Etna Helicopter Tour
Experience Etna from a unique perspective and look directly into the summit craters
Duration: 20 - 95 min depending on the tour
Difficulty: easy
Altitude: 3500 m.a.s.l.
Etna Helicopter Tour
Etna group tour
Private Helicopter Tour Etna
2 overflights over the 4 main craters
Private Platinum Helicopter Tour Etna
3 overflights over the 4 main craters or approx. 30 min.
Private Helicopter Tour Etna & Taormina
Private Helicopter Tour Etna & Aeolian Islands
Flight & Pick up
Our Etna helicopter tour doesn’t start with the flight. If you wish, we can also organise pick-up from the hotel for you. You will be picked up by us with a certified driver and first-class vehicle and taken to one of our heliports (Fiumefreddo, Linguaglossa). If your hotel has a helipad, a helicopter pick-up directly from the hotel is also possible. (Price on request)
Service & Safety
We currently fly with an Airbus AS350 and an Airbus H130 (built in 2018). They offer space for 5 and 6 guests and the pilot respectively.
Our pilot will be waiting for you at the helipad and will briefly go through the safety instructions with you. The pilot speaks English and Italian and will explain what you see during the flight. You can also be accompanied by our guide, who will explain everything about Etna in English.
You can talk to the pilot at any time during the flight via a headset.
VIP configuration:
An Airbus H-145 bi-engine helicopter is also available on request at an additional cost. It can accommodate 8 people: 1 or 2 pilots and 7 or 6 guests.
We will gladly inform you of the prices for the bi-engine helicopter on request.
The highest active volcano in Europe – experience it up close with the helicopter tour
From above you can see the huge dimensions of the volcano, the lava flows criss-crossing the slope, whole chains of craters formed during the eruptions. A unique perspective!
We approach Etna via the Valle del Bove, this huge indentation on the eastern side of the volcano.
And then, as the highlight of the flight, we look directly into the four summit craters of Etna!
Etna & Sicily from above
We offer flights not only over Etna, but also over Taormina and to the Aeolian Islands.
The flight over Etna is available as a group flight and as a private flight. The other helicopter tours can only be booked as a private flight.
Treat yourself to this unique experience!
Helicopter Flight & Trekking
Do you want to get to know Etna even better? Then lace up your hiking boots and come with us!
After a flight in the morning, we still have the whole day to hike what we have seen from the air.
We cross lava flows, walk along the crater rims and go underground into a lava tunnel.
Etna Helicopter Tours
and prices
| Group tours | Price per person |
| Etna group tour | 300 € |
| Private tour | Price per flight | |
| Private tour (English speaking guide: + 100 €) | ||
| Etna | 1100€ | |
| Etna Platinum | 1300€ | |
| Etna and Taormina | 1600€ | |
| Etna and Aeolian Islands | 3700€ | |
Etna Helicopter Tours
and prices
| Etna group tour | |
| Price per person | 300 € |
Private Tour (English speaking guide: + 100€)
| Etna | |
| Price per flight | 1100€ |
| Etna Platinum | |
| Price per flight | 1300€ |
| Etna and Taormina | |
| Price per flight | 1600€ |
| Etna and Aeolian Islands | |
| Price per flight | 3700€ |
Questions about our helicopter tours
Which helicopter do we fly with?
We currently fly with an Airbus AS350 and an Airbus H130 (built in 2018). These single-engine helicopters offer space for a total of 6 and 7 passengers respectively.
How many people can be accommodated in the helicopter?
Our Airbus H130 offers space for 7 people: 6 guests and the pilot. The pilot sits at the front right, two more seats are at the front left and in the centre. The remaining 4 guests sit at the back.
Our Airbus AS350 offers space for 6 people: 5 guests and the pilot. The pilot sits at the front right, another seat is at the front left. The remaining 4 guests sit at the back.
Can I talk to the pilot during the flight?
Yes, in the helicopter there is a headset for each guest, through which they can hear the pilot and talk to the pilot themselves. The pilot speaks English and Italian. You can also be accompanied by an English-speaking guide during the flight, who will explain everything about Mount Etna.
The headsets are of course disinfected after every flight!
What do I have to wear?
You can wear normal street clothes.
We recommend black or dark clothing, as light clothing is reflected in the windows and thus in the photos.
Where does the helicopter take off?
We have different take-off sites for our helicopters:
- in Fiumefreddo, about 10 minutes from the motorway exit, or
- in Linguaglossa, about 25 minutes from the Fiumefreddo motorway exit.
If you don’t have a car to get to the starting point yourself, we can organise a pick-up for you.
I don't have a car, how do I get to the starting point?
We can arrange a pick-up from your hotel or another meeting point.
The price depends on the pick-up location, the length of the flight and the number of people.
What is the best time of day for a helicopter tour?
We usually recommend flying in the morning hours (between 8 and 11 am), as visibility is usually best at this time of day. Clouds may form during the day as the warm, humid air rises from the sea.
For photographers, a flight in the evening hours migth be interesting because the setting sun creates very special colour and shadow plays. However, by then the eastern side of Etna is already in darkness.
How much does a helicopter flight over Etna cost?
A group flight over Mount Etna costs €300 per person. We offer private flights from € 1100.
How long does the helicopter flight to Etna take?
Depending on where we start, the flight to Mount Etna takes between 20 and 30 minutes. If we start directly at Mount Etna, the flight takes 20 minutes, but we spend the entire flight time at the volcano; immediately after take-off, we fly over lava flows and follow them to the summit.
If we start closer to the coast, the flight takes longer because we have to fly to Mount Etna first.
In addition, you must allow 15 minutes before the flight for the safety instructions.
How high do we fly?
We reach an altitude of about 3500 metres.
Can children take part in the flight?
Flying over a volcano is a unique experience for children too! Children of all ages can take part in the flight. Please note, however, that we cover a large difference in altitude in a very short time and, unlike in an aeroplane, there is no pressure equalisation in a helicopter.
From the age of 2, children must sit in their own seat and therefore pay the full price.
You can take children up to 24 months on your lap (as on an aeroplane), and you do not have to pay extra for them.
Can I take part in the helicopter flight even if I have health problems?
Please note that we fly up to an altitude of approx. 3500 metres in a very short time. If you have health problems, such as high blood pressure or circulatory problems, please check with your doctor whether a flight up to 3500 metres is an option for you!
What happens in case of bad weather?
We want our helicopter flight to be an unforgettable experience for you. In bad weather, e.g. when the summit of Etna is shrouded in clouds, a flight makes no sense.
If this is possible for you, we will reschedule the flight for another time of day or another day. Otherwise you will be refunded the total amount.
What happens in the case of a volcanic eruption?
Safety always comes first, of course! Before each flight, the current weather and volcano conditions are checked and a decision is made as to whether a flight is possible.
How can I pay?
Payment is made in advance by bank transfer or credit card.
What are the cancellation conditions?
If the tour cannot take place due to weather conditions, the flight will be postponed to another time or another day if you wish, or we will refund the total amount.
If you wish to cancel the tour for any other reason, the following cancellation conditions apply:
- No-show or cancellation within 24 hours before the flight: 100% penalty
- 24 to 72 hours before the flight: 75% penalty
- 72 hours to 7 days before the flight: 50% penalty
- 7 days to 30 days before the flight: 30% penalty
- from confirmation until 30 days before the flight: 10% penalty