Kayaking Sicily

Your guides will meet you in the lobby of our hotel in central Catania. After introductions and brief orientation we will head to a local restaurant for some fine Sicilian food and a further discussion of the trip details.

After breakfast at the hotel we'll venture out for a short walk to Catania's famous morning fish market. Opening in the very early morning, activity at the market is at its peak between 9 and 10 a.m. After the market we’ll drive northward and launch our kayaks from the beach at Giardini Naxos where Greek Trireme galleys were landed over 2500 years ago. Paddling through the clear water toward Isola Bella the mass of Mount Etna is very much present above us and ancient Taormina beckons from a hilltop ahead. After landing and lunch we’ll take the funicular up to Taormina. Founded by Greeks, the town has a reputation for elegance and has been popular destination for visitors since the 19th century. The Teatro Antico di Taormina, an ancient Greco-Roman theatre, provides one of the most memorable settings and views anywhere. After descending we set off northward towards imposing Mount Etna. Arriving at our agriturismo on the mountain’s north slope, there will be time to enjoy the view and relax before a true farm-to-table dinner accompanied by local wines.

After breakfast, our Etna mountain guides will arrive with Land Rovers and we’ll start an amazing tour of the mountain involving some light hiking and spectacular views. Winding through a stark landscape defined by both old and very recent lava flows, we’ll be able to reflect on what would entice someone to live on the side of an active volcano. One answer will be apparent when we arrive at the tasting room and restaurant of Gambino Vini, for wine tasting and lunch at the vineyard. After arriving back at the agriturismo, there will be an ample respite before another Sicilian farm-to-table dinner.

Descending back to sea level we'll drive to Aci Castello and paddle the Cyclops islands that figure in Greek mythology and Homer’s “Odyssey”. The largest of of the islands is topped by an 11th-century Norman castle built on the ruins of a 7th-century Byzantine fortification. After taking out, we'll drive to our B&B near Syracuse. Dinner tonight is in a charming restaurant in old Syracuse.

Launching at a sandy river mouth we’ll paddle to old Syracuse and the fortified island of Ortigia. Founded by the Greeks, Syracuse was once a city state to rival Athens. Kayaking along the city wall, we’ll have chance to stop at a beach, explore the warren of narrow streets, have lunch and sample a refreshing almond granita before carrying on around the city. The snows of Mount Etna and the sugarcane introduced by the Arabs gave rise to the Sicilian taste for things icy and sweet. After a full day in and around Syracuse, we’ll drive to our hotel located near Noto and settle in before another spectacular Sicilian dinner.

Starting at Marzamemi, one of the most beautiful coastal towns in all Italy, we’ll set course south along the shore toward Capo Passero and the town of Portopalo. Broad sandy beaches will give us the opportunity to stop for lunch and a swim along the way. After returning to the hotel, there will be time to relax before a sunset walk in the Sicilian Baroque masterpiece that is Noto, perhaps a glass of the local DOC Nero d'Avola and then dinner in a family-run trattoria.

Today we'll have a shorter, but nevertheless memorable, paddle to the golden sand beaches, rock formations and caves of Punta Ciriga. The area provides some great opportunities for exploration and relaxation and is regarded as one of the best "secret" beaches in Sicily. After a stop at the hotel in the late afternoon, we'll head back to Marzamemi and take time to wander this town, which was founded by the Arabs in the 10th century, before a dinner of the freshest seafood served at the water's edge.

After a sumptuous breakfast at La Corte del Sole, we’ll drive “The Baroque Route” from Noto to Modica and on to Ragusa. All three towns, and much of Catania for that matter, were all rebuilt in Sicilian Baroque style after a devastating earthquake in 1693. After exploring the towns’ winding streets, we’ll have a lunch in an outdoor restaurant. After a full day, we’ll drive to our hotel in Catania and get ready for a celebratory final Sicilian dinner followed by a walk in lively Piazza Bellini in front of Teatro Massimo Bellini, Catania’s opera house.

Breakfast, perhaps a morning walk and it's time go. The hotel will be happy to arrange transport to the airport. Arrivederci!