Eastern Sicily between Sea and Volcanos
Travel Type: Self-guided Itinerary
Transportation: including maritime and land transfers
Period: Available on request from April to October
Duration: 7 nights/8 days
Short description:
Devote at least a week to Eastern Sicily,
an amazing and incredibly beautiful territory:
Mount Etna, Taormina, Aeolian Islands, Siracusa
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In the VIII b.C. the Greeks founded the first colonies of Siracusa, Catania, Naxos
in Eastern Sicily maybe because it is an amazing and incredibly beautiful place
It is an intense territory surrounded by the big and active volcano Etna, and the Ionian sea on the other side, a deep blue sea filled with the Aeolian volcanic islands
Our must-see of this journey:
Taormina will be the first one and it won't disappoint your expectations
Mount Etna, you will never forget the sound when you step on the rocks and the ash and the view from the top craters
Experience the deep blue of Aeolian Sea and Taste the Malvasia, the sweet wine produced in the Aeolian Island
Visit the food and fish market in Siracusa where you can even buy the fish and they will grill them for you!
Boat by the shuttle-boat of your hotel in Ortigia to the private beach club on the opposite coast
Visit the Archaeological area of Siracusa
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First day: Catania, Taormina
Arrive at the airport of Catania, meet your driver and transfer by private minivan to Taormina. Accommodation in hotel.
We suggest to visit the Greek theatre of Taormina, the view is really breathtaking, and spend the rest of the afternoon and evening walking in the lovely historic centre.
Second day: Taormina
Eastern Sicily is dominated by Mount Etna the highest active volcano in Europe (3340 meters). A giant who occasionally smokes, lights in fountains of lava and sometimes speaks in a voice made of roars and explosions.
Relax on the private beach of the hotel or let us indulge you with:
-an half-day guided excursion on the volcano Etna.
-an excursion to the nice village of Castelmola or to a less known jewel, the Castle of Calatabiano
-The Alcantara Gorges
-a visit and wine tasting in a top-rated winery at the slopes of Mount Etna
Third day: Taormina, Salina
Meet your driver and transfer to Milazzo harbour and departure by hydrofoil for the green, lush, introverted, lonely Salina. Accommodation in your hotel located in the most beautiful and exclusive part of the island of Salina, near the lighthouse.
The panorama is really breathtaking, looking the opposite islands of Panarea and Stromboli. Here you may have excellent dinners tasting a supreme Mediterranean and Sicilian cooking.
Forth day: Salina
Aeolian time. Spend the morning at the seaside and the afternoon wondering by the narrow streets of the centre with its traditional shops. You won’t miss a juicy “granita” in Lingua in our favourite bar, a must if you happen to be in this island.
Don’t miss either to visit Pollara beach. Fallen volcanic rocks have narrowed it to just a small stretch of sand but its beauty still leaves one breathless. It’s an amazing, exciting place surrounded by green blue waters and high cliffs that have no parallel in the whole world. Among the rocks one can see a series of old boathouses where fishermen used to shelter their boats. In the hamlet of Pollara was filmed the Oscar winning film "Il Postino".
Fifth day: Salina
The best way to discover Aeolian Islands is boating. If you wish to experience the deep blue of eolian sea in a one day excursion, or renting a small boat, we are willing to accommodate your needs.
We suggest also an unforgettable experience: a boat trip by night till Stromboli island to admire a unique show, the “Sciara di Fuoco”: a black hollow where the lava flows fall from the volcano; by night, the flow look like fire waterfalls in the dark sea.
Sixth day: Salina, Siracusa
In the morning, transfer to the harbour and departure for Milazzo. Meet your driver and leave towards Siracusa.
Accommodation in hotel in the historic centre, Ortigia.
Siracusa is located on the outskirts of the River Ciane nature reserve. Greek mythology has it that the river was created from the nymph Ciane, who was transformed into a natural spring because he tried to prevent the abduction of Proserpina. A young Anapo fell in love with the nymph Ciane and after transforming his girlfriend, he changed himself into the river that today, at the end of its path joins the Ciane, a flows into the Great Harbour of Syracuse.
Seventh day: Siracusa
Today visit the vibrant food and fish market of Ortigia where you can taste everything and you can even buy the fish and they will grill them for you! Later have a visit of the Archaeological Park, the Greek Theatre and the Dionysus Ear.
Eighth day: Siracusa, Catania airport
Private transfer to Catania airport and end of our services. Hope you enjoyed the trip.
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The present itinerary is available from mid April to mid October. Quote: on request
Including:
- 2 overnights stay in Taormina - 5-stars Hotels or 4-stars Hotels
- 3 overnights stay in Salina - 5-stars Hotels or 4-stars Hotels
- 2 overnights stay in Siracusa - 5-stars Hotels or 4-stars Hotels
- 7 full breakfast
- Transfers by private first class vehicle and driver Catania airport/Taormina
- Transfers by private first class vehicle and driver Taormina/Milazzo harbor
- Hydrofoil transfers Milazzo/Salina/Milazzo
- Transfers Salina harbor/hotel/harbor
- Transfers by private first class vehicle and driver Milazzo harbor/Siracusa
- Transfers by private first class vehicle and driver Siracusa/Catania airport
Not Including:
- Flights
- Personal Expenses
- Museum Entrance Tickets
- Everything not mentioned as included
- Local taxes
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HOW TO BOOK
You can initiate a booking by sending an enquiry by e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephoning us directly 0039 091 583728, or sending an enquiry online at our website formwww.privatesicily.it . You will be contacted by a member of our staff within 48 hours (working days). We will send you a proposal and quote for the services required. Once we have receiced your written confirmation we will confirm all the service by issuing and sending via e-mail a pro-forma invoice. Please check this pro-forma invoice carefully as soon as you receive it and contact us immediately if there is any wrong information about you or the services confirmed.
GUARANTEED DEPARTURES
The tours marked as guaranteed departures will depart as scheduled with the minimum number of participants specified in each tour. We will confirm the tour 30 days before the scheduled day. We try to make every departure work and only cancel when absolutely necessary and we may decide to operate a tour with less than the normal minimum number of people.
If your tour is cancelled because the minimum size group is not met, you will have the option to either transfer to another tour or receive a full refund of the deposit paid.
PAYMENT
Usually to confirm your booking, we require a deposit of 30% of the total quote, and the balance is required 30 days before departure ; we will specify when different conditions apply in your pro-forma invoice.
CHANGES
Any changes to your confirmed booking, must be notified us in writing. Whilst we will endeavour to assist, we cannot guarantee we will be able to meet the requests. Changes in party size which result in a decrease in the overall cost of the booking will be treated as a partial cancellation and our normal cancellation charges will apply.
CANCELLATIONS
Any cancellation should be made in writing (by e-mail). Following penalties (% of total invoice) will be applied for cancellations made:
Up to 60 days 10%
from 59 to 31 days 30%
from 30 to 21 days 50%
from 20 to 01 days 100%
before arrival date
no show 100%
If different conditions apply, they will be specified in the booking process.