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 along a high crestline, affording 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 farm-to-fork food experience! After saying goodbye to our hosts, we hike a route that winds through olive groves, orchards, and vineyards, then follow a streambed back 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 met the icy river water. Our hotel for the next two nights is the 4-star Shalai Hotel. 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 mi (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 are included. 

Today we explore Mount Etna—Europe’s largest active volcano—with a volcanologist as our expert guide. Rising to 3,400 meters (11,155 feet) and encircled by a 250 km (155-mile) base, Etna is one of the most impressive volcanic landscapes in the world. Our specialist will lead us across lava flows, ash fields, craters, vents, and even lava tubes, revealing how this restless mountain has shaped Sicily’s land, agriculture, and history. Our hike starts and ends at Rifugio Citelli, a quiet alpine lodge at 1,751 meters (5,600 feet), where we’ll enjoy a relaxed lunch in the cool mountain air. Afterwards, we take you to Tenuta Tornatore where we take a deep dive into the wines and traditions of Etna’s northern slope. The estate sits among ancient lava flows and terraced vineyards. The Tornatore family has farmed here since the 1800s. We stroll through the vineyards planted with native grapes such as Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, and Carricante, learning how the volcano’s ash-rich soils and dramatic elevation give Etna wines their signature minerality and elegance. Of course, we let the wines speak for themselves. We will sample their crisp, saline whites and beautifully structured reds. We return to nearby Linguaglossa, where you can wander through town, indulge in a classic Sicilian pastry, or unwind at the hotel spa. Dinner is in the village tonight.  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, lunch, dinner and hotel included. 

After breakfast, we have a rather long transfer, 2 hrs, but the destination is worth it. Our day’s hike leads through the dramatic canyon of Pantalica, one of Sicily’s most ancient and mysterious landscapes. Carved by the clear waters of the Anapo and Calcinara rivers, the gorge is lined with thousands of rock-cut tombs dating back over 3,000 years. The path winds its way along limestone cliffs that were excavated to provide shelters thousands of years ago and, more recently, were used by the Byzantines as they fled inland from marauding Moorish pirates in the 7th century. We pause at ancient necropolises and cave shelters that once belonged to the prehistoric Sicels, a reminder that this seemingly untouched wilderness was once a thriving community. The trail eventually drops down to the river, and we walk on a long abandoned rail line that once followed the valley floor. After our hike, we will transfer you to the historic city of Siracusa. Our hotel, the 4-star Grande Albergo Alfeo, is near the old part of town, only a 10-minute walk to the tiny island of Ortigia. This afternoon, you have free time to wander amongst Ortigia’s captivating Baroque neighborhoods, squares, and seaside promenades. Dinner in the village at a lovely small family-run trattoria.The Hike: total distance 8 km/5 miles. Total elevation gain/loss 250 m/800 ft. Duration: About 3 hours. Overnight  4-star Grande Albergo Alfeo Siracusa. Hotel, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included. 

Accompanied by our local city guide, we walk to the Siracusa archeological park. Our visit brings us into one of the most impressive ancient sites in the Mediterranean. Set among citrus trees and wildflowers, the park reveals layers of Greek and Roman history on a grand scale. We begin in the Greek Theater, a sweeping semicircle carved entirely from the rock of the hillside. Its perfect acoustics once carried the voices of Aeschylus’ tragedies to an audience of 15,000. Nearby is the Roman Amphitheater, where gladiators once battled in an arena sunken into the limestone. From there, we follow quiet paths to the Latomia quarries, vast caverns where slaves cut the stone that built ancient Siracusa. After the visit, we have a short van transfer to the island of Ortigia. The first great landmark we encounter is the Temple of Apollo, one of the earliest Greek temples in Sicily. Its weathered columns stand openly in a bustling modern square. A short walk deeper into Ortigia brings us to the extraordinary Cathedral. At first glance, it appears baroque, with a flamboyant Sicilian façade. Step closer, and you’ll notice something astonishing: the cathedral literally incorporates the great columns of the ancient Temple of Athena. These massive Doric pillars run along the interior walls, towering over the aisles, transformed long ago into a Christian structure while preserving their Greek soul. It’s one of the most extraordinary examples of architectural continuity in the Mediterranean. Lunch is had at a local institution, “Fratelli  Burgio” in the market area. Here you can create a completely epic panino of local cold cuts, cheeses, and “verdure sott'olio.”  After lunch, enjoy free time to discover more of Ortigia at your own pace. You might want to see the island from the water on a small boat tour that circles the shoreline, or join locals for a refreshing swim from one of the jetties tucked along the city walls. Tonight, dinner is on your own—your guides will be happy to share their favorite suggestions.

The Hike: Urban walking. Elevation gain/loss insignificant. Overnight Siracusa. Hotel, breakfast, lunch at the market. Dinner not included. 

After breakfast, a short transfer takes us to Noto Antica, where our hike leads us through the quiet ruins of the original city of Noto. Once a powerful medieval and baroque center, it was destroyed by the 1693 earthquake. Today, it remains hidden among oak and carob trees on a rocky plateau overlooking a deep gorge. As we walk along the ancient streets, you can still trace the outline of the town. Fragments of noble palaces, weathered doorways, and the crumbling walls of churches are inexorably being overwhelmed by nature. The path winds past wildflowers and old stone cisterns, then drops toward the Cava del Carosello, 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. The gorge is lush and inviting, shaded by willows and plane trees and dotted with clear pools, perfect for a refreshing dip in warmer months. After our hike, we take you to our friend Maria’s for lunch. Maria and her husband bought a dilapidated farmhouse thirty years ago. They put down roots and slowly created a working farm. Surrounded by olive groves, almond, carob, and citrus trees, it has become a green oasis. Maria felt that such beauty was meant to be shared, so she opened their home to travelers, welcoming them to their little piece of paradise. After lunch, we say “Arrivederci” to Maria, and soon we arrive in Noto, a UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to its spectacular Sicilian Baroque architecture. We stay in the town center at the Hotel Porta Reale, a 4-star boutique hotel in a renovated noble house. Dinner in the village. The Hike: total distance 9 km/5.6 miles. Total elevation gain/loss 196 meters/624 ft. Duration: About 3 hours. Overnight Noto. Breakfast, lunch, and hotel included. 

Today, we head towards the sea. We enjoy a coastal walk in the Vendicari Nature Reserve. It is a gentle hike through one of Sicily’s most unspoiled shorelines. The trail follows sandy paths and low dunes brushed with wild thyme, juniper, and salty breezes. Along the way, we pass quiet lagoons where herons, flamingos, and migrating shorebirds linger in the shallows—an important stopover on their route between Europe and Africa. As we continue, the silhouette of the old tonnara (tuna-processing buildings) slowly comes into view. Its tall stone chimney and rusted iron frames stand sentinel over a pristine bay, the remains of a once-thriving fishing industry that shaped Sicily’s coastal life for centuries. We’ll have time for a swim before heading to a nearby agriturismo, where another delicious Sicilian lunch awaits. 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. A short transfer brings us back to Noto. Time to relax or explore the town before our final celebratory dinner in the village. The Hike: total distance 9.2 km/5.7 mls. Total elevation gain/loss is insignificant. Duration: About 3 hours. Overnight Noto. Breakfast, lunch, and hotel included.

We offer one group transfer departing 09:30 this morning to the Catania airport, where we arrive at about 10:30. This allows you to book flights departing after 13:00. 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 itinerary details may change depending on your tour departure date. Whenever we run a tour, we make discoveries. Sometimes they are good discoveries, like a wonderful new trattoria, and sometimes bad, like a trail has been washed away. Therefore, we sometimes change our itinerary to improve it, adding wonderful new elements or removing elements that no longer work. Rest assured, we always aim to provide you with the best possible experience. We will advise you of any changes to the original itinerary before departure.