Mount Etna Summit 2920m: Cable Car, Crater Trek & Wine Tasting

Walk the rim of Europe's most active volcano at 2,920 meters

You ride a cable car to 2,920 meters, walk the rim of Etna's active craters with a volcanological guide, explore a lava tunnel with helmet and torch, and taste three local wines at a volcanic farm. The cable car and jeep tickets are included, as is the helmet and cave gear. Plan for a full day and wear sturdy shoes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Mount Etna summit and local tastings

• Arrive at Rifugio Sapienza 2000m
• Climb by cable car to 2920m
• Walk along 2002/03 crater crest
• See 1992 lava flow and trek
• Visit volcanic lava tunnel cave
• Honey, oil, and wine tasting visit

The experience

"Can you actually feel the heat coming from inside?" That's the question most people ask the moment the cable car stops and the crater walls come into view. You start at Rifugio Sapienza, which sits at 2,000 meters on Mount Etna's south face, then ride the cable car up another 920 meters to reach the legal maximum altitude on the volcano. The air gets thinner, the landscape turns to black rock and ash, and your guide, a volcanological-alpine specialist, points out the southeast crater, the highest and most active one on Etna. You'll smell sulfur and steam rising from the ground. It's not a metaphor. It's the volcano breathing.

From there, you walk along the crest of the 2002 and 2003 craters, the ones that formed during the last lateral eruption. The trek is easy, nothing steep or technical, but the ground beneath your feet tells the story. You're literally walking on lava that erupted two decades ago. Your guide shows you the eastern flank of the southeast crater, then takes you down to see the 1992 lava flow that nearly reached the town of Zafferana. You'll walk on "AA" type lava, the rough, jagged kind that looks like it cooled yesterday. The whole crater experience takes a few hours, and you're never alone. The guide keeps you safe and explains what you're seeing.

After the high-altitude part, you descend into a volcanic cave, a tunnel carved by flowing lava centuries ago. They give you a helmet, a torch, and a protective cap, and you walk through the darkness with stone walls that are still warm in places. It's surreal and quiet. Then comes the farm visit, which feels like a palate cleanser after all that intensity. At Oro d'Etna, you taste three wines (Etna rosso, bianco, and rosato, all DOC), and learn how the volcanic soil gives them their mineral edge. They serve local honey and oil too. By the time you leave, your legs are tired, your clothes smell like sulfur, and you've got a real sense of what it means to stand on an active volcano.

What’s included

• Cable car and jeep tickets to reach 2,920 meters.
• volcanological-alpine guide for the crater trek.
• helmet, torch, and protective cap for the lava cave.
• three wine tastings (Etna rosso DOC, bianco DOC, and rosato DOC) at a local farm.
• air-conditioned vehicle for transport.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (11 to 90 years) · Child (under 11)

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 37 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Excursions Etna Catania

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Mount Etna's active craters and walk on recent lava without arranging your own transport or hiring a separate guide: the cable car, jeep, and specialist guide are all arranged, which is what makes reaching 2,920 meters straightforward.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, French and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 11).

Do I need to be fit to do this?

The trek is described as easy and suitable for all fitness levels. It's not recommended for people with poor cardiovascular health due to the altitude, but the walk itself is not strenuous.

What's included in the price?

Cable car ticket, jeep ticket, helmet for the cave, and the volcanological guide. Wine and food tastings at the farm are also included.

What should I wear?

Sturdy hiking shoes with good grip are essential because of the rough lava rock. Bring layers (it's cooler at 2,920 meters), and sunscreen. The cave is cool and damp.

Is the wine tasting included?

Yes. You'll taste three Etna wines (rosso, bianco, and rosato) at the Oro d'Etna farm, along with local honey and oil.