The excursion to Etna's summit craters represents the top of the discovery of our volcano. The ascent to the summit area takes place, in a first phase, through the use of 4x4 vehicles that will travel along the '702 - Crateri Sommitali' path, gradually ascending in altitude in one of the three areas of greatest volcanological fragility in Etna's volcanic system, along the so-called Northeast Rift. The exact starting point of the 4x4 vehicle is indicated a few days before your excursion and can be either the CAI Salvatore Citelli Refuge or the Piano Provenzana ski resort (the distance between the two meeting points is negligible, about 10 minutes by car). The ascent by vehicle is an easy way to reach the high altitudes, understanding the evolutionary and volcanological dynamics of a landscape that changes with every bend: extinct craters, lava flows and the remains of tourist structures covered by previous eruptive activity are revealed, curve after curve, until an altitude of around 2,800 metres is reached (depending on the weather and volcanological conditions, this altitude can vary and be between 2,800 metres and around 3,000 metres).

The second phase, which includes hiking to the summit cones, begins after reaching the Pizzi Deneri volcanological observatory: a unique high-altitude laboratory, built between 1975 and 1978 in an area free of the risk of lava invasion in the high morphological area known as Pizzi Deneri. The hike to the summit of the volcano continues on foot along the path that the volcanological guide will deem most suitable based on the weather-volcanological conditions and, not least, the condition of the group. The summit currently has four summit craters: the Voragine crater, protagonist of the spectacular paroxysms of the summer of 2024, which elevated it to Etna's new highest peak at 3403 metres; the Bocca Nuova crater, adjacent to Voragine, which is part of the central crater system; the South-East crater, formed in 1971 and protagonist of the sixty or so paroxysms of 2021; and finally the North-East crater, formed in 1911. The complex system of crater terraces will be visited with the respect due to it and at the times set by the guide, leading the group on an itinerary aimed at understanding a unique place in the world's volcanological context.

After exploring the summit cones, the group will follow the sandy gullies that lead down an easy descent toward Piano delle Concazze at an altitude of approximately 2,800 meters. This is a volcanic plateau formed by the caldera collapse of the Ellittico volcano, whose remains define the contours of the northern ridge of the Valle del Bove. In this otherworldly landscape, the 4x4 vehicles from the morning will pick up the group and take them back along Trail 702 to Piano Provenzana.

*The total cost of your hike is € 130, including € 50 per person for 4x4 transportation.

** Upon request, it is possible to arrange a meeting point with the guide at an altitude of 2,900 meters, avoiding the 4x4 (recommended only for experienced hikers).

Approaching a summit always requires several steps of physical and mental acclimatization, primarily due to the lack of oxygen, but also to take the time to understand where you are going. Hiking “around the summit” is a celebration of this place of passage towards the summit craters, discovering all the places that surround them. Our hike starts from Montagnola at about 2,500 metres above sea level and then approaches Piano del Lago, a well-known volcanic plateau on which the lateral cones of the 2001 and 2002 activity are grafted, certainly the most eventful two years in the recent history of the volcano.

Together, we will understand the scenarios that led to the formation of the Lake Crater, an enormous cone measuring approximately 90 metres formed in 2001, and the Barbagallo Craters, dating back to the fall of 2002, responsible for the disappearance of Torre del Filosofo, the most important historiographical reference point for our volcano since the days of the first Grand Tours and the first ascents on donkey back in the 19th century. We will travel far and wide across the high altitudes, discovering Cisternazza, part of the 1792 activity, and then gaze out over the immense Valle del Bove, a huge morphological depression to the east of the volcano, the scene of many lateral eruptions over the last century and a unique landscape on Etna.

The route ends after about 5 hours at the same starting point, where we will then retrieve our means of descent to the Sapienza Refuge at an altitude of 1,910 metres a.s.l.

Our high-altitude hike allows you to safely explore one of the most picturesque spots on the volcano, reaching the starting point via the Etna cable car or simply on foot (to be arranged when organising your hike and subject to prior notification to the guide). It is a circular route of approximately 10 km, taking around 5 hours to complete, of moderate difficulty, with no technical sections and no need for mountaineering equipment. Suitable for groups and families in its various formats (starting from 2,500 or 1,900 metres, entirely on foot); the cable car fare of €54 per person covers travel from Rifugio Sapienza to the cable car station, including return journey.

*The cable car ticket is EXCLUDED from the price payable to BÙUM GVI.