We wanted to summit Mt. Etna but we couldn't reach the summit because of recent volcanic activity. Normally, you would take a cable car from the Rifugio at 1900 meters to 2500 meters then board a 4-wheel bus to 2920 meters. The summit is at 3300 meters.
Sign up in the Gruppo Guide Alpine shack in front of Refugio Sapiensa--€50 per person for the guide. No reservations needed in late April. You can visit Mt. Etna to 2900 meters without a guide.
Included in the price is loan of a jacket
and hiking boots.
You have to purchase a separate cable car ticket for €30. Unfortunately, the cable car was not running because of high winds.
Instead, we were taken by 4-wheel bus from 1900 meters all the way to 2500 meters.
End of the bus line. There was a restaurant, shop and restrooms inside.
The tour was supposed to leave from the Gruppo Guide Alpine at 9 am. We didn't leave until we had enough guests sign up for the hike--we waited for buses to arrive from Catania and Taormina and finally left at 10:30am. It was a large group and we only had 1 guide.
We followed the guide on a trail.
We got close to volcanic vents with steam coming out of them.
The path is slippery and I was glad I had the hiking boots.
It was a windy day with poor visibility. The hike was miserable and the excursion took about 6 hours, including the bus ride up and down and a stop for lunch. I wouldn't do it again unless it was a clear day.
2022 04 21
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