Etna Tour - HalfDay Small Group & licensed Tour Guide
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Sicily, Italy
- 6 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Mount Etna is Europe’s largest active volcano but its spectacular hiking trails are often poorly marked and challenging to follow. With this guided small-group excursion, explore the lunar landscape without the hassle of reading a trail map and visit lava fields, extinct craters, and a lava tube cave in just a few hours. Delve into the area’s geothermal history and activity and take in sweeping views over the Valle del Bove.
- Explore Mt. Etna with a guide to avoid getting lost on the confusing trails
- Learn about the volcano’s recent eruptions and visit its craters
- Helmets and flashlights to explore the lava tube provided
- Hotel pickup included for added convenience
What's Included
- Helmet and light - Hiking poles
- Certified and Licensed Tour Guide of Sicily
- Funivia dell'Etna
- Lunch
- Cratere Silvestri€5.00 per person
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to your preferred meeting point, or request pickup.
Start time.8:15 am
Itinerary
1
Mount Etna
5 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Infant seats available
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
What a great day with Saro! His knowledge and passion for Mount Etna was contagious. We 100% recommend this tour. His attention to detail, his flexibility in order to meet the needs of the group were much appreciated. He had anything and everything you might need, no matter the weather conditions. We hiked in sunshine, fog, and even snow but we never felt uncomfortable. The small group personal atmosphere ensured you learned a great deal!
Reviews
5.0
based on 220 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Small group so very hands on experience. Saro is knowledgeable and passionate and knows Etna inside and out. Great stories, really knowledgable but a lovely genuine guy as well. Great to be in the hands of someone so passionate. A great day.
Saro is knowledge about the volcano is amazing! He goes the extra mile than any other guides we saw that were cutting the tours short and not using correct helmets etc or etiquette. He is knowledgeable, kind, super smart and knows his way around everything. He knows a lot about the eruptions of Etna historically until today, patiently showed us every detail, made us feel super comfortable while we saw other guises hurrying up guests. I would rate him the best of the best and we travel globally. I also left behind my hiking vest and my credit cards at a farm far far away and realized it only when he dropped us in town. He went above and beyond and retrieved it. Speaks fluent English and is a delight. Highly recommend him. He made our trip so worth it.
Knowing about it is not like living it and walking through it. Saro made it unique. He’s so knowledgeable and loves his job to an extent that makes it memorable to us. The craters, the old lava, the latest lava, they make mount Etna alive and each one has a story. We also visited a cave which described its formation by the power of nature. Wow wow wow and so wonderful.
Saro, the tour guide, is very nice and knowledgeable about the volcano. Highly recommended the tour.
Highly recommended! We really enjoyed the Etna visit, Saro is a great, passionate and knowledgeable guide.
Saro is an incredible tour guide. He is very personable and extremely informative. He is genuinely interested in providing an excellent experience to people so they can get the most out of the tour. He clearly loves his job and wants people to have the best experience possible. In our group, we had teenagers and also older adults (70's) he was able to accommodate to everyone - going fast enough for the teenagers but slow enough for the elderly. I cannot suggest enough to book this trip with Saro !
Great walking on old craters. Not for those who are not sure footed. Larva tube was creepy! Not good if you are claustrophobic.
Saro was the excellent and very informative! Spent a lot of time explaining everything! We had a great time!
Saro is the best tour guide we have ever had! He was wonderful in communicating prior to the trip and very accommodating with picking us up. His knowledge and passion of Mount Etna is second to none. The hike and lava tunnel was amazing and the surprise stop at the beautiful winery was a perfect way to end our day. Saro even made the extra effort to drop us off at the cruise terminal.. Five stars is not enough for the experience Saro gave our family!
Best guide and one of the best excursions I have ever done. Mostly because our guide was so good Extremely knowlegable and friendly.
Our Mount Etna tour was absolutely amazing… Saro was probably the best guide we’ve ever had on any excursion!
A wonderful experience. Our guide, Saro, was both knowledgeable and engaging. He took time to explain thoroughly and looked out for struggling clients.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
It was a real pleasure to guide you on this Mount Etna tour. I’m very happy you appreciated the explanations, the personal attention and the engaging atmosphere throughout the experience. Hope to see you again in Sicily! Ciaoooo
What a great day with Saro! His knowledge and passion for Mount Etna was contagious. We 100% recommend this tour. His attention to detail, his flexibility in order to meet the needs of the group were much appreciated. He had anything and everything you might need, no matter the weather conditions. We hiked in sunshine, fog, and even snow but we never felt uncomfortable. The small group personal atmosphere ensured you learned a great deal!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. It was a pleasure to guide you on this Mount Etna tour and share my passion for Europe’s highest active volcano. I’m happy you appreciated the flexibility, attention to detail and the personal small-group atmosphere. Weather on Etna can change quickly, so being prepared is always important to make every Etna hiking experience comfortable and enjoyable. Thank you
We had a great time visiting Mt. Etna. We were lucky to get a private tour with our guide, he picked us up in the centre of Catania and already explained a lot during the drive. Saro is a very friendly and kind guy and very passionate about Mt. Etna. He did not just show us the craters and lava cave, but also told us a lot about the relation of the people living around and Mt. Etna, a story about respect and connection. Saro did also emphasize his words with pictures from bygone times and current photos and footage. We were able to ask a lot of questions and get them answered with enthusiasm. Saro is also a qualified tourist guide and is well connected with other tour guides and volcanologists.
The tour to Mt. Etna with Saro is definitely worth it and I'm glad we chose him above other, more touristic tours with larger groups. We learnt a lot in those few hours and really enjoyed it. It was an unforgettable experience with such a kind, knowledgeable and passionate man.
If you're looking for an experience, where you actually learn a lot about Mt. Etna and the Sicilian culture, that's the perfect tour.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
I’m happy you enjoyed not only the volcanic landscapes, craters and lava cave, but also the deeper connection between Etna, Sicilian culture and local people. My goal is always to offer an authentic and personal Etna experience, far from crowded group tours. Thank you for choosing my Etna tour from Catania and for your kind words. I truly hope to welcome you back to Sicily one day!
Our guide Saro was very professional and knowledgeable. He was able to cater for all levels of fitness with ease and brought many personal insights into life in Sicily which broadened our understanding and appreciation of what we were experiencing. The scenery was also spectacular!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
It was a pleasure guiding you and sharing the beauty, history, and geology of the volcano.. and yes, this volcano and my tours are for all the levels of fitness.
I look forward to welcoming you again for another Etna tour in the future!
We had such a wonderful time on our tour, it was honestly perfect. Saro is a fantastic guide. His thorough knowledge about Mount Etna and the local area made the day even more enjoyable. Thank you again very much!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your kind words! I’m glad you enjoyed your Etna tour and the incredible landscapes of Mount Etna.
Sharing my passion for the volcano and the nature of Sicily with travelers like you is the best part of my job.
I hope to see you again for another adventure on Mount Etna!
Our guide Saro was so knowledgeable and helpful in the midst of a very cold and windy hike! It was well worth the effort!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
I’m really happy the hike was worth the effort despite the cold and wind.
It was a pleasure guiding you on Mount Etna!
What an experience, Saro was a great guide - patient, knowledgeable and an all round top person to spend the day with. Don’t hesitate, book with him.
This seems to be a trend in these reviews, and for good reason — Saro is the absolute best guide!! My wife and I have been on many tours and Saro truly was the best guide we’ve had, he’s energetic, fun, and extremely knowledgeable. We learned so much about Mt Etna and the surrounding area and had a blast during our day. Pick up and drop off from the cruise port was a breeze as well. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for an excursion!
Pro tip: bring more layers than you’d expect for going to the top of Etna. Luckily Saro provided spare clothing and equipment for our group. This ain’t his first rodeo…
Saro was a fantastic guide, extremely knowledgeable, safety conscious and passionate to share his experiences. We’ve been on many trips and would rank this as the best we’ve experienced.
Wonderful trip with a guide that is passionate about Etna. Nice to have a small group and avoid the crowds. Saro went the extra mile or as they say here, kilometer. Best tour we have been on this trip, and we have done a few. Highly recommend.
Saro was amazing! He knew so much about Mt. Etna and really educated us about the volcano and how important it was to Catania. His personal enthusiasm and warmth was contagious and magical. A volcano is good? Who knew!! He helped to make sure we were always comfortable with the level of hiking the craters, lava flows and tubes. It could not have been a better experience.
Our Guide, Saro, was amazing. Experienced, knowledgeable, thoughtful and personable. He made our time on Etna special and very memorable. He took us a number of interesting places, including a fascinating lava tube, yet never made us feel rushed! A great view (from a safe distance) of the summit and active lava flows incuding steam venting and very audible rumbling was unique. My wife and I, and I'm sure the two other couples in our group would agree, really gained a lot and greatly enjoyed this half day tour.
Saro was amazing! The day was so enjoyable for my wife and I and our two children. Saro went above and beyond to make our day special. The sites and conversation, both topical and friendly were nothing short of perfect. I highly recommend this tour with Saro who is passionate, knowledgeable, and so kind and friendly.
Saro was a great guide. He was so nice when I made an error in my original booking and he was able to accommodate the change in date for the tour. He obviously loves Mt Etna and really brought the volcano to life with all his information.
Awesome experience! Get up close with nature as you travel 2000 meters up Mt. Etna in a 4x4 truck. We learned more from Savo during our half day tour than in a college Geology class! As an extra treat, we stopped by a local farm for local Etna wines and cheeses. I highly recommend stopping, if time allows. We also walked around one of the many volcanic craters of Etna and marveled at the beautiful rock formations. We walked through a lava tunnel formed hundreds of years ago. The majesty of "Mama" Etna was breathtaking!
This was a great experience, because it’s obvious how passionate our guide Saro is about the mountains. We had some amazing views only a short 1hr drive from the city.
Incredible day trip, Saro is so knowledgeable and welcoming. The tour began with an explanation of the geology, we then went took a walk on one of the craters before heading to the lava tunnel which was fascinating. Totally worth booking and make sure you wear walking shoes.
Saro was an excellent guide. Everything was as described -- or better!!
Highly recommend this tour and Saro, the tour guide.
Saro is amazing! At the last minute, we added 2 people and he found a friend/colleague (Marcello) to join us so we could share the experience. He gave details about his beloved Catania and Mt Etna and shared personal experiences about his hiking and biking. He took us to experience the craters and the sites and a lava tube (he provided safety hairnets and helmets with lights and additional flashlights) Then, he took us off road to experience the 4x4! Finally, he took us to his friend’s farm for some amazing fresh local foods. The best food we had had and we had been in Italy and Greece for 10 days already! He should charge more for his excursion! He was so friendly, responsive, professional, knowledgeable, and just plain amazing! I know people don’t typically tip in Italy- but we gave him a very nice tip because he was that awesome!!! When we come back- we’re giving Saro a call! I think we’ve made a friend! You won’t be disappointed- I promise! My Etna is beautiful and Saronis your guy to show it to you! Marcello was awesome as well!
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up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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