Great experience - From booking with Maria to the tour with Guiseppi we had a great experience from start to finish. The two staged trip to just below the Etna cater (3000m) was amazing and the Alcantara Gorges did not disappoint. Would definitely recommend.

Mount Etna - north side tour - CitybySee Tour Booked two tickets for the Mount Etna tour, north side, as we had heard this was the more adventurous tour and we were not disappointed. We were ready and waiting at 7.35am at Taormina Bus Station for the open sided CityBySee tour bus.  What a godsend that was in the late September heat!   The ride to the refuge area (2700 metres) took us through several towns and villages up in the mountains,  lasted about two hours, and was a great experience seeing differing neighbourhoods. We milled around the refuge area for about twenty minutes, mainly queuing for the solitary toilet which had a charge of 0.50€.  There was also a small cafe, gift shop and hire shop in case of need for walking boots or a windcheater jacket.  Apparently it can get quite chilly at 28000 metres. Covid temperature checks done and masks donned, we clambered in and the off road vehicle was fired up.  A  very bumpy ride up the beaten track ensued. Owing to Etna being an active volcano it is forbidden to go right to the top.  However we were not disappointed as we got to see three craters close up.  Our guide, Giuseppe, was very knowledgeable about Etna and its history, and made it an entertaining tour. After three crater stops we bobbed back down to base camp in the off roader, a short rest break and we were back on the tour bus.  Part of the afternoon itinerary involved a two hour stop at Gole Alcantara Geological and Botanical Park for some river trekking in the gorges, and which was included in the price of our tour tickets. Take some beach shoes and a towel as the water is freezing. We would like to express our appreciation to Giovani for his excellent driving skills navigating the narrow streets and twisting turns of the mountain roads, Giuseppe for his good humour and fluency of English and French (he made it seem very easy to speak three languages),  and last but not least, Valerio who we booked the tour through.  It lived up to our expectations and then some! If you are going to do Mount Etna, I'd recommend this tour company. Tip - trainers or walking boots recommended depending on the weather, as well as a warm top or jacket.  Be prepared to walk on uneven ground, especially areas where lava rocks have congregated.  Some paths require a good sense of balance.