The Ginestre Trail - Etna

From May 24th to May 26th, 2019
We invite you to spend three days on the mid-slopes of Etna, in the full bloom of spring.
From Zafferana to Castiglione di Sicilia, we will cross from one side of the volcano to the other following the Ginestre Trail, one of the newest paths on Etna.
With daily stages ranging between 14 and 19 kilometers, we will first follow the edges of the Valle del Bove, then gradually climb through old lava flows and oak forests until we reach the centuries-old Ragabo pine forest. From a maximum altitude of 1500 meters, we will finally descend along ancient transhumance paths down to the devastating 1923 lava flow that cut off the Circumetnea railway, and finish by crossing pleasant hazelnut groves. The trek will conclude in Castiglione di Sicilia, in the Alcantara river valley. A rare opportunity to savor the diversity of Etna's slopes. Together with Giuseppe Riggio, an Etna enthusiast and storyteller, we will discover the many pearls nestled in the mid-mountain area of Etna, where humans have experimented for centuries with ingenious ways of coexisting with the volcano. 

Fee: € 65,00 - Includes guide service, RCT insurance, and excursion organization.
Other expenses: € 100,00. Expenses include: overnight stays in rural tourism accommodations and hotels, agriturismo with double and triple room arrangements, dinners in restaurants, and breakfasts from the evening of the first day until the morning of the last.
Costs do not include: travel expenses to reach the meeting point and return, packed lunches for all days, and extra expenses not specified.
Deposit: € 65,00 at the time of booking.
Balance: € 100,00 - Do not send; please bring it with you and pay on-site.
Meeting point: Friday, May 24th at 09:30 AM in the parking lot in front of the entrance to the public gardens of Zafferana Etnea.
End of trip: Sunday, May 26th at 06:00 PM in Castiglione di Sicilia.
Maximum number of participants: 16
Daily walking hours: 5 to 6 hours.
Nights: accommodation in rural tourism facilities and hotels.
Meals: packed lunches and restaurants.
Highlights: the scent and blooming of the ginestre (broom flowers), volcano, lava flows, craters, history, culture, and local gastronomy.
Trip type: itinerant.
Difficulty: moderate.
Required equipment: trekking clothing, hiking boots, long trousers, hat, trekking poles, flashlight, shower sandals, rain poncho, sweater, waterproof jacket, water bottle, and personal toiletries.
Tips: 50-liter backpack, not exceeding 8 kg for women and 10 kg for men.
Duration: 3 days / 2 nights.
Booking deadline: May 10th, 2019, provided that spots are still available.
Notes: the excursion may be subject to changes due to unpredictable natural events; in such cases, the guide will make the final decision.
Guide: Salvatore Marletta: contact – 3334987946
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]