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Palermo Nature & adventure

Our most recommended Palermo Nature & adventure

Segesta, Erice and Salt Pans Full-Day Excursion from Palermo

1. Segesta, Erice and Salt Pans Full-Day Excursion from Palermo

This popular 8-hour itinerary takes you to see the most interesting sites of western Sicily. With your guide you’ll visit and explore Segesta, a Greek archaeological site. Travel to Nubia and the Salt Pans in Trapani, and admire the Sicilian coast and natural landscapes en route. You’ll also stop at Erice, a medieval hilltop town. Enjoy spectacular views throughout the day. All of the sites are relatively near Palermo, meaning that you’ll have plenty of time to explore each of them. This itinerary is also known as the Elimians's Road, named for the Elimians who were among the first inhabitants of this part of Sicily.

Mount Etna and Taormina Full-Day Excursion from Palermo

2. Mount Etna and Taormina Full-Day Excursion from Palermo

Europe’s highest active volcano is studied extensively by scientists and is popular with trekkers and nature lovers as well. Visit Mount Etna and the clifftop village of Taormina on this 11-hour excursion from Palermo. From Crateri Silvestri you’ll take the funicular with a local mountain guide all the way up to 2,500 meters above sea level. From this point you’ll experience unforgettable panoramic views. Just south of Taormina is the nature reserve of Isola Bella, and further south you’ll see the popular seaside resort of Giardini Naxos. Visit the village of Taormina, a 45-minute drive from Mount Etna. Perched on a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea, the village features an ancient Greek theater, many old churches, antique shops, lively bars and fine restaurants.

Palermo: Private Mount Etna, Taormina, and Castelmola Tour

3. Palermo: Private Mount Etna, Taormina, and Castelmola Tour

Enjoy a pickup from your accommodation in Palermo, Cefalù, or the Port of Palermo and embark on an exploration of the region's stunning attractions. First, visit the slopes of Mount Etna to experience the lava fields and the incredible landscape view from Europe's highest and most active volcano.   The Etna volcano is one of Sicily's main tourist attractions with thousands of visitors every year. The most common route is through the road leading to Sapienza Refuge, lying at the south of the crater at elevation of 1,910m. It hosts a large parking area, several bars, a hotel, and is a starting point for the cable car. From the refuge, you can take the cable car uphill to an elevation of 2,500m. From there, you can take a drive with special terrain vehicles, or enjoy a long walk to the designated crater area at 2,920m.   The next stop will be in Taormina where you’ll have leisure time for an independent tour of the town, ideal for strolling and window-shopping. The core of the town is pedestrianized and walking through its streets will indulge you in the Taormina atmosphere. You’ll have time to relax in a café and taste a granita (semi-frozen dessert made from sugar, water, and various flavorings). You can also enjoy an independent visit to the famed Greek theater or the several minor sites to be discovered around Taormina.   The last stop will be at Castelmola which offers a balcony over Taormina and the bay of Giardini Naxos framed by the mysterious and beautiful active volcano, Mount Etna. Marvel at the spectacular panoramas, narrow winding streets, and old-world charm of this fascinating comune before being dropped back at your accommodation or at the port.

Sicily: Etna Volcano & Taormina Tour

4. Sicily: Etna Volcano & Taormina Tour

Discover Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe (3.345 mt), and the town of Taormina that sits on the slopes of Mount Tauro on this guided tour. Enjoy plenty of free time to see the Silvestri Craters, Taormina’s Greek-Roman Theater, and more. Meet with staff and the rest of the group at the meeting point in Palermo, then depart to Etna. Upon arrival, enjoy free time to visit the Silvestri Craters and other sites. Try climbing Mount Etna in two different ways: • Ascend to 2,500 meters: From Funivia dell’Etna, ride a cable car up to 2,500 meters (at Montagnola). Upon arrival at 2,500 meters, you can walk around, hike, or enjoy a drink at the bar overlooking the area. This option has an additional cost to pay on the spot, approximately €30 per person. • Ascend to the top from 2,500 meters up to 2,920 meters: From Montagnola at around 2,500 meters, jump on board the UNI-MOG (mini-coach WD4X4) to reach 2,800 meters with a licensed Etna guide. Then, hike to reach 2,920 meters. This option has an additional cost to be paid on the spot of approximately €60 per person. Afterward, depart for Taormina, a scenic town on the slopes of Mount Tauro (204 m). This stop is not guided, so you are free to explore independently at your own pace. Visit the Greek-Roman Theater and admire the views of Etna and Taormina Bay. Later, head back to Palermo to be dropped off.

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What people are saying about Palermo

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 203 reviews

I booked this tour and a half day tour spur of the moment and so glad I did. This was a great day trip from Palermo. The drivers let us know important things/what to do at each stop. I didn’t know much about any of the stops when booking, especially Erice. Erice turned out to be one of my favorite stops from both of the tours I did. Definitely recommend!

great trip and the guys were great,We had a great day and it was what we wanted as we were left alone to enjoy the sites without any commentry or visits to shopping experiences.We would highly reccomend as we got to visit three places that are hard to access by public transport

Lovely tour with small group of people. Plenty of time to exprore sites on your own, which was my preference sice I dont drive. Adriano (our driver) was great!

Perfect day trip. The bus was clean and comfortable. The guide very friendly and knowledgeable.

Melissa was very interesting, engaging, informative, friendly, considerate.