Holiday schedule
PERIOD: February 2020
DURATION: from Thursday to Sunday
PROGRAM:
departure on Thursday morning with flight from Bergamo or Verona, meeting in Catania at 09.45- Day 1: Breakfast with Sicilian cannoli, transfer to Zafferana Etnea around 10.30 am, luggage storage in accommodation and equipment preparation, small snack.
First approach with Etna and its wonderful scenery: afternoon skiing activity on the southern slope. Dinner in a typical restaurant in Zafferana Etnea. - Giorno 2: Breakfast at 7.00 am and departure at 8.00 am from the lodging.
Ski touring on the southern mountainside in the area of the renowned Rifugio Sapienza, towards the top of the Montagnola, then moving to the Valle del Bove and the famous Silvestri Craters. Packed lunch and snack at Rifugio Monte Scavo. Fish dinner in a typical restaurant on the sea. - Day 3: Breakfast at 7.00 am and departure at 8.00 am from the accommodation. Ski touring on the North side. Target: reach the Crater from the north-east (Summit of Etna 3350 m) and then descend on the west side. Packed lunch and snack in the mountain hut on the way back. Dinner at a typical agriturismo.
- Day 4: Breakfast at 7.00 am and departure at 8.00 am from the accommodation. Ski touring on the North side, trip to Pizzi Deneri from the Citelli mountain hut (1746 m) (maximum altitude 2847 m) Lunch at the mountain hut. Luggage arrangement and shower. Return to Catania in the evening with a possible visit to the city. Flight to Milan Bergamo and back home.
- Day 1: Breakfast with Sicilian cannoli, transfer to Zafferana Etnea around 10.30 am, luggage storage in accommodation and equipment preparation, small snack.
COSTS: € 500,00 per person
WHAT IS INCLUDED: lessons and accompaniment by mountain guides, overnight stay in B&B, transport rental from and to Catania and during excursions, accident insurance.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED: flight, lunches, dinners, van fuel, motorways in Sicily, eventual ski passes.
READY FOR EVERYTHING?: in case of lack of snow XAdventure will take you to discover other incredible outdoor activities to do in the area: walk into the lava tubes under the lava flows, river trekking in the Alcantara gorges, Etna bike tours, in short we won’t get bored for sure.
Important information
The Etna program is aimed at people who like to ski in contexts that are really out of the ordinary
To have fun you need to be able to take ski touring trips of at least 1.000 meters uphill
Skiing ability: good level
If within the group there are different skiing levels, it is possible to make different programs
Faq
The best way is to follow our Facebook page, you’ll find it at the bottom of the pages of our site, alternatively, you can send us a request to enter you in the Xadventure whatsapp group.
The best way is to follow our Facebook page, you’ll find it at the bottom of the pages of our site, alternatively, you can send us a request to enter you in the Xadventure whatsapp group.
Because the mountain is in constant movement
It can always happen that weather conditions require a change of plans and make travel more difficult. All our trips require a strong spirit of adaptability and adventure. We will try to transform even an apparently negative situation, into a positive experience, just change the point of view: we will make the sailors dispersed in the mists, we will be sailors like the Vikings did, we will surely live unforgettable experiences.
Ski mountaineering equipment:
– skis with ski mountaineering (or telemark from ski mountaineering)
– ski mountaineering boots
– artva shovel and probe (we can rent them)
– ice ax and crampons
– rampant if in possession
– the helmet is recommended
– ski mountaineering backpack or trekking
– thermos for hot tea
(we can possibly lend you something, but we prefer everyone to have their own equipment)
Clothing:
– hiking boots and mountain walking clothing
– jacket and pants openable or for ski touring
– light down jacket
– technical underwear, shirt and trousers, socks- sunglasses, hat and bandana
– light climbing gloves, heavy downhill gloves
– swimsuit
– comfortable clothing for the evening
If we see that the climatic and snow conditions are really critical we evaluate together what to do; in general we have always found alternatives that are just as fun as river trekking, exploring lava caves with a Volcanological Guide, mountain bike or e-bike tours … Sicily is a small paradise for the outdoors and there definitely bored.
Etna is the most monitored and active volcano in Europe, for this reason particularly fascinating. It should not be defined as dangerous, but it must certainly be managed as such and above all it is necessary to know it well, for this you will be guided by expert professionals. It may happen that the program undergoes variations due to the weather or the activity of the volcano, but usually it is enough to move to another side to be able to do activities anyway. However, in the worst case scenario we always have alternative proposals.
Indicatively it is always possible to make trips from around 1000 – 1200 meters a day, but we evaluate it there, based on how the group moves and on the basis of snow and weather conditions.
We have several contacts, very nice and comfortable facilities, to quickly reach both sides. These are mostly B & Bs with single, double and triple rooms (a supplement is often required for a single room). Dinner is never included in the package, because every night we go to a different restaurant (already tested several times), to be able to taste different typical products of the rich Sicilian cuisine.
Etna allows you to make many trips, of various levels, in totally different conditions. A certain familiarity and safety on skis is recommended, especially downhill. Or if you are a group of at least 4-5 people at the same level, we provide you with a guide available only for you with a slight surcharge.