Etna and Alcantara Gorges Excursion
Etna is one of the wonders that make Sicily unique. At 3350m above sea level, it is the largest active volcano in Europe and is known for its frequent eruptions and the breathtaking landscapes it offers.
The Alcantara Gorges are one of the main attractions on Etna’s northern side, one of the largest canyons in Sicily, created by the waters of the Alcantara and the volcano’s eruptions. The view is breathtaking and the wilderness of the place creates a magical atmosphere. You can explore the canyon by walking, swimming and rafting on the spectacular rivers that flow through the Gorges.
- 8 hours
- Minimum: 2 people
- € 80.00 adults; € 60.00 children 3-10 years old
Etna and Alcantara Gorges Excursion
Our Etna and Alcantara Gorges excursion is a unique experience that combines adventure and relax to perfection. You will discover the fascinating landscapes of Mount Etna’s northern side: you will enjoy the breathtaking view of Mount Etna’s slopes, have the opportunity to see up close and touch ancient lava flows, admire craters that are still active, and appreciate a typical Sicilian landscape with its crops and rural villages.
After a lunch break (included in the price), you can continue your relax with a visit to the Alcantara Gorges: after the excursion to Mount Etna, especially in the warm months, it is a pleasure to bathe in the cold river waters of the Alcantara and relax on the beach.
One of our experts will accompany you throughout the excursion, giving you information on the history, geology and unique features of Etna. We will do our best to ensure that you have the most fun, leaving you with the sweet memory of an unforgettable experience.
2002 eruption lava front
The Etna and Alcantara Gorges excursion begins in an SUV or minivan (up to 8 passengers per vehicle). The first step of our tour is an off-road drive to the lava front of 27/10/2002, the biggest eruption in the last twenty years, which destroyed the ski resort of Piano Provenzana and part of the Ragabo pine forest.
Sartorius Mountains Craters
We will travel through the Ragabo forest along the Mareneve road to the starting point of the trek to the Sartorius Mountains, 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 at an altitude of 1665m and arriving at an altitude of about 1775m.
We will walk along an easy path, among birch trees and side button craters (“bottoniera”), the Sartorius Craters, on the north-eastern slope of Etna. We will reach several vantage points with unique and spectacular views.
The Sartorius Mountains are part of a well-known panoramic itinerary, near Rifugio Citelli, originating from the 1865 eruption on Etna’s northern slope, named after the German volcanologist Wolfgang Sartorius.
It is an itinerary suitable for any hiker and is one of the first Nature Trails marked by the Etna Park: seven button craters characterise the landscape, which is still partly barren but in which nature has returned to germinate. Once at the top, we will reach several vantage points from which you can admire: to the west, Monte Frumento delle Concazze, at an altitude of 2151 m, one of Etna’s largest craters; in front, the Ionian Sea and the Nebrodi and Peloritani mountain chains; on days with good visibility, it will also be possible to admire Calabria and the Aeolian Islands.
Cave of Thieves - Cave of Snows
After our trekking we will take you to explore the Grotta dei Ladroni (also known as the Grotta delle Nevi, or Cave of Thieves and Cave of Snows). Equipped with helmets and torches, we will go inside this lava flow tunnel to discover its formation and history.
It is a tunnel of lava origin, easy to reach and visit, located in the Piano delle Donne locality at 1540m a.s.l. Part of the cave was excavated by the hand of man, as can be seen from the date engraved on a rock at the top of the entrance: 1776. In addition to the construction of steps and the widening of what was once a lava flow tunnel, a number of holes were drilled in the vault to allow for the introduction and accumulation of snow. In past centuries, the inhabitants of Etna used this cave to store snow in the winter months, then reselling it in the warmer months.
Lunch break
We will then stop at a local restaurant or deli for lunch: included in the price is a first course dish, drink and coffee.
The Alcantara Gorges
After lunch we will head towards the Alcantara Gorges, passing through Castiglione di Sicilia: it is one of the “Most Beautiful Villages of Italy”, with characteristics similar to a medieval village, famous today for its wineries that produce an excellent Etna DOC.
Our Etna and Alcantara Gorges excursion will end with a visit to the Alcantara Gorges, also known as the Larderia Gorges, located in the “Alcantara River Park” where the Peloritani mountain chain terminates 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 Gorges are one of Etna’s main attractions. The lava rocks sculpted by the rivers and the waterfalls along the path make the landscape unique. You can also enjoy a wonderful view of the volcano from the top of the canyons. During the walk in the natural park, you can appreciate a great variety of flora and fauna.
The Alcantara Gorge is an unforgettable experience, the Sicilian landscape and the view of Mount Etna are something that cannot be found anywhere else.
Dream Island
This tour is conducted with maximum security and includes travel insurance. Payments can be made with cash, credit cards, PayPal and other secure payment systems, offering maximum security.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns, we will be happy to provide additional information and recommend the most suitable excursion for your needs.
Thank you for choosing Dream Island, have a wonderful time!
Etna and Alcantara Gorges 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
- Departure time: 09:00
- Return time: 17:00
Etna:
- April to May:
Variable weather and temperatures, we recommend winter clothing with layers 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 period: 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 is not obligatory 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
All year round
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 (one first course dish, drink and coffee)
- Visit to the Alcantara Gorges
Included
- Transportation during the tour
- Guide
- Insurance
- Lunch
- Alcantara Gorges ticket (municipal entrance)
- Helmet and torch
- Trekking poles (on 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
Reservation request
Etna and Alcantara Gorges Excursion
We will contact you within 1 hour!
Do you need help?
We are happy to help you choose your excursion.
You can contact us every day from 07:30 to 21:00.
- We speak:
Etna and Alcantara Gorges Excursion
Etna is one of the wonders that make Sicily unique. At 3350m above sea level, it is the largest active volcano in Europe and is known for its frequent eruptions and the breathtaking landscapes it offers.
The Alcantara Gorges are one of the main attractions on Etna’s northern side, one of the largest canyons in Sicily, created by the waters of the Alcantara and the volcano’s eruptions. The view is breathtaking and the wilderness of the place creates a magical atmosphere. You can explore the canyon by walking, swimming and rafting on the spectacular rivers that flow through the Gorges.
- 8 hours
- Minimum: 2 people
- € 80.00 adults; € 60.00 children 3-10 years old
Etna and Alcantara Gorges Excursion
Our Etna and Alcantara Gorges excursion is a unique experience that combines adventure and relax to perfection. You will discover the fascinating landscapes of Mount Etna’s northern side: you will enjoy the breathtaking view of Mount Etna’s slopes, have the opportunity to see up close and touch ancient lava flows, admire craters that are still active, and appreciate a typical Sicilian landscape with its crops and rural villages.
After a lunch break (included in the price), you can continue your relax with a visit to the Alcantara Gorges: after the excursion to Mount Etna, especially in the warm months, it is a pleasure to bathe in the cold river waters of the Alcantara and relax on the beach.
One of our experts will accompany you throughout the excursion, giving you information on the history, geology and unique features of Etna. We will do our best to ensure that you have the most fun, leaving you with the sweet memory of an unforgettable experience.
2002 eruption lava front
The Etna and Alcantara Gorges excursion begins in an SUV or minivan (up to 8 passengers per vehicle). The first step of our tour is an off-road drive to the lava front of 27/10/2002, the biggest eruption in the last twenty years, which destroyed the ski resort of Piano Provenzana and part of the Ragabo pine forest.
Sartorius Mountains Craters
We will travel through the Ragabo forest along the Mareneve road to the starting point of the trek to the Sartorius Mountains, 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 at an altitude of 1665m and arriving at an altitude of about 1775m.
We will walk along an easy path, among birch trees and side button craters (“bottoniera”), the Sartorius Craters, on the north-eastern slope of Etna. We will reach several vantage points with unique and spectacular views.
The Sartorius Mountains are part of a well-known panoramic itinerary, near Rifugio Citelli, originating from the 1865 eruption on Etna’s northern slope, named after the German volcanologist Wolfgang Sartorius.
It is an itinerary suitable for any hiker and is one of the first Nature Trails marked by the Etna Park: seven button craters characterise the landscape, which is still partly barren but in which nature has returned to germinate. Once at the top, we will reach several vantage points from which you can admire: to the west, Monte Frumento delle Concazze, at an altitude of 2151 m, one of Etna’s largest craters; in front, the Ionian Sea and the Nebrodi and Peloritani mountain chains; on days with good visibility, it will also be possible to admire Calabria and the Aeolian Islands.
Cave of Thieves - Cave of Snows
After our trekking we will take you to explore the Grotta dei Ladroni (also known as the Grotta delle Nevi, or Cave of Thieves and Cave of Snows). Equipped with helmets and torches, we will go inside this lava flow tunnel to discover its formation and history.
It is a tunnel of lava origin, easy to reach and visit, located in the Piano delle Donne locality at 1540m a.s.l. Part of the cave was excavated by the hand of man, as can be seen from the date engraved on a rock at the top of the entrance: 1776. In addition to the construction of steps and the widening of what was once a lava flow tunnel, a number of holes were drilled in the vault to allow for the introduction and accumulation of snow. In past centuries, the inhabitants of Etna used this cave to store snow in the winter months, then reselling it in the warmer months.
Lunch break
We will then stop at a local restaurant or deli for lunch: included in the price is a first course dish, drink and coffee.
The Alcantara Gorges
After lunch we will head towards the Alcantara Gorges, passing through Castiglione di Sicilia: it is one of the “Most Beautiful Villages of Italy”, with characteristics similar to a medieval village, famous today for its wineries that produce an excellent Etna DOC.
Our Etna and Alcantara Gorges excursion will end with a visit to the Alcantara Gorges, also known as the Larderia Gorges, located in the “Alcantara River Park” where the Peloritani mountain chain terminates 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 Gorges are one of Etna’s main attractions. The lava rocks sculpted by the rivers and the waterfalls along the path make the landscape unique. You can also enjoy a wonderful view of the volcano from the top of the canyons. During the walk in the natural park, you can appreciate a great variety of flora and fauna.
The Alcantara Gorge is an unforgettable experience, the Sicilian landscape and the view of Mount Etna are something that cannot be found anywhere else.
Dream Island
This tour is conducted with maximum security and includes travel insurance. Payments can be made with cash, credit cards, PayPal and other secure payment systems, offering maximum security.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns, we will be happy to provide additional information and recommend the most suitable excursion for your needs.
Thank you for choosing Dream Island, have a wonderful time!
Etna and Alcantara Gorges 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
- Departure time: 09:00
- Return time: 17:00
Etna:
- April to May:
Variable weather and temperatures, we recommend winter clothing with layers 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 period: 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 is not obligatory 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
All year round
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 (one first course dish, drink and coffee)
- Visit to the Alcantara Gorges
Included
- Transportation during the tour
- Guide
- Insurance
- Lunch
- Alcantara Gorges ticket (municipal entrance)
- Helmet and torch
- Trekking poles (on 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
Reservation request
Etna and Alcantara Gorges Excursion
We will contact you within 1 hour!
Do you need help?
We are happy to help you choose your excursion.
You can contact us every day from 07:30 to 21:00.
- We speak:
