Walk : Mount Etna route map

Description	Mount Etna (3323 m) is Europe’s biggest and best-known live volcano. On this walk you can examine the solidified lava flows and experience the steam pouring out of the craters
Duration	Variable to suit the conditions and the time available
Suggested Itinerary	Head up from Torre del Filosifo into the high peaks and craters
Airport	Palermo (Ryanair) or Catania (BA, Air Malta, Thos Cook)
Accommodation at start	Plenty of hotels and lodgings at all price ranges in Catania. Also accommodation is available at Refugio Sapienza (Club Alpino Italiano) and Hotel Corsaro at the Etna Sud car park.
Transport to start	For Palermo connection see Palermo page From Catania, AST bus departs from the bus station opposite central railway station every day at 08.15 for Etna Sud car park (1923m), where the cable car starts. Journey time is about 2 hours and the return fare is 5 euro; pay the driver. From the top station of the cable car, a service of jeep mini-buses takes you to Torre del Filosfo (2919m). Return fare for cable car and jeep is 42.50 euro. Alternatively, walk up the jeep track all the way from the car park.
Route	Follow the track north west towards the visible summit peaks; return the same way.
Waymarking and terrain	It’s all ash, cinder and lava flows, unless covered with snow. Poles mark the track. As you are at a height of 3000 metres, conditions can become very nasty very quickly, so be well prepared and turn back if visibility becomes poor. Note that a sign in the car park explicitly states that you are not permitted to walk on the mountain without a guide, but this does not seem to be enforced, other than as a mandatory 7 euro ‘guide fee’ included in the cable car fare.
Transport from end	Bus back to Catania leaves the car park at 16.30 daily
Accommodation at end	as start
Maps	1:50,000 Parco dell’ Etna published by Touring Club Italiano covers the area of the national park. A useful overview, but not good on detail. Better for the mountain itself is 1:25,000 Mt Etna ‘carta escursionistica altomontana / touristic-high mountain map’ published by SELCA of Florence in collaboration with Club Alpino Italiano. The 2005 edition shows the 2003 lava flows and footpaths are clearly marked. Best overview map is 1:60,000 Mt Etna ‘carta naturalistica e turistica / naturalistic and touristic map’ also published by SELCA / CAI. This covers the area as far as Catania and shows the lava flows of each eruption in different colours.
Comments	Jeep mini-buses wait at the top cable car station Keeping the jeep track clear Steam pouring from crater Silvestri crater and view south

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