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THE MOUNTAIN REFUGE
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The tours offered by Rifugio Santa Barbara are organized by the Etna Republic Team, designed by a specialized group of Alpine and Volcanological Guides.
The Etna from South to North: the two Etna calderas
Two days tour that allows the observation of the two opposite and heterogeneous sides of the volcano.
Day 1. Departure from the base point of Rifugio Santa Barbara before dawn.
Once reached the summit area, dinner and overnight stay in tent in the caldera of Piano (eruption of 122BC).
[D+= 1350, L= 12km]
(according to the physical conditions of the participants, possibility to go by the Etna cable car for the ascent).
Day 2. Depending on the volcanic conditions, ascent at dawn to the Central Crater to observe the light of the new day through the volcanic gases and descent on the northern slope towards the Piano delle Concazze. Descent from the edge of the Ellittico caldera through fantastic gullies covered with volcanic ash towards Rifugio Citelli.
Aperitif and return to the accommodation.
[D+ = 400m, D- = 1800m, L = 18km]
A minimum number of 4 participants required, the excursion price is 500€per person.
We are available to provide you with more information and customized pricing.
Etna tour
Meeting Point: Piano Vetore will be the starting point of your tour.
Meeting at 9:00 am at Piano Vetore, equipment delivery, meeting the guide who will accompany you and assist you in this adventure.
Departure at about 9:15 am. We will follow the 701 CAI trail, Pista Altomontana owned by the Forestry Authority. Our path will be an alternation of larch pines forests and lava flows. During the tour you will visit some caves, go through a very ancient beech forests to get to the off-road arrival point, which will be the Brunek Refuge, located in the North Etna. Here you will enjoy a short break and then take the road back, along the provincial road that will lead you to Zafferana Etnea, where you will be picked-up by our staff.
• Difficulty Medium-High (inclination to stay on the bike about 6/7 hours - Good off-road cyclist)
• Participants: 4 pax min
• The excursion price is 50€ per person for the equipment (Bike, Kit, Helmet) and 150€ for the guide.
TOURIST INFO POINT
Open on Saturday and Sunday, from 10:00 to 16:00
We have always respected and enjoyed Etna, this can be seen in the services we have thought to offer you. In every tour you will find the spirit and tradition of the Etna, attention to details and respect for the nature. Behind every "Step" there are stories of passionate and visionary people, able to share their experiences. Thanks to Rde srl, the mountain refuge from May 2021 is a tourist Info-Point, acting as a speaker and landmark for mountain lovers with a specific attention to the south-west side of the Etna.
HOW TO REACH US
Directions
• Reach Via Etnea in Nicolosi and continue on the provincial road SP 92 towards Monti Rossi and the Etna cable car.
• At the km 14 you will find a junction: turn left as shown by the signs indicating "Piano Vetore" and "Astrophysical Observatory".
• After 400 meters, on the right you will find the entrance of the Etna trail 701 that will take you to the Rifugio Santa Barbara.
• Park your vehicle by the side of the road and we invite you to take a small walk to our mountain refuge.
REVIEWS
Our customers
We love what we do. Every day we give 110% to make unique and fun experience.
Monte Nero Zappini
Difficulty Low
This was the first nature trail created in Sicily (in mid-1991) and nowadays it remains one of the most visited trails in the territory of the Etna Park.
Cava delle Palombe
Difficulty Medium
From Monte Nero and Monte Nero degli Zappini trails, you can reach the Ragalna Botanical Garden, better known as the Giardino Botanico Nuova Gussonea.
Altomontana Track
Difficulty High
The trail on the south-west volcano slope crosses scenarios where the vegetation alternates with craters, hornitos and lava flow tunnels such as the Santa Barbara Cave and the homonymous adjacent refuge.
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