• Activity Level:  1
  • Comfort:  4
  • Departs From: Murillo Fatigati
  • Location: Catania, Milazzo, Panarea, Strombili, Salini, Lipa
  • Duration: 8 days
  • Availability: SATURDAYS, May - Oct
  • CLICK FOR PRICING / DEPARTURES

Highlights

  • 7nts on board traditional Turkish caique
  • UNESCO World Heritage Listed sites
  • 15-25km cycling each day
  • 4 cycling days & 2 trekking days
  • Walk to the volcano crater, swim amongst underwater fumaroles
  • Visit the little village of Panarea, the Drautto beach and the prehistoric village
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8 days bike and boat cruise from Catania, Milazzo, Panarea, Strombili, Salini, Lipari and back to Catania

Starting from Milazzo your ship will take you to the island of Vulcano.
Experience volcanic activities, bath in open-air sulphur-mud pond and navigating on crystalline water to Panarea.
Head to Salina and Island of Lipari to explore shops and restaurants.
Combined with cycling and walking tours this holiday aims for you to fully enjoy and experience the wonders of the Aeolian Islands

Itinerary

8 days bike and boat cruise from Catania, Milazzo, Panarea, Strombili, Salini, Lipari and back to Catania

Not suitable for beginner cyclists. Suitable for 12yrs and older

ITINERARY

Day 1 Catania
Meeting at 15.30 at Catania airport. Collectively you will transfer to Milazzo harbour to board the boat at 18.00 at the Marina di Nettuno in Milazzo.
Accommodation on board, welcome drink, dinner and presentation of the program.

Day 2 Milazzo (14 km)
Today we will cycle to Capo Milazzo where you will get to cool off and swim in the wonderful Venus Pool, a protected natural sea pool at the very end of the cape. Returning to Milazzo with enough time to visit a local Castle and its ancient Bourg before returning to the Marina of Milazzo.
Dinner and overnight inboard in harbor.

Day 3 Island of Vulcano (18 Km)
After breakfast we will navigate towards the island of Vulcano, the Sulphur Island. During the day, you will discover by bike the hinterland of the island towards Piano Grillo, ideal place to admire the amazing panorama. Free time in the afternoon. We suggest one of the following activities to discover the volcanic activity of the island you can walk up to the crater of the volcano (400 mt), you can have a mud bath in the sulphur beach of the island, or swim among underwater fumaroles.
Dinner and overnight onboard at the harbor in Vulcano.

Day 4 Panarea and Stromboli (3h30 walking)
After breakfast we set sail towards the Island of Panarea where we will stop for a swim close to the little islands of Lisca Bianca, Bottara and Dattilo. The volcanic activity is still clearly visible, and vapours rise through the cracks between the rocks. Once we arrive in Panarea, the smallest of the Aeolian Islands, we will anchor for lunch break in a nice bay before sailing towards Stromboli with a superb view on the Sciara del Fuoco. In the late afternoon, walking itinerary to reach 400 meters above sea level, to admire the volcanic explosions at dusk before enjoying a picnic dinner in a beautiful panoramic location.
Return on board, overnight in roadstead in Stromboli.

Day 5 Stromboli – Panarea (2h30 walking) – Salina
After breakfast on board we will navigate towards Panarea and anchor in the bay of Porto San Pietro. Enjoy a nice relaxed walk in the morning to visit the little village of Panarea, the Drautto beach and the prehistoric village. A Picnic lunch at Cala Junco before returning to the vessel and sailing to the island of Salina with a break for a swim. Once in Salina and you will have free time visit to local shops, and a chance to taste several local products. Return to vessel.
Dinner and overnight onboard at the harbor in Salina.

Day 6 Salina (22 km) – Lipari
After breakfast todays cycling adventure will begin on the biggest island of the Aeolian Archipelago. From Santa Marina, on the east coast, you will reach Pollara, a panoramic point on the western coast. Visit the Lake of Lingua and Pollara and taste the amazing granita at Alfredo’s. Return on board and sail to Lipari. Here, you can stroll around the charming village of Lipari, which has several shops and good restaurants. You are free for dinner.
Overnight onboard at the harbor in Lipari.

Day 7 Lipari (25 km)
After breakfast we will leave for a fantastic coast to coast cycling journey. Starting from the village of Lipari, we will pass along the beautiful village and beach of Canneto. We will reach the pumice quarries and the nice beach of Acquacalda (a swim is possible). Picnic lunch at the panoramic point of Quattrocchi and time to explore the historical centre rich in shops and restaurants. Return to the boat and navigation to Milazzo.
Dinner and overnight onboard at the harbor.

Day 8 Catania
Disembarkation at 9.00 a.m. and collectively transfer to Catania airport.
Expected arrival in Catania airport around 12 o'clock.

INCLUDED
• Collective transfer to and from Catania airport on day 1 at 3 p.m. and day 8 at 9 a.m
• accommodation in double cabin with private facilities
• full board from the dinner of day 1 to the breakfast of day 8 (picnic lunches or lunch on board included) except one dinner in Lipari, water during meals (1/2 lt bottled water per person for picnic lunches and water jars on the table at dinner)
• Italian/English speaking tour Leader
• sheets and towels (1 change per week), 6 nights in port and 1 night in roadstead.

NOT INCLUDED
• airfares
• Bike rental
• drinks
• 1 dinner in Lipari
• entrance fees (museums, parks, monuments
• drinks
• tips, extras, anything not stated at in the “included” section above

Trip info
Terrain: from flat to hilly, with a daily positive difference in height from 0 to 600 mtrs. The daily stages are between 15 and 25 km with plenty of time to complete the bike tours, so you can cycle at your own pace all along the itinerary. However, this tour is recommended to people who have a good experience in biking tours. Not suitable for beginners.

Dietary requirements
Vegetarian and lactose or gluten-free meals are available and must be requested at time of booking. An additional charge of €50 per person will be applied to provide lactose or gluten-free meals. In all other allergy or intolerance cases we will check the possibility of catering for it and an additional charge may apply.

NOTE:
During this tour the boat will be docked in the port for 6 nights. The remaining nights the ship will be anchored in roadstead. The roadstead is a place outside the harbor where the ship can lie at anchor. It is an enclosed area with an opening to the sea. Natural roadstead’s offer shelter from storms, winds and currents, and are frequently used for naval bases. In exceptional cases (unfavourable meteorological and/or sea conditions), for safety reasons, the ship will return to the harbor during the nights normally scheduled in roadstead. Only in this case, the clients will be asked to pay for the stay in the port. This amount, variable from port to port, will be divided among all the participants of the tour and will be paid directly on site (approximately from 0 to 50€ per person per night, subject to changes).

Minimum age: Suitable for children 12 years old and older

Terrain: from flat to hilly, with a daily positive difference in height from 0 to 600 mt. The daily stages are between 15 and 25 km with plenty of time to complete the bike tours, so you can cycle at your own pace all along the itinerary. However, this tour is recommended to people who have a good experience in biking tours. Not suitable for beginners.

Bicycles: trekking bikes. Rental contract to be signed on arrival. Helmet rental available with a supplement of €15 per helmet and must be requested at the time of booking.

Departure flights:
On day 8 the expected arrival in Catania airport is around 12 noon. Please allow yourself plenty of time when booking your flight home

Accommodation:
24.5m Traditional Turkish Caique

Inclusions

  • INCLUDED:
  • • Collective transfer to and from Catania airport on day 1 at 3 p.m. and day 8 at 9 a.m
  • • accommodation in double cabin with private facilities
  • • full board from the dinner of day 1 to the breakfast of day 8 (picnic lunches or lunch on board included) except one dinner in
  • Lipari, water during meals (1/2 lt bottled water per person for picnic lunches and water jars on the table at dinner)
  • • Italian/English speaking tour Leader
  • • sheets and towels (1 change per week), 6 nights in port and 1 night in roadstead.

Exclusions

  • NOT INCLUDED:
  • • airfares
  • • Bike rental
  • • drinks
  • • 1 dinner in Lipari
  • • entrance fees (museums, parks, monuments
  • • tips, extras, anything not stated at in the “included” section above

Frequently Asked Questions

Check out our specific FAQ pages here:

Before You Go - General Croatia Info (general info for all travellers)

Croatia Cruise FAQ - General Cruise Info (for all small ship Croatia cruises)

Croatia Island Hopping Tour FAQ - General Info (packages combining hotels, ferries and transfers)

Before Your Private Charter - General Yacht and Gulet Charter Info (private charters)

 

Click here to see how the booking process works: https://www.discovercroatia.com.au/booking-process-how-to-book/

How far in advance do I need to book?

Cruises: For our weekly small ship cruises with guaranteed departures we suggest you book as soon as your plans are in motion. All cruises are extremely popular especially during peak season, which is June, July, August, September and these dates can be booked out up to a year in advance, especially September. One-way cruises are particularly sought-after and tend to sell out first, so please speak to us first to ensure your cruise choice is available before booking any flight arrangements.

Escorted Tours: Escorted Group Tours with guaranteed departures are also best booked as early as possible to ensure your place on the tour, as spaces are limited to a set number of passengers. Once the tour is full that departure is closed for new bookings.

Island Hopping, Self-Drive, Self-Guided Cycling/Hiking and Independent or Private Tours: Independent tours are available most days of the week at any time of year, so if you're booking late these are a great option. They can also start or finish on any day of the week, so can be a great alternative to the cruises (that mostly depart only on Saturdays). You can check out our Island Hopper Tours and our active tours for some examples. If you can't find what you are looking for please make an enquiry on any of our tours and let us know what you need. We love creating custom tours with our clients.

What do the different ship categories mean?

Please see our Ship Descriptions page here, for all the information on Ship Categories, Deck and Cabin Descriptions.

 

What is half-board? What meals are included?

Half-board (HB): This means that 2 meals a day are usually provided, mostly it will be breakfast and lunch on cruises, and breakfast and dinner on escorted tours. Each cruise or tour will have meals listed on the daily itinerary, so that you will know exactly which meals are included. Some lunches or dinners are swapped occasionally, so that you may enjoy a wonderful gourmet experience with your fellow travellers, such as a Captain's Dinner on a cruise, or a wine-tasting and lunch on an escorted tour. For the remainder of your meals you will be able to dine anywhere you choose and you will be responsible for the cost of those meals. Your Cruise or Tour Director will be happy to recommend a good value and trusted eatery nearby at every location, or you can explore on your own.

Bed and Breakfast (BB): This means that only breakfast is included in your holiday. Most of our Independent Tours include breakfast only, so that you are not beholden to going back to your hotel for lunch or dinner as you are going to be exploring on your own. We think that flexibility with lunch and dinner gives you the best option for exploring Croatia and experiencing the local culture and cuisine.

Full-board (FB) is occasionally offered on cruises as an optional extra, but we do not recommend you take the full-board option unless you are really sure about it. A lot of the joy of the cruise and tour experiences is to dine in local restaurants, 'konobas' (traditional pubs) and bars, so that you can meet the people who live and work there. Why come all the way to Croatia only to eat on-board for every meal? There are so many fabulous (and even some famous!) eateries. Get out there and taste them!

 

What type of transport is used on the Island Hopper Tours? Local ferries and vehicle transfers

Local ferries: Local ferries are used between the mainland and the islands where possible. Most of these ferries are fast ferries (high speed catamarans). Our Island Hopper Tours include all ferry tickets, as well as delivery of the ferry tickets to your hotel, when we come to pick you up to take you to the ferry port. In some towns, where some hotels are in the pedestrian zone close to the ferry port (like Hvar), then you will be met at the ferry and directed to your hotel, with luggage assistance if required. If your hotel is outside the pedestrian zone you will be met at the ferry and taken to your transfer vehicle, with luggage assistance if required.

Transfers: Most Island Hoppers have private airport transfers included, and private transfers to/from the ferry ports on the islands. Some transfers will be shared transfers if there are others going to the exact same hotel at the same time and it is a short distance.

How fit do I need to be for my holiday?

Relaxation/cultural cruises and tours: On-board your cruise ship, you will need to be able to negotiate gangways and stairs and be able to step from ship to ship as the cruise ships are moored next to each other sideways and sometimes you need to step across to the next ship. You will be walking mostly on the cobblestone streets through the iconic cities and towns of the region. The excursions are best-suited to those who are capable of walking on uneven surfaces as many old cities and towns have limited totally flat surfaces that can accommodate wheelchairs or walking-frames. Please contact us to ask about your specific circumstances, as we are happy to help plan for your needs as best we can. Assistance will be provided on cruise ships to help you navigate getting on and off, but there are a few limitations. Please ask.

Cycling tours: Although almost completely flat this cycle tour is graded easy to moderate as the daily distance ranges between approximately 15-50 km. You will be biking mostly on the dedicated cycle paths alongside canals, rivers and through the iconic cities and towns of the region. This tour is well-suited to those who have never taken a cycling holiday before as it is flat and predominantly traffic-free and you also have the option of skipping the cycling and relaxing on board.

What happens if I can't attend an excursion?

It is possible to relax at your hotel, on the tour bus or on the boat at any time.

What happens if I can't cycle or hike a stage on an active holiday?

For cycling cruises: If you don't want to cycle it is possible to relax on the boat as it moves to the next port of call.

For cycling and hiking tours: If you don't want to (or can't due to illness or injury) cycle, hike or walk a stage, then we will make arrangements to have you transferred to the next stop on your itinerary so that you can continue with your holiday. Prices for transfers vary widely, so pricing will be provided on an 'as needed' basis only.

What equipment do I need?

Relaxation/excursion cruises and tours: You will need comfortable walking shoes, clothes for relaxing, your swimming costume, and a sunhat. Most cruises are fairly relaxed and casual clothing is fine for all meals, though you may want to take one nice outfit depending on where you wish to dine onshore.

Cycling cruises and tours: You will need comfortable sports shoes, comfortable clothes for cycling, waterproof jacket and trousers, a helmet and a sunhat. We supply a detailed packing list with your information pack.

If you have any questions, just give us a call or email:

Call us or WhatsApp: +612-9212-1507
Email us: [email protected]

 

 

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Itinerary

  • Day 1 Catania
  • Day 2 Milazzo (14 km)
  • Day 3 Island of Vulcano (18 Km)
  • Day 4 Panarea and Stromboli (3h30 walking)
  • Day 5 Stromboli – Panarea (2h30 walking) – Salina
  • Day 6 Salina (22 km) – Lipari
  • Day 7 Lipari (25 km)
  • Day 8 Catania