Etnavolcano Terms and Conditions On this page (Etnavolcano.com), you will find complete details regarding the services provided by our organization, including terms and conditions. When booking, participants explicitly confirm that they accept and understand the contents herein.
Health Requirements
To participate in our hikes, it is essential to be in excellent health, free of allergies, heart, respiratory, blood pressure, bone and joint problems. When booking, please inform us if you need to take medication, what medications you take, and if you have any illnesses, allergies, or intolerances. As a reminder, the ascent to the volcano with Etnavolcano.com is prohibited for women in an advanced state of pregnancy, greater than 3 months gestation.
In addition, for some excursions there are age limits for participation.
The guide has the authority to decide whether a person is fit for the hike by assessing his or her physical and mental and physical condition. If deemed unfit, the guide may decide not to accompany the participant on the excursion without any possibility of a refund. Please bring with you the necessary equipment for the hike.
In case you are not provided with what you need, the guide may decide not to include you in the group, with no possibility of refund.
Schedule and Route Adjustments
The guide may change departure and return times, route, maximum elevation, and distance based on weather conditions, safety of volcanic activity, and trail conditions. We will evaluate the weather and volcanic conditions of Etna about 24 hours before the excursion. In case of unfavorable conditions, we may reschedule the tour to another available date. If you cannot change the date, the amount paid will be refunded. Given that we are on an active volcano, the gases emitted by the craters can affect visibility, and this phenomenon is unpredictable. Weather forecasts are approximate, and we do not guarantee their 100% accuracy. Final confirmation or cancellation of the excursion and the exact meeting time will be communicated about 24 hours before the excursion by email or WhatsApp message (if available).
In case of cancellation by us, you will be refunded the amount paid.
Itinerary Modifications
Depending on volcanic activity, weather conditions, and the presence of snow, we may change the time, duration, and length of the hike, change the slope of Etna to be visited, and change the entire itinerary. The maximum accessible altitude can vary based on path conditions (such as snow or pyroclasts), weather conditions (like wind, fog, rain, and lightning or thunderstorm risks), and the geological dynamics of Etna on the day of the excursion, which may also change during the day. The excursions and daily tours offered by Etnavolcano.com are subject to limited availability, especially tours in the Summit area and may be subject to changes or cancellations in the event of risky meteorological or volcanological conditions, as well as in the event that the minimum number of guests is not reached. six participants. In the event that the customer does not show up for the appointment within 20 minutes of the agreed time, the reservation will be considered a “no-show” and will not be refunded. The organizer may, at his discretion and until the start of the excursion, modify the itinerary or the duration of the excursion due to weather conditions or other factors that could influence the tour. However, the customer has the right to refuse such changes and obtain a refund of the price paid.
Group hi ke In the group hike, the pace will be dictated by the slowest person, and as a result there is no guarantee that the maximum elevations or kilometers described will be reached. Private hike In the private hike, with a guide dedicated exclusively to you, you will have the flexibility to adjust the pace of the hike and the timing according to your physical abilities.
However, we will always respect the guide’s choices in terms of safety, route, distance and maximum accessible altitude. Equipment Required but Not Provided To participate in the hikes especially to the Summits areas above 3000m you must have the following items: gaiters or mid-calf socks to prevent volcanic sand from entering your shoes, hiking pants, sweater or fleece, a waterproof windproof jacket with a hood to protect you from the cold and rain, gloves, hat or cap to cover your head from the sun, sunscreen and sunglasses.
To participate in hiking on Mount Etna, you must wear high hiking boots.
In case you do not have them, you need to get them or rent them on site.
Certain services that can be booked on the website (Etnavolcano.com) also include hiking boots, which will be provided directly by the Guide to the client at no additional cost. Responsibility and Release Statement Those who participate in our hikes or other activities are expected to follow the instructions provided by the guides, to stay with the group, to preserve their own and others’ safety, and to respect their surroundings and avoid harm. Guides will explain how the activity will proceed, the safety rules to follow, the difficulty level, and the recommended equipment. Etnavolcano.com guides and the Etna North Volcanological Guides Cooperative are not responsible for damages resulting from non-compliance with instructions or reckless behavior during the excursion or activity. Authorized guides have the right to interrupt the activity if deemed necessary for the safety of themselves or others. Etnavolcano.com guides and the Etna North Volcanological Guides Cooperative cannot assess participants’ physical condition. Therefore, those who book and participate in the activity assume the responsibility of being adequately informed about the excursion’s characteristics and challenges and being equipped with the necessary gear. Parents or legal guardians of minor participants must declare, assuming responsibility, that the minors can safely participate. Participants with allergies must bring their medications, while those undergoing therapy must have their personal medications and inform the guides of their health issues. During the excursion, participants must behave in a disciplined and respectful manner, cooperating with guides, assistants, and other participants to ensure everyone’s safety. Participants acknowledge that outdoor activities involve risks and assume responsibility for any damage caused to others or property. By accepting the terms of sale, participants release Etnavolcano.com guides and the Etna North Volcanological Guides Cooperative, organizers, and assistants from any liability for accidents that may occur during the activity. During off-road excursions, smoking and carrying dangerous goods, ammunition, or war weapons are prohibited. Authorized guides under Framework Law 89’ operating for Etnavolcano.com and the Etna North Volcanological Guides Cooperative disclaim any responsibility for accidents or injuries resulting from the volcano’s explosive activity due to the unpredictability of certain volcanic phenomena or from irresponsible behavior of tourists who do not follow the guides’ safety directives. All our excursions and activities are insured, but this does not cover damages caused by negligent or reckless behavior. If participants arrive significantly late, the tour will still end at the scheduled time and the original itinerary may need to be shortened.
If the delay leads to a shortened itinerary and the client wishes to change the route, the organization reserves the right to charge an additional fee to be agreed on the spot. BEHAVIOUR RULES FOR PARTICIPANTS During the activities, it is essential to abide by the provisions of these regulations and carefully follow the instructions given by the chaperones during the excursions. It is prohibited to leave the group without explicit authorization. Details about the technical level, required equipment, and difficulty of each tour are available on our website. It is the user’s responsibility to inform all group members about these guidelines. Those with special needs or medical conditions must inform the office and the guide before the tour begins. The guide declines any responsibility for damages resulting from violating these common-sense rules. The organization accepts no responsibility for any items forgotten or lost on the means of transportation and will not provide for their return. Consent information The hikes we offer take place in natural environments, especially in mountainous areas, where it is not possible to completely eliminate the risk of injury. These risks include terrain variations, possible encounters with wild animals or poisonous plants, rock falls, volcanic eruptions, lava ash fallout, and pyroclastic material, terrain instability both above and below ground level, and other dangers not dependent on the organization. It is crucial to understand that the mountain naturally entails risks. However, responsible behavior based on the experience, competence, and caution of our guides can mitigate them. Our staff is highly qualified and trained to ensure safety during excursions. Participants are aware and agree that the organization cannot be held responsible for any accidents caused by the inherent risks of the natural environment, as specified in this section. Insurance Coverage The proposed activities are guaranteed by RCT (Professional Liability) insurance provided by UNIPOL SAI, in addition to the personal policies of the individual guides. The RCT policy provides coverage to participants in case of accidents caused by our organization’s staff or where the organization has direct responsibility for the incident. However, they are excluded from coverage:
- a) Injuries or damages suffered by participants during the normal conduct of the excursion (e.g., an injury caused by a fall on rugged volcanic terrain).
- b) Services and activities provided by third parties and not directly by our staff, even if booked through our website (e.g., catering services, injuries during public transport like cable cars, 4×4 buses, etc.).
- c) Damages caused by members due to non-compliance with these regulations or failure to follow the guides’ instructions.
Payment for services booked During booking, details will be provided on the available payment methods, which may vary depending on the package or service selected.
Typically, options include cash, credit cards, debit cards, bank transfer, PayPal and, if arranged, corporate vouchers. Reservations You can make reservations either online via website, by e-mail or by phone at :+39 345 5741330.Our activities do not necessarily require advance reservations. However, prepayment of at least 50% of the total cost ensures the availability of requested spots and the complete provision of booked services, except for exceptional circumstances beyond the organization’s control. Unpaid bookings in advance will require full payment at the time of the excursion, which may vary from the advertised rate without prior notice. Reservations with advance payment have priority over others.Confirmation of reservation depends on the availability of places. REFUNDS The organization proceeds with refunds only in situations of force majeure, such as weather or volcanic emergency notices that prevent the performance of booked activities, or in case of problems directly attributable to our organization, such as the breakdown of a means of transportation. Cancellations based on subjective weather assessments by participants, such as summer thunderstorms, do not entitle refunds. Reimbursement is not provided under the following circumstances: – If tourists stray from the group and get lost during the tour.
– If tourists choose to leave the tour before its conclusion without permission. CANCELLATIONS There are no refunds for last minute cancellations or for participants not showing up at the scheduled meeting point and time, as reserved seats cannot be redistributed.
Likewise, there are no refunds or granting of vouchers for considerable delays, booking errors regarding the date or type of tour, or for cancellations of participation within 48 hours of the tour departure time. DELAYS Participants are required to arrive at the time stated in the tour schedule, sent via email or by whatsapp message to the reference number, at the time of booking confirmation and 1 day before the booked experience. The guide is not obligated to wait for latecomers beyond 15 minutes past the designated time to ensure consideration for other participants. If a participant arrives later than this, they forfeit their right to join the tour and will not be eligible for a refund. For privately booked tours, the guide may allow a maximum wait of 60 minutes from the scheduled time, but the tour will still be concluded at the scheduled return time.
Service Organizer’s Liability
The service organizer is liable for any damages incurred by the traveler due to the non-performance or partial performance of the services included in the booked package. This liability applies whether the services are provided directly by the organizer or by third parties. However, the organizer of Etnavolcano.com or the Cooperative of Volcanological Guides Etna Nord is not liable if it can prove that the damages are caused by the action of the traveler himself, by unforeseeable or unavoidable events of third parties, by circumstances beyond the control of the organizer, such as fortuitous events or force majeure, or by circumstances that the organizer could not have reasonably foreseen or resolved.
