Do you want to go to the real top of the Etna volcano at 3347m altitude? This is now possible again with the “Etna summit tour with 4×4 bus (round trip) excursion”! You go with this excursion with the 4×4 off-road bus to 2900 meters altitude. From here you will walk to the summit of Mount Etna. Once at the top you can enjoy a magnificent view of the top Etna volcano crater where the smoke is still coming out. After this visit you will walk back to 2900 meters and take the 4×4 unimog bus back to Piano Provenzana at 1800m altitude.
Description Etna Summit tour with 4×4 bus (round trip)
The excursion starts from Piano Provenzana – Etna Nord. Here you get on the 4×4 unimog bus that takes you from 1800 meters altitude to 2900 meters altitude to Piano delle Concazze. From here the trekking to the summit of Etna volcano begins. This is a trekking with 500 meters difference in altitude that takes about 2 hours. In total, the distance to cover to the summit is about 4.5 km.
Once you arrive at the top of the Etna volcano crater you can enjoy a sulfite landscape of yellow & white, the smoke emanating from the summit crater and the black solidified lava. Standing on the edge of the summit crater of the active Etna volcano is an unforgettable experience. After this unique experience, you return down. You walk from the summit at 3347m back to Piano delle Concazze at 2900m. From here you will return by 4×4 off-road bus to Piano Provenzana at 1800m.
Price Etna Summit tour with 4×4 bus (round trip)
- € 120,00 per person (adults)
- € 110,00 children (10-12 years)
Inclusief
✓ Up with the 4×4 off-road bus from 1800m to 2900m
✓ Down by 4×4 off-road bus from 2900m to 1800m
✓ Trekking from 2900m to 3347m, to the summit crater
✓ Trekking from 3347m to 2900m, Piano delle Concazze
✓ Walking poles
✓ Safety helmet
✓ Insurance in case of accidents (insurance through the volcano guides – not through Pianoprovenzana.com!)
✓ Windjacket (on request)
✓ Hiking boots (on request)
✓ Professional volcano guide
Exclusive
X Food & drinks
X Parking lot Piano Provenzana (€3.00 per car)
X Tip for the guide (not required)
Payment and booking confirmation:
We do not ask for advance payment, we work on a trust base! You can pay on the day of the tour, directly to the guide. You can pay by cash, pin or credit card. Upon booking you will receive a confirmation with all the details and the booking voucher by email.
Starttime
The Etna Summit tour with 4×4 bus (round trip) excursion starts daily by reservation. An excursion to the summit crater is only possible via Etna Nord due to the activity of the volcano (this is already the case since July 2021!). There are 4 start times possible, please indicate your preference at your request!
- Present: 07.45 hour, start 08.00 hour
- Present: 08.00 hour, start 08.15 hour
- Present 13.15 hour, start 13.30 hour
- Present 14.00 hour, start 14.15 hour
! Departure only on reservation! A minimum number of participants is required to start the excursion.
The total excursion takes about 5 hours. This means you will be back around 1:00 – 1:30 pm if you do the morning excursion, or around 6:15 – 6:30 – 7.00 pm if you do the afternoon excursion.
Guides
The excursion to the summit of Mount Etna is accompanied by trained professional volcano guides. These guides speak Italian, English and/or French and will tell you a lot about Etna volcano and its craters and eruptions during the hike.
Specifications Etna Summit tour with 4×4 bus (round trip)
- Duration: 2 hours up + about 1 hour down
- Length: 8.5 km (4.5 km up + 3.5 – 4 km down)
- Duration: 5 hours in total
- Trekking starting point altitude: 2900 meters
- Highest point: 3347 meters
- Height difference: 500 meters approx.
- Difficulty: Difficult
The length may vary from one excursion to another. This depends on the weather, wind and activity of the volcano, among other things. The average is about 2 hours walking up (4.5 km) and 1 hour walking down again. On top of the rim of the crater you also walk around of course.
When possible
The volcano guides have indicated that they are again operating the excursion to the summit crater via Etna Nord. This means that this trekking to the summit of Etna volcano is now possible again. This excursion by 4×4 bus (round trip) is new and possible since the end of June 2023.
The volcano guide determines each morning whether or not it is responsible to conduct the excursion. For example, they look at the vibrations of the volcano and the weather. So this can mean that your excursion may be canceled last minute. There is nothing we can do about this, because the safety of everyone is the first priority! However, they always offer an alternative excursion so that you can still see and explore Etna (and the possible eruption!).
Requirements Etna Summit tour with 4×4 bus (round trip)
It is mandatory to wear good walking shoes during the hike. These can also be borrowed through the volcano guides if necessary. In addition, you should wear layers of clothing and bring a jacket (can also be borrowed). This is because the weather can change quickly in the mountains. You should also bring at least 1.5 L of water. Is it very hot? Then make sure you bring Gatorade, for example!
Please note that this hike requires training. You must have a good level of condition for the excursion Etna Summit tour with 4×4 bus. An important aspect of this excursion is the altitude you will be at. Your body is not used to this. At 3347m altitude, for example, there is about 10-20% less oxygen in the air.
- If you have heart problems, you cannot do this walk.
- If you suffer from asthma and/or other breathing problems, you cannot do this walk.
- If you are pregnant, you cannot do this walk.
- Do you have knee problems? Then you cannot do this trek either, because the trekking is over uneven terrain and a lot of force must be applied to the knees with the walk back.
You must be at least 10 years old for this excursion and thus have good condition.
Important disclaimer!
The excursion is always conducted within the regulations in vigor, under the responsibility of the volcano guide. Pianoprovenzana.com does not take any responsibility.
In case of changes in volcano activity or weather during the excursion, refunds are never possible. Moreover, the volcano guide always decides the course of the excursion. Because safety comes first.
N.b. it is also possible to do this excursion where you walk back instead of taking the 4×4 bus back. Read more about this excursion here: Trekking Etna summit crater | Full day
Languages spoken by guides
English- French
- Italian
French