Mount Etna Day Trip from Taormina

Visit Sicily’s famously fiery volcano, the magnificent Mount Etna, on a day trip from Taormina. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mount Etna is Europe’s tallest active volcano, and views from it over Parco dell Etna (the national park) are breathtaking. Explore the foothills around the base station on a 3-hour independent hike, or upgrade to include transport to Mount Etna’s summit and a walking tour of the craters at the top.

Start your day trip by boarding your air-conditioned coach in central Taormina, and then relax on the 1-hour journey inland to Mount Etna, the island’s brooding – and spectacular – nemesis. Set in the middle of a national park, Europe’s highest active volcano dominates the Sicilian landscape around it.

Hop out of your coach at the base station Rifugio Sapienza, and then enjoy roughly three hours at leisure to trek independently around the foothills of Mount Etna. The area is covered with hiking trails that zigzag in all directions, and your host will happily point you in the right direction for the Monti Silvestri Craters – two small, yet impressive, craters near the base station.

If you want lunch before or after your hike, visit Rifugio Sapienza’s restaurant. Food and drinks are at your own expense, but the restaurant offers a good selection of hot and cold snacks.

Eager to visit Mount Etna’s summit? Upgrade to skip the three hours of independent time and head straight up to the top with your alpine guide, instead. Ride by cable car to a height of 8,202 feet (2,500 meters), and then travel the remaining distance by 4x4 jeep, stopping at a dizzying 9,843 feet (3,000 meters). Follow your alpine guide carefully around the craters at Mount Etna’s summit, peering into hornitos (small openings that release lava), and learning about volcanic activity in Sicily. At the end of your walk, return to the base station via jeep and cable car to meet the rest of your group.

Then, return to Taormina in the comfort of your air-conditioned coach. Your day trip finishes with a drop-off at the start point.

• Transport by air-conditioned coach
• Tour escort/host
• Professional guide (if Mount Etna’s summit upgrade is selected)
  

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
  
• Gratuities (optional)
• Food and drinks