Tour Overview
| Duration | 6 Days / 5 Nights |
|---|---|
| Destination | Sicily — Catania, Mount Etna, Taormina, Alcantara Gorge |
| Price From | $1,236 per person (twin share) |
| Tour Style | Active Small Group Adventure (max 14) |
| Best Season | May — October |
| Data Source | TourRadar / verified 2026 active operator pricing |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arrive Catania
Airport pickup and transfer to your hotel in Catania’s historic center. Afternoon walking tour of Catania: the lava-stone Baroque masterpiece, Piazza del Duomo with the elephant fountain, and the legendary fish market. Welcome dinner at a Catania trattoria. Overnight in Catania.
Day 2: Mount Etna Summit Hike
Unforgettable day. Drive to Piano Provenzana (1,800m) on Etna’s north side — the landscape transforms from forest to moonscape. Your volcanological guide leads the summit hike (approximately 5 hours round trip, 900m ascent). The trail traverses recent lava flows from the 2002 eruption that destroyed the ski station, passes steaming fumaroles, and reaches the summit crater rim at 3,300m. The views — the entire coast of eastern Sicily, the Calabrian mountains, and on clear days, the Aeolian Islands smoking on the northern horizon — are simply astonishing. Descend via a different route through a bizarre landscape of volcanic bombs and lava tubes. Afternoon: relax at your wine resort. Overnight on Etna’s slopes.
Day 3: Alcantara Gorge & Coastal Hike
Morning: the Alcantara Gorge — a 50m-deep basalt canyon carved by the cold Alcantara River. The columnar basalt formations (created when lava met water during an ancient eruption) form geometric patterns of pentagonal and hexagonal pillars. You can walk through the gorge with waders (provided) in the icy river. Afternoon: coastal hike from Naxos to Taormina along the old mule track — a 2-hour trail with constant views of the Ionian Sea below. Arrive in Taormina with its stunning Teatro Greco. Evening: gelato on the Corso Umberto. Overnight in Taormina.
Day 4: Taormina & Beach Day
Morning: explore Taormina properly — Teatro Greco in morning light (best for photography), public gardens, and the medieval streets. Afternoon: cable car down to Mazzaro Beach and Isola Bella nature reserve. Swim in crystal-clear water, snorkel around the islet, and relax on the pebble beach. Optional: boat trip to the Blue Grotto of Taormina. Evening: pizza-making class at a family-run pizzeria — learn to make authentic Sicilian pizza with local ingredients (pistachio, nduja, fresh mozzarella). Overnight in Taormina.
Day 5: Syracuse — Ortigia Island & Sea Kayaking
Morning: drive to Syracuse for a guided walking tour of Ortigia — the Duomo (Temple of Athena), Arethusa Spring, and the medieval Jewish mikveh (ritual bath, 6th century, the oldest in Europe). Afternoon: sea kayaking around Ortigia’s coastline — paddle into sea caves, under the Maniace Castle walls, and around the small island’s perimeter. The clear Ionian water reveals ancient stone quarries below the surface. Evening: seafood dinner in the Ortigia fish market area. Overnight in Ortigia, Syracuse.
Day 6: Departure
Morning: visit the Neapolis Archaeological Park (Greek Theatre, Ear of Dionysius). Transfer to Catania Airport for departure.
Included
- 5 nights accommodation (hotels + wine resort)
- Daily breakfast + 3 dinners
- Expert volcanological guide for Etna summit hike
- Pizza-making class
- Sea kayaking equipment & guide
- Alcantara Gorge waders
- Cable car Taormina
- All transfers
