10 Feb 2023
We started off descending into a couple of caverns in Mt. Etna that required us to use flashlights. That only took about 10-20 minutes and was pretty interesting. After that, our hike consisted of snowshoeing for two hours up Mt. Etna to the highest point in Taormina. We climbed about 200-300 meters during that hike but it was at an easy pace. The views are spectacular from start to finish!
After that, we went to a winery and tasted four different varietals and had a great lunch. We enjoyed talking with the owner and ended up buying four bottles of wine. We were hungry from snowshoeing and loved the food and wine.
Our guide (Denny) was enthusiastic and loved being outdoors. He was very friendly and made the experience extremely enjoyable.
A couple of notes: There isn't really a time limit on this adventure. If you have to be somewhere in the late afternoon/early evening, you may be pressed for time. Also, two hours of snowshoeing (we were there in early February) or hiking, especially with a vertical climb of 200-300 meters, isn't for everyone. The pace is easy but there can be more effort than you think. It's well worth it for the scenery, though. And you can truthfully tell your friends that you hiked up a volcano. :)