This 8-day loop is for guests who want Sicily’s cultural depth plus the Aeolians’ volcanic islands in one charter. It’s not a beach circuit. It’s a route built around active geology, clear island character, and efficient yachting—so the week feels substantial, not repetitive.
We don’t recommend this from armchair research. We sent our charter team to run the loop by yacht and build the plan around what actually works: the best nights, the best positioning, and the right Plan B when the wind or restrictions change the day.
Highlights on this Itinerary
- Watch an active volcano erupt in the dark from the sea (Stromboli)
- Enjoy a real Sicilian meal with local wines on Lipari Island
- Explore the islands and rock outcrops around Panarea Island by tender
- Go in for a warm-water geothermal dip at Vulcano Island
DAY 1. Portorosa to Vulcano
Vulcano is our favorite opener because it’s the fastest way to make the Aeolians feel real: the air can smell faintly sulfurous, the shoreline is dark volcanic sand, and the island’s “active” zones are close enough to reach without a production.
This is also the island that lent its name to the Roman god Vulcan and helped popularize “volcano” as an idea in the Western imagination—so it has myth + geology in the same frame. UNESCO literally flags this archipelago as a key reference point for volcanology.
Today’s cruising:
~19 nautical miles
- Catamarans (7 kts): 2.7 hours
- Motor yachts (12 kts): 1.6 hours
Mooring / docking
We aim for a berth or licensed mooring/buoy close to the main landing. On Vulcano, convenience matters because guests will want to go ashore, rinse off, and do sunset without tender logistics becoming the evening.
Note on mud baths: the famous mud area has had periods of closure due to gas emissions; we plan the day so it’s still great even if access is restricted (crater + thermal shoreline + black sand).
Today’s highlights / things to do
- Gran Cratere walk (optional): fumaroles and mineral-stained rock; it’s the best “standing on an active system” moment.
- Thermal shoreline swim: warm-water pockets and bubbling sensations in spots (captain-led, conditions-dependent).
- Black sand beach + simple sunset bar plan.
DAY 2. Vulcano to Lipari
Today is the “civilization reset.” Lipari is the Aeolians’ hub: the easiest island for a polished evening and the best place to show that the archipelago isn’t just scenery—it has a working town, a harbor rhythm, and real history.
We also use Lipari to introduce the geology properly: this is where guests can see pumice-white and obsidian-black landscapes in one afternoon.
Today’s cruising:
~4.5 nautical miles
- Catamarans (7 kts): 40 mins
- Motor yachts (12 kts): 30 mins
Mooring / docking
We recommend a marina/harbor berth in Lipari tonight. It’s the best “step ashore → dinner → stroll → gelato” flow in the islands.
If guests want sea time first, we do a swim/lunch stop then enter port late afternoon.
Today’s highlights / things to do
- Old town/citadel zone: the best compact evening walk.
- Pumice coast swim: bright cliffs + unusually pale water tones when the sun is right.
- Dinner anchor: Pasta alla Norma is a great Sicily classic to place here—simple, iconic, and it lands after a swim day.
DAY 3. Lipari to Stromboli
This is the day the week pivots from “volcanic islands” to “volcano you can actually watch working.” Stromboli is famous for persistent open-vent activity—Italy’s Civil Protection describes typical explosions every 10–20 minutes (the classic “Strombolian” rhythm).
Our job is to make this effortless: arrive with daylight, settle, then treat the post-dinner period like a front-row seat.
Today’s cruising:
~24 nautical miles
- Catamarans (7 kts): 3.4 hours
- Motor yachts (12 kts): 2 hours
Mooring / docking
We strongly prefer licensed buoy fields / managed moorings. Stromboli’s depths drop quickly and the island can feel “busy” at peak times—mooring is usually the calmest night.
Anchoring is possible in the right conditions, but we don’t force it.
Today’s highlights / things to do
- Night eruption viewing from the water: the signature experience; we plan the viewing position for sightlines and comfort.
- Strombolicchio pass (conditions permitting): a photogenic volcanic plug—high impact, low effort.
- Guided hike option: summit access and routes can be regulated; we only recommend it when rules/conditions align.
DAY 4. Stromboli to Panarea
Panarea is the Aeolians’ style island: whitewashed, compact, and socially magnetic. The nerdy note: the “pretty islets” around Panarea also sit in a zone of hydrothermal activity—in some areas you can literally see underwater bubbling. It’s a rare place where “luxury beach day” and “active geology” overlap.
Today’s cruising:
~13 nautical miles
- Catamarans (7 kts): 1.9 hours
- Motor yachts (12 kts): 1.1 hours
Mooring / docking
We plan Panarea around buoys + tender flow, because summer demand is real and the best experience is the effortless one.
Anchoring is possible but space and seabed suitability vary; we keep it practical rather than romantic.
Today’s highlights / things to do
- Cala Junco / Milazzese swim: the classic “Panarea water” day—simple, perfect.
- Islets loop by tender: quick hops, big payoff scenery.
- Sunset aperitivo plan: Panarea is made for a clean, curated evening—one venue, one table, done right.
DAY 5. Panarea to Salina
Salina is where we send guests who like taste and texture: vineyards, capers, greener slopes, and a calmer tone than Panarea. It’s also the best island for the “why is this place different?” conversation: Salina feels lush because it holds water differently than its more barren neighbors.
Today’s cruising:
~13 nautical miles
- Catamarans (7 kts): 1.9 hours
- Motor yachts (12 kts): 1.1 hours
Mooring / docking
We typically arrange Salina with a marina/port stop for comfort: easy shore access, quieter nights, reliable services.
If guests want more swim time, we can flip it: day at anchor, evening berth.
Today’s highlights / things to do
- Malvasia tasting + caper-led food: Salina is the Aeolians’ most gastronomically “legible” island.
- Pollara viewpoint (late afternoon): cinematic cliffs; strong wow-factor without heavy effort.
- Short hike option: easy routes give big views—worth it for guests who want a little movement.
DAY 5. Salina to Filicudi
Filicudi is where the itinerary turns quieter and more “expedition.” It’s famous for big sea features—especially La Canna, a basalt needle rising out of deep water—and for swims that feel private because the island has less infrastructure and fewer crowds.
We keep the plan simple: slow approach, a sea-cave stop timed for light, and an early evening that feels remote.
Today’s cruising:
~17 nautical miles
- Catamarans (7 kts): 2.4 hours
- Motor yachts (12 kts): 1.4 hours
Mooring / docking
Filicudi is small-scale; we plan buoys or a carefully chosen anchorage depending on forecast.
The priority is a stable night with easy tender use.
Today’s highlights / things to do
- La Canna sea stack: 71-meter-tall vertical basalt stack formed 40,000 years ago — one of the Aeolians’ best “geology postcard” moments.
- Sea cave swim (light-dependent): the color shifts with sun angle; we time it, we don’t just “pop in.”
- Capo Graziano (prehistoric footprint): a nerdy-but-fascinating reminder that these “remote” islands have been inhabited and worked for millennia.
DAY 7. Filicudi to Alicudi
Alicudi is the quietest-feeling stop on this route. It’s famous for being sparsely developed—more footpaths than roads—and it’s where many high-end guests finally exhale.
We treat this as the “luxury is silence” day: swimming, a short walk, and a night where the yacht feels like the only hotel that matters.
Today’s cruising:
~10 nautical miles
- Catamarans (7 kts): 1.4 hours
- Motor yachts (12 kts): 50 mins
Mooring / docking
Alicudi is exposed and deep; we plan conservatively. Managed buoys (where available) or carefully selected holding is preferred over “adventure anchoring.”
Docking can be situational; we treat it as a bonus, not the plan.
Today’s highlights / things to do
- Village stroll: no cars, no noise—this is the “decompress” island.
- Viewpoint hike (scaled to guests): even a short climb changes the whole perspective.
- Water time: Alicudi’s best luxury is unstructured—swim, float, read, repeat.
DAY 8. Return to Portorosa
This is the longest leg, so we frame it as a comfortable cruise day: late breakfast, long lunch underway, and—if conditions allow—one last swim stop before the marina. Motor yachts do this easily; cats do it well if you keep the day relaxed.
Today’s cruising:
~43 nautical miles
- Catamarans (7 kts): 6.1 hours
- Motor yachts (12 kts): 3.6 hours
Mooring / docking
Portorosa berth for smooth disembarkation and transfers.
Today’s highlights / things to do
- Final swim stop (conditions permitting).
- Wrap night: we recommend a simple local meal rather than a complicated “last night production.”
What’s on the menu on your Aeolian Islands Yacht Charter?
Ready to Plan Your Own Yacht Charter in the Aeolian Islands?
We’ve run this itinerary by yacht, and we’ll help you shape it to your group: the best nights ashore, the best swim stops, and the best timing for Stromboli. Tell us what you care about most (volcano, food, privacy, pace) and we’ll design a week that feels easy from the first day to the last.
