Wine & Trekking

Embark on a 4-day escape packed with stunning treks, lunar landscapes, natural wines and regional cuisine.

The stage is one of those unique in the world. The highest active volcano in Europe, Mt Etna is a magic place and you’ll feel its energy as you set foot there.

WINE & TREKKING ON MOUNT ETNA

Your home base will be a cosy boutique wine hotel set among the vineyards and producing some of Sicily’s most exciting wines. With its seven intimate rooms, living areas and shared outdoor spaces, it’s a lovely place for friends and family to gather and enjoy a laidback lifestyle with all comforts. So take it over with your group of friends, you’ll have the in-house chef all to yourself to prepare delicious dinners washed down with Etna’s wines at the end of trekking, rafting or horseriding days.

There must be something very special about this land if today is one of the most intriguing wine regions in Europe and cool winemakers from Italy and Europe have come here to make wine. Your resident sommelier will tell you a thing or two about this as you walk in the unique vineyard embraced by two semicircular lava flows, step in the lava rock cellar and taste the company’s best labels over dinner. 

Wake up in your lovely room with exposed lava rock walls, traditional Sicilian tiles and stone bathtubs, luxurious bed linens and Ortigia amenities.

It’s time to begin the adventure with your first trek of the most active stratovolcano in the world. Jump into your guide’s 4×4 and go really off the beaten track crossing old and recent lava fields. Hike along a scenic trail of seven alligned ancient eruptive cones with epic vistas. A well-deserved lunch will be set up for you in a winery accompanied by a tasting of the company’s Crus.

ETNA NATURAL WINES

And it’s just the beginning. You’ll head then to the most visionary among the pioneers of natural Etna wines, Frank Cornelissen (- Frank Cornelissen avoids any treatment, be it chemical, organic or biodynamic, because “these are only a reflection of man’s inability to accept nature as it is and will be”-.)

After some time to chill and rest, tonight go out for dinner in the nearby village on authentic regional food (think grilled meat, sausages and country recipes) Needless to say, the wine list of this trattoria is amazing.

It’s an early start the next morning as your guide will take you to 2900m a.s.l. You’ll climb up by cable car and continue with our alpine and volcanologist guide by special 4WD vehicles. The short trek from here will be memorable. Unwind over a light lunch and wine tasting at a historical winery before heading back to your relais.

CATANIA NIGHT STREET FOOD

Catania is too close not to drop in this evening. Our guide will take you on a unique night street food tour. Start with the local ritual of a fresh seltz with lemon and salt at the kiosk and then you’ll step in some of the oldest street food spots and historic taverns, as well as backstreets and underground lava tunnels. You’ll taste local bites as arancini and the one and only carne di cavallo, (horse meat), the most beloved one, washing down with craft beer and Sicilian wine in new cool outdoor wine bars. 

On day 4 you’ll go on a beautiful 3-hour trek crossing the craters of 2002, a lava tunnel and an old fracture formed in 1923. You’ll reach on foot a chalet for a quick lunch and get ready for some off-road fun with a quad bike riding.  Wine lovers and connoisseurs will love our next stop as you’re going to taste 3 Crus and 1 Prephyloxera at an excellent winery, the first in the area to believe in expressing the character of each cru in its purity.

As the final night of this trip head to Taormina for a lovely walk, a scenic sundowner and a superb dinner.

The present itinerary and the suggested accommodation are just examples to give you an idea of what your customised trip may look like. Get in touch to design together your very own trip to Sicily.