Etna North Craters Tour
A tour to discover the largest craters of the 2002 eruption, the most impressive and abrupt volcanic activity of the last 20 years. We discover:
- Huge lateral craters
- Eruptions from 2002, 1923 and 1911
- Northeast Rift
- Black Lava Desert & Lava Bombs
- Robbers’ Den
9 am - 15 pm
medium
6 hours
max. 10 persons
Etna North Craters Tour
- Meeting point at Etna
- incl. breakfast
- incl. equipment
* Children under 13 years pay 10€ less!
Children under 3 years free of charge!
Etna North Craters Tour incl.
- Pick-up & return transport in the Catania / Taormina area
- incl. breakfast
- incl. equipment
* Children under 13 years pay 10€ less!
Children under 3 years free of charge!
Highlights
Lava flow from the 2002 eruption
Already at the beginning of our tour we see the incredible power of Etna. In 2002, a lava flow destroyed the tourist centre in Piano Provenzana in only 10 hours. From the hotel “Le Betulle” we only see the tip of the roof sticking out of the lava.
Fortunately, the lava flow stopped then after 10 days, only 5 km away from the town of Linguaglossa.
The North-East Rift
Etna is constantly moving and changing its shape due to magma pressure, faults and eruptions.
We visit the lava flows of the 1911 and 1923 eruptions that formed along the Northeast Rift, the largest fault on Etna.
The huge craters of 2002
25 craters were created during the 2002 eruption, a line of fire split the entire slope at that time (Cerniera di Fuoco del 2002).
We hike up to the largest of these craters and walk along the crater rim. From there we survey the vast scale of the craters and lava flows that have poured over the entire slope in different directions.
The desert after the lava fountains
What remains after an eruption?
A huge, black desert of volcanic ash, sand and lava bombs. Sometimes the remains of trees still stick out of the lava.
But only a few metres away we see nature in bloom, which has already recovered on older lava flows.
Our guide will not only explain the volcanic activities, but also interesting facts about the fauna and flora.
Inside the lava flow
At the end of the tour we get to know another fascinating formation created by Etna: when an eruption ends and the right conditions prevail, the inside of the lava flow empties and a cave is formed.
We discover – equipped with helmets and torches – the “Grotta della Neve” or “Grotta dei Ladroni” (Snow Cave or Robbers’ Cave).
Important information about the tour
|
|
MEETING POINT
|
|
|
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
|
|
|
SERVICES INCLUDED
|
|
|
SERVICES NOT INCLUDED
|
|
|
SERVICES ON REQUEST
|
|
|
IMPORTANT MESSAGES
|