Original post
bonjour à tous,
Je pars une semaine en sicile et j'aimerais faire un trekking au niveau de l' Etna ; est-ce possible ? avec ou sans guide? est ce interessant? je partant pour toute information?merci de vos réponses
Phil
Trekking sur l'Etna en Sicile?
by Phil37
This discussion is in French, the community’s main language.
L'Etna ouais c'est l'attraction du coin pourquoi pas, et stromboli, Volcano non...
Pas besoin de guide tres aménagé pour le plus grand nombre et si tu as un violent orage avec ou sans c'est du pareil au meme un gars d'une agence spécialisé francaise laissait sa vie en septembre 2004 dans des conditions similaires, alors gaffe à la meteo dormir la veille au refuge hotel "not expensive" restau Sapiensa sur les flancs du monstre pour partir de bon matin le lendemain avec le telecabine puis tu marches à pied il y a ensuite des camions et quoi encore, tes petites jambes te suffiront dans ce desert noir.
Pour le reste de ton voyage prevoir un bon budget meme si l'on ne fait pas de folie.
Ciao.
WHALLABABOU.
"Ainsi le touriste se deplace, mais sa presence est avant tout terriblement déplacée".
"Ainsi le touriste se deplace, mais sa presence est avant tout terriblement déplacée".
Ouais, il faut aussi que tu ailles sur le Stromboli, en t'incrustant dans un groupe qui grimpe à la tombée de la nuit (réservation nécessaire)! J'ai raté ça et j'ai dû me contenter de voir les explosions de la mer, un peu frustrant...
D'une manière générale, tout l'archipel des Eoliennes est superbe, et propice au trek, Salina en particulier! Vulcano est pas mal non plus, si tu veux respirer le soufre, tu hallucines un peu en montant sur le cratère, mais bon, c'est un peu orienté tourisme.
Et termine par l'Etna, c'est vraiment impressionnant, immense, les chemins de rando foisonnent (attention aux cartes qui indiquent parfois des chemins fictifs, mais demande à un guide dans un refuge, il te corrigera les cartes en live).Si tu t'éloigne des chemins et des pistes, tu risques de te paumer et d'être coincé dans le bouillard le soir, c'est flippant. Logiquement tu ne peux pas monter aux cratères sans guides mais ça se fait...et il y a des refuges un peu partout. Le plus sympa est le versant nord, plus nature et moins impacté par le tourisme.
Voilà, en gros, les volcans, c'est bien! Mangez-en!
D'une manière générale, tout l'archipel des Eoliennes est superbe, et propice au trek, Salina en particulier! Vulcano est pas mal non plus, si tu veux respirer le soufre, tu hallucines un peu en montant sur le cratère, mais bon, c'est un peu orienté tourisme.
Et termine par l'Etna, c'est vraiment impressionnant, immense, les chemins de rando foisonnent (attention aux cartes qui indiquent parfois des chemins fictifs, mais demande à un guide dans un refuge, il te corrigera les cartes en live).Si tu t'éloigne des chemins et des pistes, tu risques de te paumer et d'être coincé dans le bouillard le soir, c'est flippant. Logiquement tu ne peux pas monter aux cratères sans guides mais ça se fait...et il y a des refuges un peu partout. Le plus sympa est le versant nord, plus nature et moins impacté par le tourisme.
Voilà, en gros, les volcans, c'est bien! Mangez-en!
Bonjour, je reviens vers toi à propos du Stromboli. En effet tu m'as donné envie .
J'ai quelques questions en suspend.
Nous partons à 3 une semaine avec une voiture de loc.
Est ce possible de faire Stromboli et Etna?
Les départs bateaux sont assez fréquents si j'ai lu sur différents guides.
Faut il y passer une ou deux nuits?
Le probleme de la réservation du trekk le soir, est ce une marche de nuit?
La réservation se fait je suppose sur l'ile?
As tu une idée du prix?
Ca fait bcp de questions.
Merci d'avance.
Hello, ravi de voir que le Stromboli sucite quelque interet en toi. Tu verras, tu deras pas déçu.
En une semaine, les 2 sont jouables sans problème, je l'ai fait à pied et en train. Par contre, je ne me souviens plus si tu peux amener la voiture sur l'Ile de Stromboli, je ne me souviens pas en avoir vu beaucoup la-bas. Mais vous avez plutot interet a la laisser à Messine ou à Milazzo, ça ne sert vraiment à rien sur les iles.
Garde l'Etna pour la fin, c'est quand même autrechose que le Stromboli.
Une nuit sur le Stromboli suffit, à condition de pouvoir y grimper avec un guide, car les montées sont parfoir annulees en cas de conditions meteo pourries.
Tu peux reserver par téléphone dans une agence comme magmatrek, je te le conseille même vivement car il y a du monde qui est interesse pour aller voir le feu d'artifice, mais il faut que tu te presentes sur place quelques heures avant la montée sinon ils annulent. C'est ce qui nous est arrivé, on s'est perdus comme des gloglos sur Salina (à voir aussi si vous avez le temps), du coup on a choppé le bateau pour stromboli à la bourre, on n'a pas réussi à arriver à l'heure et l'expédition est partie sans nous. Ils partent vers 17h et rentrent vers 23h et parait que ça vaut vraiment le coup. Je ne me souviens plus exactement du prix, de mémoire je dirais 20-30 euros par tête. Sinon, tu peux monter sans guide jusqu'à mi-parcours, c'est très facile, mais de jour, tu ne vois rien, pas suffisamment de contraste.
bonjour voici le compte de ma premiere experience avec l'Etna.😉
ps: le jour ou une partie du cone du strombolie s'est afaissé dans la mer éolienne
Lundi 30 décembre 02
Lever 8 heure du mat apres un petit arrangement nous décidons aujourdhui de gravir l’étna .Accompagné d’un guide : Giuseppe nous partons de Nicolosi vers 10 heures du matin accompagné d’un groupe tres sympathique de jeunes naturalistes. Un couple d’espagnoles nous rejoint ainsi qu’un francais jean paul travaillant dans la cartographie. Ce groupe est extremement homogene. Nous commencons l’ascension une partie enneigé et une pente abrupte gene nos pas pas encore fatigué. C’est un bon délire et chacun y ammène de son entrain entre les poses photos obligatoires. Un peu plus haut sur le plateau un vent froid assaille nos membre. Nous résistons cependant .Nous montons sur des laves basaltiques, trebuchons sur des amats de laves toujours chauds.Les différences de paysage sont absolument hallucinant nous passons d’une montagne enneigée simplement à un paysage lunaire presqu’apocalyptique ou les cendres frottent notre visage. De la neige noire emmanant du souffre c’est la composition de cette matiere qui se trouve étrange. Apres quelques heures de montée notre épuisement et ravi par la vision d’une lave coulante gluante. 1100 degré face à nous, dans cette immondité larveuse, de grosses pierres se fracasse sous la chaleur. C’est beau c’est chaud et gratuit la notion de prix est sorti de notre esprit pendant ce peu de temps d’hallucination. Nous bouffons face à la lave un paté venu de la mer quand la mer rejoint l’enfer…
La descente sera aussi une partie de plaisir intense .Immaginez les Dunes de pila dix fois plus longue sur du sable noir à slalommer comme des malades, à provoquer des chutes irresistible c’est géniale de se sentir libre au point de le savoir. En descandant lorsque la nuit fit son apparition. Nous eume la chance de voir des coulées magnifiques sur le flanc meme ou l’apres midi nous revions.Pour finir la soirée en beauté une belle gueule de bois fut un effet necessaire à tant de joie :c’etait inexprimable…
Il n'est pas pire aveugle que celui qui ne veut pas voir.
bonjour,
j'ai fait l'etna, le stromboli et le vulcano, il y a environ 15 ans. D'apres ce qu'on m'a dit, tout a changé. pour le stromboli, on est obligé de prendre un guide alors qu'avant on le montait sans probleme (partir vers 16 h) les pensions sont assez cheres maintenant. paiement egalement pour faire le tour de vulcano, parait il. une arnaque pour l'etna, nous avions campé la veille au pied de la face nord. demander au poste meteo les conditions climatiques de la journee. c'a change vite (soleil le matin, epais brouillard l'apres midi) belle montée pour arrivée au cratere principale (attention aux gaz) pour finir, retour par taormina, superbe bonne balade
j'ai fait l'etna, le stromboli et le vulcano, il y a environ 15 ans. D'apres ce qu'on m'a dit, tout a changé. pour le stromboli, on est obligé de prendre un guide alors qu'avant on le montait sans probleme (partir vers 16 h) les pensions sont assez cheres maintenant. paiement egalement pour faire le tour de vulcano, parait il. une arnaque pour l'etna, nous avions campé la veille au pied de la face nord. demander au poste meteo les conditions climatiques de la journee. c'a change vite (soleil le matin, epais brouillard l'apres midi) belle montée pour arrivée au cratere principale (attention aux gaz) pour finir, retour par taormina, superbe bonne balade
mm
Salut,
j'envisage de faire le tour de l'etna cet été et 'ai quelques questions.
A la fin aout, est-ce qu'on trouve de l'eau sur l'etna (sources, citernes etc.) Potable/Non Potable? Ou faut il l'emporter depuis les refuges gardés?
Les refuges non gardés sont ils libres d'acces? payants? ouverts? surpeuplés? si quelqu'un s'y connait, parles-en à moi, SVP!
Peut on faire le tour sans autorisation spéciale? Et l'ascension par une voie non touristique? Si oui, y a t'il des controles comme au stromboli?
merci d'avance pour toute reponse,
Martin🙂
Martin🙂
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However, what’s much less fair is that in reality, most of the available spots are reserved: 1/ for Madeira residents (which is normal); 2/ for "economic operators" (meaning local tour operators). For example, if you’re a non-resident (independent tourist), no booking is possible for the Pico Arieiro hike for an early morning start before September! So, unfortunately, we’ll have to skip this hike. It’s the same issue for Ponta de São Lourenço, the 25 Fontes, Pico Ruivo... in short, all the most popular hikes. Oh well, we’ll skip those too!
So my question is: which hikes do you recommend where we won’t face the huge crowds that the others get? And where we can book the day before for the next day, taking the weather into account?
Finally, a quick accommodation question: we’ve booked the first week in Funchal, but I haven’t decided yet for the second week. Do you have any advice on where to stay in the south or north, preferably avoiding overly concrete-heavy and touristy spots?
Thanks in advance for your tips! 🙂
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We’re leaving in 9 days for a two-week trip to Madeira, mainly to hike.
From my research, I’ve found that since last year, access to most trails—and systematically for the most popular ones—is now paid. You have to pay an access fee of 4.50 € per person per classified hike in 2026, and even 10.50 € for the most iconic hike: Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo. When paying, you also have to choose a day and a 30-minute time slot for your start time. Of course, this reservation is neither changeable nor refundable, even if the weather that day is terrible.
Personally, given the massive influx of tourists to the island in recent years, I don’t mind paying a fee to help maintain the trails. Similarly, setting a limit on the number of people who can hike them per day is certainly preferable to preserve this priceless heritage.
However, what’s much less fair is that in reality, most of the available spots are reserved: 1/ for Madeira residents (which is normal); 2/ for "economic operators" (meaning local tour operators). For example, if you’re a non-resident (independent tourist), no booking is possible for the Pico Arieiro hike for an early morning start before September! So, unfortunately, we’ll have to skip this hike. It’s the same issue for Ponta de São Lourenço, the 25 Fontes, Pico Ruivo... in short, all the most popular hikes. Oh well, we’ll skip those too!
So my question is: which hikes do you recommend where we won’t face the huge crowds that the others get? And where we can book the day before for the next day, taking the weather into account?
Finally, a quick accommodation question: we’ve booked the first week in Funchal, but I haven’t decided yet for the second week. Do you have any advice on where to stay in the south or north, preferably avoiding overly concrete-heavy and touristy spots?
Thanks in advance for your tips! 🙂
Pascal
Hi there,
I’m reposting about the logistics for Samaria Gorge. I’d love to get recent info, especially about whether it’s possible to park my car in Omalos, do the hike, and then catch a bus back to my vehicle. In theory, it’s doable, but when you check the KTEL website, there aren’t any feasible schedules listed. If anyone has recently organized this with reliable, verified details, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks in advance!
I’m reposting about the logistics for Samaria Gorge. I’d love to get recent info, especially about whether it’s possible to park my car in Omalos, do the hike, and then catch a bus back to my vehicle. In theory, it’s doable, but when you check the KTEL website, there aren’t any feasible schedules listed. If anyone has recently organized this with reliable, verified details, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks in advance!
Hi there,
We’re flying from Montreal to Lyon this August to go hiking in the French Alps. We’ve rented a car and will be staying at campgrounds. We’re planning to do day hikes and want to stay a few days in one spot, do a few hikes, then move on to our next camping spot. Could you share your favorite spots or any recommendations for places to spend a few days with great hikes?
A few details: We arrive in early August and leave in early September. We’re looking for day hikes (or shorter), moderate difficulty, with a cumulative elevation gain of no more than 1000m, and of course, beautiful scenery! We’d prefer not to drive too much—maybe it’s best not to head too far south and deal with unnecessary heat? Along the same lines, if you know of any great campgrounds where we can start our hike directly without needing the car, we’d love to hear your suggestions!
Thanks! :-)
A few details: We arrive in early August and leave in early September. We’re looking for day hikes (or shorter), moderate difficulty, with a cumulative elevation gain of no more than 1000m, and of course, beautiful scenery! We’d prefer not to drive too much—maybe it’s best not to head too far south and deal with unnecessary heat? Along the same lines, if you know of any great campgrounds where we can start our hike directly without needing the car, we’d love to hear your suggestions!
Thanks! :-)
Hi there,
I’m planning to go hiking on this island and would like to know the best time to do it. I visited for a few days in November 2018—not for hiking but just to explore—and the weather wasn’t great, especially in the mountains. So, is a star-shaped itinerary doable if I rent a car and maybe use two different accommodations?
I’m not planning to join an organized group—just traveling with one other person and organizing things ourselves—unless you’d recommend a local agency or guide. Finally, even though I’ll be getting maps, a topo guide, and a GPS, I’d really appreciate your top hiking recommendations. Thanks so much for your tips!
I’m not planning to join an organized group—just traveling with one other person and organizing things ourselves—unless you’d recommend a local agency or guide. Finally, even though I’ll be getting maps, a topo guide, and a GPS, I’d really appreciate your top hiking recommendations. Thanks so much for your tips!
hi there,
I’m planning a trip around Cap Corse and the AGRIATES in 2026, from May 8th to 15th (there are still 2 spots left, by the way! Just DM me if you're interested).
I’d love to know which hikes are worth prioritizing in the AGRIATES. We’ll be staying in SALECCIA for two days as our base—what should we focus on from there? A round trip to IGNHU beach? Any other suggestions? For Ostricano, I think it’s too far for a round trip... Thanks for your tips! Have a great day, Anie, Toulouse
I’m planning a trip around Cap Corse and the AGRIATES in 2026, from May 8th to 15th (there are still 2 spots left, by the way! Just DM me if you're interested).
I’d love to know which hikes are worth prioritizing in the AGRIATES. We’ll be staying in SALECCIA for two days as our base—what should we focus on from there? A round trip to IGNHU beach? Any other suggestions? For Ostricano, I think it’s too far for a round trip... Thanks for your tips! Have a great day, Anie, Toulouse
Hi,
I’d like some advice on doing the Camino de Santiago—or part of it—from the Basque Country.
Best,
Hi there,
I’d like to get some info about the GR10 Pyrenees traverse. I need help planning the daily stages and accommodations—my wife isn’t an experienced hiker but walks a lot, so I’d like to schedule shorter walking days and thus a longer overall trip in terms of number of days.
Could anyone give me some help and advice? Best regards,
I’d like to get some info about the GR10 Pyrenees traverse. I need help planning the daily stages and accommodations—my wife isn’t an experienced hiker but walks a lot, so I’d like to schedule shorter walking days and thus a longer overall trip in terms of number of days.
Could anyone give me some help and advice? Best regards,
Hi there, I’m planning the Annapurna Circuit for March 2027 and I’m looking for a local agency with a local guide—preferably French-speaking—to arrange this trek for us. Any suggestions? Thanks
Hello!
We’re spending a few days in Toraja country at the end of May. We’d love to do a day trek—taking our time—on a route that’s stunning in terms of scenery, but not a level 5 in difficulty!
Any suggestions you can share, please?
Thanks in advance
Hi everyone,
I’d like to do the Mare a Mare Sud in May over 4 days. I’ve found quite a few places to stay along the route, but I’m stuck on the start and finish. I’ll be arriving by plane on Sunday evening and would like to start pretty early on Monday morning. Ideally, accommodation right at the trailhead (Alzu di Gallina) would be amazing, but I can’t find anything. Any tips? Also, for the transfer from Figari Airport to Porto Vecchio or Alzu di Gallina? At the end, I’d like to pick up a rental car—any advice on that too?
Thanks in advance!
Caro
I’d like to do the Mare a Mare Sud in May over 4 days. I’ve found quite a few places to stay along the route, but I’m stuck on the start and finish. I’ll be arriving by plane on Sunday evening and would like to start pretty early on Monday morning. Ideally, accommodation right at the trailhead (Alzu di Gallina) would be amazing, but I can’t find anything. Any tips? Also, for the transfer from Figari Airport to Porto Vecchio or Alzu di Gallina? At the end, I’d like to pick up a rental car—any advice on that too?
Thanks in advance!
Caro
I’m traveling solo by plane to Catania in May and plan to hike the northern side of Etna, starting from Linguaglossa where I’ll arrive by bus. After that, I’d love some info on how to get up to Piano Provenzana (shuttles or hitchhiking), since it seems there’s no public transport except in the summer. Can you sleep there in a free or cheap refuge, or camp? And how far up can you go without having to hire a guide? Thanks in advance. Bernard.