Sicily: Etna and Alcantara Gorges Full-Day Tour with Lunch

Discover the fascinating landscapes of Etna’s northern slope on a guided tour. Enjoy the impressive views of Etna’s foothills, see up close and touch ancient lava flows, admire craters still in activity, and appreciate a typical Sicilian landscape with its crops and rural villages. Stop for a lunch break at a local etnean restaurant and take a more relaxing turn with a visit to the refreshing Alcantara Gorges lava canyon. Start your tour with pickup from an arranged meeting point in locations such as Taormina, Giardini Naxos, Catania, and Linguaglossa. Travel by SUV or minivan (up to 8 passengers/vehicle) to the first stop of your tour, an off-road route to the massive 2002 eruption lava front, the largest eruption of recent times which destroyed the Piano Provenzana ski facilities and part of the Ragabo Pine Forest. Pass through the Ragabo Forest, following the Mareneve road, and reach the starting point of the trek to the Monti Sartorius craters near Rifugio Citelli. Enjoy a hike of easy difficulty, suitable for everyone, on a route about 3 km long, starting from an altitude of 1665 m and arriving at an altitude of about 1775 m. Hike along a characteristic Etnean path, among white birch trees and "button" side crater (“bottoniera”), the Sartorius Craters, on the northeastern slope of Etna. Reach several vantage points with unique and spectacular views of Calabria and the Aeolian Islands. Explore an Etna volcanic cave after your trek to the Sartorius, the Grotta dei Ladroni (also called Grotta delle Nevi). Equip yourself with the helmet and flashlight we will provide and venture inside this lava flow tunnel to discover its formation and history. This lava flow tunnel was partially excavated by man, as evidenced by the date engraved on a stone on top of the entrance: 1776. Learn how Etna’s inhabitants used this cave in centuries past to store snow in the winter months, later reselling it in the warmer months. Stop at an Etnean restaurant to rest and enjoy a delicious meal: a first course dish, water and coffee are included in the price. Continue to the Alcantara Valley, passing through Castiglione di Sicilia, one of the “most beautiful villages in Italy”, with features similar to a medieval village, famous for its wineries producing excellent Etna wines. Visit the Alcantara Gorges, also known as the Larderia Gorges, located in the “Alcantara River Park”. Admire the Gorges, which are a fascinating natural lava canyon excavated by the Alcantara River through lava flows of ancient times. Descend inside the Alcantara Gorges via the municipal entrance, the entrance fee is included. Freely relax by the beach or take a walk/swim in the refreshing Alcantara River. After visiting the Alcantara Gorges the tour will end going back to the initial meeting point. The program of the excursion may be subject to changes at the discretion of the guide, depending on the weather conditions of the day and to always ensure the safety of the participants.