Mount Etna hiking tour from Taormina: Lava cave and wine tasting

Trace glowing lava paths, explore a hidden cave, then toast with Sicilian wine

A full-day hiking tour from Taormina that takes you onto Mount Etna's slopes, into a lava cave, and to the Alcantara Gorges, with an expert naturalistic guide, lunch with wine pairing, and all hiking equipment provided. The tour runs about nine hours and includes hotel pickup. Tours in French or Spanish can be arranged with advance notice.

Step-by-step itinerary

Mount Etna and Alcantara Gorges tour

• Start tour from Taormina
• Hike on Mount Etna
• Visit lava cave
• Enjoy typical Sicilian lunch and wine tasting
• Visit Alcantara Gorges viewpoint

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel or a meeting point in Taormina and heads toward Mount Etna's volcanic landscape. Once on the mountain, you hike the slopes with an expert naturalistic guide who explains the geology and history as you move through the terrain. Hiking boots, helmets and torches are provided, so you arrive ready to walk.

The hike leads you into a lava cave (a hollow carved by ancient lava flows), where you descend with your torch to see the rock formations up close. After the cave, the group gathers for a typical Sicilian lunch with wine pairing, eaten on the mountain itself. The meal includes vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options if you request them when booking.

In the afternoon, the tour moves to the Alcantara Gorges, where you view the dramatic canyon from a panoramic vantage point. The gorges are a separate landscape from Etna: a river-carved ravine with steep walls and a different kind of geology. You return to Taormina by late afternoon, completing the full circuit of the region's volcanic and water-carved landmarks in a single day.

What’s included

• Hotel or meeting-point pickup and drop-off in Taormina.
• expert naturalistic guide throughout the day.
• hiking boots, helmets and torches.
• lunch with wine pairing.
• insurance.
• vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free meal options on request.

Options for this experience

2 options

Etna, Wine and Alcantara Tour - Departing from TaorminaUp to 15 people · Guide in English or Italian · 08:30Includes pickup

Private TourUp to 8 people · Guide in English or Italian · 08:30Private tour, pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Lasts 9h, runs every day at 08:30, from € 115 per person, with a live guide in English and Italian and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (25 and older) · Youth (13 to 24 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 16

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Etna People s.n.c.

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to hike an active volcano and see its geology from inside a lava cave in the same day: the guide's expertise and the provided equipment mean you're not managing the mountain alone or figuring out the route yourself. The nine-hour structure packs three distinct landscapes (Etna's slopes, the cave, the gorges) into one outing, so you're not splitting the day between separate trips.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 24 years); Child (3 to 12 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the hike on Mount Etna actually like, how steep is it?

The hike covers Etna's volcanic slopes with a naturalistic guide leading the way. You'll need at least a moderate level of physical fitness to manage the terrain and the altitude, which is why the tour provides hiking boots and helmets to keep you stable on the uneven ground.

Do I need to bring my own hiking boots, or are they included?

Hiking boots are included in the tour. Just let the operator know your shoe size when you book so they have the right fit ready for you on the day.

What exactly is the lava cave, and how far down do you go?

The lava cave is a hollow formed by ancient lava flows running through the rock. You descend into it with a torch provided by the tour to see the formations, then return to ground level before heading to lunch.

Is the Alcantara Gorges visit a hike, or do you just look at it?

The Alcantara Gorges are visited from a panoramic viewpoint, so you see the canyon and its river-carved walls from above rather than descending into them. It's a separate stop after the Etna portion of the day.

Can I do this tour if I'm pregnant or have heart concerns?

The tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers after the fourth month or for anyone with heart disease or serious medical conditions. The combination of altitude, hiking and physical exertion makes it unsuitable for those situations.