Etna Sunrise Tour

Experience the majestic beauty of Mount Etna at dawn. Embark on a guided excursion to the eastern side, reaching an altitude of 1900 meters. Witness the breathtaking sunrise over the volcanic landscapes

The route partly follows the one marked by the Etna Park using numbered basalt markers. After passing the barrier that marks the beginning of the path, you immediately enter the birch forest. This is the only area of Etna where these beautiful trees, so typically Nordic, manage to form extensive and practically pure forests.

Continuing along the path, you reach Monti Sartorius, the eruptive “buttonhole” that originated during the 1865 eruption. The secondary cones still appear completely bare, except for a few scattered specimens of Birch and Larch Pine, whose shape is modeled by the strong prevailing winds from the Northwest. By circling the base of the cones from the west side, it will be possible to observe the field of eruptive fractures associated with the 1865 craters, and by reaching the base of the first cone, numerous “volcanic bombs” of considerable size will be visible.

The trekking tour continues towards Piano delle Donne to admire an important testimony of the life and past of Mount Etna: the Grotta dei Ladroni or Snow Cave.

The Grotta dei Ladroni, located at 1540 meters, represents a perfect example of a lava flow tunnel (lava tube). A legend tells that in the second half of the 18th century, the cavity was used as a refuge by a band of brigands who raged in the area. Easy to reach and visit, the lava cave is located near a birch forest of Etna, in an area characterized by a prehistoric lava flow, within the municipality of Sant’Alfio (Catania). With its spacious rooms, the small staircase carved into the rock, the two different entrances, and the three wells dug by man, Grotta dei Ladroni is one of the most particular caves of Etna. To visit it, all you need is a torch and a protective helmet, which will be provided to you for free.

The naturalist guides will accompany you throughout the duration of the excursion to the Grotta dei Ladroni, illustrating its geological and morphological peculiarities and telling you the interesting anecdotes of this mysterious tunnel-shelter. The Grotta dei Ladroni is also known as the Snow Cave for its ancient use: it was used in winter to store snow that was transported downhill in the warm season and was used in the ice trade.

Finally, we will move to the southern side of Mount Etna to see the lowest front of the 1992 lava flow that reached 1 km from Zafferana Etnea. We will take a short trek and see the testimonies of the sacred procession that, according to the faithful, stopped the lava flow.

During the winter months, the itinerary may be subject to changes at the guide’s discretion due to snow or ice, closed roads, or the inability to access impassable roads or paths, always respecting the rules and safety.

Just October 2, 2025, the “Funivie dell’Etna” company, as owner of Silvestri’s craters, our trekking destination around 2000mt, imposed a ticket of €5,00 per person to visit the craters. The payment is only in cash and you can pay directly to the company.

Meeting points and tour itinerary may change due to road closures, civil protection orders, or Etna volcano eruptions.

Dear Customer, we inform you that every Sunday in October our tours on the Etna volcano will undergo some changes both in the departure time, route and in the itinerary. The tasting in Zafferana etnea will not be carried out due to a Gastronomic event that does not allow the regular transit within the municipality of Zafferana etnea . The tour will be regularly active with the utmost safety and transparency. We apologize for the inconvenience.