Etna and Alcantara Gorges Tour from Catania
Are you ready to discover the perfect balance between the adrenaline of the craters and the rejuvenating freshness of Sicilian nature? Our Etna and Alcantara Gorges excursion from Catania is designed specifically for those who wish to live a complete sensory experience, departing comfortably from the heart of the city.
The journey begins by ascending the slopes of majestic Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe at 3,350 meters above sea level—a living giant that dominates the horizon and offers adventurous landscapes born from millennia of spectacular eruptions. But the charm of this Etna excursion from Catania doesn’t stop at the peaks: we will then move towards the Northern side to admire the Alcantara Gorges, a spectacular lava canyon created by the millennial encounter between the river waters and the lava stone. Here, among basalt walls and wild nature, you will breathe in a magical atmosphere that will make your memory of Sicily unique and indelible.
- 8 hours
- Min. 2 guests
- € 80.00 adults; € 60.00 children 3-10 years old
Etna and Alcantara Gorges Tour From Catania
If you dream of an adventure that combines the power of fire with the rejuvenating freshness of water, our Etna and Alcantara Gorges excursion from Catania is the ultimate experience designed for every type of enthusiast, from beginners to expert hikers. Departing comfortably from the center of Catania, we will leave the city chaos behind to head towards the Northern side of the volcano, where nature manifests in all its primordial strength. Together with our experts, you will have the unique thrill of walking on ancient lava flows and experiencing Sicily’s geological history firsthand, admiring active craters up close and enjoying breathtaking views ranging from rural villages to typical Etnean crops.
But this Etna excursion from Catania isn’t just about trails and panoramas: after the exploration, we will enjoy a gourmet stop for a typical Sicilian lunch—already included in the price of €80.00—where you can taste the authentic flavors of the region before continuing the journey. The adventure then takes a cooler and more relaxing turn with a visit to the Alcantara Gorges, where the entrance ticket is also included in your tour. Especially during the warmer months, it will be an immense pleasure to descend to the river beach and be enveloped by the refreshing waters flowing between the imposing columnar basalt walls.
During this 8-hour tour, you will be accompanied by a professional who will reveal the secrets of Sicilian history and geology, ensuring maximum fun and the safety that only a Licensed DMC & Tour Operator active since 2017 can offer. Choosing our Etna and Alcantara Gorges excursion from Catania means returning home with the sweet memory of an unforgettable experience, curated in every detail to make you fall in love with our land.
Itinerary Etna and Alcantara Gorges excursion
Etna: Lava Front of the 2002 eruption
The Etna and Alcantara Gorges tour from Catania begins by SUV or minivan (up to 8 passengers per vehicle). The first stop of our tour is an off-road route leading to the lava front of 10/27/2002, the largest eruption in recent times, which destroyed the Piano Provenzana ski facilities and part of the Ragabo Pine Forest.
Etna: Monti Sartorius craters
Passing through the Ragabo Forest, following the Mareneve road, we will reach the starting point of the trek to the Monti Sartorius craters near Rifugio Citelli, where our hike will continue on foot. This is a walk of easy difficulty, suitable for everyone, the route is about 3km long in total, starting from an altitude of 1665m and arriving at an altitude of about 1775m.
We will walk along a characteristic Etnean path, among birch trees and button crater sides (“bottoniera”), the Sartorius Craters, on the northeastern slope of Etna. We will reach several vantage points with unique and spectacular views.
- If you are interested in learning more about the name of these craters we refer you to this article on the famous volcanologist Wolfgang Sartorius.
Etna: Grotta dei Ladroni - Grotta delle Nevi (lava cave)
After our trek to the Sartorius we will go to explore an Etna volcanic cave, the Grotta dei Ladroni (also called Grotta delle Nevi). Equipped with helmets and flashlights, we will go inside this lava flow tunnel to discover its formation and history.
This is a tunnel of lava origin, located at Piano delle Donne at 1540 m a.s.l. Part of the cave has been excavated by man, as evidenced by the date engraved on a rock at the top of the entrance: 1776. In addition to making steps and widening what was a lava flow tunnel, a number of holes were drilled in the vault to allow for the introduction and accumulation of snow. In centuries past, Etna’s inhabitants used this cave to store snow in the winter months, later reselling it in the warmer months.
Lunch break at a restaurant
We will then stop at an Etnean restaurant to rest and have lunch: first course, drink and coffee are included in the price of the excursion.
Alcantara Gorges
After lunch the tour will continue to the Alcantara Valley, passing 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 produce an excellent Etna DOC.
Our Etna and Alcantara Gorges excursion will come to an end with a visit to the Alcantara Gorges, also known as the Larderia Gorges. They are located in the “Alcantara River Park”, at the point 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). We will descend inside the Alcantara Gorges via the municipal entrance, the entrance fee is included in the price.
Etna and Alcantara Gorges tour details
- Adults price (10 years and older): €80.00 per person
- Children price (3-10 years old): €60.00 per person
- Children (under 3 years old): free
- Lunch is included in the price
- Departure time: 09:00
- Return time: 17:00
Etna:
- From April to May:
Weather and temperatures vary; we recommend layered winter clothing and sneakers. - June to September: Warm temperatures, we recommend summer clothing with t-shirt, trousers or shorts, and sneakers. However, we suggest bringing a light jacket or a k-way in case of passing rain. Optionally, to protect yourself from the sun, you can bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
- October: Variable weather and temperatures, we recommend winter clothing in layers and sneakers.
- November to March: We recommend winter clothing with a jacket, long trousers, winter hat, and waterproof or hiking shoes (available on request).
Alcantara Gorges:
- Summer time: We recommend bringing a towel, swimming suit and beach slippers. To walk inside the Alcantara river, we recommend that you bring water shoes, depending on personal preference it is also possible to walk barefoot inside the river. It’s up to you whether or not you’d like to bathe or walk in the Alcantara river; if you wish, you are free to dive and cool off in the chilly river water of the Alcantara.
- Difficulty: easy
- Length: approx. 3km
- Maximum altitude: 1780m a.s.l.
- Altitude difference: approx. 100m
Year-round
- Pick up available
- Free upon request (within 30 km of Linguaglossa)
Upon request
What's included in the Etna and Alcantara Gorges excursion
- Tour by SUV or minivan
- Off-road to the 2002 lava front, through the Ragabo pine forest
- Trekking on the Sartorius Craters on the north-eastern slope of Etna, UNESCO heritage craters
- Exploration of "Grotta dei Ladroni", a lava flow cave
- Lunch included in the price (first course, drink and coffee)
- Visit to the Alcantara Gorges
Included
- Transportation
- Guide
- Insurance
- Lunch
- Alcantara Gorges ticket (municipal entrance)
- Helmet and flashlight
- Hiking poles (upon request)
- Water bottle
Excluded
- Trekking shoes (€ 5.00/pair)
- Anything not described in included
€ 80.00 per person
€ 60.00 children 3-10 years old
Free for children under 3 years old
- Free cancellation
- No prepayment
- 100% satisfaction guaranteed
- 4.9/5 stars based on over 2,000 reviews on GetYourGuide, TripAdvisor, and Google
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