Bike & Boat

Sicily & Aeolian Islands · Italy

From 2099 €

Islandhopping
Cycling Tours
Bike & Boat Sicily & Aeolian Islands | Cycling and hiking tour in Italy

Route
from Milazzo / to Milazzo

Duration
8 days /
7 nights

Distance
80km

Level 2

Level 1
Easy cycling tours suitable for islandhoppers who are confident on their bikes but prefer riding on flatter terrain (15-30km and 200 elevation meters per day).

Level 1 - 2
Easy to moderate cycling tours through hilly terrain suitable for islandhoppers who have a good basic level of fitness (20-35km and up to 200-400 elevation meters per day).

Level 2
Moderate cycling tours through hilly terrain suitable for islandhoppers who cycle regularly and feel comfortable with longer climbs (25-40km and 300-500 elevation meters per day).

Level 2 -3
Moderate to demanding cycling tours through hilly to mountainous terrain suitable for islandhoppers who like a challenge (30-50km and 400-700 elevation meters per day).

Level 3
Demanding cycling tours through hilly and mountainous terrain suitable for islandhoppers who can take on steeper climbs (30-60km and 400-800 elevation meter per day).

Volcanic wonderland in southern Italy

Island hopping in Italy: our eight-day exclusive cycling, hiking and boat trip to Sicily and the Aeolian Islands takes you to a magical corner of the world full of natural wonders and history. On the Aeolian Islands, you will experience Bella Italia in a particularly multifaceted way. The archipelago off the north coast of Sicily includes the seven main islands of Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Filicudi, Alicudi, Panarea and Stromboli. They are of volcanic origin, some of the volcanoes are still active today and have created a wonderful world of multi-colored rock formations.

You will explore the island paradise of the Aeolian Islands from Milazzo on board the two-masted motorsailer Sundial. Once you have arrived in the harbor, you will set off on an exploration tour by bike or on foot in the company of your expert guide. Discover enchanting nature as well as traditional island villages and look forward to delicious local specialties on board and ashore. The spectacular volcanic islands with the affectionate nickname "Seven Sisters" will surprise you!

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Highlights

Culture: The impressive fortress Castello di Milazzo

Nature: A dip in the enchanting Venus pool on the island Vulcano

Activity: Volcano hike on Stromboli

Culinary: Try Arancine. You can never get enough of the fried stuffed rice balls. Sicilian dolci round off the taste experience.

Souvenir: The typical lemon liqueur lemoncello and pistachios from Bento

Itinerary

Individual arrival at Catania Airport in Sicily. Here you will meet your fellow travelers at 3:30 pm and be transferred to the port of Milazzo. From 6 pm, we commence check in on the Sundial in the Marina di Nettuno in Milazzo. Enjoy your welcome drink and the subsequent dinner on board. Your guide will then present the itinerary to you in detail. Overnight stay in Milazzo.

Your first bike tour takes you towards Capo di Milazzo, where you have the opportunity to swim in the azure waters of the Venus Basin, a natural sea basin protected by rocks. Back in Milazzo, you will have time to explore the historic center and mighty citadel, which is the largest fortress in Sicily with an area of 7 hectares and 1200 square meters. Overnight stay in Milazzo.

In the morning, the Sundial sets course for the island of Vulcano. The name says it all: the volcanic origin of the island is easily recognizable by the Sulphur steam rising from its craters. Today’s round trip offers you many opportunities to admire the spectacular landscape formed by numerous volcanic eruptions. The afternoon is open to you for either relaxation or an optional activity. How about a hike to the crater of the largest volcano (Vulcano della Fossa)? Or a hot bath in the Sulphur mud (Pozza dei Fanghi)? You can also swim in the sea between bubbling fumaroles (volcanic openings in the earth)! Overnight stay in the port of Vulcano.

After breakfast, transfer to Panarea, the smallest of the Aeolian Islands. At the mini islands of Lisca Bianca, Bottara and Dattilo (where the volcanic activity is still clearly visible) we make a stopover for a swimming break in the deep blue sea. After arriving in Panarea, we anchor in a beautiful bay to enjoy lunch on board. After lunch, the Sundial sails towards Stromboli. From the water, we have a beautiful view of the famous Sciara del Fuoco, the "fire chute", in which lava continually flows from the volcano into the sea! In the late afternoon, we go on a hike on the Stromboli up to a height of 400 meters above sea level. From here we have a spectacular view and can enjoy an evening picnic. Today we spend the evening in a sheltered by near the island of Stromboli.

After breakfast, we head back to the island of Panarea and set anchor in the bay of Porto San Pietro. From there, we embark on another hike that takes us through the village of Panarea and across Drautto beach to the prehistoric village of the same name. At lunch time, we enjoy a picnic with a view of the beautiful Cala Junco bay before boarding the Sundial again. Our ship then sets course for the island of Salina, where guests then have free time to explore. Overnight stay in the port of Salina.

The best way to explore the island of Salina is by bike! From Santa Marina on the east coast we cycle to Pollara, a historic village with a stunning panoramic view of the west coast of the island. We then continue to the small lake at Punta Lingua on the southernmost tip of the island. There we can enjoy a wonderfully refreshing local beverage. Back on board, we cross over to the pretty island of Lipari, where guests can stroll through the village of the same name in the evening. Overnight stay in the port of Lipari.

After breakfast, we embark on a particularly beautiful bike tour along the coast of Lipari. From Lipari, we cycle to the picturesque village of Canneto and the beach of the same name. Here, we take a lunch break with a picnic at the Quattrocchi panoramic point before cycling back to the historic center of Lipari. Embrace the opportunity to take a few nice memorable photos! Thereafter, it is time to cast off again! Enjoy the last crossing on board the Sundial back to Milazzo. Guests can round off their trip with an individual dinner in one of the town’s many restaurants. Overnight stay in Milazzo.

We first fortify ourselves with another tasty breakfast on board! Check out is at 9:00 am and then collective transfers will take you to the airport. Expect to arrive at the airport around 12:00 pm. Of course, for those interested, guests can extend their vacation in Sicily. For those who want to get even more out of this adventure please take a look at our optional 4-day extension program. This starts directly after the cruise and takes you on three self-guided cycling stages via Villafranca, Messina and Taormina and on to Catania. Hotel accommodation and luggage transfer are included!

Accommodation

Sundial (Comfort)

The Sundial is a charming, wooden, two-masted motorsailer in the traditional design of a Turkish gullet, on which you will immediately feel at home. There is space on board for a maximum of 12 passengers, who are accommodated in six double cabins below deck. This means you can enjoy your vacation on the Sundial in a small, informal group. The common areas and cabins are equipped with all the amenities to ensure that you have a comfortable journey.

All cabins have their own bathroom with shower, washbasin and toilet. There is also a small closet, air conditioning and the portholes can be opened…

Rental Bikes

Our E-Bikes

All our e-bikes are high quality pedelecs, most of which are fitted with Bosch motors with extra battery range. They are characterized by their relatively light weight and great components. Some of our fleet are equipped with other motor systems. With an Islandhopping e-bike, you will be able to climb almost any hill with ease. They are a true set of wings for anyone who needs a little ‘tail wind’ to make their ride that little bit more enjoyable. …

Services, Dates & Prices

The below calendar lists the basic cruise price per person. The final cruise price depends on cabin type, cabin occupancy and any additional optional services. The prices for additional optional services are listed below the travel calendar. The green checkmark indicates that the trip is secured.

Time Period	Tour	Country	Accommodation	Route	Availability	Price from The final price is dependent on the type of cabin, the number of guests staying in the cabin and any additional services booked.
May 2025
03.05. Comfirmed departure 03.05. – 10.05.	Bike & Boat Sicily & Aeolian Islands	Italy	Sundial	Milazzo bis Milazzo	fully booked	-	on waiting list
10.05. Comfirmed departure 10.05. – 17.05.	Bike & Boat Sicily & Aeolian Islands	Italy	Sundial	Milazzo bis Milazzo	< 3 Cabins left	2399,00 €	secure last spots
17.05. Comfirmed departure 17.05. – 24.05.	Bike & Boat Sicily & Aeolian Islands	Italy	Sundial	Milazzo bis Milazzo	< 3 Cabins left	2099,00 €	secure last spots
24.05. Comfirmed departure 24.05. – 31.05.	Bike & Boat Sicily & Aeolian Islands	Italy	Sundial	Milazzo bis Milazzo	< 3 Cabins left	2099,00 €	secure last spots
31.05. Comfirmed departure 31.05. – 07.06.	Bike & Boat Sicily & Aeolian Islands	Italy	Sundial	Milazzo bis Milazzo	< 3 Cabins left	2399,00 €	secure last spots
June 2025
14.06. Comfirmed departure 14.06. – 21.06.	Bike & Boat Sicily & Aeolian Islands	Italy	Sundial	Milazzo bis Milazzo	< 3 Cabins left	2099,00 €	secure last spots
07.06. Comfirmed departure 07.06. – 14.06.	Bike & Boat Sicily & Aeolian Islands	Italy	Sundial	Milazzo bis Milazzo	fully booked	-	on waiting list
September 2025
06.09. Comfirmed departure 06.09. – 13.09.	Bike & Boat Sicily & Aeolian Islands	Italy	Sundial	Milazzo bis Milazzo	< 3 Cabins left	2399,00 €	secure last spots
27.09. Comfirmed departure 27.09. – 04.10.	Bike & Boat Sicily & Aeolian Islands	Italy	Sundial	Milazzo bis Milazzo	< 3 Cabins left	2099,00 €	secure last spots
13.09. Comfirmed departure 13.09. – 20.09.	Bike & Boat Sicily & Aeolian Islands	Italy	Sundial	Milazzo bis Milazzo	available	2399,00 €	To Booking
20.09. Comfirmed departure 20.09. – 27.09.	Bike & Boat Sicily & Aeolian Islands	Italy	Sundial	Milazzo bis Milazzo	< 3 Cabins left	2399,00 €	secure last spots
October 2025
04.10. Comfirmed departure 04.10. – 11.10.	Bike & Boat Sicily & Aeolian Islands	Italy	Sundial	Milazzo bis Milazzo	< 3 Cabins left	2399,00 €	secure last spots
18.10. Comfirmed departure 18.10. – 25.10.	Bike & Boat Sicily & Aeolian Islands	Italy	Sundial	Milazzo bis Milazzo	available	2099,00 €	To Booking
11.10. Comfirmed departure 11.10. – 18.10.	Bike & Boat Sicily & Aeolian Islands	Italy	Sundial	Milazzo bis Milazzo	available	2399,00 €	To Booking

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8-day cruise on a comfort motor yacht with crew
7 nights in a double cabin below deck with shower/WC
Full board: 7 x breakfast, 7 x packed lunch, 6 x three-course evening meal
Coffee and tea and welcome drink on board
1 x 0.5 l water bottle with lunch and water carafe with dinner
Guided bike tours, hikes and sightseeing according to the program
Rental bike helmet
Overview maps and GPS app for the individual cycling and hiking stages on board
Collective transfer between Catania airport and Milazzo port on arrival and departure day (registration required)
Bed linen and towels as well as daily cabin cleaning
English and German speaking tour guide

Travel to Catania/Sicily
Individual airport transfers
1 dinner, snacks and drinks ashore
Entrance fees for museums and other sights
Please bring your own beach towel (if required)
Tips for crew and tour guide
SGR Insolvency protection (5€ per person)

⇒ SGR Insolvency protection (mandatory consumer contribution SGR insolvency protection guarantee scheme: € 5 per person - will be specified separately on the booking confirmation)

Small double cabin for single use below deck	Surcharge: 1,050 euro per person
If two people occupying a small double cabin below deck (7 m²)	Discount: 300 euro per person
Rental bikes with Ortlieb saddle bag	E-bike: 235 euro/week (limited)
Insurance against theft and damage to the rental bike	E-bike: 20 euro/week (not insured: grossly negligent damage)
4-day extension program in Sicily	Please see additional nights

Children up to the age of 11 receive a discount of 10% on the cabin price (double occupancy). When travelling with children, we recommend our Multi-Adventure Tours in Greece and Croatia which are specifically curated for families and offer family-friendly pricing.
If this is your second Islandhopping tour booked directly with us, you will receive our Welcome-back-discount of 3% on the basic tour price.
If this is your third or more Islandhopping tour booked directly with us, you will receive our Loyalty-discount of 5% on the basic tour price.

Arrival - How to get there

Port of embarkation – Milazzo

Your port of embarkation is Milazzo in northern Sicily, aprx. 130 km from Catania airport.

The docking location of your boat can be found here :

⇒ Position in Google Maps

You can check in on board from 6 pm on the day of embarkation. If you have not booked a transfer, please call your local tour guide to find out the exact berth. The relevant telephone number can be found in your travel documents.

Arrival by plane

The fastest, cheapest and most convenient way to get to Sicily is by air. There are flights to Catania from many international airports.

When booking your flight, please note that your outbound flight should land in Catania at 2:45 pm at the latest and your return flight should take off at 1:30 pm at the earliest if you wish to take advantage of the free shared transfers between Catania airport and Milazzo. The departure time of your collective transfer on the day of arrival is 3:30 pm. The transfer on the day of departure is at 9:00 am from the ship.

From the airport to the harbour

To make your arrival and departure as smooth as possible, we recommend that you book our free shared transfers between the airport and the ship. These are only available on embarkation and disembarkation days.

If you would like an exclusive airport transfer or hotel transfer, you are welcome to book this with us in advance. The transfer prices can be found in the table "Additional bookable services"

You are of course free to book an individual transfer yourself (e.g. with Connecto Transfers) or use the regular train service between Catania and Milazzo.

Embarkation
Arrival by plane
Airport - Harbor

If you would like to extend your trip

Extension Program Sicily

Would you like to see more of Sicily? Then we recommend our 4-day additional program with hotel and bike from Milazzo to Catania. Three varied cycle tours await you along the way, as well as visits to the historic towns of Villafranca, Taormina and Messina. The additional program includes: transfers, three nights in a hotel including breakfast, rental bike and three self-guided cycle tours with maps and GPS tracks.

Important information

Due to our international audience all Islandhopping tours are conducted bilingually, in English and German.

The planned itinerary is subject to change due to nautical, technical, meteorological reasons, or any other unforeseen circumstances. Should the conditions render a planned sailing route unsafe, the captain reserves the right to change course. While some adventure and spontaneity are to be expected in every Sail & Bike tour, the departure and arrival days and location (Amsterdam) are fixed. For the rest of the time, the captain decides day by day on the best route and discusses the options with his guests. The crew do whatever they can to run the program according to plan and to offer you a fascinating, varied, and active week, in which both nature and culture play a major part. It is however possible that departure times, the time spent on the water, and even the order of the program itself will have to be adjusted. So, enjoy the experience and the adventure and let the elements lead the way! Wherever possible, the ship will sail under full sail. You are more than welcome to help the crew sail and steer the ship. No sailing experience is required.

Level 2

The daily tours average in length between 15 -25 km and 400 – 800 feet of elevation and lead predominantly through hilly and mountainous terrain and can be completed without time constraints. Participants will also need to master longer, steep climbs, during which they are of course permitted to push their bicycles. Most of the roads are asphalted and rarely frequented by traffic. Your tour guide will inform you each day about the tour details. You are free to set aside a half or full day to swim or spend on board the boat, instead of taking a planned bicycle tour.

On most of our Bike & Boat tours you can choose between a hybrid bike and an e-bike. However, the guided group pace is based on the speed of the hybrid bike cyclists. Those who rent an e-bike on a hybrid bike tour are asked to show consideration for those who ride without electronic assistance. Hybrid bike cyclists need more breaks and more time to cycle the hills. We thank you for your understanding.

Helmets are mandatory on our bike tours. It is advised to bring your own, well fitted, helmet with you as our rental helmet numbers are limited (reservation required).

We believe that only children with a good physical condition and previous bicycle tour experience and a minimum age of 10 are able to master the cycle tours with their own strength. Please note that the minimum height for a rental bike is 1.50 m (5 ft.) for hybrid bikes.

For the best tour experience with children, we recommend our Multi-Adventure tours in Croatia or Greece. We are convinced that these itineraries provide the best all-round experience for each individual family member when travelling as a family.

On this trip it is not possible to bring your own bikes due to lack of space on board.

If you do not bring your own bike, you can rent a hybrid bike or e-bike along with a pannier bag for the duration of the Sail & Bike tour. Except for the time when the (e-)bike is on the deck of ship, you are responsible and liable for your rental bike and accessories for the duration of the rental period. This means you should always lock your bicycle when it is parked on land, and you take the pannier bag with you. It is of great importance that you pay attention to and follow the instructions given by the tour leader where and how to park your bike. In case of damage to or theft of the bike, the costs will be charged to you.

Please note: For safety reasons, we do not allow the use the rental (e-) bikes for self-arranged bike rides in Amsterdam.

Please bring your personal belongings in foldable travel bags. Please avoid hard protective cases. They will be too heavy to store within your cabin.

This tour includes full board (7 x breakfast, 7 x packed lunches, 6 x dinner).

Please do not forget that the ship is your hotel as well as a machine, which has to be maintained and operated – day and night. A certain level of noise is therefore inevitable.

This italian trip is operated by a partner tour operator and so can vary in comparison to traditional Islandhopping tours.

As this tour is operated in cooperation with a partner tour operator, the cancelation conditions vary to those of Radurlaub Zeitreisen GmbH (Islandhopping). You can withdraw from the travel contract up until the beginning of the trip. Cancellation is valid when your written statement reaches us.

More than 60 days prior to beginning the trip: 20 %
59 – 42 days prior to beginning the trip: 30 %
41 – 28 days prior to beginning the trip: 60 %
27 – 1 days prior to beginning the trip: 90 %

If you cancel on the starting day of the trip or if you do not appear for the start of the trip, we charge the full trip price. If you miss the start of the trip or are prevented from traveling due to incomplete travel documents, this will be considered a cancellation.

Reservation changes are handled the same way as cancellations. We charge a 50 € fee for changes made to your reservation 28 days or more before the beginning of the trip. Any later changes (if possible) will need to be handled as a cancellation and new registration. Cancellation and reservation change fees are due immediately.