This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. There are three craters at its peak, all of them regularly throwing smoke and lava. I would point to the many literary works that have made a troupe of your behavior, usually cautionary tales entreating the reader to not become a spiteful, pathetic old man. And lets face it, theres nothing like a challenge to make an experience even more rewarding! But the logistics are not insignificant. Make sure to read my posts A Great Guide To The Things To Do In Catania, Italy and A Fantastic 8 Days Sicily Itinerary.. Was it a lower platform? Hiking Stromboli volcano at night was one of our favourite ever travel experiences. Youll probably be pretty dehydrated on the route, so wont need it until you finish the hike. We arrived from Salina island on the Liberty Lines hydrofoil which took an hour. Located off the North East coast of Sicily, this is composed of 7 islands, all of them of volcanic origin. It was surprisingly cold. Vast. Are you very sensitive? It was a 3 hour strenuous hike, and we started walking at dusk. Traveling to Sicily? Take advantage of our Italy trip planning services for a customized itinerary. Notice: excursions can only go as far as to the excellent viewpoint at 400 m. Since 2005, a new access route has been opened. Theres also a ferry from Naples. If so any pointers of where to book? You are used to but for newcomers, this is just magic. Thats the guide I was looking for! I would definitely recommend this to anyone. Underfoot it went from rocks to looser scree and stones. It felt strange to walk on solid ground again, our legs wobbled, confused by the resistant earth. The hike lasts around 6 hours, based on the number of breaks and on the time spent at the top of the volcano. The sea and the sky will look like one, big, cloud. The hike is challenging but if your kids are fit and energetic, I dont see why they couldnt do it. Hiking Stromboli was the highlight of my entire time in Sicily. I assumed that was it, and it was time to begin the descent, but no our guide took us up to another viewing area. Baaaaam! Combine your Stromboli island trip with peaceful. Hi Mira, I wouldnt recommend hiking in the summer months, as it really gets too hot! Two of them are direct, while one stops in Vulcano, Lipari, Salina and Ginostra islands before reaching Stromboli. Youll get the impression that the few tourists on the island are all doing the same thing. I dismiss you. Exposure to heights and slopes should not be a problem and you need a secure step. I also got to listen to its voice. I know that", "Madeline carefully planned a fabulous, personalized 19 day itinerary (Lake Garda, Dolomites, N/S Tuscany, Rome) that enabled us to be", Join our mailing list to get the free Driving In Italy eBook, Check out the Travel Expert Network where youll find Certified Travel Experts ready to plan custom bucket trips for you all over the world! Guided by a pod of dolphins, with the ominous cone-shaped volcano in the background, it felt like a pretty epic journey. 3000 ft) altitude gain and descend which is strenuous. At around 400 meters above sea level, vegetation starts becoming sparse. Its a magical evening. My husband and I climbed the volcano during our two-week Sicily honeymoon. Paradise Lost! The views expressed are honest and factual without any bias. As an Airbnb Associate, I earn when you book through certain links. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The trail is unpaved, rocky or sandy. Who knew. We could have stayed all night but it was time for our group to leave. All the views and opinions expressed are my own and based on my personal experience. Clouds of smoke constantly emerged from the craters, a mass of hazy gases, at first tinted green, then orange. Because of safety, the only legal way to go up Stromboli is on a guided tour, and there are a couple companies on the island that run them. Evidently the route down has some sheer drop cliffs, too, so independent climbers try to follow a group down. Water: I took a large bottle of water (1.5 litres) and it was enough. Required fields are marked *. You wont be able to blame them! By the time we reached the top, we were immersed in mist and clouds, unable to see much. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Getting to the top was about 3 hours of strenuous uphill hiking, so we needed proper hiking boots, layers of clothing, and lots of water. And it was a thrilling experience. Stromboli Volcano reaches an elevation of 926 meters above sea level. Sunset on top of an island, a full moon hike, a volcanic eruptionany one of these would have been incredible, but all together they created a magical experience that was definitely worth the climb. Im Chloe and I absolutely love travelling the world and sharing stories and memories from my trips, as well as helpful travel advice so that you can follow in my footsteps. We are going in July. We are right now in south Italy, heading towards Calabria and Sicily and want to do the hiking! Stromboli Volcano: The Perfect Setting For A Hike, What To Expect When Hiking Stromboli Volcano, Practical Facts And Tips To Hike Stromboli Volcano, A Great Guide To The Things To Do In Catania, Italy, The Best Guide To Hiking In Cinque Terre, Italy, A Useful Guide To Caserta Royal Palace, Italy. Advanced bookings are essential. Back in town we were too tired for a celebratory beer and pizzaa hot shower and comfortable bed beckoned. I think that would be a good idea though theres not much on Stromboli so there wont be a huge selection of accommodation. Please reconsider when writing comments such as this on the internet. We went with. Just complaining. We were back in our bed on the island of Lipari before breakfast, and we spent the next day dozing on the beach. After that eruption we didnt want to leave! I stood on the black sand beach and looked up at the distant crater, 924 metres up, butterflies fluttering around in my tummy. In my very brief time there, I had the chance to visit Vulcano (the name says it all! Which has a better view and chances to see the lava flow? Part of our brains knew that waiting for a volcano to erupt so close to us was foolish, but thats what we all craved, the chance to see the volcano showing its full power. A one hour flight from Cagliari, Sardinia, to Catania, one of Sicilys most beautiful cities; then a 2 hour car or bus ride to Milazzo (a small town near Messina); and finally a hydrofoil ride from Milazzo took me to the Aeolian Islands archipelago. Eruptions are spectacular, and as you can spot them at night, its been nicknamed the lighthouse of the Mediterranean. Therefore, book your tour for one day but have a backup day just in case the boat cant run. All rights reserved. Its one of the most affordable options on this expensive island. Going up with young kids is ok but needs some mental preparation and a good siesta before as the coming back is late night. View and download my media kithere (updated July 2019). Amazing guide to Stromboli. The excursion requires ca. The island is tiny no more than 12 square km and around 600 inhabitants that reside there throughout the year, although the island gets a large influx of tourists during the summer months. Beyond the clearly bad idea of camping next to an active volcano, there is also a colony of rats living up there, feeding off tourist garbage. People whispered, ate their snacks and huddled for warmth. Beyond the clearly bad idea of camping next to an active volcano, there is also a colony of rats living up there, feeding off tourist garbage. After passing through a patch of bamboo forest the views were magical, right over the beautiful bay to the island of Strombolicchio with its little lighthouse. I felt a bit embarrassed that I had been to far away places and had yet to travel to the South of Italy. My Adventures Across The World is by no means liable for any purchase of tours, tickets and any other online reservation that are made without having fully read the terms and conditions of any third party provider. It leads straight up from St. Vincenzo church to the summit. Hi Thank you so much for this super helpful! The rest of the day was about exploration on land checking out Salinas picturesque streets, wine tasting, devouring tasty pizza in Stromboli and bathing in Vulcanos mudbaths. I will be in Malta in July and have 3 days to spare. Heres a short list of what I recommend wearing and carrying for the hike to Volcano Stromboli: Though the island is small, there are plenty of accommodation options and places to eat in Stromboli. Hiking Stromboli Volcano, Aeolian Islands, Sicily. I would have loved a few warmer items like a hat and gloves, but who packs those for a summer holiday in Sicily?! Hi, my name is Claudia. Typically, a group leaves at around 5-6pm and returns at around 11 pm. The tour starts and ends on Stromboli. To climb Stromboli, you need to be kitted out correctly and most equipment is available for hire. We ending up ruling it out due to lack of time (and wanting to climb Mount Etna also fabulous! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". You can check prices and book a boat tour to Stromboli hereor for the ultimate volcano tour, take to the skies in a helicopter, viewing Stromboli, Etna and Vulcano from above! These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Best to all Nicolas (44), Julia (7) and Yvan (9) - written 2 august 2011" (Nicolas, France, Stromboli tour), "I climbed Sromboli as planned and had a really great time. I would have liked a bit more, but didnt want to carry any more weight in my bag. Due to the high activity of the volcano, only guided groups are allowed on Volcano Stromboli (in any case, I hardly recommend hiking alone in general: read here why). What had I signed up for? The best gelato is that of Lapillo, which also makes the freshest typical Sicilian granita. I fell in love with Stromboli at first sight, as soon as I set foot there after a hydrofoil ride from Vulcano. All were false starts and we continued to wait. If you are staying on Lipari island and want to see the Stromboli eruption at night (without hiking), you could take this Vulcano, Panarea, and Stromboli boat tour. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Climbing Stromboli is one of the best activities Ive ever done in Italy, and Id. +1 773 621-3024 Legal disclaimer: I was a guest of Imperatore Travel during my visit to the Aeolian Islands and wish to thank them for putting together an incredible itinerary. They all have beautiful gardens and the benefit of having a kitchen to enjoy cooking using fresh local produce. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I didnt find the hike to be difficult nor strenuous, though I suppose that depends on ones level of fitness and I would recommend to not underestimate that. The tours only run in the summer, and they rely on boat schedules. Guided hikes are offered between the end of March and the end of October. The descent was completely different from the ascent. No medical centre along with no doctor. Our small double room had a comfortable bed, private bathroom, fridge, and terrace and was just what we needed for our one night stay. This post also includes tips on how to hike Stromboli Volcano. You can find out more about what to wear to hike Stromboli below in my tips for hiking stromboli volcano. Check prices for helicopter tours over Sicily. Half way through the week we sailed from Salina to Stromboli. Best to check with the tours though as there may be some rules I dont know about! who wants an active component to their vacation. Please read our disclosure for more info. It was a brief but dramatic display of natures might. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. We started the ascent late afternoon, passing through the islands adorable town with its skinny streets and white houses. Have a great time its an incredible travel experience. This isnt just any volcano. In fact, it was one of the best hikes of my life. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Wed been hiking for almost three hours all I could think was was it worth it?! First it was a gentle incline through caper plants and lush vegetation, then the path became steeper and bleaker, rocks strewn amongst the grey volcanic sand. If you enjoyed this post, pin it for later! Must have a headlampcannot stress that enough! The weather was sunny and warm (without the terrible heat of the summer months). Cereal bars and a few sweets work well to keep your energy up. As darkness fell we finally got what wed been waiting for. I got to experience the best of the island its environment, the narrow alleys of the small village, the food, the locals without any of the crowds. It was great. Too often, senior citizens are finding that the internet is an excellent place to spew their negativity and display their often false sense that the world was better at some time in the past. Hours by the pool dont cut it. Even without reaching the summit, the new hike is still very much worth doing to watch the explosive show. Click here for the latest rates and here for reviews. From Milazzo, theres also a Panarea and Stromboli boat tour where you can watch the eruption. Seriously, this thing was huge! Across the water we could see Calabria on Italys mainland, and Salina island where wed eaten breakfast that morning, gazing over at this very peak. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Start here or see where I am in the world over on Instagram. group and private tours to watch Stromboli volcano. Enormous. As a proper volcano and hiking junkie, I could no longer postpone a trip to the Aeolian Islands. Every tour, every restaurant, every train and activity came through", "Thank you again from all three of us for your help in planning such a delightful trip. You can view the eruption at a distance on a boat, but the best way to experience its power is to get up close on a Stromboli hike. "We had a wonderful trip! It is simply fantastic. We were sweating from the exertion, and every now and then some warm air from the volcano would blow our way, which meant we were constantly adding and removing layers. Thinking a day in Lipari, one in Salina and this hike. I get itchy feet, scared Im missing out on something important and soon swap lying horizontally with a book for gallivanting around vertically! The usual few people came and went each year, all treasuring the primitive and undeveloped nature of the island. However, there is no guarantee that youll able to see the eruptions, as this would depend on the weather conditions. It sounds challenging, but there were so many people doing it, you just followed the person in front, illuminating the ground with your torch. I knew there was a hike you could do that took you to the top but I also knew it would be challenging, taking around 6 hour and being at a steep gradient. Its such an amazing experience. That added to the relaxed atmosphere to me! Ginormous. We did so many amazing things and experienced many wonderful places yet never felt like", "We thank you so much for all you gave us, guided us to, arranged for, and detailed for us. If the sea is too choppy and the boats cant go out, the tour will be cancelled. We stayed in Residence Aquilone which has simple bungalow rooms set in gardens. And I am sure it will be the experience of a lifetime for you as well. www.swisseduc.ch/stromboli/volcano/virtual/trip/index-en.html, Within organized groups (max 20 pax, standard route) every day 15 Mar - 1 Nov, Ginostra route (groups), 16 May - 1 Jul: every Thu, 1 Jul - 31 Aug: every Thu+Sun, Excursion with private guide from Stromboli (your party up to 20 pax), Excursion with private guide from Ginostra, Watch one of the world's most active volcanoes, Unique setting on a charming Mediterranean island, entry ticket (3 EUR per person, payable in cash), if needed boat / ferry transfer to Ginostra (for excursions from Ginostra), Accommodation, transfers & other services: request. Stromboli tour departure times vary from 3 to 5.30pm depending on the season. Tour: Book onto a tour in Stromboli town. As it got darker and as we climbed higher, it got chillier. We climbed Stromboli before the major eruption in 2019. It was the middle of summer and wed been laying on the beach earlier that day, but for this hike we wore long sleeves and layers. Although I had hiked other active volcanoes in the past and had even seen the lava explosions on Volcano Pacaya in Guatemala, my experience on Volcano Stromboli was ten times better. There werent many stops along the route, so you need to be comfortable hiking at an incline for a few hours. I take advantage of this mail to state once again that this Stromboli discovery was great. The groups usually return to the village well after dark and its nice to have a little something to hold yourself until dinner. You can get to Stromboli by ferry or hydrofoil with Liberty Lines or Siremar from Milazzo on Sicily or from the other Aeolian islands. Thanks for sharing! Watching it erupt at night is a spectacular sight. I had gone volcano boarding on Cerro Negro, in Nicaragua. Stromboli erupts relatively reliably about every twenty minutes, and the small eruptions against the night sky were beautiful. Take advantage of our Italy trip planning services for a customized itinerary. The light is simply spectacular. We were back in our bed on the island of Lipari before breakfast, and we spent the next day dozing on the beach. Hey Patrick! But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Stromboli is just magic, erupting lava every 15 minutes or so, breaking the black night sky with fire: just great. Check prices and book your Stromboli hike. We were hooked and wanted more. This Stromboli sunset hiking tour costs 25, departs two hours before sunset, and lasts about five hours. (Steve C., UK), Eruption from several vents seen from Pizzo (the visitors' area), Lava fountain from a vent inside Stromboli's crater. Walking up, the vegetation occasionally opens to reveal the breathtaking views: the intense blue of the Mediterranean sea against the darkness of the volcanic sand of Stromboli beaches and the whiteness of the village. The incline became steeper, and it wasnt long before the sun was setting and we were hiking in the dark. Matt and I had a brilliant time! , and there are a couple companies on the island that run them. Most groups spend around 30 minutes admiring this incredible show of nature before eventually making their way back to the village. There are various companies that offer guided hikes in a variety of languages. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. It was bizarre to think people chose to live right under an active volcano! This page contains affiliate links. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. We stayed in Lipari a few days and enjoyed the beaches before taking another ferry to Stromboli. It sounds obvious, but as we sailed towards it, it got bigger and bigger. I have seen several walking around the narrow alleys of Stromboli. Thats when you will realize that, indeed, it is a volcano you are hiking. Its been erupting almost continuously since 1932. Do you have any recommendations for where to stay in Stromboli?