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We start in the harbour town of Milazzo, the gateway to the Aeolian Islands located in the northern tip of Sicily's mainland. We strongly recommend joining the group transfer at Catania airport and travelling to the start point with the group, as public transport connections from Catania to Milazzo are limited.
Today we travel by boat across the cobalt waters to Vulcano (1hr), one of the seven Aeolian Islands, famous for its long stretches of black beaches and bubbling thermal springs. Our first walk takes us to the area of Vulcanello, on a narrow peninsula of the island. We visit the Valley of the Monsters, so-called because of the many unique and eerie volcanic rock formations that were created during Vulcano's eruptions. In the afternoon, there will be some free time for bathing in Vulcano's hot springs and mud baths. Hydrofoil back to Lipari and overnight in Lipari.*Please note, if the ban on visiting Vulcano's crater rim is lifted prior to or during your visit, the group will be given the option to do this instead of the Valley of the Monsters walk.
Distance in Km: 4
Distance in Miles: 2.5
Activity Hours: 2
Altitude Gain: 200
Altitude Loss: 200
This morning we will walk along the rugged southern coast of Lipari. Our 4-hour hike take us down to the southernmost point of the island, where we can enjoy a wonderful view of the crater of Vulcano. In the afternoon there is some free time to discover the historic part of the town, including the castle and the archaeological museum. We conclude the day with a well deserved Sicilian wine and produce tasting.
Distance in Km: 11
Distance in Miles: 7
Activity Hours: 4.5
Altitude Gain: 320
Altitude Loss: 320
In the early afternoon, we will board our private boat to Panarea, the oldest and most charming of the Aeolian Islands. We will have some free time to walk through tiny alleys decorated with brightly colourful bougainvillea, or enjoy a swim at the idyllic cove of Cala Junco. After a short stop at Panarea's largest islet, Basiluzzo, we board for Stromboli. At sunset, we take a walk on the western side of the island to discover the 'Sciara del Fuoco' (Streams of Fire) and approach the famous Stromboli eruptions with an ascent up to 400 metres accompanied by a volcanologist guide, who will bring the history and geology of the area to life. Overnight in Stromboli.
Distance in Km: 9
Distance in Miles: 5.5
Activity Hours: 4
Altitude Gain: 400
Altitude Loss: 400
Free morning and afternoon to visit the lovely village of San Vincenzo, or relax on Stromboli's black beaches. In the evening, we will take a boat trip to admire Stromboli's dramatic explosions from the sea. Overnight in Stromboli.
Distance in Miles: 6
Leaving Stromboli in the early morning, we take a boat ride to Milazzo (approx 2 hrs 30 mins journey) and transfer by vehicle to the charming hilltop town of Taormina (approx. 2 hrs). Get to know the town in your own time, perhaps enjoying a mulberry gelato or paying an optional visit to Teatro Greco, a spectacular horseshoe-shaped Greek theatre with vast and impressive views. Afterwards, we will continue to our accommodation at 1900m above sea level, from where we can enjoy great views over the sea and the east coast of Sicily. Our lodge is located very close to the most recent lava flow and on arrival, we will enjoy a short hike around Silvestri Craters, which date back to the eruption of 1892. Overnight at Rifugio Sapienza.
Distance in Km: 3
Distance in Miles: 2
Activity Hours: 1.5
Altitude Gain: 150
Altitude Loss: 150
Today, we take the cable car up Etna to 2500 metres then begin our trek with a volcanologist guide, eventually reaching an altitude of 3000 metres*, where we will be rewarded for our efforts with awe-inspiring views of the volcano's craters and beyond. This excursion takes approx. 5 hours. In the afternoon, we will be transferred to Catania by a private minibus; overnight in Catania.*Please note is is currently prohibited to reach Etna's summit at 3350 metres due to ongoing volcanic activity.
Distance in Km: 9
Distance in Miles: 5.5
Activity Hours: 5
Altitude Gain: 500
Altitude Loss: 500
7 nights in hotels, apartments, and guesthouses8 days land only / flight
inclusive5 days guided walking; moderate trek on EtnaGroup normally 5 to 16,
plus leader. Min age 16 yrsMaximum altitude 3000m, average 800mTravel by
minibus, local buses, public, and private boats/hydrofoils
All breakfasts, 1 lunch and 1 dinner included.In the itinerary, we state
which meals are included on which day. Please note that the diet in this part
of Sicily is heavily dependent on fish and meat. However, vegetarian options
are widely available. Breakfast: usually a continental style buffet. Lunch:
normally a picnic or taken in local cafes. Evening meal: dominated by
Mediterranean flavours like pasta with rich tomato sauces, olive oil, cheese,
salami and pizza. They combine an excellent variety of seafood and meat for
the perfect taste of Southern Italy.
7 nights in hotels, apartments, and guesthouses8 days land only / flight
inclusive5 days guided walking; moderate trek on EtnaGroup normally 5 to 16,
plus leader. Min age 16 yrsMaximum altitude 3000m, average 800mTravel by
minibus, local buses, public, and private boats/hydrofoils
Overall Activity Level: 3 (Moderate). Most walks are classified as Level 2
(Leisurely/Moderate). The Stromboli and Etna walks are Level 3
(Moderate).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 2 to 5 hours on hilly-to-steep
terrain of dried lava, rocky ash, and sand. The trek on Etna is more
demanding and you will need to be confident of your fitness if you decide to
join this.Volcanic activity and summit closuresVulcano: It has been
prohibited to reach Vulcano's crater to see the steaming 'fumaroles' since
November 2021 due to the presence of noxious gases. Should this ban lift
prior to or during your visit, the group will have the option to take this
excursion. Alternatively, we visit the area of Vulcanello to see the Valley
of the Monsters, a series of unique volcanic formations on a narrow peninsula
that was created by eruptions.Stromboli: It has been prohibited to reach the
summit of Stromboli since the strong volcanic activity of 2019, so we ascend
up to 400 metres above sea level (the maximum currently permitted when
accompanied by a volcanologist guide).Etna: Please note that the trek on Etna
is weather and volcanic activity-dependent, and it is currently not permitted
to ascend to the crater at 3350 metres (the maximum we can reach is 3000
metres).The local authorities may decide (without previous notice) to close
the summits and suspend all excursions. In the unfortunate event this occurs
on your departure, the leader will suggest some alternative optional
activities. These walks are led by local volcanologist guides who will assess
clients suitability to participate locally. Please note that people with
pre-existing medical conditions such as heart conditions, serious asthma, and
severe vertigo may not be able to participate.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.All
timings of activities might be subject to change as they are dependent on
ferry schedules. You may find our Fitness Training Guide a useful reference:
http://www.exodus.co.uk/assets/pdf/Exodus_WT_Fitness_Training_Guide.pdf
7 nights in hotels, apartments and guesthousesWe spend 7 nights in hotels, apartments and guesthouses which have been
chosen for their warm hospitality and their typical Sicilian character.All
hotels have Wi-Fi and en suite facilities although please be aware that a
small number of rooms at the hotels in Catania may have private toilet
facilities located outside of the bedroom.List of hotels normally used:1
night at Hotel Eolian, Milazzo2 nights at Residence Baia Portinenti or
Oltremare Residence, Lipari2 nights at Hotel Miramare or Hotel La Sciara,
Stromboli1 night at Rifugio Sapienza, Etna South1 night at B&B Gattopardo
House, CataniaTo receive the up-to-date list of hotels for your departure
please contact our Exodus Customer Operations team.
A local tour leader will accompany the group on all programmed activities.
Please note that the Stromboli trek and Etna summit trek will be led by
special volcanologist guides.
All breakfasts, 1 lunch and 1 dinner included.In the itinerary, we state
which meals are included on which day. Please note that the diet in this part
of Sicily is heavily dependent on fish and meat. However, vegetarian options
are widely available. Breakfast: usually a continental style buffet. Lunch:
normally a picnic or taken in local cafes. Evening meal: dominated by
Mediterranean flavours like pasta with rich tomato sauces, olive oil, cheese,
salami and pizza. They combine an excellent variety of seafood and meat for
the perfect taste of Southern Italy.
A mix of private and public buses will be used throughout the week. Road
conditions are generally good. Most boat transfers are via hydrofoil (the
most sustainable and cost-effective way to move between the islands), but on
Day 4 we have a private boat for the journey to Panarea and on to Etna, to
make the best use of our time and enjoy more comfort on board.
Travelling flight inclusive from London: 8 daysThe group flight from London
is a daytime flight departing on Day 1 of the itinerary.Flights from
LondonWe normally use the scheduled services of British Airways (depending on
availability). As flight timings and schedules change regularly we recommend
you call one of our specialist sales staff or your agent to confirm
up‐to‐date timings. Please note timings may change at a later date and
cannot be confirmed until approximately two weeks before
departure.Travelling land only: 8 days starting in Milazzo and ending in
CataniaYour trip normally starts at our accommodation in Milazzo in the
evening of Day 1 of the itinerary. Details of how to reach the start point
are provided in the Final Joining Instructions ‐ sent approximately two
weeks before departure.
Airport transfers are included for those on the group flights. If you
require airport transfers, you may (by prior arrangement only) be able to
join the group transfer. Transfers are arranged to coincide with the arrival
time of the group flight - please check the group flight details 2 weeks
before departure. If you do not take this transfer, or miss it, you must make
your own way to the joining point at your own expense.It is possible to reach
the start hotel in Milazzo by public transport although the journey is rather
long and services are limited. For this reason we strongly recommend to join
the group transfer at the airport. If this is not possible, there is a
services operated by Giuntabus which leaves Catania airport four times a day
(approx. price €12, http://www.giuntabus.com/orari.htm). From more
information about joining the trip in Milazzo, please contact our Customer
Operations team.On departure, you may book a private transfer if the group
transfer is not at a suitable time. Alternatively, there is an airport bus
that runs every 25 minutes between Catania centre and the airport at a cost
of approx. €4 (payable locally). More information is available here.
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 the low to mid 30s (degC). 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. During the trek on the slopes of Mount Etna, please note
that temperatures at the top can be somewhat lower than they are at sea
level. It is not uncommon for there to be a strong wind blowing at the summit
of Etna. With wind chill, it can feel cold at the top.
Walking boots with good ankle support and sturdy soleDaypack (25-30 litres)
for camera, guidebook and water bottle (approx. 2 litres)Sunglasses and high
factor sunscreenWindproof and waterproof jacketSwimming gear and beach
towelPenknife may be useful for picnic lunchesTrekking poles recommended for
walking on the loose, uneven volcanic materialIf you are taking the walk to
the summit of Etna, it is mandatory to wear good quality ankle-high hiking
boots. Running shoes and low ankle walking shoes are not suitable. It is
usually possible to hire some equipment locally but we recommend not to rely
on its availability. Please note that local volcanologist guides may not
allow you to partake in the activities if you are not equipped with the above
items.For your comfort, you also need the following: warm hat and gloves,
buff, long walking trousers, a lightweight fleece top, a trekking t-shirt
with quick-dry properties; gaiters are also strongly recommended,
particularly for Etna.
We encourage you to bring water bottles and a means of purifying, filtering
or sterilising water in order to be able to drink safe tap water whilst on
the islands. Bottles of water are available but we strongly discourage buying
these as it contributes to plastic waste.
For the meals not included, allow €5-10 for lunch and from €15-30 for
dinners. The exact amount spent depends entirely on the type of restaurant
visited, and the menu chosen. €250 should be enough to cover the cost of
meals and other incidental expenses during the trip.LOCAL TAXES: many Italian
cities have recently introduced a tourist tax for non-residents. The local
administration is in charge of the tax, which will be collected by the
accommodation provider at check-in or check-out. This fee varies depending on
the hotel category, the season and number of days of stay. It is usually
between €0.50 and €1.50 per person per night. For this trip, please allow
between €5 and €10, depending on the season, for the week. Children and
people aged 75 or over are exempt from this tax.
Our local staff are paid well and fairly for their work with Exodus. Most of
our clients wish to give a tip to their guides in appreciation of their help
and friendliness. This, of course, is in no way compulsory and depends on the
service received. For this trip we recommend to allow approx. 15-20€ per
person for the guide.
Travel insuranceSingle accommodation (available on request)Visas or
vaccinationsLocal city taxes (approx. €10)
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