Guided Mount Etna excursions

Etna Volcano Tours

Four excursions, all private, one rule: every one of them is led by a licensed volcanological or alpine guide who works on this volcano every day. Summit craters at 3,300 m, cable car and 4x4 with about 1 hour 30 minutes walking at altitude, the 2002 craters on the north side and the family walk at Sartorius: here is how to choose yours.

Choose your altitude

The higher you go, the harder the walk — and the closer the craters. Here are the four private excursions, each one placed on the mountain at the height it reaches.

  1. Altitude: ~3,300 mSummit
    Summit crater view during a guided Mount Etna trekking tour
    Most requested

    Etna Summit Craters Tour

    Stand on the rim of the summit craters at 3,300 m — the highest you can go, with a guide beside you.

    • ~3,300 m
    • about 5 h
    • Moderate–Advanced
    • North side

    €500private guide, per group

    Plus the 4x4 transfer up and down: €50 per person. Groups of up to 6.

    See this tour
  2. Altitude: 2,900 m
    Private group with their guide overlooking Etna's craters

    Private Cable Car & 4x4 Tour

    Cable car and 4x4 to 2,900 m with your private guide: 3 hours in total, with about 1 hour 30 minutes walking at altitude.

    • 2,900 m
    • about 3 h
    • Easy
    • South side

    €300private guide, per group

    Plus cable car + 4x4 tickets: €82 per person, paid separately. Groups of up to 6.

    See this tour
  3. Altitude: ~2,000 m
    Hiking group on the lava fields of Etna's north side at Piano Provenzana

    Etna 2002 Craters Hike

    Private hike from Piano Provenzana to the craters of the 2002 eruption — lava fields and beech woods on the north side.

    • ~1,800 → 2,000 m
    • about 3 h
    • Moderate
    • North side

    €250private group

    See this tour
  4. Altitude: 1,768 m
    Family walking among the birch trees at Mount Sartorius

    Mount Sartorius Craters Walk

    A quiet private walk through birch woods and the 1865 craters — for families and seniors.

    • 1,667 → 1,768 m
    • 1–3 h
    • Easy
    • Northeast side

    €250private group up to 6

    See this tour

Both sides of the volcano are worth it, for different reasons: to the north, Piano Provenzana and the northeast slope, quieter and wilder; to the south, Rifugio Sapienza, the cable car side, closer to Catania. Why the side matters.

Why book directly with the guides

Visit Mount Etna is run by licensed volcanological guides. When you write to us, a guide answers — and every tour is led by a certified guide we know and trust. Itineraries adapt to the day's real conditions, and groups stay small. Reach the mountain meeting point specified on your tour page independently in your own rental car. We do not provide transfers or hotel pick-up. Guiding languages: Italian, English, French and Spanish

Not sure when to come? Check the best time to visit Mount Etna or look at the volcano live right now. Practical doubts? The Etna FAQ answers them.

Common questions about Etna tours

What is the best Mount Etna tour?

It depends on you. Most requested: the Summit Craters Tour to 3,300 m (€500 per group, up to 6) for hikers in good shape. About 1 hour 30 minutes walking at altitude: the private cable car & 4x4 tour. A real hike without the extremes: the 2002 craters on the north side. With small children or grandparents: the Sartorius craters walk.

How much does an Etna tour cost?

Every excursion is private, priced per group. Summit craters €500 for a group of up to 6, plus €50 pp for the 4x4 transfer. The 2002 craters hike €250 per group. The Sartorius walk €250 for a group of up to 6. The private cable car & 4x4 tour €300 per group for the guide, plus €82 pp for the tickets, paid separately. The price includes volcanological guiding. A helmet is included only on the summit craters tour. Other equipment and clothing are not included; arrange any rentals independently on site. Online booking for up to 6 people; larger groups are possible on request.

Which Etna tour reaches the summit?

The Etna Summit Craters Tour: 4x4 from Piano Provenzana to 2,900 m, then a guided hike to the crater rim at about 3,300 m — the highest point open to visitors.

Do I need a guide to climb Etna?

For the summit area, yes: access to the high zones is regulated and requires a certified guide. Lower trails such as Monti Sartorius can be walked independently — a guide adds the geology, the stories and the safety judgement.

Book your private excursion

Compare routes, practical details and availability, then use the booking calendar on your chosen tour page.

Explore private tours

Choose from our four private Etna excursions and book directly on the tour page.