Wonders of Western Sicily

A remarkable corner of Italy
 

Holiday Highlights

Erice | Its lofty site, cobbled medieval streets, sixty churches and spectacular views.
The impossible garden, Favignana | A remarkable, sunken garden coaxed out of an arid interior.
Scopello | Its turquoise waters and luminous sea stacks.
The Zingaro Nature Reserve | Precipitous cliffs, a lush interior, and wonderful spring flowers.
Wonders of Western Sicily. 7 nights
Wonders of Western Sicily. 7 nights
 

Holiday information

 

A walking holiday in western Sicily

With its intriguing mix of rugged nature, rich history and cultural interest, western Sicily is a joy to explore on foot. Our self-guided, hotel-to-hotel walking holiday takes you on a real adventure: from medieval Erice to the Zingaro Nature Reserve via the remote and unspoiled Egadi Islands.
Closer to North Africa than the Italian mainland, north-west Sicily has a distinct character and a charm all of its own. Its beautiful coastline has proved an inviting stepping stone for myriad invaders over the centuries, and its enigmatic landscapes still bear the traces of this colourful past.

Our varied walking holiday provides an immediate introduction to Sicily’s multi-layered history, beginning in medieval Erice, a hill-top village dominated by the towering remains of its Norman castle. From the village, huge panoramic views extend in all directions, including to the idyllic Egadi Islands and the spectacular Zingaro Nature Reserve.

Adrift in the middle of the Mediterranean, the Egadi Islands are the perfect place to spend a few days away from it all. Half-an-hour’s ferry ride away from the historic port of Trapani, the largest of the three islands, charmingly unpretentious Favignana, serves as an idyllic retreat. Our walks on the island and its smaller neighbour, Levanzo, reward you with sweeping sea views, and are short enough to allow plenty of time to enjoy the clear, turquoise waters, which have been designated a marine reserve in recognition of their rich wildlife, which includes bottlenose dolphins and the rare monk seal.

Returning to Trapani, you continue to the Moorish village of Scopello, gateway to the lush and pristine Zingaro Reserve. Widely regarded as one of the prettiest parts of Sicily, the Reserve is an incredibly special place: sheer cliffs plunge precipitously into clear turquoise waters; eagles, kestrels and peregrine falcons whirl overhead; and there is a seemingly never-ending supply of delightful coves on which to pause and soak in the rare beauty of this remarkable corner of Italy.
 

 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.

We have improved the itinerary for 2023, and now feature the island of Favignana, which is easier to access. Reviews from 2022 relate to the old itinerary, which featured a different island.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.

    Given its location in the Mediterranean, Sicily is known for its hot, sunny climate, though breezes can make it cooler in the hills.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 14 14 16 18 22 26 29 29 27 23 19 15
    mm 64 55 57 45 22 12 3 14 45 74 79 70
  • Arrival in Erice
    Night 1: at Hotel Elimo (the first of two nights here).
    As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of walking.
  • Around Erice: 7.5km, 3hrs; ascent/descent 400m
    Enjoy mesmerising views over many of the landscapes you will visit later in the week on this scenic first route, which explores the lofty hillsides that surround the medieval hill-town of Erice. As this is a reasonably short walk, you also have time to discover Erice’s historic centre with its maze of narrow alleyways, renowned pastry shops (be sure to try the local speciality, Genovese, a shortcrust pastry filled with cream) and remarkable number of churches. The town’s most famous feature – besides its dramatic hill-top location – is the 12th-century Castello di Venere, a Norman fortress perched high on a rocky outcrop and offering sensational, far-reaching views.
    Far-reaching views
    Around Erice: 7.5km
  • Erice to Favignana: 10km, 3.5hrs; ascent 45m/descent 725m
    Leaving Erice by its ancient town walls, you descend towards Trapani on a wide panoramic track which winds across the western slopes of Monte Erice, with superb views towards the Egadi Islands – today’s final destination. When you reach the edges of Trapani, you can choose to continue on foot to the Old Town via the city’s main shopping street or cover the final few kilometres by bus (pay locally); either way, we recommend setting aside some time to explore Trapani’s vibrant historic quarter before meeting with your luggage for your late-afternoon boat journey (30 minutes) to Favignana, the largest of the Egadi Islands. Here, you spend three nights at the comfortable Albergo Ristorante Egadi, very close to the town’s main square, or you can upgrade to the Tempo di Mare, right by the sea.
    Take a ferry to the Egadi Islands
    Erice to Trapani: 10km
  • Choice of walks on Favignana: 9km to 11km
    Whitewashed houses, colourful fishing villages, sun-scorched hills and tropical vegetation – the Egadi Islands are Sicily with a distinct North African accent. Their slow pace of life is extremely relaxing – locals tend to get around by bike – and as well as our recommended walking routes, you can look forward to long al fresco lunches at traditional trattorie and dips in the clear turquoise waters. You could even hire bikes to explore on two wheels.

    Cala Rossa circuit: 11km, 4hrs; 100m ascent/descent
    Heading eastwards, follow quiet tracks and dusty roads across the interior, passing ancient tufa quarries and an extraordinary botanical garden, Giardino dell’Impossibile (pre-booking required). Beyond the garden, your route continues to the craggy coastline and a number of enticing coves from whose rocks you can swim in the crystal-clear waters, before returning to Favignana.

    Monte Santa Caterina: 10km, 4hrs; 470m ascent/descent
    This route ascends the island’s main hill, to the west of the port. A paved path snakes uphill, at times steeply, to reach the ruins of the Norman castle (310 metres), where your efforts are rewarded with dazzling views across the whole archipelago. If you are feeling energetic, you can head to the summit cross at nearby Punta Grosso, for spectacular bird’s-eye views of Favignana port.

    Levanzo: 9km, 3.5hrs; 230m ascent/descent
    We also recommend taking a boat (pay locally) to neighbouring Levanzo, the smallest of the three Egadi Islands. Devoid of any real roads, the island is a joy to explore on foot, and you can follow trails across pastureland grazed by goats, through shady pine woods and past idyllic coves.
    Cala Rossa beach
    The old tuna factory on Favignana
    Cala Rossa: 11km
    Monte Santa Caterina: 10km
    Walking on Levanzo
    Levanzo: 9km
  • Favignana to Scopello: 8.5km, 3.5hrs; ascent 420m/descent 510m
    Today a morning boat delivers you back to Trapani, where you meet with a pre-arranged taxi for a transfer deep into the Sicilian countryside. Striking out on foot, you traverse a quiet rural landscape that becomes gradually rockier and more rugged; at first, the sea is out of sight, but wonderful views emerge as you crest a final hill and begin your descent into Scopello, the lovely little village where you spend your final two nights at the Hotel Baglio di Scopello or the Hotel Torre Bennistra.
    Views to Scopello
    To Scopello: 8.5km
  • Around Scopello: 14km, 5.5hrs; ascent/descent 600m
    Although Scopello is itself a charming coastal village, with a scattering of restaurants, cafés and craft shops, as well as an impressive tonnara – a medieval tuna-fishing complex which today houses a small museum – perhaps the village’s greatest attraction is its proximity to the Zingaro Nature Reserve. With precipitous cliffs swooping down to a series of idyllic white-shingled coves, behind which are mountains that shelter a rich diversity of flora and flora, this wild stretch of coast is widely regarded as one of the island’s most beautiful corners. Our circular route through the reserve enters via its southern entrance and first heads inland across panoramic open hillsides before joining a coastal path to loop back towards Scopello. This lower path is lined with luxuriant vegetation and edged by a string of inviting coves, where you may well wish to take the opportunity to cool off in the clear, crystalline waters.

    Visit Segesta
    Scopello also lies within easy reach of the magnificent 2,500-year-old Doric temple at Segesta, which is set amid a green and tranquil valley and can be accessed by taxi (pay locally).
     
    Zingaro Nature Reserve
    Around Scopello: 14km
 

Accommodation

Although our trio of charming hotels are all different in style, each offers comfortable accommodation in a superb location.

To make your holiday all the more special, opt for our upgrade hotel in Favignana.

In some places, we work with more than one hotel, as shown below. All are hand-picked by us and, unless there is a price implication (in which case we will contact you to discuss your options), we will tell you which one we have booked for you on your booking confirmation.

Whichever hotel you stay in, we recommend an extra night in Scopello for the chance to visit the outstanding archaeological site of Segesta.
 

Extend your stay

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
Currency converter

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  • 7 nights: 24 April 2024 - 30 June 2024, 28 August 2024 - 16 October 2024, 25 April 2025 - 30 June 2025 & 27 August 2025 - 15 October 2025

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    24 Apr - 22 May 2024 £855 £230
    23 May - 23 Jun 2024 £935 £270
    28 Aug - 19 Sep 2024 £1005 £275
    20 Sep - 9 Oct 2024 £945 £240
    25 Apr - 22 May 2025 £890 £240
    23 May - 23 Jun 2025 £975 £285
    27 Aug - 19 Sep 2025 £1025 £290
    20 Sep - 8 Oct 2025 £965 £250
    3rd & 4th person discount -£60 to -£62
    Single traveller supplement £60 to £62

    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • 7 nights, staying at Tempo di Mare: 14 May 2024 - 30 June 2024, 28 August 2024 - 05 October 2024, 15 May 2025 - 30 June 2025 & 27 August 2025 - 05 October 2025

    Start Any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    14 - 28 May 2024 £945 £270
    29 May - 12 Jun 2024 £995 £315
    13 - 23 Jun 2024 £1040 £315
    28 Aug - 20 Sep 2024 £1205 £360
    21 - 28 Sep 2024 £1070 £315
    15 - 28 May 2025 £985 £285
    29 May - 12 Jun 2025 £1035 £330
    13 - 23 Jun 2025 £1085 £330
    27 Aug - 20 Sep 2025 £1235 £375
    21 Sep - 8 Oct 2025 £1095 £330
    3rd & 4th person discount -£60 to -£62
    Single traveller supplement £60 to £62

    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Hotel Baglio di Scopello, Scopello
    Seaview double with balcony: 24 Apr - 30 Jun 2024 £7
    Seaview double with balcony: 28 Aug - 16 Oct 2024 £7
    Seaview double with balcony: 25 Apr - 30 Jun 2025 £7
    Seaview double with balcony: 27 Aug - 15 Oct 2025 £7

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Hotel Baglio di Scopello, Scopello (B&B) Double room Single room
    24 Apr - 30 Jun 2024 £77 £138
    28 Aug - 16 Oct 2024 £77 £138
    25 Apr - 30 Jun 2025 £80 £143
    27 Aug - 15 Oct 2025 £80 £143
  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Tempo di Mare, Favignana
    Deluxe double with sea view and balcony: 14 May - 30 Jun 2024 £19
    Deluxe double with sea view and balcony: 28 Aug - 09 Sep 2024 £32
    Deluxe double with sea view and balcony: 10 Sep - 05 Oct 2024 £19
    Deluxe double with sea view and balcony: 15 May - 30 Jun 2025 £20
    Deluxe double with sea view and balcony: 27 Aug - 09 Sep 2025 £33
    Deluxe double with sea view and balcony: 10 Sep - 15 Oct 2025 £20
    Hotel Baglio di Scopello, Scopello
    Seaview double with balcony: 14 May - 30 Jun 2024 £7
    Seaview double with balcony: 28 Aug - 05 Oct 2024 £7
    Seaview double with balcony: 15 May - 30 Jun 2025 £7
    Seaview double with balcony: 27 Aug - 15 Oct 2025 £7

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Hotel Baglio di Scopello, Scopello (B&B) Double room Single room
    14 May - 30 Jun 2024 £77 £138
    28 Aug - 05 Oct 2024 £77 £138
    15 May - 30 Jun 2025 £80 £143
    27 Aug - 15 Oct 2025 £80 £143
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Palermo or Trapani
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail and ferry travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  you may need to fly to an airport not listed here. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Palermo Ryanair 
    Edinburgh - Palermo (via Barcelona) Vueling 
    Edinburgh - Palermo (via Zurich) Swiss 
    Outward route Airline
    Liverpool - Palermo easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Palermo easyJet,  Wizz Air 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Palermo British Airways 
    Heathrow - Palermo (via Rome Fiumicino) Alitalia 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Palermo easyJet,  Wizz Air 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Palermo Ryanair 
    Stansted - Trapani Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Palermo Ryanair 
    Manchester - Palermo (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Manchester - Palermo (via Milan Malpensa) easyJet 
    Manchester - Trapani Ryanair 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  you may need to fly to an airport not listed here. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Where a price range is given, the price you pay depends on your date of travel.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Palermo

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    bus Palermo airport to Trapani port (1h10), taxi from port to hotel (0h30) £25 1800
    direct taxi Palermo airport to hotel (1h15) £69-£72 flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    direct taxi hotel to Palermo airport (0h45) £41-£43 flexible

    Connecting travel options - flying via Trapani

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    direct taxi Trapani airport to hotel (1h) £41-£43 flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    direct taxi hotel to Trapani airport (1h30) £46-£48 flexible
What is included
  • 7 nights
  • 7 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • return ferry Trapani to Favignana
  • transfer on day 5
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
  • Absolutely! We are experts in tailored rail travel. Making use of sleeper trains or stopovers in cities along the route, we can get you from London to virtually anywhere in mainland Europe. We can even make arrangements to Mallorca, Sicily and Norway with a combination of ferries and rail. Please contact us to discuss your plans.
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can incur a five or six-figure bill.

    Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Italy, but not a visa (please note, however, that a new travel authorisation system is being introduced). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • The principal official language is Italian, though some regions have a second official language, such as South Tyrol, where German is widely spoken. The currency is the Euro. Italian time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.

    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
  • You are the best judge of your child’s/children’s capabilities. We are happy to take bookings for families of older children/teenagers if they walk regularly, love the outdoors and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved. Please note that the bedrooms at most of the accommodation we use will normally only sleep a maximum of 3 people, and sometimes only 2.
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