Sicily walking vacations

There are probably more exciting places to take a walking vacation than Italy’s Aeolian Islands, but not many. Here off Sicily’s north coast you can trek through one of the planet’s fieriest landscapes, island-hopping from Sicily to Lipari, Vulcano and Stromboli via steaming fumaroles, thermal hot springs and mud baths, rivers of lava, incredible black beaches and Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano.

“Sicily is just a completely different kind of vacation, like nowhere else,” says Valentina Chironna from our Italy walking specialists, Exodus. “You’re walking among active volcanoes, but also swimming in crystal clear waters off the Aeolian Islands, and Sicilian cuisine is some of the most varied in Italy. It has this multi-layered cultural identity that is very distinct. If I had one bit of advice for first-time walkers here it would simply be to add on a few extra days at the end of your vacation, because there is so much to take in.”

Vacations here are led by guides drawn from local communities, and might escort you from the port city of Catania on Sicily to Vulcano by a short ferry, then on to Lipari and Stromboli, perhaps finishing with an ascent of Mount Etna in the company of an expert volcanologist (subject to volcanic activity, of course). Walks tend to be short, but offer plenty of challenge. Poles are essential on terrain of hilly lava, ash and sand, and gaiters are recommended too, so that the ash doesn’t get into your boots.

It’s not all smoking volcanoes and sultry swims, though. Walking vacations are fantastic for immersing you deeply in Sicilian culture as you pass through villages, eating at restaurants and staying in family-run accommodations where there is always a warm welcome. Sicily is among the poorest regions in Italy, and income from responsible tourism can have a big ripple effect on the economy.

“Every part of Italy has a very distinct cultural identity all its own,” affirms Valentina, “but I think it’s stronger here than anywhere else. One of the highlights for me there was the food and the sheer variety of it. You get seafood there you won’t find anywhere else in Italy. Catania is especially good for its markets. And Sicily is great for vegetarians: you can find an amazing range of greens and pulses.”

On Lipari, you might spend an evening wine tasting, with a selection of regional cheeses and other delicacies to accompany them. And your lunches are drawn as far as possible from the area too. “Our tour leaders make a point of using local, hopefully family-run businesses,” says Valentina. “When arranging picnics, for example, they use local produce, ensure nothing is left behind, and aim for recyclable or reusable packaging. And they were doing this long before it was fashionable.”

Walking vacations in Sicily are generally around eight days long, beginning and ending on Sicily itself with short ferry or hydrofoil crossings between the Aeolian Islands. Typically these are small group tours. Numbers are capped at 16 so that you can stay at smaller locally owned properties and your impact on trails and island communities is minimised. These islands and remote villages are often dependent on tourism. Walking with our responsible travel companies means more money in the pockets of local people in areas where career opportunities and economic development may be limited.

The minimum age is 16. While you’ll walk with local guides and – in some cases – professional volcanologists, there is always going to be an element of risk in places where torrents of molten-hot lava sometimes flow. You’ll walk for 4-6 hours a day on terrain that is often steep and uneven, so poles will be very useful. And if you do manage to ascend Stromboli, then you should know that it can be dusty on the slopes, making it uncomfortable for asthma sufferers, and you’ll need a head-torch as you’ll be coming down after dark.