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Silvestri Craters

Silvestri Craters: Our most recommended tours and activities

Mount Etna: Cable Car, Jeep, & Hiking Tour to Summit

1. Mount Etna: Cable Car, Jeep, & Hiking Tour to Summit

Ascend to the summit of the craters of Mount Etna, one of the most coveted excursions a hiker can make. Hike in full safety with an authorized alpine and volcano guide, and marvel at the beauty and wonder of the highest active volcano in Europe.   Depart from Sapienza Refuge in Nicolosi, and ascend 2,504 meters by cable car. Then, ride in a 4x4 Jeep up to 2,900 meters, to begin your hike. You’ll hike 1.5 hours uphill, passing many craters and taking long pauses to take pictures and rest. Experience the incredible feeling of being on top of the world in this rocky, beautiful landscape with the giant sky above you. After reaching the summit, descend for 2 hours back to the cable car, which will take you to your departure point.

Mount Etna: Summit and Crater Guided Trek Tour

2. Mount Etna: Summit and Crater Guided Trek Tour

Enjoy a cable car before walking across Europe's highest active volcano. Take in the breathtaking scenery in the company of your expert guide. After a briefing with your guide, ride the cable car to an altitude of 2,500 meters above sea level. Then, start your 2-hour trek to 3000 meters and take breaks along the way to enjoy the scenery and views. Walk through the lunar landscape of the lava fields as you traverse the nature trails of the highest active volcano in Europe. Take in the panoramic views, then trek back down to the upper cable car station. Return to the meeting point by cable car and get your last views of the brooding mountain. 

Etna: Guided Trekking Tour to Summit Craters

3. Etna: Guided Trekking Tour to Summit Craters

Enjoy a physical challenge with rewarding views on this guided climb to the highest authorized safety altitude of Etna. Take breaks along the way and capture unique photos of the summit craters as you admire the stunning natural beauty all around you. After meeting and departing from Rifugio Sapienza, with the cable car you reach an altitude of 2,500 meters and here will start trekking on foot for about 2 hours uphill and 2 hours downhill by visiting a lava flow channel, with both ancient and recent lava flows until you reach the base of the most active crater at the moment, the Southeast Crater and the Central Crater. Then your guide will also take you to see the great craters of 2002 called Crateri Bargaballo. Enjoy a fun descent over the sand, overlooking Valle del Bove. Finish by taking a cable car to return to the starting point. Feel safe accompanied the entire way by volcanological guides, who are regularly authorized to guide on active volcanoes, in accordance with local ordinances and volcanic risk levels. They carry out this excursion to the maximum permitted safety level, currently planned at 3000 mt very close to the summit craters of the volcano. The hike, of great volcanological and geological interest, is a valid alternative to the Summit Craters (3,340 meters), and is among the most complete and fascinating trek you can make on Etna between craters, fractures, and lava flow.

From Taormina: Etna Upper Craters Day Tour

4. From Taormina: Etna Upper Craters Day Tour

Explore the highest, active volcano in Europe on this day tour from Taormina. Travel by cable car and jeep to the top of Mount Etna with a local guide. After being picked up, relax as you are driven to visit the highest volcano in Europe with its smoking peak seen throughout Sicily. Drive to the Mount Etna Refuge with the opportunity for refreshments as you ready yourself for further ascent.  Climb higher by cable car up to 2,500 meters. Continue by jeeps up to the authorized upper crater zones with the assistance of licensed guides of the Italian Alpine Club. See the 4 distinct craters at the summit area and more than 300 vents on the flanks, ranging in size from small holes to large craters. Stop to admire the eventual activity of the summit craters in a safety zone according to weather conditions.

Nicolosi: Mount Etna Cable Car Excursion up to 3000 meters

5. Nicolosi: Mount Etna Cable Car Excursion up to 3000 meters

A valid alternative to the summit craters is the 3,000 m Etna excursion. You go up by cable car up to 2,500 meters. From here begins the path on foot. It will be possible to observe the summit craters, then we will stop on a lateral crater (barbagallo at about 3000 meters). You will admire the recent lava flows (2021) until you reach the inside of a lava channel. We will visit an effusive vent (2002 eruption) and from here we will descend along the sandbanks to the mound from where we will observe the Bove Valley, admiring, on fine days, a view that sweeps from the Ionian Riviera to the interior of Sicily. Duration 4/5 hours. Departures at 9.30 and 10.30, meeting time 30 minutes before departure (the departure at 10.30 is compatible for those arriving by bus (AST) from Catania). Meeting Point Shelter Alpine Guides Etna Sud, next to the Refuge Sapienza

Catania: Mount Etna Morning Jeep Tour

6. Catania: Mount Etna Morning Jeep Tour

After pickup from the designated meeting point, drive to Mount Etna to begin your tour. As you ascend to a height of 2,000 meters, your professional guide will tell you about the history of the volcano and explain its unique nature to you. Walk on paths away from the tourist areas to take in the flora and fauna away from the crowds.  Different aspects of the volcano will be highlighted, such as its nature and resources, its amazing landscapes, and the huge lava flows that have destroyed buildings and roads. You will be taken to a viewpoint to see the panoramic view of the Valle del Bove, the most important valley on the east slope of the volcano. Visit an area of ancient explosive activities, Hornitos, a semi-cave and a state refuge. Learn about its origin and the features inside from your guide. You’ll also have the chance to sample the wines, liqueurs, and honeys from this area. At the end of your tour, you’ll be dropped back at your accommodation in Catania.

Catania: Mount Etna Trekking Trip off the Tourist Path

7. Catania: Mount Etna Trekking Trip off the Tourist Path

Embark on a trek of iconic Mount Etna with a naturalist guide. Take in outstanding views, learn local history from your guide, visit a lava cave, and see the southeastern crater, Etna's most active area. Enjoy included trekking poles, shoes, and warm clothing. Following your pickup, you will head in the direction of Etna. Passing off-road through Trazzere where you can see the lava flows of 1792, your guide will explain the fauna and flora of the volcano of Etna. Learn Mount Etna's history as you travel in the direction of the Bove Valley, which is an ancient caldera formed about 64,000 years ago due to the collapse of 2 major eruptive centers. You'll soon arrive at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level, where your hike starts. Follow quiet trails away from the tourist paths. Pass recent lava flows and soak up views of the coastline. Throughout the trek, you can stop to taste sandwiches and local products, at your own expense, and visit a lava cave. At the conclusion of your experience, you will be returned back to your point of origin.

Mount Etna and Taormina Full-Day Excursion from Palermo

8. Mount Etna and Taormina Full-Day Excursion from Palermo

Europe’s highest active volcano is studied extensively by scientists and is popular with trekkers and nature lovers as well. Visit Mount Etna and the clifftop village of Taormina on this 11-hour excursion from Palermo. From Crateri Silvestri you’ll take the funicular with a local mountain guide all the way up to 2,500 meters above sea level. From this point you’ll experience unforgettable panoramic views. Just south of Taormina is the nature reserve of Isola Bella, and further south you’ll see the popular seaside resort of Giardini Naxos. Visit the village of Taormina, a 45-minute drive from Mount Etna. Perched on a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea, the village features an ancient Greek theater, many old churches, antique shops, lively bars and fine restaurants.

Sicily: Mt. Etna, Wine and Alcantara Tour

9. Sicily: Mt. Etna, Wine and Alcantara Tour

Tick off two of Sicily’s must-see attractions in one day on this tour with hotel transfers from Catania. Explore volcanic caves and rock pools on a trek through Alcantara Gorges. Walk around the craters of Mt Etna with an Alpine guide. Make a stop at a local winery for a traditional lunch with wine. Start your Sicilian adventure by meeting your guide in Catania, either at your accommodation or another agreed-upon location. Take a brief, scenic drive by an air-conditioned van to either the Sartorius craters or the 2002 crater on the Northeast side of Etna. Let your guide introduce you to the fascinating world of volcanic phenomena. Walk through ancient woods, extinct craters, and old lava flows. Witness deserts of lava and ashes, peculiar formations, and traces of previous eruptions. Reach a maximum altitude of 2000 meters. Then, strap on your helmets and lamps to explore a volcanic cave like the Grotto del Ladroni or Grotta Cassone. Stop at a nice winery up along the mountain road for an authentic Sicilian lunch including appetizer, first course, water, and wine, which will be served outdoors or indoors depending on the weather. Visit the Alcantara canyons, formed thousands of years ago from the lava flow that invaded the bed of the Alcantara river. Enjoy the spectacular scenery along the Alcantara River. End your day back in Catania where you were picked up.

Catania: Mount Etna High-Altitude Guided Hiking Tour

10. Catania: Mount Etna High-Altitude Guided Hiking Tour

Climb up to an altitude of 3,000 meters and enjoy incredible panoramic views near the top craters of Mount Etna. Join a certified guide on a unique adventure from Rifugio Sapienza and safely explore an active volcano, by staying away from the danger zone. Begin at the Bar Esagonal at an altitude of 1,900 meters. Take a scenic cable car ride up to an altitude of 2,500 meters before starting your trek on Mount Etna. With special authorization for scientific purposes, pass the current altitude limit of 2750 meters and push to a height of 3000 meters with your guide (only without major altitude sickness in the group). Touch fumaroles with hot gas emissions and pass by the banks of still-steaming lava flow from the most recent eruptions. You will visit a small basalt canyon (if not buried by snow) and then arrive at the base of the most active crater at the moment, the Southeast Crater. Next, head to the large craters of 2002, then descend a path (full of snow in winter) to the cable car station to return to the starting point.

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What people are saying about Silvestri Craters

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 3,904 reviews

Ended up getting a private tour (since it’s the past the holidays and low season). Our guide, Andrea, was phenomenal… so knowledgeable about Etna, Catania, Sicily (in general), and volcanos! He answered all of our various questions and spoke English really well. We decided to do the cable car option ($30 each) and then trek ourselves to the crater created during the 2001 eruption (instead of the Jeeps which would have been another $38 each)… very happy with that decision since clouds rolled in blocking the Jeep’s panorama viewpoint. I am young but not the most fit, however, Andrea’s pace allowed me to ascend slowly without feeling rushed. It wasn’t the easiest but absolutely worth the views once inside the crater. The local food/wine tasting and lava tube (cave) parts of the tour are like the cherry on top of an already great day. This tour ranks as one of my favorite excursions during my month-long travel. Worth every penny and would do it again in a heartbeat.

Even despite the closure of the roads leading to Mount Etna due to bad weather conditions, our optimistic, joyful and patient guide was able to provide a wonderful trip to our group. We were able to visit most of attractions of the program (even though with small alterations) while listening to the numerous interesting stories about Mount Etna and its relations to the city, myths and history of Catania. The tasting of local products like honey, olive oil and pistacchio cream took place in a small antique museum of the tradition of beekeeping, which was the perfect location to round up the trip.

Enzo was an incredible guide. His vast amount of knowledge was impressive and you can tell he truly has a passion for what he does. The sights to Mt. Etna, the cave, the village with honey, and Taormina included so many experiences that we wouldn’t have navigated on our own. We highly recommended this tour because we were able to see the best of these areas in only a day with a guide who really knows his stuff.

Hiking tour - it was not usual touristic hike, and it was amazing! If you ready to put some effort to see amazing views, hear interesting facts, enjoy tasty sandwich for 3 euros with an amazing view - this your is for you!

Absolutely amazing experience! Marco and his team provided equipment and took really good care of every aspect of the tour. Highly recommended!