A fantastic day among the volcanoes of Etna the Alcantara gorges departing from Giardini
Excursion Etna and Alcantara Gorges from Mascali
With this full-day Etna and Alcantara Gorges excursion departing from Giardini, Dream Island will introduce two wonderful and unique landscapes of Sicily. Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Alcantara Gorges
Between Etna and Alcantara Gorges to discover endless excitement
This Etna and Alcantara Gorge excursion from Catania will start in Suv or minivan and then proceed off-road. First leg of our tour is an off-road drive to the lava front of 27/10/2002 , the largest eruption in the past two decades that destroyed the Piano Provenzana ski facilities and much of the Ragabo pine forest. S uccessively we proceed to the starting point of our the trek .
Our excursion will start from an altitude of 1650 meters and will reach an altitude of 1750 meters. (It is possible to request a reservation to arrive at 2050 meters.)
We will walk along an easy path, among birch trees and side craters along a buttonhole, the Sartorius Mountains , on the northeastern slope of Etna. Once at the top we will reach some viewpoints. From here enjoy: to the west Monte Frumento delle Concazze, at an altitude of 2,151 m, one of the largest craters of Etna. facing the Ionian sea and the mountain ranges of the Nebrodi and Peloritani.
Before we begin our descent we will visit the Cave of Thieves, a lava flow tunnel into which – equipped with helmets and flashlights – we will enter to discover its formation and history.
The Sartorius Mountains The Sartorius Mountains.
They are part of a well-known panoramic itinerary which originated from the 1865 eruption on the northern slope of Etna. They are named after the German volcanologist Wolfgang Sartorius. It is an itinerary suitable for any hiker and it is one of the first paths marked by the Etna park: they are composed of Nature marked by the Etna park: they are composed of Nature seven button craters That today starts from today the landscape, largely still arid, but in which life is sprouting again . It is a tunnel easy to Reach and to visit, placed A Flat locality of the Women at 1,540 meters asl The cave was lava of origin, Excavated By the hand of Man, come Data From the result Engraved On A Rock AT THE ENTRANCE, in contralto: 1776. In addition to the construction of steps and the widening of what was a lava flow tunnel, some holes were drilled in the vault to allow the introduction of snow. Winter.
We will stop at a mountain chalet for a lunch stop (not included in the price).
Second part of the tour
After lunch, we drive through Castiglione di Sicilia: it is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, with features similar to a medieval village, famous today for its wineries that fight an excellent Etna Doc. Our
Etna and Alcantara excursion from Giardini Naxos
will come to an end with a visit to the Alcantara Gorges, situate in the valley of the A lcantara , also known as the Gorges of Larderia, where the Peloritani mountain range ends in the municipalities of Castiglione di Sicilia and Motta Camastra (one of the places where some scenes of the famous film The Godfather were filmed .
The Alcantara River
It flows among the lava rock that forms its natural riverbed. It rises from the Nebrodi Mountains, 1400 meters. 6 km long and easily navigable for 3 km, in total the river is 53 km long. The present name derives from the term of Arabic origin Al qantar (the pot, from the gorges it has carved in the stone), hence the correct pronunciation Alcàntara. During this easy hike you will be accompanied by our experienced guides. very fast creating pentagonal and hexagonal prismatic shapes, recalling the molecular structure of the materials that constitute it. The peculiarity of this gorge consists in the structure of the walls, created by flows of basaltic lava 300,000 years old (poor in silicon but rich in iron, magnesium and calcium).About ten meters high, the view is really impressive. At this point the lava has cooled.
Etna 4×4 Excursion: What awaits you
- You will experience an off-road adventure with a 4×4 vehicle
- You’ll hike along old and new lava flows
- You will visit, on a light trek, a “buttonhole” crater system
- Equipped with helmets and flashlights, you will explore a lava cave
- You will enjoy a typical Sicilian lunch (full-day tour)
- You will visit the famous Alcantara Gorges (full-day tour)
- An expert guide always with you
