Italy · HIKING & TREKKING
This is the list to send a friend: 15 hiking & trekking tours worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to check before you commit.
Cinque Terre day trip from Florence with optional cliff-edge hike, scenic boat views, and possible Pisa add-on for one packed day.
“The guides were amazing! Claudia and Chris were so much fun and had a wealth of knowledge! Their English language was exceptional! I have done a few tours through Europe and loved these guys the most! I felt like we made new friends.”
Guided Cinque Terre day trip from Florence with an optional Corniglia to Vernazza hike, trains, and a seasonal coast boat ride.
“Awesome trip, well organized. The tour guides, Alejjandro, Noemi and Irene are young and very knowledgeable. Walkabout Tours are very professional. warm and friendly. We had a memorable day tour to Cinque Terre.”
Guided Mount Etna summit hike from Rifugio Sapienza by cable car, with trained volcanic guides, lava terrain, and Valle del Bove views.
“So much fun! It wasn't easy but worth it! Our guide was knowledgeable and experienced he made sure everyone was safe and has a great adventure! I also booked transportation frommu hotel, it was so easy and gave me a chance to meet some great people from all over. Recommend!”
Guided Mount Etna trek to 3,000m, starting by cable car then jeep, ending with lava-channel sights and views over Bove Valley.
“Very good, our guide Michele is very passionate about his job and it was a pleasure to follow him. Thanks.”
Trek Mount Etna’s summit craters with a volcanologist guide, then descend via lava tunnel views and Valle del Bove, plus cable car.
“We had an unforgettable experience climbing Mount Etna with our guide, Basilio. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and made the entire journey exciting and safe. We were amazed to see the lava flow up close, feel the heat from the lava stones, and even see magma – truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Highly recommend Basilio for anyone visiting Etna!”
Guided Etna South summit hike with a 2,500 m cable car ride, rim-walk crater views, lava terrain, and expert geology coaching.
“Fantastic trip. We feel very safe and we had a really nice experience. It was a sunny day with good weather conditions and we could saw very clearly the top of the volcano. Our guide, Antonio was really passionate about the volcanology and he make our trip more captivating and more interesting. We helped us to better understand the uniqueness of Eten and explained us the natural phenomena that happen related to the volcano. It was like an interactive geography lesson that you always wanted to have!”
Guided sunset hike on Stromboli to Sciara del Fuoco for lava bursts, helmet-and-headlamp gear, and a torchlit descent, all for $35.
“The tour was smooth and well organised. We trekked for 2 hours with multiple stops and stories about the island along the way. The walk itself is not too difficult except the last section. Once we got the 400m, we stayed for about an hour and a half to watch the sunset and see the volcanic activity - we got 4 displays of lava which was exciting! The descent is slightly more difficult in the dark but everyone stayed together and used their flashlights so we were back in an hour and a half.”
Catania Mount Etna off-tour trek: Valle del Bove walk, 1792 lava, Silvestri craters, gear and naturalist guide, about 7 hours.
“We had a fantastic hike on Etna, superbly led by Antonio. He provided shoes and extra layers as it was cool at the top as well as walking poles. The pace was good and challenging but he always knew when to stop to allow us to catch our breath and acclimatise to the higher altitude. I would thoroughly recommend.”
6-hour guided Path of the Gods hike from Sorrento with round-trip air-conditioned transfers and a midway shepherd hut stop.
“Mid-summer may not be the ideal time to do this walk but the views were spectacular, the show with the shepherd was a bright spot and the light brunch was refreshing. There were alternative routes - harder / easier. The hiking pole was helpful. The walk wasn't particularly challenging but need closed shoes and water to carry. People with severe fear of heights or vertigo may want to avoid this activity.”
Hike Etna’s extinct craters, tour a lava cave with helmet and headlamp, then taste Mount Etna honey and olive oil on a small-group day.
“The weather did not cooperate but we still had a great experience.”
Half-day morning trek on Mount Etna from Taormina, exploring extinct craters and a lava cave, plus winery lunch and wine.
“Had a great tour with our guide Roberto. Highly recommended”
Trek Etna with an expert alpinist guide, ride the cable car, snack on brioche and water, and hike through active craters.
“Fantastic experience! So pleased that my boyfriend and I chose Etna Tours to go with! This excursion was fantastic value for money, and what an incredible experience looking down into the craters of Europe’s most active volcano to see it spewing molten lava! They provided walking boots, jackets, helmets and walking sticks. We were able to pay the additional €33pp for the cable cars and 4x4 bus on card. The hike was relatively difficult but we took it at a nice gentle pace and every direction you looked the views were breathtaking. Because we were lucky enough to have such good visibility out guide took us over the centre of…”
Half-day guided hike on Mount Etna from Catania, with craters, Grotta dei Tre Livelli lava cave, and a walk toward the latest eruption.
“Our guide, Silvia, was exceptional. Not only was she knowledgeable, an excellent driver, and a positive, upbeat person, she was very kind and attentive to my friend who had some mobility challenges with some of the terrain. Silvia stayed by her side, helped her, and gave her confidence without being patronizing. The entire experience was enjoyable and stress free as a result.”
4x4 north Etna crater tour from Piano Provenzana with short hikes, lava views, and crater stops, about 2.5 hours, from $94.
“Ein perfekter Tag mit Vincenzo als Guide. Super informativ mit witzigen Einlagen. 💯 von 💯 Punkten. Absolute Empfehlung, würden wir wieder buchen”
A 3-hour guided trek on Etna north side, focused on the 2002 eruption, craters, lava flows, and views over the coast.
“Niko is an excellent guide with lots of experience and huge knowledge of vulcanoes in general and Etna in particular. As it was our last day in Sicily we did this lighter trail, otherwise we would have choosen a longer and more demanding hike.”
Every kind of day out in the country, and the best of each.
