From Palermo to Aeolian Islands | 9 Days

Day 1 – Tuesday:                           PALERMO

Upon arrival at Palermo Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight Palermo.

Day 2 – Wednesday:                    PALERMO

2024: After breakfast, free time at your own leisure to visit Palermo. Meet your guide at 1:30pm to start the guided tour of the city. First, we will enjoy a “street food” lunch in the centre of the town and then we will visit the Cathedral, one of the most important architectural monuments. We will continue our visit by walking along Corso Vittorio Emanuele to reach “I Quattro Canti di Città” Piazza Pretoria, Piazza Bellini and we will visit the Church of Santa Caterina. Overnight Palermo. (B, L)

2025: After breakfast, free time at your own leisure to visit Palermo and for lunch. In the afternoon, appointment with your guide to start the guided tour of the city. First, visit the Cathedral, one of the most important architectural monuments. We will continue our visit by walking along Corso Vittorio Emanuele to reach “I Quattro Canti di Città” Piazza Pretoria, Piazza Bellini and the Church of Santa Caterina. Accomodation at hotel and free time at disposal for shopping and dinner. Overnight in Palermo. (B)

Day 3 – Thursday:                         PALERMO – MONREALE – CEFALU – MESSINA – TAORMINA 

After breakfast, departure to the town of Monreale, situated on a hill at few kilometres from Palermo in a panoramic position. Visit of the Cathedral, one of the most beautiful monuments in the world with its Moorish architecture, housing very fine mosaics representing a complete cycle of the Old and New Testaments in Arab-Norman style. Continue to Cefalù, a former fishing village, now a charming coastal town. Enjoy a walk to the city centre and down the main street to reach the Arab-Norman Cathedral and the medieval washhouse built in the rock. Free time to explore the town. Proceed to Taormina through the coastal road passing through Messina from where we will have the chance to admire the suggestive scenery of the Strait of Messina. Continue to Taormina for overnight. (B)

Day 4 – Friday:                               TAORMINA – MT ETNA – TAORMINA

After breakfast, excursion to Mount Etna, the highest active Volcano in Europe. Weather conditions permitting, we will reach a height of 1800 metres to visit the Sylvester Craters where we will enjoy a spectacular panorama over the Ionian Sea. Stop at a local winery on the eastern slopes of Etna and visit a prestigious cellar. We will have the opportunity to taste different local wines accompanied by local cheese and cold cuts. In the afternoon, return to Taormina, the charming city called “the pearl of the Ionian Sea”. Enjoy time at leisure for shopping or walking through its tiny streets. Possibility to visit the Greek-Roman Theatre on your own, with its spectacular view of Giardini Naxos and Mount Etna. Overnight in Taormina. (B)

Day 5 – Saturday:                          TAORMINA – MILAZZO – LIPARI  

After breakfast, departure to Milazzo. Boarding at the port of Milazzo for Lipari by hydrofoil. Arrival on the island of Lipari, the largest of the Aeolian archipelago. Transfer to the hotel with free time to visit the delightful village of Lipari. Overnight Lipari. (B)

Day 6 – Sunday:                             LIPARI – PANAREA – STROMBOLI – LIPARI

After breakfast, morning is at leisure. In the late morning departure by boat to Panarea where it will be possible to visit the small village with a pleasant walk along the streets among the white Aeolian-style houses. Then continue with the boat to the island of Stromboli, defined as the wildest island because it seems to preserve its bond with nature and in particular with the volcano, called by the locals “Iddu”. Time at leisure. Once you get back on the boat, you will continue until you reach the “Sciara del fuoco”, a ridge of the crater from where the lava descends. From the boat it will also be possible to witness the evocative eruptions of the volcano that follow one another with intervals of about fifteen minutes. Return to Lipari in the evening. (B)

Day 7 – Monday:                           LIPARI – SALINA – LIPARI

After breakfast in hotel, departure by boat for Salina. After a stop in the centre of S. Marina, continue by boat to circumnavigate the island. Swim in Pollara, the beach of the famous film “Il Postino”. Continue to Lingua where there is a salt lake from where salt was extracted in ancient times (hence the name of the island). Return to Lipari in the afternoon. (B)

Day 8 – Tuesday:                           LIPARI – MILAZZO – CATANIA

After breakfast, transfer to the port of Lipari and board the hydrofoil for Milazzo. Transfer to your Catania hotel. Afternoon at your leisure for a visit of the historic centre. Overnight in Catania. (B)

Day 9 – Wednesday:                    CATANIA

After breakfast, end of our services. (B)

2024 Accommodation (or similar):

PALERMO: Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa, or Hotel Politeama Palace

TAORMINA: Villa Diodoro, or Hotel Caparena

LIPARI: Gattopardo Hotel

CATANIA: Katane Palace Hotel

2025 Accommodation (or similar):

PALERMO: Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa, or Hotel Politeama Palace

TAORMINA: Hotel Splendid, or Hotel Caparena

LIPARI: Gattopardo Hotel

CATANIA: Katane Palace Hotel

Includes:

• 8 nights accommodation in 4* hotels.
• Meals as per itinerary
• 1 Street food lunch in Palermo incl. water and a glass of wine (2024 bookings only)
• Visit of a cellar and Wine tasting on Mount Etna
• Transportation by deluxe motorcoach* with free wi-fi (*a minivan with English Speaking driver, normally not equipped with Wi-Fi, will be provided if there are 9 or less participants)
• English speaking Tour Escort* and local guides where necessary
• Whispers Kit (for groups with more than 10 passengers)
• Porterage at hotels (excluding Aeolian Islands)
• Regular multilingual boat excursions from Lipari to Panarea, Stromboli and Salina
• Return transfers by hydrofoil Milazzo Harbour/Lipari
• Return transfer by minivan from Lipari Harbour/Hotel
• Transfer by minivan Taormina/Milazzo (on day 5) and Milazzo/Catania-Hotel (on day 8)

Excludes:

• Entrance tickets to sites and museums (unless pre-purchased)
• City Tax: to be paid directly at the Hotel.
• Beverages
• Everything which is not mentioned in “inclusions”

Things to Note:

–          Accommodation is subject to change without notice. Every effort is made to avoid hotel changes, but should a mid-tour hotel change become necessary after this list has been printed, contact details of the new hotel will be supplied to you by your Tour Director.

–          For organisational reasons or health security, the itinerary may be reversed or modified without notice; in this case the operator ensures similar visits and excursions in accordance with the spirit of the tour program. If the tour is operated with fewer than 9 passengers, it will be with a minivan, English Speaking driver and Local Guide services where necessary, reserving the right to make changes to the travel program by giving notice within 15 days before the departure date

–          Hotel taxes, service charges and tips for baggage handling are not included in the tour price.

–          Tour can be a combination of regular tours, therefore coach changes may be required. The same people may not be travelling throughout the tour.

–          Entrance fees to sights are not included but can be purchased as a supplement

–          A government tourist tax will need to be paid locally upon arrival at your hotels.

–          For the part of the tour to the Aeolian Islands, in case of adverse weather conditions, the day of the excursions could be modified or cancelled, or early return to Sicily may be required. In this case the tour operator will ensure, where possible, alternative solutions in compliance with the travel program