Hiking Etna's North Side: Eight Craters, a Lava Tunnel, Ten People Max

Eight lateral craters on the north side, and a lava tunnel to walk into. The north side is the quiet one, so the walking happens away from the coach parties that fill the southern approach. A lava tunnel is what a flow leaves behind when it keeps moving inside its own cooled crust. Standing in one puts you inside the plumbing of the mountain rather than on top of it, and the ground you cross to reach it has no vegetation to soften it. Groups are capped at ten, which is what lets the guide answer questions instead of talking at a crowd. The guide is Francophone, and explains in French. Children are accepted from six years old, and the itinerary is built to hold their attention rather than test their legs. One practical point decides whether this suits you: you drive your own car and follow the guide. The meeting point is Piazza Chiesa Madre in Milo. Arrive with a full tank, because there are no petrol stations in the area. The walk finishes roughly an hour before dusk.