Northern Sicily: Islands & Volcanoes

This seven-day tour is the north coast of Sicily in one beautiful, tasty nutshell. Watch local life unfold in the seaside city of Cefalù. Take in the gorgeous scenery of the Aeolian Islands and set your personal record for volcanoes spotted in one week (three!). This is northern Sicily in all its glory.

Day 1 Palermo
Arrive at any time. Tonight, meet your CEO and fellow travellers at the welcome meeting, then opt to head out for dinner and enjoy your first Sicilian meal.

Day 2 Palermo/Cefalù
Head out for an orientation walk of Palermo's historic city centre.Continue to Cefalú, often cited as one of Italy's most beautiful townships, and stroll through cobbled streets to a picturesque cove by the beach. With free time, observe local fisherman working on their boats, visit the 12th century Duomo di Cefalú, opt to enjoy an aperitivo with incredible views, or simply wander around this postcard-pretty town which director Giuseppe Tornatore chose to set parts of his much-loved film Cinema Paradiso.

Day 3 Cefalù/Lipari
Travel to the Aeolian Islands, a small archipelago of volcanic lands known as "the pearls of Italy" for their intriguing natural formations. Named after Aeolus, the god of the winds, spend the next few days exploring pockets of this coastal paradise. Take a car and ferry to reach Lipari, the largest of the Aeolian Islands, and enjoy a free afternoon to explore. Opt to visit a local beach, or take another short ferry to see Vulcano's active crater.

Day 4 Lipari
Enjoy a free morning in Lipari. Later, head out for an excursion to explore the beautiful islands of Panarea and Stromboli by boat. Swim in the turquoise waters of Cala Junco, stroll through Panarea's scenic whitewashed village, and explore the town of Stromboli before taking an unforgettable sunset cruise. In the night breeze of the open sea, witness active Mount Stromboli's spectacular eruptions.

Day 5 Lipari/Catania
Say goodbye to the Aeolian Islands and ferry back to the mainland, then continue to Taormina, one of Sicily's most visited destinations. After a short orientation walk, enjoy free time to visit the stunning Teatro Greco, an ancient Roman amphitheatre with commanding views of Mount Etna. Travel onwards to Catania for the evening.

Day 6 Catania
Enjoy a CEO led orientation walk to get your bearings in Catania. Afterwards, you'll have free time to continue exploring this town and all of its museums and historic attractions. Maybe visit La Pescheria market or walk the Via Etnea.

Day 7 Catania
Depart at any time.