So, if you really want to understand the volcano, hiking to Etna's summit craters is the most intense experience you can have, in a dynamic, ever-changing high-altitude environment. So, you climb in two stages, and your volcanology guide takes care of the route, adjusting it based on the weather, the volcano conditions, and how experienced the group is.

So, we start from the Piano Provenzana station and go up in a 4x4 along the “702 – Crateri Sommitali” trail, crossing the northeast slope and one of the most unstable areas of the Etna system: the Northeast Rift. On the way up, you'll see side craters, recent lava flows, and formations shaped by the volcanic activity that's constantly changing the landscape.

So, once you get to the Pizzi Deneri Volcanological Observatory, a unique high-altitude lab (built between 1975 and 1978) in a high-elevation area, you start the hiking part. From there, you'll hike up to the summit area, following the route your guide thinks is the safest and best for you.

So, right now, Etna has four summit craters at the top: Voragine, Bocca Nuova, the Southeast Crater, and the Northeast Crater. So, you'll explore the crater terrace complex according to the schedule and distances your guide sets, without long stops at high altitude. The summit is an unstable environment, so you need to be careful and follow your guide's lead.

After the tour, we'll head back down to a lower altitude (about 9,186 feet) and take the 4x4 back to Piano Provenzana.