Mount Etna dawn private tour: Monti Sartorius & lava caves

Walk Monti Sartorius at first light, then descend into a 1540-meter lava cave where 18th-century brigands once hid.

A five-hour private guided walking tour of Mount Etna departing from Catania in the early morning, visiting the secondary cones of Monti Sartorius formed in 1865, exploring the Grotta dei Ladroni lava tube with provided helmet and torch, viewing the 1992 lava flow front near Zafferana Etnea, and ending with a farm tasting of local wines and honeys. The guide speaks English or Italian. Children from age six are welcome, and transportation from your meeting point is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Etna volcano at dawn

• Visit Monti Sartorius cones
• Walk around eruptive fractures
• Enter Grotta dei Ladroni lava cave
• Explore volcanic cave with helmets
• Trek southern slope to 1992 lava flow
• Visit Zafferana Etnea village
• Taste local honey and wine

The experience

Five hours starts before dawn so you reach Monti Sartorius as light breaks across the volcano. The secondary cones still stand bare except for scattered birch and larch pine, their shapes bent by the northwest wind. Walking the base from the west side, you'll see the eruptive fractures and volcanic bombs left by the 1865 eruption: some of considerable size, half-buried in the ash field.

The route then moves toward Piano delle Donne and the Grotta dei Ladroni, a lava tube at 1540 meters. The cave has large rooms, a small staircase carved into the rock, two entrances and three hand-dug wells. Legend says brigands sheltered here in the 18th century. You'll enter with a helmet and torch, both provided. The cave sits near an Etna birch forest within the municipality of Sant'Alfio. From there, the tour descends to the southern slope to see where the 1992 lava flow stopped just one kilometer short of Zafferana Etnea, with a short trek to the site of a sacred procession the faithful believe halted the advance.

The final stop is a certified farm in Zafferana Etnea where you'll taste honeys and wines grown in the Etna vineyards. Breakfast with granita and brioches or a pistachio croissant is included at the start. Transportation from your meeting point is part of the booking. If you don't have a car, paid pickup from your accommodation can be arranged, with the cost set based on your location and return route.

What’s included

• Transportation from the meeting point.
• breakfast with granita and brioches or pistachio croissant.
• cave helmet, torch and protective headset for the lava tube.
• farm tasting of Etna wines and honeys.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 05:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (6 to 10 years) · Under 6: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableNot for heart conditions

Operated by Excursions Etna Catania

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Italian, so you'll follow the commentary comfortably in whichever language suits you. The five-hour pace and walking distance work for all fitness levels, though the early start and high altitude mean it suits travelers ready for an early morning and a full day on the volcano.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 10 years). Under 6: they can't be included in the booking.

What is the Grotta dei Ladroni and why is it worth visiting on an Etna tour?

The Grotta dei Ladroni is a lava tube at 1540 meters with large chambers, a carved staircase, two entrances and three hand-dug wells. It sits near an Etna birch forest and legend says brigands used it as a refuge in the 18th century. You enter with a helmet and torch to explore its particular rock formations.

What happened at Monti Sartorius and what will I see there?

Monti Sartorius are secondary cones that formed during the 1865 eruption. The cones still appear bare except for sparse birch and larch pine shaped by strong winds, and walking their base reveals eruptive fractures and large volcanic bombs from that eruption.

Does this tour include food and drink?

Yes. Breakfast with granita and brioches or a pistachio croissant is included at the start, and the tour ends with a farm tasting of honeys and wines produced in the Etna vineyards near Zafferana Etnea.

What's included in the price and what do I need to arrange?

Transportation from your meeting point, breakfast, cave helmet, torch and protective headset are all included. If you don't have a car, paid pickup from your accommodation can be arranged. The cost depends on your location and return route.