Island hopping is great, but volcanic island hopping in the south of Italy? That’s just unforgettable. The Aeolian Islands are a place where fire meets sea, with volcanic activity still shaping their beauty—and over 8 days, we’ll sail, bike, and hike through stunning views and authentic island life. Either aboard the Tersane IV or the Sundial, we’ll cruise the warm sparkling waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea, taste local Italian cuisine, and savor the magic of the Mediterranean.
Can’t say enough about the gracious hospitality shown by our captain Salvatore, son Angelo, and daughter Vanessa. The Sundial is a family operation and a beautiful example of a wooden caique. The dinners prepared by Vanessa were OUTSTANDING and a high point of the tour. I greatly appreciated the opportunities to take a swim from the Sundial, and to visit other local beaches as well. The combination of swimming and biking was a big reason for choosing this tour. I was grateful for the headlamps provided for the nighttime Stromboli expedition. Thankfully there were no accidents and our able guide Jochen provided a helping hand when needed. Stromboli cooperated with continuous red-hot lava eruptions that were thrilling to watch. Ebikes were well maintained and fully charged each day, and very comfortable to ride. In the future, addition of rear view mirrors to the ends of the handlebars would increase the riders sense of safety. I would highly recommend this experience!!
Great tour. We went to multiple islands, and each had their unique setting. Great vistas, Vera, the guide was terrific – she communicated well, shared fun facts for each stop, and was fun. The boat was a Turkish Kate boat and the captain and first mate were conscientious and lovely with local knowledge. He watched the weather and guided us to multiple islands with great weather in September. We went to Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Stromboli (excellent active volcano we did a hike at 7:00pm and wore headlights it was a highlight. The captain then sailed around the island afterward so we could see it from the water too) and Panarea (upscale very pretty island). Each stop was active and great. The Sundial cabins are very small but manageable. We swam off the back of the boat. Each had its own bathroom and AC. However, if you are a very tall person.. you may want to check before you go. The food was excellent!
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In order to join this Aeolian Islands sailing, bike, and hike tour, good fitness is required. You’ll be hiking or cycling for 6 days in a row, and an e-bike will make your days easier. The most you’ll hike within a day is around 3.5 hours, the most you’ll cycle is up to 25 km (16 mi). While this tour is beginner-friendly, good fitness is still a must, as there will be a fair amount of hilly sections.
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Rental e-bikes are included in this Aeolian Islands sailing & bike tour. They are tailormade Granville Urban—relatively light and have a comfortable low entry. It is equipped with a smooth functioning 9-speed chain shift and reliable hydraulic Shimano disc brakes as well as a powerful central motor from the Bosch Active+ line.
Please note that it’s not possible to bring your own bikes due to lack of space on board.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Group sizes and pricing
Aeolian Islands sailing & bike tours can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The starting point of your Aeolian Islands sailing & bike tour is Sicily, Italy. To get there, most people fly into Catania Airport (CTA) or Palermo Airport (PMO).
Your embarkation point depends on the ship: guests boarding Tersane IV will start from Capo d’Orlando Marina, while those sailing on the Sundial will embark in Milazzo. To get to either of these departure points, it will likely take you 2-4 hours from Catania or Palermo Airport, depending on your transfers.
Embarkation begins at 6pm on Day 1.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Deposits
Secure your spot with a 30% deposit upon booking! The remaining 70% of the trip price must be paid 90 days prior to departure at the latest. If booking within 90 days of departure, the full amount is required at the time of booking.
Cancellations
Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48-hour grace period. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options—Basic, Flexible, or Super Flexible. Depending on which one you choose, a different cancellation policy will apply to your booking.
Basic
Flexible
Super Flexible
Can’t say enough about the gracious hospitality shown by our captain Salvatore, son Angelo, and daughter Vanessa. The Sundial is a family operation and a beautiful example of a wooden caique. The dinners prepared by Vanessa were OUTSTANDING and a high point of the tour. I greatly appreciated the opportunities to take a swim from the Sundial, and to visit other local beaches as well. The combination of swimming and biking was a big reason for choosing this tour. I was grateful for the headlamps provided for the nighttime Stromboli expedition. Thankfully there were no accidents and our able guide Jochen provided a helping hand when needed. Stromboli cooperated with continuous red-hot lava eruptions that were thrilling to watch. Ebikes were well maintained and fully charged each day, and very comfortable to ride. In the future, addition of rear view mirrors to the ends of the handlebars would increase the riders sense of safety. I would highly recommend this experience!!