Trekking in Sicily, Mount Etna and the Aeolian and Egadi Islands

Sicily's stunning variety of landscapes, combined with its Mediterranean climate, good transport and ancient trails, make it an ideal hiking destination. Whether it's the volcanic rumblings of Stromboli, elaborate coastal forts or prehistoric cave paintings, Sicily is home to some of Europe's greatest natural and historical wonders.

Practical guide

When to go?

March to June is best; summers are too hot for walking; early autumn is pleasant, but late autumn is the wettest time of the year.

Cities & Services

Access via Palermo, Naples and other airports.

Most major cities would be good bases - Messina, Taormina, Catania.

Not to be missed

• Mount Etna (even if it is closed for mountaineers).
• La Isola Egadi.
• Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine remains.
• The wonderful food.

The routes

• THE NORTHEAST COAST // Taormina and the Castello Saraceno / Castelmola /

• THE VALLEY OF THE ALCANTARA RIVER // Monte Mojo / Francavilla and its river /

• MONTE ETNA // The craters of Monte Silvestri / Monte Nero degli Zappini / Schiena dell'Asino / The Monti Sartorio circuit / Monte Nero and Grotta dei Lamponi circuit / Mount Etna: North-South traverse /

• MONTI IBLEI AND THE SOUTH EAST CORNER // The marvellous Pantalica and its Necropolis / Walk along the Pantalica River / Cava Grande del Cassibile / Noto Antica / Vendicari Nature Reserve / Isola delle Correnti / Cava Ispica /

• ANTIQUITIES IN THE WEST / The white cliffs of Eraclea Minoa / The Stones of Selinunte / Mozia and its Lagoon /

• LE ISOLE EGADI (EGADI ISLANDS) // Favignana / Levanzo and the cave paintings / The coastal path of Marettimo / High Level Circuit of Marettimo

• THE GLORIOUS NORTHWEST // Wonderful Medieval Erice / Monte Cofano Nature Reserve / Zingaro Nature Reserve

• AROUND PALERMO // Monte Pellegrino Palermo / Monte Iato / Piana degli Albanesi / Bosco della Ficuzza / Rocca Busambra

• LE MADONIE (MADONIE Mountains) // Cefalù and its Rocca / Isnello a Gratteri / Pizzo Carbonara / Piano Cervi / Vallone Madonna degli Angeli / Natural Path Piano Sempria /

• I NEBRODI (NEBRODI Mountains) // Biviere di Cesarò / Floresta to Randazzo /

• LE ISOLE EOLIE (AEOLIAN ISLANDS) // The great crater of the volcano / Castello di Lipari and the South Capes / San Calogero de Lipari spa / Monte Fossa delle Felci in Salina / Ascent to the Stromboli volcano / Return to Stromboli /