Volcano Trek
8 days / 7 nights
Self guided tour

Aeolian islands
The Aeolian Islands Archipelago is made up of 7 islands: Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Panarea, Stromboli, Filicudi and Alicudi. Islands of wild aspect fall sheer into the sea, offering visions of amazing beauty. Like Sicily, land of many contrasts, the islands are characterised by many different landscapes that generally do not exist in the same place. 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 fumarole); 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. The mud baths can be done on the inside of the hot spring, therefore the island offer a unique example of a highly healing mixture made of natural volcanic mud with natural hot spring. Particularly indicated for articulation, circulation and dermatological affections.

Mt. Etna
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. There Mt Etna abounds with oak and chestnut forests, alternated by ancient man-made terraces where premier quality vineyards, pears and apple orchards, hazelnut and pistachio groves  grow.
Mt Etna has a boundary of 250 Km and covers 1260 square meters making it the largest volcano in Europe. It rises to 3350 over sea level at the summit craters, but this height varies as a result of on-going constructive and destructive explosive activity that constantly reshapes the summit crater area.

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Highlights:
- Mt Etna: Europe's highest active volcano
- The continuous volcanic activity of Stromboli
- History, culture, volcanoes and Italian dolce vita in one week

Day 1: CataniaArrival at Catania. Transfer to the hotel** in the city centre (very close to the Cathedral) on your own (taxi or public bus). Catania shows many baroque churches and buildings, all placed in the very heart of the city centre. Moreover there is a huge variety of pubs, restaurants, pizzerias and trattoria to be chosen for dinner and nightlife. Overnight stay in hotel with breakfast included.

Day 2: Lipari (4 hours walking, +290 - 430 mt.)Private transfer from the hotel to Milazzo harbour (1 h 30). Hydrofoil from Milazzo to Lipari (1 h). Check-in at the family run hotel near the small harbour of "Marina Corta". In the late morning hiking in the west side of the island to the thermal Spring of San Calogero. Overnight stay in Lipari

Day 3: Vulcano (3 hours hiking, +390 - 390 mt.)In the morning hydrofoil to Vulcano (10 min.). Vulcano, one of the seven Aeolian Islands, famous for its black beaches and Thermal Springs. Excursion to Vulcano's crater to see the Fumarole. Time for going to the beach and to the Thermal Springs. In the afternoon hydrofoil back to Lipari. Overnight stay at the same hotel with breakfast included.

Day 4: Lipari - Stromboli (4 h hiking, + 400 - 400 mt.)In the morning free time for discovering the old city centre of Lipari. Also worth of being visited is the Archeological Museum. Transfer by hydrofoil from Lipari to Stromboli (1 h). Check in at the hotel** and relax in Stromboli unique black beaches. In the late afternoon trekking to the "Sciara del Fuoco" where we can have a first approach to the activity of the Stromboli. Wonderful panoramic view on the craters. Overnight stay in hotel with breakfast included.

Day 5: Stromboli (6 hours hiking, + 924 - 924 mt.)In the morning free time to visit the lovely village of "San Vincenzo" and also the interesting volcanological centre of the island. Chance to make a boat tour of the island to visit the enchanting small village of "Ginostra".
In the afternoon leaving for the excursion to the active volcano* with certified volcano guides. Overnight stay in hotel with breakfast included.

*) The volcano is 924 mt high and people are allowed to climb up the top in groups max of 20, escorted by a certified volcanic guide, according to the Italian law. The volcano guides reserve the right of deciding not to climb the volcano according to safety measures that are constantly monitored, the weather and also the physical condition of the trekkers.

Day 6 : Etna (1 hour hiking, +100 -100 mt.)In late morning hydrofoil from Stromboli to Milazzo (2 h). Private transfer from Milazzo harbour to the mountain hotel in the southern side of Mt Etna, 1900 mt. Short walk over the track called "crateri Silvestri for a first approach to the Etna activity. Dinner at the hotel with local dishes. Overnight stay with breakfast included.

Day 7: Etna (7 hours hiking, + 1000 - 1000 mt.)Excursion till 2900 mt. where people without guide are allowed to walk. We'll discover the line of big craters opened during the 2002/03 eruption. Amazing view on the Ionian coast of Sicily.  Return back to our hotel, passing on the edge of the "Bove Valley" en huge "caldera" formed from a collapse of a old volcano. Dinner and overnight stay at the mountain hotel.

*Option: As an alternative, possibility to proceed up to 2900 m with cable way and 4x4 (one way ticket 25 euros) or according to the weather condition and volcano activity it's possible to climb till the summit (3350 mt) at the central craters guided by a mountain escort with a 4WD Vehicle till 2900 mt. then trek to the top. From there we walk back to our hotel (price 55 euros per person).
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 8: CataniaPrivate transfer from Mt Etna to Catania airport.


Trip NotesSkill level:
Moderate, from 3 to 6 hours walking each day, hilly-to-steep terrain. A prior hiking experience is recommended. The excursion on Mt Stromboli is the most demanding.

Departure: From April to end October (except the month of August)

Number of participants: minimum 2 people

Price per person: € 650,00

Included:

• Transfer from the hotel to Milazzo harbour
• Transfer from Milazzo harbour to Mt Etna
• Transfer from Mt Etna to Catania airport
• Luggage transfer from/to Lipari harbour
• Luggage transfer from/to Stromboli harbour
• Accommodation in hotel**
• 7 breakfast, 2 dinners
• Volcano Guide at Stromboli

Not included:

• Transfer on day one to the first accommodation
• Hydrofoils at the islands (about € 40/person)
• Taxes to enter the islands and to climb Vulcano and Stromboli (about € 7 per person)
• lunches
• 5 dinners from day 1 to day 6

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 comfortable mountain hotel on the Etna with 2 Half Board

Luggage:
All transfers are made by car. Anyway sometimes you have to carry your luggages 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 backpack for your trekking.

Equipment:

• Good and solid trekking shoes
• frontal torch with batteries.
• trekking trousers and shorts
• bathing suit
• Hat and gloves
• water proof jacket
• sun glasses
• sun cream
• multitask knife
• alpenstock

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