Aeolian islands Odyssey

Arrival in Sicily and transfer to Milazzo.

Evening meal and overnight in Milazzo.

In the early afternoon we transfer to Alicudi – the furthest of the islands – by hydrofoil (3 hours).

Evening meal and overnight in Alicudi.

Rock rose (cistus) on Salina, Aeolian islands

Group on Lipari

The port at Filicudi

On Alicudi – the most remote and smallest of the islands – there are no roads, only stepped tracks up the steeply terraced hillsides. In the morning we take a boat trip for a circuit of the island.

In the afternoon, you are free to relax and enjoy the peasceful atmosphere.

Evening meal and overnight on Alicudi.

After breakfast, we depart for Filicudi. With its natural beauty, sparse population, whitewashed houses, lack of cars and wonderful network of well-maintained mule tracks, Filicudi is considered by many visitors the islands to be the prettiest. The offshore stacks are a haven for birds, in particular the Eleonora’s falcon. We walk to find a Bronze Age village excavated on the Capo Graziano.

For those who wish, and weather permitting, there may also be the possibility of doing a tour of the island on one of the local fishing boats.

In the late afternoon, we depart for Salina.

Evening meal and overnight in Santa Marina Salina.

Twin-peaked Salina is the greenest of the islands and one of the most prolific plants that grows there is the caper. In the morning we visit some local caper producers and learn how it is used in the local cuisine.

After lunch in Santa Marina, there will be time to relax by the hotel pool (or swim in the sea) before, in the early evening, we go to visit one of the island’s wine makers, still producing the local malvasia in the way it has been produced for centuries.

Evening meal and overnight in Santa Marina Salina.

Houses on Alicudi

Monte Fossa delle Felci Filicudi

Mule on Alicudi

We transfer to Panarea, the smallest and most exclusive of the Aeolians. We visit a fascinating Bronze Age village of circular stone huts which were probably inhabited way back in the 14th century BC. Back in the village of Panarea, where the local architecture has been carefully preserved, there is time to enjoy the atmosphere of the fishing harbour — or its rather cool bars and boutiques — before we return to the hotel.

Evening meal and overnight in Panarea.

In the morning, we’ll catch the hydrofoil to Stromboli, the most active and dramatic volcano in Europe. After a light lunch there is a chance to rest or perhpas swim in the sea.

In the late afternoon, we take a boat trip to watch the erruptions of the volcano at sunset.

Overnight on Stromboli.

We have a lazy morning the following day and in the late morning, take the hydrofoil to Lipari where we arrive in time for a late lunch.

After lunch, we take a tour of the island by local taxi. Alternatively, of course, it is also possible to spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool of the hotel.

Evening meal and overnight on Lipari.

Port of Alicudi

Walking in western Lipari

View of Stromboli from Panarea

In the morning we make for Vulcano – of outstanding interest for its spectacular volcanic landscape. For those who wish, we climb still-active volcano up to the lip of the crater, Fossa Grande (391 m), steaming with yellow sulphurous gasses, from where there is a remarkable view down right inside the crater. This is an easy walk, but the views from the top are just as panoramic, stretching right over the Aeolian archipelago.

After lunch we return to spend the afternoon in Lipari. There is time to visit the museum – one of the best in Sicily – and perhaps do some souvenir shopping before we depart from Lipari the following day.

Evening meal and overnight on Lipari.

We depart Lipari in the early morning and hope to be back in Milazzo for 10am for transfers to the airport.