Day 1: Meeting with the guide and the adventure starts
With a private vehicle we move along the roads that run along the western side of Mt. Etna and where the first views make us immediately understand the size of this volcano. With some deviations from the main road we go to discover villages and hidden corners in these valleys where you can breathe the air of history and traditions. In the evening we reach Randazzo where we spend the night in a B&B where a welcome dinner full of local products and dishes will be served. HB

Day 2: Piano delle Ginestre and Bronte
We start the day with a beautiful hike to reach the Piano delle Ginestre (Broom Plain) crossing an expanse of satellite cones and up to the summit of the most iconic for the perfection of its shapes. Thanks to the explanations of our guide we begin to understand the complexity of this volcano and its long geological history. Upon returning from the walk we visit the village of Bronte, famous throughout the world for the production of the Bronte Pistachio, now a Slow Food presidium. In the evening we return to the farmhouse. Dinner on your own in Randazzo or at the farmhouse. BB

Day 3: The Alcantara Valley and the Nebrodi mountains
On this day we move away from the slopes of the volcano to move north until we reach the Nebrodi. With a beautiful and easy walk we reach a fascinating panoramic point characterized by giant blocks of limestone rock and from where we can finally see the entire Etna massif and we can understand its majesty. After the usual "packed" lunch we go to visit a deep gorge dug by the cold and clear waters of the river that brings to light fascinating successions of columnar basalts. We then go back up "a Muntagna" passing through Linguaglossa where we admire the Baroque buildings made of lava material and taste some of the many characteristic pastry products. Night and dinner in a refuge. HB

Day 4: Between ice and fire on the northern slopes of the volcano
We move with our van at the beginning of our excursion to explore the north side of the volcano. We walk through large lava flows of different ages and colors until we reach the entrances of beautiful caves where it is surprising to discover how ice and fire can coexist and where we can take beautiful pictures. Picnic in the woods along the path (included). A beautiful circular route allows us to return to our vehicle and arrive in the late afternoon at our refuge where we have dinner. FB

Day 5: Lava tubes and ancient craters
In the morning with a short but beautiful excursion we reach a superb lava tunnel generated by a fairly recent eruption in the 70s. Back on our steps we have a packed lunch (picnic included). A nice walk then takes us to observe ancient craters up close that owe their name to one of the first geologists who studied Etna in 1800 and along the panoramic road called "Mare Neve" we arrive at the Rifugio Sapienza where we stay 2 nights. Dinner included. FB

Day 6: The Bove Valley
With the cable car we take us to an altitude of 2500 meters where we begin our adventure, off the beaten track, to enter the huge Bove Valley. A slope of soft sand helps us to easily descend into the valley. The landscape is incredible and unexpected, strange rock spires rise from the sand and the lava flows telling the story of this place made of gigantic sinkholes and countless lava flows. We then climb a steep side partly grassy and covered with volcanic scoria that allows us to exit the valley and return to the refuge. Free time for a bit of relaxation and then dinner at the refuge. HB

Day 7: The summit craters
We meet the volcanological guide who accompanies us to the top of the summit craters of Etna and we begin our adventure again with the cable car and then climb on 4x4 to reach 2900 meters above sea level. From this area we begin to walk on the recent scoriaceous lavas. We continue the climb crossing a volcanic desert, completely black, keeping an eye on the New South East Crater (the most active in recent years) and the panorama that gradually opens up around us. The last part is the steepest and takes us to the edge of the immense central crater. The experience is unique and rewarding, we are more than 3,000 meters on the edge of one of the craters of the highest active volcano in Europe! During the descent we visit other lateral craters of Etna and once we reach 2500 meters above sea level we take the cable car back to the refuge and with our vehicle we return to Catania. Overnight stay in a B&B located inside a historic building a few hundred meters from the historic center of the city. Dinner on your own. BB
The excursion may be subject to changes based on the activity of the volcano and weather conditions.

Day 8: Bye bye to Sicily!
A return flight in the afternoon is recommended so as to have a few hours available in the morning to visit the historic center of the city and thus be able to immerse yourself in the lively fish market and admire the testimonies of the Baroque in Via Etnea up to Piazza Duomo with the imposing Cathedral of Sant'Agata.

Spring and Autumn

Catania