• Piano Provenzana - This is the Etna Nord tourist area located at Piano Provenzana. It is less crowded than the southern slope, offering a more authentic experience closely tied to the volcanic landscape. Here, visitors meet the guides for their excursion. Before setting off, they can use the restrooms, stop at the café for breakfast, and enjoy a coffee or tea with a pastry.

Next, there is a brief meeting with the guides, who provide all the necessary equipment and information for the hike.

This meeting point is situated within the 2002 lava flow. The tourist area of Piano Provenzana was destroyed by the eruption on October 27, 2002. The access road is fully drivable, allowing visitors to reach the starting point with their own vehicle. In winter, it is advisable to carry snow chains or use winter tires.

From here, visitors board 4×4 vehicles with the guides for a scenic drive up the northern flank of Mount Etna. The route traverses lava fields and lateral craters, ascending to 2,960 m, where the trek to the summit begins.

• Itinerario Crateri Sommitali - Visitors meet the guides at 7:45 a.m. at Piano Provenzana, with departure between 8:00–8:15 a.m. An afternoon start at 1:00 p.m. is available from May to October. Travel is by authorized 4×4 vehicles along a 9.5 km scenic track on Etna’s wild, less touristy north slope, where groups are smaller for a more personal experience. The route ascends from 1,800 m to 2,960 m, crossing forests, recent lava flows, a lava-flow channel, eruptive fractures, and lateral craters over 40 m deep. Guides accompany visitors throughout both the drive and hike.
  The unpaved road offers views of northern Sicily, the Aeolian Islands, Strait of Messina, Calabria, the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas, and, on rare clear days, the Madonie range, Gulf of Catania, Syracuse, Augusta, and the vast Valle del Bove.
  This itinerary showcases Etna’s landscapes—from lush woodland and dramatic craters to the stark high-altitude desert—culminating near 3,000 m, where the trek to the summit begins.
• Mount Etna - From 2,960 m, reached by authorized 4×4, begins the guided summit hike of Mount Etna. The trek covers 5 km with a 550 m ascent to the summit area and its four main craters: North-East, Voragine, Bocca Nuova, and South-East.
  Due to daily variations in activity, guides select the safest route toward the most active yet secure crater, adjusting if gas, heat, or fractures necessitate.
  Altitude ranges from 2,960–3,323 m, so good fitness is essential and mild altitude effects are possible.
  The return is a long descent on foot from 3,300 to 1,800 m, about 7 km and 1,500 m negative gain, suitable for experienced hikers with strong knees, as it can feel more challenging than the ascent.
  The path follows soft scoria and sandy gullies through recent lava and the wide Piano delle Concalze, then crosses 2.5 km of ski slopes with rougher, stony ground before reaching the start.
  Total distance is about 12–13 km, with small route changes possible and an overall duration of roughly 6 hours.

• Licensed Volcano Guide
• Entry/Admission to Mount Etna
• Trekking poles, trekking shoes, helmets, warm jacket, extra socks, extra backpack
• Insurance in case of accidents

• Transport service from your accommodation
• Hat and gloves (during autumn, winter and spring)
• Parking ticket (3€ for the whole day) - You can pay it on the spot after the excursion
• Off road vehicle (one way only) from1800m up to 2825m (50€per person to be paid on the spot)
• Public transportation (bus, subway, cable car, etc.)

Trekking in Small Groups

Begin the journey with an ascent in off-road vehicles along the scenic northern slope, reaching an altitude of 2,825 meters. From this point, the trek continues on foot through volcanic scoria and lava bombs, with a 500-meter elevation gain, leading to the rim of the Central Crater at 3,380 meters.

After a pause at the summit to take in the volcanic scenery, the descent is on foot down to 1,800 meters (approximately 7 km), traversing large gullies filled with soft volcanic sand.

Key Information:
• Total distance (round trip): 12 km
• Maximum altitude: 3,380 m
• Minimum altitude: 1,800 m
• Ascent: +500 m
• Descent: -1,580 m (the extended downhill section may be more challenging than the ascent)
• Difficulty: Suitable only for experienced hikers

Note:
Participants who choose to return by bus from 2,850 m to 1,800 m during the excursion will need to pay €70 instead of €50.

• This type of itinerary, in relation to the type, is suited to people in good physical health, not suffering from particular diseases (breathing ones, or hypertension).
• The excursion could be subjected to variations at the discretion of the Guides, or it could be interrupted in case of changes of the environmental, climatic or volcanic conditions, so as to undermine the safety of the entire group.
• For the success of the excursion and for its correct carrying out, it’s good to know perfectly your health conditions and, if necessary, let the Guide know about them, in order to reduce the occurrence of any problems and to avoid any risks.
• The excursion will be carried out according to the limits established by the ordinance in force published by the competent authorities in case of volcanic explosions, the volcano guides must respect it. In this case the guides must stop where it is still safe to arrive for the safety of the entire group.
• The route consists of the ascent and the walking along the crater edges, this may cause dizziness to susceptible individuals.
• We recommend not to use contact lens, because of the exhaled volcanic gases and of ash. This last one could easily cause problems, if pushed.
• The trekking requires a discrete preparation on a physical level. Being a path that develops at high altitude, it will be easy to accuse symptoms of fatigue. It is required attention, since it is a volcanic active area, subjected to constant gaseous exhalations and composed by a soil constituted by inconsistent and unstable rocks.
• Without adequate shoes you are not covered by insurance.
• Pregnant women who have passed the third month of pregnancy are not allowed to take part to any excursion activity.
• Because of the continuous and unpredictable evolution of the volcanic activity, the excursions could undergo variations, or, in extreme cases, be cancelled, at the discretion of the guide for safety reasons.
• The excursion is not suitable for children under 12 years old

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.