From Bivouacking on Etna to Canyoning in Pantalica and the Cassibile River

July 26th to 30th, 2017
An exciting summer proposal: from the chill (around 5°C) of the night on the craters of Etna to the 30°C of the valleys in the Iblei territory.
In just a few days, we will go from the intense cold at 3,000 meters on the volcano to canyoning in the crystal-clear waters of the Calcinara and Cassibile rivers. The 3 days on Etna include a high-altitude bivouac to witness both the sunset and the sunrise, followed by a trek with a Volcanological Guide to the SUMMIT CRATERS from the North East. In the evening, dinner and overnight stay in Trecastagne. For the final 2 days, we will move to an agriturismo near Pantalica (SR); these days include two excursions hiking up the two different canyons, walking in the river and swimming when necessary. This experience at this time of year is undeniably unique and captivating for everyone. These two Sicilian valleys are prized for their breathtaking natural beauty, the magnificent interplay of water and rock, and the history narrated by the remains of Sicel and Byzantine settlements.

Fee: € 120,00 - Includes guide service, Global Assistance (Travel care) insurance, and excursion organization.
Other expenses: € 210,00. Expenses include: Volcanological Guide service – Overnight stay on Thursday, July 27th, in Trecastagne; Friday/Saturday, July 28th/29th, at an Agriturismo (Ferla) with double and triple room accommodations, including dinners and breakfasts for the three days. The overnight stay on Wednesday, July 26th, is a bivouac at an altitude of 2,900 m.
If it is not possible to climb to the Summit Craters for safety reasons and we do not use the Volcanological Guide, the cost will decrease by € 30,00.
Costs do not include: travel expenses to reach the meeting point, dinner on Wednesday, breakfast on Thursday, packed lunches for all days, and any unspecified extra expenses.
Deposit: € 100,00 at the time of booking.
Balance: € 230:00 to be paid on-site.
For insurance, I need: full name, date and place of birth, and place of residence.
Max number of participants: 15
Meeting point: Wednesday, July 26th, at 16:30 in Milo (CT), via Etnea, in front of the church of Sant'Andrea.
End of excursion: Sunday, July 30th, at 18:00 in Palazzolo Acreide (SR).
Travel and transfers on-site: own car or rented minibus. For the latter, the cost will be split among all participants.
Highlights: lunar landscapes, lava flows, craters, sunrise at 3,000 meters, naturalistic aspects, history, archaeology, and local gastronomy.
Travel style: stationary, except for the first 2 days.
Difficulty: challenging
Required equipment: trekking clothing, backpack, hiking boots, hat, winter sleeping bag, sleeping pad, sunscreen, sweater, waterproof jacket, gloves, flashlight, closed-toe water shoes, swimsuit, 1.5 liters of water, and personal toiletries.
Notes: Given the nature of the river route, comfort in the water and swimming ability are required. The water of the Calcinara river is cold; I recommend bringing a wetsuit.
Booking deadline: July 16th, 2017
Duration: 5 days / 4 nights.
Guide: Salvatore Marletta: contact 3334987946
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]