Italy | Sicily: The Aeolian Islands
Seven islands with more than 5,000 years of history await.
Trip Highlights:
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Hiking with a cultural historian on the flanks of Mount Etna.
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Expansive views over the Aeolian Islands.
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Delicious Sicilian food.
From across the aquamarine waves, their call can be heard for thousands of leagues. Ulysses surely wasn’t the first to hear their sound as he crossed the Adriatic, Aegean, and Tyrrhenian seas on his Odyssey, but he was a notable visitor to the Aeolian Islands, home of the sirens.
Active volcanoes, the ruins of over nine different cultures, societies stacked on top of each other, beautiful beaches with warm waters, and food that is sinfully delicious and fresher than the day, are features that sing the wonder of the islands. When traveling with Ryder-Walker, cliff-side hikes looking into deep blue waters will satisfy the appetite of even the most adventurous hiker, and will not be forgotten.
When speaking of the Aeolian Islands, it is impossible to go without mentioning the volcanoes; they are the reason people first came to the region. The soil that resulted from their eruption is why everything that grows here has a special, magic quality. The craters have been intriguing travelers for centuries – in fact, St. Willibald once traveled to the crests of a local volcano to see if he could catch a glimpse of hell. With glistening obsidian moraines, the peaks that make up this chain of islands are absolutely fascinating.
Although many of the people on the islands have made the shift from agriculture to tourism over the past decade, there are still a few locals who make a living catching fish and shrimp with a spear and their hands. Some would argue that traveling to Italy is just as much about the hiking as it is about the dining- and trust us, on this trip, there is no shortage of gastronomical excitement.
While the islands are small, the hiking is not. Steeper climbs abound on this trek, and offer you a variety of vantage points of the area, often looking back at the island from the previous day. Whether you are hiking on a mule trail to the top of a volcano, peering into a giant crater, or following a steep staircase to some of the area’s most historical landmarks, after touring all of the islands, you’re sure to dread the prospect of leaving. Perhaps you’ll start looking for the sirens to blame this on, and maybe you’ll be in the right for doing so!
Trip Itinerary
Choose from our standard itinerary or customize the trek by adding or subtracting days. We are happy to offer harder or gentler hikes where possible.
Begin your trip in the Sicilian city of Catania/Taormina. Catania is the airport and Taormina is a nearby town, where Greek ruins, Roman walls, and Norman buildings speak of the great history belonging to this land. We recommend transferring by bus from the airport to Taormina, where you settle into an excellently appointed and perfectly located hotel.
Meet a local historian and tour guide this morning for a two-hour tour of the stunningly located ancient Greek Theatre of Taormina and other local environs. In the afternoon, you hike to a hilltop village of Castelmola, with splendid views of the Calabrian and Ionian coast topped by Mount Etna. After lunch at a peculiar local cafe, you descend to the town’s citadel and back to Taormina for a second night at your lovely hotel.
Distance: 3.2 miles. Elevation gain/loss: 1000 ft.
Begin your day with a taxi transfer to Milazzo Port and take the ferry to Lipari. Today’s hike takes you to the top of Monte Guardia, the old outpost at the southern tip of the island. The trail takes you by luxurious holiday villas built in classical Aeolian style, and to the Cappero-Osservatorio (Volcano Observatory). After the summit, close the loop with a grand view of Lipari and its 16th-century citadel. Be sure to explore the town’s maritime atmosphere and rich heritage. Overnight in Lipari.
Distance: up to 8 miles. Elevation gain/loss: 1300 ft.
Enjoy a lovely coastal hike on Lipari today. Begin with a short taxi ride to the trailhead. From there descend on a good trail toward the coast and follow it until you reach one of the most famous view points on Lipari, the Quattroocchi, or Four Eyes. Following a valley, make your way back to Lipari proper.
Distance: 7 miles. Elevation gain: 2700 ft.
Today you hop on a ferry and travel to the island of Santa Marina, known for wine production and as the most fertile and green of all the Aeolian Islands. Santa Marina has entirely escaped the waves of movie stars and VIP tourism that have plagued some of the other islands, leaving the land rural and perfectly pastoral – great for you! After bagging the peak of the resident volcano, you retire for the evening at an excellent hotel.
Distance: 7 miles. Elevation gain: 2000 ft.
Today, you are off to the fashionable Panarea, the smallest Island in the volcanic archipelago. Hike Punta del Corvo, one of the grandest treks in all the islands. This 421 m (1380 ft) peak is the tallest on the island, and its western flank slants sharply out of the sea, while the eastern side slopes more gently as it rises from the pebble beaches below. Tonight, you visit the stunningly beautiful prehistoric village at Capo Milazzaese and stay in an elegant four-star hotel.
Distance: 5.6 miles. Elevation gain: 2100 ft.
Explore this magical island during the day and depart on a guided hike of Stromboli’s active volcano at sunset. During the excursion, geological, historical, and naturalistic information is provided. Enjoy your final night on this secluded and dramatic island in an excellent four-star hotel.
Distance: 5 miles. Elevation gain: 1640 ft.
Trip Rating
COMFORT
EFFORT
TERRAIN
Self-Guided Tour
May-October
2023 Pricing
$2,950 per person double
Single (+$640)
Guided Tour
May 15-22, 2022
2023 Pricing
*$4,500 per person double
Single (+$640)
*Minimum of two people required to run this tour
Learn MorePrivate Guided Tour
May-October
2023 Pricing
**$5,900 per person double
Single (+$640)
**Price based on a group of four
Please contact us to schedule a private guided tour.
Learn MoreTrip Map
Trip Profile
Duration
7 nights/8 days
Hiking up to 8 miles
Ascents up to 2,700 ft
Tour Package Includes
Custom route descriptions
Four-color topo maps
Travel instructions
Cultural information and more
Luggage transfers between hotels and ports
Accommodations
7 nights excellently appointed hotels
Breakfast + Dinner
Breakfast included daily
Dinner not included
Luggage Transfer
You handle your luggage when getting on and off ferries, which is why we strongly recommend bringing only one bag per person, weighing no more than 50 lbs (in addition to your backpack).
Transportation
Van transfer to/from the ports and trailheads included.
Ferry transfers are not included.
Airport transfers are not included.
Gateways
Catania, Italy
