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Hike the spectacular emerald-green rice terraces of mountainous Banaue (the famed “stepping stones to the sky”), then don your snorkeling gear and slip into the warm waters of the Coral Triangle to swim amid a staggering abundance of vibrant reef life.
Volcanoes of Southern Italy
Hiking Mt. Etna & the Aeolian Islands
with Stefano Baldi
This itinerary is no longer available
We may run this trip again in the future, please contact us if you are interested.With veteran Trip Leader Stefano Baldi, hike on dramatic volcano-isles of Stromboli, Vulcano, Lipari, and tiny Panarea and then magnificent Mt. Etna (10,500'), one of the largest volcanoes in the world. On Stromboli, literally a volcano emerging out of the sea, we make our hike at sunset—the perfect time to observe fiery red displays against the night sky. On the beautiful volcano of Panarea, we hike cove to cove enjoying views of the clear blue Mediterranean, and on rugged Vulcano, from which all volcanoes get their name, we enjoy a hike around the crater itself. After wonderful hikes on Mt. Etna, we relax in charming Taormina, a flower-bedecked village overlooking Etna and the sea. Throughout our trip, we savor the flavor of the mezzogiorno—the Italian South, with its aquamarine seas, seaside villages, mouth-watering cuisine, and ancient culture all its own.
Highlights
- Hike to the summit of Mt. Etna, highest volcano in Europe
- Summit hikes on dramatic volcanoes of Stromboli and Vulcano
- Stunning Aeolian Islands, surrounded by azure seas
- Taormina, an enchanting hilltown with a preserved Greek theater
Details
- 11-day trip begins in Naples and ends in Catania
- 9 nights in small inns and hotels, 1 night on ferry
- All meals included except 1 lunch and 1 dinner
- Moderate to steep trails, 3-5 hours a day
This itinerary is no longer available
We may run this trip again in the future, please contact us if you are interested.Suggested Reading
Reading list, click here.
Itinerary at a Glance
Days 1-2
Naples / Pompeii / Overnight Ferry
We hike around the far rim of Mt. Vesuvius, then head to the fascinating remains of legendary Pompeii, engulfed—and preserved—by Vesuvius’ ash. This evening, we enjoy a delicious pizza dinner in the city in which it was born, then board the overnight ferry bound for Stromboli in the Aeolian Islands.
Days 3-4
Stromboli Island / Panarea Island / Lipari Island
Our ferry arrives at dramatic Stromboli, a volcano-island that achieved its modern fame when Italian director Roberto Rossellini and Ingrid Bergman made their film Stromboli here in 1949. We make a 3-hour hike to the summit of the perfect cone of Stromboli, with a picnic dinner on the summit to watch Stromboli’s fiery explosions. Taking the hyrdofoil to Panarea, we hike along the island’s rugged cliffs, then boat to the sublime island of Lipari.
Days 5-6
Lipari / Vulcano
We hike a spectacular coastal path on Lipari to the old Roman thermal baths at San Calogero, with glorious views of Vulcano Island rising straight out of the blue Aeolian Sea, then hike to the top of Vulcano itself .
Days 7-8
Sicily / Mt. Etna Hike
Ferrying to the Sicilian mainland, we hike on Mt. Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. We hike on the north face and see craters of the Monte Pizzillo area, which date from Etna’s 19th century explosion, and the next day hike up to the summit, crossing lava, sand, and ash—the views are incredible!
Days 9-11
Taormina
Our relaxing grand finale finds us in enchanting Taormina. From the town’s spectacular Greek theater, Mt. Etna dominates a view little altered since the theater was built in the 3rd century BC. We depart via Catania on Day 11.
This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure