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Tour code: ITA_GTI
Tour type: Walking & study tour: active volcanoes - nature & culture - archaeology
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Group size: 6-12
Duration: 15 days (14 nights)

Dates:

12-26 Oct 2018
11-25 Oct 2019

Price (p.p.): 3590 €  ? 

Included:

• 14 nights accommodation in double room (upper mid-range category)
• Most meals (breakfast + lunch snack + full dinner menu incl. wine, beer, coffee etc. in reasonable amounts)
• All transports and excursions as described
• Entry fees to museums, volcanoes, archaeological sites etc. as described
• Volcanologist guide from our team

Tour guide:

Tom will normally be your tour guide on the Volcanoes of Italy - The Grand Tour.
Dr. Tom Pfeiffer (1970) is a German volcanologist with a PhD degree in geology about the volcanic history of Santorini volcano from the University of Aarhus in Denmark.
For more than 20 years, Tom has been working on volcanic systems (Hawai'i and Vesuvius volcano observatories), observing volcanic eruptions around the world and organizing guided tours to active volcanoes in Europe (Santorini, Etna, Stromboli,...), Kilauea on Hawaii as well as in Africa and Indonesia. During his travels, he found his strongest passion in photography (link to his book) and the sharing of his knowledge and new travel adventures with people outside the scientific community. He first started a tour company in 2004 and is still guiding most VolcanoAdventures tours in Greece and Italy as well as the pilot expeditions and special eruption tours.

His other professional activities include a large number of articles about volcanoes published in newspapers and magazines such as National Geographic, Scientific American and others. Tom also participated in documentary film productions about Santorini (“The myth of the lost city of Atlantis”, "Mystery Hunters", both on Discovery Channel) and Stromboli (“Quarks and co: Vulkane” on the German television channel WDR), as well as the ongoing documentary series about active volcanoes "Volcanic Odysseys" by Canadian filmmaker Michael Dalton (Love Nature & Smithsonian Channel).

Besides his German mother tongue, Tom speaks English, Danish and Italian fluently and can also communicate in Greek, French and some Spanish. He lived for 7 years in Denmark, spent about 2 years in Italy and worked one year on Santorini, Greece, before moving to Athens in 2004.

On the first day you make your own way to Naples and our hotel with roof terrace in the center of the lively and colorful old town of Naples. Depending on your arrival time you can use the afternoon to have a rest or start exploring the city center. In the evening the group comes together for an aperitif and dinner in a small trattoria (=local restaurant) where excellent food and great ambiance are served.

In the morning we drive through the city of Naples and its suburbs to the upper flanks of Mt Vesuvius and then walk (easy hike, ca. 30 min.) to the summit crater of the volcano which last erupted in 1944. A special authorization allows us to hike around the whole summit crater (ca. 1 hr). From the rim, we can look down into its still smoking vent, across the dense urban development that is problematically close to the volcano and take in the unforgettable views over the Gulf of Naples with the city itself and the islands of Capri and Ischia.
On our way back, we stop at the scenic Valle dell'Inferno for a short walk to explore the youngest lava flow from the volcano´s 1944 eruption. Lunch will be in a charming rural setting at a local wine-producer where we'll enjoy delicious Italian cuisine and taste the local wines grown on the slopes of Vesuvius.
In the afternoon, we go on to visit the excavations of the Roman town of Herculaneum, destroyed by hot pyroclastic surges and mud flows from Vesuvius´s famous eruption in 79 A.D. For a typical Napoletarean dinner, we walk to a pizzeria or trattoria at the small fishing harbor of Naples, in a superb setting next to the majestic 11th century castle built on a small promontory at the waterfront.

In the morning we return to the slopes of Mt Vesuvius to visit the oldest volcano observatory in the world. Nowadays it is a small but interesting museum offering information on the volcano´s growth, minerals and eruptions as well as the development of volcano monitoring.
The afternoon is dedicated to explore the world's most famous archaeological site, the Roman city of Pompeii, where everyday life came to a sudden halt when in 79 AD Mt Vesuvius violently erupted and buried the city by a heavy fall out of pumice rocks. The visit includes a guided tour of about 1.5 hours as well as extra time to freely explore the ruins of this large historic site. We also program a complementary visit to the fascinating exhibition at the museum Antiquario di Boscoreale where they showcase numerous objects that were found at Pompeii and which illustrate the sophisticated culture and daily life in this city some 2000 years ago.

This day is dedicated to discover the second major and potentially very dangerous (but much less known) volcanic area near Naples: the Phlegrean Fields. We have a first stop at a viewpoint across the northern part of the Gulf of Naples and towards the island of Ischia. Then we set out to explore the Solfatara volcano which is still active and has many hot fumaroles, bubbling mud pools and sulphur deposits.
After lunch we continue our journey of this area that is dotted with volcanic cones, crater lakes and Roman ruins. Depending on time etc, we can visit the historically born volcano of Monte Nuovo, the large caldera lake Lago di Averna, a medieval castle near the site where a Roman city has sunk beneath water level and the small fishing town of Pozzuoli where evidence of recent tectonic activity (strong ground uplift) is visibly preserved in the historic Roman market square. For a wonderful sunset view over the Bay of Naples, we head to Capo Miseno: the very site from where Plinius observed the eruption of Vesuvius volcano in 79 A.D ! We conclude the day with a delicious dinner of fresh seafood at a local taverna right on the beach.

Our last day in Naples is free for you to discover the city on your own and/or via an optional guided visit to the historic center of town which includes the Greek/Roman catacombs. A second visit to the vast ruins of Pompeii is also an option as the site is easily accessible by train, or a visit of the archeological museum close to the hotel or a short walk and climb by a cable car to the Castel St. Elmo viewpoint from a large medieval castle towering over the city centre.
In the evening we embark on a ferry to the Eolian islands that leaves from Naples around 8pm, but before we do so we enjoy Naples' unrivaled cuisine one last time in a local trattoria or pizzeria. On board the ship, Naples' lights are slowly fading and we spend the night in double-bed cabins.

As we approach Stromboli around early dawn, most of us will already be up (you can be woken up in time if you wish) in order to observe the red firework-like eruptions from Stromboli - hence its nick name "Lighthouse of the Tyrrhenian Sea". Upon arrival, our luggage will be transferred to a nice hotel at the seafront using the local 3-wheeled "ape" motor-vehicles, whilst we enjoy a well-deserved breakfast at the pier before taking a short walk along the beach road to reach our hotel  (often rated as one of the best by our guests!). The rest of the morning and lunchtime are free for you to relax, swim in the nice sea or explore the unique ambiance of Stromboli. 
In the afternoon, we hike to a beautiful viewpoint on the Sciara del Fuoco, from where we have an excellent view to the active craters and the large ash slope where glowing blocks often roll down into the sea. We conclude the day with dinner at a uniquely located pizzeria nearby from where the eruptions are still visible.

After breakfast and a free morning (time to swim or stroll around in the picturesque village) we pack our day-packs and prepare for the rarely undertaken and unusual 3-4 hours climb to Stromboli´s summit along the Sciara del Fuoco.
Around sunset we arrive at a natural viewpoint at 918 m asl which is located directly above the active craters. From here, one can (cautiously!) observe the explosions from several active craters from very close range - one of the most awe-inspiring spectacles of nature, so please be warned that this is where you might become addicted to volcanoes… After enjoying Stromboli´s fireworks for about one hour we start the descend via a different route that brings us quickly down a steep sandy slope back to the village of Stromboli (about 1.5 hrs).
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Note:
Depending on the level of the volcanic activity, access to Stromboli's summit can be closed and in such circumstances the excursion can only go to a viewpoint above the Sciara del Fuoco at 400 m asl.

After breakfast we embark on a scenic boat tour around the island (ca. 3 hours). We first take a closer look at Strombolicchio, the tiny islet of vertical rock cliffs that is all that remains of the volcano that was the predecessor of Stromboli. We then visit the secluded village of Ginostra on the opposite side of the island before continuing our around-the-clock round trip and sailing right in front of the Sciara del Fuoco.
After a light lunch in the village of Stromboli you have the rest of the day free. Besides swimming, relaxing and enjoying the village atmosphere your options include a second climb to the summit craters, a hike to the viewpoint at the Sciara del Fuoco, or a boat trip at night.

After breakfast and perhaps a last swim at the beach we leave Stromboli and travel by speed boat to Lipari Island. We will stay here the next 2 nights in a charming hotel at the waterfront of the lively town. Upon arrival and check-in you have some time to settle in, relax or explore the neighbourhood.
We meet up after lunch for a hike to the island´s world-famous obsidian flow and pumice deposits. These are both text-book examples of spectacular young volcanic features and were intensely used and traded throughout the Mediterranean in historic times. In the evening we walk into the small colourful town of Lipari to enjoy the delicious Eolian cuisine in one of the many small restaurants.

After breakfast, we visit the highly interesting archaeological museum of Lipari which is situated in the ancient Acropolis of the town.We then take a short hydrofoil ride to neighboring Vulcano island where we'll spend ca. 4-5 hours discovering the volcanic phenomena. First we climb the active crater "La Fossa" which last erupted in 1888 (300m high, ca. 1hr climb), hike around the rim and explore its fumarole fields and sulphur deposits. Upon returning to the port there is the possibility to try out the volcanic hot mud ponds and/or warm fumaroles on the beach. In the afternoon, we return to Lipari where we'll have dinner in one of the island's most acclaimed fish restaurants.

In the morning we take the hydrofoil speedboat to the port of Milazzo on Sicily. From there travel by minibus to Mt Etna where we check in to our comfortable hotel, uniquely located on the volcano´s flanks at an altitude of 1900 m asl.
Depending on the weather and volcanic activity, we can make a short walk on Etna's flanks (easy, ca. 2.5-3 hrs) to start exploring the different volcanic deposits, structures and landscapes of Europe´s most active volcano. The hike will take us to a viewpoint that offers spectacular views both towards Etna´s summit area as the impressive Valle del Bove and its many lava flows.

After a copious breakfast from the buffet we gather at the reception for a long day of hiking. We start our ascend with the cable car and then take special jeeps to quickly reach about 2700 m elevation before we continue on foot. Weather conditions and volcanic activity permitting, we can climb one or several of the summit craters of Etna, explore there fumaroles and sulphur fields and stare down into the smoking vents. From the summit craters we make our way back to the hotel on food, descending along a variety of unique landscapes and vegetation as well as interesting volcanic features, for example the cinder cones that formed in single eruptions in 2001 and 2002-2003 and old lava flow channels. Back at the hotel we restore our energies with a delicious 3-course dinner and local red wine.

This day could be exchanged with the previous day and is again fully dedicated to Etna's upper region and sites of possible volcanic activity (if accessible). Normally this day will be used to discover one of Etna's most spectacular features: the Valle del Bove, a giant depression formed by repeated flank collapses of the volcano. From ca. 2500m altitude we descend into the Valle del Bove, along an extremely steep but soft sandy slope where we can run or slide down as if skiing (great fun and not dangerous!) in order to descend about 1000 m in less than 15 minutes. At the bottom of the giant depression an almost alien and rarely visited landscape awaits us... Surrounded by magnificent volcanic dikes and steep walls of ancient lava rocks, we are on the vast lava fields from the 1991-1993 eruption. Along an unmarked but easy trail we cross the Valle del Bove until we reach one of its lowest points of the SW border where we can easily climb out. From there we take a path downhill through forests, along a giant vertical basalt wall and to one of the very few springs at Etna before arriving at the road from where we are transferred back to the hotel. This evening there we will drive down to the lively village of Nicolosi for an aperitif in a local bar on the lively piazza before having our well-deserved Sicilian dinner in a busy garden restaurant.

If we don't choose to return to the summit area of Etna, we have this day to explore some of the many other highlights around the giant volcano. We drive anti-clockwise around Etna´s southern flank along a very scenic route and visit an interesting lava cave where we can walk through. Our journey then continues around the scenic eastern flank of the volcano where we visit one of Etna's natural wonders: the deep lava gorge cut out by the river Alcantara on the NE-side of the mountain. We admire the basaltic columns that make up the gorge´s steep cliffs and take our time for a light lunch and some swimming.
In the afternoon we pay a visit to Taormina, surely one of Sicily's most famous and beautiful towns, where we will walk through its medieval center and visit the still functional Ancient Greek theater. We then continue to the lively town of Catania which we reach in the evening and where we spend our last night in a beautiful hotel**** in the old city center with great views onto the sea. We meet in a typical local restaurant and celebrate our Italian volcano adventure with a delicious farewell dinner.

The tour ends today with a transfer to Catania airport according to your departure time. If you have some time it is definitely worth to explore the lively city of Catania itself as it offers more than enough to visit: the famous local market (especially the fish-market is spectacular!), numerous Ancient relics, baroque architecture, or simply enjoy its buzzing charm from one of the plenty street cafes.
If you have more days to spend, we recommend you extend your stay in Sicily or on the islands as options of things to do and see are nearly unlimited!

Additional info:

Physical requirements:

This trip requires a good general physical condition and some hiking experience. The time spent on individual excursions range from 1 hour up to ca. 6-8 hours, including breaks, but these timings are variable as they also depend on the weather, opportunities to observe and photograph volcanic activity etc. Most hikes are fairly easy, with climbing efforts between 100-400 m and total walking times under 3 hours. Exceptions are the more strenuous climb to Stromboli's summit, where around 900 m of altitude have to be climbed, and the potential climb to Etna's summit craters which can take up to 4 hours or more of total walking (weather and volcanic activity permitting these hikes). These latter excursions can be considered as optional and can be shortened by all or part of the group (possibility to split up, see program for details). People with asthma or other breathing difficulties should contact their medical doctor and are kindly requested to also inform us about this on beforehand.

Arrival info:

The tour starts in Naples and ends in Catania. In order to give everybody the best chance to plan his/her trip as flexible as possible, travel arrangements to Naples and from Catania are not included in the tour package. Naples is easily reached by plane or train (e.g. from Rome airport or other cities) and when the tour ends in Catania one can catch a connecting flight to the international departure airport (e.g. Naples, Rome, Milan). This 2 weeks volcano adventure can be easily combined with a preceding tour or an extension program in Italy, for example city trips to Rome, Florence,... or spending more time on Sicily or one of the Eolian islands. Upon request, we will happily make you some suggestions or assist you with your (international) travels in(to) Italy.

"Thank you so much for such a wonderful 2 weeks in Italy!" (Ali & Gabriela about the the Grand Tour to Italy's volcanoes in Oct 2017)

Hi Tom,

I believe I speak for all of us when I say: Thank you so much for such a wonderful 2 weeks in Italy! It was an unforgettable experience, and it was so great to make new friends as well! We will definitely book another trip with you again, hopefully sometime next year.

It was great meeting you all and we hope to see you again in the future! If any of you plan to visit New York sometime, please reach out to us, we'd love to show you around.

Florian, thank you so much for making our time in Naples so enjoyable. Please let me know when you find out what the white lines mean.

Regards,

Ali & Gabriela
(from New York, USA, about the Grand Tour to Italy's volcanoes in Oct 2017)

"I have always been fascinated by volcanoes." (Robert B. about the the Grand Tour to Italy's volcanoes in Oct 2016)

"Ms. Passariello:
I read your excellent article in today's Wall Street Journal this morning.
Last October, my wife Jenean and I did a grand tour of all of Italy's volcanoes through a group called Volcano-Adventures (www.volcanodiscovery.com). We began our two-week trip in Naples at Mt. Vesuvius, followed it up with Campi Flegrei, took a ferry to Stromboli, sailed to the other Aeolean Islands, and ended up at Mt. Etna. Our trip was guided by a volcanologist who explained all the natural phenomena to us. In between, we were treated to excellent restaurants and wine tastings. We also stayed in excellent hotels.

We spent several days in Stromboli. Our hotel was the Villaggio Stromboli, where we were able to look out over the water to Strombolicchio. Midway up the volcano is a restaurant called Osservatorio, where the only lighting is provided by candles, and each eruption of a lava fountain is punctuated by oohs and aahs from the customers just like during Fourth of July fireworks. From that point, my wife ascended the rest of the mountain to the summit crater. I walked back down to the hotel because my knees can no longer handle steep climbs and descents. She spent several hours at the top of the volcano and got some great pictures and videos of the eruptions. Jenean arrived back at the hotel several hours later, and she said that her leg muscles felt like jello.

We also spent some time at the islands of Lipari and Vulcano. Our small boat took us through places in the Tyrrhenian Sea that was bubbling with volcanic gases. The water was like seltzer, but the bubbles smelled like sulfur. The island of Vulcano is very active, with steam vents and mud baths everywhere. Lipari was enjoyable also. It goes without saying that all these places had excellent food. The Aeolian Islands are unknown to most American tourists, and we didn't see very many.

We have many pictures and videos from our trip. We would be happy to share them with you. Stromboli is but one of many volcanoes in Italy. It is relatively easy to hike to the crater of Vesuvius. Even I was able to do it. Of more significance is the city of Pozzouli, which sits atop Campi Flegrei (a.k.a Phlegraean Fields), a supervolcano above which live about two million people. Mt. Etna is the grand finale. In addition to the activity of the volcano itself, the surrounding area is filled with the marks and effects that the volcano has left upon it. You can truly appreciate the massive power of Mother Nature.

This was a bucket-list vacation for me. I have always been fascinated by volcanoes. ...
Keep up the good work." (Robert B., California, about the Grand Tour to Italy's volcanoes in Oct 2016)

I want to thank you for another superb trip (Volcanoes of Italy tour)

"Hello Tom: I think I am finally over jet lag after the 30 hours total travel from Rome to Australia. I want to thank you for another superb trip. I've done Vanuatu, Java and now Italy with you and your people in only 14 months (!).
All of the trips have been different and all excellent. They have certainly enabled me to get closer to active volcanoes and their scale, which is exactly what I wanted to do after a lifetime looking mostly at mineral deposits in eroded dead volcanoes. I fell in love with the Mediterranean islands - and, yes, Santorini is definitely on the list!
Best wishes
Dick" (Richard H., Australia, about the Volcanoes of Italy tour)

...want to thank everyone for such a great trip.

Hello Volcano Discoverers,
Heather and I want to thank everyone for such a great trip. It was a great group pf people to travel with and I think we have new memories that will last a lifetime. ...
We hope our paths cross again in the future. Maybe on another volcano, who knows
Cheers, Salute, Prost, Skaal, Gesondheid,
Craig L. and Heather H. (Colorado, USA, Volcanoes of Italy tour)