Suggested Packing List

• Comfortable clothing for meditation sessions & exploring (it will be warm but with an ocean breeze - loose-fitting clothing will serve you best and please bring hiking clothes and sneakers if you want to join a hike!)

• Comfortable shoes because Panarea is picturesque cobblestone streets (people do not wear fancy shoes)

• Cash! This is important, since ATMs on the island are not always reliable. We suggest bringing at least 200 EUR to cover meals before arriving in Panarea and to tip kind and friendly shuttle drivers, etc.

• Bathing suit and cover up

• Mask & snorkel (if you would like to snorkel - we will have opportunities to snorkel each day)

• Optional but fun for the women: if you have a long print dress .. bring it along! The grand dame of these Aeolian Islands is Mama Raya, and she makes print dresses which many wear in the evening :)

• Earplugs in case there is music at night (Panarea is quiet daytime, but people do dance at night!)

• Bring changes of clothes, because you may swim in the ocean before or after sessions; then in the early evening, we will change for dinner and have an optional aperativo on the Raya terrace beforehand. Meditation sessions will be very casual - yoga clothes, shorts, or bathing suits & cover-ups are perfect.

SCHEDULE

We will be based at the spectacular La Piazza overlooking Panarea’s harbor and clear blue waters.

The day will include guided walking and sitting meditations & positive psychology and awareness exercises led by The Path founder Dina Kaplan, mindful (optional) swims and snorkels; a boat ride to private beaches; an optional hike, and organized lunches, dinners & optional aperitivos (no alcohol required; Dina will enjoy seltzer!).

Sunday

6pm Opening meditation, introductions & intention-setting
8pm (Optional) Sunset aperitivo at the famous Raya terrace overlooking the harbor
9pm Dinner at da Paolina (the local favorite)
10:15pm (Optional) Walk to secret meditation place on the island for short closing meditation under the stars (or dancing; we’ll decide at dinner :))

Monday

9:15am (Optional) Silent meditation at a tiny non-denominational church nearby (Dina’s favorite place to meditate in the world)
9:40am (Optional) Mindful swim & snorkel
10:00am Breakfast
11:00am-1:00pm Morning meditation session (come ready to hike after lunch)
1:00pm Lunch
2:00pm (Optional) Mindful hike to beach + mindful swim
6:00-8:00pm Afternoon meditation session (come dressed for aperativo)
8:00pm (Optional) Aperitivo
9:00pm Dinner at La Piazza
10:15pm (Optional) Post-dinner meditation overlooking the harbor under the stars
10:40pm (Optional) Rooftop gathering + dancing

Tuesday

9:15am (Optional) Silent meditation at a tiny church nearby (non-denominational)
10:00am Breakfast
11:00am-1:00pm Morning meditation session (come readying for boating and optional swimming after lunch)
1:00pm Lunch to go at gourmet supermarket
1:30pm - 4pm Private boat tour of the island, including option to swim and snorkel in bubbling volcanic vents near Lisca Bianca (great for the body!) & secluded beaches around Panarea
6:00-8:00pm Afternoon meditation session (come dressed for aperativo)
8:00pm (Optional) Aperitivo
9pm Dinner at beloved Da Pina

Wednesday
9:30am Breakfast
10:30am-11:30am Morning meditation session and closing
11:30-1:00pm (Optional) Group activity
1:30pm (Optional) Farewell lunch

Travel Information

1. Fly to Catania - many European cities have direct flights. (If you can’t decide where to fly from, Rome has a lot of flights to Catania :)). If you are arriving day of, please make sure you land in Catania in time to make the last 4:30pm ferry.

2. Bus, taxi, shuttle or helicopter from Catania airport to Milazzo - please check sites for the most up to date times!

a) Buses leave at the following times: 9:10am, 11:00am, 12:30pm, 3:30pm, 5:00pm, and 7:00pm. The bus costs 15 Euros. Click here for the Giunta bus schedule. You must / must / must buy a ticket in advance, not on the bus.

The ticket booth is directly outside the airport, on the right, and it’s easy to snag tickets just before. You MUST buy a ticket before boarding. Italians love tickets and won’t sell them on buses, only in advance.

b) Shuttles (recommended) leave at the following times: 10:10am, 12:00pm, 1:30pm, 4:20pm, 6:10pm, and 9pm. The company is Alibrando, and the price is 25 Euros; click here for more info and to book a shuttle or email them at info@alibrando.net. Or call them at the numbers here.

Look for the Alibrando logo shirt.

If you can’t find the shuttle driver at baggage claim, just call them at 0909288585, and if your phone doesn’t work for any reason just ask anyone at the airport to call for you or point you to the Alibrando person with the logo above on their shirt (people are friendly at this airport - most people are heading to vacations, and anyone working at the airport will know the Alibrando drivers in their brightly-colored shirts!).

c) Taxi. There are many private taxi options. A taxi will cost (approximately) 165-188 Euros.

d) You can also take a helicopter directly to Panarea! This is $500 and you can book it here.

Almost there!

3. Ferry to Panarea (yay). You’ll take a Liberty or Siremar ferry. Please purchase the ferry ticket in advance.

Click here to book a ferry. Or go direct to Liberty (which has the most options) here. (17-29 Euros)

Ferries leave Milazzo at the following times: 6:00am, 7:00am, 8:00am, 9:40am, 1:00pm, 2:30pm, 3:45pm, and 4:30pm. The last ferry leaves Milazzo at 4:30pm, so make sure you get to Milazzo in time to make this if you arrive day of. You will only need 10 minutes from your taxi / bus / shuttle arrival to board the ferry, or if you purchased your ticket in advance you’ll only need around 3 minutes. All transportation drop-offs are right next to the ferry terminal.

Note: You can also come one day early and spend the night on Vulcano (It’s lovely, and the last ferry to Vulcano leaves Milazzo at 7:10pm! You’ll then take a short ferry from Vulcano to Panarea in the morning).

You will then arrive in Panarea, a magical island with no cars - only cobblestone pathways, wonderful restaurants and crystal clear water. And us!

Tips from Dina

If you overnight in Rome:

• Boutique Hotel Campo di Fiori (mention Dina’s name if you book) - medium to high range, & Dina's home away from home

• Villa San Pio - in a beautiful quiet area of Rome with birds chirping all around (say you are "booking as a friend of Dina Kaplan from St. Stephen's) - very affordable

• Hotel Sant' Anselmo - in same area as San Pio - (say you are "booking as a friend of Dina Kaplan from St. Stephen's) - slightly higher end, both are reasonably priced and lovely - say the same as above