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Gole dell'Alcantara

Gole dell'Alcantara: Our most recommended tours and activities

From Catania: Mount Etna and Alcantara River Tour

1. From Catania: Mount Etna and Alcantara River Tour

Benefit from pick-up at your accommodation in Catania and journey by bus to Rifugio Sapienza on the slopes of Mount Etna. Visit the sites of recent volcanic eruptions and the old Silvestri craters. Choose from different options at Rifugio Sapienza and trek the nature paths of the park or ride the cable car to 2,504 meters above sea level. Continue by 4WD minibus to Torre del Filosofo for an additional fee. Get up close to the central and southeast craters and marvel at how the landscape has been shaped by lava flows. Visit locations where the volcano flourishes before you return to Rifugio Sapienza to look inside a lava cave using helmets and torches. Sample the local produce at an organic farm in Zafferana, and get stunning views of the Alcantara River. Walk the small paths past cultivated fields to see the natural pools of Gurne dell'Alcantara and the ruins of Francavilla Castle. Admire the basalt columns and lava formations of the gorge.

Catania: Mount Etna Volcano and Alcantara Park Tour

2. Catania: Mount Etna Volcano and Alcantara Park Tour

With an expert guide by your side, discover the Mount Etna volcano, sitting at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level. Explore ancient craters, lava flow caves, and admire the breathtaking landscape of the Ionian coast. Explore Alcantara Park in your free time. Dissected by the Alcantara river, Alcantara Park is a location brimming with unique vegetation, lava rock formations, and columnar basalts formed by the icy waters of the Alcantara. During the warm season, cool yourself off by taking a refreshing dip in these pristine waters or just stroll alongside the river.

From Taormina: Etna Summit Area, Lunch & Alcantara Tour

3. From Taormina: Etna Summit Area, Lunch & Alcantara Tour

Reach the summit area of Etna, ascending 2750 meters by either cableway or off-road vehicle on this tour from Taormina. Hike the base of the active craters with a naturalistic guide, experience the lunar landscapes, and savor a typical Sicilian lunch with local wine and drinks. Begin your tour with a pickup from your accommodation (or close vicinity in Taormina and the surrounding area). You'll travel in a small group of no more than 8 people for a more intimate and personalized experience. Drive to Mount Etna where you'll start the ascent to the summit area (2750-2800 meters of altitude). Depending on the availability and the circumstances, in order to guarantee an optimal service, the ascent can be carried out either by cableway or off-road vehicles only. Once at the summit area, enjoy light trekking with a volcanological guide and a naturalistic guide. Walk through a desert of black ashes and extinct craters, while admiring the lunar landscape and the spectacular view of the active craters from a close distance. Back at 2000 meters, you'll be given the proper equipment, such as helmets and torches, to visit one of the striking lava caves of the volcano. Then, enjoy a typical Sicilian light lunch with local wine and drinks during the midday break. Finally, you'll admire the Alcantara Gorges created when thick lava flows invaded the bed of the icy river Alcantara, giving rise to geometrically perfect rocks.

From Taormina: Guided Trip to Mt. Etna and Alcantara Gorges

4. From Taormina: Guided Trip to Mt. Etna and Alcantara Gorges

The tour will start from Taormina and together with our guide you will head to the renowned Mareneve road - at 1500 meters above sea level. Thanks to the stories told by our guide, you will discover the legends of the villages located at the foot of Mount Etna and the volcano itself. The first stop will be the famous lateral lava flow that in 2002 destroyed the ski facilities of Piano Provenzana and burned part of the Ragabo Pine Forest. Crossing various paths that wind through pine, birch and crater forests, you will reach the Grotta dei Ladroni, a tunnel carved out of the lava that you will explore and learn about thanks to our guide. Atthe end of the excursion, it will be possible to have a lunch break in a Chalet, at an altitude of 1500m, with a choice of menu and payment on site. Once lunch is over, you will continue on to another splendid natural destination, made up of unique landscapes resembling a canyon: the Alcantara Gorges. Along the way, you will visit some ancient Sicilian villages, such as Castiglione di Sicilia, renowned for its wine cultivation used to produce Etna D.O.C.

From Taormina: Mount Etna and Alcantara River Tour

5. From Taormina: Mount Etna and Alcantara River Tour

Depart from Taormina and head to the Rifugio Sapienza on Mount Etna. Learn the history of the volcano and visit the sites of its last eruptions. Choose to trek along the nature paths of the Parco dell’Etna or take the cable car to an altitude of 2,504 meters and continue by 4WD minibus to the Torre del Filosofo. Get stunning views of the scenery stretching down to the sea and admire the craters and old lava flows that characterize the landscape. Explore a lava cave with all the proper equipment. Continue down the mountain and stop at the organic farm for a delicious sampling of local products, including honey, wine, and oil. Discover the different corners of the Alcantara River. Walk down small paths, past cultivated fields, and see the natural pools and waterfalls and continue to get up close to different basalt and unexpected lava formations.

Alcantara River: Body Rafting & 'Pasta Alla Norma' Lunch

6. Alcantara River: Body Rafting & 'Pasta Alla Norma' Lunch

Your guide will meet you at your hotel, or a meeting place of your choice in Taormina, and take you by comfortable private car the Alcantara river. The river is an ecological wonder, with limestone rocks that make it perfect for letting the rapids take your body on an exciting descent. When you arrive, our specialized guides will take you on your body rafting adventure. Enjoy the views of the rocks as this unique experience allows you to use your body as the raft, with the upmost confidence in your safety. At the end of the tour, your guide will accompany you to the nearby village of Giardini Naxos where you can have lunch with the traditional "pasta alla norma" with good local wine – a just reward for all of your exercise earlier.

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What people are saying about Gole dell'Alcantara

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 143 reviews

We had an excellent day on this tour! The communication with Etna People was great, even though the website wouldn’t let us choose our accommodation for pick up we just emailed them and they arranged it for us! Our tour guide Roberto was brilliant! He was great fun and very knowledgeable, he definitely made the tour something to remember! The volcano trip was great, we had a van driven by Roberto for the day (6 people I n our group) then to do the 2nd part of the Etna ascent we joined a bigger bus which took us so high, again with great tour guides (Roberto stayed with us). We did a little cave trip too. Lunch was amazing! 2 courses plus wine. The Gorge was beautiful and we had time to go for a dip (take your swimwear). All of this is included in the cost, they even supplied walking boots, coats, helmets and torches. We didn’t want the day to end! A huge thank you to Roberto and the team!

This tour was great! Our guide, Florence, spoke English, French and Italian brilliantly and knew a lot about Etna, so we learned a lot. The river visit was an unexpected highlight and a fantastic inclusion. At Etna, there will be offers of the cable car, electric bike or jeeps to take you further up (for an extra price of at least €68). However, if you don’t choose this, your guide will give you a walking tour around the craters and the site, which we loved. I really recommend this day trip, we loved it and learned a lot.

It was a beautiful day trip. And our guide has contributed a lot to it. He spoke so beautifully. It was really fun listening to him. We were simply enchanted by the nature and landscape. We also really enjoyed the visit to the small farm. Many delicacies were offered as souvenirs for those who stayed at home. The visit to Mount Etna was super nice and the river is also a natural beauty. You should have seen it. We had super warm weather. It is definitely a good idea to take bathing suits and water shoes with you.

Very complete and varied day, led by a pleasant, considerate and very informative guide. Everything is done to make the day unforgettable.

Enzo took us on an interesting tour. He put a lot of energy and love into it. Many Thanks