Port
Catania, Sicily, Italy
Activity Level
Strenuous
Excursion Type
All
Wheelchair Accessible
No
Starting At
$154.95
Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
Duration
Approximately 5½ Hours
Meals Included
Meals not included
A panoramic drive takes you through Santa Venerina and Zafferana villages to the spectacular and very active Mt Etna volcano -- the tallest in Europe at 10,723 feet. Mt Etna is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and dominates the Sicilian coastline.
Ascend by coach, as the landscape grows gradually more forbidding; then, board a cable car to scale the southern slopes to 8,215 feet elevation in only 15 minutes.
At the top of the cable car, switch to a special off-road vehicle. Your expert driver navigates the difficult trails to a viewpoint at 9,514 feet above sea level, where an incomparable vista opens before you.
Guides are available to walk with you to the places where volcanic activity is quite evident.
Notes:
A Spanish-speaking guide leads this tour (or a guide with a Spanish interpreter). A limited number of Spanish-speaking guides and interpreters are available in this port; book early to avoid disappointment. This is not a bilingual tour; please see Spectacular Mt Etna by 4WD & Cable Car for the same tour guided in English. Wear sturdy non-skid walking shoes. Travel time is approximately one hour each way. Restrooms are available at the cable car stations. Expect delays at the cable car, as each car holds only six passengers. The four-wheel-drive vehicles hold up to 20 passengers and are not exclusive to Holland America Line guests. Not suitable for guests with a heart or respiratory condition. Tour operates rain or shine but may be canceled by the operator in the event of extremely bad weather or unsuitable conditions. Mt Etna is an active volcano and erupts on a regular basis; participate at your own risk.