Excursion Description
The excursion to the summit craters of Etna represents the pinnacle of discovery on our volcano. The adventure unfolds in two phases.
The first phase involves the use of 4x4 vehicles that travel along the "702 – Summit Craters" trail, ascending along the North-East Rift, one of the most fragile areas of the volcano. The starting point, communicated a few days before, will be Rifugio Citelli (1741m) or Piano Provenzana (1800m). The off-road ascent allows reaching an altitude between 2800 and 3000 meters, admiring a landscape that changes with every turn: extinct craters, lava flows, 'dagale' (islands of vegetation surrounded by lava), and remains of tourist facilities covered by past eruptions.
The second phase is the trek. Once you have reached and passed the Pizzi Deneri volcanological observatory, you continue on foot towards the 4 summit craters: the Voragine crater, which at 3403 meters is the new summit of Etna after the 2024 paroxysms; the Bocca Nuova, adjacent to Voragine; the South-East crater, formed in 1971; and finally the North-East crater, from 1911. The visit will take place with the utmost respect for the place and in safety, accompanied by a volcanological guide.
The descent is entirely on foot through suggestive volcanic sand and crater rims, with two possible return routes: one towards Piano Provenzana, passing along the 2002 eruptive cones, and the other towards Rifugio Citelli, following the 1928 fracture.
What the excursion includes
- Authorized volcanological guide;
- 4x4 off-road transport for the ascent;
- Helmet for the high summit altitudes;
- Trekking poles;
Book your adventure on Etna
Experience the most complete way to explore the volcano. Contact us to book your excursion to the Summit Craters.
- The excursion does not necessarily include reaching the maximum altitude or prolonged stops in the summit area due to the instability of the summit.
- The program may vary depending on weather and volcanological conditions.
- A good physical condition is required. The excursion is not recommended for those suffering from asthma or heart problems.
- Maximum cooperation and caution are recommended in following the guide's instructions.
