Hello-
We were planning on driving from cefalu and back to see Mt. Etna for the day. I did not know if anyone has done this? I see a number of tours from Catania, Taormina, but is it easy to drive there and then on our own take the cable car up, hike? I read a number of comments other places about this taking maybe longer and being more of a difficult drive than I anticipated.
Thanks in advance!
Posted by
Prior Lake, MN, USA
399 posts
We plan to do that in about one month.
I've watched several YouTubes of people on tour and going solo. I've gone to tour websites. Here's my take:
The only hiking area I'm familiar with is on the south side of Etna, so you have to factor in the ease of the drive. We will drive from Catania.
Two YouTube couples who took tours had very truncated itineraries - they stopped at a store (honey, in one) (getting business for friends), stopped at a lava cave and then went to the lower level craters and walked around.
Some people sign up for tours so they have transportation.
I like the flexibility of using the services of the gondola company >> https://www.funiviaetna.com/en/
and see what the weather is like, etc
Prices: https://www.funiviaetna.com/en/excursion-info-prices/
** The cable car is 50 Euros
** the "high altitude hike" is 78 Euro
** The hellcat price is there - I gather that's for winter/snow
** and they offer a sunset excursion
from their price page:
HIGH ALTITUDE TOUR
The excursion starts at an altitude of 1,923 meters at the departure station of the Funivia dell’Etna.
In a modern cable car, you will reach the “Monte Station” at 2,500 meters in just a few minutes
From here, using special 4×4 bus, you will reach the maximum altitude allowed by the authorities in the summit area. As required by current regulations, the excursion continues accompanied by Alpine/Volcanological Guides.