Walking in Sicily: Aeolian Islands, Taormina and Etna

Day 1: Catania – Lipari

Arrive at Catania Airport on the island of Sicily. We recommend arriving before 16.00 so that you have time to get to the island of Lipari. Take a bus or a train to Milazzo or Messina, where you board the hydrofoil to Lipari, home for the next four nights, and a perfect base for some island-hopping. It is also possible to pre-book a private transfer from Catania airport to Milazzo or Messina. Once you get to Lipari, we recommend taking time to visit its 18th-century Castello di Lipari, stroll around the fish market or just chill at a restaurant in and around the marina.

• Accommodation: three-star hotel on Lipari Island (Hotel Oriente Lipari or similar)

Days 2-4: selection of Aeolian Island walks | 5-14km

For the next few days, you have a selection of walks and excursions to choose from. Three walks are on Lipari Island, while the other three are on Vulcano, Salina and Panarea islands.

• Accommodation: three-star hotel on Lipari Island (Hotel Oriente Lipari or similar)
  

Walk 1 – Lipari Island: southern tip
This varied walk on the south tip of Lipari, with views of Vulcano Island, starts and ends at the port. Start off by walking to an astronomical observatory overlooking Vulcano Island and to some rugged cliffs, known as faraglioni locally. Then descend to the Old Town of Lipari to take in its many historical and cultural sights.

• Walking: 11km, 5h, ↑470m ↓470m

Walk 2 – Lipari Island: Acquacalda – Canneto
From Lipari, take a local bus to Acquacalda, where you walk from one beach to another. This route takes you past pumice caves and has magnificent views of the surrounding islands. Walk to a panoramic viewpoint (346m) before descending to Canneto, the most popular beach on Lipari, perfect for a swim before taking the local bus back to your hotel.

• Walking: 5km, 2h, ↑350m ↓350m 

Walk 3 – Lipari Island: Lipari – Quattropani
From Lipari, take the local bus to Quattropani, starting point for a trail along the island’s western and quite wild coast. Walk as far as San Calogero thermal baths, thought to be the oldest in the Mediterranean, and dating back to the Mycenaean period. You then walk back to Lipari through traditional villages.

• Walking: 14km, 5h, ↑586m ↓950m – Shorter option: 9km, 4h, ↑255m ↓581m

Walk 4 – Vulcano Island: circular walk to and from the Great Crater
Take a boat to Vulcano Island, a small and spectacular island where you can walk up through an almost lunar landscape to Gran Cratere, or Great Crater, which is yellowish in colour due to the sulphurous smoke constantly emitted by the volcano. From the top, you have superb panoramic views of the island and archipelago. The descent along green slopes offers amazing contrasts of colours with the blue sea and the dark grey rocks. Return to Lipari with the afternoon boat. If the walk to the summit is closed, there is an alternative route from Capo Grillo back to the port.

• Walking: 5.7km, 2h, ↑290m ↓290m – Alternative route: 12km, 4h, ↑310m ↓670m

Walk 5 – Salina Island
Take a short hydrofoil ride from Lipari to Salina, which is steep and stupendous, in the shadow of two extinct volcanoes, Monte dei Porri (860m) and Monte Fossa delle Felci (962m). Take the bus to Semaforo di Pollara, where the walk along the western coast of Salina begins. It’s a steep ascent but with some small descents too, but you are rewarded with amazing views of the Filicudi and Alicudi islands. The walk ends in Rinella, where you can take a bus back to Salina’s main port. It’s worth noting that the idyllic island of Salina is where the iconic film Il Postino was located. 

• Walking: 9km, 4h, ↑430m ↓430m – Shorter option: 7km, 4h, ↑412m, ↓687m

Walk 6 – Panarea Island
Panarea is a short hydrofoil journey from Lipari. Follow the route all around the island, crossing the ridge of the ancient volcano, from which you have panoramic views over the archipelago. You can also take an optional detour to explore the famous prehistoric village on the island.

• Walking: 7km, 3h, ↑487m ↓487m

Day 5: Stromboli | 9-14km

Take a ferry to the island of Stromboli. At the port, your luggage is taken to the hotel while you stroll through narrow whitewashed streets to the hotel. The walk on Stromboli is a very spectacular experience as this volcano is active. You have two walking options here:

A short and easy nature trail takes you to 100m along the side of Mt. Stromboli.

The second option is a strenuous climb of Mt. Stromboli (up to 400m) with an authorised volcanologist guide in a guided group (not included). The walk starts in the late afternoon, reaching the top at sunset, where you can take in the active volcano from close up. The descent is at night, so you need to bring a flashlight as there are no public street lights on this island. The climb/descent of the top half of the volcano is on volcanic ash.

• Walking: 9km, 3h, ↑425m ↓425m (Sciara del Fuoco walk); 14km, 6h, ↑1,000m ↓1,000m (summit trek)
• Accommodation: three-star hotel on Stromboli (Villaggio Stromboli or similar)
  

Day 6: Taormina

Take a hydrofoil from Stromboli to Milazzo, then a train or bus to Taormina. You have the whole afternoon to explore this beautiful city with no shortage of ancient sights, including Duomo di Taormina, and the beautifully-preserved ancient Greek theatre.

• Accommodation: three-star hotel in Taormina (La Pensione Svizzera or similar)
  

Day 7: Mount Etna | 10km

After breakfast, you are transferred to Piano Provenzano, where an easy guided walking tour takes you up Mount Etna. Walk through lush vegetation on old and new lava flows and enter a lava flow cave carved into the mountain. Lunch in a winery, serving locally-sourced produce, is included in this tour. The afternoon continues with a visit to Alcantara Gorge with its bizarre rock shapes that were formed as the lava hit the cold river. Return to Taormina around 18.30, leaving plenty of time to enjoy a last night in Sicily.

• Walking for the day: 10km, 5h, ↑450m ↓450m
• Accommodation: three-star hotel in Taormina (La Pensione Svizzera or similar)
  

Day 8: Departure

Departure after breakfast. Take a bus to Catania Airport or train to Catania and then a shuttle bus to the airport. Or we can help you extend your stay in Taormina.