16 Oct 2022
This is an amazing and fun tour with beautiful views throughout. We got picked up by Massimo, who came directly to our hotel. A very comfortable 45 minute ride later we came to the rendezvous point.
All we had to do was present our drivers licenses, fill out a quick form, and we were ready to go on a tour. You don’t need a motorcycle license for this excursion. Helmets provided!
Our tour guide was fantastic, and I’m sad his name escapes me, but he was extremely knowledgeable and fun. He does Italian and English tours. If the group is mixed - he does instruction in both, which was my experience.
We started off with a short safety briefing and helmet fitting, after which we headed up the mountain. There’s about a 5-10 minute ride on pavement so that you can get used to the accelerator and steering. After that, the real fun begins: you start going through rough terrain and it’s a lot of fun on an ATV. The entire ride you will have the urge to take pictures, but no worries, there’s going to be a stop.
The guide showed us awesome sprawling vistas and didn’t mind taking an occasional photo. I can tell that he really likes doing this tour and it resulted in a great experience for us.
I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who’s interested in checking out mount Etna.
Here’s a few things to keep in mind:
1. If you’re doing the tour in fall, you might want to bring gloves (there are souvenir shops selling them)
2. The fog/clouds rise in the afternoon - try to take the tour earlier.
3. Warm clothes - I would suggest wearing a light backpack so you can layer up during the trip. A hoodie and a light raincoat may be enough. In a pinch — the gift shops around the starting point might have what you need.
Thank you all for a well-organized and fun excursion!