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Ride and hike Etna’s north slope – where fire reshaped the mountain in 2002

Mount Etna up to 3000 meters + Craters 2002

  • Piano Provenzana - Etna Nord
  • 10.30, 12.00 or 13.30 Hour
  • Duration: about 2,5 hours

Mount Etna up to 3000 meters + craters 2002

Mount Etna up to 3000 meters + craters 2002

Explore Mount Etna and get to the highest point possible by 4x4 bus! With this excursion you get a full experience of Mount Etna driving up to almost 3000 meters. You will arrive to a panoramic viewpoint near the observatory Pizzi Deneri from where you have an amazing view on the top crater, the coast from Taormina to Catania and the Valle del Bove. Also you will visit the craters of 2002 during this tour. This al accompanied by an official volcano guide.

  • Start location: Piano Provenzana - Etna Nord
  • Starttime: 10.30 and 12.00 or 13.30 hour
  • Duration excursion: 2,5 hours
Itinerary Mount Etna up to 3000 meters tour + craters 2002

The excursion up to more less 3000 meters on Mount Etna starts from Piano Provenzana, Etna Nord. With comfortable 4×4 buses you will drive via the unpaved road up the volcano to the astrophysical observatory Pizzi Deneri located at 2805 meters.

Along the way you can enjoy beautiful views of old craters, the contrast between nature and lava and beautiful views to the sea.

Once you arrive at 2805 meters you will do a small trek up to an altitude of 2865 meters (altitude depending on the activity of the volcano). From this viewpoint you can see the famous Valle del Bove, underneath the North-East crater. The volcano guide will tell you a lot about the volcano here. From here you have also a breathtaking view on the Sicilian coast.

Then you return to the 4×4 bus and descend to 2200 meters altitude. Here you will make a second stop after which a short trek of about 20 minutes follows over the edge of the crater of the 2002 eruption. Through a moderately steep path over lava sand you will descend to the 4×4 bus that will drive you back to Piano Provenzana.

Details

The Mount Etna up to 3000 meters excursions start every day from april till half november. Depending on the number of bookings and period of the year, there are 3 different departure times during the day:

  • 10:30 hour
  • 12.00 or 13.30 hour*
  • 15:30 hour*

The excursion starts only when the minimum number of participants is reached. We ALWAYS suggest you to book in advanced, for 3 reasons:

✓ You have a guaranteed starting time
✓ You have guaranteed places
✓ You get a lot of extra free info and tips to get the most out of your Mount Etna day!

* These start times are by reservation only. Without a reservation, there is a chance that the tour is not there, or there is no place for you. So never drive up Mount Etna unnecessarily… (Booking is free, you don’t pay anything in advance and you can always cancel for free!)

Timeschedule

You always need to arrive 30 minutes before the start of the tour. This way you have enough time to pay for your ticket, to go to the bathroom, to make some pictures at Piano Provenzana and most important of all: get used to the altitude.

The tour takes more less 2,5 hours in total, depending on the group, de number of questions for the guide and the weather.

  • Start: Piano Provenzana - Etna Nord
  • Departure time: 09.30 Hour
  • Duration by bus 45 Minutes
  • Meeting time 30 Minutes before the start
  • Total duration: About 2,5 hours
  • Trekking duration on foot: 30 + 20 Minutes
  • Total elevation gain 1000 Meters
  • Maximum altitute 2920 Meters
Price
  • Adults: € 69,00 per person
  • Children 4 – 12 years: € 50,00 per person
  • Children 0 – 3 years: free, when they sit on the laps of their parents/caregivers

You can pay at the ticket office on the day of the excursion by presenting your reservation. Without reservation there might be no place for you. You can pay for the excursion by cash, ATM or credit card.

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Including and excluding
  • Bus 4x4 up to 2900 meters
  • Bus 4x4 back to Piano Provenzana
  • Small hike at the panoramic viewpoint at the observatory Pizzi Deneri
  • Small hike to the border of the craters of 2002
  • Stop at the crater of 1809
  • Stop at the hotel buried below the lava
  • Official volcano guide
  • Drinks and food
  • Parking at Piano Provenzana (€ 3,00 per car - € 15,00 per camper)
  • Tips for the guide and driver (not obligatory)
  • Rental jacket and/or shoes (not obligatory)
Clothing tips and what to bring

Depending on the time of year for this tour, the temperature can be very low. In May, for example, at 2900 meters, you should expect 4 degrees. Often it is the wind that makes it feel cold.

Therefore, be sure to wear layered clothing and a good windproof jacket. A hat and scarf are also helpful! If you do not have a hat, consider a hoodie, for example. It is also advisable to wear good closed shoes. For example, hiking boots or sports shoes with good grip.

Keep in mind that even in high season the temperature at the summit drops. We therefore always recommend to bring a jacket!

Rental clothes and shoes
It is also possible to rent a jacket at Piano Provenzana. You can go to one of the souvenir shops for this rental service.

  • Rental jacket: € 5,00
  • Rental shoes: € 5,00

Food and drinks
If you want to bring food and drinks on the tour you will need to make arrangements before you leave for Piano Provenzana. Otherwise you can buy something at one of the 2 bars at Piano Provenzana. It is recommended that you carry at least 1.5 liters of water with you at all times.

  • Layered clothes
  • (Wind)jacket
  • Good sport shoes
  • Hat
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses
  • Powerbank
  • Water
  • Energy snack
FAQ

This tour is suitable for most people in good health. Children over 3/4 years old can usually join. However, it is not recommended for pregnant women, people with heart or respiratory problems, or those with reduced mobility, due to the altitude and uneven terrain.

We recommend wearing layered clothing, as temperatures at 3000 meters can be significantly lower than at the base – even in summer. A windproof jacket, closed hiking shoes or sports shoes with grip, and a hat or hoodie are also advisable. In colder months or windy days, gloves and a scarf may be useful.

The entire experience lasts approximately 2.5 hours, including the 4x4 transport, guided stops, short walks, and photo opportunities near the craters.

You will walk close to the edge of the 2002 craters, where the guide will explain their formation. For safety reasons, walking inside the craters is not allowed.

Restrooms are available at Piano Provenzana before departure. There are no toilet facilities during the excursion itself, so we recommend using the facilities in advance.

Yes. All tours are conducted within officially permitted zones and constantly monitored by the INGV (National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology). If conditions change, excursions may be modified or cancelled for safety.

No. This tour does not reach the summit craters (which are at ~3347 meters). Instead, it brings you to a safe upper zone at around 3000 meters, near the Observatorio Pizzi Deneri.

Yes, we recommend booking in advance, especially during high season. Seats in the 4x4 buses are limited, and guided tours tend to fill up quickly.
per person

€ 69,00

Mount Etna up to 3000 meters + Craters 2002

  • Certified volcanological guide included
  • Safe, guided tour up to 3000 m.

BOOKING REQUEST

Send your request for this excursion without any obligation. We will try to answer you within 1 hour!

  • No hidden costs
  • No advance payment
  • Free cancellation

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    Need help or you want advise?

    Need help? Me and my team will gladly help you choose your excursion!

    • Anniek I live in Linguaglossa and I’m an official touristic guide. It is my goal to give you the best memory of your holiday! I speak Italian, English and Dutch.
    • Ellen I live in Salerno and I love Sicily as a holiday destination. It is my goal to answer your request as soon as possible and to give you the best tips! I speak Italian, English and Dutch.
    • Alessandro I was born in Linguaglossa and I have over 40 years of experience on Mount Etna. Also, I’m an official volcano guide. I speak Italian, English, French and the Sicilian Dialect.
    Contact us this way

    Every day available from 09.00 hour to 21.00 hour, also on Sundays!

    The guide and languages

    The Mount Etna up to 3000 meters tour is guided by trained volcano guides. These guides speak Italian, English & French and will tell you a lot about the volcano and craters during the hike. Please indicate your language preference when requesting the tour, so we can try to take this into account when planning the tour.

    Restrictions Mount Etna up to 3000 meters

    This tour is not recommended for:

    • Pregnant woman
    • Children of 0 – 1 year
    • People with back problems
    • people with cardiac problems
    • people with severe knee/walking problems

    The reason for these restrictions are the height at which you come. This is not good for small children’s ears, for example. Another reason is the ride in the bus which is off-road over solidified lava. This is hugely bumpy and this is definitely not good for the fetus. If you are pregnant and do want to go, you need a doctor’s note and you have to take full responsibility.

    Alternative Etna sunset tour

    If this excursion cannot take place due to weather or insufficient participation. Or the time schedule does not suit you, you can choose this same excursion during the evening. The tour will be a little longer and you will see also the magical sunset. Read here more about this alternative tour: Mount Etna sunset & lava tour.

    • Reviews from our customers

    The reviews you find here are 100% authentic and voluntarily written by people who have actually experienced an excursion with us. Only our guests can leave feedback, thus ensuring transparency and quality. Our guests' opinions help us to constantly improve and offer more memorable experiences. Discover our excursions through the eyes of those who have already chosen Piano Provenzana and get inspired for your next adventure!

    Only reviews from customers who have made the excursion.

    Rated by 9 customers

    5,0

    • The itinerary of the excursion:
    • Price/quality excursion:
    • Guide service:
    "Excellent trip to the Etna"

    Our guide David was great and explained us very interested things about the Etna and Sicilia. Very good view at 3000m of the main craters. Incredible experience. Very good welcome to book the excursion too.

    08 August 2025 - Sonia, France
    "Super ervaring"

    Deze trip kunnen wij aan iedereen aanraden. Een super ervaring, geweldige uitzichten, accurate uitleg van de gids. Bij het informeren de dag voordien 's avonds laat, kregen wij heel vlot antwoord om de dag nadien op excursie te kunnen.

    06 June 2024 - Luc Demedts, Belgium
    "Erna north tour"

    Geweldig mooie tocht met spectaculaire uitzichten en heel veel uitleg van de gidsen. Echt een aanrader

    26 October 2023 - John Meijer, France
    "Sunset Trip via 4x4"

    My wife made the initial contact via email as we were touring around Sicily in our motorhome. The detailed information was superb with our individual questions fully answered. We had no hesitation in booking this excursion. Payment was made on arrival at checkin time via the voucher sent via email. The excursion was very surreal as the landscape was quite unexpected. Our guide spoke excellent English Italian and Germany and gave us excellent information throughout the journey. It was as expected quite cool at the top and we were glad of our outer coats. I did somehow expect to see some hot lava as this was an active volcano but this did not stop this from being a fascinating journey. I would recommend this to anyone. We even had our cockapoo with us and she enjoyed excavating among many of the stones.

    20 October 2023 - James, United Kingdom
    "An experience not to be missed"

    We went on the sunset Etna 3000 trip. It was a wonderful experience to be so high up next to some of the old craters. The scenery was awesome and even though we did not manage a clear sunset, the beautiful colours above the clouds were stunning. We had a guide with us who gave us quite a lot of interesting information. Anniek, who booked our excursion, was very helpful and was prompt in answering our queries.

    28 June 2023 - Jacqueline Grima, Malta
    "Amazing trip."

    This is a wonderful way to learn about Mt Etna and explore the changing landscape. It is a small group with a well informed guide. I would definitely recommend.

    26 June 2023 - Sarah, Sweden
    "Black and white and a touch of green"

    A bit of hesitation in the morning due to the weather forecast. But we went anyway. The ride in the bus was a roller coaster, but hey, no pain, no gain. Once we arrived at the observatory, unfortunately the visibility was next to nothing, but that was beyond control, just bad luck. Lucia, our guide took us to a little summit through the snow. On the way back we made two stops to watch some craters of the 2002 eruption. Very impressive. A very nice experience it was…..

    03 June 2023 - Harry Denies, Netherlands
    "Geweldige Etna experience"

    Via de mooie website van Piano Provenzana hebben we deze prachtige tocht aan de noordkant van de Etna geboekt. Dankzij Anniek konden we de ochtend na onze late boeking mee met de 4-wheel drive naar > 3000 mtr hoogte. Heldere en leuke uitleg door de gids (Engelstalig).

    15 October 2022 - Hans, Nederland, Netherlands
    "Anniek is a star"

    Anniek helped organise the whole thing. She was amazingly helpful and gave useful suggestions Pricey for the experience but still very good. They are all similarly priced. Maurizio was a great guide and Christian a great driver.

    16 April 2022 - Ash and Ira, United Kingdom
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