Sartorius Mounts and Grotta delle Nevi (Nevi Cave) hike

The trekking itinerary

We meet either at Rifugio Citelli or Rifugio Ragabo to have a briefing from the guide before setting off. The trail to the Sartorius Mountains begins a few kilometers from the meeting Refuge, so we drive there first. The trek begins by crossing a spectacular birch forest, the only specimen in Sicily. After a few hundred meters we start walking on lava until we reach the foot of the 1865 cones. A slight ascent will take us to the edges of these cones, where we would have the opportunity to admire the Ionian coast from Taormina to Catania. In addition, we can admire from here the summit of Mount Etna with its smoking craters. Inside these cones we will discover the volcanic structure of a crater. After visiting all the cones, we will descend on the path in the woods that will lead us back to the starting point. When we arrive in the cars we will move about 1 km and then visit the Snow Cave. This cave is a particular lava formation formed naturally due to ingrowth. Before entering the cave, the guide will provide you with an alpine helmet and a headlamp for rent. So you will have a real caving experience. After visiting the cave, you will return the rented equipment to the guide.

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Details Excursion Sartorius Mounts and Nevi Cave

The hike starts from the Sartorius Mountains Trail, but the meeting with the guide is either at Rifugio Ragabo or at Rifugio Citelli (it will be up to the guide to inform you of the meeting place). Departure is either in the morning at 09:30 or in the afternoon at 14:30. The meeting is always at least 20 minutes before departure, so you can check your equipment, receive the guide’s explanation and to have time to go to the bathroom. The hike takes about 2.5-3 hours in total, between the trek and the guide’s explanation during the hike. For this hike, the pleasure of walking and the desire to explore is required. We have about 100m elevation gain on the way up and about 100m elevation gain on the way down. The trail is therefore suitable for everyone, young and old. All that is needed is the willingness to walk and the pleasure of discovery.

• Meeting point: Ragabo Refuge
• Total duration: 2.5-3 hours
• Departure time: 09:30 or 14:30 hours
• Height difference: About 100m
• Meeting times: 09.15 or 14.15 hours
• Distance: 4 km
• Return time: 12:30 p.m. or 5:30 p.m.
• Difficulty: Easy, suitable for everyone
• Duration walking trek: 2.5-3 hours

Price and availability excursion

The Sartorius Mountains and Snow Cave Excursion costs €45.00 per person. The price includes the accompanying guide. Children from 6 to 12 years old pay € 25.00 per child.

• Adults: €45.00 per person
• Children 6-12 years old: €25.00 per person
• Children 1-5 years old: free

For customized tour is private, price is on request. For groups (10+ people) and/or school groups, the price is upon request.

Payment

We work on the basis of trust. This means that we do not ask for any advance payment. You can pay the same day directly to the guide. It is possible to pay by cash, ATM or credit card.

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Availability

The hike is available year-round, from January to December, but only by reservation. If snow is present, the hike is done with snowshoes (with an extra charge for equipment rental).

Clothing, shoes & what to bring

For a good hiking trip, proper preparation is essential. We always recommend dressing in layers. How many and what layers depend on the season. But the higher you climb Mount Etna volcano, the colder it gets. In addition, wind can often make the weather seem even colder. A windbreaker and a hat are therefore not a luxury. It is possible to rent hiking shoes and a jacket by contacting rental stores in Piano Provenzana. We recommend bringing a backpack with at least 1.5 L of water per person. It is also recommended to bring some sweet and/or salty snacks and a sack lunch. In total, the hike takes about 5/6 hours, so always bring something extra to eat! Also don’t forget sunscreen and sunglasses! In brief:

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With the reservation we send you our packing list, with the things we recommend you to bring!

FAQ