We have 4 weeks in Sicily this March/April and have most of it 'big picture' planned. It has been challenging but also exciting! We have a good mix of slow travel and 'not to be missed sights'...we love to hike and walk small towns and should have a good mix of those activities. We will have a car.
However, making location decisions about the Etna area is proving really challenging--we have 4 days in the area, would like to hike every day weather permitting. We've read a lot about forest trails. We are active seniors, 3-4 miles per day is good. Aside from hiking up Etna, suggestions about where to stop for a few nights that will give us other scenic hiking options (non guided)?
Many thanks!
Posted by
Centennial, CO, USA
1897 posts
We took a tour to Etna from Taormina (yep, The White Lotus town). i can tell you if you think you are going to hike up the mountain, rethink that. it's very dusty, steep and dirty due to all the ash. We did see people hiking. On our tour, we hiked just bit up to see a caldera and that wasn't much fun, very slippery on the ash, it's like walking on sand/beach on a steep uphill. We are very active seniors and hike a lot. Hubby wanted to hike down from where we were instead of taking the gondola, but without my hiking poles, my knees wouldn't have taken the steep descent. I'm sure I would have slipped and fallen several times...
Posted by
OP
Durham
66 posts
I'm with you Ellen...no desire to hike through ash up the mountain. I think we can find some woodsy hikes with views...we will keep looking.
Posted by
Chicago
2105 posts
For what it's worth, Susan, for our potential trip to Sicily next October, we will utilizing the tour company Sicily Life for an 'Etna Gastronomic Wine Tour' daytrip, which sounds awesome indeed and with me being hiking-challenged, right up my alley mobility-wise. We used Sicily Life in 2010 for a 'Godfather Tour' and various transports, and they were splendid:
https://www.sicilylife.com/sicily-tours/eno-gastronomic-wine-tour-on-etna
Six nights in Sicily--flying into Catania, hired driver to Ortigia/Siracusa. I figure after flying from Boston overnight to Rome, and then flight to Catania, we will be in no mood for public transportation! 3 nights there, then train up to Taormina, 3 nights there. Then train on the train/ferry across to the mainland, up to Salerno for 2 nights, then train to Rome for a week.
Posted by
OP
Durham
66 posts
Jay...thanks for the guide link...seems they can arrange a variety of activities. Enjoy your Fall trip. If all goes well I'll have a trip report posted after our Spring 2023 trip that might have some info for you :)