Description

AltaQuota Trek excursion will make you experience the thrill of walking surrounded by surreal panoramas. The first part of the tour takes place by cable car , from the Sapienza refuge (1960 m) to the arrival station of the Etna cable car (2510 m), from here we will proceed in trekking to visit the Piano del Lago,  a vast expanse of volcanic sand that creates a surreal lunar landscape and from there we will ascend to a  crater that was the  protagonist of the 2001 eruption, from where you can admire the nearby summit craters and the Ionian coast.  Reached the lava fields of the latest eruptions (2017-2019) you will reach the belvedere of the famous  Valle del Bove,a vast depression generated by the collapse of an ancient volcanic building. The guide, having assessed the weather conditions and the group’s capabilities, can plan the descent with the gondola lift (for those less used to long walks) or trekking on sandy gullies to the parking lot.

IMPORTANT NOTES: The maximum altitude reached with this tour is about 2600 meters . The excursion, given the altitude and the relative high mountain weather conditions, is recommended for people in a state of good physical health and well equipped (possibly we have hire of insulating shoes and jackets). Not recommended for infants, young children or people with cardio-respiratory diseases.

ONLY WITH US COLORS & FLAVOURS OF ETNA
At the end of the tour there will be a tasting of typical sweet and savory Etna products at the Gusteria dell’Etna in MontataGrande. In the same family campaign, you can book a frugal lunch stop to live an experience of taste, smells and colors of the countryside. Add to your reservation the Farmer’s Menu, a rich taste of typical specialties or a Wine Experience for those who want to taste, in addition to food, a selection of Etna wines.

Tour Program

  • ASCENT TO 2500 MT BY CABLE CAR

    In this excursion, the first part of the ascent - from 1950 to 2510 meters - will take place with the cable car of the famous Etna cableway that starts from the famous Rifugio Sapienza. A pioneering ski lift project that has challenged the volcano since 1955. 5 times this tourist facility has been devoured by lava. The panorama of the Gulf of Catania and the slopes of the southern slope with recent and ancient tongues of lava will stand out higher and higher.

  • PIAN DEL LAGO | VOLCANIC DESERT

    Leaving the Etna cableway station we will walk towards the PIano del Lago, so called because of the presence in the past of a seasonal lake that was formed due to the melting of the snow. After the 2001 eruption it no longer exists and has been covered by a volcanic cone (Cono del Laghetto) about 80 meters high.

  • CRATER OF 2001 ERUPTION

    We will therefore climb the slopes of the crater of the Laghetto (about 2670 meters), a cone born in just 20 days of eruption and which has changed the morphology of the area. From here the panorama is breathtaking. You can admire the expanse of volcanic "Tefra" which constitutes the very black plain of the lake, the most recent lava flows and then them: the summit craters of the Etna volcano that stand out in front of you at just a little more than a km as the crow flies .

  • BEATIFUL VIEW OF VALLE DEL BOVE

    Another unmissable stop, if luck - meteorologically speaking - will assist us, will be the passage on the viewpoint of the Valle del Bove at 2700 meters, the maximum altitude reached in our adventure. This is the best place to enjoy this extraordinary panorama of the natural amphitheater created by a series of huge volcanic collapses and cataclysms, such as to literally sink the east side of the volcano towards the sea. And here it will be very clear, thanks also to the explanations of your expert guide.

  • DESCENT TO SAND TRAILS

    The return to the parking lot is recommended for good walkers on trekking. One of the most exciting descents from the Rocca Sabbiosa. The name is all a program. So let yourself go down, with long steps or even running, from the gullies of fine volcanic sand with the panorama of dozens of lateral craters, including the beautiful Silvestri craters and the Gulf of Catania. Guaranteed fun.

Gallery

Overview

  • PeriodApril to Novembre
  • TypeAll experiences
  • Departure CityTrecastagni
  • Timing8,30 - 13.30 (Meeting point)
  • DifficultyAverage. Suitable for healthy people
  • AltitudeMax 2700 Mts. almost
  • Durations 5 hours
  • LanguagesEnglish, French, Italian, Spanish

Rates

  • Fee for a couple: 238 €
  • Booking online min. 3 adults: 99 € / person.
  • Children 6/13 years: € 69
  • Private tour (Guide and private vehicle - flex timetable): + 150 €
    Add additional promo codes at the checkout!

Tour Includes

  • Cable car ticket (worth € 50)
  • Nature Hiking Guide – Local Expert
  • Transfer from our meeting point

Meeting Point

MontataGrande - Etna AgricolTour - Via Dottor Zappalà in Trecastagni. Etna Sud. (30 Min. From Catania). Free internal parking reserved for our guests. Click on the map for directions. On request shuttle service from your accommodation or nearby.

General FAQs

  • What i should bring?

    Trekking shoes are MANDATORY for this excursion. Also recommended: poles, sunglasses, windproof jacket / sweatshirt, water. If you need it, you can take advantage of our rental where you will find shoes, jackets, sticks and more.

  • What can i rent?

    At our meeting point in Trecastagni, you can rent trekking shoes, insulating jackets, trekking poles and request seats for children up to 3 years. You can book the equipment in the online booking form.

  • In case of bad wheather?

    It depends. If the conditions are not prohibitive, i.e. it is cloudy or raining but there is a fair visibility, usually the tours are carried out without any difficulty. In any case, the guide carries out an evaluation based on his experience and if the conditions are not met, he can decide to move or cancel the excursion in agreement with our guests. In case of cancellation due to bad weather, decided between the parties, the reimbursement of any advance membership fees paid is made.

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