Gratis gids 10 verborgen natuurplekken in Europa
Gratis gids 10 verborgen natuurplekken in Europa. Meld je aan voor onze nieuwsbrief en ontvang inspirerende reistips en routes voor je volgende groene reis.
Sicily
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean, and the most underrated as a nature destination. For while most travelers rush to the coast, in the center of the island stands an active volcano 3,357 meters high that has been shaping the landscape for millennia. And right in the middle of it all lies Enna: Italy’s highest provincial capital, surrounded by wheat fields and almost never found on a travel itinerary. Just the way we like it.
Lava fields, canyon landscapes, salt flats teeming with flamingos, tranquil mountain parks; Sicily has 76 official nature reserves and a level of biodiversity unmatched anywhere else in Italy. Visit in the spring or fall, and you’ll have the island largely to yourself. And don’t forget the Aeolian Islands.
Nature Travel Lab selects small-scale accommodations in Sicily that can be booked directly with the owner.
All about nature in Italy
2
3
The most beautiful regions for nature lovers
South Tyrol
Tuscany
Abruzzo
Piedmont
Valle d'Aosta
Sardinia
Sicily
Umbria
Molise
Le Marche
Veneto
Friuli-Venezia-Giulia
Liguria
Trentino
Puglia
Lake Como
Lake Garda
Lazio
Emilia-Romagna
Campania
Basilicata
Small-scale nature stays Italy
Choose your favorite region and discover our tips for the best small-scale Nature stays with a sustainable focus. You book directly with the owner, so you are guaranteed the lowest price.
Special accommodation in Italian nature
Find unique small-scale Nature stays in Italy. From glamping to luxury boutique hotel and from B&B to vacation home or agriturismo. They are all special and different, but they all have an eye for sustainability.
Our sustainability criteria for overnight stays
Using these sustainability icons, you can easily see in what area an overnight stay is active with its sustainability policy.
Zero footprint
Architecture
sustainable/local construction
Food
organic/local cuisine
Social
family/local runned/social projects
Wellbeing
Sauna/yoga/wellness/treatments
Surroundings
Environment/recycling
Choose your region
Sicily
Tuscany
Valle d’Aosta
Piedmont
Basilicata
Puglia
Campania
Veneto
Lombardy
Lombardy
Lake Garda
South Tyrol
Sardinia
Emilia-Romagna
Umbria
Le Marche
Trentino
Abruzzo
Liguria
Friuli-Venezia-Giulia
Lazio
Nature in Sicily
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean—and one of the most diverse. The landscape is constantly changing: from the lava fields of Mount Etna to deep gorges, from salt pans teeming with flamingos to fragrant macchia along the coast. With 76 official nature reserves, a large part of this natural environment is protected. The island has developed its own biodiversity, with species found nowhere else.
The Zingaro Nature Reserve on the northwest coast offers a mix of unspoiled coastline, steep cliffs, and crystal-clear blue coves. To the north lie the lush Madonie and Nebrodi mountain parks: quieter, cooler, and virtually unknown to the average tourist. In the southeast, nature and history intertwine in gorges filled with prehistoric tombs. And then there are the Aeolian Islands: a volcanic archipelago north of Sicily, with active craters, black lava beaches, and a tranquility you won’t find anywhere else. And Mount Etna itself: active, unpredictable, and always visible on the horizon.
If you visit Sicily in the spring or fall, you’ll see the island at its most beautiful: the blossoms are in full bloom, and the heat hasn’t yet taken its toll. This is nature that leaves a lasting impression—not because it was man-made, but because it has been following its own course for centuries.
Hiking in Sicily
Sicily isn’t exactly known as a hiking destination. But if you look beyond the coast, you’ll discover an island full of hiking opportunities. Crisscrossing the rugged interior are centuries-old unpaved roads, known as trazzere, which once served as trade and military routes and now together form some 900 kilometers of hiking trails.
Each of the three major nature parks has its own unique character. On Mount Etna, you’ll hike through lava fields and forests to the crater rim; in the Madonie and Nebrodi Mountains, you’ll find green valleys, mountain peaks, and well-marked trails winding through wildflowers and chestnut forests. If you prefer hiking along the coast, choose the seven-kilometer coastal trail through Lo Zingaro; accessible only on foot, it’s one of the most beautiful hikes in all of Italy. And the Aeolian Islands deserve a special mention: on Stromboli and Vulcano, you can hike to active craters, with views of the Tyrrhenian Sea you won’t soon forget.
Spring and fall are the ideal seasons: the temperatures are pleasant, the trails are quieter, and nature is at its most beautiful. Good shoes and plenty of water are no luxury; even outside of peak season, the sun is stronger than you might think.
Staying Overnight in Sicily
Sicily has two sides: the bustling island of August, full of beach bars and tourist resorts; and the other Sicily, which you only discover if you know where to look. Nature Travel Lab focuses on that second side: small-scale agriturismi in the countryside, rustic B&Bs on the edge of a nature reserve, and accommodations where the owner joins you at the table in the evening to talk about the region.
Imagine an agriturismo in the southeast, surrounded by olive trees and almond groves, with a breakfast that tastes like the land itself. Or a stay in the Nebrodi Mountains, within walking distance of quiet forest trails and picturesque villages that most travelers never see. Or a simple yet special place to stay on one of the Aeolian Islands, where you can watch the glow of Stromboli in the evening. Accommodations you won’t find through a booking platform, but directly from the people who run them with care.
Sicily is at its best outside of peak season: affordable, peaceful, and welcoming in a way you won't experience in August.
“Nature is our greatest ally and inspiration.”
– Sir David Attenborough
Special spots in nature
We select the nicest accommodations with all a focus on sustainability policies. Think luxury Treehouses in the middle of nature or a boutique hotel in the countryside. Sustainability categories range from organic cuisine and mindfull focus to waste separation and zero-waist policy.
Luxury overnight stay in nature
The accommodations all have something unique and of course a location in or near nature. Spending the night in nature does not always mean sleeping in a tent. Find special and luxurious nature stays for your active vacation or just for your slow travel experience.
Comfortable overnight stay in nature
The overnight focus on sustainability policy gives attention to comfort and quality.
They often use their own vegetable garden or local cuisine. Much attention is paid to the quality of the accommodation, the environment and the guest.