Coastal Walks of Western Sicily

Discover the pristine coastline, quaint historic towns and unique cultural heritage of western Sicily

Sicily has long been known for its delightful year-round climate and excellent hikes, with coastal and mountain walks aplenty. Hike up Monte Monaco for fabulous views over the turquoise waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea and explore the hidden coves and refreshing swimming spots of Zingaro Natural Reserve. A stay in the historic port city of Trapani reveals a fascinating history and culture influenced by its proximity to Tunisia, and we head to the picturesque island of Levanzo for a memorable hike away from the crowds. A trip to western Sicily wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the 12th-century hilltop town of Erice, overflowing with historic charm, outstanding views and an air of mystery.

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible. Hotel Baglio dello Zingaro in Scopello is a family-run hotel.
• Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• By travelling in a small group we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for reusable bottles.
• The payment of entrance fees to natural reserves and archaeological sites generates income which is used to upkeep and develop these important sites. On this trip, we visit Zingaro Naturale Reserve, where the fees collected are used for conservation.
• With our partners, Rewilding Apennines, we rewild 100 square meters (1,075 sqft) of land per passenger who travels with us.
• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
• Walking trips like this have very little detrimental impact on the environment and the locals, as it is a quiet, low impact activity requiring comparatively few resources to support.
• Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: Please bring a reusable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is graded Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

Although during the week the walking is fairly easy and there is plenty of free time to relax, we do recommend that you have some previous hiking experience. Day walks will take between 3 to 5 hours on hilly terrain of dirt roads, mule tracks and unpaved paths. Routes include some uneven steps and there can sometimes be rocky terrain underfoot. Hiking distances are up to 13 km (8 miles) and have a maximum ascent of 1,640ft (500m) and descent of 1,740ft (530m).

Customers should be prepared for occasional short notice changes as required by local authorities or recommended by the Exodus Leader to maintain COVID-security for the group. Timings of some activities may be subject to change.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Vaccinations and Health

Italy

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Visa

Italy

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Italy. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/italy
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/italy
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Italy.html

Please note: it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times in Italy.

Food & Drink

All breakfasts, one picnic lunch and two dinners are included.

The food of western Sicily is heavily influenced by its proximity to Tunisia, with oranges, pistachios, dates and spices often featuring on menus. Snacks such as arancine (deep-fried rice balls) and panelle (chickpea fritters) can often be found at street stalls in towns such as Trapani. The diet in this part of Sicily is heavily dependent on fish and meat; however, vegetarian options are widely available.

Breakfast is usually a continental style buffet and for lunch, we either have a picnic or visit a local café. When dinners are not included, your tour leader makes restaurant suggestions so you can sample the best local cuisine available.