Catania & the Aeolian Islands 2026
Tour Essentials
Breakfast daily, plus one dinner in Catania; remaining meals are independent.
Tour Details
Sicilian Horizons is a 7-day private island-hopping journey that begins and ends in Catania, combining Sicily’s eastern coast with the raw, volcanic beauty of the Aeolian Islands. It is ideal for travellers who want a structured, well-supported itinerary while still having plenty of free time to swim, wander, and enjoy island life at their own pace.
After your arrival night in Catania, you travel to Milazzo and take the hydrofoil to Lipari, the largest of the Aeolian Islands and your base for four nights. A taxi tour introduces Lipari’s landscapes and viewpoints, then you head out on classic Aeolian day trips by boat: Panarea’s whitewashed village lanes, Stromboli’s dramatic shoreline, Salina’s coastal scenery, and Vulcano’s black-sand beaches.
On the return to Sicily, you will also have time in Taormina before your final night back in Catania. Throughout the journey, the balance of included logistics and independent time keeps the experience relaxed without losing depth.
Inclusions
- 2 nights in a double room with bed and breakfast at a 4-star hotel in Catania
- 1 dinner in the Catania hotel
- Transfer from Catania to Milazzo
- Round-trip hydrofoil transfer from Milazzo to Lipari
- Round-trip transfer from Lipari port to the hotel
- 4 nights in a double room with bed and breakfast at a 4-star hotel in Lipari
- Taxi tour of Lipari
- Boat excursions to the other islands as per itinerary
- Transfer from Milazzo to Catania with a 3-hour stop in Taormina
- On-site assistance from Retevacanze
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Catania
Arrival transfer at hotel in Catania, accommodation.
Dinner at hotel and overnight.
Day 2: Catania - Lipari
After buffet breakfast, departure to Milazzo. Boarding at the port of Milazzo for Lipari by hydrofoil.
Arrival on the island of Lipari, the largest of the Aeolian archipelago.
Transfer to the hotel and free time to visit the delightful village of Lipari.
Lunch on your own; in the afternoon, taxi tour of the island of Lipari.
Free time for dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 3: Lipari – Panarea – Stromboli – Lipari
After a buffet breakfast, morning at disposal and lunch at your own.
Late in the morning departure by boat to Panarea and Stromboli.
First stop in Panarea where it will be possible to visit the small village with a pleasant walk along the streets among the white Aeolian-style houses. Then continue with the boat to Stromboli, the island, defined as the wildest island because it seems to preserve its bond with nature and with the volcano, called by the locals “Iddu”; free tme to visit.
Once back on the boat, you will continue until you reach the “Sciara del fuoco”, a ridge of the crater from where the lava descends. From the boat it will also be possible to witness the evocative eruptions of the volcano that follow one another with intervals of about fifteen minutes.
Return to Lipari in the evening and overnight.
Day 4: Lipari – Salina – Lipari
After a buffet breakfast in hotel, departure by boat to Salina.
After a stop in the center of S. Marina, continue by boat to circumnavigate the island, swim in Pollara, the beach of the famous film “Il Postino”.
Free time for lunch.
Continue to Lingua where there is a Salt Lake from where salt was extracted in ancient times (hence the name of the island).
Return to Lipari in the afternoon.
Free time at disposal for shopping and dinner.
Overnight
Day 5: Lipari – Vulcano – Lipari
Breakfast.
Departure by boat to Vulcano. Boat tour around the island.
Upon arrival, enjoy a walk through the small town and take time to relax on the beach.
Free time for sightseeing, swimming, and relaxation.
Return to Lipari in the afternoon.
Free time at disposal for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Lipari - Taormina - Catania
After breakfast, transfer to the port of Lipari, and boarding on the hydrofoil for Milazzo. Transfer to Taormina.
Free time at disposal to visit the town on your own.
Late in the afternoon proceed to Catania. Accommodation.
Lunch and dinner on your own; Overnight in Hotel
Day 7: Catania
After buffet breakfast, transfer to Catania airport.
Tour Highlights
- Private, island-based Aeolian experience with four nights on Lipari
- Hydrofoil travel Milazzo ↔ Lipari, with transfers arranged
- Taxi tour of Lipari to orient you to the island’s key viewpoints
- Panarea + Stromboli boat excursion, including “Sciara del Fuoco” volcano viewing from the sea
- Salina day with Pollara swim stop and time in Lingua
- Vulcano visit with boat tour and beach/relaxation time
- Independent time in Taormina (three-hour stop) on the return to Catania
Accommodation
You’ll stay in comfortable 4-star hotels selected for smooth logistics and easy access to ports, transport, and town centres—one night to settle into Catania at the start, then a longer base on Lipari to minimise packing and maximise island time:
- Catania: Hotel Katane Palace (2 nights, 4-star)
- Lipari: Hotel Gattopardo (4 nights, 4-star)
Tour Notes
Physical Requirements
Moderate: you’ll need to manage walking in towns (uneven surfaces/steps), boarding and disembarking boats/hydrofoils, and spending time on the water. Swims are optional but you should be comfortable with coastal environments and variable sea conditions.
Exclusions
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Inclusions
- Optional supplements available on request, including cooking class with dinner, sunset wine tasting at Tenuta di Castellaro, taxi transfers hotel ↔ Marina Corta port, and a 2-hour local guide in Taormina
General Notes
- Daily departures in 2026 operate from April 1 to October 31
- April and October departures are priced at $3,399 per person, double/twin share
- May departures are priced at $3,499 per person, double/twin share
- June and September departures are priced at $3,549 per person, double/twin share
- July departures are priced at $3,699 per person, double/twin share
- August departures are priced at $3,999 per person, double/twin share
- Single supplement: $500 per person
- Solo traveller supplement: $1,600
- Island excursion order may vary and boat tours are subject to sea and weather conditions
Cancellations
For information related to cancellations and any associated costs, please refer to our Terms & Conditions.
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