Etna Morning Tour

Join us for an unforgettable adventure on the iconic volcano Etna! Our Etna Morning tour departs from Catania every morning to provide you with a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

We offer our guests a very comfortable and enjoyable drive in good company through some of the more characteristic mountainside towns and villages up to the Rifugio Sapienza (~  2 000 metres) where Etna’s magic really starts to make its mark and visitors can finally breathe in the volcano’s amazing atmosphere.

During the way your tour leader will tell you about the history of the Etna volcano, the major eruptions, flora and fauna, as well as local traditions and cuisine. One hour full of facts, fairy tales and stories.

Once at the Rifugio Sapienza, guests can choose how they wish to spend the next three hours either soft-trekking around the more recent lava flow areas, craters of the year 2001 and the extinct Silvestri craters or taking the cable car up to 2 500 metres and then continuing up the mountain to ~  3 000 metres in four-wheel drive vehicles authorised and driven by the Italian Alpine Club (~ two hours and half). In the latter case we are more than happy to assist our guests with the purchasing of the necessary tickets.

While remaining always on hand for eventual assistance, it is our policy to leave our guests completely free to make their own decisions as to how to spend their time exploring and experiencing the magic of the volcano, convinced that it is only in the intimacy of their own company that guests can really live a truly unforgettable experience.

At the end of the three hours we will start our descent back down through the scenic countryside to the centre of Catania.

Book now to guarantee your place on this extraordinary adventure!

Tour Price: € 45/ pax

Tour Overview

Hours

10:00 - 15:00

Duration

5 hours

Availability

All year

Transportation

Pick-up from our meeting point

Meeting point

Piazza Mazzini, Catania (kiosk)

Total distance

~ 82 km

Group size

1 - 7 people

Arrival height

~ 2 000 mt

Max height

~ 3 000 mt

Difficulty level

Moderate

Audio-guide

Audio-guide not included

Language

English, Italian

Tour Overview

Hours

10:00 - 15:00

Duration

5 hours

Transportation

Pick-up from our meeting point

Meeting point

Piazza Mazzini, Catania (kiosk)

Availability

All year

Total distance

~ 82 km

Group size

1 - 7 people

Difficulty level

Moderate

Arrival height

~ 2 000 mt

Max height

~ 3 000 mt

Audio-guide

Audio-guide not included

Language

English, Italian

Etna Excursion Program

10:00 Meeting Point, Piazza Mazzini (Catania)

Pick up at our Booking Point. Begining of the tour. Departure to Etna. 1 hour of driving.

During the way your tour leader will tell you about the history of the Etna volcano, the major eruptions, flora and fauna, as well as local traditions and cuisine. One hour full of facts, fairy tales and stories.

11:00 Rifugio Sapienza (Etna)

Arrival at a height of ~ 2 000 mt.
Beginning of the guide-free walking tour. 3 hour stop with free time.

Possible activities:
- walking around the Silvestri craters and one of the craters of the year 2001,

- using the cable car to reach 2 500 mt and having a free guide walking tour (extra cost)
IMPORTANT: 2 500 mt is the maximum hight where you are allowed to walk without any guide,

- using cable car and 4x4 weel car to reach ~ 3 000 mt and having a walking tour with Alpine Guide (extra cost),

- having a quad excursion (extra cost),

- having a snack on the slopes of Etna (just remember to bring a sandwich and a bottle of water with you),

- having a lunch or an aperitive in a bar/restaurant (extra cost),

- shopping of souvenirs.

14:00 Rifugio Sapienza (Etna)

End of the walking tour. Departure to Catania. 1 hour of driving.

15:00 Meeting Point, Piazza Mazzini (Catania)

End of the tour.
Arrival to our Booking Point at Catania.

Etna Morning Tour Photo 
Gallery

Discover Etna's Hidden Gems Your Way!

🏞️ Unleash Your Adventurous Spirit:

Imagine trekking the majestic slopes of Mount Etna in Catania on your terms. With our excursions, you’re the master of your adventure. Choose your trails, set your pace, and immerse yourself in the raw beauty of this natural wonder.

🗺️ Craft Your Personal Journey:

Feel the thrill of exploration as you uncover Etna’s secrets independently. Forge your path, stop where you want, and capture breathtaking photos without time constraints. It’s a journey tailored to your desires.

🌋 Create Authentic Connections:

Embark on an authentic encounter with nature. Absorb the solitude and tranquility of Etna’s landscapes, allowing for a genuine connection that a guided tour might not provide.

💡 A Sense of Achievement:

Conquer Etna on your terms and experience the exhilaration of navigating its unique terrain. Your adventure becomes a story of personal triumph and discovery.

🌍 Leave No Trace:

By exploring without a guide, you minimize your impact on the environment, preserving Etna’s beauty for generations to come.
Choose freedom, spontaneity, and an authentic experience.

Join us for a guide-free journey that’s as unique as you are. Book your Etna adventure today!

Customers Reviews

We went on a trip to Mount Etna, our tour leader was very knowledgeable and told us a lot about Sicily on the way to the Volcano. You then had a choice to take the cable car further up or to stay and look around the craters at the first level. You get three hours there which was plenty of time. Take a hoodie or a jumper and wear trainers or sensible shoes. And then the tour leader leaves you to sleep on the way home which was lovely and that’s been the best nights sleep of my holiday. Well worth the money, thank you 😊
KR
Etna Trip
Absolutely fantastic trip to Etna. We have the pleasure to go there with Alfio with his Mercedes small van. The group was 4 people in total so not very crowded. During the 1-hour long drive to the Rifugio Sapienza (1940 meters over the sea level), Alfio was telling us more about the point of interests in the city which we were passing by and once we left the city he described some most important eruptions of Etna and what they caused. At the top we had 3 hours time to do some soft-trekking around Etna or we could go with cable car to the top. After 3 hours we gather at the car and drove back to Catania. Whole journey was absolutely safe as Alfio is an excellent driver. I had concerns before this trip as I don't like high mountains and many curved mountain roads over some steep cliffs but there was nothing like that. I can absolutely recommend this trip, Alfio, and his excellent service.
Marcin B
Enjoyable trip!
We planned a short day trip to Mount Etna. We had such an amazing trip visiting Etna, the scenery were breathtaking! Fabio was amazing with very insightful information about Etna and inside knowledge! A great guide and a great guy! The car was comfortable, we felt very safe from start to finish. I would definitely recommend his services, the best in Catania! Grazie Mille Fabio!
YassineM858
Best Tour Guide in Catania
An excursion to Etna in Catania without a guide allows people to explore at their own pace and customise their experience. This can offer a sense of freedom and flexibility, enabling them to choose specific trails, viewpoints, and activities that interest them the most. Without a guide, they can enjoy solitude and a more intimate connection with nature. You will relax your mind, it’s help to restart your psychological system (it’s a place for meditation and to find a connection with nature) You will be able to create your excursion’s experience with full off freedom! All my family liked this tour! Thank you!
Miranda65
No guided Etna Tour

FAQ

Please contact us in case you can’t find the answer to your question

The cost of the small group Etna excursion from Catania includes car or minivan and driver. The transfer from our Meeting Point on Piazza Mazzini (Catania) to Rifugio Sapienza (Etna), the transfer from Rifugio Sapienza (Etna) to our Meeting Point on Piazza Mazzini (Catania) and 3 hours stop.

NOTES:
We kindly ask our clients to respect the program of our excursions. Please, present in time:
– to our Meeting Point before your excursion starts;
– to our Meeting Point before your departure to Catania.

In exceptional cases we give maximum 15 minutes of free waiting time after the agreed pick-up time for our clients.  If you are not present in the Meeting Point at the end of this period, the car will drive away without you. In this case all extra costs such as a taxi transfer to your accomodation will be at your expense.

Extra such as restaurants, wine tastings, entrance tickets, cable cars, official guides etc. are at the client’s expense.

Adults

Cableway 2 500 mt: € 50 per pax
Cableway + 4×4 minibus with local alpinist guide ~  3 000 mt: € 78 per pax

Children 5 – 10 years

Cableway 2 500 mt: € 30 per pax
Cableway + 4×4 minibus with local alpinist guide ~  3 000 mt: € 50 per pax

Children 0 – 4 years

Cableway 2 500 mt: free
Cableway + 4×4 minibus with local alpinist guide ~  3 000 mt: free

Windbreaker or warm jacket, comfortable closed shoes, hat, sunglasses and water.

Payments can be effectuated simply and easily by bank transfer or credit card any time before the date of the required service, in cash or by credit card the same day as the required service.

Change of plans? No problem. 

Tour or transfer cancellations received with at least 48 hours notice will be refunded in full except for bank charges.
Cancellations received with less than 48 hours notice will be not refunded.

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Get in touch with us

Visit Our Booking Point

Address: Piazza Mazzini 1 (kiosk)
95121 - Catania
Italy

Have a Question? Call or email us

Mobile: +39 388 2446444
WhatsApp: +39 388 2446444
Email: info@ciaosicily.it

Booking Point Working Time

Tuesday – Sunday: 09:00 - 18:30
Lunch break: 13:30 - 14:30
Monday: Closed

Contact us

Please feel free to contact us within working hours using information below. You can also submit your request via online form.

Mobile phone: + 39 388 2446444
WhatsApp: + 39 388 2446444
E-mail: info@ciaosicily.it
Find us: Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini 1, 95121 Catania, Sicily

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