From Catania: Mt. Etna, Wine and Alcantara Tour with Lunch
About This Experience
The best-value way to do Etna properly and still get a real wine lunch: a full day out of Catania that walks the craters, drops into a lava cave, eats at a working winery and finishes in the Alcantara gorge.
The guide is a naturalist — a geologist, agronomist or biologist rather than a coach host — and the morning is spent on the north-eastern side of the volcano at the Sartorius craters or the 2002 crater, walking through old woodland, extinct cones and lava fields up to roughly 2,000 metres. Helmets and lamps go on for a volcanic cave, either the Grotta dei Ladroni or the Grotta Cassone.
Lunch is at a local winery with Etna wine included — this is where the wine part of the day happens, and it is a proper sit-down rather than a packed sandwich. The afternoon moves down to the Alcantara gorge, where a lava flow met the river and cooled into fluted basalt columns you can wade between.
Boots, jacket and cave equipment are provided free if you ask at booking, which is worth doing: the summit-side ground is sharp and the temperature at 2,000 metres bears no relation to Catania's.
Highlights
- Guided crater walk to around 2,000 metres with a naturalist guide
- Lava cave with helmet and lamp provided
- Sit-down lunch at a winery with Etna wine included
- The basalt columns and cold pools of the Alcantara gorge
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Catania, air-conditioned van
What's Included
- ✓ Naturalist guide (geologist, agronomist or biologist)
- ✓ Pick-up and drop-off near your Catania accommodation
- ✓ Round-trip transport by air-conditioned van
- ✓ Lunch at a winery, with wine
- ✓ Water
- ✓ Helmet, lamp, trekking shoes and jacket
- ✓ Alcantara Gorges entrance ticket
- ✓ Insurance
Not Included
- Gratuities
- Additional food and drinks
What to Bring
- Passport or ID card
- Swimwear and water shoes if you want to wade the gorge
- A layer for 2,000 metres — it is far colder up there than in Catania
Good to Know & Caveats
- Trekking shoes and jackets are provided free, but only if you request them when booking.
- Vegetarian, vegan and coeliac options are available on request at the time of booking.
- Not recommended for anyone with heart problems; the crater walk is at altitude and over uneven ground.
- Infant seats can be provided if requested at booking.
- This is a volcano day with wine in it, not a wine day — if you want cellars and vineyards, book a dedicated tasting tour instead.
Not Suitable For
- Wheelchair users
- People with mobility impairments
- People with heart problems
Meeting Point
Hotel pick-up in Catania (or another agreed point in the city).
What Travelers Say
Rated 4.9/5 by 522 verified GetYourGuide travelers.
we absolutely loved this trip, you get to do so much and our guide, Francesco was so knowledgeable about everything and his English was perfect! we loved hiking Etna, the lunch and wine were delicious and filling and it was also a highlight getting to see the Alcantara gorge in the same day (and worth it in August to cool down). we got picked up and dropped off at our hotel and the transport was lovely and air-conditioned. would highly recommend this trip!
— Jessica, August
It was perfect!!! Great live guide. Beautiful scenery, a great lunch, and great value for the money!!!!
— Lucas, August
We were picked up by Andrea in a small van. The location was easy to find, very close to where we were staying. Andrea was a great guide. He knew so much about the geology of the area. MT. Etna was actively erupting, which was pretty amazing to me. Andrea was very easy to understand and interesting along the hike. The hike is not too difficult, although it was extremely hot while we were in Sicily. Bring water and if you don't have good treads on your athletic shoes, take the boots that they offer. We stopped at the lunch place before the hike to use the bathroom and get the boots. The path has some steep parts and you will be glad to have the traction, especially on the way down. The views are spectacular! lunch at the Emilio Sciacca winery was very good and the other family we were with was very pleasant. It isn't one of those big wineries where there are busloads of people. Bring water shoes for Alcantara, it is very rocky.
— Dina, August
Frequently Asked Questions
How much wine is actually involved?
One winery stop, at lunch, with Etna wine served alongside the meal. It is a genuine wine lunch but this is primarily a volcano and gorge day — a dedicated tasting tour will pour four or five wines with a sommelier instead.
How high do you go?
Around 2,000 metres, on the north-eastern flank at the Sartorius craters or the 2002 crater. That is the walking area, not the summit craters, which need a separate permit-and-guide arrangement.
Do I need my own hiking gear?
No. Trekking shoes, a jacket, a helmet and a lamp are included — but you have to request the shoes and jacket at the time of booking, otherwise they may not be on the van.
Is the lava cave difficult?
It is a short walk-in with a helmet and lamp rather than a caving expedition, but the floor is uneven lava and the ceiling is low in places. It is not suitable if you have mobility problems.
Can I swim in the Alcantara gorge?
You can wade, and many guests do. The water comes off the mountain and stays cold all summer. Bring swimwear and water shoes if you intend to get in.
Is it suitable for children?
Children must be accompanied by an adult, and the operator can provide infant seats on request. The crater walk is long for small children — the half-day options are an easier day out.
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