Our destination is Marettimo, a small, remote island off the west coast of Sicily. It takes about one hour to reach it by hydrofoil from Trapani.

Due to its isolation and mountainous, wild and rugged terrain, 'our island' has largely remained untouched by tourism. There is only one small village with a few inhabitants on the north-eastern side, which feels like the last outpost of civilisation, while the rest of the island is uninhabited. There are no roads, only beautiful hiking trails. Returning to the village feels like returning to civilisation with its friendly bars, fresh beer, excellent restaurants, warm showers and comfortable beds.

Along the spectacular cliffs of the southwestern side of the island, Europe’s largest protected marine reserve is hidden, while massive rock walls rise above them towards the sky. It is as if parts of the Dolomites have sunk into the sea, leaving only the highest peaks and cliffs.

This is the realm of wild mouflons, and we follow their tracks along exposed rock ledges, similar to the famous Bocchette route in the Brenta, but without the steel cables, with the sea far below our feet. This is a paradise for lovers of untouched nature, where mountains, cliffs and the sea converge.

It took us several attempts to find a route around the entire island through this wild and largely unexplored coastal landscape. Several abseil sections have been installed, and simple climbing passages must be mastered. Above all, however, you need a head for heights and to be sure-footed in order to move safely along the narrow, exposed ledges.
As is typical of our WILD TRAIL tours, we spend several nights camping by the sea during the trek, with our equipment and food delivered by boat. A refreshing swim in the turquoise Mediterranean Sea at the end of the day replaces the evening shower.

Sure-footedness and climbing technique:

Challenging terrain: occurs over long sections

Exposure: long sections

Climbing difficulty: unprotected II° – secured III°
Via ferrata: B to C

 

Fitness & endurance:

Elevation gain: 600 to 1100 m

Walking time: 5 to 8 hours

Additional effort due to heat: daily

 

Comfort:

Luggage transport: delivered every evening

Carried gear: daypack only

Catering: restaurants 4x, shared cooking 3x

Overnight stays: B&B 4x, nights outdoors 3x

(in case of rain spontaneous route change and overnight stay in the B&B)