Etna: Summit Craters Trekking with Volcano Guide to 3350m

The Etna summit trek was amazing, top quality from start to finish. Because of the current Etna eruption, and thunderstorms forecast for midday, it would have been easy for Ashara to have cancelled the trek - but instead, they changed the start location from South to North, and made the start time 30 minutes earlier. This meant that we ascended in clear weather, and were able to see two of the summit craters. Other groups were just starting their ascent when we had finished, and I don't know what views they could have got. Our guide, Antonio, was wonderful. He was so friendly and informative, while also really focused on safety, and he kept a good eye on everyone in the group. I learned so much about Etna, volcanos in general, and about Sicilian geology. An Etna summit hike is always going to be unpredictable - as Antonio said, 'this is not a mountain, this is an active volcano' - but Ashara worked with the conditions and gave us a fantastic and memorable day.

It was a really great tour. our guide was incredibly knowledgeable about the volcanic activities, he could explain every detail of how Mount Etna is constantly changing. he even showed us videos he took from the outbreak a month ago and we were able to see the remnants of that outbreak and even walk on it. Overall it was a great tour and I would book it again.

Die Tour würden wir immer wieder machen! Wir wurden komplett versorgt mit Wanderschuhen, Wanderstöcken, einer zusätzlichen Jacke und Helm. Es wurde alles super erklärt, unser Guide Mirco hat total begeistert alle Infos über den Etna erzählt und immer darauf geachtet, dass die Gruppe zusammenbleibt und sicher steht. Wir hatten genügend Pausen und haben sogar gesehen wie ein Krater Gestein in die Luft geschossen hat! Es war fantastisch, wir haben es geliebt!

From the beginning to the end the Tour was professional and very well organized. The equipment, shoes, poles and helmet were first rate. I found our guide, Simone could have spent more time stopping to explain more about Etna and volcanoes, but the groups are small and they have many different guides. WARNING - “moderate” climb is very subjective. In our group were young adults that are from Europe and love to climb and hike - this was an easy or moderate climb for them. For us (late 60’s) it was very difficult. My wife had turn back and I struggled. So know or question if this is right for you. It is steep and long - 3 hours. Finally, take lots of water. I made it and it was amazing.

Bellissima escursione con una guida, Giuseppe, geologo e vulcanologo innamorato della sua professione. Ci ha portato ad ammirare i crateri sommitali spiegando la complessità dei fenomeni che regolano l’attività dell’Etna. Scorie e blocchi sparati nelle esplosioni raccontano anche la loro composizione: ed eccolo a farci vedere, tenendolo tra le mani, come analizzare cominciando dal colore, la storia di quella pietra. Con noi una bambina di circa 10 anni, che bravissima a camminare, anche quando era un po’ stanca, Giuseppe prendendola per mano e’ sceso con lei su una pietraia, ridandole il sorriso.. Sempre attento a tutti i comportamenti del gruppo ed alle nostre necessità di voler scattare foto. Bravo l’autista che da piazzale Provenzano, ci ha portato in quota

Ci sono stati cambi di programma a causa dell’instabilità vulcanica. Un’esperienza fantastica grazie ad Antonio che ci ha guidato alla visita della cima ma da una distanza di 300 mt, a causa della temporanea pericolosità dell’attività vulcanica dell’Etna nel periodo della mia escursione. Per me era la quarta volta sull’Etna e sono stato addirittura felice di non poter essere potuto salire in vetta, abbiamo visitato tutti i crateri sommitali, varie crepe ed addirittura l’interno di un canale lavico con relativo “camino” di vecchie eruzioni. Un continuo cambio di paseaggio sia per morfologia che per vegetazione. Non avrei mai creduto che l’alternativa al grande cratere in vetta fosse così affascinante se non addirittura alla pari come esperienza. Grande esperienza e grande guida Antonio a regalarci tante ed inaspettate emozioni.