Sicily Hike

Meet your guides and the rest of the group at 9:00 this morning in the hotel lobby for 1-hour transfer to Linguaglossa, a historic village on the eastern flank of Mountain Etna. We are joined today by Gaetano, a very local fellow (EVERYONE knows him) who regales us with stories of how life used to be. He leads us on a hike that follows a high crestline and affords magnificent views of distant Etna to the west and the shimmering Mediterranean to the south. Our destination is a very rustic farmhouse where we enjoy a uniquely delicious lunch of fresh, warm ricotta made for us, the traditional way, in a copper cauldron over an open fire. The salad, cheeses, and cold cuts are all grown and produced by our hosts. Gaetano treats us to some of his excellent homemade Nerello Mascalese wine. This is a true kilometer zero - farm to fork food experience! After saying goodbye to our hosts, we hike a route that winds through olive groves, orchards, and vineyards and then follow a stream bed to return to Linguaglossa. If time allows, we have a short transfer to the spectacular Alcantara Gorge, whose jet-black walls were frozen into surreal shapes when a fiery lava flow came into contact with the icy river water. Our hotel for the next two nights is the 4-star Shalai Resort (or similar). The Shalai is a lovingly restored noble townhouse in the center of the village. We meet again this evening for a drink followed by dinner at a local osteria. The Hike: total distance 12 km/7 MLS (this can be shortened to 8 km). Total elevation gain/loss 360 meters/1,150 ft. Duration: about 3.5 hours hiking. Overnight Linguaglossa. Breakfast, farm lunch, dinner and hotel inclu

Today, we take you to explore Mount Etna, Europe’s largest volcano, with the help of a volcanologist guide. The volcano is 3,400 meters (11,155 feet) high, with a perimeter of 250 km (155 mi.), making it the third-largest crater in the world. Our professional volcanologist will join us to hike across lava flows, craters, vents, and lava tubes. You will learn about the many fascinating aspects of Etna and how it has shaped the island's history. Our hike begins and ends at Rifugio Citelli. Situated at 1,751 meters/5,600 feet, it provides a cool, quiet place for lunch. Return to Linguaglossa, where you can stroll through the village, enjoy one of Sicily’s renowned pastries, or relax at the hotel spa. Dinner in the village.  The Hike: Distance and elevation gain changes because the hike changes according to the weather we encounter on Etna. Usually, we hike between 6 and 10 kms. Elevation again and loss is not significant. Overnight Linguaglossa. Breakfast, picnic, or light lunch at Rifugio Citelli (depending on the weather), dinner and hotel included. 

Our destination this morning is Cavagrande and the Necropolis of Cassibile. As we descend the scenic ravine you will discern the thousands of tombs that were carved from the living rock more than 2,000 years ago. The graves date from the 11th to the 9th century BC. when the iron age Sicels tribe inhabited eastern Sicily prior to their eventual assimilation Magna Grecia. This walk combines the natural beauty of the ravines with the fascinating and eerie remnants of this past civilisation. You will enjoy lunch at a nearby local trattoria which is half farm-shop, half trattoria, and 100% delicious. Afterwards, we leave the iron age legacy of the Sicels for over-the-top-baroque as we arrive in Noto which is a UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to its spectacular Sicilian Baroque architecture. We stay in the centre of town in a renovated noble house that has been transformed into a 4-star boutique hotel. The Hike: total distance 6 km/3,7 ft, total elevation gain 325 meters/1066 ft, total elevation loss 320 meters/1050 ft. Dinner in the village. Overnight Noto. Hotel, breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

After breakfast, a short transfer takes us to Noto Antica, where the town of Noto once stood before it was destroyed by a powerful earthquake in 1693. We hike down into an impressive canyon dotted with the ruins of ancient water mills and tanneries built by the Arabs during their 250-year occupation of the area in the 8th–10th centuries. We continue to a beautiful family-run Masseria that used to be an olive oil mill and now a four-star hotel. We have a light but very refined lunch. This afternoon, we have a very special visit to the Cantina Zisola. This beautiful wine estate is owned and operated by the Marchesi Mazzei, famous for their historic Fonterutoli winery in Tuscany. Here, you will taste their excellent Nero d’Avola, the quintessential red wine of Sicily. We return you to Noto in time to explore the town as the setting sun bathes the honey-colored tufa stone in golden light. Tonight is a "free night," so you can choose where you wish to dine. The Hike: total distance 9 km/5.6 mls. Total elevation gain/loss 196 meters/624 ft. Duration: About 3 hours.  Overnight Noto. Breakfast, lunch and hotel included. Dinner not included.

Today we head towards the sea and enter the Vendicari Natural Reserve for a coastal hike along beaches and dunes to the evocative ruins of a 17th century tonnara, a seasonal tuna-fishing village that was active until 1944. We have time for a swim before taking you to an adjacent agriturismo for another delicious lunch. We then transfer you to historic Siracusa. Our hotel is in the old part of town, situated on the tiny island of Ortigia. You have free time this afternoon to wander amongst Ortigia’s captivating Baroque neighborhoods, squares, and seaside promenade. Dinner in the village at a lovely small family run trattoria. The Hike: total distance 9.2 km/5.7 MLS. Total elevation gain/loss is insignificant. Duration: About 3 hours. Overnight Ortigia. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and hotel included

Start with an early morning visit to Siracusa’s bustling farmer's market. It’s a cacophony of vendors hawking their wares, selling everything from fresh fish and seafood to every kind of fruit and vegetable you can imagine. After a mid-morning coffee or iced granita, we meet our local Ortigia-based guide for a guided visit of Ortigia, whose history spans thousands of years. We will drive you to the Siracusa archeological park, which reveals that Siracusa was the largest Classical Greek settlement in Magna Grecia. After the visit, we return to the market area for lunch at a local institution, “Fratelli  Burgia.” Here you can create a completely epic panino of local cold cuts, cheeses, and “verdure sott'olio”. After lunch, you have some free time to further explore Ortigia, perhaps from the sea as it is possible to circumnavigate the island on a small “tourist boat.” Or you may choose to join the locals for a swim from one of the jetties accessible from the city walls. Our final dinner together is another celebration of Sicily’s fantastic cuisine.The Hike:Urban walking. Elevation gain/loss insignificant. Overnight Ortigia. Hotel, breakfast, lunch at the market, and dinner included.

We offer one group transfer to the Catania airport this morning to correspond with flights departing after 11:00 am. If you prefer to leave later (or have to leave earlier), there are frequent buses to the airport or you can take a taxi. There are also frequent buses to Palermo. Breakfast and one group transfer included.

Please note: Some details of the itinerary may change according to the departure date of your tour. Whenever we run a tour we make new discoveries. Sometimes they are good discoveries, like a wonderful new trattoria, and sometimes they are bad, like a trail has been washed away. The result is that we sometimes change our itinerary to improve it by adding new wonderful elements to the tour or by removing something that does not work anymore. Rest assured, our goal is to always provide you with the best possible experience. We will advise you of any changes to the original itinerary prior to departure.