Mount Etna & Winery Private Tour from Taormina with Tasting

Summary

Etna’s wild slopes, honey stops and slow wine lunches from Taormina

You’ll ride up Mount Etna from Taormina with a local guide, sample volcanic honey in Zafferana Etnea, walk along ancient craters at 2000 meters, then settle into a family-run winery for lunch and tastings of Sicilian wine. Expect laughter over cheese plates and a few surprises as you breathe in the mountain air — it’s not just another day trip.

What’s the experience like?

Ever wonder what volcanic soil tastes like? I didn’t either, not really — but that’s kind of what happened on this private day trip to Mount Etna from Taormina. Our guide, Paolo, scooped us up right after breakfast (he actually greeted us with “Pronti?” which I guess means “Ready?”), and we wound through these sleepy villages where old men sat outside bars even though it was barely 9am. The air smelled faintly sweet — lemons and something earthy — and the houses were all lava stone, dark and cool. We stopped in Zafferana Etnea for honey tasting. I tried chestnut honey on bread; it was smoky-sweet and stuck to my teeth. Paolo laughed when I asked for seconds.

The drive up Mount Etna itself felt like time stretching out sideways. Black rocks everywhere, then suddenly patches of green. At Rifugio Sapienza, wind whipped around us so hard I almost lost my hat (Paolo just shrugged — “Etna makes her own weather”). We walked along the edge of a crater; you could smell sulfur if the breeze shifted. There were souvenir shops selling little bottles filled with black sand — kitschy but oddly tempting. Some folks took the cable car higher but we just stood there for a while, watching clouds move over the volcano’s shoulder. It’s weirdly peaceful despite everything you know about eruptions.

After that it was straight to a winery clinging to Etna’s lower slope. The owner’s daughter led us around the vines — she showed me how the grapes looked dusty from ash (“good for flavor,” she said). Lunch was loud and easy: cheeses, olives, salami that tasted almost spicy from fennel seeds, homemade pasta with tomato sauce that probably came from someone’s backyard garden nearby. Four wines: two white, two red. The red lingered in my mouth long after we left. I still think about that view over the vineyard with Etna in the background — honestly didn’t expect to feel so content sitting there with crumbs on my shirt.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Private tour of Etna and winery visit

• Pick up at accommodation in Taormina area
• Drive through authentic mountain villages
• Stop in Zafferana Etnea village
• Taste local honey, olive oil, and wines
• Ascend to Rifugio Sapienza at 2000 mt
• Visit Silvestri Craters and souvenir shops
• Optional cable car and jeep ascent to 3000 mt
• Drive to Etna winery
• Tour winery estate and cellars
• Enjoy traditional lunch with local wines

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Mount Etna tour?

Yes, pickup is included from hotels or ports in Taormina area and nearby towns.

How long does the private day trip to Mount Etna take?

The tour typically lasts most of the day, including travel time and lunch at the winery.

Will we visit an actual winery on this tour?

Yes, you’ll visit one of the best wineries on Mount Etna’s slope for a guided tasting and lunch.

Is food included during the wine tasting?

Yes, lunch includes local cheeses, meats, bread, olives, olive oil and pasta along with wine tastings.

Do I need special clothing for visiting Mount Etna?

It’s recommended to wear comfortable closed-toe shoes and bring warm layers or a rain jacket due to changing weather.

Can children join this private Mount Etna tour?

Yes, infants and small children can join; specialized seats are available if needed.

Is this tour suitable for people with limited fitness?

A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended due to walking at altitude on uneven ground.

Are alcoholic beverages included in the price?

Yes, wine tastings are included at the winery; minimum drinking age is 18 years.

What’s included

Your day includes private pickup from your accommodation or port in Taormina or nearby areas by air-conditioned car with your own guide leading the way. You’ll stop for honey tasting in Zafferana Etnea before heading up Mount Etna to explore extinct craters at Rifugio Sapienza. Afterward comes a full estate tour at an Etna winery plus a hearty Sicilian lunch paired with four local wines before being driven back comfortably at day’s end.