Sunset Mount Etna Tour from Taormina
Badge of Excellence
Sicily, Italy
- 8 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
Experience the volcanic majesty of Mount Etna after the crowds and heat abate on this sunset tour from Taormina. With an expert guide, explore the volcano on a walking tour and then gaze at panoramic vistas from a height of approximately 9,843 feet (3,000 meters) above sea level. Delight in the fiery orange glow of the setting sun before heading to a traditional restaurant at the foot of the volcano. Pleasure your palate with local Italian specialties (own expense) and enjoy the convenience of round-trip transportation from Taormina.
- Take in sunset views from Mount Etna that daytime tourists miss
- Explore the volcanic slopes safely with a guided excursion
- Plenty of time to snap photos and take in the sky-high view
- Visit a restaurant in the foothill of Mount Etna for dinner (own expense)
What's Included
- Transport by air-conditioned coach and jeep
- Tour multilingual escort/host
- Food and drinks
- Wind jacket and boots rental
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Terminal Interbus TaorminaVia Luigi Pirandello, 98039 Taormina ME, Italy
Out from Porta Messina Arch follow the Via Pirandello and you will find the bus terminal on the right hand. Pick up is also available along the route, please contact us for info.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Greet your courteous host at a central Taormina location and climb aboard a comfortable, air-conditioned minivan destined for Mount Etna, the tallest active volcano in Europe. Admire breathtaking scenery as you begin to ascend the sloping side of the mighty volcano, listening to fascinating facts from your guide as you travel.
On arrival at an altitude of 5,906 feet (1,800 meters) above sea level, clamber into a powerful 4x4 jeep to continue your journey to Mount Etna’s upper craters. Disembark at the volcano’s higher peaks and delve into the fascinating history of the volcano as you behold petrified rivers of lava.
Capture photographs of dramatic craters and hear exhilarating tales of past eruptions while watching the sun’s majestic descent. Absorb vistas of the Sicilian hills bathed in fiery orange light and then return to your jeep for the short journey to a restaurant at the foot of Mount Etna.
Pleasure your palate with meals from a traditional Sicilian menu (own expense) while chatting with your fellow explorers. Sated, return to the coach and relax during the journey back to Taormina, where the tour concludes.
On arrival at an altitude of 5,906 feet (1,800 meters) above sea level, clamber into a powerful 4x4 jeep to continue your journey to Mount Etna’s upper craters. Disembark at the volcano’s higher peaks and delve into the fascinating history of the volcano as you behold petrified rivers of lava.
Capture photographs of dramatic craters and hear exhilarating tales of past eruptions while watching the sun’s majestic descent. Absorb vistas of the Sicilian hills bathed in fiery orange light and then return to your jeep for the short journey to a restaurant at the foot of Mount Etna.
Pleasure your palate with meals from a traditional Sicilian menu (own expense) while chatting with your fellow explorers. Sated, return to the coach and relax during the journey back to Taormina, where the tour concludes.
1
Mount Etna
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Warm clothes and comfortable shoes are recommended
- Multilingual tour
- Ascent by off-road jeeps up to the authorized crater area escorted by licensed guides of the CAI (Italian Alpine Club). Possibility to admire the sunset at a safe distance from the central crater. The darkness makes it possible to observe better an eventual volcanic activity
- Departure will be anticipated by one hour in October
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 49 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
Lynda_R
Drive up and restaurant choice. Excellent!
The guide Alexandra was very attentive and informative. Very cold at the top. Bring warm clothes
Reviews
4.3
based on 48 reviews
Robert_B, Sep 2025
It is definitely worth visiting Etna on a guided tour ... if only to see and experience the lava flows from the 2002 eruption. Our guide Antonio was great with the group and had an in-depth knowledge and passion for volcanology ... he really made the trip special and even though we didn't see a sunset it somehow didn't matter. The downside was poor communication about bus pick-ups and the need for warm clothing ... which you do need. It was 27 degrees when we left Taormina and 4 degrees at 3,000m close to the summit of Etna. If you forget warm clothes then they are available for a small charge of €5 per person.
Maria_C, Sep 2025
A lot less walking than we expected, but a very beautiful sunset over the clouds. Very nice guides and very knowledgeable. Everything seemed very professional and they seemed to care about everyone in the group.
Lynda_R, Sep 2023
Drive up and restaurant choice. Excellent!
The guide Alexandra was very attentive and informative. Very cold at the top. Bring warm clothes
John_F, Jul 2018
Amazing tour and hike of Mt. Etna..This was a surreal experience that cannot be missed when visiting Sicily. Be prepared for a vastly cooler/cold temperature at the top of the volcano, hats, coats, sneakers or hiking boots recommended. It is so worth the effort to see and experience the volcano and it's wonder. The dinner at the end was also fabulous and delicious.
Steven P, Oct 2017
This was a great experience as being on the top of a volcano especially so late in the pitch black can be somewhat, let us say, stimulating, for some a bit risky, for others, fear and so it is a bit adventurous. we were able to get some sunset shots, walk around and learn some things and if you go to my Blog you can see pictures of Mt Etna and other areas of Sicily by looking at the labels to the far right and then opening up those views. it was one of the highlights of my entire trip. I asked around and found that a sunset tour is best on the southern side which is what I selected. It is expensive but if you can, do it.
Steven_C, Oct 2017
This is aonce in a lifetime experience and the viewswere spectacular. Special thanks to SAT mgt who approved our group to go just short of theminimum amount of folks needed. The bus to Etna was comfortable and Elizabeth was informative. Once at the half way point, we switched into an offroad vehicle like a humvee with nice seats. Antonio, the Alpine guide was great and also informative. On the way back down we stopped at the restaurant where the food was on ove the better meals believe it or not we had. Bring warm clothes. We took Hat gloves scarves and winter jackets. Temp before sundoen was around 35ish degrees F. When the sun went downit dropped 10 degrees really quickly.
Dontgo to Sicily without this excursion. Its a bucket list event
Jack_G, Sep 2017
The trip up Etna was amazing. An unforgettable experience to see the sunset from an active volcano. The restaurant at the end looked a bit like a tourist trap, but the food was actually great and we liked the house red so much that we bought a bottle.
A top tip - it was absolutely freezing up there. The wind really picked up. You can rent a jacket for 3EUR, which is worth doing. Also bring a wooly hat and gloves if you have some in Sicily. Oh and don't wear shorts like me.
Josephine P, Aug 2017
Wasn't sure at first if this tour was going to own up to others' reviews because the bus ride getting to Mt. Etna was long and packed. However, once we arrived at the bottom of the hill and climbed into our jeeps, each step forward was more than worth it. The views were beyond amazing and we were lucky enough to have snow when we reached the top which made the whole experience surreal. Make sure you wear closed comfortable shoes because you will walk for a while and it was icy because of the snow. Also bring a very warm jacket not sweater - it does get that cold at the top. I also recommend eating at the main restaurant at the bottom of the volcano. You will have about an hour which is more that enough time. It looks like a tourist spot but it was one of the best authentic meals we had in Sicily - try the mixed grilled meats and the veal spidini with pistachio - delicious
Sandra Y, Jul 2017
This is a must when visiting Sicily. An experience of a life time and a check off on my bucket list. The tour was very comfortable. Guide that met us on the top was very knowledgeable and full of info. We were able to feel the lava rocks that was still hot from the last eruption. Smell of sulfur was still in the air. It felt amazing and nervous at the same time being so high up on an active volcano. WOW
Doug S, Jul 2017
Definitely a bucket list experience. The guides were great and very informative! The sunset amazing.
Paul G, Mar 2017
Well worth a trip - the views were incredible. If you are expecting to have a few romantic photos up there, think again! It is really windy and grit is blown in your face constantly so sunglasses were essential. Make sure you take warm clothes too - don't be fooled by the temperature before you go....it is freezing up there, even in the height of summer! This said, we had a fabulous trip and would actually book to go again.
Manette_M, Dec 2016
Of course there are no guarantees of seeing the sunset, and you can't tell from Taormina what the conditions are on top of the mountain. BUT whether or not you see the sun, you will visit an ethereal place unlike any other. Highly recommend it.
Gary T, Oct 2016
This trip is a highlight of any visit to Taormina. We went to the top and while it was nice sunny on the way up it clouded over at the top and were unable to actually see the sun set. The trip down over the lava fields in the dark and fog was exhilarating. The subsequent dinner was very good.
Lisa_S, Sep 2016
Beautiful experience! But luckily for us it wasn't raining, I can imagine that that can make it not so beautiful.
Julie F, Jul 2016
Excellent experience , well worth going to the top !
MGINNELLY, Jun 2016
Great views..comedy ticketing for the trip up to the to
ivanabosco, Nov 2015
Fantastic, absolutely worth paying for, keep in mind it will get very cold at the top.
marlene s, Sep 2015
It rained almost to the top of Etna and we were really not expecting to see the sunset and then all at once it cleared and the view was stupendous
Mark B, Sep 2015
The experience was fantastic! Our guide through the local tour company as not good at all. His command of English was weak and his knowledge of the area poorly executed. The excursion once we left him on Mt Etna was amazing. The guides who drove the land rovers were fantastic. Also the other tour groups guides were with them to add more information as well but we were left to fend for ourselves. I would definitely suggest this tour just make sue the operator is NOT THAT ONE.
Jaana S, Aug 2015
Very well organised tour. Amazing sunset and it was very exciting to visit the top of an active volcano.
Only thing of improvement would be that the alpine guide could have spoken a bit more loud and made sure he caught people's attention as many missed out on the great stories he had to tell.
John V, Jul 2015
A fantastic tour - beautiful scenery, Etna sunset was magical. Well managed with a stop off on the way back for the best pasta we had in Sicily.
margi, May 2015
Very impressed with tour and guides!! Best night- Mt Etna had erupted few days before so wasnt sure what would happen but so special as we there- she erupted and put on an amaxing display!!! spectacular sight !!
Debra K, Oct 2014
An interesting drive up but too much waiting to load up the jeeps. Not a lot of information from the guide. We did not see the sunset as it was foggy.
TriciaB, Oct 2014
This was a great tour. Unfortunately for us the weather didn't co-operate and therefore there was not sunset at the top. The guide was excellent and the driver who took us to the top was really good. It got extremely dark at the top but he was confident with his driving and we all felt extremely safe. Walking around the top of the craters was a little scarey as it was quite windy and very loose ash underfoot but we all returned safe and sound. It is quite an experience and one I can recommend to anyone interested in the tour.
Deborah J, Jul 2014
Very good tour and I recommend this one as opposed to the one that just takes you to the foothills. Knowledgeable and friendly host. We were fortunate enough to see some Stombolian explosions and the lava flow from near the top of Etna. The sunset was also spectacular. The meal on the way back was ok but not a great deal of choice.
One thing to note is that you will need a thick sweater and possibly jacket at the top of Etna. We made the mistake of ignoring the warnings as we had climbed Vesuvius last summer and thought the temperature would be similar. We were very wrong as it was freezing! We ended up having to rent jackets at 4 euros each. As extreme as it may sound it would be wise to pack a scarf, hat and gloves. Our fingers were so cold we could barely hold the camera. My 16 year old son packed a scarf and we all poked fun at him before we left but needless to say he had the last laugh. This trip is well worth the money - just go prepared.
Sheila H, Jul 2014
It certainly was an experience but unfortunately it was misty at the top of Etna so got NO view. You travelled to the top in jeep/buses, very bumpy and dusty. It was interesting to see the craters and lava but in our case with the mist around, it was a lot of money for very little.
Cassie, Jul 2014
Awesome afternoon and evening. Was amazing to go 2800 ft up the volcano and see the many craters, beautiful landscapes and wildlife. The sunset was incredible and one of those experiences you will remember for a lifetime.
I would advise you wear very sensible shoes (trainers or hiking boots) as you will be walking over the volcano and mountain and can be very unstable coming down! Also wrap up warm as although it was 30 degrees at the foothills, up 2800ft is very windy and wind chill probably brought temp down to 10 degrees.
The restaurant at the end of the tour was a charming mountain lodge with delicious (but small) a la carte menu with a choice of three starters and three mains. Service very good seeing as they were serving 40 guests all at the same time.
Only constructive feedback would be that our guide could have been a little more informative to the group when taking us up the Volcano (by foot and jeep). He was very friendly but would have been great to hear more facts and information about Mount Etna.
The sunset trip is definitely a must do.
Angelina R D, Oct 2013
The sunset was beautiful and worth seeing. My only criticism is that you should be prepared for the climb and the cold. If you are older the climb may be a little rough as well as the drive back down. The guide was very knowledgeable and accommodating and helped me back to the off road bus when I found it difficult walking.
From $142.90
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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