2002 Crater Excursion - Northern Etna
Descriptions come from the operator and are translated automatically.
- 3 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- 3 languages
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
The tour to the craters of 2002 is one of the most sought after destinations and chosen by tourists on the northern side of Etna, far from the large mass of visitors. This tour allows you to savor the authenticity of the Etna volcanic environment in total tranquility. Our guests accompanied by guides will be accompanied on a visit to the remains of the tourist infrastructures destroyed by the lava flows of the great eruption of 2002, through woods, lunar landscapes and finally on the edges of explosive craters, all in a path of just over 4.5 km roundtrip. Possibility to rent boots + jacket on site. Program: Meeting scheduled at Piano Provenzana (Etna Nord) at 9:45 am. Departure from Piano Provenzana at an altitude of 1800 meters at 10:00. Initial briefing. Beginning of the trek. Visit to the eruptive fractures up to a maximum altitude of 2100 meters. Trekking descent to the starting point. Total duration: 3h Difficulty: T (Tourist). Also suitable for children used to walking
Inclusions
What's included
- Accident insurance
- Volcanological guide authorized in accordance with the law
What's not
- Bottled water
- Hiking shoes (to rent on site at authorized rentals at a cost of 5 - 7€ per pair)
- Hat and gloves (especially in winter, spring and autumn)
- Trekking poles
- Pickup service from your accommodation
- Parking ticket (€5 for the entire day on weekdays and €8 on Sundays and public holidays.)
- Snowshoe rental (winter period) at a cost of 15 € per person to be paid on the spot
Itinerary
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. You’ll 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 you’ve booked a tour, meet your volcanological guide directly on-site meeting points. Less crowded than other Etna stations, Piano Provenzana offers a quiet, authentic way to experience Europe’s highest active volcano.
This guided hike explores the wild, less-touristic north side of Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano. Walk across the vast 7.2 km lava flow of the 27 Oct 2002 eruption, where hotels, shops, restaurants and a large car park now lie buried—only the roof of one hotel remains visible. Continue through forest to the 1911 and 1923 flows and a chain of 1911 craters with shafts 7–40 m deep, then climb the crest of the huge 2002 eruptive fracture, a canyon strewn with volcanic bombs, reaching the vent that produced the destructive flow and other large explosive mouths up to 2,100 m. Descend via soft ash channels through beech forest and ski slopes back to the start. The hike is ≈5 km round trip, with ≈300 m ascent/descent, lasting about 2.5–3 hours.
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. You’ll 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 you’ve booked a tour, meet your volcanological guide directly on-site meeting points. Less crowded than other Etna stations, Piano Provenzana offers a quiet, authentic way to experience Europe’s highest active volcano.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.9
- 5299
- 411
- 31
- 22
- 11
Ratings come from 314 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- The meeting point is located in the car park near the chairlift active at Eta Nord in winter. The bar is the second house of the 4 in the parking lot. Please note that our meeting point is the "Chiosco Bar Mareneve" not the "Chiosco Bar Etna Nord".
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 20 travellers
- Operated by
- Guide Vulcanologiche Etna Nord
- Service animals allowed
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Trekking is not recommended for those who usually do little motor activity.
- Without adequate shoes you are not covered by accident insurance.
- Trekking does not require large preparations on a physical level, it is easy and absent of particularly difficult passages, however attention must be paid when treating volcanic soil, which is often incoherent and unstable.
How it compares in Italy, outside the cities
- Its from-price is 65% below the median of the 4055 experiences we list in Italy, outside the cities.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 38 of 4055.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
Special offers in Italy, outside the cities
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
