With BÙUM, the ascent to the summit craters becomes the most intense chapter of a journey on Etna: you climb Europe's highest active volcano alongside a certified volcanological guide, first off-road and then on foot, all the way to the crater terraces of the summit.
The Itinerary, Step by Step
Off-road along trail 702
The journey starts from Piano Provenzana (1800 m), the station repeatedly overwhelmed by lava flows and today the gateway to the north side. From here the 4x4 vehicles take the "702 – Summit Craters" trail and gain altitude along the North-East Rift, one of the most volcanologically fragile sectors of the entire Etna edifice. As you climb, the landscape tells its story: extinct cones, dagale, recent lava, and the remains of structures swallowed by eruptions line the sides of the track.
On foot towards the summit
Past the Pizzi Deneri observatory — a high-altitude laboratory built in the late 1970s in an area sheltered from lava flows — you continue on foot. The guide chooses the most suitable route each time, reading the weather, the volcano's activity, and the group's pace together. At the top you meet Etna's four summit craters:
- Voragine — brought back to 3403 m by the paroxysms of summer 2024, now the highest point of the volcano;
- Bocca Nuova — twin of Voragine within the central crater system;
- South-East — born in 1971, protagonist of the roughly sixty paroxysms of 2021;
- North-East — the oldest, opened in 1911.
The crater terraces are visited at the times and distances the guide deems safe, on a route designed to read and understand one of the most extraordinary places in world volcanology.
The descent on the sandy channels
Once the visits at the top are over, you descend on foot along the sandy channels that lead comfortably to Piano delle Concazze (about 2800 m), a wide plateau born from the caldera collapse of the Ellittico volcano, whose edges outline the north crest of the Valle del Bove. Here the 4x4 vehicles pick the group up and bring it back to Piano Provenzana, closing the loop.
Gear and What's Included
With BÙUM, the €130 fee is all-inclusive: you don't need to rent the technical gear or pay separately for the off-road transport. The price includes the certified volcanological guide, the 4x4 transport for the ascent and the descent pickup (€50 per person), the safety briefing, and the gear provided directly by BÙUM:
- Helmet for the summit area and caves
- Headlamp
- Neck gaiter against high-altitude gases and dust
- Trekking poles
- Long trousers and down jacket on request
Only the windproof jacket/shell and high-top trekking shoes (rentable for €5/7) remain the participant's responsibility. On request, a meeting point with the guide at 2900 m is also possible for those who wish to climb independently.
Preparation and Safety
The part on foot covers about 7 km with 550 m of elevation gain, for a total duration of about 5 hours on unstable terrain and with the possible presence of gases: good physical condition is required. Each guide leads a group of no more than 10 people and may modify the itinerary based on seismic activity and gas emissions. Due to the strong instability of the summit, reaching the maximum altitude is not guaranteed.
Book with BÙUM
Fill out the form to reserve your spot and experience the ascent to Etna's summit craters with BÙUM.
- Total cost €130, of which €50 per person for the 4x4.
- On request, a meeting point with the guide at 2900 m can be arranged, skipping the off-road section (for experienced hikers only).
- Reaching the maximum altitude and prolonged stops in the summit area are not guaranteed.
- The program may vary with weather and volcanological conditions.
- The excursion is not suitable for those suffering from asthma or heart problems.
