Shore Excursion Taormina – Shore Excursions Giardini Naxos Sicily
#4 – MT. ETNA SHORE EXCURSION FROM GIARDINI NAXOS HARBOUR BY JEEP
A customized half or full day tour to discover the most famous and beloved wonders in eastern Sicily: Mount Etna Volcano, the Europe’s largest active volcano, Taormina, the Pearl of the Ionian Sea, and Alcantara River park with its incredible gorges.
Departure from Giardini Naxos (Harbor of Taormina) at 9.00 am untill reach the Northern side of Etna. Drive up an old lava flow by 4wd jeep. Stop to enjoy the beautiful panorama of the “Bove Valley” (the most important geological site of Mt. Etna where the last lava flows of 2012,2013 and 2014 have been going down).
Visit lava cave originated by prehistoric lava flows (10.000 years old) with helmets, lamps and rope. Trekking around old craters dating back from 1865. Visit the lava flow originated from Piano Provenzana in 2002 (the last important eruption of the Etna volcano) and the old road.
Return to GIARDINI NAXOS at 2.00pm.
If you have enough time you may transform your Half day in a Full day tour:
- ADD AN ETNA WINE TASTING or A SICILIAN FOOD EXPERIENCE
Break for lunch in a Mount Etna’s refuge/restaurant, agriturismo or Etna winery (with typical sicilian dishes).
- ADD A VISIT OF ALCANTARA RIVER (Option one)
In the afternoon tour continues through the two little towns of Linguaglossa and Castiglione di Sicilia to reach the Alcantara River Park. Walk down to the Alcantara Gorges (the most beautiful gorges of Sicily) to admire basalt columns formation.
Return to GIARDINI NAXOS at 4.00pm.
- ADD A VISIT OF TAORMINA (Option two )
In the afternoon tour continues to visit Taormina, a charming small town on the east coast of Sicily, one of the most visited touristic resorts in all of Italy.
Return to GIARDINI NAXOS at 5.00pm.
Mount Etna – Taormina – Alcantara: Sicily Highlights
MOUNT ETNA VOLCANO IN SICILY
Mount Etna is one of Sicily’s biggest tourist attractions. Thousands of visitors come every year. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The easiest way to visit is to take one of the guided jeep tours that can be organised from Catania. Visits often include, the Valle del Bove (Ox Valley) which is a large depression in the eastern side of the volcano caused by a huge landslide after an eruption thousands of years ago, one of more 250 lava caves you can find on Etna Volcano to take a look into the volcano’s heart, very easy trekking around old and recent craters and the big lava flow of the most recent significant eruption of 2002 which destroyed the ski station of Piano Provenzana.
TAORMINA IN SICILY
Taormina, is also called “pearl of Sicily” thanks to its enchanting position, between the mount Etna and the Mediterranean sea. Taormina has always been and still now is a “must see” for visitors coming from all over the world.
The most important monument of Taormina is the ancient Greek Theatre. It is the second biggest Greek theatre in Sicily, after the one in Syracuse. During summer it is used for music concerts and other events. The panorama from the Greek theater is breathtaking. Behind the ancient ruins it is possible to see the Etna, crowded of snow and the bay of Giardini Naxos.
The main street of Taormina is Corso Umberto I, with plenty of shops, restaurants and bars which offer delicious Sicilian pastries.
Taormina is the ideal place to enjoy a typical sicilian panorama, visit important monuments, to buy souvenirs, or to do shopping in fashion shops. During your Sicilian holidays a visit in Taormina, few hours or a whole day, is absolutely to recommend.
ALCANTARA GORGES IN SICILY
One of Sicily’s most spectacular natural sights are the Alcantara river and its gorges.
Originating in the Nebrodi Mountains, the Alcantara River runs for over 50km passing through several towns until it reaches the Ionian Sea at Giardini-Naxos. Located just 20m from Taormina, between Catania and Messina, the black lava walls of the Alcantara gorges are a magnificent example of erosion of volcanic rock. The Alcantara River Park offers an unspoiled landscape of flora and fauna, and breathtaking views from a series of paths and trails.
ETNA JEEP TOUR FROM TAORMINA
You can have your Etna Jeep Tour, begin from Taormina and go on to visit mount Etna.