Due to its poor transportation connections, the archipelago off the coast of Sicily is still mostly unexplored, making it an excellent opportunity to explore before it becomes well-known.

In an era of expanding airports and improved travel networks throughout Europe, finding truly remote locations is becoming more and more uncommon.

The Aeolian islands welcome you. This group, which includes the islands of Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Stromboli, Filicudi, Alicudi, and Panarea as well as a few smaller islands and rocky outcrops, is located off the northeastern coast of Sicily.

These islands, which are difficult to reach, have long been treasured by adventurous Italians and are now slowly becoming more accessible to foreign travelers, adding to their charm as undiscovered treasures.

These magnificent islands are actually much harder to get to than other places in Italy because they can only be reached by boat. Nonetheless, people who have been there seldom ever grumble; instead, they all concur that making the extra effort to get there is well worth it.

Here is all the information you need to know about the Aeolian islands, which are made accessible to tourists by sailing companies.

Why is the collection of islands so unique? The Aeolian islands “smoothly blend trendy towns with ancient harbor villages, each surrounded by untamed volcanic beauty,” claims Laura Griffiths of VentureSail. In a relatively limited area, you can find a vast range of distinctive natural scenery, from gorgeous green slopes to roiling craters.”

Despite being completely distinct from one another, the seven major islands and their smaller neighbors are acknowledged for their combined beauty. Actually, since 2000, the archipelago has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Stromboli, which frequently experiences volcanic explosions, is a must-see location to see this incredibly uncommon natural event. The greatest way to witness the eruptions, according to Griffiths, is not on the island itself, but rather from a boat.

“Eva de Wilde and her partner Pietro recently started Eco Sailors. The couple, who met in the archipelago, wish to show visitors the location on their vintage Beaufort 16, named Luna, which they built in 1977.

Eva is adamant that she doesn’t have a favorite “Choosing a favorite island is very difficult because all of the islands are so different from each other and characteristic in their own way, which is one of the reasons that make them so impressive.”

Which places on the islands should you not miss seeing? Fortunately, there are enough of things to keep a tourist to the Aeolian islands occupied.

On board the tall ship Florette, VentureSail provides day tours to the islands, including the secluded Salina, which is reputed to be the location of some of the world’s best capers. It is also suggested by Griffiths that guests take a trip to Vulcano, “where visitors can wallow in sulfur mud before dipping into the bubbling sea.”

There are opportunities to swim, snorkel, and kayak in remote bays with pure water across the entire archipelago, as well as on gloomy beaches with fine, black lava sand where you’ll be alone.

Another team favorite at VentureSail is Lipari. They describe it as “a traditional Sicilian island where obsidian and pumice stone can be found in abundance.” Visitors can rent a traditional Italian Vespa from the company and explore the historic island and its welcoming inhabitants, even though it is not easily accessible to tourists.

Which route leads to the Aeolian islands the best? The islands are not the only places that provide something unique. While Eco Sailors has introduced a distinctive boating excursion, VentureSail provides a typical sailing tour across the islands.

Just over a year has passed since Eva and Pietro renovated their boat, Luna, making it more contemporary and—most importantly—eco-friendly.

“We produce all the electricity we need with the use of solar panels,” Eva told Euronews Travel. “What makes us different from other trips is that we live aboard and know everything about our vessel.”

Serving vegan meals on board, they refrain from fishing the nearby waters—a practice that is unique to all of Italy—but they do so with the justification that “we want to attract all kinds of people, doesn’t matter if you are vegan or not, we want to show that it’s possible to enjoy local delicacies without harming the environment.”

One thing is certain, according to Laura Griffiths, regardless of the experience type you’re searching for: “Sailing in the Aeolian islands is truly the best way to see these untamed isles, soaking up the sights from the water whilst accessing harder to reach places and off-the-beaten-track destinations.”

“Sailing here provides the chance to travel in a way like no other, island hopping where the winds and tides take, calling in at secluded coves for swimming, anchoring near sheltered beaches and dining in small traditional towns, far from the busy tourist spots,” she continues.

With their increasing popularity, this is the ideal time to book a trip to the archipelago.

“We chose to charter the Aeolian Islands due to their stunning natural beauty as well as the fact that they are still relatively undiscovered,” Eva tells Euronews Travel. It has great meaning for Pietro and me because that’s where we first met. Our goal is to increase awareness of these islands and show that Italy is a place that offers more than just the usual tourist spots.”