Getting to Stromboli via Naples. Take the ferry from the port of Mergellina. You buy your ferry ticket on sight at the port and the trip takes a few hours. Plan to stay overnight at one of the hotels on the Island.
Upon arrival, there is a good chance you will be greeted by one of the hotel owners. I highly recommend staying at the Hotel Ossidiana right next to the pier where the ferry docks. It's a three star hotel with clean comfortable rooms and breakfast included. Ask the hotel owner about accessing the hotels thermal bath. Its quite an experience as it is filled in equal proportions of sea water and thermal springs from the volcano at reasonable hot temperatures. Best thing to do here is sit and enjoy the hot water for about 5 minutes and then run off to the beach 1 minute away and dive into the sea to cool off.. Do this cycle two or three times, its very soothing. A word of caution though the water stains fabric a bit so don't wear a white bathing suit. If you plan to visit the island during the summer months I would recommend that you book your hotel reservation on line before arrival.
The day of your arrival or the following morning go to the Magmatrek office to confirm your reserved climb. This outfit organizes guided tours of the volcano. I would recommend however that you book with them in advance on their web site. The tour usually start in the afternoon. As the summit of the mountain sits at over 800 meters above sea level the climb takes about 3 hours. Arrival at the summit is at dusk.
Group size varies but typically 20 people to a group is the norm. You'll be lead by an experience guide and be provided with protective head gear which you will be asked to put on as you near the summit. Once there at night fall your vantage point will be above the crater where you will sit around for an hour admiring the eruptions from a safe distance. With any luck you will witness anywhere between 10 to 20 eruptions during your visit. Its quit a sight and the associated explosions are noisy to say the least. After your hour at the summit its time to head back down. The guide will hand you a face mask and its time to put your head lamp on. The need for a mask becomes very evident as the decent takes you on a different route across an ash field with a lot of fine dust. Plus descending the mountain in complete darkness adds to the challenge. All in all getting back down takes about 2 hours which brings you back at your hotel at around 11 pm.. You can trust me when I tell you that you will have a good nights sleep after this hike.
