Fashion stylist Cathy O'Connor recently joined our Sicily Walking Holiday and uncovered a different side to one of Italy's most captivating islands. From coastal trails to ancient ruins, her journey shows just how varied Sicily can be when explored on foot. In this blog you'll learn:
- Walking Holidays vs Traditional Beach Trips
- Sicily Travel Experience: Arrival in Palermo and Balestrate Stay
- Zingaro Nature Reserve Hiking Route and Coastal Views
- Selinunte Archaeological Park and Sicilian Food Experiences
- Monte Pellegrino Hike and Palermo Cultural Highlights
- Favignana Island Cycling and Hiking Experience
"There's a particular kind of traveller you'll spot at a departure gate. They're not wrestling with oversized suitcases or clutching duty-free bags. They're wearing hiking boots, carrying sensible daypacks, and, if you look closely, they've got that quiet, knowing look of someone who has long since traded the sun lounger for something far more rewarding. I was one of them. And honestly? I wouldn't have it any other way.
Walking Holidays vs Traditional Beach Trips
It wasn't always like this. Not so long ago, my idea of the perfect holiday was gloriously, unapologetically simple: a sun lounger, warm weather, a good book, and absolutely nowhere to be. Bliss, or so I thought. Because somewhere beneath that contentment, a small but persistent voice kept asking: is this it? I wanted stories worth telling over coffee. I wanted to come home having actually lived somewhere, not just visited it. I wanted the hidden villages, the local characters, the kind of places that don't always make the glossy brochures. I wanted more. More adventure, more connection, more of that rare feeling that you've truly earned your glass of wine at the end of the day. So, somewhat nervously, I booked my first walking holiday with TD active. That was several years ago now, and I have never once looked back. What they consistently deliver, trip after trip, is something deceptively simple: a week of genuine exploration in the company of good people, all of you quietly accumulating memories you'll be talking about for years. Sicily delivered all of that, and then some.
Sicily Travel Experience: Arrival in Palermo and Balestrate Stay
Standing at the departure gate in Dublin Airport, I did what I always do now - scanned the crowd for my fellow travellers. They're not hard to find. Look for the hiking boots, the practical layers, the comfortable footwear built for something more than the hotel corridor. There's a camaraderie in that shared practicality, a silent acknowledgment that you're all there for the same reason. Three and a half hours later, our flight touched down in Palermo, and just like that, Sicily had us. We transferred to our boutique hotel in the charming seaside village of Balestrate. Our group of fifteen gathered that first evening in high spirits, drawn together around the first of many delicious meals. Conversation flowed as freely as the wine, the air buzzing with what the week ahead might hold. By the time we finally drifted to our rooms, we were happily exhausted, and the astonishingly comfortable mattresses did the rest, delivering each of us into a deep, restorative slumber that felt almost indecently luxurious.
Zingaro Nature Reserve Hiking Route and Coastal Views
Morning arrived crisp and full of promise. Over a generous breakfast, we met Issaelia, our guide for the week, whose energy and infectious enthusiasm immediately set the tone. This was someone who genuinely loved Sicily and it showed in every word. Soon we were on our way to the Zingaro Nature Reserve, and nothing quite prepares you for that first view. The landscape arrives like a held breath suddenly released: wild grasses and vivid flowers tumbling down rocky slopes toward a sea so impossibly blue it looks invented. The contrast , lush and stark, soft and severe, is arresting in a way that stops conversation mid-sentence. Below us, the Mediterranean glittered in the sunshine as we found our rhythm on the trail, the path unfurling steadily upward beneath our boots.
We were blessed with perfect walking weather, that precious balance of sunshine and drifting cloud cover that keeps the spirit light and the legs willing. At a natural stopping point, we settled beneath the shade of trees alongside fellow hikers from other groups, unpacked our lunches, and fell easily into the kind of conversation that only happens on trails, swapping stories of favourite walks, unexpected detours and distant summits.
Then it was up. The second half of the day asked more of us: a climb to 430 metres over terrain that demanded attention, heads down, one step at a time. It was the sort of ascent where you stop admiring the view and simply move, deliberate, steady, a little breathless. But what carried us was the quiet generosity of the group itself. Pace adjusted without a word being said. Hiking poles were passed along to whoever needed them. Encouragement came naturally, without fuss. Nobody was left behind.
When we finally made it back to the bus, tired in the best possible way, there was a particular kind of pride in the air - the quiet, warm satisfaction of having asked something of yourself and delivered. Day one. Already unforgettable.
Selinunte Archaeological Park and Sicilian Food Experiences
Our next day began with a step back in time - a visit to the extraordinary archaeological park of Selinunte, where ancient Greek temples rise dramatically from the landscape alongside the crumbled remnants of what was once a bustling residential and commercial heart of the Mediterranean world. With our wonderfully knowledgeable guide leading the way, the stones began to tell their stories, painting a vivid picture of daily life as it was lived here some 2,500 years ago. It was humbling to stand amid such history and begin to understand just how pivotal this small island has been to so many civilisations and how deeply that layered past continues to echo in the present.
After all that time-travelling, we rewarded ourselves with a leisurely coffee and a scoop (or two) of gloriously creamy gelato - well, we were in Italy, after all, and some indulgences are practically compulsory! Re-energised and back on the bus, the afternoon had a rather delicious agenda: wine tasting at the family-run Casa Vinicola Fazio. From vine to bottle, the passion behind their craft was immediately apparent, and the generous samples that followed were the very best kind of education. By the time we returned to our hotel, we were more than ready to settle in for a three-course dinner of freshly prepared Italian fare ; simple, soulful, and absolutely wonderful. We raised a glass and toasted yet another unforgettable day in Sicily.
Glorious sunshine greeted us like an old friend as we laced up our boots and set off on the hike up Monte Pellegrino. With every step upward, Palermo revealed itself in ever more spectacular fashion below us, a sweeping, sun-drenched panorama that made the climb feel more than worthwhile. Our winding path eventually delivered us to something truly special: the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia, dedicated to one of Palermo's most beloved patron saints. Carved into the living rock of the mountainside, this extraordinary cave-church is dramatic, deeply atmospheric, and utterly unlike anything else, a place where faith and nature have merged into something almost otherworldly. We lingered in the warm sunshine over a well-earned coffee, reluctant to leave, before finally making our way down into the city.
Monte Pellegrino Hike and Palermo Cultural Highlights
Palermo greeted us with all the exuberant energy it's famous for. Our first stop was the city's legendary food market , a feast for every sense. Stalls groaned under the weight of glistening fish, vivid produce, fragrant olive oils, hand-crafted soaps and every sweet treat imaginable, while traders called out their pitches with that irresistible mix of theatre and charm that only Italians seem to pull off. Eyes wide, we soaked in every glorious, chaotic moment of it.
After a quick and satisfying lunch, we were joined by our charming local guide, who swept us through the grandeur of Palermo's magnificent Cathedral, the elegant symmetry of Quattro Canti, the Norman Palace, and finally the breathtaking Cappella Palatina. It was a rich, immersive journey through centuries of history, culture and the wonderful quirks of Sicilian life - the kind of experience no guidebook, however well-written, could ever truly replicate.
Balestrate Free Day: Beach, Relaxation and Local Life
Day five brought something every good itinerary knows to include - a day entirely our own. And what a gift it was. The sun shone with unbridled generosity, and the group scattered happily to make the most of it in their own way. Some made straight for the local beach, plunging into the sea with gleeful abandon ; bracing, yes, but gloriously, bracingly alive. Others wandered off to explore more of the charming village of Balestrate at their own gentle pace.
As for me? I claimed a sunlounger in a patch of perfect shade, closed my eyes, and simply exhaled. Sometimes the best thing a traveller can do is pause, to let the memories of the days just passed wash over them, to savour the highlights already collected and to hold a quiet sense of anticipation for the adventures still to come. It was, in its own unhurried way, a perfect day.
Monte Colfano Walk and Erice Hilltop Town Visit
We were rested and ready to go as Monte Colfano wrapped itself around us like a welcome embrace. Out on the trail, the world quietened to nothing but the gentle sounds of nature; birdsong, the rustle of leaves, the soft crunch of footfall, while the glittering Mediterranean shimmered far below, an impossibly blue backdrop to every view. Being so early in the season, we had the mountain entirely to ourselves, and there was something deeply luxurious about that solitude. No need to rush, no crowds to navigate, just the freedom to amble at our own pace, drift into our own thoughts, and fall into the easy, unhurried rhythm of the walk. Our guide Issaelia wove alongside us, pointing out the local flora as we went, adding another layer of richness to an already wonderful morning.
From the peace of the mountain, we wound our way up to the medieval hilltop town of Erice, and what a reward it was. Perched high above the world with views that simply stop you in your tracks, this beautifully preserved cobbled town has earned every bit of its reputation. It manages that rare trick of feeling both authentically rooted in tradition and effortlessly alive ; artisan shops showcasing exquisite local crafts, rich and fragrant oils, and, I'm delighted to report, quite exceptional ice cream. We rounded off the visit in thoroughly civilised fashion, sampling the region's beloved almond pastries alongside a glass of velvety Marsala wine. Sicily, once again, delivering on every front.
Favignana Island Cycling and Hiking Experience
Our final hiking day turned out to be my absolute favourite - a voyage to the jewel in the crown of the Aegadian Archipelago: the enchanting island of Favignana. But first, before we set sail, we were treated to a whistle-stop tour of the elegant city of Trapani, where grand architecture, chic boutiques and a buzzing, sun-drenched atmosphere set the tone for the day ahead.
From the moment I stepped off the boat onto Favignana's shores, it was abundantly clear why this gem of an island captures so many hearts. Low-rise buildings line its unhurried streets, the pace of life slows to a gentle drift, and an irresistible holiday spirit wraps itself around you like warm Mediterranean sunshine. This is a place that simply makes you exhale.
Our hike up to Monte Santa Caterina wound through lush, fragrant vegetation, and, as had become something of a glorious habit on this trip, we were rewarded at the summit with breathtaking, panoramic views that made every upward step more than worthwhile. A long, leisurely lunch followed, along with time to wander and soak up the charm of the town, before a handful of us decided to explore the island the most liberating way possible - on two wheels.
Cycling freely around Favignana, with nothing but sea air, sunshine and the occasional ice cream stop to punctuate the journey, was pure, uncomplicated joy. The sight of that vast, shimmering expanse of turquoise water stretching out against its idyllic surroundings is one that will stay with me long after the tan has faded.
We boarded the boat home in high spirits, sun-kissed and satisfied. Another extraordinary day. Another treasure chest of memories.
Walking Sicily: Trails, Towns and Timeless Views
All too soon, we were homeward bound. Our final morning was spent in that most blissful of ways - lounging lazily beside the pool, soaking up the last of the Sicilian sun, before a short drive brought us back to reality and the airport. Reflecting now on those sun-soaked days in Sicily, I realise it was so much more than a holiday. It was a proper adventure, the kind that stays with you. Shared with a wonderful group of people, in one of the most captivating corners of the world, we did what the best trips always invite you to do. We explored. We laughed. We lived."
