Explore Italian islands in the Mediterranean
Distance: 40-60 km average per day Altitude: 100-500 hm average per day Not too steep and not too long slopes on not very difficult terrain.
You will be enchanted by this spectacular cruise among the extraordinary Aeolian islands. On board of a Caique, a traditional fishing boat, you will discover these volcanic islands, today part of the Unesco World Heritage list.
Starting from Milazzo, on the north-east coast of Sicily, your first stop will be the island of Vulcano. The journey continues then to Panarea, with its large rocky ridges. On the background you will admire the continuous explosive activity of the volcano Stromboli. You will then head towards Salina, where you cannot miss to taste a typical “granita”! Finally you will enjoy a round tour on the charming island of Lipari. Be ready to experience a truly active journey intended to combine navigation and relax with cycling and walking tours, to enjoy the wonders of the Aeolian Islands, also known as the pearls of Sicily.
Individual arrival and meeting at 3.30 p.m. at Catania airport, where you will be transferred to Milazzo harbour. Embarkation is at 6 p.m. at the Marina di Nettuno in Milazzo. Accommodation on board, welcome drink, dinner and presentation of the programme. Overnight in the harbour of Milazzo.
Today you will cycle towards Capo Milazzo, where you will have the chance to bathe in the wonderful “Venus Pool”, a protected natural sea pool. Once back in Milazzo, you can visit the Castle and its ancient hamlet. Overnight in the harbour of Milazzo.
The Caique Sundial will start navigating towards the island of Vulcano, the so called “Sulphur Island”, where you will discover by bike the hinterland of the island towards Piano Grillo, an ideal place to admire an amazing landscape. Then you will have free time in the afternoon. Some suggestions: you can walk up to the crater of the volcano, you can have a mud bath in the sulphur beach of the island or you can swim among underwater fumaroles. Overnight in the harbour of Vulcano.
After breakfast you will head towards Panarea. You will stop for a swim close to the little islands of Lisca Bianca, Bottara and Dattilo, where the volcanic activity is still clearly visible. Once in Panarea, the smallest of the Aeolian Islands, you will have lunch at anchor in a nice bay. Then the Caique Sundial will navigate towards Stromboli, with a superb view over the Sciara del Fuoco, the famous talus scree of Stromboli. In the late afternoon, the programme foresees a walking trip up to 400mt above sea level, to admire the volcanic explosions at dusk. Then you will have your picnic dinner in a nice panoramic point. Overnight in roadstead (sheltered anchorage) in Stromboli.
After breakfast you will navigate back towards Panarea. You will stop at anchor in the bay of Porto San Pietro, where you will enjoy a nice walk to visit the little village of Panarea, Drautto beach and its prehistoric village. Then you will have your picnic lunch at Cala Junco and go back on board. Afterwards you will head towards the island of Salina, where you will visit a local shop and taste several local products. Free dinner and overnight in the harbour of Salina.
You will start cycling directly in Salina; from Santa Marina, on the east coast, you will reach Pollara, a panoramic point on the west coast, where you will visit the lake of Lingua and Pollara, with the possibility to taste a very good “granita”. Back on board, the Caique Sundial will navigate up to Lipari, where you can stroll around its nice and charming village. Overnight in the harbour of Lipari.
After breakfast you will enjoy a wonderful coast to coast by bike. Starting from the hamlet of Lipari, you will pass along the beautiful village and beach of Canneto. You will have your picnic lunch at the panoramic point of Quattrocchi and then go back to the historical centre, rich in shops and restaurants. Back on board, the Caique Sundial will navigate up to Milazzo. Free dinner and overnight in the harbour of Milazzo.
Check-out at 9 am after breakfast and collective transfer to Catania airport. Arrival in Catania airport at around 12.
Prices are per person 2021
May 15 to June 12
Double cabin € 1.390,-
Single use € 2.090,-
August 28 to September 25
Double cabin € 1.490,-
Single use € 2.190,-
Supplements:
Reservation costs € 20,- per booking
Contribution Dutch Guarantee Fund € 5,- per person (Insolvency Protection)
Extra options:
City bike per week € 90,-
E-bike per week € 195,-
Helmet € 15,-
Boarding is at 6 PM in Milazzo. Accommodation on board, welcome drink, dinner and presentation of the programme. Overnight in the harbour of Milazzo.
The mooring place of the barge in Milazzo at the Marina di Nettunoin Milazzo.
Catania airport; several flights from different countries with Easyjet, Vueling, Ryanair or Air One and Alitalia.
After arrival in Catania airport, transfer to the embarkation point (included in the tour price).
Car
End of the tour
The tour ends one week later on Saturday morning after breakfast at 9 AM. Collective transfer to Catania airport. Arrival at Catania airport at around 12.
On this tour the following barges are scheduled
All rented adult bikes are equipped with:
1 one-sided saddlebag
1 handlebar bag
1 bike lock per cabin
At the moment of booking you can also rent helmets.
A low entry unisex frame, ideal for an upright but relaxed riding position. Standard bikes have 27 gears
Unisex low-entry frame. Bosch motor. Range: approx 90 km (flat terrain, average speed).
Imagine a floating hotel sailing to the next stage, while you are calmly pedalling along. No lugging of luggage: that is exactly what Bike & Barge is all about! In the pleasant atmosphere on board you can have a chat, go through the day with the others, and enjoy the meals prepared specially for cyclists. In the evenings you can enjoy a drink in the salon or admire the setting sun on deck. Do not expect a cruise ship with its passive luxury. The Bike & Barge Holidays are for people who really enjoy the physical activity of cycling and who value sociability more than wholesale luxury.
Free WiFi is (limited) available in lounge and on deck.
The captain/skipper, the chef and your tour guide all welcome you warmly. They are prepared specifically for these trips and will provide good and safe passage, good meals, and a friendly, pleasant atmosphere. They will, of course, also give you a great deal of interesting information during and after the cycling and sailing. The skipper is responsible for the smooth running of things on board; the cook is in charge of the catering. A tour leader accompanies you during the bike ride and can assist in case of breakdowns. He/She will be your guide to point out the things of interest along the way and speaks English/Italian. The tour leaders are carefully selected. They are experienced enthusiastic travelers who have a true passion for sharing their love of the outdoors, peoples, cultures and local food. Thanks to their knowledge of the territory, they can give you useful hints and help you appreciate the place you are visiting.
Due to organisational reasons, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during the holiday.
The captain and the guide reserve the right to make alterations to the itinerary, depending on wind, sea and weather conditions or organizational requirements.
This is not a sailing trip. The ship is a motor vessel, it has sails but the navigation is powered by engines.
During the tour the boat will be docked in a harbour during 6 nights, while on one night it will anchor in roadstead. The roadstead is a sheltered anchorage in a bay, which is an enclosed area with an opening to the sea. Natural roadsteads offer shelter from storms, winds and currents. In exceptional cases (bad meteorological and/or sea conditions), for safety reasons, the ship might have to return to the harbour also during the night that is scheduled in roadstead.
Only and exclusively in this case, the clients will be asked to pay a supplement for the overnight in the harbour. This amount, variable from port to port, will be divided among all participants and will be paid directly on site (approximately 20-50 € per person per night, subject to changes).
This tour foresees 4 cycling days and 2 walking days.
The terrain is from plain to hilly, with a daily positive difference in height from 0 to 600 mt. The caique is moored at night and typically sets sail after breakfast, meeting up with the guests in the afternoon. Some parts of the itinerary are undertaken by caique.
Leisure to Moderate: some days the itinerary will be flat, others it will present some hills. Suitable for everyone in good physical condition and with some cycling experience.
The main countries represented by our cycling guests are: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and France. The common language on board is English.
Specialised cycle clothing may be handy but not strictly necessary. What you do need (among other things) is the following:
• shorts/ long trousers/ track suit/ legging
• shirts/ sweater/ rain clothing
• gloves (in case you travel in April or October. It can be chilly in the morning)
• good solid shoes/ sneakers
• sunglasses/ cap/ swimming costume
• personal care and beauty items
• hair dryer (220V; available on the barges Zwaan, Sailing Home and Provence)
• insect repellent
• sunscreen
Your travel documents include the final packing list we suggest for your booked tour.
The ages vary between 35 and 75, but of course we have younger (even babies and kids) and older guests. In particular it is quite possible during the school holidays that children might be booked on your tour.
Most of the participants then wear rainwear. When the weather is so bad that cycling becomes really impossible (and that is almost never the case!), The guide organizes an alternative program with, for example, cultural excursions and city tours.
No, the barge doesn’t take the same route that the cyclists do. Sometimes the route may be altered because of weather conditions or repairs to bridges or locks and then the guests and the guide can arrange with the skipper to be met at a different place. Naturally you can always stay on board for one or more days.
