Aeolian Islands, the volcano archipelago
Visit Salina Island and the 6 other Aeolian islands
Go visit the Aeolian Islands ! A volcanic archipelago where each island offers breathtaking landscapes. Here, you explore Salina, with its lush nature, Filicudi, wild and unspoiled, and Panarea, sophisticated and elegant.
Hikes will take you to the summit of active volcanoes, such as Stromboli and Gran Cratere de Vulcano, to witness the fascinating volcanic activity up close. Between picturesque villages, black sand beaches, and panoramic views, you will enjoy an unforgettable experience combining adventure and relaxation.
Highlights
- Aeolian islands : hike the 6 islands of the archipelago
- Sleep in Salina island, Lipari, Stromboli and Vulcano
- Two categories of hotels : comfort or luxury
8 days
/ 7 nights
Price: Consult us
Activity
Hike
Journey TypeTrip Multi-center
Trip Type
Self-guided
Hiking Grade : Terrain Difficulty : Possible departures from 25 September to 25 September
Day by day program
Day 1 : Arrival at Catane or Palerme airport
Take a public transport to Milazzo.
TRANSFER TIME : around 2 hours
ACCOMMODATION : hotel *** or 4* at
Milazzo
Day 2 : Crossing to Salina
After breakfast, you board a hydrofoil bound for Salina from
Milazzo port, the greenest of the Aeolian Islands.
Known for its lush nature and abundant crops, the island is
colored in green with its olive trees, fig trees, citrus trees and
wild caper bushes.
Check in your accommodation for 2 nights.
Bus transfer to Pollara.
You have the choice between 2 hikes :
- Visit Pollara
Nestled in the heart of the Monte dei Porri Nature Reserve,
the village of Pollara stretches across the remains of an ancient
collapsed caldera, forming a spectacular natural amphitheater
overlooking the sea. This grandiose setting has earned it the
poetic nickname “Aeolus's chair.”
You can stroll around the village and its unusual beach-port
offers the opportunity to admire the charming little houses carved
into the foot of the volcanic cliffs.
Pollara is also famous for being the filming location of the movie Il Postino (1994), which depicts the tender friendship between a local postman and the poet Pablo Neruda. At the end of the tour, a visit to a farm producing Pollara's renowned capers will complete this authentic discovery of the island.
HIKING TIME : 1h30
DISTANCE : 3 km
ASCENT : 90 m
DESCENT : 90 m
- Hike Monte dei Porri
From the village of Pollara, a winding trail gently climbs up to Monte dei Porri, reaching an altitude of 860 meters. This accessible and gradual hike offers magnificent panoramic views of the Salina landscape as you climb.
Once you reach the summit, a breathtaking view awaits you: the
outlines of the other Aeolian Islands can be seen on the horizon,
while the villages of Rinella, Malfa, and Pollara lie
below.
Return by bus to Salina to spend the night.
HIKING TIME : 3 hours
DISTANCE : 5 km
ASCENT : 580 m
DESCENT : 580 m
TRANSFER TIME : around 1h30 by bus
ACCOMMODATION : hotel ** or 4* in
Salina
Day 3 : Visit Filicudi, the wild island
Day trip to Filicudi Island, the wildest of the archipelago's
islands, declared a protected nature reserve.
There are two options for this day trip to Filicudi
Island.
- Discover Filicudi's history
In Filicudi, follow in the footsteps of the island's ancient
inhabitants on a pleasant hike between villages. The route takes
you along charming cobbled streets and stone stairways, revealing
stunning views of the sea and surrounding hills at every
turn.
The trail leads you to the remains of a Bronze Age village: 27
huts with lichen-covered foundations, set on a terraced hill
overlooking the horizon. This archaeological site, steeped in
history, offers a spectacular view of the blue waves and the
contours of the island.
On your way back down, you will have the opportunity to visit
Filicudi's only real beach, a little corner of paradise perfect for
swimming in clear, refreshing waters.
HIKING TIME : 3h30
DISTANCE : 7 km
ASCENT : 480 m
DESCENT : 480 m
- Monte Fossa delle Felci
A magnificent balcony trail follows the ridge of Filicudi,
winding through Mediterranean scrub, holm oaks, and arbutus trees
to Fossa delle Felci, the island's highest point.
Throughout the ascent, the view stretches out over the rugged
and untamed west coast, where spectacular rocky spires rise out of
the sea, the most iconic of which is nicknamed “the Aeolian
cane.”
At the end of the trail, a stop at the archaeological site of
Capo Graziano is a must. Perched on a rocky outcrop, it reveals the
circular foundations of Bronze Age huts, silent remnants of a
thousand years of island life. From this promontory, the view takes
in all the mineral and botanical beauty of Filicudi.
HIKING TIME : 5h30
DISTANCE : 12 km
ASCENT : 830 m
DESCENT : 830 m
TRANSFER TIME : around 1h20
ACCOMMODATION : hotel ** or 4* in
Salina
Day 4 : Panarea island - Punta del Corvo
Emerging between Stromboli and Lipari, Panarea is the visible
peak of an ancient submerged volcanic massif, whose activity is
still evident in the fumaroles bubbling beneath the surface. This
wild yet refined island invites you on an unforgettable hike to
Punta del Corvo, Panarea's highest point at 421 meters above sea
level.
The route crosses the gentle green slopes of the east, before
revealing, to the west, vertiginous cliffs plunging into the sea,
creating spectacular panoramas. Along the way, a stop at Punta
Milazzese will allow you to discover the remains of an ancient
Bronze Age village, accessible via a narrow rocky isthmus.
Return to Salina, then take the boat to Lipari.
Check in your accommodation in Lipari for 1 night
HIKING TIME : 4h30
DISTANCE : 8 km
ASCENT : 420 m
DESCENT : 420 m
TRANSFER TIME : around 1h20
ACCOMMODATION : hotel ** or 4* in
Lipari
Day 5 : Lipari island - Monte Guardia - Crossing to Stromboli
You have the choice between 2 hikes, then you take a boat to
Stromboli at the end of the day.
- Monte Mazzuni
The route follows a natural path that climbs up to the chapel
of Monte Mazzuni, perched at an altitude of 240 meters. In spring,
the surroundings are adorned with bright colors thanks to the
abundant and fragrant flora. On the way down, you will reach the
coastal village of Canneto, perfect for relaxing on its white
pebble beach and enjoying a swim in the exceptionally clear
waters.
HIKING TIME : 3 hours
DISTANCE : 8 km
ASCENT : 250 m
DESCENT : 250 m
- Monte Guardia
This spectacular loop takes you to the southernmost tip of
Lipari, where rugged cliffs plunge into a deep blue sea and
mysterious isolated rocks rise up like sentinels. Along the way,
you will reach the famous Belvedere, an iconic viewpoint of the
Aeolian Islands, often immortalized on postcards.
From the center of Lipari, the trail climbs gently before
offering a refreshing break on Valle Muria beach, nestled between
steep cliffs and accessible only on foot or by sea.
The climb gradually reveals breathtaking views of the old town
and its hilltop fortress. The highlight of the day is Monte
Guardia, a former lookout post for the inhabitants of Lipari,
offering a 360-degree view of the island and the surrounding
archipelago.
HIKING TIME : 5h30
DISTANCE : 15 km
ASCENT : 540 m
DESCENT : 540 m
TRANSFER TIME : around 1h
ACCOMMODATION : hotel ** or 4* in
Stromboli
Day 6 : Stromboli island - Crossing to Vulcano
Two options for this day on the island of Stromboli. Then
transfer by boat to the island of Vulcano.
- La Sciara del Fuoco
The day begins with a visit to the village of San Vincenzo,
the lively heart of the island of Stromboli, with its white streets
and unique island atmosphere. From the village, a free climb takes
you up to an altitude of 290 meters, to the heights offering a
privileged view of the volcano.
From there, you can observe the Sciara del Fuoco, a
spectacular black lava flow plunging towards the sea, aptly
nicknamed “the fire slide.”
HIKING TIME : 3h30
DISTANCE : 9 km
ASCENT : 340 m
DESCENT : 340 m
- Climb Stromboli with a guide:
Excursion on the slopes of the volcano up to an altitude of
400m (optional, to be paid on site): the hike is carried out in a
group (up to 25 people) with a qualified volcanologist guide
(approximately 4.5 hours of walking, elevation gain +/-400m).
Beyond this point, climbing has been prohibited since 2019.
HIKING TIME : 4h30
DISTANCE : 12 km
ASCENT : 400 m
DESCENT : 400 m
TRANSFER TIME : around 1 hour
ACCOMMODATION : hotel ** or 4* in
Vulcano
Day 7 : The active craters of Vulcano - Milazzo - Catania
Of all the experiences the Aeolian Islands have to offer,
climbing the crater of Vulcano is undoubtedly the most
breathtaking.
Part of the same volcanic chain as Vesuvius, this explosive
volcano is now dormant, but its landscape remains marked by its
turbulent history.
The route takes you all around the Gran Cratere to its highest
point before descending through the sulfurous fumaroles.
This is an opportunity to observe magnificent sulfur crystals
in vibrant shades of yellow and white.
According to mythology, this is where the Greek god of fire
forged his weapons, and the island owes its name to the Roman god
Vulcan, master of volcanoes.
Crossing to Milazzo then board a train to Catane.
HIKING TIME : 3 hours
DISTANCE : 7 km
ASCENT : 380 m
DESCENT : 380 m
TRANSFER TIME : around
3 hours
ACCOMMODATION : hotel ** or 4* in
Catane
Day 8 : Departure
After breakfast, stroll around Catane.
Take the bus to Catane airport.
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