Day 1| Catania

Highlights [top]

• Mt Etna: Europe’s highest active volcano
• The continuous volcanic activity of Stromboli
• History, culture, volcanoes and Italian dolce vita in one week

Description [top]

The Aeolian Islands Archipelago is made up of 7 islands: Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Panarea, Stromboli, Filicudi and Alicudi. Islands of wild aspect fall sheer into the sea, offering visions of amazing beauty.

Like Sicily, land of many contrasts, the islands are characterised by many different landscapes that generally do not exist in the same place.

Vast back beaches like ebony contrasting with light coloured shores; inaccessible and winding coasts follow in antitheses to low and hospitable rivieras; large sterile areas extend alongside fertile, pleasant gardens

Mt Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe. It offers a varied of different aspects, from the black flows of lava and vast plain of black sand to a luxuriant vegetation on the lower slopes.

There Mt Etna abounds with oak and chestnut forests, alternated by ancient man-made terraces where premier quality vineyards, pears and apple orchards, hazelnut and pistachio groves grow.

Mt Etna has a boundary of 250 Km and covers 1260 square meters making it the largest volcano in Europe.

It rises to 3350 over sea level at the summit craters, but this height varies as a result of on-going constructive and destructive explosive activity that constantly reshapes the summit crater area.

Tour Map [top]

Enlarge Map

Days detail [top]

Day 1 | Catania, Sicily, Italy

Arrival at Catania. Transfer to the hotel** in the city centre (very close to the Cathedral) on your own (taxi or public bus). Catania shows many baroque churches and buildings, all placed in the very heart of the city centre. Moreover there is a huge variety of pubs, restaurants, pizzerias and trattoria to be chosen for dinner and nightlife. Overnight stay in hotel with breakfast included.

Day 2 | Lipari, Sicily, Italy

(4 hours walking, 290 – 430 mt.)
Private transfer from the hotel to Milazzo harbour (1 h 30). Hydrofoil from Milazzo to Lipari (1 h). Check-in at the family run hotel near the small harbour of “Marina Corta”. In the late morning hiking in the west side of the island to the thermal Spring of San Calogero. Overnight stay in Lipari

Day 3 | vulcano, Lipari, Sicily, Italy

(3 hours hiking, 390 - 390 mt.)
In the morning hydrofoil to Vulcano (10 min.). Vulcano, one of the seven Aeolian Islands, famous for its black beaches and Thermal Springs. Excursion to Vulcano’s crater to see the Fumarole. Time for going to the beach and to the Thermal Springs. In the afternoon hydrofoil back to Lipari. Overnight stay at the same hotel with breakfast included.

Day 4 | stromboli, Lipari, Sicily, Italy

(4 h hiking, 400 – 400 mt.)
In the morning free time for discovering the old city centre of Lipari. Also worth of being visited is the Archeological Museum. Transfer by hydrofoil from Lipari to Stromboli (1 h). Check in at the hotel** and relax in Stromboli unique black beaches. In the late afternoon trekking to the “Sciara del Fuoco” where we can have a first approach to the activity of the Stromboli. Wonderful panoramic view on the craters. Overnight stay in hotel with breakfast included.

Day 5 | Stromboli, Lipari, Sicily, Italy

(6 hours hiking, 924 – 924 mt.)
In the morning free time to visit the lovely village of “San Vincenzo” and also the interesting volcanological centre of the island. Chance to make a boat tour of the island to visit the enchanting small village of “Ginostra”.
In the afternoon leaving for the excursion to the active volcano* with certified volcano guides. Overnight stay in hotel with breakfast included.

*) The volcano is 924 mt high and people are allowed to climb up the top in groups max of 20, escorted by a certified volcanic guide, according to the Italian law. The volcano guides reserve the right of deciding not to climb the volcano according to safety measures that are constantly monitored and the weather.

Day 6 | Nicolosi, Sicily, Italy

(1 hour hiking, 100 -100 mt.)
In late morning hydrofoil from Stromboli to Milazzo (2 h). Private transfer from Milazzo harbour to the mountain hotel in the southern side of Mt Etna, 1900 mt. Short walk over the track called “crateri Silvestri for a first approach to the Etna activity. Dinner at the hotel with local dishes. Overnight stay with breakfast included.

Day 7 | Linguaglossa, Sicily, Italy

(7 hours hiking, 1000 – 1000 mt.)
Excursion till 2900 mt. where people without guide are allowed to walk. We’ll discover the line of big craters opened during the 2002/03 eruption. Amazing view on the Ionian coast of Sicily. Return back to our hotel, passing on the edge of the “Bove Valley” en huge “caldera” formed from a collapse of a old volcano. Dinner and overnight stay at the mountain hotel.

*Option: As an alternative, possibility to proceed up to 2900 m with cable way and 4x4 (one way ticket 25 euros) or according to the weather condition and volcano activity it’s possible to climb till the summit (3350 mt) at the central craters guided by a mountain escort with a 4WD Vehicle till 2900 mt. then trek to the top.

Day 8 | Catania, Sicily, Italy

Private transfer from Mt Etna to Catania airport.

Trip notes [top]

Period [top]

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec

Included [top]

• Transfer from the hotel to Milazzo harbour
• Transfer from Milazzo harbour to Mt Etna
• Transfer from Mt Etna to Catania airport
• Luggage transfer from/to Lipari harbour
• Luggage transfer from/to Stromboli harbour
• Accommodation in hotel**
• 7 breakfast, 2 dinners-Volcano Guide at Stromboli
• Maps and road book
• Assistance in case of emergency

Not included [top]

• Transfer on day one to the first accommodation
• Hydrofoils at the islands (about € 50/person LS and € 60 HS)
• Taxes to enter the islands and to climb Vulcano and Stromboli (about € 7 per person)               
• lunches
• 5 dinners from day 1 to day 5

Notes [top]

• Accommodation : hotels and family-run pensions, double or triple room
• Luggage: All transfers are made by car. Anyway sometimes you have to carry your luggage for short distances (for example when you catch the hydrofoil). We advise you to use two kind of bags. A big one with wheels where you put all your staff. A backpack for your trekking.

Equipment [top]

• Good and solid trekking boots
• Frontal torch with batteries
• Trekking trousers and shorts
• Bathing suit
• Hat and gloves
• Anorak (quilted ski jacket during April, May, September and October)
• Sun glasses and sun cream
• Multitask knifetrekking sticks