Guided Trek - 8 Days / 7 nights

The Aeolian Islands Archipelago is made up of 7 islands: Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Panarea, Stromboli, Filicudi and Alicudi. Vast back beaches like ebony contrasting with light coloured shores; inaccessible and winding coasts follow in antitheses to low and hospitable rivieras; large sterile areas extend alongside fertile, pleasant gardens. Also, the nature offers many peculiarities, such as strange perforated rocks resembling bold bridges and rampant arches (I faraglioni); areas of sea in ebullition (due to underwater fumaroles); rocks with a network of clefts from which boiling water gushes. Another attraction of the Aeolian Islands is the hot spring of high therapeutic value, located in Vulcano.
Mt Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe. It offers a varied of different aspects, from the black flows of lava and vast plain of black sand to a luxuriant vegetation on the lower slopes.

Program
Day 1: Arrival and accommodation in Catania, visit of the city
Day 2: Transfer to the Aeolian Islands, trekking on Lipari island. Night in Lipari
Day 3: Hydrofoil to Vulcano, hiking up to the crater and tour of the rim. Night in Lipari
Day 4: Hydrofoil to Stromboli. Trekking to 400 mt to see the "Sciara del Fuoco"
Day 5: Relax in the morning and trek on the top of the volcano at the sun set
Day 6: Hydrofoil to Milazzo and transfer to the southern side of Mt Etna. Short walk, dinner and night
Day 7: The summit craters of Mt Etna (3350 mt).
Day 8: Transfer to Catania airport.

Technical Characteristics
Terrain characteristics: paths and mountain track. Trekking in Stromboli and on Mt Etna demanding (1000 mt slope in both). It is therefore advisable having already practiced a little trekking. Hiking altitude: between 0 and 3350 m a.s.l., average duration of a daily trek: between 3 and 6 hours; positive difference in height between 0 and 900 m per day.
Equipment: Good and solid hiking boots; trekking trousers and shorts; bathing suit; hat and gloves; at least one good mountain fleece; wind and water proof anorak (mountain quilted jacket in April, May, September and October); sun glasses and sun cream; multitask knife; head torch with batteries; trekking sticks; hermetic case for food with cutlery
Duration: 8 days / 7 nights  
Number of participants: from 5 to 15 pax

Accommodation:
1 night in hotel** Catania with breakfast
2 nights in family run hotel** in Lipari with breakfast
2 nights in hotel** in Stromboli with breakfast
2 nights in hotel** on Mt Etna in half board

Luggage: All transfers are made by Bus. Anyway, sometimes you have to carry your luggage for short distances (for example when you catch the hydrofoil). We advise you to use two kind of bags. A big one with wheels where you put all your staff. A rucksack for your daily trekking.

Price per person
Number of participants    5/15
Trek in double room:

• € 845,00

Suppl. single room: Not possible
Suppl. departures in July: € 55,00

Included: all the transfers and hydrofoils, accommodation in hotels, dinners and packed lunches, entrance fees to the Aeolian Islands, taxes to climb Vulcano and Stromboli, volcanologic guide in Stomboli and Etna, funicular and 4X4 vehicles on Mt Etna, English speaking guide for all the tour.

Not included: drinks and personal expenses, lunches on Day 1 and Day 5, dinner on Day 4 in Stromboli, entrance fees to museums and archaeological sites (entrance at Lipari Archeological Museum), insurance, flights to/from Catania airport.

Note: Stromboli volcano is monitored 24h over 24h and in case of extraordinary activity the access to the top can be forbidden. At the moment of the excursion we are going to reach the maximum height the law prescribes. The guide reserves the right to modify the program according to weather, sea and volcanic conditions.

Departure dates 2008:

• 05 April
• 26 April
• 10 May
• 24 May
• 07 June
• 28 June
• 19 July Guaranteed (5 more places)
• 13 September
• 20 September Guaranteed (5 more places)
• 11 October