Each step takes you back in time.
The Aeolian Islands offer beautiful contrasts that will greatly enhance your hiking/walking tour. Explore the power and fascination of volcanoes softened by the lush vegetation of the islands. Savor the sweetness of the regional wine, Malvasia. Enjoy the warmth of the people. The Aeolian Islands represent a little paradise where life proceeds at a different rhythm, slower and relaxed. Take advantage of that rhythm to enjoy the silence and intense blues of the sea and sky.
It is a land of myth, where time seems to have a different meaning. The volcanoes of this area have enchanted ancient and modern writers for centuries. They were a source of power, both natural and supernatural, for the Greek, Latin and Norman people, who dominated the area of eastern Sicily. According to mythology, Vulcano Island was the seat of Hephaestus, God of Fire. The Romans called him Vulcano and since then all the ancient mountains spitting fire have been called “volcanoes.”
Nowadays Vulcano is a dormant volcano, but if you want to experience the emotion stirred up by an active volcano we suggest you to go to Stromboli, on the north of the Aeolian Archipelago. It is a volcano that, due to its perpetual activity, was called “Lighthouse of the Mediterranean Sea.”
This tour gives you a rare opportunity to discover the power, mythology, sweetness, and rhythm of a precious place. By foot, you will experience it up close and authentically.
- Cost
- € 1650 – € 1990 ($) see PRICING details below
- Duration
- 8 days/7 nights
- Start/End
- Taormina – Taormina
- 2012 Start Dates
- April 16, October 11
Highlights of the Volcanoes of Sicily hiking tour
- Taormina and its roman-greek theatre
- Aeolian Islands UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Hiking in Lipari, the largest and most complex of the Aeolian islands
- Climb to Monte Fossa delle Felci in Salina, the highest point of the archipelago
- Ascend the top of the Vulcano Island crater, the volcano that gives the name “volcano” to all the “smoking mountains” since the Roman times
- Explore Panarea, an amazing hike to discover lava, ancient relics and rare plants
- Hike to the top of Stromboli Island and see its eruptions by night: a unique and fascinating experience. This volcano explains the name “strombolian activity” used for volcanoes around the world which have small eruptions every 20 to 30 minutes
- Discover Mount Etna, depending on the conditions, you’ll get to the main crater of the highest active volcano in Europe
- Enjoy the sweet, smooth, and aromatic flavour of the world-known Malvasia wine
- Experience wonderful Sicilian cuisine and wine
Day 1 – Welcome to Sicily!
Transfer on your own from Catania Airport to Taormina. Taormina is well known because its ancient Greco-Roman theatre. From this place you can see Mount Etna, which is often enveloped in a cloud, but when clear you can make out the rim of the crater. Taormina is perhaps the most sought after place to stay in all of Sicily, attracting the very rich and famous. Overnight in Taormina, dinner not included.
Day 2 – Lipari island
Transfer to Lipari Island. Free time to discover the main town. Lipari will be your overnight base for the next several nights. Dinner is on your own.
Day 3 – Hike Lipari island (2 hours)
Discover the most complex of the Aeolian Islands, Lipari Island. Hiking allows a beautiful exploration of this lush environment. You will see the spectacular twisted obsidian flow and the ash layers stratified during the previous eruptions. They are now visible from the excavation of an abandoned pumice mine. Dinner is on your own.
Day 4 – Salina Island (5 hours)
Hydrofoil to Salina Island. After a short shuttle ride to reach the starting point of this spectacular hike, you will climb Fossa delle Felci Mountain (almost 3,300 feet). The descent will take you to the village of Lingua where a refreshing granita (an icy treat made in several flavors) is waiting for you – almond and pistachio are local favorites. There will also be an opportunity to enjoy the nearby anthropology museum. In the afternoon hydrofoil back to Lipari. Dinner is on your own.
Day 5 – Vulcano Island (3 hours)
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer on your own to Vulcano Island by hydrofoil. This volcano gives the name “volcano” to all the “smoking mountains” since the Roman times. Vulcano’s jagged coastline ranges in color from red to yellow ochre and looks like tentacles plunging into the waters. You’ll be amazed by the wild and haunting beauty of this land. In the afternoon, a hydrofoil will take you back to Lipari. Dinner is on your own.
Day 6 – Stromboli Island (5 hours)
Today you’ll leave Lipari Island after breakfast at the hotel. You’ll take a hydrofoil to Stromboli Island. After settling in, enjoy some free time in the morning. In the afternoon a volcanologist will lead you along the paths through the steep faces of the volcano to observe the “Sciara del Fuoco.” It is an impressive chute of lava that flows continuously from the crater to the sea. Hike to the crater and the other side of the volcano. Overnight in Stromboli. Dinner is on your own.
Day 7 – Milazzo
Hydrofoil to Milazzo and transfer on your own by train or bus to Catania and than a bus to Nicolosi. Free time in the afternoon. Overnight stay: Nicolosi. Dinner not included.
Day 8 – Mt. Etna excursion (6 hours)
On this day, depending on the conditions, you’ll reach the top of the highest active volcano in Europe. Mt. Etna. It is an amazing experience to get the top of the “Big Crater”! Something you’ll always remember! Overnight stay in Nicolosi. Dinner is on you own.
Day 9 – Departure Day
End of the tour. Transfer on your own to Catania Airport. Ciao!
Actual tour itinerary may vary slightly due to unforeseen circumstances.
Siciclando carefully chooses every aspect of a tour, including the accommodations.
Our choices are based on comfort and quality. We often choose hotels that are family-owned and operated because they provide a richer experience and because it is important to us to support the efforts of these individuals. We have developed relationships with many wonderful hotel operators. Here is a sample of the hotels on this tour.
Tour accommodations will be based on availability and the time of year. Once you have made your final payment for the tour, we will send you a confirmation letter that includes daily accommodations and contact information.
- Level of difficulty: Easy to moderate
- The hiking in Lipari and Vulcano are the easiest of the week. Salina is more to a moderate since the ascent is about 600mt. Stromboli, with the volcanologist is simply spectacular and it becomes moderate only if you can get the very top (8oomt.) but it depends on the Volcano itself (the rangers decide if they can open or not the entrance to the second part of the hike). Anyway the hike up to 400 mt. Is the most spectacular since it gives you the opportunity to see the “Sciara del Fuoco”. Even the hike on Mount Etna is quite easy since it starti from 2.900 mt. Up to 3.300mt. Depends on the Volcano activity and on the volcanologist availability (always safety reasons) if you can do the all downhill from 3.300 to 1.900, 1.400 mt of descent passing from the Valle del Bove, a spectacular lava flow dominating Catania area.
- Travel notes
- The reference airport for this tour is Catania.
- Books
-
- Salvatore Quasimodo, poet and writer: Ed è subito sera, Giorno dopo giorno, Dare e avere. Modica
- Gesualdo Bufalino, novelist Diceria dell’untore (the plague sower), Le menzogne della notte (Night’s lies). Comiso
- Jacopo da Lentini (sec XIII), poet. Lentini
- Vitaliano Brancati, novelist: Don Giovanni in Sicilia, Il Bell’Antonio, Paolo il caldo. Pachino
- Movies
-
- Divorce, italian style 1961, film director: Pietro Germi. This movie It won the Academy Award for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay.
- Anni difficili 1948, film director Luigi Zampa, from the novel of Vitaliano Brancati, “II vecchio con gli stivali”
- Gente di rispetto 1975, film director Luigi Zampa, from the homonymous novel of Giuseppe Fava
- Kaos 1984, Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, from several novels of Luigi Pirandello
- The star maker or best known as L’Uomo delle stelle 1995, Giuseppe Tornatore
- Group tour price
-
- 4-5 people € 1990 per person
- 6-7 people € 1780 per person
- 8+ people € 1650 per person
- Additional options and fees
-
- High season surcharge – € 90 (effective July 1– August 31)
- Private room – € 245
- Transfer rates per person (two person minimum)
- Catania airport to Taormina – € 45
- Milazzo to Nicolosi – € 110
- Nicolosi to Catania airport – € 35
- Included
-
- One English-speaking trip leader
- Nine nights accommodation on double-occupancy basis
- Nine breakfasts
- Baggage transportation between hotels
- Detailed route information and maps
- Hydrofoil Milazzo-Lipari, Lipari-Stromboli, Stromboli-Milazzo
- Assistance of a local volcanologist at Etna and Stromboli
- Not included
-
- Admission to museums and archaeological sites
- Tickets for trains or any public transportation
- Wine or beverages
- Airfare
- Transfers to the starting point or from the finishing point unless specified; we can assist you in planning and arranging for any necessary shuttles
- Extra nights due to cancellation or restriction sea links to/from the islands
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses (laundry, personal supplies, phone calls, etc.)
- Gratuity
- Self-guided option
- This tour is also available as a self-guided optionat a cost of € 1230 per person. This option includes:
- Welcome meeting (tour explanation)
- Nine nights accommodation on double-occupancy basis
- Nine breakfasts
- Baggage transportation between hotels
- Detailed route information and maps
- Telephone assistance
- Hydrofoil Milazzo-Lipari, Lipari-Stromboli, Stromboli-Milazzo
- Assistance of a local volcanologist at Etna and Stromboli
- Tour code
- SW
