On Vulcano, you know you’ve arrived before you even set foot on shore. The sulfur already hangs over the harbor. A smell that hovers somewhere between a match and a boiled egg—and one you get used to surprisingly quickly. Welcome to the Aeolian Islands, the string of volcanoes north of Sicily where the ground beneath your hiking boots is literally alive.
I’ve written before about what makes this archipelago so special. This story is about something else: the best way to really get to know the islands, and that’s on foot. An 8-day self-guided walking tour connects the highlights of five islands. It includes the boats, the hotels, and the route descriptions. All you have to do is focus on walking and taking it all in. You can book this hiking trip through Nature Travel Lab directly with our local specialist. Go directly to request a quote.
What: An 8-day self-guided hiking tour of the Aeolian Islands, ending on Mount Etna
Islands: Lipari (base), Vulcano, Salina, Panarea, and Stromboli, plus Taormina and Mount Etna in Sicily
Level: beginner to intermediate. Hikes ranging from 4 to 14 km and lasting 2 to 5 hours
When: from March 1 through the end of July and from the end of August through October (not in August, as it’s too hot then)
Transportation: island hopping by hydrofoil and local public transportation. No rental car needed
Price: starting at €622 per person (2026, double room, 7 nights with breakfast)
Bookings: directly through the local specialist who planned the itinerary
“Self-guided” means you hike on your own and at your own pace, but you’re not on your own. You’ll receive detailed route descriptions via an app (also available on paper upon request), the trails are marked, and there’s a hotline in case you ever mistake a mule trail for a turn-off. Getting lost, finding your way back, and asking someone for help in broken Sicilian is all part of the experience, and often turns out to be the best travel story in the end.
The itinerary is simple: you’ll stay at a fixed location on Lipari, the liveliest of the islands, for four nights, and from there you’ll go on day hikes. You’ll also visit the neighboring islands, which you’ll reach by boat. Then you move on to Stromboli, and for the last two days, you’ll swap the salt of the sea for the heights of Mount Etna, with Taormina as your base. On the hiking days starting from Lipari, you choose which routes to take and in what order. Freedom within a framework, so to speak.
You’ll make your own way to Sicily (the nearest airport is Catania) and travel via Milazzo or Messina to the hydrofoil, which will take you to Lipari in just over an hour. Here, you’ll stay for four nights at a centrally located, family-run hotel. Lipari is the bustling heart of the archipelago. An old fortress, a fish market, a bistro with live music at the Marina Vecchia. And at the same time, your starting point for a variety of walks:
From Lipari, you can take a boat to the neighboring islands, each with its own unique character. On Vulcano , you’ll hike through an almost lunar landscape up to the Gran Cratere, where yellow sulfur fumes hiss from the ground and you’ll have a 360° view of the entire archipelago. If the summit is closed, there’s an equally photogenic alternative route starting from Capo Grillo.
Salina is the greenest island, with an atmosphere as if time has paused there for a moment; the walk takes you past Pollara, where the film Il Postino was filmed, with views of the distant islands of Filicudi and Alicudi. Panarea, the smallest and most chic island, can be explored on a loop along the rim of the ancient volcano; with a possible stop at a prehistoric village along the way.
You’re moving to Stromboli, and here something special happens: your luggage is taken to the hotel by transfer while you walk uphill through the whitewashed alleys. The evening walk takes you up to 272 meters, the point where you look out over the Sciara del Fuoco: the “fire slide” down which the volcano regularly spews glowing material into the sea. The route is accessible to everyone and deliberately avoids the strictly regulated summit. Watching a volcano at work in the last light of day: few things can compare to that.
Take the hydrofoil and train to Sicily and the elegant town of Taormina, where you’ll have the afternoon free to explore the Greek theater, the cathedral, and enjoy a must-try granita with brioche to beat the heat. The next day, the biggest attraction of all is on the agenda: Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano. This is the only guided group hike of the trip. From Piano Provenzano, you’ll walk across ancient and fresh lava flows, crawl into a lava cave, and have lunch at a local winery. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Alcantara Gorge, where lava once solidified in an ice-cold river into jagged basalt columns. Day 8 is your departure day.
The trip is rated as introductory to moderate. The hikes last 2 to 5 hours and range from 4 to 14 km, with climbs of up to a few hundred meters in elevation. The trails are often uneven—mule trails, coastal paths, and some asphalt here and there. So sturdy hiking boots are a must. No mountaineering, but active days under the southern Italian sun.
With a reasonable level of fitness, you’ll get a long way. If you want to take it easy, choose the shorter routes; if you’re up for a challenge, there are plenty of strenuous options. This makes the trip ideal for couples and solo travelers who enjoy being active without it turning into a competitive trek. A tip from the expert: build up some hiking and endurance fitness in the two months before departure, so you’ll have energy left along the way to enjoy the views instead of just focusing on the next hotel.
You’ll stay in centrally located three-star hotels: four nights at Hotel Oriente on Lipari, one night at Hotel Villaggio Stromboli with a sea view, and two nights at Hotel La Pensione Svizzera in Taormina. Each room features a private bathroom and a daily breakfast buffet. During high season, an equivalent alternative in the same location may be used. Aeolian cuisine does the rest: sun-ripened vegetables, fresh fish, local wine, and that indispensable granita. Lunch on the Etna day at a winery featuring local products is a highlight in itself.
One honest note: except on Stromboli, you’ll have to carry your own luggage on public transportation. That’s part of the adventurous, low-impact nature of this trip. And it’s the best reason to pack light. A compact suitcase or backpack makes island hopping a lot easier.
This trip doesn’t require a rental car. You’ll travel between the islands by hydrofoil, local bus, and train. Traveling more slowly, closer to the rhythm of the place, with a modest carbon footprint of about 159 kg CO₂e per person. By traveling outside of peak season (August is out of the question anyway, as it’s too hot), you avoid the crowds and see the islands at their best.
And the money goes where it’s supposed to. You book this trip directly with the local specialist who designed it and the family-run hotels that are hosting you. Fair tourism—without having to put up a banner to prove it.
In 2026, the trip starts at €622 per person based on double occupancy, including seven nights’ accommodation with breakfast. If you’re traveling alone, you’ll pay starting at €1,081 for a single room. Prices vary slightly by season. Spring and fall are the most affordable. Arrival is possible daily.
| Period (2026) | Double (per person) | Solo traveler (single room) |
| April 1 – April 24 | €783 | €1,356 |
| April 25 – May 27 | €821 | €1,410 |
| May 28 – June 10 | €833 | €1,435 |
| June 11 – June 26 | €851 | €1,459 |
| June 27 – July 10 | €911 | €1,506 |
| July 11 – July 27 | €923 | €1,519 |
| August | Travel is not possible (too hot) | – |
| September 1 – September 15 | €911 | €1,506 |
| Sep 16 – Sep 30 | €833 | €1,435 |
| Oct. 1 – Oct. 18 | €798 | €1,386 |
| Oct. 19 – Oct. 31 | €783 | €1,356 |
Prices are per person, based on a 7-night stay. Triple rooms are more economical; prices available upon request.
Als je een offerte aanvraagt, sturen we deze door naar de lokale partner en bevestigen zij direct aan jou indien akkoord. Je betaalt dezelfde prijs als wanneer je direct reserveert. Verdere afhandeling van de reservering en betaling regel je met de lokale leverancier (met wie wij goed contact en afspraken hebben). Wij blijven altijd beschikbaar voor mogelijke vragen.
"*" geeft vereiste velden aan
Yes, as long as you’re in reasonably good shape, you’ll be able to keep up just fine. The trip is rated as introductory to moderate, with daily hikes ranging from 2 to 5 hours. On most days, you can choose between shorter and longer routes, so you can adjust the pace to suit your own level.
In 2026, the trip starts at €622 per person based on double occupancy, including seven nights’ accommodation with breakfast, the travel app, luggage transfer on Stromboli, and the guided Etna day tour. Solo travelers pay starting at €1,081. Flights, local boat and train tickets, and the tourist tax are additional.
No. The hike goes up to 272 meters, a safe viewpoint accessible to everyone overlooking the active Sciara del Fuoco. The strictly regulated summit is not part of the route (the hike is adjusted in the event of increased volcanic activity).
No. You’ll hop between the islands on hydrofoils and get around once you’re there using local buses, trains, and boats. That’s part of the trip’s light, sustainable nature.
Spring (April–June) and fall (September–October) are ideal: pleasant temperatures and bright light. August is out of the question because it’s too hot to hike comfortably.
“Self-guided” means you walk at your own pace, without a set group or guide. Only the hike on Mount Etna is a guided group hike. You’ll receive route directions via an app along the way, and there’s a hotline to call if you get lost.
On Stromboli, your luggage will be transported between the port and the hotel. On other routes, you’ll need to carry your suitcase or backpack yourself on public transportation, so it pays to pack light.
Met een passie voor reizen en fotografie én meer dan 30 jaar ervaring in de reisbranche, deel ik graag mijn bijzondere natuur-reistips. Reizen is heerlijk en belangrijk, je ontmoet nieuwe mensen en culturen en het opent je blik op de wereld.
Nature in Central Sweden: Waterfalls, Viewpoints, and Bears Around Ytterhogdal If you drive north on the E45, you’ll pass through Ytterhogdal. Most people just drive right through here. That’s understandable—Lapland beckons. But not far from the geographic center of...
Hiking in Arouca: The Most Spectacular Hiking Trails in Portugal's Lush North 516 meters long, 175 meters above a raging river, and no turning back halfway across. That’s the Arouca 516 suspension bridge, the icon of the Arouca UNESCO Global Geopark. This geopark is...
Laat je inspireren
Ben je op zoek naar de mooiste wandel- en fietsroutes? Of wil je informatie over reizen met de trein of advies voor de mooiste roadtrips door de natuur. Laat je inspireren voor je volgende reis in het groen; ideeën om je eigen reis te plannen of te kiezen voor een georganiseerde reis.
