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Sicily and the Aeolian Islands

TravelInformation

Travel: Fly to Catania.

Note that you need to budget about 45 Euros per person fortransport, not included in the tour price: This covers things such as Trains.,ferries and Hydrofoils.

Please note that as with hotel reservations, the guidedcomponents of these tours: the walks on Etna and Stromboli have to be booked inadvance. There is limited availability.so you are advised to book as early aspossible. On these days you join a group guided by a vulcanologist.

Arrival: The tour starts in Nicolosi.

End of Tour: After breakfast on day 10 in Catania.

Season: April to Juneand September to mid October.

The climate in the Aeolian Islands is mild due to theinfluence of the sea, the temperature ranges, on average, between 16 and 27degrees centigrade (62-84 F). The winds generally blow from north-west and fromsouth-east. There can be some very strong winds: a north wind (called theTramontana), the warm wind from south-east (called Scirocco) and the south-westwind (called Libeccio) that affect sea currents. The weather on top of the Etnacan be very changeable and we recommend you to bring a fleece and a waterproofjacket. With wind chill, it can get extremely cold!

Caution

Breakaway Adventures cannot be held responsible forferry/hydrofoil cancellations due to bad weather and if the two guidedwalks  (Etna and Stromboli) need to becurtailed due to extreme local weather conditions or excessive volcanicactivity. The decision of the guides and National Park authorities will befinal. On the guided walk it is necessary to walk in the areas dictated by theguide. This is totally for your own safety, as it is a potentially dangerousenvironment.

Level of Difficulty

Grade: Moderate.Distances 5 – 11 km/3-7mi approx, ascents of 400 – 700m. Climbs up thevolcanoes can be steep and there is a 2000m descent from Etna, (ascent byvehicle and cable car). Note that the ascent of Stromboli is the most strenuouswalk of the week.

Fitness: Clients shouldhave a reasonable level of fitness and be able to climb hills. Althoughdistances walked are not great the ascent included lengthens the time requiredto complete the full day-walks, most will complete the routes after about 5hours of walking or less.

Waymarking: Some routes aremarked on the ground but others require the use of the maps provided inaddition to the route notes provided.

General Information

Baths: it is not normal for your room to have a bath, themain reason being that it takes up a lot of space, some hotels/guesthouses mayhave a separate room in the house where a bath is available to guests, butusually en-suite facilities include a shower.

Breakfasts: in countries such as Italy usually consists of coffeeand croissant; sometimes, bread rolls, yoghurts, ham and cheese as well. If youwant more for breakfast then we would suggest you purchase some food the nightbefore. It is important for you to tell us if you have any dietary requirementswhen you book your holiday so that we can inform everyone that you are stayingwith.

SingleSupplements: are payable on most of ourtours. The single supplement guarantees the privacy of your own room, however,rooms can at times be small and in some places may not enjoy the samefacilities as double/twin rooms. Language: Note that you will notnecessarily come across people speaking English. Remember you have left home tofind things different bring a phrase book, try to learn a bit of Italian!

Luggage: On this trip you do not walk between hotels so thereis no independent luggage transfers. On arrival and departure days and on thedays that you travel between hotels you are required to carry you own baggagewith you.

Accommodation & Meals

Accommodation is on a bed and breakfast basis in 2, 3 and 4star establishments and one night in a guesthouse, with en suite facilitieswhen available. No evening meals are included but there are good restaurantsclose by at all the places you stay.

Picnic lunches are not included in the tour price, butmaterials for picnics can be purchased in each of the towns and most villageswhere you stay or pass through.

Nights1 & 2: In Nicolosi you stay at a 2 star hotelin the center of the town. This old villa has recently been converted andrenovated to provide a good standard of accommodation virtually at the bottomof the southern slopes of Etna. The town has in the past been partiallydestroyed by the Volcano. Nicolosi has about 30 restaurants from which tochoose for your evening meals.

Night3: In Calatabiano you stay in a well-appointed 3star bed and breakfast establishment.

Nights4,5 & 6: On Lipari the accommodation is at a 4 star Residence, whereyour mini-apartment will have a patio or balcony. It as about 250m to thecenter of Lipari and less to the sea, so after a days walking it is easy torelax by the sea for a while and not too demanding to walk to one of the localrestaurants. It is not far from the port but on the days when you are movingyour luggage a lift can be arranged.

Night7: On Stromboli a guesthouseprovides beautiful traditional style rooms with simple furniture and en suitefacilities. The situation is quiet, surrounded by olive and lemon trees and notfar from a beautiful cove. There is a restaurant serving traditional food ofthe island and region, perhaps a late lunch here will prepare you for theevening hike!

Night8 & 9: In Catania your final nights arespend in a fine old building in a central location. This 3 star hotel has atouch of grandeur. The facilities, shops and restaurants of Catania are allnear by.

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OutlineItinerary

Day 1 Arrival atCatania airport. Take the airport shuttle bus (departs every 20 mins) to themain Catania rail station to join the bus to Nicolosi (departs approx everyhour). The fares total about 6 Euros (approx $8) per person payable on joiningthe buses. It is not possible to provide tickets for these buses. A taxidirectly to the hotel is more expensive but can be taken from outside theairport; it is about 25km (16 mi) to Nicolosi. Overnight in Nicolosi

Day 2 Hiking on MountEtna. You will be collected by car and driven the 10 minutes to the cable carstation from where you are whisked up the slopes of Etna. Fare included. Fromthe top station the accompanying volcanologist will start the 11km/7mi guidedwalk. The pace will be steady with plenty of stops to learn about the Volcano.There is a lot, 2000m, of descent making walking poles a good idea if you thinkyour knees might find the descent hard. Overnight in Nicolosi.

Day 3 Leave Nicolosion the morning bus back to Catania and change to the train to Giardini Naxos(40 minute train journey), fares approx 6 Euros per person. You will be met atthe station and taken with your bags to the Bed and Breakfast in Calatabiano.Possible options for the rest of the day are sightseeing in nearby historicTaormina (taxi approx 10 Euros/approx US$13 each way), go on a walk for theafternoon or just relax in Calatabiano . Overnight in Calatabiano

Day 4 You will betaken to the train station where you need to but a ticket to Milazzo, fareapprox 5 Euros/US$6.50 per person, train journey approx 1hr 45 mins. Here youtake the hydrofoil to Lipari Island, (ticket included). Transport can be arrangedfor you and your luggage from the port to the Residence if required. There istime in the afternoon for a 9km walk with 500m of ascent to get a first handexperience of the islands. Alternatively walk around the town to see the oldcitadel and marina. Overnight in Lipari.

Days 5 and 6 Walking on theAeolians. You can take a hydrofoil to Salina (approx 10 Euros) or Vulcanoisland (approx 5 Euros plus a 3 Euro entrance fee – US$6.50-$4) to enjoy acouple of days hiking on these volcanoes. Walks are 8 or 9 km/5-6 mi long with500 – 600m of ascent. 2 more overnights in Lipari.

Day 7 Head for theport with you bags ready for the hydrofoil to Stromboli Island, (included).During the morning you can discover the usual tourist charms of the islandbefore hiking to the volcano by night. To undertake this walk you join a groupthat is accompanied by a volcanologist guide. It starts at approx 4pm and takesabout 5 hrs. The route is 9km/5.5mi, with 700m of ascent; hopefully you will befeeling fit by this point in the holiday. There is a short break after every 30mins and an hour is spent at the observation/viewing site of the crater. Forthis walk you will need the normal waking boots, warm clothes, waterproofs andfood and drink. In addition you will need a torch, handkerchief or scarf toprotect your nose and mouth from the dust and a helmet that is supplied andmust be worn. This walk is not recommended for asthmatics or vertigo sufferersOvernight in Stromboli.

Day 8 Hydrofoil backto Milazzo (included) and train to Catania (ticket approx 8 Euro/US$10). Thetrain journey is approx 3 hours. You can walk or take a taxi to the hotel (itis 1200m on foot). Overnight in Catania.

Day 9 Free day inCatania to discover the town, or join an excursion to the Greek and Romanantiquities at Siracusa.

Day 10 Departure andend of services.

Extra nights

Anywhere you like on route. Call us to discuss details.

On a Self Guided Tour we provide you with:

Route notes, maps, timetables, historical information andlocal tourist information. All you need to know to plan the finer detail of thetrip.

Included

- 9 nights accommodation on double occupancy basis.

- 9 breakfasts.

- Hydrofoil from Milazzo to Lipari.

- Hydrofoil from Lipari to Stromboli.

- Hydrofoil from Stromboli to Milazzo.

- Shuttle to the starting point of the Etna hiking (jeep andcable railway) and return at end of walk.

- Assistance of a local vulcanologist on Etna.

- Assistance of a local vulcanologist on Stromboli.

- Transport between port and hotel, hotel and train, andbetween train and port, with baggage, on days 3, 4, 7 and 8.

- Transport to and from the start of walk on Salinas Island.

Not included

- Flights

- No baggage transfers are included on this tour, so you areencouraged to pack as lightly and effectively as possible as you will have tocarry baggage between trains and ferries etc.

- All the transfers and transport not mentioned as includedabove.

- Meals apart from 9 breakfasts.

- Any extra nights due to cancellation or restriction ofscheduled sea-links from/to the islands.

- Travel insurance (essential).

- Gratuity for Tour Leaders/guides.

-Expense of personal nature such as drinks, phone calls, etc.