10 Day Gastronomical Food, Wine, and Culture Tour in Salina and The Aeolian Islands

Accommodation

Stay in a family-run, bespoke island resort with an ancient Greek-inspired thermal spa, mineral baths, and a wellness center. Base yourselves on the island of Salina. Salina is considered by many to be the prettiest island in the archipelago. With two twin peaks, verdant valleys, and charming towns, it is known as the “Isola Verde” (the green island) and boasts a number of vineyards that produce sweet Malvasia dessert wine.

Studded with citrus trees, olives, and caper plants much of the cuisine on the island comes from Salina itself with specialty foods coming from the remainder 6 islands and some from the mainland.

The 4 and 5-star hotels, resorts, and country-style accommodation is also personally selected for not only their quality but also their location, services, hospitality, and the relationships Pure Food Cooking Tours have built over the years. They want to ensure you are not only very comfortable and relaxed but also get to experience all aspects of a region's terrain and lifestyle.

They're not about racing you around the country. They prefer to stay in each of the accommodations for a minimum of 2-4 nights giving you an opportunity to unpack and settle in. Moderate walking is involved on guided tours, they can certainly accommodate people who are a little slower on their feet. Luggage services are available to assist with retrieving luggage off and on the bus and to and from the hotels/rooms if required.

Program

Visit Lipari Island and discover Lipari Island with its great scenery, typical island beaches, and the liveliest town to be found on the islands; Lipari is active late into the night (in the summer) and has a very wide selection of bars and restaurants. Stopping in at the volcano, visit the Praia di Vinci the mud baths, and the thermal waters, rich with magmatic gas. Visit the Grotta del Cavallo and the Piscine di Venere for a swim and snorkeling.

Sail around the beautiful green Salina Island and marvel at its perfectly perched tiny towns. See a natural reserve that is the island and its famous picturesque villages such as Pollara, Malfa, and Santa Marina. Taste fresh salted capers and the popular Malvasia, a wine native to the islands from this particular grape.

The boat tour to Panarea and the volcanic eruptions on Stromboli includes a stop in the Bay of Cala junco or Cala del Moro, above which is the prehistoric village of Capo Milazzese. Admire part of the submerged volcano and the sulfur emissions, accessible only by sea. Then at sunset, you will leave for the islet of Strombolicchio towards the suggestive Sciara del Fuoco, to admire the eruptions of the volcano.

Try a Pane Cunzato, a popular island summer meal consisting of thin open focaccia piled high with options such as fresh mozzarella, tuna, olives, sun-ripened tomatoes, and local condiments, enjoy some of the best granitas in Sicily, taste the real Malvasia wines unique to the Aeolian and dine on local specialties.

All while staying at the resort spa where you can also enjoy unique body treatments and Greek baths using herbs, oils, and flowers from the island.

Day 1: Arrival on Salina Island

Meet early at your hotel reception then board the transfer bound for the stunning Aeolian Island of Salina, stopping for a typical Sicilian lunch "on the move". For Italian movie buffs, you will have the chance to see the house where Italian actor Massimo Troisi from “Il Postino” brought Salina to the world. Arriving on Salina Island, you will feel instantly relaxed as they take you on a tour of the island.

Check in to your resort in the small town of Malfa. Traditionally built to suit island life, the whitewashed walls and lush gardens with sea views are picture-perfect postcards of rest and relaxation. After check-in, enjoy a dinner in the resort’s restaurant with one of Sicily’s most talented Michelin-star female chefs. Overnight in Malfa.

Day 2: Salina cooking class

With a relaxing start to the day, dine on a delicious buffet breakfast Salina style then ease into your morning cooking class at your hotel which includes an alfresco lunch overlooking the Aeolian Islands. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to continue enjoying this little piece of paradise.

Meet in the late afternoon for your wine tasting and discover the advantages of the island's agriculture and its contribution to the island's famous wine varieties. Enjoy a light dinner of Salina specialties. Overnight in Malfa.

Day 3: Boat tour and visit to Lipari and volcano

Today, they'll take you by private boat to discover the beauty of the Aeolian Islands. Visit Lipari Island giving you free time to wander and explore Lipari taking in the unique, boutiques, cobbled streets, and great island life. Stopping in at the volcano visit the Praia di Vinci. Dock at the eastern port visiting the mud baths and thermal waters, rich with magmatic gas.

An excursion to the Grotta del Cavallo and the Piscine di Venere for a swim and snorkeling will follow. Then head towards the stacks of Lipari, the cave of the Angels, and go up the western part of the island, up to the coves of the Tivoli in front of the Pietra del Bagno. Finally, the Cathedral and the Punteruoli, finish the tour with a panoramic sea view around Salina itself, all while enjoying a relaxing late lunch on board. Your evening is free in Malfa. Overnight stay in Malfa.

Day 4: Free day

Today is completely yours to do whatever you like. Feel free to rest and relax poolside at the hotel, and book in for an incredible treatment and spa at the hotel spa. Take the local bus for a hop on hop off adventure, hire a Vespa or little car to do some traveling across the island, or book a whole day boat trip and laze the day away on the turquoise waters.

Day 5: Boat tour to Panarea and Stromboli Island excursion

Today is more relaxation and exploration as you enjoy a full day on the water. Venture to Panarea and see the volcanic eruptions on Stromboli. The boat tour includes a stop in the Bay of Cala junco or Cala del Moro, above which is the prehistoric village of Capo Milazzese. Stop in the characteristic village of San Pietro, stop for a lunch of local specialties then head to the islets of Dattilo and Lisca Bianca where you can admire part of the submerged volcano and the sulfur emissions, accessible only by sea.

Continue to the wild islet of Basiluzzo where you will stop for a swim and then head towards the island of Stromboli, where you will stop to observe the hamlet of Ginostra. Arrive at the port of Scari to visit the town characterized by black sand beaches and white houses. At sunset, leave for the islet of Strombolicchio and then continue towards the suggestive Sciara del Fuoco to admire the eruptions of the volcano.

Day 6: Free morning/Granita and lunch in Lingua/Late afternoon Salina tour and local flavors

After a late start to the day, head to the seaside village of Lingua, a small fishing village on the South Eastern side of Salina. With a few, shops, hotels, and easy sea access, it's a popular spot for swimmers and holidaymakers.

Stop at the very popular Bar Alfredo for their famous Pane Cunzata, a large toasted round focaccia style bread piled high with local fresh ingredients, cheeses, and Salina condiments, they also have the best granita in the Aeolian Islands. In true island style, they'll give you time for a siesta then meet in the late afternoon for a bus tour of Salina, an unforgettable sunset, and dinner in one of the local restaurants.

Day 7: Free day

Today, the day is yours to relax, do some shopping, or take advantage of your knowledgeable guide to venture out into the mountains for a walking trek. Meet you back at the hotel in the late afternoon for drinks and appetizers on the terrace.

Day 8: Salina - Palermo

With a late checkout, head back to Palermo, giving you the rest of the afternoon free to take in more of this vibrant city. There is plenty to see and do in Palermo and just a short bus ride away can take you to the seaside town of Mondello, where you will find the locals sunning themselves on the beach or enjoying one of the many cafes and restaurants beachside. Meet you in the evening to wander to your celebratory last dinner.

Day 9: The Mafia in Sicily - Corleone

When traveling from the islands it’s always good to have an extra day up your sleeve as Sicily's weather can be unpredictable! Today, take a tour to further explore Sicily and the history of the Mafia. This is an incredibly interesting tour that divulges the real Mafia, its beginnings, and how it still affects Sicily today. Enjoy a typical country lunch and the evening is yours to take in your last day of Palermo your way.

Day 10: Palermo

Say goodbye as they organize all of your transfers and wish you well for your return home or your onward journey.

Guides

The guides are personally selected for their knowledge of the regions, their spoken English, and their humor. This ensures you enjoy informative, interesting, and fun guided tours. They do, when necessary, use whispers or small group microphones to ensure you can wander at your own pace without missing out on understanding the history and unique aspects of each area you visit.

Tour information

The places you'll visit do include some of the main tourist sites of a region. Although unique to Dominique Rizzo Tours are the sights and activities that are personally booked for these tours alone. You will not find these on any other tour. They include everything! Even days and evenings off from the tour for you to relax on your own or to further explore a destination.

There are no hidden costs or payments that are further required to complete the full itinerary. You are welcome to opt-out of any of the activities to do your own thing, although they have selected each of the activities to give you an opportunity to see, do, and taste as much of Sicily as possible with siesta time in between.

The tours suit couples, solo travelers, and people of all ages. The tours are privately booked with a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 12 guests so that you get personalized attention, comfort when traveling, and the opportunity to visit boutique establishments, restaurants, and unique venues not suitable for large number tours.

Instructors

Dominique Rizzo

As a chef, restaurateur, author, and TV presenter, Dominique's aim is to inspire people to cook with fresh, seasonal, local produce. Dominique aims to improve health and build confidence in the kitchen. She inspires creative cooking to bring vitality onto people’s plates. She loves sharing her passion for all things world food, with like-minded foodies and travelers. Apart from designing and hosting these amazing food tours of Europe and beyond, Dominique is a chef, food writer and presenter. She currently owns and runs “Putia Pure Food Kitchen” a restaurant and cooking school in Brisbane.

Location

On this tour, you will be traveling to Salina Island, Lipari Island, Volcano Island, Panarea Island, Stromboli Island, and Palermo.

Why you will love the Aeolian Islands tour

The Aeolian Islands have always been a popular destination on Pure Food Cooking Tours' food tours and now they have made it even easier and more affordable to enjoy these stunning volcanic islands with this relaxing and insightful tour. Enjoy days of the best Aeolian cuisine, culture, flora, fauna, and hospitality then explore Palermo and its rich cultural history. This tour to the Aeolian Islands is the perfect no-stress way to experience the delights these regions have to offer.

The relaxed itinerary takes care of all of the logistics but with enough flexibility to allow for spontaneous new adventures. Whether you are a seasoned traveler or a first-time overseas holidaymaker, you are welcome. It is the perfect food and wine tour for solo travelers, and couples, in fact, anyone who enjoys meeting new people and enjoys new experiences, and loves Mediterranean food.

The Aeolian Islands

Located off the coast of northeastern Sicily, is one of southern Italy’s greatest natural and cultural treasures. Formed by volcanic eruptions over time, the archipelago is made up of seven islands: Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Panarea, Stromboli, Filicudi, and Alicudi. They all sound like a poetic rhyme.

Just like their beautiful names suggest, the islands will captivate you in many different ways. Each island offers an astounding contrast in landscape, colors, lifestyle, and cuisine. In addition, the nightlife, shopping, and relaxation are all very unique. During this tour, explore the natural reserve that is the island and its famous picturesque villages such as Pollara, Malfa, and Santa Marina.

Pollara is most noteworthy for its appearance in the beautiful Italian movie "Il Postino". Take a tour of Lipari Island, the largest of the islands. It accommodates a busy center full of gorgeous restaurants and bespoke artisan shops. Lipari is also a sought-after destination for archaeology lovers.

In this private guided Aeolian Islands tour, through the cooking class, food tastings, and boat tour, you will see first-hand what the islands have to offer. Most of all, the islands are an extraordinary and breathtaking destination. They have attracted travelers worldwide ever since the times of classical mythology. The restaurants, dining experiences, hotels, and activities are hand selected by Dominique to give you a taste of the true Aeolian culture.

Meet local characters, slow food producers, and passionate chefs who like all Sicilians will embrace you with their love of their homeland. Expect to eat and drink your way through this unique island cuisine, connect with authentic people and enjoy some of the best culinary and cultural experiences. If you desire something more out of your travel itinerary then come on an Aeolian adventure with Dominique as you explore these beautiful Islands. See you in Sicily!

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Food

The following meals will be provided:

Days 1 and 2: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 3: Breakfast and lunch
Day 4: Breakfast
Day 5: Breakfast and lunch
Day 6: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Days 7 and 8: Breakfast and dinner
Day 9: Breakfast and lunch
Day 10: Breakfast

Full luxury breakfast every day, most lunches and dinners are included, some morning/afternoon teas and aperitives are provided as stated when lunches/dinners are not provided, the listed meals are of ample abundance including a combination of fine dining, long lunches, and street food. All beverages with meals including wine, beer, juice, soft drink, tea, and coffee are provided.

Menus-selected restaurants and dining experiences are hand-chosen to give you a variety of tastes and flavors allowing you to experience foods from the land, sea, city, and mountain. They consciously include zero-kilometer venues and restaurants with slow food accolades that support sustainability, preservation of tradition, and local produce.

Pure Food Cooking Tours can certainly cater to dietary intolerances and can accommodate coeliac, dairy-free, vegans, and vegetarians. This is not just a cooking tour, although the cooking classes are for everyone from the novice cook to the budding chef and are fun and informative giving you an opportunity to pick up some new skills and learn about the cuisine.

The following meals are included:

Breakfast
Drinks

The following drinks are included:

Water
Coffee
Tea
Soda
Alcoholic beverages

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:

Vegetarian
Vegan
Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
Other dietary requirements on request

If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation

Things to do (optional)

"Savour Sicily" - A tour for the senses

This tour of Sicily includes some of Sicily’s historic and well-noted cities and sights. This includes Palermo where the Arabs, Normans, Greek, and Spanish among many others left Palermo with a rich imprint of foreign cultures evident in its art, design, architecture, and cuisine. Other popular cities on tour include Catania, Ortigia, Randazzo, Taormina, and Siracuse to name a few.

In this tour of Sicily, you are offered a wonderful introduction to Sicily. You will visit some of the most popular historical sites, galleries, and museums in Sicily. You will be taken to places that are a little off the beaten track and not listed in travel books. This gives you the opportunity to further engage with Sicily and immerse yourself in the Sicilian culture, gastronomy, and people.

During the tour, you will visit bustling food markets and towns which are famous for their old techniques and artistry in ceramic and jewelry making. Also visit the stunning photographic hilltop town of Erice, a picturesque medieval town where you will indulge in specialty pastries and desserts with recipes handed down through the ages.

You will taste the real Marsala, visit ancient theatres, enjoy cooking classes with passionate chefs and foodies and discover the history of music with an incredibly talented maestro. You will wander through cobbled streets to find hidden treasures and bustling markets, and dine on local fresh produce, seafood, and meats in slow food restaurants, agriturismo, cantinas, enotecas, and more. All specialize in showcasing true Sicilian fare. For more information, please send an inquiry.

What's included

All private, guided and fully escorted tours, visits, and tastings for 10 days
9 nights accommodation in the beautiful scenic surroundings of The Aeolian Islands (Luxury island spa resort and boutique-style accommodations selected for their personalized service, amenities, locations, and hospitality)
Specialized escorted service of Dominique Rizzo, chef/author, and owner of Pure Food Cooking, Pure Food Wine, and Cooking Tours
Transfer from Palermo Airport/train station or hotel in Palermo on the tour start date and transfers to Palermo Airport /train station or hotel on the tour finish date
Air-conditioned comfortable private bus with your own private driver
"My Taste of Sicily" Sicilian cookbook and shopping/travel tote bag
Full luxury breakfast daily, most lunches and dinners (Some morning/afternoon teas and aperitives are provided as stated when lunches/dinners are not provided, the listed meals are of ample abundance including a combination of fine dining, long lunches, and street food)
All beverages with meals including wine, beer, juice, soft drink, tea, and coffee
All transfers by boat, bus, car, or taxi as specified in the tour itinerary
Admission to all historical sites, galleries, and museums mentioned in the itinerary
Tips for restaurants and guides
Private Italian guides

What's not included

Airfares to and from Sicily
Everything not included in the itinerary
General expenses (phone calls, laundry, etc
Room upgrades (Room upgrades are available upon request, prices are to be quoted upon application. For more information, please send an inquiry.)
Transfers outside of the tour dates
Personal transport outside the tour dates
Excess baggage
Security and government taxes outside the tour dates
Travel and medical insurance
Beverages and meals outside of those described on the tour itinerary (you will not need to buy anything to eat)
Room service beverages and meals when not participating in the scheduled meals
Tourist taxes where applicable
Additional expenses (It is your responsibility to ensure personal settlement of any extra charges not included in the inclusions is made to the hotel or provider of any service.)

How to get there

Recommended Airports

PMO

Falcone–Borsellino Airport (Punta Raisi Airport)

157 km

Transfer included

Airport transfer included: Falcone–Borsellino Airport (Punta Raisi Airport) No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.

Cancellation Policy

A reservation requires a deposit of 15% of the total price.
The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.

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