Mount Etna Tour from Taormina with Hiking, Lava Cave and Local Produce

Mount Etna, Europe's highest active volcano

Mount Etna rises behind Taormina to about 3,300 metres, its exact height changing with every eruption, and it is the highest and most active volcano in Europe. Its eruptions have shaped the landscape of eastern Sicily for half a million years, and in 2013 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list for its scientific and cultural importance. A regional park has protected its slopes since 1987.

An Etna day trip from Taormina is the most popular excursion on this coast, and for good reason: in a single day you pass from orange groves and villages to black lava fields, pine and birch woods and a moon-like summit area. The guide chooses the exact route on the day according to the volcano's activity and the weather, always with safety first.

Hiking the craters and recent lava flows

The heart of the tour is a guided hike at around 2,000 metres across lava flows from recent eruptions, where you see how the molten rock cooled into ropes, blocks and sharp fields of black stone. The walk usually includes the rims of extinct side craters, formed when eruptions broke out on the flanks of the mountain rather than at the summit, such as the well-known Silvestri Craters on the southern side.

From the crater rims the view opens over the coast of eastern Sicily, the Ionian Sea and, on clear days, as far as Calabria. The guide explains how Etna works, why it erupts so often and how the villages on its slopes live with it. The hike is moderate, on uneven ground, and suitable for anyone of average fitness.

Inside a lava cave

Etna is riddled with lava tubes, tunnels formed when the outer crust of a lava flow cooled and hardened while the molten rock inside kept flowing and finally drained away. With a helmet and torch provided, you step inside one of these caves with the guide and walk through a passage shaped by fire, with smooth walls, ledges left by the flowing lava and a cool, silent atmosphere.

For many travellers this is the most surprising part of an Etna lava cave tour: the temperature drops, the light disappears and you understand the power of the volcano from the inside. The visit is short and easy, though you will need to bend in places; wear closed shoes and clothes you do not mind getting dusty.

Local products of the Etna slopes

The volcanic soil of Etna is one of the most fertile in the Mediterranean, and the villages on its slopes are known for pistachios, hazelnuts, honey, citrus fruit and preserves. The farms and small producers of the area still work the terraces built of lava stone, and their products are prized all over Italy.

The tour includes a sampling of local products from the Etna area, a chance to discover the flavours of the volcano and, if you like, to buy some to take with you. Lunch is not included, but the guide can suggest a stop in a mountain restaurant or refuge where you can eat at your own expense, so bring some cash or a card for the day.

Cable car to the high craters and practical tips

If you want to go even higher, the cable car and 4x4 ride to the highest reachable altitude can be added on site, taking you into the summit area where snow can lie well into spring. This extra is paid separately and depends on weather and volcanic activity, and your guide will tell you on the day whether it is running.

How to dress for Mount Etna is the question we hear most: it can be 10 to 15 degrees cooler than on the coast, so bring a warm layer, a windproof jacket, sunscreen and sunglasses even in summer. The best time to visit Etna is from April to October for hiking, while winter brings snow-covered lava fields and a completely different landscape.