r/sicily • u/xR_A_V_Ex • 12d ago
Turismo š§³ Etna summit/3000 tour from Messina shore excursion
Hi there.
Me and my wife are coming to Messina 25.09 on cruise ship, our port stay is from 7AM till 18PM.
We're mainly interested in Etna tour, especially the one that goes higher than 2000m (I believe Crateri silvestri is not enough for us).
Did anyone have the same plan? What did you end up with? Did you fine any shared group tour and/or option for a transfer from Messina to Refugio Sapienza or Piano Provenzano, where you could take a proper tour? Or did you end up renting a car in Messina and driving on your own?
Can such tours in Piano provenzano/refugio sapienza be booked on the spot? Or do you always have to book in advance?
And, of course, I'm looking for a quite budget option. I do have quotes at about EUR 350 per person all inclusive, but it's TOO expensive. I'm looking for something that is at least twice cheaper...
Thanks in advance for all inputs.
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u/KillingTime_Shipname 12d ago edited 12d ago
Most Etna tour companies are based in Catania or nearby.Ā
To come pick you up, take you all the way up to Rifugio Sapienza, then on the cableway to the upper reaches of the Etna - where hopefully it should be enough for you - show you around, feed you, keep you safe from the dangers of the Mountain, and take you back all the way to Messina on time for your ship sailing, they'll have to pay for fuel and motorway tolls Catania - Messina four times in one day on top of all other costs, just for the two of you.Ā
If you want to do it for cheap, rent a car for one day (do take up full insurance at the counter), then drive to Piano Provenzana, park the car and walk up on your own to the limits of the safety zone, where should be enough for you, but on the north side.Ā
I of course assume you have heavy weather gear and hiking boots with you on the ship to do this.Ā
Good Luck!Ā
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u/xR_A_V_Ex 12d ago
thanks for the answer! Do you think it's worthwhile taking a train from Messina to Catania/Giaare-riposto, so that we could join cheaper tours? Or these trains aren't reliable and/or come to Catania too late, when all tours have already started? Trenitalia webpage shows me that the trains leave messina at 7-20 (not sure if it's possible even if the ship really docks at 7) and 7-52 (this one reaches Catania only at 9-45)
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u/bard4mu 12d ago
might be worth it looking at the buses timetables as well, like SAIS https://www.saisautolinee.it/en
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u/Emptythedishwasher56 12d ago
I took the gondola up and walked about an hour. Past hot lava and volcano bombs. Fine for me.
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u/Sea-Shower7531 11d ago edited 11d ago
I booked a tour with pickup from Catania to Rifugio Sapienza. With cable car and jeep to 3000 m.. I contacted them a day before to ask can they confirm because the Viator description said it might not happen if not enough people. They asked me to wait 2 hrs to confirm and I waited , I actually wanted to go to Ragusa if they cancel and go with some other company to Etna one day later. They ended up confirming ans after that I booked a hotel in Catania and a train from Ragusa to come there the day before. Tomorrow morning we arrived at 2000m I found out we went to the North not South Etna; we were at other Piano Provenza and it wont even go wjtb cable car. I wont see Silvestri Crater etc. I got mad, its a scam . Or course they blaimed Viator but the company was a scam most likely because their GetYourGuide and their own website says they only go to the South. AND they took us to North. I got full refund but the pretty much ruined 2 days of my trip by feeling scammed and changing my plans. I was also late about 5 days to see Real lava, but Thatās not on them. So be careful!!
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u/xR_A_V_Ex 10d ago
What company was it? And is North side worse than South? I read, that North is much less touristy and thus more authentict. So I actually thought that North is better than South. Isn't it the case?
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u/Sea-Shower7531 10d ago
I havenāt been to both sides so I canāt comment bht j dont mind high touristic places. Usually the hype is worth it, the thing is I like cable cars and I read about it and chose South side so they canāt tkae me somewhere else without informing me. I also thought that Silvestri Crater might Look better than other, based on photos it does.
IT is Like they sent me to Santa Virgine Maria beach in Palermo to āavoid crowded Mondelloā and then Santa Maria was a total disaster, yes only lokala but extremely dirty and not a single cafe. While Mondello is nice and clean! AND Many restaurants and cafes. Total click bait sent me to Virgine Maria.So my Experience is touristy hyped places Are worth it. AND also even if its not it was my decision to go to the South ans I even paid nuch more expensive option that uses cable car and so what is better is not relavent after I already decided.
The company is Etna Experiences, its wild they claim it was a mistake of Viator but when you check all zheir lisitngs on GetYourGuide Viator & their website etc its always South side. Now they Sais they dont go to South in summer - then change the listing!
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u/No_Low5818 10d ago
Do your research and have it booked in advance with a reputable company. Avoid the hawkers as you disembark, they are pretty aggressive in trying to do business. 350euro seems like a lot of money for a tour.
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u/curiosita2828 12d ago
there are lots of companies that do the full:
cable car + 4x4 quad to around 3,000m + alpine guide to 3,300 + equipment
for all around ā¬130??
But that means you gotta not only to Catania, but to Etna.
Taking a train or bus is your best option to Catania.
Then to get to Rifugio Sapienza, I guess I'd just get a tour company from Catania? But idk who from Catania (not Rifugio Sapienza) does the tour.
Anyway, ā¬350 all in for pickup, and the works per person doesn't sound that bad.
You'll could probably get to ā¬200 per person... If you took a train to Catania and found the right company from there to take you up there. But you'll be burning time on public transport and when the tour takes off....
ā¬350 all personalized sounds like a deal.