Agent Report: Sicily on Foot
Enticed by the idea of the best-of-the-best in active travel, Poe Travel’s Erika recently decided to embark on a walking and hiking tour of Sicily with Butterfield & Robinson, and she came back with nothing but raves. . .
The best part of the trip, Erika says, was the local and bespoke nature of every single day. She felt at every turn that she was uncovering an off-the-beaten-path location.
“This is the trip for a curious traveler who wants to really enjoy discovering one or two areas deeply,” Erika says.
Erika also appreciated the all-inclusive feel of the trip. At each stop, guests were urged by their guides to try whatever they wanted, wherever they went. If you want a beer, have it. If you want a dessert, go for it.
Food was often served family-style and wine was always flowing. Erika learned that wines from Etna have lower sulfites than wine produced elsewhere, which greatly reduces hangovers! Is it any surprise that Erika came back talking about how much she LOVED this trip?
Here is a (very) brief rundown of Erika’s itinerary with Butterfield & Robinson:
Day 1
Beach Hike
The group met in the hotel lobby to begin their shared journey, setting off on an eight-mile hike along a coastal beach trail. It was a really fun way to meet the group, and Erika found it to be an easy hike, though we must say that she is very active! She was awed by the birdlife, including several flocks of flamingos. They had a delicious al fresco lunch at a rustic local restaurant.
“A fabulous first taste of what the trip was going to be,” says Erika. “Everyone there was local except for us.”
Day 2
Ancient Noto Hike
Today’s lunch was, again, local and authentic—this time, on an almond farm.
“No notes,” says Erika. “It was fantastic, bespoke, and very unique.”
After some time at leisure, the group set off on an afternoon tour of Noto with a private dinner at a pop-up art gallery.
Day 3
Linguaglossa Hike & Winery
Setting off from their well-located hotel, Erika and the group hiked the morning away, followed by a winery tour in Linguaglossa. The town was incredibly charming, a little alpine in feel and set at the base of Mount Etna. The small-production winery was fantastic. After lunch, they were able to hike to their hotel. In the evening, they visited a larger winery for dinner and a tour, which Erika recommends to any keen oenophile. They enjoyed a private, family-style dinner set to live music, just for them.
Day 4
Mount Etna
The October day that found Erika at Mount Etna was a bit cold, so they started their excursion with coffee before setting off. This two-hour hike, Erika tells us, was simply breathtaking—and it was the most actual “hiking” she felt they did on the whole trip; the rest she considered “walking.” In the afternoon, Erika set off with her guide, separate from the group, on a vigorous climb to another crater because she simply couldn’t get enough! The rest of the group went ahead to Taormina to get an early start on shopping. Erika enjoyed her evening at leisure relaxing in her plush room at Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel, complete with room service and a luxurious bath.
Day 5
Taormina
Today’s walking tour of Taormina was “really enjoyable,” thanks in large part to Erika’s extremely knowledgeable guide who went into great detail about the stunning ancient theater. The historians in the group were enraptured. In the afternoon, the group set off on a beautiful private sailing around Taormina.
For their final evening, they sat down for a fabulous farewell dinner at Ristorante Timeo back at Belmond. The next morning, Erika departed Italy exhilarated by her days of Sicilian explorations.
To learn more about this itinerary and others with Butterfield & Robinson, contact your Poe Travel advisor.