Etna Jeep OffRoad Tour: Lava Flows,Etna Wines,Lunch at 6,561 ft
At a glance
Etna Jeep OffRoad Tour: Lava Flows,Etna Wines,Lunch at 6,561 ft is a 5h small-group experience in Catania, Italy, operated by Alessandro Mertoli. Travellers rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 106 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor. Prices start from $147.30 per person. Included: ETNA DOC wine tasting in the vineyard, Air-conditioned vehicle, Lunch in a refuge at 6,500 ft. with typical Sicilian products.
Highlights
- Rated 4.8/5 by 106 travellers
- Small group of up to 12 people for a more personal experience
- 5 stops in one well-planned itinerary
Quick facts
- Duration
- 5h
- Group
- Small group, up to 12 travellers
- Languages
- English, Italian, Spanish
- Pickup
- Hotel pickup or meet at the start point
- Confirmation
- Instant confirmation
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Cancellation
- See cancellation policy
Overview
Exciting tour by Jeep and walking on lava flows in search of hornito and lava flow caves until reaching the wonderful fracture that discovers the ancient flows that followed one another over the centuries to discover the origins of the volcano Etna.
The emotion that our excursion provokes is unique. You'll feel like you're walking on the moon and going all the way to the center of the Earth. Walking along the perimeter of the great fracture you can admire the incredible succession of lava basalts.
The pleasant excursion will take you to discover magical places where ETNA DOC WINES are produced where the nature of the volcanic soil mixes with the Sicilian sun. The best wineries are waiting for you to visit the vineyards grown on volcanic sand and taste the volcano wines unique in the world.
Finally, a pleasant and relaxing lunch at an altitude of 6,561 ft. based on typical Sicilian products will be the right reward for a unique and unrepeatable experience.
What's included
What's included
- ETNA DOC wine tasting in the vineyard
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Lunch in a refuge at 6,500 ft. with typical Sicilian products
- pole trekking
Itinerary
-
Stop 1 · 1h
On the slopes of Etna, the path reveals the volcano. The 2001 eruptive vent emerges, a lunar landscape of basalt rocks. The warm soil underfoot and the smell of sulfur indicate active fumaroles.
In front of us, the mouth is a lateral explosion crater, walls with layers of lava. Glowing rocks convey the dynamics of the magma that shaped this place.
Although many years have passed, the eruptive vent is still active, with fumarolic activity and fractures in the ground. The landscape shows volcanological signs, such as the presence of volcanic bombs and new fractures.
We stop, aware of the geological process. The eruptive vent, with its volcanological spectacle, offers a unique opportunity to understand the internal dynamics of the volcano. The panorama, dotted with lava formations, is a visual lesson in Etna's geological history.
With this show in our hearts, we continue the journey, taking the memory of these places with us. -
Stop 2 · 1h
Cave of the Carcarazzi Craters
It is a vertically developing cavity located within the eruptive apparatus of the 1766 eruption of the Calcarazzi mountains, and like all cavities of this type, the walls are extremely unstable as they are made up of welded slag.
In the eruptive fracture some magma remains which is consolidating, but a superficial part of the fracture can remain empty and accessible through the explosive or effusive vents, giving rise to a type of volcanic cave.
Although the eruptive systems of Etna are very numerous, cavities of this type open only in a few of them, in fact most of the secondary craters remain occluded by the pyroclastic material at the end of their activity. -
Stop 3 · 1h
The excursion reveals the volcano in its grandeur. Once we reach the view over the Valle del Bove, the ancient caldera welcomes us like a geological amphitheatre. Layered walls of lava, pyroclasts and ash narrate the volcano's tumultuous history over the centuries.
The formation of the caldera is the result of complex geological processes. During an eruption, rapid emptying of the magma chamber can cause collapse of the top, known as caldera collapse. This event creates the vast amphitheater-shaped depression, like the one we admire today in the Valle del Bove.
Lava flows and pyroclastic deposits have further shaped the caldera over time. The view over the Valle del Bove becomes a window on the volcanological history of Etna, a story written in the rock stratifications. The magnitude of this geological formation offers a unique opportunity to explore the internal dynamics of one of the world's most active volcanoes. -
Stop 4 · 1h
Visit to the vineyards and cellars where Etna doc wine is produced, with tasting of white, rosé and red wines of Etna
-
Stop 5 · 1h
Lunch with typical Sicilian products in a mountain hut
Meeting point
Meeting point in the Sicilia coffee break parking lot - use the Acireale exit of the highway
Good to know
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Customers who have not reached the legal drinking age in Italy, i.e. 18, will not be served alcoholic beverages.
Cancellation policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Etna Jeep OffRoad Tour: Lava Flows,Etna Wines,Lunch at 6,561 ft take?
The experience lasts about 5h.
How much does it cost?
Prices start from $147.30 per person. The final price depends on the date, time and number of travellers, and is confirmed on Viator before you pay.
What's included?
ETNA DOC wine tasting in the vineyard; Air-conditioned vehicle; Lunch in a refuge at 6,500 ft. with typical Sicilian products; pole trekking.
Where does it start?
Meeting point in the Sicilia coffee break parking lot - use the Acireale exit of the highway
Can I cancel?
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Which languages is it offered in?
It is guided in English, Italian, Spanish.
Is it worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 106 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor, which places it among the top-rated experiences in Catania.
