Islands of Plenty: Exploring Sicily Part 1
Exploring Sicily: A 14-Day Itinerary Day 1 – Day 7
Day 1: San Vito Lo Capo
Your Sicilian itinerary with PrivatSea begins amid the stunning crystal-clear turquoise waters, sun-bleached sands and palm trees of the beach at San Vito Lo Capo. The yacht’s two helicopters will meet you at Falcone-Borsellino Airport, together with your Captain and our Chief Stewardess for the 10-minute flight back to the yacht; one helicopter (call sign BLU-EYZ) will always stay on board for your use whenever you desire while exploring Sicily.
After the safety briefing given by the Chief Officer and introductions to your crew, it’s time to sit back, relax over a glass of chilled champagne and let us take care of your every need for the next 14 days.
Your first day on board is for relaxation. The on-board spa will provide all the tranquillity and serenity you need to help you unwind and prepare you for the very finest that Sicily has to offer, together with a few unique surprises. Whether it’s lazing on the sundeck or using some of the latest adrenaline-busting water toys, your yacht is now your home and each day is dedicated to giving you and your family the finest experience.
Dinner is served on board tonight. It will be a veritable feast of natural, organic foods sourced earlier in the day from the local markets and fish delivered directly to the yacht by the local fisherman.
The stunning waters and beach of San Vito Lo Capo are overlooked by Mount Monaco
Relax under the huge fig trees in the Parco Giardino Garibaldi.
Day 2: Palermo
The early morning sees us weigh anchor for the short cruise into Palermo, Sicily’s vibrant and diverse capital. After a relaxed breakfast of fresh Sicilian brioche and granita, a double-decker horse-drawn carriage will give the grandest of tours around this remarkable city. Your guides will show you as much or as little as you’d like to see, from the Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio Church, with its mesmerising gold leaf fresco art, to the food markets of Ballaro.
For moments of relaxation and contemplation after a morning of exploring Sicily, why not pay a visit to the historic Garibaldi Garden, a scenic spot filled with exotic plants and sculptural busts?
Lunch today will be served at L’Ottava Nota, where the food is considered to be out of this world.
Tonight’s entertainment is traditional Sicilian music on a candlelit beach at Nautoscopio, with its wondrous views of the mountains. As day turns to night, the moon rises slowly above the stage, and the live music continues into the early hours.
Day 3: Cefalù
We gently slip out of Palermo in the early morning mist for a cruise towards Cefalù, a town that oozes Sicilian charm. We drop anchor on the west side of the headland, giving you the best view of the majestic Duomo, a twin-towered Norman cathedral built in 1131, which stands over the old town’s cobbled alleyways and bustling market below.
Your guide will take you ashore to this Romanesque town, which has changed little in the past 500 years. The cathedral has some of the best-preserved Byzantine mosaics in the world and its mighty columns are thought to date back to the Roman age. The cloisters have now been fully renovated and are also well worth a visit.
After spending the morning in the town, lunch will be at Ristorante al Capone on its terrace, which overlooks a lush green valley below. The rest of the afternoon is for relaxation and fun on board. Included in the yacht’s plethora of toys are a pair of electric surfboards and a couple of the latest hoverboards. You’ll enjoy expert tuition from our on-board Tender Master.
For this evening’s dining experience, the crew will escort you ashore to the lawns of Cala Luna. We have reserved the best table, draped under discreetly illuminated palm trees, to watch the sunset – a night to remember from exploring Sicily.
If you wish you can head to Cratere della Fossa, the crater of the volcano and see the ‘fumaroles’ or springs that are the only visible manifestations of volcanic activity
Day 4: Vulcano
Today, we’ll be cruising along the north coast of Sicily to the breathtaking Aeolian Islands for the next chapter of exploring Sicily, where volcanoes meet the cobalt blue sea lined with black sand beaches. We drop anchor off the north-west coast of Vulcano, just below the world-famous Therasia Resort.
Breakfast this morning is a hearty affair. You’ll need it as we will be climbing the island’s volcano to 500m above sea level. The gentle climb, accompanied by your guides, will take about three hours. The views from the summit are magnificent, its moon-like landscape barren and desolate yet awe-inspiringly beautiful.
After heading back down to the Therasia Resort’s spa, enjoy a warm thermal mud wrap followed by a hot, bubbling natural spa. The afternoon is left for lazing around between the yacht, the beach and the infinity pool at the spa.
Dinner tonight will be served under the setting sun at the resort’s Il Cappero restaurant. Its contemporary culinary compositions are sure to delight the most discerning palate.
Day 5: Lipari
As dawn breaks, we lift anchor and head north to the neighbouring island of Lipari, the capital of the Aeolian Islands and an essential pitstop for exploring Sicily. Inhabited since 5,000 BC, it has been a historic maritime centre connecting the islands with the mainland. The main focal point is the clifftop Citadel, where your guides will escort you this morning. This imposing structure has been the site of many battles over the centuries and, together with the local cathedral, reflects the diverse cultural heritage of this island.
Lunch will be at Ristorante Filippino, where you will be welcomed as if family. The choice of amazing seafood, cooked simply but always with a twist, is served in an impeccable setting.
After a lazy stroll through the cobbled streets back down to the harbour, the tender will take you back on board. We will then head north to Porticello to see the bright white pumice quarries for an afternoon of water sports in the crystal-clear waters.
Day 6: Panarea
Acknowledged by many to be the most exclusive of all the Aeolian Islands, Panarea is small but perfectly formed. By the time you awake for breakfast, we’ll have dropped anchor only 30m from the beach on the south-east of the island. This is a day for underwater activities. The crew will prepare our U-Boat Worx Sub 3, a fully certified three-man submarine, which will take you down into the depths to observe the volcanic underwater activity. Champagne and canapés will, of course, be served at a depth of 50m.
This evening, you will be dining and dancing the night away at the chic Hotel Raya, overlooking the sea with distant views towards Stromboli.
The little island of Panarea, considered the most exclusive of all the Aeolian Islands
The spectacular Stromboli volcano
Day 7: Stromboli
Throughout the day, you’ll witness one of the most spectacular volcanoes not only when exploring Sicily but in the world as we anchor less than one nautical mile from the crater of Stromboli. It’s hiking boots on as you will be making the ascent to the crater rim with your guide. On your return, you will visit the black sand Ficogrande Beach for a refreshing swim before lunch at L’incontro. Positioned on the south-west corner of the island and famed for its fresh grilled fish, it’s where the locals eat and it’s easy to see why.
Back on board for the afternoon, the spa will have mud wraps ready for your detoxification, remineralisation, rejuvenation and relaxation. We will wait for sunset before hauling anchor for tonight’s cruise around the island. As we pass the most northerly point, you’ll see the volcano’s orange stream of lava weaving its way through the rocky precipices to the sea edge where plumes of steam rise up into the night sky. As you drift off to sleep, we will be setting course south towards the Straits of Messina.
Keep an eye out for our Sicilian Superyacht Itinerary Part 2 coming soon. Discover more places to visit or contact us today to plan your bespoke itinerary.
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