Mount Etna’s licensed volcano guides have launched a rare strike and street protest in Sicily after local authorities introduced tough new limits on how close and how long visitors can approach the volcano’s slow-moving lava flows.

The dispute, which burst into the open this week at Etna’s lava flow gate above Catania, is reshaping how travelers experience Europe’s most active volcano at the height of an ongoing eruptive phase.

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A rare strike on the slopes of Mount Etna

On Wednesday 8 January, dozens of officially certified alpine and volcano guides in hard hats and brightly colored jackets gathered at one of Etna’s main access points, blocking the usual flow of four-wheel-drive vehicles and organized hiking groups.

Many carried placards denouncing what they describe as excessive safety rules that, in practice, shut down their work and deprive visitors of the classic close-up lava experience.

The protest marks the first major strike by Etna’s professional guides in decades. Above certain elevations on the 3,350 meter peak, it is a legal requirement to travel with a qualified guide, giving this small, highly trained community an outsized role in managing tourism on the volcano.

Their decision to halt excursions has immediately reduced access for paying visitors, even as Etna continues a visually spectacular eruptive phase that began on Christmas Eve 2025.

Demonstrations have focused on the so-called lava flow gate, a key checkpoint on Etna’s southern flank.

Guides have used the location both symbolically and practically: it is where police and forestry officers have been stationed since this week to control entry, and where guides argue that local expertise, not distant bureaucratic decisions, should determine what is safe.

What the new restrictions mean for visitors

The new rules, adopted by authorities in and around the city of Catania after Etna’s latest eruptions, fundamentally redraw the map for tourist access.

Excursions are now permitted only until dusk, cutting off the popular night-time lava viewing that many visitors consider the highlight of an Etna trip.

For years, guided groups have set off in the late afternoon to watch the sky turn red as glowing lava advanced downslope; that experience is now officially off-limits.

Daytime visits have also been tightened. Groups must stay at least 200 meters from active lava fronts, even when led by licensed guides, and local authorities are vigorously enforcing an existing cap of ten people per group.

Officials have signaled that monitoring will be backed by drones to spot any violations on the open slopes, a level of surveillance that guides say transforms their work into something closer to a policing exercise than a hosting role.

In practical terms, travelers arriving this week have found pre-booked excursions canceled or radically modified. Instead of a long hike toward cooling lava tongues, many tours now consist of shorter walks to panoramic viewpoints, with the volcanic show happening at a visible but distant remove.

For photographers and adventure travelers who specifically come to Sicily for front-row lava access, this changes the value proposition of an Etna trip.

Guides say their profession is being “nullified”

The guides’ regional board has issued an unusually sharp statement arguing that the new framework strips them of their professional identity.

According to the board, measures that ban evening excursions, strictly limit proximity to lava and rigidly cap group sizes “effectively nullify the role of guides, stripping them of their skills, function and professional responsibility.”

Guides emphasize that they are not seeking to disregard safety. Many have decades of experience interpreting seismic bulletins, reading the terrain and managing risk on one of the world’s best-studied volcanoes.

They argue that slow-moving, well-mapped lava flows, like those advancing around 1,360 meters above sea level in recent weeks, can be approached more closely under controlled conditions than current regulations allow.

Some also stress the educational dimension of their work. Close-range visits, they say, are not only about thrills but about teaching visitors how volcanoes behave and why certain risks are acceptable while others are not.

By turning Etna into what they describe as a spectator event from afar, guides fear that authorities are flattening the experience into a passive view, undermining both their livelihood and the deeper understanding that comes from responsibly managed proximity.

Authorities point to recent eruptions and past near-misses

Local officials, however, insist that the clampdown is proportionate to the risks posed by the volcano’s current activity and by recent history on Etna’s slopes. The latest rules were drafted after a new eruptive phase began on 24 December 2025, sending streams of lava several kilometers downslope.

The most advanced front traveled roughly 3.4 kilometers before halting and entering a cooling phase at about 1,360 meters above sea level.

Scientists at Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology say the eruption remains active, with explosive activity focused near the northeast crater, even as the lava fronts cool.

While volcanologists have stressed that nearby residential areas are not under threat, authorities note that conditions on the mountain can shift rapidly, particularly if new vents open or gas emissions intensify.

Officials also point to a dramatic episode in June 2025, when a massive eruption sent a plume of hot gas, ash and rocks several kilometers into the sky, forcing tourists to flee the volcano’s upper slopes.

That incident renewed debate within civil protection agencies about how close the public should be allowed to approach active features, especially given the difficulty of evacuating large groups quickly from rough, high-altitude terrain.

Tourism impact on Sicily and the wider travel market

Mount Etna is one of Sicily’s flagship attractions, drawing hikers, cruise passengers and independent travelers from across Europe and beyond.

Its combination of snow-dusted summit, fertile vineyards on lower slopes and frequent eruptions has made it a centerpiece of travel itineraries that link Catania, Taormina and the Ionian coast with inland villages and nature reserves.

For tour operators, the new restrictions arrive at a delicate moment. Interest in Etna had surged after images of lava fountains and glowing flows circulated widely on social media over the holiday period.

Many agencies rapidly built promotional offers promising “live lava” experiences in early 2026, only to see access curtailed just as the main winter-spring booking window opened.

Local businesses that depend on volcano tourism, from gear-rental shops to restaurants at trailheads, are already reporting cancellations. Some are attempting to pivot toward alternative experiences such as vineyard tours on Etna’s lower slopes, village gastronomy itineraries or coastal excursions overlooking the smoking summit.

Yet for many travelers, especially those with limited time in Sicily, a distant view from the Ionian Sea is not an equal substitute for a guided approach toward still-warm lava fields.

Safety, liability and the politics of risk

The dispute at Etna also taps into a broader European debate over how to manage visitor access to high-risk natural environments, from alpine glaciers to active volcanoes.

In many such destinations, local guides occupy a gray area between private entrepreneurship and public safety infrastructure.

They are trained, licensed and often deeply embedded in their communities, but ultimate liability in the event of an accident can fall on regional or municipal authorities.

Officials in Catania appear determined to avoid being accused of complacency if conditions change suddenly.

By setting hard rules that apply to all operators equally, they shift some of the responsibility away from individual guides’ judgment and toward a standardized safety envelope, even if that means curtailing the very experiences that made Etna famous.

Guides counter that one-size-fits-all rules ignore the granular realities on the slopes, where lava type, flow speed, wind direction and topography can all combine to make one area safe while another, slightly higher or lower, is not.

They are asking for a negotiated framework that gives licensed professionals a stronger voice, possibly through dynamic zoning that adjusts permitted access based on real-time monitoring rather than fixed distance and time limits.

What travelers heading to Mount Etna should expect now

For travelers with upcoming trips to Sicily, the situation on Etna is in flux. Guides have signaled that protests and strike actions are likely to continue in the coming days, and that they hope for talks with authorities that would ease some of the most restrictive measures without eroding safety standards.

Until an agreement is reached, however, visitors should be prepared for last-minute changes to planned excursions.

Prospective visitors can expect that evening or night-time lava tours will remain suspended for now, with excursions ending by dusk.

Access to active or recently active lava fronts will likely be confined to viewing points at least 200 meters away, and groups may be smaller than in previous seasons due to the stricter ten-person cap.

Independent hikers who might once have approached the lava on their own are likely to encounter checkpoints and patrols on key access roads and trails.

Travel experts recommend that visitors build flexibility into their Sicily itineraries, allowing time for alternative activities if Etna access is more limited than expected.

Coastal towns, historical sites in Catania and Syracuse, and food-focused tours in nearby villages all offer rich experiences even if the volcano’s most dramatic zones remain out of reach.

At the same time, those set on seeing Etna’s volcanic power in person may still be able to take half-day or full-day trips to high-altitude vantage points, where ash plumes and glowing summit craters are visible when conditions are clear.

FAQ

Q1. Is Mount Etna currently erupting?
Yes. As of early January 2026, Etna is in an ongoing eruptive phase that began on December 24, 2025, with active but slow-moving lava flows and intermittent explosive activity near the summit craters.

Q2. Are tourists completely banned from visiting Mount Etna right now?
No. Access to the volcano is not completely banned, but it is significantly restricted. Visitors can still join daytime excursions to designated areas and viewpoints, while approaches to active lava flows and night-time tours are currently curtailed.

Q3. What are the main new rules affecting Etna tours?
The key measures include stopping excursions at dusk, maintaining at least a 200 meter distance from active lava fronts, and strictly enforcing a maximum of ten people per guided group, with aerial and on-the-ground checks to ensure compliance.

Q4. Why are tour guides protesting these restrictions?
Guides argue that the rules are excessively rigid, undermine their professional judgment and make it impossible to offer the close-range lava experiences that many visitors expect, thereby threatening both their livelihood and the distinctive character of Etna tourism.

Q5. Are the new restrictions based on scientific advice?
Local authorities say the measures respond to recent volcanic activity and past incidents on the mountain, and they rely on monitoring by Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology. Guides do not dispute the science but argue for more flexible, locally informed application of safety guidelines.

Q6. Is it still safe to travel to Sicily and the area around Etna?
Yes. Current lava flows are confined to the volcano’s upper slopes and do not threaten nearby towns or major transport routes. Travelers can safely visit Catania, Taormina and other destinations, though direct access to active lava fields is restricted.

Q7. How might this affect travelers who already booked Etna excursions?
Some existing bookings are being modified or canceled, particularly night-time and close-range lava tours. Travelers should expect itinerary changes, possible refunds or substitutions, and are advised to stay in close contact with their tour providers.

Q8. Can I hike Etna independently without a guide to get closer to the lava?
Above certain altitudes, Italian regulations require the presence of a certified guide, and current enforcement is tight. Attempting to bypass rules or checkpoints can result in being turned back or reported to authorities, and may put you at risk in an active volcanic environment.

Q9. Are there alternative ways to experience Etna while the strike continues?
Yes. Visitors can join lower-slope hikes, explore older lava fields and craters, visit wineries that cultivate grapes on volcanic soils, or enjoy panoramic viewpoints where eruptions and ash plumes can be safely observed from a distance.

Q10. How long are the protests and restrictions expected to last?
The guides’ strike is open-ended, and authorities have not announced an end date for the current safety regime. Both sides have signaled a willingness to negotiate, so the situation may evolve in the coming weeks, but travelers planning near-term visits should assume the new rules will remain in place.