Volcanoes of Sicily Walk

8 Days from

USD 2,249

Walking & Trekking

Ways to Travel :

Self-Guided Holidays

Activity :

Walking & Trekking

Activity Levels :

3 out of 7 - Moderate

Trip Code :

W07AI

This 7-night walking holiday leads you on a self-guided adventure along Sicily's stunning eastern coast, taking in some of the island's most precious jewels, from the spectacular Greek theatre of Taormina to the immense Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe.

You'll also spend four days island hopping between the astonishingly beautiful Aeolian Islands, a string of seven volcanic islets that glimmer like black pearls off Sicily's Mediterranean shoreline. You'll stay two nights on the island of Stromboli, known also as the 'Lighthouse of the Mediterranean' for its constant volcanic eruptions and two nights on Lipari, the largest island of the Aeolian Archipelago.

The walks themselves are as varied as the places you'll visit. Highlights include climbing Vulcano's Gran Cratere della Fossa crater to see the fumaroles - vents from which a steady stream of gases and vapours eerily seep out of the ground - and ascending to a wonderful vantage point to witness the intermittent explosions on Stromboli. A day is spent on Mount Etna itself, where you are guided through an impressive volcanic landscape with infinite views over the crystal-clear waters of the Ionian Sea.

Given the island hopping nature of this trip, you are responsible for your luggage when using the hydrofoil services. Transportation of luggage to and from the hotels and the ports of Stromboli and Lipari is provided.

Highlights

Island hop between the stunning yet varied landscapes of Sicily's Aeolian Islands
Mighty Mount Etna; smouldering Stromboli; panoramic Taormina, Vulcano's famous fumaroles
Dramatic lava trails, natural bubbling mud baths, black sand beaches
Picturesque coastal paths, secluded bays, pretty harbours, traditional Sicilian fishing villages

Key Information

7 nights hotel-to-hotel in HHH and 3 star accommodation
8 day land only / flight inclusive
5 days optional walking
The walks follow mule tracks, stony coastal road and footpaths through a volcanic landscape of dried lava rock and sand with frequent ascents and descents.
Countries visited: Italy

Countries visited: Italy

What's Included

7 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of HHH and 3-star hotels
All continental breakfasts
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
GPS route directions and maps
Headwater navigation app
Luggage transfers between hotels
All walk transfers
Hydrofoil tickets
Guided walk on Mount Etna

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request - compulsory supplement)
Solo traveller supplements (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)
Visas or vaccinations

5 Days of Walking & Trekking

Terrain:

This holiday follows mule tracks, stony coastal roads and footpaths through a volcanic landscape of dried lava rock and sand, with frequent, often stony, ascents/descents. Walking boots are essential, and poles strongly recommended.

Day 3

7 km / 4.3 miles

Day 4

9 km / 5.6 miles

Day 5

6 km / 3.7 miles

Day 6

6 km / 3.7 miles

Day 7

5 km / 3.1 miles

Itinerary

Arrive and settle in at your comfortable city centre hotel.

After your briefing, we take you to Milazzo (90 mins), the gateway to the Aeolian Islands. There's time for lunch before taking the hydrofoil (130 mins) to the dramatic volcanic island of Stromboli. Relax on the island's black beaches and explore the lovely village of San Vincenzo, with its pretty whitewashed houses adorned with vibrant bougainvillea, before dinner.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Set off this morning for the Sciara del Fuoco, a steep lava scar gorged deep into the volcano's flank; reaching a height of 250m, it's the perfect vantage point to marvel at the volcano's intermittent fiery explosions. In the afternoon, there's the option to take a boat to the scenic village of Ginostra on Stromboli's south western shores or take a evening group guided walk up to the observation point (400m; book locally) to enjoy the sound and light show by night!

Meals Included: Breakfast

Take the morning hydrofoil to Lipari (110 min), then set out through the winding cobbled alleyways of Lipari's charming Old Town to Marina Corta, the island's tiny old fishing harbour. Continue to the panoramic Punta della Crapazza for sweeping views over to the faraglioni and Vulcano.

Meals Included: Breakfast

A 10-minute hydrofoil takes you to the island of Vulcano, famous for its black beaches, hot springs and volcanic mud baths. Walk up to the Gran Cratere della Fossa crater for beautiful views over the other islands before descending back down to the beach in time for an optional mud bath.

Return to mainland Sicily this morning (70 mins) and transfer (75 mins) to Taormina, the jewel in Sicily's crown. Your afternoon is free to visit the town's historic Greek theatre, bathe in the azure waters of the Isola Bella Nature Reserve or admire the amazing view of mighty Mount Etna. Alternatively, climb the Sentiero del Saraceno up to medieval Castelmola, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy and enjoy superb vistas over Taormina and beyond.

Meals Included: Breakfast

We take you (1 hr) up onto Mount Etna's northern flank to join a group walk with a guide, following a scenic path beside a deep volcanic fracture, carved out of the ground during Etna's last major explosion in 2002. Cross the lava strewn landscape, with sweeping views along the entire Ionian coastline, to the edge of the 2002 crater. Alternatively, ascend by cable car and jeep to 2900m and join a volcanologist guide to ascend to Etna's summit (3350m; book and pay locally).

Meals Included: Breakfast

The tour ends after breakfast in Taormina.

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

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.

Is this trip for you?

Classification: Self-Guided
Average daily distance on move on days: 5.5km (3.5miles).
No. of days Walking: 5
Terrain: Low altitude (max 2000m). Average 3.5-4hr walking daily. The routes and paths you follow are generally well maintained but may be uneven. As there are frequent ascents and descents, which are steep in places, you need to be reasonably fit and confident. Walking boots are essential and walking poles are recommended (but only if you already use them).

Covid-19 refund commitment

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

Availability

This trip is available on request. Please proceed with your booking online or contact our Sales Team for assistance.