Guided hike between Mount Somma and the Valley of Hell with views of the crater of Vesuvius

About this activity

Immerse yourself in this adventurous guided tour that will take you directly to the crater of one of the world's most well-known and visited volcanoes, the Vesuvius.

Departure is from Ottaviano, in the heart of Vesuvius National Park. During the hike you will reach the peaks of Mount Somma, the Cognoli. The Monte Somma is the ancient volcano from which Vesuvius originated, over time demolished by a series of very ancient and violent explosive eruptions, some traceable as far back as 17,000 years ago. Also visible on Cognoli is the most beautiful "rope" lava formation on Vesuvius, etched by a deep fracture in which several species of ferns have taken life and inside which you can enter as if you could reach into the bowels of the Earth.

The black ground is made brilliant by the presence of minerals such as vesuvianite, black mica, olivinite, muscovite, and leucite. In some parts of the trail you can admire peculiar patches of black pine, which in the Vesuvian territory manages to survive only because of the cool northern exposure. Continuing on you will also encounter scrub vegetation with broom: from this point a breathtaking landscape opens up over the entire volcanic complex. Having crossed the ridge, you will reach the Hell Valley, located between Mount Somma and the main crater of Vesuvius, through a path composed of Lapillus and pumice stone.

Once you reach the main ticket office, you can begin the ascent to the crater starting from an altitude of 1,000 meters. Awaiting you is aloop hike until Square of Legality: here the magnificent excursion will end, in fact from this point you will return to Octavian again.

For the more daring and trained, it is also possible to reach Punta Nasone, the highest peak of Mt. Somma.

Through this experience you will be able to get on the Great Cone, admire unique views and experience the volcanological history of its eruptions at every turn.