Piano Provenzana

Tours

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 per 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. Admire an original lava flow tunnel that has been partially excavated by man, as evidenced by the date engraved on a stone at the 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: the first course dish, drink, and coffee are included in the price of the tour. 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 today for its wineries that produce excellent Etna wines. End your tour with a visit to 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 with the entrance fee included in the price. Be free to relax by the beach or take a walk/swim in the refreshing Alcantara River. After finishing the visit of the Alcantara Gorges the tour will end by getting back to the initial meeting point.

Start your excurion in Piano Provenzana, on the north side of Mount Etna. Board a comfortable 4×4 bus and take the unpaved road up the volcano to the astrophysical observatory Pizzi Deneri, located at 2810m. Enjoy otherworldly views of old craters and beautiful sweeping vistas all the way out to the sea. Once you arrive at 2805m, go on a short trek up to an altitude of 2865 meters (depending on the activity of the volcano). See the stunning Valle del Bove underneath the northeast crater from this viewpoint. Learn about the volcano from your volcanologist guide as you admire panoramic vistas over the Sicilian coast. Then, get back on the bus and descend to 2200m. After a short trek of about 20 minutes, reach the edge of the crater from the 2002 eruption. Take the 4×4 bus back to Piano Provenzana at the end of the tour.

This tour begins at “Piano Provenzana” and follows a mountain trail at an altitude of 2900 meters. Traveling by off road vehicle, we will reach a high mountain slope framed by magnificent views of lava and volcanic sand along the rift created in the 2002 eruption. Here, we will walk on the edge of the craters of 2002 and see how a volcano is created. Here, we will identify minerals characterized by colors ranging from yellow to red to blue. From here the breathtaking view encompasses the Gulf of Taormina, the Bay of Naxos, the Straits of Messina and Calabria and the mountain range of Nebrodi to Rocca Novara, one can take in the most impressive views in the world, seemingly lunar landscapes created by multiple lateral eruptions along the North face of Mount Etna. Continuing our excursion with our off-road vehicles to an altitude of 2900 meters the North-East crater (where the volcano observatory is located), dominates the area. From this point it will start the ascent by walk on a path surrounded by volcanic scoria and bombs. The total climb is of 300 mt till we will arrive to the view point, at a height of 2900 mt. There we will stop to admire the greatness, the uniqueness and the processes of the volcanic environment, united to the spectacle of the view you can enjoy from the roof of Sicily (the visibility could change according to the weather or volcanic conditions). In clear weather, one can see both the "Lion" and the "Bove" valleys, the majesty of the North East and South East. The tour ends by going back through Piano delle Concazze and then descending to Piano Provenzana, the arrival point of our excursion.

Experience the epic heights of Mount Etna on a guided trek to the summit and take in the dramatic views of your volcanic surroundings. Ride the cable car up Europe's tallest active volcano for an unforgettable trek with an alpine guide. Meet your guide and begin with a briefing on the trek. Then, make your way towards the cable car (ticket not included) and ascend up to 2,500 meters. Disembark and trek up to 3,000 meters, crossing otherworldly volcanic landscapes and the sites of old and recent lava flows. Throughout your adventure, your volcanologist guide will give you insights into the natural history of this stunning region. Reach the base of the Summit Craters and be rewarded with breathtaking views of your volcanic surroundings. Then, begin your descent to 2,500 meters. with a break on the way for lunch (not included). Stop at the 2001 crater, which still fumes to this day at 2,700 meters. Finally, arrive back at the starting point, where your trip will come to an end.

This half-day tour will allow you to discover the highest active volcano in Europe: Etna with its 3350 mt. . Transport by Gran Turismo Bus with local multilingual guide.  During the journey, lasting about an hour, the guide will entertain you with an in-depth historical - geological and volcanological explanation of Etna and you will be able to admire different types of vegetation such as: citrus groves, vineyards, chestnut groves and pine forests. Arrival at Piano Provenzana, an altitude of 1,900 metres. You will have approximately three hours available in which you can explore the surroundings independently with a soft trek. There are restaurants and bars in the area. Possibility of reaching the maximum altitude allowed by the competent authorities (*)  in the summit area, currently set at 2,800 metres,  Ticket ascent not included, to be paid on site at the Etna ticket offices. (*) Ascensions to the authorized crater area of Etna are always escorted by Guides of the Italian Alpine Club, responsible for the safety of travelers and subject to the decisions of the authorities in relation to the daily changes in volcanic activity which affect the reachable altitude. Return to Taormina in the early afternoon. Notes: We recommend that you bring appropriate clothing and shoes with you

Experience Europe's highest active volcano on a guided trek on Mount Etna. Reach 3,300 meters via a combination of on-foot travel and transportation by an off-road 4x4 vehicle. Admire ancient craters and lava flows. Departing from Piano Provenzana, ride on an off-road vehicle along a panoramic path that leads up to the north side of Mt. Etna. Travel through ancient craters and recent lava flows up to 2,925 mt. Then, start the ascent (470 mt positive level difference) on foot. Trek on a path surrounded by volcanic bombs and scoria, then reach the Central Crater at a height of 3,300 mt. Stop to admire this extraordinary volcanic environment, combined with the spectacle of the panorama that can be enjoyed from the roof of Sicily (weather dependent). For the descent, go back along the same path. Walk inside small channels with soft and friable volcanic scoria to a height of 2,825 mt. From this point, finish the hike on the off-road vehicles back down to Piano Provenzana.

Soar above the Etna volcano on a helicopter flight in Fiumefreddo di Sicilia. Start with some welcome drinks. After take-off, proceed to the northern side of the volcano, flying over the towns of Piedimonte Etneo and Linguaglossa. During the ascent, admire a majestic forest of conifers and the old lava flows that descend almost to the Etna villages. As you get nearer to the peaks, fly over the ski resort of Piano Provenzana, enjoying a unique view of the flows that formed the series of craters called "la bottoniera." See the vegetation end and be replaced by the sciara that will lead you up to the majestic view of the summit craters. At an altitude of about 3500 meters, enjoy sweeping views of the whole of Sicily, the Aeolian Islands, and Calabria. Begin the descent along the volcano's more rugged side to reach the Sapienza ski resort. From here, soak in a view of Catania and the Gulf. Proceeding east, fly over the old, extinct Silvestri Craters before passing over the Schiena dell'asilo "donkey's back" that leads to the vast Valle del Bove. Survey the 1992 flows that almost destroyed the village of Zafferana Etnea. After one last look at the coast between Catania and Taormina, the vineyards, and lush crops, it is time to return to the helipad. An unforgettable 30 minutes helicopter tour!

This tour begins at “Piano Provenzana” and follows a mountain trail at an altitude of 2900 meters. Traveling by off road vehicle, we will reach a high mountain slope framed by magnificent views of lava and volcanic sand along the rift created in the 2002 eruption. Continuing our excursion with our off-road vehicles to an altitude of 2900 meters the North-East crater (where the volcano observatory is located), dominates the area. From this point it will start the ascent by walk on a path surrounded by volcanic scoria and bombs. The total climb is of 300 mt till we will arrive to the view point, at a height of 2900 mt. There we will stop to admire the greatness, the uniqueness and the processes of the volcanic environment, united to the spectacle of the view you can enjoy from the roof of Sicily. In clear weather, one can see both the "Lion" and the "Bove" This is not just a trip for those interested in geology… …anyone who loves nature and breathtaking landscapes should on this valleys, the majesty of the North East and South East craters. Here we will wait to admire the sunset and conclude this afternoon full of new emotions and sensations. The tour end driving back crossing Piano delle Concazze and then down to Piano Provenzana, point of arrival of our excursion.

Trekking to the summit craters that will allow us to discover the wild northern slope of Etna.The departure will be from Piano Provenzana(1800mt) by 4x4 vehicle to Piano delle Concazza(2800mt). From here we will begin our trekking, which will take about 1.5 hours of walking in a volcanic desert with a view sweeping from the Aeolian Islands to the Gulf of Taormina, and will take us to the rim of the Central Crater, where we will be able to feel the volcano's breath and admire the deep crater depression and its colourful sulphur sublimates. Our tour will continue to the summit area to admire the Bocca Nuova, the South-East crater from a safe distance, and the North-East crater. The descent will be along steep, fun volcanic sand gullies that will take us to Pizzi Deneri where we can admire the volcanic amphitheatre of Valle del Bove, a spectacular caldera 8 km long and 4 km wide. After a lunch break, we will continue downhill along the Quarantore gullies with a splendid view of the 2002 eruptive fracture through a path rich in plant species endemic to Etna. We will end our trek in Piano Provenzana. Duration: 5h Difficulty: medium-high Height difference: 600 +,1500- Development: 12 KM The hike is not recommended for heart patients and those suffering from vertigo,forbidden for children under 8 years. Departure time: 8 am Recommended clothing: trekking shoes, windproof jacket, sweatshirt, long trousers, gloves and hat, neck warmer to protect from gases and volcanic sand A packed lunch and at least 1.5lt of water per person is recommended Number of participants in group: minimum 5, maximum 10 The tour may be subject to change due to bad weather conditions or increased volcanic activity

The volcanological guides as figures authorized to lead tourists on active volcanoes, in accordance with the communications of the Civil Protection and the levels of volcanic risk, carry out this excursion up to the maximum safety altitudes foreseen. The route is a valid alternative to the Summit Craters, and is among the most complete and fascinating that can be offered on the volcano, suitable for those who want to walk among craters, fractures in the ground, lava flows and visit exceptional volcanic supply ducts, where a time the molten magmatic mass boiled. The trekking of great volcanological and geological interest, involves the ascent on special 4x4 vehicles from an altitude of 1800 meters to an altitude of 2800 meters (for a total of 8 km of road) accompanied by your volcanological guide who will begin the explanations on board, until arrival at the '' Volcanological Observatory located at high altitude. Then the first trek will begin from an altitude of 2800 to an altitude of about 2900 meters, where we will stop at a panoramic point, with a view of the summit craters, the recent lava flows and the spectacle of Sicily seen from above (variable visibility depending on the weather conditions). After this first walk we will move back to aboard the 4x4 vehicle that will take us to the side of one of the large craters of the north side of Etna, where the longest trek will begin, all planned on foot to the initial starting point. During the journey you will visit the fracture called (Rift) of the north side of Etna, the craters of the eruption of February 24, 1947 you will enter with your protective helmets inside the chimney of a perfectly intact volcanic cone, you will enter inside the mouths that have produced the lava flows. The excursion will continue, on the edge of large explosive craters, through descents composed of slopes of volcanic ash, among the craters generated by innumerable lateral eruptions: 1914 / 24,1809,1874,1879,1911,1923,1974 / 75 up to more recent than 2002 for a total of 6 km of route up to Piano Provenzana. The groups will be distributed according to the number and language of the participants in the various guides in order to avoid the formation of large groups.