Mount Etna and Alcantara Gorges Day Trip with Circumetnea Railway Ride
Taormina, Italy
Rating: 
Trip Type: Day Trips
Duration: 10 hours
Leave Taormina and ride around Mount Etna by 1950s-era train on the Circumetnea Railway! This exciting day trip also includes trips to the rock pools and canyons of Alcantara Gorges (entrance own expense) and the foothills of Sicily’s vivacious volcano. If you want to see Mount Etna’s smouldering summit, upgrade to include transport to the top and a walking tour of the craters.
Note that from November 1 to March 31, the tour does not include the train ride nor the optional upgrade to the summit.
Note that from November 1 to March 31, the tour does not include the train ride nor the optional upgrade to the summit.
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Leave Taormina and ride around Mount Etna by 1950s-era train on the Circumetnea Railway! This exciting day trip also includes trips to the rock pools and canyons of Alcantara Gorges (entrance own expense) and the foothills of Sicily’s vivacious volcano. If you want to see Mount Etna’s smouldering summit, upgrade to include transport to the top and a walking tour of the craters.
Note that from November 1 to March 31, the tour does not include the train ride nor the optional upgrade to the summit.Meet your host in Taormina and travel by air-conditioned coach to Alcantara Gorges, a series of deep incisions in the cliffs around the Alcantara River. Pay your entrance fee, and then follow your host around the incredible waterfalls and gorges, created after a series of ancient volcanic eruptions.
Return to your coach and travel to the small town of Randazzo. Then, head to Circumetnea Railway, a private train station that operates a 1950s-era train around Mount Etna. Take a seat aboard the delightfully old-fashioned train, and relax as it weaves its way around the entire circumference of the volcano. The route offers unique views of the volcano with valley vineyards and flower-frescoed meadows to one side and old lava fields of Mount Etna on the other.
After an hour on the train, disembark and swap back to your coach. Travel to Etna south station, at an altitude of 6,234 feet (1,900 meters), and enjoy free time to hike the trails in the foothills at leisure. Grab a snack at the station’s cafe (own expense) and ask your host for hiking trail recommendations; sturdy walking shoes are recommended.
Ascent by cable car up to 2,500 meters and continuing on board jeeps up to the authorized crater zones at approximately 3,000 meters with the assistance of licensed guides of the CAI (Italian Alpine Club); stop to admire the eventual activity of the summit craters in a safety zones according to weather conditions
Board your coach at the pre-arranged time, and then travel back to the start point in Taormina.
Please note: During winter months (November to March), the tour travels from Randazzo to Etna south station by bus, not train. The optional upgrade to the top is also not possible. Winter tours only include free time for trekking at leisure around the foothills.
Note that from November 1 to March 31, the tour does not include the train ride nor the optional upgrade to the summit.Meet your host in Taormina and travel by air-conditioned coach to Alcantara Gorges, a series of deep incisions in the cliffs around the Alcantara River. Pay your entrance fee, and then follow your host around the incredible waterfalls and gorges, created after a series of ancient volcanic eruptions.
Return to your coach and travel to the small town of Randazzo. Then, head to Circumetnea Railway, a private train station that operates a 1950s-era train around Mount Etna. Take a seat aboard the delightfully old-fashioned train, and relax as it weaves its way around the entire circumference of the volcano. The route offers unique views of the volcano with valley vineyards and flower-frescoed meadows to one side and old lava fields of Mount Etna on the other.
After an hour on the train, disembark and swap back to your coach. Travel to Etna south station, at an altitude of 6,234 feet (1,900 meters), and enjoy free time to hike the trails in the foothills at leisure. Grab a snack at the station’s cafe (own expense) and ask your host for hiking trail recommendations; sturdy walking shoes are recommended.
Ascent by cable car up to 2,500 meters and continuing on board jeeps up to the authorized crater zones at approximately 3,000 meters with the assistance of licensed guides of the CAI (Italian Alpine Club); stop to admire the eventual activity of the summit craters in a safety zones according to weather conditions
Board your coach at the pre-arranged time, and then travel back to the start point in Taormina.
Please note: During winter months (November to March), the tour travels from Randazzo to Etna south station by bus, not train. The optional upgrade to the top is also not possible. Winter tours only include free time for trekking at leisure around the foothills.
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