Welcome to Hooked on Walking holidays and our walking holiday on Sicily. This particular hiking vacation on Sicily is theme around the active and extinct volcanoes of the region. This walking tour is available as a seven night self guided hiking tour and is graded as level 2. This walking holiday allows you to appreciate the power of volcanoes, contrasting scenery, lush green scenery, the sweet taste of the “malvasia” wine, flowers and the warmth of the local people. The Aeolian Islands north of Sicily represent a little paradise where life proceeds at slower and relaxed levels.
Moreover, the Etna Volcano, that has enchanted ancient and modern writers, emblem of supernatural for Greek, Latin and Norman people, dominates the area of eastern Sicily.
On this walking holiday you will visit East Sicily , Mount Etna and the Aeolian Islands of Lipari and Stromboli. On Stromboli you can experience the emotion stirred up by an active volcano ,the northern Island of the Aeolian Archipelago, a volcano that, due to its perpetual activity, was called “Lighthouse of the Mediterranean Sea”.
Stromboli Island is a land of vibrant contrasts and strong emotions, the moonlight during the nocturnal ascent to the crater, the blue of the sea and the spectacular intermittent explosions of the volcano that light up the night in red. Climbing the Fossa delle Felci Mount in Salina, the highest of the seven Islands in the Aeolian archipelago, you’ll meet luxuriant vegetation. Lipari, thanks to the obsidian erupted from its volcanoes, is one of the few Italian minor Islands where the presence of humans has always been constant since ancient age.
One of the most interesting aspects of these Islands is the human presence, also in ancient times. The excavations carried out during forty years by Luigi Bernabò Brea and Madeline Cavalier represent an extraordinary evidence of the civilizations that from the 4.000 b.C. to the V-VI century AD inhabited the Aeolian Islands.

Available daily from 6th April to 31st July , 1st September to 30th October
7 night tour available
Level 2 self guided tour

Day 1  Arrival Catania and transfer to the Island of Lipari
Arrive in Catania Airport. Here you take a bus or a train to Milazzo or Messina where you board the hydrofoil/boat to Lipari where you stay for 4 nights.
It is also possible to pre-book a private transfer from Catania airport to Milazzo/Messina.

Day 2, 3 and 4:  A selection of walks
For the next few days you have a selection of walks and excursions you can do. You choose which ones to do and which order.

- Lipari Island: The southern tip and Mt. Guardia
This varied walk on the south point of Lipari, with nice views on the Island of Volcano starts in the bustling town of Lipari that has an impressive castle and a very interesting archeological museum.

- Lipari Island: Walk from Quattropani along the west coast
From Lipari you take the local bus to Quattropani where you start this highly varied walk along the coast, with views on Salina, Filicudi en Alicudi, passing quiet old villages and fumaroles.

- Lipari Island: Walk Piano Conte, Mt. Sant’Angelo and Pirrera
A demanding, but very beautiful walk, especially when the weather is clear. On your way you have magnificent views on the town of Lipari and a big part of the island, Salina, Panarea, Stromboli, Filicudi, Sicily and you’ll be on top of the crater of the volcano. The culminating point of the walk is 500m after the highest point of the walk; this section is steep, heavily eroded, but not dangerous. A real adventure! Because of the erosion you can spot big fragments of Obsidian.

- Stromboli Island and its constantly active volcano
One of the most spectacular walks of this trip is on Stromboli Island as this volcano is constantly erupting. This walk can be done in several ways:
1. You can take the public day boat to Stromboli and do the walk up to 450m above sea level on your own.
2. Pre-book an afternoon and evening boat excursion that takes you to Stromboli where you have time to walk to 450m and when sun sets you are taken to see the Sciara del Fuoco, the impressive eruption and lava flow.
3. Pre-book an afternoon and evening boat excursion that takes you to Stromboli where you meet an authorized volcanologist guide that accompanies you in a guided group walk to the top of Mount Stromboli 900m a.s.l. (Approx 5 h walk finishing in the dark).

Access to the top is limited to 80 people at a time and only if accompanied by a mountain guide/volcanologist. The walk to the top of Stromboli can be restricted or canceled at short notice due to the volcanic activity and the weather.
In all cases, take a flashlight with you as there is no public street lights on Stromboli and it get very dark at night.

- Volcano Island: Round walk to the Gran Cratere
Volcano is a spectacular small island where you walk up to the “Gran Cratere” that is yellowish from the sulfurous smoke that it emits. From the top you have exceptional views of the whole island and the volcanic archipelago. After the walk, head for the thermal sulfurous mud bath where you can also go swimming at the nice beach. Return to Lipari with the afternoon boat.

- Salina Island – Walk from Rinella to Malfa
Salina Island has a very special ambience. Here the wonderful film “The Postman” was shot. From the Port village Rinella you can make a short and easy walk to the quaint village of Malfa and catch the bus back to Rinella. On the island you can also rent a scooter and go round the island, stopping at Pollara and other panoramic point along the way

Day 5  Optional morning walk and afternoon boat Lipari – Milazzo and train to Giarre.
Today you and your luggage board the boat/hydrofoil from Lipari to Milazzo, where you take a train to Giarre at the foot of Mount Etna. A taxi will be waiting to take you to the family run country hotel where you stay for 3 nights.

Day 6 Walking from Graniti to Taormina 9.5 miles 15km up 700m down 650m
After breakfast a taxi will take you to Graniti from where you start a wonderfully panoramic walk with exceptional views of Mt. Etna as you go over the mountains and down to the famous town of Taormina where you have plenty of time to visit its innumerable ancient monuments. You return to Giarre with a local train.

Day 7  Linguaglossa round walk 8.1 miles 13 km up/down 350m ( This walk cannot be done on a Sunday )
A short walk takes you to the local Circumetnea Train Station where you catch the train to Linguaglossa. Here you start a beautiful circular walk on the North side of Mt. Etna through ancient lava fields and Mediterranean Maquie. You return to Giarre with the local Circumetnea train (NOTE: The train does not run on Sundays and national holidays).

Day 8  Departure
During the course of the day a taxi can take you to Giarre train station or the bus station where you can take the train to Catania and the airport for your flight home.  The trip ends after breakfast.

Difficulty: We have graded this walk as level 2 , the days walks of between 2.5 and 6 hours with one hard day climbing Maximum 1000m .

Accommodation: Good 3 star hotels

2013 Prices

How to get there
Fly to Catania airport where you will be met and transferred to your hotel
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