Description
Our association is particularly sensitive to the spread of environmental education, respect for nature and the territory especially among the youngest. For this reason we organize educational excursions dedicated specifically to school groups. The experience of our guides will allow students of all levels to appreciate the naturalistic and scientific aspects with clear and didactically appropriate language. We recommend below some basic itineraries that can be customized based on age and educational objectives. The excursions for schools include transportation by bus at the expense of the school/travel agency, on request we can provide the bus service with Rental with Driver of our qualified partners, in this case we recommend contacting our secretariat.
Tour Program
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ETNA - HALF DAY
The standard half-day itinerary includes a route in stages with a visit to Zafferana Etnea near the 1992 lava flow, the largest eruption of the last century, where the lava stopped touching one of the most at-risk Etna villages. We will then proceed by coach to arrive at the top of the wonderful extinct lateral craters at an altitude of around 2000 metres (we will opt for the Rifugio Sapienza area or Crateri Sartorius based on the forecast weather) to observe and understand the dynamics of the volcano during the eruptions. The scientific aspects related to our territory will be carefully covered, from volcanology, to geology, to the flora and fauna of the largest volcano in Europe, named a UNESCO heritage site since 2013. During the excursion it is possible to plan a guided visit to a beekeeping company with an explanation of the honey production processes with free tasting. Expected duration: max 5 hours in total.
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ETNA AND SURROUNDINGS - FULL DAY
If you wish to extend the excursion to a full day, we can combine the previous full day program with an afternoon activity in other reasonably reachable naturalistic sites. Among these we recommend: Acitrezza, the Lachea Island and the Faraglioni; Alcantara Park with possible access to the botanical park; Etna Museum - Lava Museum in Viagrande; Visit to the Butterfly House in Viagrande (only in spring) or others, on request. Estimated duration: max 8 hours in total.
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ALCANTARA PARK
Excursions to this fascinating and educational natural site can also be organized independently from the visit to the Etna volcano. In this case we will provide a naturalistic guide to lead the students inside the Alcantara Park on one of the following paths/itineraries: - Gurne dell'Alcantara - Francavilla di Sicilia. Easy route. Approximately 2,5 hours including stops. - Alcantara Gorges with a possible visit to the Botanical Geological Park. Approximately 3 hours, including stops.
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NATURAL SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF CT AND SR
Our naturalistic guides certified by FederEScursionismo Sicilia, are qualified to accompany you in many other natural sites beyond Etna. Among these we point out in the province of Catania: the natural reserve of Fiumefreddo; La Timpa di Acireale; Oasis mouth and/or lava gorges of Simeto; In the province of Syracuse: Pantalica Reserve and Anapo Valley. Vendicari Reserve.
Overview
- PeriodAll year round.
- TypologyX School Trips
- meeting pointTo be defined
- ClockwiseTo be defined
- DifficultyLow, suitable for everyone.
- HeightVariable
- LanguageEnglish, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Know before you go
- Etna excursion for schools (approx. 5 hours): €280/guide
- Guide rates, max. 25 students. Free teachers.
For Siracusa/Alcantara natural parks +40€ for guide expenses reimbursement.
Services
Tour Includes
- Tasting of Etna specialties
- Naturalistic and/or volcanological guide
General FAQs
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What should students bring?
For this excursion, sneakers or trekking shoes are mandatory if you choose a walk of this type. Also recommended: sunglasses, windbreaker/sweatshirt, water, snacks.
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In case of bad weather?
It depends. If the conditions are not prohibitive, that is, it is cloudy or raining but there is a fair amount of visibility, the tours are usually carried out without any difficulty. In any case, the guide makes an assessment based on his/her experience and if the conditions are not right, he/she can decide to move or cancel the excursion in agreement with the teachers. There is no refund of the fees in the event of cancellation by the client.
Highlights
Rates may vary based on the type of itinerary, age and number of participants.
