Etna excursion and wine tasting with Sicilian lunch

What a great trip. We were collected promptly and drove up to the first stop. It happened to be the same day as the Etna marathon so we were humbled by driving past these poor souls toiling up a volcano for 40k. First stop the end of the lava river. A 10 minute undulating path to the site where the last lava river stopped. Some tours drive down but I was glad for the short walk. We had a quick stop for coffee around 11. We then went to a grotto and, complete with helmets and torches, went underground (not far!). Another nice stroll through the forest. The main activity was walking up to some of the craters, a one hour round trip along ash strewn paths with amazing views, both up and down. You really need sturdy shoes (trainers are fine) and an extra layer. Even in June the temperature drops a lot due to the wind. Our guide, Rosario, was exceptional. He patiently explained the history of Etna. He also described the flora and fauna. Excellent guy. Then on to lunch at a winery down the mountain. Having been picked up at 9, we didn’t get the restaurant until about 1.30, so were ready for some food. We had a quick walk around to the vineyard, but it literally took 10 minutes, so no detailed explanation of grapes and wine-making (which didn’t bother us as we’ve heard it before a few times). The only minor downside of the day was that they didn’t explain the meal in advance, so we tucked into the bread and antipasti, not realising that we had pasta alla norma to come. It was all delicious and we had worked up an appetite. Oh, and the wine was pretty decent too! Then back to the hotel courtesy of our excellent driver, Alfio. Fabulous day. Worth every euro.

very nice. Lots of hiking and craters and lava tubes and we even went down into one which was cool. They told us a lot about the flowers and everything growing on the lava areas as well. But the best part was definitely Gambino Vini where the two ladies that served us were so friendly and welcoming and informative. The food and wine were wonderful as well!

Salvatore was an excellent guide. He tailored the experience for us when we wanted to stop at places. The wine tasting and lunch were good. It was not a small winery and had a small Greek amphitheater there. He picked us up in Taormina and dropped us off in Catania.

We had the best time on our tour of Mt Etna! Our guide, Giulia, was fantastic and made sure everyone was comfortable and happy throughout the day. We were the only ones from our group who opted to visit the winery, which was an excellent experience. This was a great combination of activity and relaxation in an incredibly beautiful place. Highly recommended!

A well-organized excursion through the craters and lava landscapes of Etna, with an expert guide who tells the geology and history of the volcano. The route is accessible and suitable for everyone. The final tasting is the most pleasant moment: good quality local wines, produced on volcanic soils that give a recognizable mineral character. Excellent in combination with typical Sicilian products served during the stop. A complete way to discover the territory. Thank you Dream Island!

We had a fantastic May 1st. The part of etna was fabulous, but the part of the tasting was SUPERB! They took us to a winery called Villa Neri where the staff was very kind and of such professionalism that they made us want to return one day. A really fantastic day also thanks to the morning group with which we visited Etna and then left to go to the tasting. I would definitely recommend this tour. Thanks to the guide Salvatore and Richard who organized everything in detail. I will be back for sure!!

We recently booked a Mount Etna and wine tasting excursion, and unfortunately, the experience didn’t quite live up to expectations. While the Mount Etna portion itself was enjoyable, the logistics around the wine tasting were poorly handled. Out of a group of about 20 people, only my husband and I had signed up for the wine tasting add-on. After the Etna tour, the rest of the group was taken to a restaurant for lunch, while we were driven about 15 minutes away for our wine tasting and meal. This arrangement might have worked fine, except that the rest of the group finished their lunch much earlier and were then left waiting in vans for us to complete our experience so we could all return to Catania together. Knowing that a large group was waiting for us made the wine tasting feel rushed and uncomfortable. I wasn’t able to properly enjoy or even finish my meal or the tasting because of the time pressure. Overall, the lack of coordination significantly impacted what should have been a relaxing and enjoyable experience. I wouldn’t recommend this excursion unless the logistics are improved—particularly around managing different group activities more thoughtfully.

Although the weather was not great we did it anyways. Santo and Vincenzo were the best! They took us around and explained lots to us. The winery is a must. Lucia very simpatica! Would highly recommend this tour.

In reaching out to Dream Island regarding the Mt Etna excursion including wine and lunch, the customer service was excellent. They responded quickly with full details to my many questions. They followed up with me to see if I had any additional questions. That's the kind of customer service that makes a difference.

Nice tour / walk followed by a delicious lunch and matching wines. Everything was well arranged and the tour guide was very friendly.