Trekking tour to Etna and Alcantara Gorges
Highlights
- A unique trekking tour to discover two unmissable places in eastern Sicily: Mount Etna and the Alcantara Gorges.
- Climb up Europe's largest active volcano to the Sartorius craters and immerse yourself in a movie scenario!
- Explore the Alcantara botanical-geological park and its lava canyon, one of the most spectacular in Italy!
Your guide
Always a globetrotter and lover of outdoor sports, for the past nine years this great passion has turned into a profession.
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Full description
A day of trekking to discover two unmissable landscapes of eastern Sicily: MountEtna and the Alcantara Gorges await you for an experience in close contact with nature!
Accompanied by an AIGAE guide, you will climb up to the Sartorius craters to feel the breath of Europe's largest active volcano up close. Then you will return to the valley to enter the Alcantara Botanical-Geological Park and admire the spectacular lava canyon crossed by the crystal-clear waters of the torrent.
A tour marked by atmospheres and panoramas as varied as the island that hosts them, a land of a thousand facets, where the four elements of nature come together to offer one emotion after another!
What we will do
The activity starts around 8:30 am with pick-up at your hotel or residence in Taormina, Giardini Naxos, and the surrounding area (you will agree with your guide, after booking, the exact meeting point). The first stop of the day will be the north-eastern slope of Mount Etna, which we will reach after about 45 minutes by shuttle bus.
We will start walking on volcanic paths, through pine and birch forests and stretches of lava desert with a barren, lunar atmosphere. In two hours of trekking , we will reach the Sartorius craters (about 1,800 metres above sea level) and, while the guide points out the phenomena taking place and talks to us about interesting aspects of geology and volcanology, we will ascend to a viewpoint where we will enjoy a wonderful view of the Mediterranean Sea coastline.
On the way down to the valley, we will stop to visit the Grotta dei Ladroni, one of the numerous caverns generated by lava flow along Etna's slopes. Afterwards, we will stop at a refuge for something to eat (lunch is not included in the participation fee) and then depart by shuttle bus to reach the village of Castiglione di Sicilia, one of the most beautiful in Italy.
From here, a 15-minute walk will take us to the final stage of our tour: the Alcantara Gorge, a spectacular lava canyon. We will walk for about a hundred metres along the banks of the torrent, cooling off in its crystal-clear waters and exploring the picturesque surroundings.
The activity lasts a total of 7 hours (including transfers) and ends with the return by shuttle bus to Taormina.
Who it is aimed at
This activity is at an easy level and suitable for everyone from 6 years old and up.
Other information
This activity is bookable from March to November and is confirmed when there are at least 2 participants.
After booking, you will agree with your guide on the meeting point for the pick-up. If you live outside the Taormina area, you can fix the meeting point at the car park located just after the Giardini Naxos motorway exit. The shuttle will pick you up and take you back there.
It is possible to agree on a different departure time depending on the guide's availability.
The refuge where you will stop for lunch offers several options, including a sandwich and drink for €7 or a menu for €10 (bruschetta, first course and drink). Alternatively, it is possible to have a packed meal.
Recommended clothing
Comfortable seasonal clothing and hiking shoes
Don't forget to bring
- camera
- water to drink
- hat
- packed lunch (optional)
What is included
How it works
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1
Send a booking request
We will only pre-authorise the payment
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2
Receive confirmation within 48 hours
In case of confirmation, you will be charged the cost of the activity
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3
Live your experience
Enjoy the activity and let us know how it was!
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1
Buy a gift voucher
Valid 12 months from the date of purchase
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2
Choose your preferred date
Get in touch with the guide with the contact details on the voucher and choose the day for the activity
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3
Live your experience
Enjoy the activity and let us know how it was!
Meeting point
Taormina, Messina
Frequently asked questions
What happens in case of bad weather?
If you have made a fixed date reservation and the weather conditions are not suitable for the safe conduct of the activity (in the expert opinion of the guide), you will be refunded the full amount paid. The guide may suggest an alternative date or time for you to conduct the activity. You can freely choose whether or not to accept these proposals. If you can’t retrieve it, we will process a full refund! If you have set the date for your Gift Voucher and bad weather did not allow the activity to take place, the Voucher remains regularly valid until the expiration date indicated on it.
If I cancel the reservation, can I get a full refund?
For this activity, the cancellation policy is flexible. You get a full refund if you cancel within 5 days from the activity start date. Within 4 and 3 days from the activity start date you will get a 50% refund. You can find the full policies in the Cancellation Policy section.
What payment methods do you accept?
On Freedome, you can pay with any rechargeable credit card or prepaid card (including Postepay) from Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Diners Club, JCB networks. We also accept debit cards enabled for online payments. You can also use the digital wallets Apple Pay and Google Pay.
