Hi,
Can you please tell how do i go from Giardini Naxos, Taormina to Mt. Etna?
Hi,
Can you please tell how do i go from Giardini Naxos, Taormina to Mt. Etna?
So many possibilities - will you have a car or on public transport, or prefer an excursion?
There are some excellent and reasonably priced excursions to Etna from Taormina.
This earlier thread has information;
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187890-i418-k1884284-o10-Palermo_Day_Trips-Palermo_Sicily.html
Vagabonda
There’s not “exactly” public transport from Taormina to Mount Etna.
You would have to bus (Etna Trasporti – about 5 euro) from Taormina to Catania, or take an Interbus (about a euro) to Taormina’s train station and then take the train (around €3,60) to Catania to catch the bus (AST – probably around 5 euros as well) that goes to Rifugio Sapienza – that’s the AST bus that leaves Catania at 8.15 and departs Etna at 16.30.
Bus schedules are all being updated today, so check schedules later.
Etna Trasporti:
Interbus:
Trenitalia:
http://www.trenitalia.it/en/index.html
AST:
http://www.aziendasicilianatrasporti.it/
CATANIA - NICOLOSI - ETNA
http://www.aziendasicilianatrasporti.it/opencms/opencms/ASTHtml/Orari/ORARIOestCT05.htm
By the time you add up the costs of all the buses and trains, you may want to seriously consider the SAT tour that departs from Taormina and goes directly to Etna. The tour is essentially a bus service – you would have free time at Rifugio Sapienza to do as you please. The SAT excursions are reasonably priced and the convenience is worth it - if the schedule is good for you!
SAT:
http://www.satgroup.it/excursion_en.asp?cod=summer
Etna
(Monday)
Departure from Taormina is at 8.30 am.
One day excursion by bus with tour leader. Arriving to 1900 mt Etna’s station. Visit of the Silvestri’s Craters. Time for trekking. Optional ascent to the area of the main crater with cable car and jeep. Lunch on request.
Return to Taormina is estimated around 4.00 pm
Cost of the excursion: € 31.00 per person (Lunch not included)
Cost of the excursion: € 71.00 per person (Cableway and Jeep included, lunch not included)
Vagabonda
Grazie Signore, thats a very important piece of information you have given.
Prego SundanceKiddo!
Truly hope you enjoy the Mighty Etna - one of the most memorable destinations possible, an experience to cherish!
Best Wishes!
Vagabonda
I`ve looked at the SAT site and the 71 Euro trip looks good. How does the excursion compare to the all day trek I`ve seen advertised (the one that leaves at 10.30)?. The SAT trip returns to Taormina at 4pm, but the day trek doesn`t seem to finish until at least 5pm so I assume they`re not the same. Is the SAT trip worth it? If the day trek is better then I`ll need an extra day`s car hire. I don`t mind which as long as we get to see the best bits of Etna.
You are correct - they are not the same.
The SAT trip is worth it – it’s a good excursion and the transportation by bus from Taormina is very convenient, especially if you don’t have a car, or don’t want to take the bus from Catania to Etna.
The 71 euro excursion includes your transportation to and from Taormina to Rifugio Sapienza. The Silvestri Craters are located here.
You would then take the cable car, 4X4 and do some trekking, probably equivalent to the short trek described below.
Without a tour, a visitor to Rifugio Sapienza would have several options.
Just walk the Silvestri Craters at Rifugio Sapienza: free
Only take the funivia - no guide: €26,50
Take the funivia, 4X4, and short trek. There are many daily departures for this shorter tour that involves the cable car (about 15 minutes), 4X4 (about 20 minutes), and a short trek (about half an hour) to a low crater. This cost €49,50.
Take the funivia, 4X4, and long trek to the highest craters. There is only one departure each day for the longer hike at 10:30 (always confirm time of departure). You would return around 16:30-17:00, taking about 6-7 hours. This cost €60. This is the tour that involves the cable car, 4X4, and the trek (about 5 hours) to the highest craters at over 3000m. The scenery here is truly spectacular as you get close to the deep craters, and there are fantastic views from the summit.
Vagabonda
Dear Vagabonda
We will arrive to Rifugio Sapienza by car.
According to your 2 descriptions of climbing options to Etna, the longer version (60EUR) takes off only once a day at 10:30. From where ? From Rifugio Sapienza ? Should we expect long ques for making the payment ? Is there a need to make the booking in advance ? Or can we make it just when we arrive to Rifugio Sapienza ? As far as I understand, the price includes the cable car, 4x4 + walking with the guide to nearly to the top ? These 5 hours of walking/climbing means 2 ways, right ?
thnx in advance !
The long and short trek both depart from the guide’s cabin in Rifugio Sapienza. As you face the cable car, the cabin is to the left.
Always confirm the time of departure (it changes from time to time) and it would be wise to book in advance.
Send an email directly to the woman who books the trek.
alfponte@tin.it
Arrive half an hour to an hour ahead – the guides need to set up the groups for trekking.
http://www.funiviaetna.com/index.aspx
Funivia dell'Etna S.p.A.
Legal and Administrative headquarters
Piazza V. Emanuele, 45
95030 Nicolosi (CT)
P.Iva 00749890877
Tel. +39 095 9141 41/42
Fax +39 095 780 9174
info@funiviaetna.com
You are correct - You would return around 16:30-17:00, taking about 6-7 hours in total.
The long trek includes the cable car, 4X4, and the trek (about 5 hours) to the highest craters at over 3000m. The scenery here is truly spectacular as you get close to the deep craters, and there are fantastic views from the summit.
Truly a surreal experience – enjoy!
Vagabonda
Hi Vagabonda,
Thx a million for your help. Your knowledge and will of help is trully spectacular ! Last night I spent 4 hours reading the older posts including your replies and I am still impressed !! :)
I will contact the guides for booking.
May I ask you for one more opinion ?
We are considering a trip from Taormina to Stromboli too. I know that this volcano is also fantastic, and we always wanted to climb it too, but my friend who lives in Sicily has just written, that if we climb to the summit of Etna, climbing Stromboli would look quite similar. She suggests taking the boat to Panarea from Milazzo instead because :
1) it will not be so tiring, 2) views are different and still breathtaking, 3) it will take less time.
We have only 1 week (in fact 5 whole days) to enjoy Sicily, and still to many places in our minds to visit, so we have to plan it clever.
How about the night boat trip around Stromboli (or other islands)? Is it worth ? Is it better to take this trip instead of Panarea by day? How can we come back to Taormina after this night trip ?
Please help , because I am getting more and more confused..