Hiking in Italy
Tour of Etna and the Aeolian Islands: hiking in Sicily
Technical lev. : 2.5 / 5
CONFIRMED MOUNTAIN HIKE 2.5/5
Mountain hiking for experienced people, you have experience and skill in the mountains.
Some passages are vertiginous and it is sometimes necessary to put the hands to help the progression.
Learning about the weather and mapping experience, the Guide can take you to the map to learn how to manage a route if you wish!
Physical lev. : 2.5 / 5
FAIRLY SPORTY COURSE 2.5/5
Effort corresponding to about 900 - 1000 m of ascent per day.
It's a bit harder, it is better if you have already had some experience on a mountain trip or if you like endurance sports and practice them regularly!
Discover the magic of Sicily with our tour of Mount Etna and a heavenly getaway to the Aeolian Islands. Explore the lunar landscapes of Europe's largest active volcano, where every path offers spectacular views of the Mediterranean. Idyllic beaches, turquoise waters and picturesque villages await you for moments of escape and relaxation. Enjoy a unique experience, combining wild nature and authentic charm, for unforgettable memories of Sicily. This holiday is suitable for families with young children who walk.
Dates & Prices
Discount if booked 4 months before departure
Dates to come for spring and autumn 2025.
We offer a tailor-made walking holiday in Sicily to suit your availability and wishes. Prices vary according to the number of people registered.
Contact us for more information.
Trip
The tour will bring you into contact with the world's most active and interesting volcanoes: Mount Etna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013, the largest active volcano in Europe and, according to Greek mythology, the home of Ephesus and the Cyclops. The island of Vulcano, which according to mythology was one of the forges of Ephesus along with the island of Stromboli. The island of Saline, the ‘green pearl’ of the Aeolian Islands, and finally the island of Stromboli, with its constantly erupting volcano that gives the term its name.
This holiday is suitable for families with young children eager to walk.
Program
IMPORTANT: Excursions to the summit craters of Mount Etna, Mount Stromboli and other volcanoes may vary in altitude and itinerary as they are conditioned by their activity.
Accomodation: hotel in Catania
This day is dedicated to your arrival in Catania by the transport of your choice. We have booked an overnight stay in a hotel in Catania with breakfast included for the following day. The evening meal on this first evening is free.
Elevation gain: + 850 m / - 850 m
Duration: 4 to 5 hours
Accomodation: hotel in Stromboli
Transfer of the group from the hotel to the port, journey by hydrofoil to the island of Stromboli. Transfer to a hotel and/or B&B. In the morning and at lunchtime, the group is free to relax, go to the beach or explore Stromboli's unique atmosphere. In the afternoon, the excursion to the volcano begins.
After a 30-minute walk from the village centre, we reach Punta di Labronzo, an observatory 300 metres above sea level.
From here the real climb to the summit begins. This is a path that was once used by muleteers. After a series of bends, you'll come to a natural belvedere offering a unique view of the Sciara del fuoco, a steep slope that falls from the crater straight into the sea.
The climb continues to the summit of Stromboli at 900 metres above sea level. From here you can enjoy a unique spectacle: a succession of resounding explosions that throw up incandescent ‘Lapilli’.
The descent takes you through a ravine of volcanic sand and along a footpath.
On our return from the excursion to Stromboli, which is included in our program of activities, we all go to a pizzeria for dinner. Dinner in a pizzeria is included in the programme.
Accommodation: hotel in Salina
After breakfast at the hotel, we'll take the bus to the island of Salina, the base of our next adventures. Lunch is free so you can choose the place you like best.
We check into our hotel where we will spend the next two nights.
Elevation gain: + 668 / . 968 m
Duration: 5 hours
Accommodation: hotel in Salina
The path to the highest peak in the archipelago begins at the Church of the Madonna del Terzito, in the small village of Val di Chiesa (300m above sea level). The path is characterised by lush vegetation, including bushes, heather, chestnut woods, oaks, pines, broom and caper bushes.
On reaching the summit of Fossa delle Felci (968 m altitude), a breathtaking landscape opens up before the eyes of the group, which may explain the name of this mountain. The crater is dotted with small paths immersed in a vast expanse of ferns. After a stop, the descent to Leni and Rinella begins.
The group will be taken by boat to complete the island's journey. A stopover is possible at Pollara for a swim, conditions permitting. Pollara is one of Salina's most beautiful beaches. It is an amphitheatre-shaped strip of land made up of pebbles and gravel. The beach is called ‘Le balate’, an ancient boat shelter excavated from the rocks and so named by the people of Salina.
Elevation gain: + 386 m / - 386 m
Duration: 4 to 5 hours
Accommodation: hotel in Lingua
Transfer of the group from the hotel and/or agriturismo to Milazzo, then by hydrofoil to the island of Vulcano, the starting point of the itinerary.
The path to the summit is a very pleasant walk among broom and volcanic rocks on a black, sandy covering of volcanic dust. As you climb, you can admire the islands of Alicudi, Filicudi and Salina.
From the summit of the Gran Cratere di Vulcano (386 m above sea level), you can see the silhouettes of all the islands, the Vulcanello peninsula, Sicily and Mount Etna. From here, you can see the crater, a depression around 500 m in diameter whose main feature is the sulphur fumaroles, the only visible volcanic activity since the last eruption in 1890. Once the tour of the crater is over, the group will head for the port to take the hydrofoil to the island of Milazzo.
From Milazzo we will travel to Linguaglossa - Etna Nord, where we will stay in a hotel/agriturismo, have dinner and spend the night. The following day 6, will be our first excursion to Mount Etna.
Elevation gain: +600 / -1500 m
Duration: 5 to 6 hours
Accommodation: hotel in Piano Provenzana
Transfer of the group from the hotel and/or farmhouse to the Refuge Sapienza - Etna Sud, the starting point for the excursion.
Departure from Refuge Sapienza (1900 m altitude) - Etna Sud. The group takes the cable car up to an altitude of 2,500 m, followed by a 4x4 journey to an altitude of 2,900 m, then a walk to the summit craters at around 3,400 m altitude. After a stop along the craters, the group will begin the descent, skirting the north-east crater and heading towards the spectacular Valle del Leone (Lion Valley) to reach the Pizzi Deneri volcanological observatory. The descent continues towards Portella Giumenta, crossing the Quarantone ravine as far as Piano Provenzana, the final stop on this tour. Transfer to the hotel and/or farmhouse. Dinner based on local specialities.
Elevation gain: + 400 / - 300 m
Duration: 4 to 5 hours
Accommodation: hotel in Piano Provenzana
Transfer of the group from the hotel and/or farmhouse to Piano Proven- zana-Etna Nord, base for the excursion.
Departure from Piano Povenzana (1,800 m above sea level) to reach the craters (2,000 m above sea level) where the largest eruption on the northern slopes of Mount Etna in the last ten years was unleashed. We'll cross the lava flow on a path that runs alongside the lava flow channel, a deep canyon carved out by the mass of magma that invaded and partially destroyed the centuries-old Pinéde Ragabo.
From here, the trek continues in the direction of the 1923 craters as far as the Timparossa Refuge. After a stopover, we continue towards the ‘Grotta dei lamponi’ (1793 m above sea level). This cave is one of Etna's longest flow galleries.
After the visit, we return to Piano Provenzana. The route of this excursion is very varied, and during the walk you will be able to observe Etna's beech forests and lava flows. Transfer to the hotel and/or agriturismo. In the late afternoon, a walk to Taormina where the group will be free to admire the scenery and the magnificent narrow streets of this Greco-Roman town overlooking the sea. Sicilian dinner at the hotel and/or agriturismo.
After breakfast we transfer to Catania. The tour ends with a free morning in Catania.
An appointment will be made for transfer to the airport according to departure time.
Materiel
If possible, take a lightweight rucksack with a good load-bearing capacity, which may not exceed 1.5 kilos.
Expect 2 litres of water and 500 grams of food for the day.
Your guide will have a more comprehensive first-aid kit in case of a major accident.
Little pleasure: a small book or card game (weighing less than 150 grams)...
Weight is the hiker's enemy, but a frozen or soaked hiker is a hiker without pleasure!
So take the time to prepare your rucksack well and weigh it before setting off to check that without water or food your rucksack weighs 6 to 7 KG, but no more!
IMPORTANT: if someone is not properly equipped and dressed, the mountain guide may decide not to allow them to take part in the climb. We ask you to read carefully the list of equipment provided in the PDF program of the tour and to call us if you have any doubts.
Level
FAIRLY SPORTY COURSE 2.5/5
Effort corresponding to about 900 - 1000 m of ascent per day.
It's a bit harder, it is better if you have already had some experience on a mountain trip or if you like endurance sports and practice them regularly!
CONFIRMED MOUNTAIN HIKE 2.5/5
Mountain hiking for experienced people, you have experience and skill in the mountains.
Some passages are vertiginous and it is sometimes necessary to put the hands to help the progression.
Learning about the weather and mapping experience, the Guide can take you to the map to learn how to manage a route if you wish!
IMPORTANT: The duration of each excursion can vary from 2 to 7 hours, but could be longer in the event of unexpected volcanic activity that would be worth the extra excursion and/or observation of the possible eruption.
Useful info
Meet the guide at the hotel on the evening of the first day. The guide will brief you on the trip and carry out final checks on your equipment.
After breakfast on the last day, there will be a transfer to Catania and you will be transferred to the airport or port depending on your return.
Nights in hotels, B&Bs and refuges.
Additional sporting (snorkelling), cultural or gastronomic activities are available on the island. Don't hesitate to contact us for advice and to help you make the most of your stay in Sicily.
Cancellation and repatriation insurance is compulsory, as is mountain search and rescue insurance (minimum cover 10,000 Euros).
Esprit Montagne offers the following insurance: https://www.assurance-multi-sports.com.
. Guidance by a qualified mountain leader from our team, plus accommodation and meal expenses;
. Transfers and parking during the stay
. Hydrofoil excursions to the islands
. Half-board accommodation in B&B hotels .
. Picnics as described in the program of.
. Air transport to and from Catania ;
. Return airport transfer ;
. Cancellation/interruption/loss of luggage insurance and emergency assistance ;
. Drinks and personal expenses
. Lunch in Salina on D3 ;
. Dinner in Catania on D1 ;
. Tips ;
. Anything not indicated in the ‘Price includes’ section.
Photo gallery
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Sicily, Italy's Mediterranean jewel, offers a unique experience whatever the season. However, the best time to visit this island depends largely on your preferences and travel plans. For lovers of mild weather and flower-filled landscapes, spring (April to June) is ideal. The pleasant temperatures, fluctuating between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius, mean that you can enjoy the beaches, hikes on Mount Etna and visits to historic cities such as Palermo and Syracuse, without suffering the summer heat. What's more, the festival season is in full swing, with events such as the Almond Blossom Festival in Agrigento.
Summer, from July to September, is the most popular period for holidaymakers in search of sun and sea. It's the perfect time to explore the heavenly beaches of Mondello or Cefalù, or to relax on the Aegean and Aeolian Islands. However, you can expect a huge influx of tourists, especially in August, when the Italians themselves take their holidays. The high temperatures, which can exceed 35 degrees, may not suit those wishing to explore archaeological sites in the blazing sun, but they are ideal for beach activities.
For those who prefer a more peaceful atmosphere and moderate temperatures, autumn (September to November) is an excellent alternative. The grape harvest, which is very important in Sicily, gives rise to local events where visitors can taste regional wines and immerse themselves in the wine-growing culture. Autumn also offers perfect conditions for exploring Sicilian gastronomy, with fresh seasonal produce such as figs, pomegranates and wild mushrooms. In short, each season has its own charm, and choosing the best time to visit Sicily depends on your expectations in terms of climate, culture and activities.
Sicily is a multi-faceted island, with each region offering a unique experience. The east of the island, with cities such as Catania, Taormina and Syracuse, is often considered one of the best parts for visitors. This region combines stunning natural scenery with a rich historical heritage. Mount Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, dominates the region and attracts hiking and adventure enthusiasts. Taormina, perched on a hill, has an ancient theatre overlooking the sea and Mount Etna, picturesque little streets and magnificent beaches. Syracuse, with its historic district of Ortygia, offers an immersion in Greek and Baroque history, with monuments such as the Greek theatre and the cathedral built on an ancient Doric temple.
The west of Sicily rivals Sicily in charm, with treasures such as Palermo, Trapani and the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. Palermo, the capital, is a crossroads of cultures where Arab-Norman architecture, bustling markets and Sicilian cuisine combine to create a vibrant atmosphere. Nearby Monreale is home to a cathedral adorned with remarkable mosaics. Trapani, with its salt flats and Aegadian islands, is ideal for those seeking seascapes and a more peaceful atmosphere. Finally, the Valley of the Temples is a must for archaeology enthusiasts, with its remarkably well-preserved Greek ruins. Whether you choose the east or the west, each part of Sicily has its own unique charm, and exploring several regions allows you to discover the full richness of this enchanting island.
