Wonders of Western Sicily

A brilliant itinary to some off the beaten track places with lovely hotels. Levanzo was a real gem As was the Impossible Garden. Thanks for a great holiday.

This was our second InnTravel trip, and will not be our last. We appreciated the variety of locales and walks. However at age 75 we found some more demanding than expected, especially our last day walking in the beautiful Zingaro Reserve when we hiked 10 miles up and down. We were proud (and tired) after completing it but I'd definitely rate this a 2-3 hike. Our least favorite walk was the very steep walk down from lovely Erice (day 2) to the port of Trapani on loose gravel for much of the way. Our knees suffered and poles were essential. We loved the walk to Scopello on day 5 after leaving Favignana, through quiet pastures with beautiful vistas. We happily met other InnTravelers who shared information and most appreciatively showed us how to download and use the GPX files for these walks. A bit late for us, but much more helpful than some of the walking notes. We ate very well at each location.  We especially enjoyed San Rocco and Ristorante Monte San Giuliano in Erice and Formica in Favignana. 

An excellent introduction to self guided walking holidays. Well organised and the walking notes were ideal to give us confidence. Great hotels with nice little quirks and helpful staff. Transfers were smooth and timely. Loved walking between the hotels without having to worry about the bags. All in all a fantastic start to our walking holiday adventures. 

We had booked our holiday in February adding three extra nights in Palermo, seven days before our departure i received a phone call to say the company had not booked the hotel, which was full, they were unable to help with another hotel booking in Palermo as they will not book hotels Inntravel have not previously visited. 
We were given three options which were not suitable. That left us spending an afternoon finding our own accommodation and changing flights that would work with the new arrangements. The company were helpful as far as they could be, communication was excellent and we were given full refunds for our flight change and the original hotel. This process was efficient. However when you book through a company you do not expect to have the stress of changing the holiday at the last minute, or the time it takes. 

First walking holiday with Inn Travel . Everything went smoothly.

accomodation simple. Clean , central to the villages. Instructions are easy to follow and make a lot more sense when actually in the surroundings described. One minor detour was our fault (mix up right and left ) 

Met many fellow travellers.

Walking grades  maybe last 2 walks were grade 3 given the underfoot conditions and the very steep inclines and declines. 

We enjoyed this holiday, our second with Inntravel, and the walking notes as before were excellent. It was maybe more touristy on Favignana than I had anticipated, but the plus was there were plenty of places to eat and drink and we enjoyed discovering them. U Coppu is the best for street food! Hotel Elimo in particular was delightful, and even in September there were lots of flowers to look out for on the walks.  Breakfasts were very good everywhere.  The walking level was as described.  In Favignana we visited the cross as well as Santa Caterina and if you don't fancy doing both would definitely recommend doing the cross first.  Quieter and more beautiful. Our highlight walk was in the Zingaro Nature Reserve, from Scopello.  Beach shoes are a must for anyone used to British sandy beaches, as in many places the water was reached via rough and sometimes slippery rocks.  We loved the food and drink everywhere, and the Sicilian people, with only one or two exceptions, were charming, friendly and helpful.

We took time to explore Erice because of its rich history. It's a beautiful place. We bought the Erice card which was excellent value for €15, as it gives you entry to all the top attractions. The Tuna Factory in Favignana is well worth a visit and the town is lively but we felt two nights may be enough there. Scopello is a lovely with a laid back atmosphere. We would have preferred a three night stay here. On reflection, this is a holiday of great contrasts, each location different and interesting in their own way. We thoroughly enjoyed the holiday and would recommend giving it a go.

Wonderful to see such a remote part of Sicily and the Impossible Garden on Favignana was a highlight.  We will always remember the amazing gardens and the hard working miners of the tufa stone who were remembered as you wander around the gardens.  They should be world famous.

Highlights: Too many to mention but Scopello is an absolute jewel and provided a fitting end to the holiday 

A big thumbs up from us for our first Inntravel walking holiday. We usually travel independently so it was wonderful to be able to switch off and enjoy how well and efficiently everything was organised. The walks were all really enjoyable and very manageable in the mid 20s temperatures. (We took loads of water with us as there are few, if any, opportunities to top up en route. We found the walking instructions extremely good and very accurate and had no problems route-finding. Some of the highlights for us - walking through stunning wildflower meadows around Erice followed by the best ice cream at Gelateria Liparoti; from Favignana, visiting The Impossible Garden and a day on Levanzo, plus enjoying excellent cocktails and pizza at the waterfront bar at Hotel Tempo del Mare and delicious dinner at Scaliddre Ristorante; glorious walking in the Zingaro Nature Reserve followed by wonderful wine and tapas at La Bottega di Beppe in Scopello; lastly, an interesting day exploring Palermo and two great places to eat very close to Principe di Villafranca - Sapurito and fabulous wine bar, Enoteca Picone.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined our walk Wonders of Western Sicily with our Palermo City add-on

The Impossible Garden is well worth a visit. They have a very comprehensive commentary via a mobile phone app. No refreshments. Favignana is developing its tourism, particulalry a Tuna fishing and processing museum. Loads of restaurants. There was a good link here with the Tonnaro de Scopello that we visited. NB You now have to pay to visit the Tuna fishing museum in Scopello, which is a beautiful location, with amazing swimming. It is only open to the public from 10.30-3.30, as they have now appartments to let. They are also closed regularly for events. We were in luck on the day we were there as 2 days before and the day after they were closed. All details are on the website. There was a 20 minute guided tour of the museum (two tours in the open period) which was small but very interesting and referred to the processing plant in Favignana. 

We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday although certain aspects could be improved. Sicily is a hard, unforgiving landscape for walking and mid-May was probably too hot for us. We dodged a couple of walks. Some of the route info down from Erice to Trapani was confusing and, we think, wrong - and the one from Favignana to Scopello started too late in the day because of the transfer. Erice was interesting but limited although the hotel was the star out of the three we visited. Antonio was the perfect host and the hotel restaurant food delicate and interesting. Favignana was beautiful with a lot to enjoy in the little town and great restaurants. We loved the Impossible Garden - we had booked ahead. We would have preferred the offered upgrade hotel to the Albergo Egadi but were told it was not taking bookings until June  - it was definitely open so that was disappointing. Scopello is tiny but visually stunning for a few days. The hotel staff were superb but it was a shame that their restaurant was not open in the evening, and may not be so this summer. We added on a few days in Palermo, which we arranged independently, and returned home feeling that we had a real sense of this part of Sicily. Everyone we met was extremely cheerful and kind - perhaps because it was early in the season. Recommended but not an easy stroll!

A wonderful walking holiday in a less travelled part of Sicily. The walking, particularly on the islands and the Zingaro reserve was great with varied routes and stunning coastal views. We ate at some great restaurants in the evenings and also enjoyed the buzz of local tourists for once. I would highly recommened this trip for easy hiking, beautiful routes/views and fabulous weather (at least in May!) And to finish, I would stay in Scopello another night to enjoy some great swimming and /or a boat trip!

The Impossible Garden was a real highlight - the history of the quarrying was as interesting as the planting. We thoroughly enjoyed our bike ride around Favignana and it would have been an excellent place to stay an extra night. We ate at Hotel Torre Bennistra on the recommendation of some other Inntravel clients who were staying there. The meal was excellent and the dining terrace had wonderful views.

All of the destinations were well-chosen and the accommodation was excellent. We put in extra nights at each of the destinations to pursue more of the walking/activity options. This made a more leisurely holiday but, with hindsight, the additional time at Favignana was unnecessary. The walking throughout was quite varied but some of the trails were a bit more challenging than we anticipated. We loved Scopello but the cliff path in the amazing Zingaro nature reserve was steep and narrow in places with a lot of loose stones. The volume of human traffic didn't help. We tried out some lovely restaurants and really enjoyed the San Rocco in Erice and the Matri Mia in Favignana; Scopello had some really good options, particularly Terazza with its stunning view and the Calabianca Ristorante in the upper town square -very buzzy, good food and ideal for people-watching. We would thoroughly recommend a stop-over in Palermo on the way home. (But the Palazzo Reale is a rip-off.)

Beautiful and interesting - and wonderful food throughout. 

Great walking holiday with lots of variety of walks, great wildflowers on routes and nice opportunities for swimming on Favignana, Levanzo and around Scopella. Local food was just great. Stopover in Palermo was also great - very vibrant city.

This is a beautiful part of Sicily and we had an excellent holiday. However, the walking grades are quite varied and mightn't suit everyone. The highlight for us was the last day of walking in the Zingaro Reserve - aided by fabulous weather. Our best meal was completely unexpected - at the unassuming Ristorante Bar Arcobaleno overlooking the port at Levanzo. Basic-looking restaurant with a blackboard-only lunchtime menu but the food was simply outstanding with excellent service.   

We had a wonderful holiday in Sicily as a family. The walks were the correct grade for myself as I have knee issues. We loved the 3 different and varied locations. The medival town of Erice is delighful and the accommodation at Hotel Elimo and dinner at the hotel were lovely. Antonio at Hotel Elimo was very helpful and welcoming. We had tempertures in the mid 20s and so would suggest walking early before it becomes too hot. The whole experince with Inntravel from origanal enquiry to booking and attending has been very easy and I would highly recommened the company. I would love to attend another holiday with Inntravel. 

Travelling to Western Sicily in early May, we were fortunate to find good, mild walking weather and only 1 day of heavy rain (when paths became very muddy). After an early flight, we arrived in Erice mid morning and completed our first day's walk that afternoon. Searching for an option for the next day, Antonio from Hotel Elimo proposed ebiking to San Vito Lo Capo where we had lunch overlooking the beach. We followed the GPX route on our phones, and enjoyed some spectacular scenery on the way (note: there are a few busy sections of road, especially coming back into Trapani). Eating options in Erice are limited, so book early; the Osteria di Venere was very good, especially the gooey pistachio pudding! The next day we had excellent views of the islands walking down to Trapani, but we would advise against walking through the modern town which is uninteresting. Favignana and Levanzo provided some delightful walking although you may be better off on a bicycle (like so many others) on Favignana. We particularly enjoyed the Giardino dell' Impossibile as much for the history of the quarry as for the plants. Don't miss the fresh tuna sandwiches from the van by the beach at Bue Marino! As we had booked an exta night in Scopello we were able to choose when to visit Segesta and walk in the Zingaro reserve depending on the weather, thereby avoiding muddy paths. Both were worthwhile days, and we especially enjoyed the spectacular views from the high path in the Zingaro - go early because the lower route is busy on the return when crowds head to the beaches for the afternoon.

Two days Palermo to finish our trip gave us plenty of time to explore the city and take in the historical sights. Remember to sample ice cream served in a brioche. Our holiday itinerary together with our connections worked very well, and we enjoyed the varied accommodation in the different towns. Some of the walking instructions were not precise (on the way down to Trapani, and on Levanzo) but without causing any significant issue. Overall, this was a very enjoyable holiday that we would recommend.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined our walk Wonders of Western Sicily with our Palermo City add-on

Really enjoyed the trip, overall everything went to plan. The hikes were fun, food was excellent, hotels good, and the Sicillian people fantastic. Highly recommend a side trip to Agrigento.

We thoroughly enjoyed this holiday, we stayed in three very different villages and the terrain covered was lovely and very varied. Many of the paths were surrounded by wild flowers, fabulous coastal and countryside views. The walks were sufficiently easy and short enough to spend time enjoying the places we stayed. 

Three towns were fascinating and beautiful and definitely off the beaten track! We used the gpx routes on AllTrails ( though had trouble getting the files onto phone). Kind of missed the fun of relying on the walk notes, which have always been one our favorite parts of the trip. In our previous 7 trips with InnTravel, we've always considered the hotels and meals superb - these generally had smaller, plainer rooms, but were certainly just fine. 

Hotel Torre Benistra and Scopello were an absolute delight. It would have been nice to have more suggested hikes and activity in that area. The hike on Levanzo was my personal favorite. Beautiful variety of terrain, gorgeous views, and a lovely little town to end up in at the end of the hike.

Extremely well organised tour. Very clear walking notes and i was worried that we might get lost but we didn't.

Perfectly nice small personable hotels.

Only minor comment was no complimentary water in the rooms- maybe should put this in the folder (unless I missed it) so we could purchase in advance when we could.

Overall a very succesful trip and we will book again

INNTRAVEL NOTE: Hotels are reducing provision of plastic bottles of water, to reduce plastic waste; tap water in the EU is safe to drink, but we can recommend filter bottles from Water To Go as an option for anyone wanting to filter the water: https://watertogo.eu/partnerships/inntravel/

Our first time using Inntravel and we were very impressed. Organisation, communication etc was excellent. The hotels were lovely and we would stay in all of them again. Fabulous food in Sicily and beautiful scenery.

We combined the Wonders of Western Sicily with Western Sicily's Temples and Coasts and enjoyed both weeks although the walking was less enjoyable than it might have been in early October because of the heat, although the walks themselves were not particularly demanding. Among the first week's highlights were the view from Erice (and the excellent welcome at the Hotel Elimo), the Impossible Gardens on the Cala Rossa walk on Favignana, the tranquillity of Levanzo and the two restaurants in Scopello overlooking the bay (Nettuno and La Terrazza).

Our second week was notable for the quality of the accommodation, along with the meals provided and the service, not to mention beautiful pools. The Hotel Baglio della Luna did not have availability and we were advised to look for our own accommodation; despite the praises heaped upon the Baglio della Luna by many travellers, we think we found a very satisfactory replacement, with a particularly lovely garden/pool, amazing breakfast and welcoming host! We very much enjoyed the visits to the classical sites (start early!) but also the excursions to Salemi, Mazara del Vallo, the earthquake villages and their history and the visit to Mozia island.

We spent 2 nights in Palermo and found it very interesting; don't miss the Norman Palace and the Palatine Chapel. The only negative experience of our trip was the Hotel Tonic in Palermo for a variety of reasons. It's conveniently located but we were not pleased with it and would not stay there again. Otherwise we would definitely recommend both these holidays.

Useful note: As we started our Temples and Coasts week on a Sunday, we had to pick up our hire car from Palermo airport as the city office was closed. This proved to be very much to our advantage as we did not have to do battle with the city traffic. In our case, it was also very simple because we were transferred to the airport after our first week's holiday but you can easily get the train from the station to the airport if you would prefer to pick up your car there.

We had previously visited Erice, Trapani, Favignana and Scopello on holidays but this walking trip enabled us to get away from the usual tourist sites and appreciate the spectacular beauty that Western Sicily has to offer. Our personal highlight was the walk from Balata di Baida to Scopello through the rugged sheppards paths and mountainous landscapes. We had to keep up a good pace and the trail was tough and steep in places but very satisfying and awsome views across the bay towards Scopello. The hotels were all different but of a very high standard. Meals out were exceptional and we would recommend trying the Sicilian street food on Favignana and the 'Made in Sicily' restaurant in Scopella for a real taste of Sicily.  

In Scopello we discovered La Trattoria, Via Finanziere Mazzarella on the next door street to Hotel Baglio di Scopello. Smaller and quieter than other options, very friendly service, good menu choices.

We were horrified and ashamed to hear so many other UK travellers (including Inntravellers) making no effort to say a single word of Italian (i.e. no greeting, no please, no thank you which are surely words that can be learnt in any language for the country one is visiting). Even our limited Italian was much appreciated by anyone we met. Perhaps you can adapt your travel advice.

This was our first holiday with Inntravel and it will not be our last. We were provided with comprehensive background information on Sicily and the details for walking were excellent. It was good to experience 3 different locations all seamlessly accessed by taxi/ferry.  Our final stop in Palermo was also very interesting and the guided walking tour invaluable. We can recommend a small but delightful restaurant near our hotel called Sapurito, Via Principe di Villafranca 42, where the service was very friendly and the food amazing, at prices no more than comparable restaurants. We were blessed with excellent weather, maybe even a little too warm for the beginning of October, but certainly no complaints there.

INNTRVEL NOTE: This customer combined our self-guided walking holiday 'Wonders of Western Sicily' with a city add-on in Palermo.

What a fabulous holiday.  Looking at the photos, I have to pinch myself that we were there and experienced it.  

Like all Inntravel destinations, we immediately want to go back again.  So much fun to be on the move and negotiate all modes of transportation - fuelled by many gelati and negroni.  What a stunning part of the world!

We walked through Zingaro (along with Paleolithic man, according to the blurb) and the next day we were in Orto Botanico in Palermo looking at a photo of  a tree we had noticed the day before in the park, (the dwarf palm (Chamaerops humilis), capable of surviving the fires and returning to sprout and populate the territory of the Zingaro Nature Reserve).  Such a priveledge to expererience the breadth of what this wonderful island can offer. https://www.dioramiortobotanico.it/

Everything was outstanding and it would be unfair to highlight any one aspect. This was our first Inntravel holiday, but it will definitely not the last. Worried my fitness would not allow me too fully take part in the walks, but one can travel at your own pace. I completed every walk. I had a heart attack 18 months ago, but this was not a handicap. Highly recommended. 

Our personal highlights were: In Erice we had an extra day and bought the Museum card, giving access to most churches and musea. It was a joy walking through the streets, entering the churches and their collections, and visiting the Science Centre Ettore Majorana, established in 1963 and where during the Cold war every year Russian and American sub-nuclear physicists would meet. In Favignana we enjoyed exploring the Santa Catarina Castle, and we would definitely recommend a visit to the old Florio tuna factory, now an extensive museum on tuna fishing in the orginal buildings. In Scopello we also had an extra day and took a taxi to visit Segesta, which was wonderfully quiet and sits majestically in the Sicilian landscape. The food was delicious throughout the trip, with highlights of Ristorante San Rocco in Erice, Osteria del Sotto Sale in Favignana and Pensione Tranchina in Scopello. The white Grillo wine comes in many guises, but proves always a success.

The best walk was in the National Park near Scopello. But probably better done the other way around to avoid the steep gradient at the beginning. Favignana was very busy and the walk, though beautiful wasn't a peaceful one. These are minor points - overall another lovely Inntravel holiday

This was a very enjoyable return to Western Sicily, this time exploring on foot. We experienced temperatures a little higher than expected for September, but nevertheless the walks were all easily do-able and multiple swimming opportunities made for more comfortable days out. We have a particular interest in the wildlife, and were not disappointed. And the food and wine of Sicily is always a pleasure.

Very well organised and arranged

Mountains of Sicily - Despite the very high temperatures in mid September, we really enjoyed the variety of the hikes, the small inns (especially Raino and Notti O'Tunn), their wonderful hospitality, and the generally good meals provided at every place. It was wonderful to be able to eat dinner at each place and not have to seasrch for restaurants. We also met many other Inntravel walkers doing the trip around the same time and then often met them on the trails. The swimming pools at two of the inns were most welcome after a long day in the hot sun. I would suggest that trips in Sicily should be in the spring or later in the fall.

Wonders of Western Sicily - The highlights of this trip were the remote and quiet hike on the small island of Levanzo and the beautiful hike in the Zingaro Nature Reserve. Favignana was very busy with bicycles and scooters which made it difficult to really enjoy the walks on this island. 

This is a wonderful holiday - three lovely locations and three very pleasant hotel stays. The walks range from relatively easy (Egadi) to quite challenging (Zingaro) especially in the September heat. Whilst access to swimming is possible it was by no means easy and we'd advise taking beach shoes to make this more accessible. In Erice we ate the most spectacular meal at Gil Archi di San Carlo (booking essential), and again at Formica in Favignana town. The Pensione Tranchina in Scopello was the most authentic and enjoyable dinner (we ate there twice) and we had a lovely evening chatting to the other guests and the patron. The Impossible Gardens are glorious and provided a welcome respite from the heat on the day's walking. We also rented bikes in Favignana and pedalled around the whole island - to our surprise and delight the beaches at the end of the island where there are no walks are much better than on the walking side of the island. We completed the loop on regular bikes but access to e bikes was universal. We added on two days in Scopello which was a blissful bit of down time before heading to Palermo for two days which was unmissably manic and thoroughly enjoyable. All in all a superb and varied holiday. 

We absolutely loved this holiday. The variety of walks and locations was perfect. It was very hot so some days were more challenging than the distance of the walk suggested. In hindsight our add on Palermo stay was unnecessary and we would have preferred to stay on the " high" of leaving Scopello.

The Hotel Elimo was our favourite for hospitality - Antonio was an excellent host and also the free glass of prosecco was so welcome! We loved the circular walk around Erice and also, the walk through to Trapani. We had a fabulous room in Scopello and rate the hotel Torre Bennistra very highly. We also found a great bar near the hotel - The Bellevue which I would strongly recommend for a pre-dinner drink. I would suggest changing the number of nights on Favignana to 2, and increasing to 3 for Scopello. Also, we found a free beach very near our hotel on the route to Zingaro which we feel worth mentioning, given the fact that the other cove directly south of the hotel charged 10 euro each.

Overall, a great holiday experience.

Overall this was an enjoyable and varied holiday. The Erice walk would have been lovely if it hadn't been for the annual car rally. The town itself is fascinating and the hotel welcoming and friendly. Walking on Favignana wasn't very interesting although we enjoyed our day in Levanzo (apart from getting lost). I note that travellers in previous years described Marettimo as a highlight yet this had been dropped from the programme. Zingaro nature reserve was horrendously busy on the return leg which made it very slow and unpleasant - the outward route was quiet and enjoyable. We loved Scopello and stayed an extra night to visit Segesta, which is worth visiting although we were shocked at the amount of fire damage that had happened a month earlier. Parts of the site are closed but there is still plenty to see. Our favourite restaurant was Hotel Torre Bennistra, wonderful food on a beautiful terrace overlooking the sea.

Scopello was a beautiful location and hotel at the end. The pool was a very welcome addition. Favignana was very busy, even though a lot of restaurants we couldn't book a table on the first night so ended up with street food, so recommend booking ahead. Scopello had high quality restaurants with sea views. Very special. Worth going to Lavanzo to the caves...more peaceful than Favignana. Not possible to get to Segesta by public transport from Scopello but could from Trapani. Had to get taxi which was expensive. Had to pay tourist city tax at Scopello hotel which was 12.00 for 3 nights.

Really pleased with holiday and the various elements which were put together to meet our requirements. We had a great time.

Very much enjoyed each of the locations we stayed in and think they provided an excellent mix of city, town and village. We wanted to get a good 'flavour' of Palermo and western Sicily and we certainly think we got that. 

This is a holiday full of interesting variations. Erice is distinctive - almost in a time warp. Their genovese pastries are a must try!  The transfer to the Favignana via Trapani brings you back into the 21st century and the island is delightful. The tuna factory visit was fascinating and the little town is full of interest, energy and great restaurants. Scopello has a magical atmosphere. The hotel is super convenient and the pool a delight. The cliff side restaurants in the village afford fabulous views as does the path in the Zingaro Nature Reserve. Our many memorable meals provided a delightful taste of the food and wines available in this enchanted corner of Sicily.

This is a lovely holiday, full of interest and variety of walking and the two islands of Favignana and Levanzo. We thoroughly enjoyed the whole trip, all the towns, ferry trips and accommodation. This walk is graded as 1 - 2 and we thought it was a bit more 2 than 1, particularly if you do the whole circular route in the Zingaro Nature Reserve (which we didn't, mainly because of the heat). Really lovely walks, all of them. However, we went right at the end of Inntravel's June availability, starting the holiday on 14th June, so it was full-on sun and heat apart from in Erice which was shrouded in cloud and mist for part of the time. Maybe go a bit earlier or later in the year if anyone is concerned about heat? Like others have suggested, it's best to book restaurants in Favignana, particularly weekends in June. On Favignana, one unexpected highlight for Option A, the Cala Rossa Circuit, was the Giardino dell' Impossibile. What has been created out of a disused quarry is truly spectacular and amazing - and you don't have to be into gardening to appreciate it! Check for opening times but entry is relatively flexible. Not much in the notes about it probably because of Covid, promotion of it has been low key and it hasn't been open long anyway. Being mid-June there were a few more small bars and eateries open on this walk which probably aren't there much earlier.  

Erice was just beautiful.. we enjoyed an evening walk around the walls with such amazing views. The hotel restaurant is fantastic for dinner. Try their local Grillo wine.

Monte Caterina on Favignana was an eerie and atmospheric walk. We did it at early evening. Quite spooky and a real haul but worth it for the view..in between the clouds. There's a very cute beach bar at the edge of town coming back down. Right on the beach and very popular with the locals.

The Terraza in Scopello had tremendous views and gorgeous fish dishes... 

We loved all the walks and the variety of experience, from exploring the cobbled streets of the beautifully preserved hilltop town of Erice to joining the Sicilians on holiday on Favignana and getting away from it all on Levanzo and in the Zingaro nature reserve. Fitting in a visit to Segesta is a must, and make sure you get to the Grotta del Genovese on Levanzo, where there is real art dating to 12,000 BC. The additional two days in Palermo to end with were brilliant. It's such a lively city today and the blending of Italian, Greek, Byzantine, Arab and Norman cultures that is so evident in so many palaces, churches and monuments is simply breathtaking.

We were extremely unlucky on this holiday as the weather was unseasonably wet which limited our walking. We were also disappointed that we couldn't book into the impossible gardens on Favignana despite trying as soon as we arrived at the hotel as it was fully booked for the next two days. It might be worth trying to book further in advance.

The town of Favignana was lively and probably the highlight of our trip (our stay there also coincided with the best two days of weather we had during the week!). The restaurants in all 3 centres do get very busy so you do need to book in advance. Our best meals were at Osteria di Venere in Erice, Osteria del Sotto Sale in Favignana and Pensione Tranchina in Scopello.

Really enjoyed the whole trip but in hindsight would have preferred to have started in Scopello, gone across to Marettimo and ended in Erice

Personal highlights: The Palermo Opera, high quality of food and great wine. The walk round Levanzo island. Antonio's negronis ( Hotel Elimo) The trip was what we expected in terms of the walking.

The Western Sicily walk is excellent overall. It showcases some of the very best of Sicilian landscapes - the vast craggy coastal hills and the huge vistas and also gives ready access to the wonderful old towns of Erice and old Trapani and also the Egadi islands and the Zingaro Park.The walks are satisfying without being too strenuous and are easily tailored 'as you go' should you want or need to do that (there are lots of well signposted alternative paths on all of the walking days and also some alternative modes of transport eg the cable car connecting Erice and Trapani and bicycles on the island of Favignana). Having said that, the 'sweet spot' for this trip weatherwise is probably June or September when the weather is neither too changeable (as it often is until late May or after September) nor too oppressively hot (walking the Zingaro paths other than the coastal stretch would be challenging with temperatures in the thirties). It's worth noting though that early and late in the year Erice is often 'in the clouds' for quite a bit of the day (it is just so high up) and the crossing to and from the islands can be disrupted by high winds. A great advantage of doing the trip in May, however, if you are interested in plants, is that the Sicilian wildflowers are probably at their best then and are not to be missed - the landscape is still green and a riot of colour. Also, good places to eat are just 'nicely busy' at this time of the year and you don't need to drop by in advance or ring to book.

All the walks were well planned and straightfoward to follow; downloading the .gpx files of the routes was especially useful. Our favourite walks were around Erice (for the wild flowers & views); Levanzo island and Zingaro Nature Reserve. Antonio, the proprietor at Hotel Elimo in Erice was especially helpful, offering good advice on local food and places to visit, e.g in Palermo. Albergo Egadi in Favignana was a great place to stay; great breakfasts and the hostess and her son were extremely helpful and attentive. The restaurant La Tavernetta (in Skopello) proved to be the food highlight, fabulous food & great service. Check the weather in Erice as it can be much cooler and shrouded in cloud but you can escape to Trapani via a short cable car ride.

The overall walking holiday was very well put together by Inntravel. The hotels had a welcoming family-run feel to them.  All the walking directions were very accurate. It's not taxing when the weather is mild. One can also use the given walks as a starting point and explore a bit further on the Egadi islands and the Zingaro Nature Reserve on days when you feel you have lots of energy. The spring flowers in the west of Sicily are just marvellous in May.

The spectacular hilltop town of Erice and its circuit below were the highlights of the holiday. The wild flowers were extraordinarily beautiful and the views spectacular.

An extra night on the Egadi islands to visit Marettimo as well is worthwhile as each of the islands is very different.

NB The prehistoric painted caves at Levanzo require prebooking well in advance to avoid disappointment: demand is very high, a minimum 48 hour in advance booking slot is applied, and the restrictions for visiting without pre booking are inflexible.

The use of SatNav in the Nubia/Mozia area is problematic as the roads around the villages of the salt pans can lead to inpassable country tracks.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers added a stay in Nubia to our Wonders of Western Sicily holiday

HIGHLIGHTS & TIPS: The flowers in late April were just delightful and varied from walk to walk in terms of variety and stage of flowering. Flocks of bee eaters overhead and even porcupine quills underfoot! The routes are varied and each offers a different perspective of this beautiful area of Sicily. Can still be very warm so walking earlier is recommended but equally our last day was wet and muddy! Definitely recommend the following restaurants: Trattoria Biondo in Palermo (near to Villafranca), Ostere di Venere in Erice, Quello Che C'e C'e in Favignana and our favourite was in Scopello, Pensione Tranchina.

Fabulous hotels, the warmest of welcomes, and stunning scenery

Staying on Marettimo was a particular highlight. Eating at Il Veliero was enjoyable and good value (although we didn't have any real choice, as all the other restaurants seemed to be closed for the season). La Scaletta was a great place for a drink.

Excellent walks, varied routes and good walking notes.  Would recommend the Palermo add-on if not visited previously.  Marettimo was the highlight and would recommend the Il Veliero restaurant highly.  Also La Trattoria in Scopello.  Temperature in mid October (25c - 28c) was perfect for walking. 

We particularly enjoyed Marettimo and would recommend future travellers to try and arrange a private boat ride round the island: the caves on the west side are fascinating, and we were able to swim in one of them. On our final day in Palermo we had a day at the beach and a swim in the sea which was great fun. Overall though, a really enjoyable holiday. The 3 stays were all different and we liked the contrasts

We had a great holiday. So many good things happened, difficult to choose. In October there was a surprising lot of butterflies (European Swallowtail, Humming bird hawk moth included) and Mediterranean plants in flower. The sea was clean and warm everywhere, lots of swimming. Palermo is a little bit difficult to get your head around, the red hop on hop off bus was a big help. Your ticket lasts 24 hours so start one afternoon, and do it again or use a different loop next morning. Don't miss a stop off at the Orta Botanica gardens, and its lovely quiet shaded cafe. In Catania the streets beside the fish market are full of great fish restaurants. There is a law in Italy that menus must be on view outside. At 1930 the deserted restaurants suddenly fill up. The same thing happens in the restaurant district at Palermo, about four blocks south west of hotel Tonic. All the street markets were great, fish, vegetables, street food. All the hilltop towns were highlights. Strong recommendation: buy a local SIM card.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined our rail journey Baroque Riches of Sicily with our walk Wonders of Western Sicily and our Palermo City add-on

I travelled with a group of friends, 4 in number. We all concluded that we were unable to distinguish a 'favourite' part of the holiday as we enjoyed every part of it so much. The holiday provided a variety of landscapes for walking in and the stay on the Island of Marettimo was a wonderful opportunity to relax and enjoy both sea and land. I would recommend taking a boat trip around the Island of Marettimo. you are able to see the dramatic coast line and grottos whilst enjoying the clear azzurro sea and the sea life beneath. We took our boat trip on a hot day and enjoyed swimming in the sea.

I would highly recommend doing the Case Romane and Semaforo walk on Marettimo. We set off in good time as the weather was hot even in October. The walk offered a great variety of landscapes and the views out to sea were wonderful. All hoteliers went above and beyond to make our stay as enjoyable and relaxing as possible, Antonio providing excellent information about the town of Erice and local eateries. 

Another lovely holiday with inntravel with well researched and chosen walks. Each day offered something different and Marettimo in particular was a beautiful and special place. Clear route guides and supporting GPS files made navigation simple and the fantastic locations and thoughtfully selected hotels provided a varied & unique insight into the region.

All the locations were brilliant. Ancient Erice, peaceful and beautiful Marettimo and small but perfectly formed Scopello. Would also recommend a couple of days add on in Palermo which has much to offer.

Use downloaded maps along with notes.

The Marettimo Residence and island are really special places, a refreshing escape from the built-up world.  However there are not many restaurants open in September and it's usually necessary to make inquiries and book the day before.  The same is true of the boat trips.  Ideally the Residence would be a bit more proactive in liaising with local boatmen about these, as it seemed to us that a good deal of local knowledge was necessary in order to arrange a trip - at least we only arranged one through a helpful Italian couple whom we happened to meet on the quayside.

We loved Erice, a town which has fabulous paving and great character. Scopello was interesting, the Hotel Torre Benistra had old world charm and the food was excellent.

Very professional company. Service before the trip and the quality of the booklet provided for use during the trip, were exceptional. As was the response in relation to 'emergency' issues that arose during the trip. InnTravel went above and beyond to provide exceptional customer service - as did the Sicilian hosts and people generally when help was needed.

We enjoyed this holiday and particularly our stay on Marettimo one of the islands off Sicily.

Things to be aware of, when we got to the first hotel it coincided with the annual hill climb in Erice (we went on the 9th September) so it was very noisy and full of motorsport enthusiasts. This is very relevant because the path on the first walk crosses the same road that they are using for the hill climb, not once but twice (crossing the road between the screaming race cars was quite an experience). I would recommend that Inntravel provide an alternative walking route if the hill climb is in progress.

On Marettimo the tap water is not drinkable but the Marettimo Residences sell 6 x 1.5 litres of mineral water for 6 Euros and we recommend that these should be bought. Talking of water I would also recommend that each person should carry at least 2 litres, we used Source water bags, also a wide brimmed sun hat is more or less essential. The first path on Marettimo is quite steep and a pair of good walking poles (we use Pacer poles - the best) and walking shoes are recommended. The routes were good and we found using the Footpath App on a Smartphone with Inntravel's GPX files helped to confirm the correct trail. On Marettimo we can recommend La Cambusa as a different and most enjoyable dining experience, there are 4 tables outside a delicatessen and for a fixed price of 30 Euro's a person you get a glass of wine and a number (lost count how many) of local Sicilian dishes (not fish), worth trying!

Unfortunately, in Scopello the Zingaro nature reserve was unexpectedly closed for the day that we were there due to the hot winds they had experienced in the morning. Before leaving the hotel it is worth checking that it is open before setting out on the walk. This was quite disappointing as there are not really any easily accessible alternative trails.

Palermo was certainly a different end to the holiday. The hotel is in a good position with a close proximity to the old part of the city. There are lots of restaurants around the hotel which was a bonus. When we there the central part of Palermo was very crowded and due to it being one of the major cruise ship destinations (there were 3 in the port when we got there) it was full of large tourist groups which meant access to certain attractions could be difficult.

INNRAVEL NOTE:  Customers added on a stay at Hotel Plaza Opéra, Palermo at the end of their walking holiday.

A varied and well paced trip. Would recommend going late September earliest, as it was over 40 degrees and 90% humidity when we were there in early September.

Highlights: The walk around Erice. The cathedral is fabulous. A lazy day at the old tuna factory in Scopello although not at the expense of walking in Zingaro

Tips: to find the booking office for the ferry from Trapani look for the highly visible Alitalia Office shopfront as the name given in the brochure for the appointed company is difficult to see from pavement level.

On walks take at least 50% more water than you think you're going to need. Bear in mind the lack of shade on many of the routes.

In Erice: best cocktail bar with stylish small garden: Domus Blanca in Via Gian Filippo Guarnotti.

Restaurant: on the walk out on the first day just before Porta Sparda look out on the right for Al Convento restaurant - you could book as you pass – it's a lovely open courtyard with great service and excellent food.

This was our ninth walking with Inntravel and in some ways our most disappointing.  The problem was largely the very hot weather (even the locals were saying how terribly hot it was) and any walking was going to be hard.  We thought Erice delightful and this was a highlight. 

This was a fabulous weeks introduction to 'real' Sicily. Scopello was a wonderful small town with atmosphere. Erice a magnificent hill top old world enclave.The walks suggested were medium difficulty for us but so enjoyable. It must be appreciated that the weather in the first week in June is getting hotter. The suggested walk along the coastal path (with a drop down to a bay to swim) was much easier than the longer walk in the Zingaro park in the sun.

This was an amazing trip. So many highlights! Loved the relaxed feeling of Marettimo - don't rush anything. The Zingaro national park is really beautiful - leave early and stop at the little coves on the way back.

Walking on Marettimo was wonderful, plus the dip in the sea while on the return leg in the Zingaro nature reserve. Weather was on the cusp of being too hot, I think unusually so for end of May. In Palermo we found the Cucina Romana Cacio e Pepe, close to Hotel Tonic, very high quality, though surroundings unprepossessing.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined our walk Wonders of Western Sicily with our Palermo City add-on

A fantastic holiday & introduction to a wonderful island. 3 very different locartions offering their own unique atmosphere staying in friendly small hotels. Marettimo was a particular highlight with super walks and clear seas to swim in. Perfect weather in mid May with the flowers and wild herbs at their best whilst walking. Plenty of fantastic restaurants in each location with some of the best pasta we have ever eaten in Italy. An absolute must is an add-on in Palermo, an amazing city & totally different to the previous 7 days - very frenetic, incredible architecture, unforgettable street food and so many lively bars and restaurants. For reference we would consider all the walks at least moderate and due to the gradients and loose and uneven surfaces some are quite challenging.

The only highlight was Erice which we thought was great. Marettimo & Scopello were disappointing a) because the weather was too hot to do much and b) they were both small places with not much else to do. Palermo was poor & we'd never go back.

We loved the itinerary and the first 2 hotels  The directions for the hikes were excellent. I would recommend this trek.

Excellent variety of destinations, well run and slightly quirky family owned hotels in Erice & Scopello. Very helpful walking and general guidance notes.  Each place had a unique charm and I enjoyed Palermo so much more than anticipated, very buzzy and so different from the Palermo of 40 years ago. We returned home feeling we had been on four holidays  rather than than just one.

A wonderfully organised holiday by Inntravel, brilliant choices of places and walks, everything was catered for and transfers were seamless. 

All the hotels were great, although Marettimo understandably more basic, and Sicily itself is just wonderful, so much to see, especially the wildflowers everywhere in May. The views were tremendous on all of the walks and any mistakes in finding our route were down to us not reading carefully enough, any wrong deviations quickly rectified.

Palermo was a great contrast, an amazing amount to see, so much history, amazing architecture, great food (the fish everywhere was excellent but limited meat for carnivores!).

My husband is coeliac but everywhere could supply bread, sweet biscuits and many had gluten free pasta; but he was glad he took his favourite breakfast granola.

Thank you Inntravel for an amazing experience!

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined our Wonders of Western Sicily walking holiday with the city add-on in Palermo.

In Erice, on the recommendation of our hotel, we dined at Osteria di Venere, which was one of the best meals of the holiday. We did find that some of the shops charged us what they thought we would pay, particularly down by the Trapani gate.  We would suggest that you may think of suggesting that customers should ask the price of goods, if it is not clearly advertised. On Marettimo, you mention La Scaletta as a good place to grab a drink but, despite the unlikely first appearance of the place, upstairs there is a lovely little restaurant, offering a set menu of 4 courses plus coffee for 40 euros, which in fact was pretty close to fine dining and we would highly recommend.

This was our first holiday with Inntravel and we would certainly use you again. The organisation and information provided was first rate and the holiday and accommodation was as described on the website. My favourite walk was Option B on Marettimo to Casa Romane and Semaforo and favourite hotel was Hotel Elimo in Erice. We ate in Hotel Elimo both nights, partly because there were not many other places to eat but also because the food and service were very good. The options for dining in Marettimo and Scopello were very good and we ate well every night.

Our third Inn Travel holiday (Wonders of Western Sicily) and first trip to Sicily.  Hotels were friendly and characterful and the walks well chosen and all very scenic.  Walking on Marettimo was our highlight - wonderfully quiet and spectacular views.  I was concerned about the best time to go and we chose early May which was great - after a first day of drizzle/mist we had clear skies and sunshine with temperatures around 20/21 - although it felt much hotter than this on the walks which all had very little shade (definitely take a hat!).  Beware chilly evenings at this time of year, I wish I had taken a few more warm layers!  Also worth noting that quite a few restaurants on Marettimo weren't yet open for the season - there were just enough for us to eat somehwere different each night.  We chose to add a couple of nights in Palermo to the end of our holiday and were glad that we did - a fascinating, beautiful and buzzy city which was a complete contrast to the quiet areas we experienced on the walks.

HIGHLIGHTS: Marrettimo was a highlight for the unspoilt nature of the place. Food is fabulous in the village. The bar a lovely spot. The manager in Erice was superb in every respect. We all loved Scopello, swimming was superb, food in The Terrace fabulous. The hotel has a view second to none! We loved all the walks, although two of us shortened the last one!

We went on to spend 2 nights in Taormina and its proximity to Etna is all encompassing. Its Greek theatre is even more impressive than the Siracusa one, where we attended Aeschylus' Agamemnon. The hotel in Taormina - Villa Fiorito - was very smart. A trip to the N E point of Sicily, above Messina ,was fun on the way to Cefalu, for our last 2 nights, which was lovely with the mozaic of Christ the Pantocrator above the alter in the cathedral there amazing to behold.

We had an excellent, varied walking holiday.  Superb walks on Marettimo even if they were a little vertiginous in places.  The walk to Scopello was fabulous.  Everything went like clockwork.   Delighted that Inntravel had included and paid for the Tourist Taxes everywhere as it is always a pain to find the money on departure.

Don't go to Erice this early in the season, and Maretimmo has wonderful walks but viscious mossies.

This was our first holiday with Inntravel and we are definitely going to book again. With such smooth organisation, you can really sit back, relax and enjoy your walking holiday without worrying about logistics such as car hire, driving etc. Inntravel obviously have a close working relationship with the hotels and taxi companies they use; we found the staff we dealt with in Sicily to be professional, polite and helpful. It is good that the values and service from head office are reflected at the destination venues. 

The temperatures in Northwestern Sicily in May were perfect for walking and the flowers were an absolute joy; we took our time on the walks, stopping frequently to take photos of the beautiful blooms. We would recommend Inntravel to visit this area of Sicily. 

Highlights were the wonderful wildflowers to be seen on all the walks, particularly in the Zingaro Nature Reserve. Inntravel's customer service was also excellent – I had to call in on Sunday as I felt unwell on the walk towards Scopello. Inntravel were extremely kind and efficient and a taxi appeared within about 40 minutes to take us the rest of the way. So many thanks. And all the taxis were bang on time and driven by friendly drivers – excellent service.

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our two trips. The weather was pleasing and it appeared our time there in early to mid-May was a little before the busy season, which we actually like.

INNTRAVEL NOTES: These customers combined our Wonders of Western Sicily and The Mountains of Sicily walking itineraries.

We were delighted with Erice and Marittimo legs of the journey and Palermo is well worth a visit. The walks on Marittimo are challenging, particularly in hot weather. We travelled at the beginning of May and found that most attractions in Scopello (other than restaurants) were closed and access to the sea stacks was not possible. Poor weather closed the higher paths at Zingaro National Park. All hotels and transfers were excellent.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined our walk Wonders of Western Sicily with our Palermo City add-on

A enjoyable tour of some of the less explored parts of Sicily, with interesting towns and some beautiful and remote countryside. The tour is held together by a mix of road transfers, some light walking and ferry rides but this is not a trip for those primarily seeking some serious and enjoyable walking. 

The holiday was one of our best ever. The walks were wonderful and the organisation first class. It was pure joy (if a little chilly in Marettimo!).

Can't wait for another Inntravel holiday.

This was a beautiful time of year to walk - the wildflowers were absolutely stunning. The weather varied from chilly with low cloud and poor visibility (one day) to generally sunny and quite warm enough for walking. Variable weather was to be expected and an extra layer of clothing and a light waterproof was well worth taking. A visit to Levanzo and the walk through the National Park to Spoletto were the highlights for us. 

A beautiful area with a real 'off the beaten track' feel to it.  Only at Scopello and Zingaro nature reserve did we see more than a handful of other tourists. We were there in mid April 2022, and it felt quite 'off season' - but a great time to visit for birds and wild flowers.  Weather was occasionally a bit marginal - cool mist in Erice, and a stiff wind that stopped us completing a walk on Marettimo, but dry and pleasantly warm on most of our walking days.

The most delightful surprise was the number of birds on Marettimo - on the hill walk we were surrounded by redstart, whinchat, flycatchers, warblers. I think we must have stumbled on peak spring migration!

The food is very good, although not a huge variety - very much local.  The local wine was lovely.

The walking was generally easy, for people used to walking the British countryside, and left plenty of down time. Walk notes and all pick up arrangements were extremely well organised.

HIGHLIGHTS: The walk in the Zingaro nature reserve was our favourite. Beautiful views. Spectacular spring flowers on all the walks. 

Perhaps our 6th or even 7th Inntravel holiday, we have never been disappointed. From the initial booking stage, in this case a hurried replacement for a postponed walking holiday as Covid had cursed us at the very last moment, efficiently reorganised, to our final couple of days in Palermo. Sadly Sicily had suffered a late, cool, damp spring this year, which meant fabulous wild flowers, peace and quiet, just the way we like it. On the downside, there was a slight feeling of being out of season, although as the week went on the skies became clearer, the wind dropped, the temperatures rose. The countryside is glorious and the sea clear and turquoise in places. In Marettimo we were fortunate to find a restaurant open, and enjoyed a different fish and pasta dish each night. The family owned establishment was friendly and efficient, and the hot food more than welcome! We are already looking forward to our next Inntravel holiday, and would certainly recommend!

This was a really fantastic trip. We were the first Inntravel guests of the season at most of our destinations, and it was so good to hear from the hoteliers that they have an excellent relationship with you and have enjoyed working with you for many years, and making your customers feel welcome - which they did (special shout out to Antonio in Erice!). We loved the walking, and had outstanding wild flowers in the first week of April. Our walk around Marettimo and Levanzo were particularly wonderful, wild beautiful. And for the most part, we were the only walkers. We liked Trapani too - a welcome bit of old Sicilian town in the middle of our rural walking! Every part of the organisation was flawless.