Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Aeolian Islands: Lipari, Vulcano, Salina and Stromboli
8 days from Catania by hydrofoil from Milazzo: three nights on Lipari with the Vulcano crater, two on Salina for capers, Malvasia and the Fossa delle Felci, and two on Stromboli for the evening climb to watch it erupt.
8 days · Round trip from Catania · up to 12 guests
The salt lake and lighthouse at Lingua on Salina, looking across to Lipari Photo: Ghost-in-the-Shell, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lago_di_Salina.jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 8 days, 7 nights
- Start and end
- Round trip from Catania
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Longest drive
- 2 h on day 1No drive day is longer than 4 hours.
- Activity level
Moderate
Walking of 2 to 6 km most days on steep island lanes, steps and volcanic paths, often in full sun. Three walks are harder and each has an easier choice: the Vulcano crater path climbs about 300 m on loose sand and ash (about 1 hour up); the Fossa delle Felci hike on Salina climbs about 650 m to 962 m (about 2 hours up, 1.5 down); the Stromboli evening climb goes to about 400 m with an authorised guide (about 3 to 3.5 hours in all, the descent by head torch). Anyone can skip any of them: the boat view of Stromboli's eruptions, a slower morning on Salina and the Vulcano beach are the alternatives. Hydrofoil crossings of 20 minutes to about 2.5 hours; only two road transfers of about 1.75 hours.
- Meals included
- 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 1 dinner
- Room of your own
- + CAD 885 (estimated price)
- Season
- May to June and September to October
Highlights
Why this trip
- Lipari's castle hill and the Aeolian archaeological museum at opening, then an island drive to the Quattrocchi viewpoint over Vulcano
- Walking up Vulcano's Gran Cratere in the morning to the steaming rim, with the whole archipelago laid out below
- A caper farm and a Malvasia winery on Salina, with lunch among the vines
- The Fossa delle Felci hike to 962 m, the highest point in the Aeolian Islands, or a slow morning in Malfa
- Sunset from the cliffs of Pollara, the crescent bay where Il Postino was filmed
- The guided evening climb to about 400 m on Stromboli to watch the eruptions at dusk, or the boat below the Sciara del Fuoco
- Two or three nights on every island and every hydrofoil, boat and entry included
What makes this trip different
Short drives, all published
Every drive is listed day by day, and none is longer than 4 hours.
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 885 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
The longest drive is 2 h, on day 1.
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Catania to Milazzo, and the hydrofoil to Lipari
Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) to Milazzo by road, then hydrofoil to Lipari
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in Lipari
- Drive about 2 h
Afternoon
Fly into Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) and plan to land by about 1 pm; the exact meeting time is set with your final itinerary, as it depends on the afternoon hydrofoil.
Evening
If a delayed flight makes you miss the last crossing, we book and pay for a night in Milazzo or Catania and you join on the first morning hydrofoil. Your See Sight Tours guide meets the group in arrivals, and our driver takes the motorway north past Etna and Taormina's coast and along the Messina shore to Milazzo, about an hour and three quarters. Milazzo is the main port for the islands, a town on a narrow peninsula below a large castle. Here we board a public hydrofoil with seats reserved for the group, about an hour across, usually calling at Vulcano before Lipari, and the islands come up out of the sea one by one. We walk or ride the short way from the harbour to a small hotel in Lipari town, check in and meet for a short briefing on the week. Then a welcome dinner of island dishes, close to the harbour of Marina Corta.
Included
- Pick-up at Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA)
- Private transfer to Milazzo port
- Hydrofoil from Milazzo to Lipari with reserved seats
- Welcome briefing with your guide
- Welcome dinner on Lipari
Free time: A short free hour on Lipari before dinner
Activity: A travel day. Pack one soft bag you can lift onto the hydrofoil; there are steps at the harbours.
Lipari: the castle, the museum and the island drive
Lipari town, then around the island by minibus to Canneto, the old pumice quarries and Quattrocchi
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Lipari
- Drive about 1 h
We start at opening on the castle rock above Lipari town, a natural fortress walled by the Spanish in the 16th century and lived on for about six thousand years. Inside the walls is the Aeolian archaeological museum, named after the archaeologist Luigi Bernabo Brea, and a local guide takes us through the pieces that matter: Neolithic obsidian from the island's own lava, which was traded across the Mediterranean, Greek painted vases, and a remarkable collection of theatre masks in clay.
Afternoon
We walk down through the cathedral and the lanes to Marina Corta for lunch by the water. In the afternoon a minibus takes us round the island: the long white beach at Canneto, the old pumice quarries at Porticello, where the slopes are pale as snow, and the Quattrocchi viewpoint, where the sea stacks of Vulcano line up below the cliffs. Back by about 5 pm.
Evening
The evening is free in Lipari town; Corso Vittorio Emanuele is the street for a walk and a granita.
Included
- Lipari castle and the Aeolian archaeological museum at opening, with a licensed local guide
- Lipari cathedral and the old town on foot
- Lunch at Marina Corta
- Island drive: Canneto, the Porticello pumice quarries and the Quattrocchi viewpoint
Easier option: See the main museum pavilion only and wait in the shade of the castle square, then rejoin for lunch.
More active option: Walk up from Marina Corta to the castle by the steep stairway instead of the road.
Free time: Evening free in Lipari town
Activity: About 3 hours on foot in the morning on stairs and stone paving; the afternoon is mostly by minibus with short walks.
Vulcano: the crater walk and the fumaroles
Lipari to Vulcano by hydrofoil, the Gran Cratere and Porto di Levante, then back to Lipari
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Lipari
- By ferry
A short hydrofoil hop, about ten to twenty minutes, takes us to Vulcano, the island that gave volcanoes their name; the smell of sulphur reaches you at the quay. We start up the Gran Cratere della Fossa by about 8:30, before the slope heats up, with a local guide. The path climbs about 300 m on sand and ash, about an hour up, to the rim at roughly 390 m: a wide crater, yellow fumaroles steaming at the edge, and below you Lipari, Salina and, on a clear day, the other islands in a line. Access depends on the gas monitoring and the authorities' rules on the day; if the path is shut we walk to the fumaroles at the bay instead.
Afternoon
Down by late morning for lunch near Porto di Levante, then time for the mud pool when it is open, or a swim off the black sand at Spiaggia delle Acque Calde, where gas bubbles up through warm water. We take a mid-afternoon hydrofoil back to Lipari; the rest of the day is free.
Included
- Hydrofoil from Lipari to Vulcano and back
- Guided walk up the Gran Cratere della Fossa to the rim, with the crater fee
- Lunch near Porto di Levante
- Time at the fumaroles and the black-sand bay
Optional experiences
- The mud pool at Porto di Levante, when it is open (extra, price shown at booking)
Easier option: Skip the climb: walk the flat lanes to the fumaroles and the beach with your guide, and meet the group for lunch.
More active option: Walk the full circuit of the crater rim, about 45 minutes more, if the guide judges the gas levels low enough.
Free time: Late afternoon and evening free in Lipari
Activity: The crater path has no shade and loose footing: bring a hat, 1 litre of water and shoes with grip. Old clothes for the mud pool, as the smell stays.
To Salina: capers, Malvasia and Lingua
Lipari to Santa Marina Salina by hydrofoil, then a caper farm, a Malvasia winery and Lingua
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Salina
- Drive about 45 min
Morning
After breakfast we take the hydrofoil to Salina, about twenty to thirty minutes, landing at Santa Marina Salina, where we stay two nights. Salina is the greenest of the islands, two old volcanoes joined by a saddle of vineyards, and wetter than its neighbours. Our minibus takes us up to a caper farm, where the bushes grow out of dry-stone terraces: you see how the buds are picked by hand before they open and cured in sea salt, and taste capers and caper berries the way the islanders use them.
Afternoon
Then on to a winery for Malvasia delle Lipari, the sweet amber wine made here from grapes dried in the sun, with a tasting and a long lunch among the vines. Mid-afternoon we drop down to Lingua and its small salt lake, once salt pans, for a granita at the waterfront, with Lipari across the channel.
Evening
Back in Santa Marina by about 5 pm; the evening is free on its single main street.
Included
- Hydrofoil from Lipari to Salina
- Caper farm visit and tasting
- Malvasia winery visit, tasting and lunch
- Granita at Lingua and the salt lake
More active option: Walk the coastal lane from Santa Marina to Lingua, about 3 km and flat, instead of riding.
Free time: Evening free in Santa Marina Salina
Activity: An easy day: short walks on farm terraces and village lanes.
Salina: the Fossa delle Felci and Pollara at sunset
Santa Marina Salina to Valdichiesa and the Fossa delle Felci, then Malfa and Pollara
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Salina
- Drive about 1 h
The active choice today is the hike up the Fossa delle Felci, at 962 m the highest point in the Aeolian Islands. We start by about 8:30 from the sanctuary of the Madonna del Terzito at Valdichiesa, in the saddle between the island's two volcanoes, and climb about 650 m through chestnut woods and ferns, about two hours up. From the top the whole archipelago is spread out, with Etna on the horizon on a clear day.
Afternoon
If you would rather not hike, the minibus takes you to Malfa for a slow morning above its harbour, and both groups meet for lunch in the village after the descent. The afternoon is free for a rest or a swim.
Evening
In the early evening we drive to Pollara, a crescent of cliffs that is the half-collapsed rim of an old crater, where the film Il Postino was shot, and watch the sun go down over Filicudi and Alicudi. Dinner is your choice in Malfa or Santa Marina.
Included
- Guided hike from Valdichiesa to the Fossa delle Felci summit (962 m)
- The sanctuary of the Madonna del Terzito
- Lunch in Malfa
- Sunset at the Pollara cliffs
Easier option: Skip the hike: a slow morning in Malfa with the guide's suggestions, then lunch with the group.
More active option: Walk down from the Pollara viewpoint to the bay by the old path, when it is open.
Free time: Afternoon free; dinner on your own
Activity: The hike is about 650 m up and down on rocky paths, 3.5 to 4 hours with stops. Bring 1.5 litres of water and a layer for the top.
To Stromboli, and the evening climb
Salina to Stromboli by hydrofoil, then the guided climb to about 400 m or the boat under the Sciara del Fuoco
- Breakfast
- Stay in Stromboli
- By ferry
Morning
A late-morning hydrofoil carries us east past Panarea to Stromboli, about an hour to an hour and a half. The island is a single volcanic cone, 924 m high, that has been erupting every few minutes for as long as records go back. There are no ordinary cars: our bags go up from the quay at Scari by electric cart, and we walk to a small hotel in the village.
Afternoon
The afternoon is free for lunch, the church of San Vincenzo and a rest. In the late afternoon those who want to climb meet an authorised volcano guide, as the rules require. The summit has been closed since the eruptions of 2019, and the path climbs to about 400 m, timed so we arrive as the light goes; from there you watch the bursts of lava above the crater terrace. The descent is by head torch, back by about 10 pm.
Evening
Those who skip the climb take a boat at dusk to the foot of the Sciara del Fuoco, the slope where the lava runs to the sea.
Included
- Hydrofoil from Salina to Stromboli
- Luggage carried from the quay to the hotel
- Guided evening climb to about 400 m with an authorised volcano guide, helmet and head torch
- Or: boat at dusk to the Sciara del Fuoco to watch the eruptions from the sea
Easier option: Take the boat to the Sciara del Fuoco instead of climbing; it sees the eruptions from the water.
Free time: Lunch and the afternoon free in Stromboli village
Activity: The climb is about 3 to 3.5 hours in all, about 400 m up on sand and rock, partly in the dark. Long trousers, closed shoes with grip, a warm layer and 1.5 litres of water. How high we go, and whether we go, is set by the authorities and the guide on the day.
Stromboli by boat, and a farewell dinner
Stromboli: around the island by boat to Strombolicchio and Ginostra, then the village
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Stromboli
- By boat
Morning
A slow morning after the climb: breakfast late, then the black-sand beach at Ficogrande below the village, or a walk to the observatory viewpoint at Punta Labronzo. Late in the morning we board a local boat for a trip around the island. We pass the sea stack of Strombolicchio, the remnant of an older volcano with a lighthouse on top, run under the Sciara del Fuoco by daylight, where the black slope drops into the sea, and stop at Ginostra, a hamlet on the far side reached only by sea, with a tiny harbour and a handful of houses.
Afternoon
There is a swim stop when the sea allows, and lunch is on board or in Ginostra. Back in the village by mid-afternoon, with time free.
Evening
If last night's climb was cancelled by weather or by the authorities, this evening is the second chance. Otherwise we meet for a farewell dinner, ideally at a terrace where the eruptions show above the roofs after dark.
Included
- Boat trip around Stromboli: Strombolicchio, the Sciara del Fuoco by day and Ginostra, with a swim stop
- Lunch on the boat trip
- Farewell dinner on Stromboli
- Backup evening for the climb if day 6 was cancelled
Easier option: Stay on the boat at Ginostra rather than walking up its stepped lanes.
More active option: Walk up to the Punta Labronzo observatory and back before the boat, about 4 km.
Free time: Morning and mid-afternoon free in Stromboli village
Activity: An easy day. Swimwear and a towel for the boat; the black sand is hot by midday.
Back to Milazzo and Catania
Stromboli to Milazzo by hydrofoil, then by road to Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA)
- Breakfast
- Drive about 2 h
Morning
Our bags go down to the quay by cart, and we take the morning hydrofoil back to Milazzo; the timetable sets the hour, usually between about 7:30 and 9 am, the only start on the trip before 8 am. The crossing takes about two to two and three quarter hours, calling at some of the other islands on the way, so you see Panarea, Salina, Lipari and Vulcano slide past once more. At Milazzo our driver is waiting, and we drive about an hour and three quarters back down the coast to Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA), with Etna ahead. Your guide sees you to the terminal and checks your flight before saying goodbye. Book a flight leaving after about 5 pm.
Evening
Because the sea can stop hydrofoils, we strongly suggest not booking a long-haul connection the same day: a night in Catania or Taormina, which we can book, takes the risk away. If the sea is too rough to sail, we stay on Stromboli and the guide arranges the next crossing.
Included
- Hydrofoil from Stromboli to Milazzo with reserved seats
- Private transfer from Milazzo to Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA)
Optional experiences
- An extra night in Catania or Taormina (extra, price shown at booking)
Activity: Book a flight leaving after about 5 pm, or stay a night in Catania before a long-haul flight.
- Cataniastart
- Lipari3 nights
- Salina2 nights
- Stromboli2 nights
- Cataniaend
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: May and June bring warm days of about 22 to 28 C, green slopes and flowering capers on Salina; the sea is still cool in May. September and October are warm with the sea at its warmest and the grape harvest on Salina. Wind can stop hydrofoils in any month, most often in spring and autumn. We do not run in July and August, when hotels and ferries are at their busiest and the climbs are hot.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Travellers who want the Aeolian Islands properly: three islands with two or three nights each, not a day boat
- Anyone who wants to watch Stromboli erupt from the volcano itself, with a boat alternative
- Walkers who like a crater, a summit hike and an evening climb, with an easy choice on each
- Food and wine lovers: capers, Malvasia and island lunches are part of the plan
- Solo travellers who want a small group and a published single supplement
Not for you if you want
- Travellers who want larger hotels with lifts, pools and room service: island hotels are small and simple
- Step-free access: lanes are steep, harbours have steps, and luggage is lifted onto six hydrofoils
- Late risers: the last morning's hydrofoil leaves Stromboli at about 7:30 to 9 am, the only start before 8 am
- Anyone who needs a fixed schedule to the hour: the sea and the volcanoes can change the plan
- Travellers who get badly seasick on short, sometimes choppy crossings
- Those who want the rest of Sicily on the same trip (see our Sicily trip)
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
7 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Lipari3 nights
- Salina2 nights
- Stromboli2 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 7 nights: 3 in Lipari town, 2 on Salina and 2 on Stromboli
- Small, simple family-run island hotels of about a 3-star standard, with private bathrooms and air conditioning, close to each harbour village; we name each hotel when we confirm your dates
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
- Island tourist taxes and landing fees
Transport
- Pick-up at Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) and private transfer to Milazzo on day 1
- Six hydrofoil crossings with reserved seats: Milazzo to Lipari, Lipari to Vulcano and back, Lipari to Salina, Salina to Stromboli, Stromboli to Milazzo
- A local minibus and driver on Lipari and Salina
- Luggage carts on Stromboli
- The Sciara del Fuoco boat at dusk and the boat around Stromboli
- Private transfer from Milazzo to Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) on day 8
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group from the airport on day 1 to the airport on day 8
- A licensed local guide at the Lipari castle and museum, a guide on the Vulcano crater and the Fossa delle Felci, and an authorised volcano guide for the Stromboli climb
Activities
- Lipari: the castle, the Aeolian archaeological museum and the cathedral
- Lipari: island drive to Canneto, the Porticello pumice quarries and Quattrocchi
- Vulcano: the Gran Cratere walk and crater fee, the fumaroles and the black-sand bay
- Salina: a caper farm, a Malvasia winery tasting and a granita at Lingua
- Salina: the Fossa delle Felci hike, Malfa and sunset at Pollara
- Stromboli: the guided evening climb to about 400 m with helmet and head torch, or the Sciara del Fuoco boat
- Stromboli: boat trip to Strombolicchio and Ginostra with a swim stop
Meals
- 7 breakfasts
- 5 lunches: Marina Corta on Lipari, Vulcano, the Malvasia winery, Malfa, and the Stromboli boat trip
- 2 dinners: a welcome dinner on Lipari and a farewell dinner on Stromboli
Not included
- International flights to and from Catania
- Travel insurance
- The ETIAS fee, if it applies to your dates
- Lunch on days 1, 6 and 8, and dinners other than the welcome and farewell dinners
- Drinks, except at the Malvasia tasting
- The Vulcano mud pool and other optional activities
- Extra hotel nights if you choose to stay on; nights caused by cancelled hydrofoils are covered
- Tips for your guide, local guides and boat crews
- Personal expenses
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 885 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the Aeolian Islands trip price include?
Seven nights in island hotels, 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 2 dinners, transfers between Catania airport and Milazzo, six hydrofoil crossings with reserved seats, island minibuses, two boat trips, your See Sight Tours guide throughout, local and volcano guides, the Stromboli climb, the Vulcano crater fee, the Lipari museum, the winery tasting and island taxes.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests. That size fits on one island minibus, gets reserved seats together on the hydrofoils, and sits round one table in island restaurants, which are often small. Volcano guides on Stromboli also limit how many walkers each guide can take.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide travels with the group from Catania airport on day 1 to the airport on day 8, handles every crossing and reroutes if the sea changes the plan. A licensed local guide leads the Lipari museum visit, and an authorised volcano guide leads the Stromboli climb, as the island's rules require.
How fit do I need to be for the volcano walks?
You should be comfortable walking 2 to 6 km a day on steep lanes and steps. The Vulcano crater climbs about 300 m, the Fossa delle Felci about 650 m and the Stromboli climb about 400 m, partly in the dark. Each one is optional, with an easier choice the same day, such as the boat view of Stromboli.
Can we still climb to the top of Stromboli?
Not to the 924 m summit, which has been closed since the 2019 eruptions. Guided groups may currently climb to about 400 m, where the eruptions are visible at dusk; the limit is set by the authorities and can change. If the climb is stopped, everyone takes the boat to the Sciara del Fuoco instead.
What happens if the hydrofoils are cancelled?
Your guide moves the group to the slower car ferries, which run in rougher seas, or we stay an extra night where we are; we pay for that hotel. Cancellations are most common in spring and autumn wind. Because day 8 depends on a crossing, book a late flight or a night in Catania.
What are the hotels like on the islands?
Small and simple. The islands have no big hotels, so we use family-run hotels of about a 3-star standard, with private bathrooms and air conditioning, close to each harbour. Many have steps and no lift. On Stromboli, cars cannot reach the lanes, so bags go up by electric cart. We name each hotel when we confirm your dates.
I am travelling solo. Do I pay a single supplement?
Only if you want your own room. The single supplement is CAD 885, published up front, about 17 percent of the price. Island hotels have few single rooms, so book early. If you would rather share, we will try to match you with a roommate of the same gender for the whole trip, with no rotating.
When is the best time to visit the Aeolian Islands?
May to June and September to October. Days are warm, around 22 to 28 C, capers flower on Salina in early summer and the sea is warmest in September. We do not run in July and August, when hotels and ferries are at their busiest, or in winter, when many island hotels close.
How does booking work?
Choose a date and send a request to book. We check availability and provide the final quote, itinerary and booking terms before you accept. No payment is taken when you send the request.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. Besides the small group, the trip runs as a private trip for your party only, on a date you choose, with your own guide and transfers, and Panarea can be added. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask us and we will quote the hotels, crossings and guides.
Do Canadians need a visa for Italy?
No. Canadians can visit the Schengen area, including Italy, for up to 90 days without a visa, with a passport valid at least three months after you leave. The EU takes fingerprints and a photo at the border. ETIAS, the planned travel authorisation, is not yet in force; we confirm requirements when you book.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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