In each edition of Dream-Else Journeys, we spotlight fresh itineraries and emerging slow travel experiences. Dream-Else curates immersive itineraries designed for travellers who seek more than just a change of scenery. These are journeys for the curious, the mindful, and the inspired - slow stays, seasonal experiences, and purposeful trips that let you connect deeply with a destination.
As Sicily comes alive with cultural festivals and regenerative events, we invite you to experience travel not as escape, but as transformation. Discover slow-crafted itineraries set in lesser-known mountain villages and coastal sanctuaries, where daily rhythms honour land, story, and community. Journey across Mount Etna’s elemental landscapes on a reflective retreat, or share in a family-friendly adventure along the Syracuse coast - tracking sea turtles, spotting dolphins, and learning nature’s wisdom through fun and interactive experiences.
What's Happening: Throughout 2025, Sicily celebrates The Year of the Sicilian Paths with Sicily Walks, a regional initiative spotlighting historical trails, pilgrimage routes, and slow travel itineraries that reconnect people to land, memory, and meaning.
Why It's Unique: Participants are drawn not only by Sicily’s beauty but by the values at the heart of the initiative - solidarity, sustainability, and deep respect for the land.
Walkers are invited to engage deeply - with themselves, with local communities, and with the land. Every step supports rural revitalisation, land stewardship, and local economies rooted in cultural continuity and nature.
Expect to Discover: A powerful meeting point of energy and renewal. Hike through black lava trails, young chestnut forests, and restored vineyards while learning how Etna’s soil is giving rise to a new generation of sustainable wine and food producers.
Where: Sustainable Trekking & Soil Rebirth at Linguaglossa, Mount Etna.
What's the Highlight: Regenerative soil techniques meet spectacular volcano-side hikes.
Curated Experiences: This itinerary combines immersive nature treks, hands-on soil regeneration experiences, with slow vineyard living. Hike ancient lava flows, explore volcanic caves, and join local farmers and guides in understanding the rhythms of cultivation on Etna’s north face.
Itinerary Theme: Documentary cinema, Mediterranean culture, island nature, and mindful discovery in mid-to-late July.
Where: Salina, Aeolian Islands. Screenings unfold in piazzas and under the stars, drawing together filmmakers, locals, and travellers in shared reflection.
On the Horizon: At the heart of this journey is SalinaDocFest, Italy’s foremost festival dedicated to documentary storytelling - an intimate celebration of real voices, social change, and island-rooted cinema.
Beyond the DocFest, you'll immerse yourself in Salina’s slow island rhythms through hikes, heritage tours, caper tastings, artisan visits, and swims in volcanic coves.
A Landscape with Legacy: Discover the lagoon from guided salt-pan walks to eco-excursions. Harness the wind with kite-surfing activities for a high-energy, eco-minded adventure - from one-day taster lessons to immersive multi-day camps.
Where: Stagnone Lagoon & Salt Flats, Western Sicily
Its Purpose Today: Discover how regeneration, conservation, and cultural history shape the future of this coastal landscape.
Why it's Unique: Canoe and kayak excursions through this extraordinary ecosystem lagoon for a low impact water-based experience.
Special Event: Marsala Grape Harvest Festival from September 14-21
Location: Syracuse & Val di Noto Surroundings
What’s Included: Summer 2025 Family Eco Adventure. A hands-on, nature-filled week for kids and parents to discover how land and sea connect - through real wildlife encounters, creative learning, and local adventures.
What's On: Live concerts in Syracuse’s iconic open-air Greek Theatre, one of Italy’s most atmospheric summer venues.
Why It’s Perfect for Families:
Kids learn about real-world nature protection while enjoying open-air play.
Safe, guided experiences designed for young children.
Immersive but gentle cultural touches - hands-on learning.
Close to the coast and short driving distances to the Val di Noto towns.
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A Journey Through Senses & Story: A curated blend of live music, organic wine trails, cultural festivals, and eco-conscious celebrations - each with a sustainability thread woven through the experience.
When: July - September
Locations:
- Capital of Culture: 2025 - Agrigento
- Green Valley Pop Fest: July 27th - Trapani
- Terre Sicane Wine Fest: July 25-27 - Contessa Entellina
- Cous Cous Fest: September 19-28 - San Vito Lo Capo
Stepping into Celebration: Sicily’s summer/autumn festivals aren’t just about spectacle - they celebrate tradition, biodiversity, and regeneration. From plastic-free pop fests to vineyard biodiversity walks, each stop shows how Sicilians are reimagining tourism, community, and the land.