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Sicily's Aeolian Islands 8-day Bike & Boat Tour
The Aeolian archipelago: from Panarea, to Stromboli, to Vulcano 2020. Let yourself be enchanted by this spectacular cruise in the heart of the Mediterranean sea. You will discover the pearls of Sicily, the extraordinary Aeolian islands, in a new and different way. During this week, on board a caicco, you will discover these islands of volcanic origin, today part of the Unesco World Heritage. Starting from Milazzo, you will reach the island of Vulcano, where you will first experience the volcano activities. Navigating on wonderful crystalline water, the journey continues to Panarea, with its large rocky ridges of Basiluzzo and Lisca Bianca. Then, we will enjoy one of the amazing highlights of this holiday, the "Sciara del Fuoco", an unforgettable natural show. In the background the continuous and rhythmic explosive activity of the Vulcan Stromboli, or “Iddu” (“Him”) how the locals call him. We will then head towards Salina, where you should not miss having a “granita” at Alfredo’s! Finally we enjoy a circular tour on the charming island of Lipari, a village full of nice restaurants and shops. Welcome on board, be ready to experience a truly active journey intended to combine navigation and relax with cycling and walking tours, to enjoy the wonders of the Aeolian Islands.
Level: medium Terrain: from plain to hilly, with a daily positive difference in height from 0 to 600 metres. The daily stage is 15/25 km only and there is all the time to do the bike tour and to cycle with tranquillity all through the itinerary. However, this tour is recommended to people who have a good experience in biking tours. Not suitable for children under 12 years old. Not suitable for beginners.
Participants: min. 4 pax
Your ship for the week, completely renovaed in 2012, has 6 double cabins with private facilities, shower and WC (12 places). A 24,5 meters long and 6,25 meters wide Turkish caique. It was built in the shipyard Vedat Sungul of Bodrum in Turkey, using the ancient art of the Turks shipwrights still in use. The solid structure in pine and mahogany woods makes the navigation really comfortable.
All cabins are equipped with private services with hot and cold water and shower and a little wardrobe with enough space to place bags and luggage (please exclude rigid luggage). The whole caique has air conditioning and comfortable inner spaces such as the spacious dinette. The guests can also relax on comfortable beach mattresses on the large solarium deck, enjoying the sound of the sea. The stern deck has a wide and elegant lounge.
The catering on board is an excellent combination of fresh seafood and vegetables, pasta and meat, flavoured with Mediterranean herbs.
Vegetarian meals are available, but please indicate this at the reservation. An additional charge of 50€ per person will be applied to provide lactose or gluten-free meals. In all other allergy or intolerance cases we will check the possibility of catering for it. In some cases an additional charge may apply.
Guided tour with English and Italian speaking guide
Bike rental: 24-speed Unisex bike 90 EUR; e-bike 180 EUR
Port fees: 60 EUR p.p. to be paid when booking
NOTES: during the nights of the tour the boat will be docked in the port during 6 nights. The remaining night the ship will stay anchored in roadstead. The roadstead is a place outside the harbor where the ship can lie at anchor. It is an enclosed area with an opening to the sea. Natural roadsteads offer shelter from storms, winds and currents, and are frequently used for naval bases. Exclusively in exceptional cases (unfavorable meteorological and/or sea conditions), for safety reasons, the ship must return in the port also during the night that is scheduled in roadstead. Only and exclusively in this case, the clients will be asked to pay the relative price for the stay in the port. This amount, variable from port to port, will be divided among all the participants of the tour and will be paid directly on site (approximately from 20 to 50€ per person per night, subject to changes).
We strongly recommend that you bring a headlight torch with you for the Stromboli volcano day trip. If you don’t have one, you can rent it on site for 2€.
Possibility to charter the whole boat for bike and boat, or trekking tours: [email protected] for details
Slow Tours offers a number of other Bike & Boat Tours in Europe
Individual arrival
Meeting at 15.30 at Catania airport. Collective transfer to Milazzo harbour. Embarkation at 18.00 at the Marina di Nettuno in Milazzo (Me). Accommodation on board, welcome drink, dinner and presentation of the program. Night in the port of Milazzo.
Milazzo (14 km cycling, +/- 100 mt)
Departure by bike to reach Capo Milazzo (Milazzo Cape). Possibility of bathing in the wonderful “Venus Pool”, a protected natural sea pool at the very end of the cape. Return to Milazzo and possibility of visiting the Castle and its ancient bourg. Return to the Marina of Milazzo, dinner and night in port.
Vulcano (18 Km cycling, +/- 400 mt)
Breakfast and navigation towards the island of Vulcano, the “Sulphur Island”. Today you will discover by bike the hinterland of the island towards Piano Grillo, ideal place to admire an amazing panorama. Free time in the afternoon. We suggest one of the following activities to discover the volcanic activity of the island: you can walk up to the crater of the volcano (400 mt), you can have a mud bath in the sulphur beach of the island, you can swing among underwater fumaroles. Dinner on board and overnight in port in Vulcano.
Panarea and Stromboli (3h30 walking, +/- 400 mt)
After breakfast navigation towards Panarea. We will stop for a swim close to the little islands of Lisca Bianca, Bottara and Dattilo, where the volcanic activity is still clearly visible and vapours rise up through the cracks between the rocks. Once arrived in Panarea, the smallest of the Aeolian Islands, lunch break at anchor in a nice bay. Navigation towards Stromboli with a superb view on the Sciara del Fuoco. In the late afternoon, walking trip to 400 m. above sea level, to admire the volcanic explosions at dusk. Picnic dinner in a nice panoramic point. Return on board, overnight in Stromboli.
Stromboli – Panarea (2h30 walking, flat) – Salina
Breakfast on board and navigation towards Panarea. We stop at anchor in the bay of Porto San Pietro. Nice relaxed walk in the morning to visit the little village of Panarea, the Drautto beach and the prehistoric village. Picnic lunch at Cala Junco and return on board. Navigation up the Island of Salina with a break for a swim. Disembarkation in Salina and visit to a local shop, with a chance to taste several local products. Return on board, You are free for dinner. Night in port in Salina.
Salina (22 km cycling, +/-300 mt) – Lipari
Departure from the port and great cycling trip on the biggest island of the Aeolian Archipelago. From Santa Marina, on the East coast, you will reach Pollara, a panoramic point on the western coast. Visit of the lake of Lingua and Pollara, with the possibility to taste the very good “granita” of Alfredo. Return on board and navigation toLipari. You can stroll around the nice charming village of Lipari, with several shops and good restaurants. Dinner and night in port of Lipari.
Lipari (25 km cycling, +/- 600 mt)
After breakfast we will start a fantastic coast to coast by bike. Starting from the village of Lipari, we pass along the beautiful village and beach of Canneto. We reach the pumice quarries and the pretty beach of Acquacalda (a swim is possible). Picnic lunch at the panoramic point of Quattrocchi and return back to the historical centre full of shops and restaurants. Return to the caique. Navigation up to MIlazzo. You are free for dinner. Overnight in port.
Departure
Disembarkation at 9 am and collective transfer to Catania airport. Arrival in Catania airport at around 12. End of the services.
The captain and the guide reserve the right to make alterations to the itinerary, depending on wind, sea and weather conditions or organizational requirements. We wish to specify that this is not a sailing trip. The ship is a motor vessel, it has sails but the navigation is powered by engines.
Tours marked with are special prices.
| Start | End | Max. No. Guests | Accommodation | Price p.p. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 16 2020 | May 23 2020 | 12 | Single rooms | 1,980€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,295€ | |||||
| May 23 2020 | May 30 2020 | 12 | Single rooms | 1,980€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,295€ | |||||
| May 30 2020 | Jun 06 2020 | 12 | Single rooms | 1,980€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,295€ | |||||
| Jun 06 2020 | Jun 13 2020 | 12 | Single rooms | 1,980€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,295€ | |||||
| Jun 13 2020 | Jun 20 2020 | 12 | Single rooms | 1,980€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,295€ | |||||
| Aug 29 2020 | Sep 05 2020 | 12 | Single rooms | 1,980€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,295€ | |||||
| Sep 05 2020 | Sep 12 2020 | 12 | Single rooms | 1,980€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,295€ | |||||
| Sep 12 2020 | Sep 19 2020 | 12 | Single rooms | 1,980€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,295€ | |||||
| Sep 19 2020 | Sep 26 2020 | 12 | Single rooms | 1,980€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,295€ | |||||
| Sep 26 2020 | Oct 03 2020 | 12 | Single rooms | 1,980€ | ||
| Double rooms | 1,295€ |
If you would like to drive yourself before or after your tour, ask us for a quote on any brand new Renault, Peugeot or Citroen vehicle for driving in Europe.
Pick up your vehicle from most capital cities in Europe and return it to your drop off destination. Top insurance cover. Email [email protected] for a competitive quote
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