- Snowshoe on Europe's highest volcano
- Dramatic volcanic landscape
- All meals included
Mt Etna is one of the highest volcanoes in Europe and one of the world's most active. It rises to 3350m above sea level at the summit craters, but this height varies as a result of on-going constructive and destructive explosive activity that constantly reshapes the summit crater area.
Despite being located in the mild Mediterranean island of Sicily, Mt Etna receives deep winter snows down to 1800m and below. Clipping into our snowshoes, we walk through snow-covered/black lava flows along the Southern side of 'Pista Altomontana', a circular path around Mt Etna, staying overnight in a comfortable mountain refuge. We then make our way up to the Bove Valley, offering inspirational views of Sicily's coastline and of the four craters that make up the top of this impressive volcano.
This long weekend also includes a night in the beautiful city of Catania, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its impressive lava-built Baroque buildings.
Newsletter article about snowshoeing on Mount Etna...
Winter Activities Newsletter - Anna Dambrosio, Exodus Product Manager, writes about Snowshoeing on the God of Fire (June 2012).
What makes this trip responsible?
On this trip, our accommodation for the first night is a small familyrun hotel in Catania and eat in a locally-owned restaurant offering Sicilian specialties. We spend the following 2 nights in a comfortable mountain hut, with an on-site restaurant providing excellent food prepared with Sicilian fresh ingredients. The group's activities have a low impact on the environment, and our operator rents all equipment locally. These aspects contribute to the continuation of the community itself, by creating jobs and offering career prospects to local people, who may otherwise be tempted to move to a larger town or city in search of employment.
Most importantly, our local partner is an active member in "addiopizzo", a grassroots organisation established by local businesses and private citizens who refuse to pay the "pizzo" - Mafia extortion money.
Countries visited: Italy
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Exodus images from MT ETNA SNOWSHOEING LONG WEEKEND
Note: Click on a thumbnail to enlarge.
Snowshoeing on Mt Etna (photo by Turi Musumeci)
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