Sailing and Hiking in the Aeolian Islands

Day 1 On board the S.V. Florett

Arrive in Vibo Marina in the morning or in the afternoon for the September group. Welcome by your guide at the station and walk to the ship (luggage is brought to the ship). Here the crew and, of course, captain Rony Haynes are waiting for us. On board we can enjoy the flair of the harbour town with an aperitif and get to know the rest of the passengers.

Day 2: Transfer to the Aeolian Islands

When crossing to the Aeolian Islands - depending on the weather conditions - we will first sail to Stromboli, Panarea or Vulcano. We receive a safety briefing, attend the “nodal school” and are practically instructed in the basics of sailing.

Note: The first meals are usually taken on board (lunch in any case).

Day 4 - 10: Exciting programme on and around the Aeolian Islands

The S.V. Florette has an engine, but we want to set sail as often as possible. On this combined sailing and hiking tour, we experience the familiar from an unfamiliar perspective and discover new things. We plan to visit five to six islands, the exact schedule and the sequence being flexibly adapted by the tour guide and crew to the weather conditions. Rony is an experienced captain and knows the waters very well; Peter knows the islands and their inhabitants like few others.

We look forward to discovering the islands together, but there should always be time for our own explorations. The slow approach to the Aeolian islands on board our windjammer is great; on shore excursions we get to know the individual islands better and get to know the people who live there. The ship is our home - we spend the nights on board in a sheltered bay. In the morning, we weigh anchor again and set course for the next island adventure (journey time 2-4 hours).

Stromboli - the fiery one

Europe's most active volcano is preceded by its thunderous reputation. Alexander von Humboldt described it as a “lighthouse in the Tyrrhenian Sea; it has served as a guide for sailors since ancient times. Not only the nightly fire spectacles, but also long lava sand beaches, beautiful hiking trails and the relaxed atmosphere make the black island attractive. The island village of Ginostra, once the smallest harbor in the world, is a world of its own. Here, local journalist Gianluca Giuffrè is committed to nature-loving politics.

The ascent towards the active craters is regulated by law and is subject to constantly adapted safety regulations. As a rule, the ascent is free up to a height of 100 m both from the Ginostra side and from the village of Stromboli up to the height of the former marine observatory, at times up to a height of 290 m. In all these cases, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the Sciara del Fuoco and the active craters. A further fee-based ascent above 400 m is only possible when accompanied by an authorized volcano guide (€ 25 per person - payment on site). The crew of the Florette and our hiking guide have appreciated the professionalism of Magmatreck for years.

Panarea - the seductive

The smallest of the “seven sisters” is surrounded by a miniature archipelago and is the most seductive of the Aeolian Islands. An elite retreat for the Italian chic crowd and an anchorage for millionaire yachts in high summer, Panarea is above all a natural jewel. Punta Milazzese takes you back to the Bronze Age with its excavations; back in the present day, Cala Junco entices you to take a dip in the turquoise sea. The colors of Panarea also light up the hand-woven fabrics of Barbara Calabresi. She uses the leaves and roots of wild-collected island plants for dyeing, drawing on the knowledge of ancient women.

By far one of the most charming and scenic tours of the archipelago is the crossing of the island peak Punta del Corvo, one of the more challenging hikes of our trip despite being “only 412 m high”.

Filicudi - the timeless

Filicudi, 600,000 years ago the first of the Aeolian Islands to rise from the sea, lies halfway between Salina and Alicudi, which also describes its radically chic character. A dense network of old farm roads invites you to explore and the ruins of the Bronze Age village at Capo Graziano are not only fascinating for archaeologists. The excavations, which are also very scenic, can be reached on an easy hike, which can be continued to the summit of Montagnola after a short climb. Monica Blasi has been campaigning for the protection of whales, dolphins and sea turtles for years, seeks the cooperation of local fishermen and will give us an insight into her work with the Filicudi Wildlife Conservation.

Salina - the honest one

Two volcanic cones covered in lush vegetation give Salina its unmistakable profile; in ancient times it was called Dydime, twins. Perhaps the most scenic tour leads from Leni on the western slope of Monte dei Porri to above the crater Pollara and not only offers great scenic views, but also reveals the diversity of the island's vegetation.

The film “Il Postino” by Michael Radford made the island world-famous - but no one here is fazed by this. Guests are very welcome, but tourist hustle and bustle and bed castles remain foreign words. The island proudly bears the title “Isola Slow”. If you are looking for active relaxation on challenging hikes, like to dive into the sea in between and want to taste the famous Malvasia delle Lipari D.O.C. at the source, this is the place for you. The best capers with the Slow Food label come from Salina.

Vulcano – die Heiße
 
Ein Name, ein Versprechen: Die Insel Vulcano empfängt mit Schwefelgeruch und Ginsterduft. Ihr Markenzeichen ist der 391 m hohe Gran Cratere, ein dampfender Bilderbuchvulkan und einer der schönsten Aussichtsberge des Archipels. Schwarze Sandstrände, warme Meeressprudel und Schwefelfango an frischer Luft machen Vulcano zu einer Wellness-Oase in freier Natur. Engagierte Winzer*innen entlocken der fruchtbaren Insel neue Noten und hier betreibt Fabrizio Lo Piccolo die einzige Käserei des Archipels. Besonders schmackhaft ist sein Bio-Ziegenkäse.

Lipari - the living one

It's hard to believe that Lipari was once a penal colony to which opponents of the regime were exiled during the fascist era. Not all of them experienced their exile as a real punishment. Today, visitors voluntarily succumb to nissomania, the island addiction. There is never a dull moment on the largest island in the archipelago; the charming island capital has been the scene of great history for 7,500 years. This is brought to life in the unique Archaeological Museum. Lipari also offers a great variety of landscapes, which we can discover on foot. Perhaps we will meet Pietro Lo Cascio, one of the best connoisseurs of the archipelago. With Nesos (www.nesos.org), he is committed to sustainable tourism. A current research project aims to breed and release the endemic, endangered Aeolian wall lizard (Podarcis raffonei) into the wild. There is a wide range of hiking options, a classic being the tour around Monte Guardia with perhaps the most beautiful views.

Day 11: Crossing back to Calabria

After breakfast, we weigh anchor and sail over to Calabria, where - after scrubbing the deck together - a dip in the deep blue sea is a must. In the late afternoon, we moor in the marina of Vibo Marina.

Day 12 & 13: Journey home

Farewell to the S.V. Florette and the crew. Luggage transfer to the train station. In the morning, you will have the opportunity to stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables for the train journey in Vibo Marina in delicatessens with Calabrian specialties and at a producer's market. Dario Messina, who works closely with the Florette as a cargo ship, runs his delicious coffee roastery (www.maragocaffe.com) and an inviting café on site.

May group: Afternoon departure from Vibo Marina to Lamezia Terme. Change there to the overnight train to Bologna. Onward journey the next day and arrival in Munich in the early afternoon.

September group: Departure from Vibo Marina to Lamezia Terme in the morning. Travel to Rome and change to the overnight train to Munich. Arrival in Munich in the morning of the next day. (as at November 2024). Individual journey home.