• Piano Provenzana - This is the Etna Nord tourist area at Piano Provenzana—less crowded than the southern slope, more authentic, and closely connected to the volcanic landscape. Here, visitors meet the guides for their excursion. Before departure, they can use the restrooms, stop at the café for breakfast, enjoy a coffee or tea, and a pastry.

Next, there will be a short briefing with the guides, who provide all the equipment and information needed for the hike.

This meeting point is located within the 2002 lava flow. The tourist area of Piano Provenzana was destroyed by that eruption on October 27, 2002. The access road is fully drivable, so visitors can reach the starting point with their own vehicle. In winter, it is advisable to carry snow chains or use winter tires.

From here, participants board 4×4 vehicles with the guides for a panoramic drive up the northern flank of Mount Etna. The route crosses lava fields and lateral craters, climbing to 2,960 m, where the trek to the summit begins.

• Itinerario Crateri Sommitali - Meet the guides at 7:45 a.m. at Piano Provenzana, departing 8:00–8:15 a.m. An afternoon start at 1:00 p.m. runs from May to October. Travel by authorized 4×4 vehicles along a 9.5 km panoramic track on Etna’s wild, less touristy north slope, where groups are smaller for a more personal experience. The route climbs from 1,800 m to 2,960 m, crossing forests, recent lava flows, a lava-flow channel, eruptive fractures, and lateral craters over 40 m deep. Guides accompany participants throughout, during both the drive and hike.
  The unpaved road offers views of northern Sicily, the Aeolian Islands, Strait of Messina, Calabria, the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas, and, in rare clarity, the Madonie range, Gulf of Catania, Syracuse, Augusta, and the vast Valle del Bove.
  This itinerary reveals Etna’s landscapes—from green woodland and dramatic craters to the stark high-altitude desert—ending near 3,000 m, where the trek to the summit begins.
• Mount Etna - From 2,960 m, reached by authorized 4×4, begins the guided summit hike of Mount Etna. The trek climbs 5 km with 550 m ascent to the summit area and its four main craters: North-East, Voragine, Bocca Nuova, and South-East. Because activity varies daily, guides choose the safest route toward the most active yet secure crater, adjusting if gas, heat, or fractures require. Altitude ranges 2,960–3,323 m, so good fitness is essential and mild altitude effects are possible. The return is a long descent on foot from 3,300 to 1,800 m, about 7 km and 1,500 m negative gain, suited to experienced hikers with strong knees, as it can feel harder than the climb. The path follows soft scoria and sandy gullies through recent lava and the wide Piano delle Concalze, then crosses 2.5 km of ski slopes with rougher, stony ground before reaching the start. Total distance is about 12–13 km, with small route changes possible and an overall duration of roughly 6 hours.
• Piano Provenzana - Piano Provenzana, on Mount Etna’s north side, is easy to reach by private or rental car along fully paved public roads. Surrounded by pine forest and dramatic lava fields, the area was reshaped by the October 2002 eruption, which destroyed the original facilities and left a striking volcanic landscape of historic interest. Visitors will find souvenir shops, cafés, and bars for breakfast, lunch, or coffee, plus spots to refill water bottles. In winter, it serves as a ski resort; in summer, it becomes the starting point for guided hikes and excursions. Blue-lined parking areas welcome cars and camper vans. If a tour is booked, visitors meet their volcanological guide directly at on-site meeting points. Less crowded than other Etna stations, Piano Provenzana offers a quiet, authentic way to experience Europe’s highest active volcano.

• Licensed Volcano Guide
• Entry/Admission to Mount Etna
• Trekking poles, trekking shoes, helmets, warm jacket, extra socks, extra backpack
• Insurance in case of accidents

• Transport service from your accommodation
• Hat and gloves (during autumn, winter and spring)
• Parking ticket (3€ for the whole day) - You can pay it on the spot after the excursion
• Off road vehicle (one way only) from1800m up to 2825m (50€per person to be paid on the spot)
• Public transportation (bus, subway, cable car, etc.)

Trekking in Small Groups

Begin the journey with an ascent in off-road vehicles along the scenic northern slope, reaching an altitude of 2,825 meters. From this point, the trek continues on foot through volcanic scoria and lava bombs, with a 500-meter elevation gain, leading to the rim of the Central Crater at 3,380 meters.

After a pause at the summit to take in the volcanic scenery, the descent is on foot down to 1,800 meters (approximately 7 km), traversing large gullies filled with soft volcanic sand.

Key Information:
• Total distance (round trip): 12 km
• Maximum altitude: 3,380 m
• Minimum altitude: 1,800 m
• Ascent: +500 m
• Descent: -1,580 m (the extended downhill section may be more challenging than the ascent)
• Difficulty: Suitable only for experienced hikers

Note:
Participants who choose to return by bus from 2,850 m to 1,800 m during the excursion will need to pay €70 instead of €50.

• This type of itinerary, in relation to the type, is suited to people in good physical health, not suffering from particular diseases (breathing ones, or hypertension).
• The excursion could be subjected to variations at the discretion of the Guides, or it could be interrupted in case of changes of the environmental, climatic or volcanic conditions, so as to undermine the safety of the entire group.
• For the success of the excursion and for its correct carrying out, it’s good to know perfectly your health conditions and, if necessary, let the Guide know about them, in order to reduce the occurrence of any problems and to avoid any risks.
• The excursion will be carried out according to the limits established by the ordinance in force published by the competent authorities in case of volcanic explosions, the volcano guides must respect it. In this case the guides must stop where it is still safe to arrive for the safety of the entire group.
• The route consists of the ascent and the walking along the crater edges, this may cause dizziness to susceptible individuals.
• We recommend not to use contact lens, because of the exhaled volcanic gases and of ash. This last one could easily cause problems, if pushed.
• The trekking requires a discrete preparation on a physical level. Being a path that develops at high altitude, it will be easy to accuse symptoms of fatigue. It is required attention, since it is a volcanic active area, subjected to constant gaseous exhalations and composed by a soil constituted by inconsistent and unstable rocks.
• Without adequate shoes you are not covered by insurance.
• Pregnant women who have passed the third month of pregnancy are not allowed to take part to any excursion activity.
• Because of the continuous and unpredictable evolution of the volcanic activity, the excursions could undergo variations, or, in extreme cases, be cancelled, at the discretion of the guide for safety reasons.
• The excursion is not suitable for children under 12 years old

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.