SICILY - AEOLIAN ISLANDS
Sailing holidays in a mix of wild nature and nightlife: 2 holidays in one!
The Charter Base Of Helm Yachting is located in the beautiful tourist port of Capo d'Orlando, a modern and elegant structure located on the north coast of Sicily, 190 km from Catania (less than 2 hours by car) and 185 km from Palermo (less than 2 hours by car).
Capo d'Orlando is the closest starting point to reach the Aeolian Islands by sailing boat, they are only 15 nm away, in 2-3 hours of sailing, you arrive at the closest island, the island of Vulcano.
The volcanic origin of these islands provides them with a natural environment rich in wonderful beaches, bays, caves, inlets and rocks of incomparable beauty and a great variety of seabeds. For all these characteristics the archipelago has been included among the UNESCO sites.
Here you will find every type of style for summer holidays: in Lipari you will taste the best seafood ever as well as the small shops in the characteristic streets of the main town, while in Panarea you can let loose dancing in one of the many clubs where young people from all over the world enjoy the breathtaking sunsets and incredibly star-filled skies. Or, if you want to be amazed, there is Stromboli, active and smoking, to be seen from the boat or even climbed.
Throughout the archipelago, however, a lifestyle based on relaxation and the sounds of nature prevails.
Filicudi Island
Sailing to Filicudi takes you to the perfect location for lovers of natural beauty.
The uncontaminated flora and fauna and the beautiful beaches of Capo Graziano are the ideal setting for a sensational holiday, from the views to the scents, without forgetting the local restaurants with typical Filicudi Mediterranean dishes based on fish and aromatic Mediterranean herbs.
Alicudi Island
It is still possible to be surprised by the simplest things on the island of Alicudi and rediscover its essence. You can admire the cultivated terraces, the colorful fishing boats of the fishermen who never fail to deliver the freshest fish, even on board catamarans and sailing boats at anchor.
Alicudi is like a fascinating and sensual woman damned by her own raw and harsh beauty. A wild and harsh island whose beauty was created by the ancient and violent explosions of volcanic eruptions.
Lipari Island
The largest island of the Aeolian archipelago, it has a very active village full of activities, for this reason it is considered the most suitable for those who also love to go ashore.
Lipari is not only appreciated as a tourist destination for its fascinating landscape, it is also considered a pearl of culture and art.
Lipari is the epicenter of the history of the Aeolian Islands and its Museum on the rock, testimony of distant past lives up to 5,000 years ago, is a place not to be missed.
Salina Island
Salina is the 'garden' of the Aeolian Islands, far from the bright lights of Lipari, it escapes the rhythms of modern life.
It is a very welcoming green oasis that enchants with its lush nature and traditional seaside restaurants just outside the tourist port.
Ask your Skipper where to go, he will certainly be able to advise you best!
Stromboli Island
This is the black pearl that has always attracted lovers of uncontaminated nature and trekking to the smoking peak of the volcano.
“Iddu”, an incredible active volcano overlooking the sea, capable of incredible lava flows and truly impressive roars. During the dark hours of the night, if you are lucky, it will surprise you with luminous lava explosions launched high into a sky studded with stars.
An incredible experience to live with your own sailing boat.
The small island of Panarea is the ideal place to fully enjoy the beauty of the coastline which is rich in inlets and suggestive views.
The beaches are all located on the eastern and southern sides of the island, the rest of the coast of the island is so steep that it is almost completely inaccessible. The other beaches are located near the islands of Basiluzzo and Lisca Bianca easily reachable with your boat.
The village is beautiful with restaurants and shops selling jewelry, local foods, souvenirs, fashion. And don't miss the evening at the famous hotel - Lounge Raja.
Basiluzzo Islet
The islet of Basiluzzo emerges from the sea just two miles from Panarea. It is one of the youngest craters of the underwater volcanic formation and is completely uninhabited.
Since 1991, Basiluzzo has been a nature reserve that, if visited in absolute silence, allows you to immerse yourself in a unique atmosphere in which volcanic rock formations combine with rosemary plants, dwarf palms, capers and lemons.
On the north side you will find sheer cliffs and small caves lapped by green and blue water, for an incredible anchorage a few meters from the cliffs (watch out for the anchors!).
Vulcano Island
A perfect picture of sea and sky, whose colors blend perfectly with those of the other six islands, the mighty volcano of Stromboli is also visible, seeming to send smoke signals to its visitors who admire it from the top of the hill in front. The natural heat, due to the presence of sulfurous waters and the God Apollo, makes Vulcano famous for its spas, hot muds and the coves of Baia delle Vergini and the Piscina di Venere.