Etna Nord by bus

Starts every day with a bus from Caffè Bellini bar at 8:00am (Corso Sicilia 14) / Bar Nafè at 8:30am (Piazza Papa Giovanni XXIII 6).Arrival at Piano Provenzana (1900mt), north side of Etna, and with special latest generation 4×4 off-road vehicles, Ambiental class Euro 5 and Euro 6 authorized by the Etna National Park Institution, you’ll reach 2850mt.

he excursion towards the Summit area, assisted by alpine and volcanological guides authorized by the law, will start from 1800mt altitude (Piano Provenzana) and will continue on the panoramic path that, amongst old craters and recent lava flows, will allow us to reach the Volcanological Observatory at 2850mt.

Once the visit finishes, we’ll leave again towards the volcanological observatory at Pizzi Deneri, 2818mt altitude. After leaving the off-road vehicle, together with our guides, we’ll start a brief trekking of 15 minutes that will lead us at the promontory of Pizzi Deneri at 2850mt.

Moreover, it is possible to observe, from a distance and in absolute safety, the summit craters that dominate the majestic Bove Valley, which has oftentimes been an important protection shield for the villages at the bottom of the summit craters during multiple lava flows.

After entering again the vehicles, the next stop will be the eruptive theatre of October 2002 with its characteristic buttonhole craters. After reaching our destination at 1900mt more or less, we’ll start the trekking on lava flows and explosive products. The circular path will allow you to walk on the edge of the craters and admire their morphology called “buttonhole” typic of the lateral eruption of the volcano. After reaching the top (2050mt more or less), it’ll be possible to enjoy the eruptive theatre and the lava flow that destroyed the touristic station of Piano Provenzana. There’ll be then a brief descending on a long sandy slope to reach the off-road vehicles available to go back to Piano Provenzana.

Last stop of the tour is the arrival at the restaurant Monte Conca where there’s a little break to eat a sausage sandwich and to refresh with a drink.

We’ll leave to go back to Catania at around 3pm/3:30pm.

• Insurance
• Transfer A/R from Catania
• Bus 4×4 until 2850mt
• Sausage sandwich + soft drink
• As much as scheduled

• Trekking shoes
• Long pants
• Windproof jacket
• Backpack with water bottle and packed lunch

In order to avoid taking risks, it is a good idea to be fully aware of one’s own health condition and to present it when driving.
Here are some notes on safety.Pregnant women
Pregnant women who are more than three months pregnant are not allowed to undertake any type of hiking activity.

Cardiac problems, asthma and dizziness
For anyone suffering from such conditions, any type of hiking activity is not recommended, whether at lower or higher altitudes.

Contact lens
The use of contact lenses is prohibited on all hikes, but especially on those leading to the summit area, due to the continuous presence of windblown volcanic ash.

Variations
At the guide’s discretion, excursions may be varied or interrupted if weather conditions, environmental causes, or possible volcanic hazards represent any source of danger. It is also at the guide’s discretion to interrupt the excursion for any reason that may jeopardise the safety and thus the physical integrity of an individual or the entire group.