Tunnel

Next interesting stop will be a lava tunnel. There are many tunnels built at Etna that ensure that lava flows by control when an eruption happens, so that it ends up in the sea without damaging the nearby villages. It’s amazing what we humans are capable of building!

You will pass through one of these tunnels, and let me tell you, it is not that easy! The tunnel is very tight and after some point you’d have to climb the lava rocks to be able to exit it. You’d have to be careful because everything in the tunnel is sharp, so you don’t want to cut yourself.

For your safety it will be MANDATORY to put the helmet on which will be given to you already at Rifugio Sapienza.

This was taken right at the beginning, later on it was impossible to have your camera on + it wouldn’t have been very safe to do it!

These were the views after we got out of the tunnel 😍:

My Google Maps says this is very close to the Francese campo base, but as I don’t recall seeing any base camp, these are the exact map coordinates: 37.731910614417075, 15.00107918998833

The volcanic rock:

Crateri Barbagallo (summit of Mount Etna)

Congratulations! You have finally reached Crateri Barbagallo, Etna’s summit craters! 🤩

They are at 2950 metres (9678 ft) above the sea level. This is the highest safe point that you can go to. The feeling? Honestly, one of my best travel moments. ❤️ Seeing these active craters from up close while having your lunch at the highest point of Sicily is something that words just can’t tell. You’d really have to experience it yourself. 🥰

Barbagallo craters are still active, therefore I told you how it’s prohibited to go without the alpine guides. Again, you can see the smoke ring in the first photo. 🌋

Descent from the summit

After you’ve had your lunch, your descent from the top of Etna will start, and let me tell you, it’s going to be a fun one! 🤣

It’s like snowboarding, but on volcanic rock! I ended up with so many little rocks inside my boots, I couldn’t wait to get rid of them! It might not look like that on the video, but you go really fast! I had to hold Slaven (my husband) all the time because I’m too clumsy and I knew I may as well break my leg (I didn’t). 😅

Belvedere Valle del Bove

Belvedere Valle del Bove, also known as the Valley of the Ox, is a huge valley about 5 km (5468 yards) wide and 7 km (7655 yards) long. It is facing the Ionian Sea.

The valley was formed about 8000 years ago with a volcanic depression dating back to 64,000 years ago!

For a very long time Valle del Bove was a beautiful green oasis where shepherds tended their sheep and grew their fruits. The microclimate here was very particular because the valley is on the eastern side of the volcano, so when the sun warms the back volcanic earth, the hot air is rising. And then the humid air was coming from the sea which is cooling down with increasing altitude. Cold air can no longer absorb the same amount of moisture, so the moisture condenses and the clouds form that bring shade and precipitation, which is a perfect climate for agriculture.

Unfortunately due to several eruptions of the south-eastern crater that began in 1971, the valley got almost completely covered by the lava flow. Today the valley is a black stone desert.

And because of its historical and cultural significance, Valle del Bove is also believed to be connected with Noah’s Ark. Apparently the flood started here, possibly caused by the Mount Etna eruption that could have been felt all the way to Iran. Believer or not, I find this correlation really interesting!

Pretty amazing, right!? 🤩

This viewpoint is at around 2600 metres (8530 ft).

La Cisternazza

Next and final stop is La Cisternazza, a pit crater.

Pit crater is circular depression up to 100 m (328 ft) deep. They look like a classic volcanic crater, but there has never been any eruptive activity in the pit craters. They are formed by sinking due to a movement of magma in the area below.

Back to Rifugio Sapienza

Well done, you’ve done it! 🥳 Be proud of yourself and cheers with beers from the bar! Or whatever else you drink…

Route of Mount Etna Summit Tour on Google Maps

And this is how this Mount Etna Summit Tour looks on Google Maps (you won’t walk from Rifugio Sapienza to Etna Cable Car and back, it’s a cable car ride, but everything else is walking/hiking):

My Review of the Mount Etna Summit Tour (with pros & cons):

If I were to write a Google Review, I would give it a 5/5 rating! I was really happy with how the tour was organised, our guide was very informative and he took care of our safety. However, here are some pros & cons to keep my opinion as objective as possible and to help you make your decision. 🙂

Pros

• Unique Experience: Hiking the summit of Mount Etna is an unforgettable experience. It’s not like you can always hike the world’s highest and most active volcano! And this tour will get you to the highest possible point, very up close to Crateri Barbagallo (summit craters).
• Scenic Views: During your hike to the summit, you will enjoy all these scenic views of Mount Etna and the surrounding area. You will have enough time to soak up the views and take nice photos because the tour is not rushed.
• Educational Value: Your tour guide would also be an alpine guide with plenty of knowledge about geology, volcanic activity and fun facts of Mt. Etna. You will be able to learn a lot if you pay your attention.
• Adventure: How many times do I have to repeat that you will get to the summit of the world’s MOST ACTIVE volcano?! If that doesn’t fill you with adrenaline, I don’t know what would!
• Guided Expertise: As mentioned, you will be with your alpine guides who would not only provide you with educational value, but they will also take care of your safety. They know the best route and paths, so your hike is as safe and “easy” as possible!
• Small Group Size: The group is not big, usually up to 15 people, so you’d be able to enjoy a more personalised experience, less crowding and more intimate exploration of Mount Etna.

Cons

• Physical Demand: While the hike is not the most difficult per se, it is still moderate-difficult and requires you to be in good condition. In our group we had different age ranges, from kids about 5+ years old to people in their 60s. So, it’s doable if you’re used to physical activity. It is not recommended for very small children and pregnant women.
• Weather Conditions: You may have noticed in my photos, that sometimes I wore a jacket and sometimes I was in a t-shirt. That’s because the temperatures vary about 20 degrees celsius (68 F difference) from the ground to the summit. I was there in mid-August and I still had to pack in layers for the summit. With that being said, if you’re thinking of hiking to the summit in the winter months, be aware that due to the weather conditions your tour may be cancelled. Also, if Etna erupts or they think it might, they can still cancel the tour. So it is never fully guaranteed you will do it. Of course if they cancel, you will get your money back.
• Cost: Speaking of money, this tour is costly. BUT, it also takes about 4 hours, so it will take up a half of your day. In the end, they will not only keep you safe, but offer incredible insights, which justifies the price if you ask me!
• Safety Concerns: Repeating once more – Etna is the most active volcano in the world! So, there’s always a slight possibility of chance that Etna may erupt, so it is never truly safe to hike it. It is your personal responsibility and liability when you decide to hike and visit Etna, especially its summit. However, generally Etna is considered to be a safe volcano because every movement or tremor is recorded, studied and communicated in real time.

Conclusion

Overall, hiking the summit of Mount Etna is such a unique experience that will fill you with adrenaline. You will learn a lot during your hike and you’ll be guided with a trained alpine guide who will keep you safe. Although the tour has its physical and logistical challenges, being prepared can ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

I cannot recommend this tour more and I hope you get to experience it yourself! If you do, let me know how you found it! 😃

What to pack for Mount Etna Summit Tour?

As you can see, it’s really important to pack properly for this summit tour of Etna.

📖 I wrote a blog post about the ultimate packing list for Mount Etna, so have a look there!

Is Mount Etna still erupting?

Mount Etna is the world’s and Europe’s most active volcano with documented volcanic activity over at least 2700 years. The last documented eruption happened in July 2024. I was there in August 2023 and it erupted a few hours after I had left Sicily! Catania Airport was closed for a few days until the sky cleared of the smoke.

Is visiting Etna safe?

As mentioned, Mount Etna is still erupting and therefore it is never truly safe to hike it. It is your personal responsibility and liability when you decide to hike and visit Etna, especially its summit. However, generally Etna is considered to be a safe volcano because every movement or tremor is recorded, studied and communicated in real time.

Also, most eruptions do not endanger those visiting or living in the area. The guide told us how the government built the canals where lava can flow after an eruption and it goes straight into the sea without endangering the village nearby.

What is the best time to visit Mount Etna?

Generally speaking you can visit Etna all year round if the conditions allow. If you’re visiting during the winter months, you may need to have specialist equipment like ice axes, crampons, etc.

The best time to visit Etna is from April to September, although if you don’t want to experience very cold temperatures, then the best time to visit is in the summer months. 

Where to stay near Mount Etna?

Here are my top 5 choices for hotels near Mount Etna:

Is Etna worth visiting?

Let me just say this: you can’t come to Sicily and then miss visiting Etna! Even if the summit hike is not for you, there are different ways to see Etna. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of Sicily. It’s THE MUST HAVE.

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