Northern Coastline Sicily Adventure
Regions
Northeast, North, Northwest
Starting Point
Catania
Best time to travel
all year
Recommended Length
10 - 12 days
Minimum Age*
Outdoor Adventure
Activity Level **
3/5
The northern coastline of Sicily is waiting for you with beautiful seaside towns, impressive mountain ranges and the stunning Aeolian Islands off the northeastern coast. Hike to the craters of Mount Etna, enjoy the crystal clear sea waters on kayaking and snorkeling adventures and discover ancient history and heritage as you will travel from Taormina to Trapani and visit Palermo, Cefalu and the Aeolian and Egadi Islands on the way.
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TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
✓ explore the northern part of Sicily between Taormina, the Aeolian Islands, Palermo and Trapani
✓ guided hiking tours to the most beautiful spots on Mount Etna on a hiking tour on the northern slopes
✓ laid back island lifestyle and fascinating geological heritage on the Aeolian and Egadi Islands
✓ snorkeling and swimming adventures in the in the crystal clear waters around Sicily
✓ discover ancient history in the beautiful old towns and villages along the northern coast
✓ visit Palermo, the capital of Sicily
✓ mouth-watering Sicilian cuisine, seafood and wine with every step of the way
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TOUR OVERVIEW
Day 1 - arrival - Taste of Taormina walking tour - overnight in Taormina
Day 2 - hiking on the northern slopes of Mount Etna - traditional lunch - overnight in Taormina (100km)
Day 3 - sea kayaking - free time in Taormina - overnight in Taormina
Day 4 - Aeolian Islands - free time on Lipari Island - sunset wine tasting - overnight on Lipari (120km)
Day 5 - hiking and and snorkeling on Vulcano Island - overnight on Lipari
Day 6 - walking tour in the old town of Cefalu - overnight in Palermo (200km)
Day 7 - walking and street food tour through Norman Palermo - overnight in Palermo
Day 8 - Temple of Segesta - medieval Erice - overnight in Trapani (115km)
Day 9 - Day tour to the Egadi Islands - overnight in Trapani
Day 10 - departure
DETAILED ITINERARY
DAY 1 - WELCOME TO SICILY
Arrive to Sicily and transfer to your accommodation in Taormina. Spend the day at leisure to explore the old city before joining a guided tour in the evening to find out about Taormina's best food and wines.
Overnight in Taormina.
DAY 2 – HIKING ON MOUNT ETNA'S NORTHERN SLOPES
Today you will explore the northern area of Sicily's most impressive and active mountain in the Etna National Park. Hike through the amazing scenery of large woods, vast fields, deep valley's and volcanic formations like lava caves and grottoes. Enjoy a sumptuous lunch at an old farmhouse before returning to Taormina.
Overnight in Taormina.
DAY 3 - SEA KAYAKING TO THE ISOLA BELLA
Spend the morning in the beautiful old Greco-Roman Sicilian town of Taormina, set on the foot of Etna on the coast. Discover some of the towns old Roman and Greek heritage as you stroll through the ancient alleys or head down to the coast to enjoy a kayaking trip between the big rocks created by an old submarine eruption around the Islola Bella.
Overnight in Taormina.
DAY 4 - TRANSFER TO LIPARI - SUNSET WINE TASTING
After breakfast, you will transfer to Lipari, the largest of the Aeolian Islands off the northern coast of Sicily. The islands are characterized by their rich tectonic and volcanic heritage and you can still experience and feel ongoing activity in many places around the islands. You will have the day at leisure to enjoy the lively marina of Lipari, visit the castle overlooking the village or visit the scenic viewpoint Belvedere Quattrocchi for the best views over Lipari and the neighboring Vulcano Island. You will finish off the day with an unforgettable wine tasting while enjoying fantastic panoramic views over the islands and Mediterranean sea at sunset.
Overnight on Lipari.
DAY 5 - HIKING AND WARM WATER SEA SNORKELING ON VULCANO ISLAND
Today's trip will take you to the neighboring island of Vulcano, characterized by its smoking volcanic crater and sulfurous fumes rising to the surface. Spend the day climbing the crater and strolling over black beaches before discovering the amazing underwater scenery on a snorkeling adventure in the crystal clear, naturally heated waters that can be found all around the island.
Overnight on Lipari.
DAY 6 - CEFALU - PALERMO
Return to mainland Sicily after breakfast and transfer to Palermo. You will stop at the bustling fishing village of Cefalu, dramatically nestled under a great, sheltering rock. A walking tour will take you through the beautiful old, walled town to stroll along Corso Ruggiero fringed with shops, bars and cafes, and to admire the mosaics inside the cathedral.
Overnight in Palermo.
DAY 7 - PALERMO
Settled by the Phoenicians in the 8th century, Palermo first fell to the Romas, then the Arabs, who chose Palermo for their capital, making Palermo one of the most powerful and magnificent cities in the world. The Norman kingdom was marked by an exotic mix of cultures and manifested in their administration and the architecture. A walking tour will take you through Norman Palermo and the historic quarter while getting to taste some of the Sicilian capital's delicious street food.
Overnight in Palermo.
DAY 8 - SEGESTA - ERICE - TRAPANI
The temple ruins of Segesta are often referred to as being the most romantic ruins in Sicily. Alongside with the theatre and sanctuary, these are the only remains of an ancient city tugged away between rugged mountains and green hills. Continue to the beautiful medieval village of Erice, built from locally quarried white stones on top of a cliff above Trapani. The ancient temple once served as a beacon to sailors before being replaced with a castle in the medieval ages. Enjoy the fantastic views and enjoy a traditional lunch before continuing on to Trapani.
Overnight in Trapani.
DAY 9 - EGADI ISLANDS
The small three Egadi islands can be reached in about 20 minutes by hydrofoil from Trapani and are a great spot for relaxing on a summer's day. Spend the day exploring the caves on Levanzo with their Paleolithic and Neolithic paintings, exploring the rocky coves on Favignana or take a dip in the crystal clear blue waters around Marettimo. A perfect way to finish your trip to Sicily in a relaxed way.
Overnight in Trapani.
DAY 10 - DEPARTURE (B)
Transfer to the airport after breakfast and departure.
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SERVICES INCLUDED
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- accommodation in good standard middle-class hotels and/or guesthouses
- private transfers or private care hire for the entire trip
- ferry passages
- activities, visits and tours as outlined, with a certified, English speaking guide where desired/required
- all taxes and insurances for the activities
- expert travel planning, trip preparation and 24/7 on-tour support
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TIMES & RATES
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Description
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GALLERY
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TRAVEL TIPS
When to travel
It is possible to visit Sicily all year long, but the best times to travel are May, June, September and October. Summer is lovely, but it can get very hot over July and August and the seaside resorts and towns can become crowded.
While the weather is quite changeable and sometimes rainy in spring, the summer months are arid and temperatures can go as high as 34 degrees. Once the temperatures fall in autumn, the rainy period begins. Temperatures fall further over the winter months, but apart from the higher areas, most of Sicily hardly ever experiences temperatures below freezing.
The northern and particularly the northeastern parts of Sicily get the most rain over the year, which is mainly down to the more mountainous terrain. Thunderstorms and heavy rainfall during the warm summer months are common, especially in the areas East of Mount Etna. The flatter plains in the southern and southwestern part of Sicily get relatively little rainfall throughout the year.
How to travel
The international airports in Sicily are Trapani in the west, Palermo in the northwest, Catania in the east and Ragusa in the southeast of the island. International connections within Europe are good and Sicily is served by all major and some regional European airlines. Direct long-haul connections from outside Europe are rare, in this case it is easiest to connect in mainland Italy like Milan or Rome.
It is possible to take flights from mainland Sicily to the island of Pantelleria from Trapani or Palermo.
The other islands can be reached by ferry. The hydrofoils for the Aeolian Islands leave from Milazzo to Lipari, from where it is then possible to connect to the other islands. As connections are not always frequent and perfectly timed, you should plan the whole day for traveling if you plan to connect from Lipari to another island. The Egadi islands can be reached by hydrofoils from Trapani. Sailings take place frequently over the day and the trip takes less than one hour.
Sicily has a good network of motorways and national roads, making it easy and fast to get around. Infrastructure tends to be a bit more remote in the south, center and mountainous areas. Toll is required on the A18 and A20 motorways.
Travelling with children
Travelling in Sicily with children is easy and Sicilians love children. Hotels, restaurants and bars are eager to accommodate families and children. Menus don’t usually serve a dedicated kids menu, but offer smaller or half portions.
Siesta plays an important way of life in Sicily and shops close between 1 and 5pm. Dinner time in Sicily is usually not before 9pm and especially over the summer months kids are out and about until midnight.
Not all activities are suitable for small children, but Sicily has plenty to offer if you are looking for a fulfilling trip for the whole family. Kids will love to explore the cobbled ancient streets of the historic towns, will be fascinated by the volcanic heritage and of course love the outstanding Sicilian food. The sandy beaches in the south are perfect for a couple of relaxing days and farms and agri-tourism accommodation especially cater for families and offer activities centered around nature and the outdoors.
What to bring
If you are travelling to Sicily between May and September, prepare for warm, sunny and dry days, so light summer clothes, light shoes, swimming gear, sun lotion, sunglasses and sun cover should all make it into your luggage. For those heading to Sicily's mountains and volcanoes, steady hiking boots, a headlight/torch, warm jumper and a rain and windproof jacket are advisable. Also mosquitos tend to annoy people over the summer months, so an insect repellent will do no harm. Some of the churches and religious buildings require covered shoulders, so bring a scarf or t-shirt.
While casual leisure wear is totally fine during the day, you should pack a nice outfit for going out in the evenings. There is no dress-code in most bars or restaurants, but clubs might be a different story. Sicilians like to dress to impress at nighttime, so unless you want to stand out, you might want to do the same.
For more practical travel advise and general information on visiting Sicily, please follow the link below.
Family Adventure Holidays
* The minimum age is based on the overall tour, some activities can require a higher minimum age, this will be advised at proposal stage. While not all activities are suitable for very small children, we are happy to tailor the tour to meet your specific wishes and needs.
** The activity level is based on the amount of tours and activities included (1 - few tours and activities with a lot of free time, 5 - a lot of tours and activities with little free time). The activity level does not reflect the difficulty of the activities or tours included. Itineraries can be tailored to match the preferred level of activity.
