Secrets of Sicily Walk

Name: Secrets of Sicily Walk
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

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Walking & Trekking

Ways to Travel :

Self-Guided Holidays

Activity :

Walking & Trekking

Activity Levels :

2 out of 7 - Leisurely / Moderate

Ages :

13+

Trip Code :

W07MR

Discover Sicily's sapphire waters, hidden sandy coves and unexplored islands

Starting at the Moorish village of San Vito Lo Capo, this seven night walking holiday allows you to uncover the secrets of one of the most remote areas of Sicily. The national parks and unexplored islands are the perfect place to appreciate the peace and tranquillity and explore the cultural highlights including ancient ruins, medieval churches and prehistoric caves.

Highlights

Turquoise seas, coral-lined grottoes and unspoilt sandy beaches
Exotic Mediterranean flora; orange groves, dwarf palms and olive trees
Medieval churches, ancient villages and pre-historic caves
Stay in a traditional Sicilian farmhouse and cosy bed and breakfast
Fantastic bird spotting opportunities

Key Information

7 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of hotels
4 days circular walking
Low altitude and well-marked paths
Self-guided holiday.

Countries visited: Italy

What's Included

All breakfasts and 2 evening meals
All accommodation (see accommodation section)
All baggage transport
Route notes and maps

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request - compulsory supplement)
Solo traveller supplement (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)
Arrival & departure transfers - subject to 2 passengers travelling
Visas or vaccinations

4 Days of Walking & Trekking

Pace:

Approximately 4-6 hours walking per day

Terrain:

Walks follow mainly stony coastal paths with daily ascents/descents of up to 700m.

Day 2

11 km / 6.8 miles

Day 4

14 km / 8.7 miles

Day 5

7 km / 4.3 miles

Day 7

14 km / 8.7 miles

Responsible Travel

At Exodus we believe in the power of Responsible Travel.

Every time we travel, we are part of a global movement that creates jobs, builds more sustainable societies, encourages cultural understanding and safeguards common natural and cultural heritage. To learn more about what Responsible Travel means to Exodus click here…

Itinerary

Arrive at your hotel in Scopello where we brief you on your walking week before dinner. You spend two nights here.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Wind your way up through asphodel, wild fennel, dwarf palm, pomegranate and citrus trees to amazing viewpoints overlooking the stunning coastline of tiny sandy coves lapped by sapphire waters.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Transfer to the 2,500 year old temple of Segesta and the marvellously preserved theatre, then continue to Trapani for lunch. Maybe try the famous granita before catching the ferry to Marettimo and the Marettimo Residence, where you spend the next three nights. Time for a short walk before dinner, choosing one of the restaurants in the old village (payable locally).

Meals Included: Breakfast

A path through pine woods and across citrus-carpeted hillsides takes you from the east to the south west coast, with striking views from high above the village. There's complete peace and quiet as you picnic by the lighthouse - look out for red kites and Bonelli's eagles cruising the thermals - and gaze down at the sparkling waters and the Egadi Islands shimmering in the distance.

Meals Included: Breakfast

It's a short crossing to Levanzo where a coastal path, bright with lilac scabious, leads past deserted stone farm houses and olive trees to the Grotta del Genovese - admire the marvellously well preserved 11BC cave paintings and engravings lining the cavern walls. The bay here is a good picnic spot. There's time too for a dip in the pool or jacuzzi before your final evening meal in Marettimo.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Return to the mainland and a transfer to the hilltop town of Erice with its winding marble streets, old city gates, medieval churches, ancient squares and stunning Norman castle. From here we take you to Baglio la Luna.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

A scenic lift to the foot of Monte Cofano is followed by a gentle ascent through twisted olive trees with breathtaking views over the Bay of Bonagia. Descending, you reach an old tonnara (tuna factory) where nearby coves with sapphire waters are perfect for a dip. Then a cliff path fringed with red valerian and field gladioli leads into the village of Cornino for a late lunch before we meet you and take you back to your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

If you have pre-booked a transfer through Headwater, you will be picked up by taxi for the scenic drive of about 75 minutes back to Palermo airport in time for your flight home.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

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.

Vaccination

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.

Eating and Drinking

Daily breakfast and 2 evening meals included.

Sicily's typically southern Italian cuisine is interspersed with many more exotic dishes reflecting the island's jumbled cultural past. Italian dishes like pasta alla norma (made with tomatoes, aubergine and grated ricotta) are often found on menus along with couscous (a north African speciality), or even pasta con le sarde (a pasta dish dating back to Phoenician times made from sardines, raisins, pine nuts, fennel, saffron, parsley and capers).

The Arabs introduced citrus groves to the island and a popular drink today is granita made with crushed ice and lemon. This was traditionally drunk with sweet bread dipped in it as a lunchtime snack by Sicilian peasants.
Fish is of course also abundant. Local specialities include pesce spada alla ghiotta (swordfish cooked with tomatoes, capers, onion, celery and potatoes) or tonno fresco alla brace (grilled fresh tuna).

Sicily is famed for its desserts. Why not try cannolo, a crunchy pastry tube filled with ricotta cheese and studded with candied fruits, pistachio and chocolate? Or cassata, the Arab influenced cake made with ricotta cheese, candied fruit and chocolate pieces.

Sicily is not traditionally famous for its wines, so it is surprising to learn that the island boasts one of the largest wine producing areas in the whole of Italy. Look out for the Etna DOC label and Corvo di Salaparuta. One of Sicily's most popular wines is Alcamo Bianco - a soft white which goes well with fish dishes.

Weather

Sicily has a good all year round climate, with plenty of sunshine and warm/hot temperatures. The summer departures ought to have daily hot sunshine and temperatures can reach 30 to 35 degrees Celcius. The earlier and later departures are likely to be cooler with a slightly higher chance of rain. In late summer there is the possibility of heavy thunderstorms, but these are usually short-lived.

Weather Charts

Is this trip for you?

The walks follow mainly stony coastal paths, with frequent small ascents and descents. There's a good choice of walks at different levels on Marettimo. There may be some sections on uneven terrain where scrambling is required. The route is suitable for anyone looking for walks of 4-6 hours and confident with daily ascents/descents of up to 700m. Walkers don't need specific hiking experience, however, good health and a reasonable level of fitness is required.

This is a self-guided tour, as such there will be no group or tour leader and you are free to complete the walks at your own pace.

You may find our Fitness Training Guide a useful reference:

http://www.exodus.co.uk/assets/pdf/Exodus_WT_Fitness_Training_Guide.pdf

Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

Availability

This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and can be booked, although some components will need to be requested. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

Secrets of Sicily Walk

Discover Sicily's sapphire waters, hidden sandy coves and unexplored islands

4 Days of Walking & Trekking

Responsible Travel

Itinerary

Essential Info

Visa

Italy

Vaccination

Italy

Eating and Drinking

Weather

Weather Charts

Is this trip for you?

Hotels

Reviews

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Secrets of Sicily Walk