Hike Mount Etna in Winter

Marta Marinelli, raised in Italy’s serene Prosecco Hills, dreamt of global adventures, inspired by her father's travel stories. Her passion evolved into a career, backed by a decade of studies including degrees in international tourism and destination management. She’s worked in the adventure travel sector since 2012, living in Italy, the UK, and now sunny Portugal.

Over twenty years, Marta has explored over 55 countries, visiting remote areas like Ghana, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Haiti and Nepal’s Upper Mustang region. As a Senior Adventure Expansion Manager at Much Better Adventures, she focuses on creating life-changing experiences, ranging from multi-activity adventures, challenging treks, to ultimate adventures in iconic places. She loves the challenge of finding the best local adventure hosts around the world, collaborating on adventures that offer genuine immersion, pushing beyond the beaten path and working on exclusive itineraries that challenge your comfort zone.

What makes her tick? Enabling people to live adventure-rich lives while positively impacting and empowering local communities around the world, generating sustainable opportunities for both the host, guides, community, and the environment.

This will very much depend on the snow conditions at time of travel. Between December and March, Mount Etna is usually covered in snow, especially at altitudes above 1500m where this itinerary runs. If snow is present, all hikes will take place using snowshoes and poles (these are included in the trip price and provided locally).

Snowshoes are a special type of footwear that enables you to spread your weight over a larger area, allowing you to move easily across powdery snow-covered terrain. If you have never tried this activity before, don't worry! Snowshoeing is incredibly easy, comfortable and safe. You simply clip your snowshoe to the outside of your hiking boot and off you go. You'll be in the hands of experienced and trained local guides who know the area intimately, who will guide you safely throughout the hike. You'll also have the opportunity to test the snowshoes on Day 1, before you head out on longer excursions on Days 2 and 3.

Possibly; if weather conditions and volcanic activity allows, there is an optional hiking route on Day 4 from Etna South, where you will be accompanied by a special volcano guide. Please see the main itinerary for more details. This summit hike option involves an additional supplement payable locally in Euros, please see the Optional Extras for pricing. This is due to the specialist volcano guide required.

Please note, the chance of reaching the summit in winter is more likely to be impacted adversely by snow, wind or ice conditions as well as volcanic activity. In fact, the area of ​​the summit craters of Etna is very often off-limits, due to the risk of eruption.

Hiking on the north side is the best choice for visiting Etna safely and the best alternative to climbing the summit in terms of an off-the-beaten-track experience and highlights. You'll be exploring more accessible, lower routes which still showcase the majestic volcanic landscape of Etna in all its beauty, crossing a diverse environment made of lava caves, extinct craters, birch forests and mesmerising moonscapes.

Due to the the rapid and unpredictable activity of Etna, the civil authorities can impose altitude restrictions and limit routes at any time. However, given that this itinerary takes place below an altitude of 2800m (with the exception of the optional summit hike on Day 4), the chance of these routes being off-limits is less likely. Overall, the choice of the route, the hiking distance and elevation is always decided by your local guide taking into consideration group's fitness, weather and snow conditions, so small alterations can always take place with your safety in mind.

Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth, alternating periods of rest and periods of eruption. Eruptions can occur from the summit craters and also (more rarely) as lateral eruptions. Whilst Etna's eruptions can destroy homes and roads they are generally not dangerous for people, especially when observing them from lower altitudes far away from the most active craters. Your local guide will monitor the volcanic activity throughout the trip and rely on the official information and bulletins released by the local civil authorities.

Should you be lucky enough to be on a trip at the time of an eruption, your guide can arrange an optional night time excursion (payable locally) to admire the explosions and fresh lava streams from a safe distance – a show of a lifetime!

The tap water in Sicily is safe to drink. Please bring along your own reusable water bottle to fill up at the chalet to avoid buying single use plastic bottles.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way. Check out our Community Values – a shared code to make sure that everyone's experience is safe, inclusive and brilliantly unforgettable.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Snow and sub-zero temperatures on Etna are very common between the months of January and March. During this period, temperatures drop significantly and snow is likely even at lower altitudes below 1600m. The best you can do is to be prepared for anything: come equipped with warm layers of clothing and windproofs (see the Kit List for more information). Your host will be monitoring the weather conditions during the course of the trip and will suggest alternative, safer hiking routes should the weather get really bad.

Please note that snow is never 100% guaranteed on every departure, however recent reports show a very high chance of snow between the months of December and March. Winter hiking without snow will be equally spectacular and enjoyable, and the contrasts and colours of the volcanic landscape even more evident.