Transport

Transfers to/from the airport are by private vehicle. Your luggage is transported from hotel to hotel for you. The vehicle will be available with assistance on the later stages of rides. The tour leader cycles with the group.

Guide

There will be a cycling leader with the group, plus a bicycle mechanic driving the support van.

Accommodation

On this cycling adventure in Sicily, we stay in hotels and an agriturismo, which were selected for their friendly atmosphere and character. Most are conveniently located near the UNESCO-listed historic centres we visit. Below are the properties normally used: Palazzolo Acreide: Feudo Bauly (night 1) Our adventure begins in this historic hotel run by the Corsino family. The stone-walled restaurant serves traditional Sicilian cuisine made from local, seasonal produce – you might even see black truffles sourced from nearby Bauly Forest on the menu. There’s also a swimming pool when you’d like some downtime. Modica: Ferro Hotel (night 2) Within a renovated building once used for railway workers, the Ferro Hotel takes us to modern Sicily. The contemporary décor pays tribute to the locomotive history of the building and there’s a varied spread for breakfast. The hotel itself is within walking distance of the main town. Marzamemi: Agriturismo Tenuta Arangio (nights 3-4) Enjoy a rural idyll with a stay at this agriturismo (farm stay). It’s a traditional Sicilian estate, owned by the Arangio family since 1980, and they still grow produce here. There’s also a large swimming pool area in the courtyard, where you can relax under the shade of olive trees. Noto: Grand Hotel Sofia (night 5-6) Back to more conventional hotel comforts, the Grand Hotel Sofia has an outdoor swimming pool with a bar (and happy hour). There’s also a restaurant, Limoneto, which serves Sicilian and Mediterranean dishes made from local produce, plus a small bar area. Syracuse: Hotel Centrale (night 7) The majority of groups spend their final night at Hotel Centrale, though some stay at Hotel Posta, Grande Albergo Alfeo or Hotel Gargallo, depending on availability. Centrale is one of the oldest hotels in Syracuse and close to local attractions including the Archaeological Park of Neapolis. When you’re not out exploring, the hotel has a garden and reading room.

Others

Local bike hire

Meals

All breakfasts and one dinner are included. Sicilian cuisine is a mix of the different cultures that have called this island home over the millennia: from the Greek and Arabs to the Normans and Spaniards. Soil here is incredibly fertile, with a perfect climate for the cultivation of fresh produce, such as olives, oranges, lemons, aubergines (eggplant), tomatoes, pistachios, almonds, grapes and more. Additionally, mussels, clams, tuna, swordfish and anchovies are fished right off the coast. This wide range of high-quality ingredients serves as a base for myriad dishes, resulting in a cuisine that’s fresh, varied and delicious. Sicilian wines are also superb: grillo and inzolia are excellent white wines, Cerasuolo di Vittoria and Nero d’Avola are both fabulous reds, and marsala, moscato and zibibbo are wonderful dessert wines. As nearly 90 percent of Italian lemons grow in Sicily, sampling the local limoncello is a must. On this trip there is the chance to join an optional picnic lunch, prepared by the support driver and your leader. Dinners are taken at the hotels or local restaurants recommended by your guide, according to your budget and preferences.

Not included:

Others

— Travel insurance — Single accommodation (available on request ) — Visas or vaccinations — Local city taxes (approximately €15) — E-bike hire

Insurance

Insurance is not included.

Flights

Flights are not included.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Start In Palazzolo Acreide, Welcome Briefing And Bike Fitting
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Start In Palazzolo Acreide, Welcome Briefing And Bike Fitting

We start in Palazzolo Acreide, a maze of narrow streets and baroque churches that was built following an earthquake in 1693 on the site of an ancient Greek colony. The tour leader will give a welcome briefing and, if there’s time, we will do the bike fitting. Depending on the arrival time of the group, we may have the chance to explore Palazzolo Acreide. If not, we look around the town tomorrow morning. Accommodation: Feudo Bauly (or similar)
Day 2 Day 2: Ride South To The Hilltop Baroque Town Of Ragusa Ibla; Cycle Scenic Roads To Modica (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Ride South To The Hilltop Baroque Town Of Ragusa Ibla; Cycle Scenic Roads To Modica (Breakfast)

We start our adventure with a ride through the beautiful lower valleys of the Hyblaean Mountains, passing olive plantations and dry-stone walls that characterise this area. We then climb into the highlands to Ragusa Ibla, a town built over three hills separated by a deep valley, and home to beautiful baroque churches and buildings. We then cycle to Modica, a Sicilian baroque town at the bottom of a gorge. After the ride, we recommend trying Modica chocolate, still prepared using the Aztec recipe brought over by Spaniards in the 1500s. We stay overnight in Modica. Accommodation: Ferro Hotel (or similar)
Day 3 Day 3: Cycle To The Architectural Delight Of Scicli, The Filming Location Of ‘Inspector Montalbano’, Then On To Our ‘Agriturismo’ (Breakfast,Dinner)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Cycle To The Architectural Delight Of Scicli, The Filming Location Of ‘Inspector Montalbano’, Then On To Our ‘Agriturismo’ (Breakfast,Dinner)

We leave Modica and ride along a ravine that slopes downhill until we reach another outstanding example of Sicilian baroque architecture, Scicli, where the popular Inspector Montalbano TV series was filmed. We continue further south until we meet the Mediterranean coast, where we stop for lunch and a swim. Getting back on the bikes, we cycle along the shore to the area of San Lorenzo, where our agriturismo (converted farmhouse) is located. Accommodation: Agriturismo Tenuta Arangio (or similar)
Day 4 Day 4: Gentle Circular Route Through Vineyards, Along The Coast And Back To Marzamemi (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Gentle Circular Route Through Vineyards, Along The Coast And Back To Marzamemi (Breakfast)

A loop ride takes us through vineyards and past cherry tomato greenhouses (where the renowned Pomodoro di Pachino tomatoes are cultivated). If we are lucky, we may spot flamingos, herons and other migratory birds in marshes along the way. We then follow the coastline to Portopalo di Capo Passero, the southernmost village in Sicily (further south than Tunis). Here, we stop for coffee and a chance to swim where the Mediterranean and Ionian seas meet. We reach our lunch stop in Marzamemi, a picturesque fishing village of Arab origins, before returning to the agriturismo for a second night. Accommodation: Agriturismo Tenuta Arangio (or similar)
Day 5 Day 5: Coastal Ride To Vendicari Nature Reserve, Continue To Noto, The Capital Of Sicilian Baroque Architecture (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Coastal Ride To Vendicari Nature Reserve, Continue To Noto, The Capital Of Sicilian Baroque Architecture (Breakfast)

A short ride brings us to the beautiful Vendicari Nature Reserve. This narrow stretch of marshy coastline provides a rare and now completely protected habitat for migratory bird species and the local flora and fauna. A short walk will take us to beautiful sandy beaches, perfect for a swim in the Mediterranean Sea. As we leave the reserve behind, we head north to Noto, another Unesco World Heritage site. It’s a planned town in the Late Sicilian baroque style, all built in a beautiful honey-coloured stone. A must-try in Noto is the delicious cannoli alla ricotta and almond pastries. We stay overnight in Noto. Accommodation: Grand Hotel Sofia (or similar)
Day 6 Day 6: Circular Ride To Cavagrande National Reserve And The Deep Cassibile Canyon (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Circular Ride To Cavagrande National Reserve And The Deep Cassibile Canyon (Breakfast)

We start our day with a challenging but rewarding 4mi (6km) climb to San Corrado di Fuori, where we stop for a well-deserved coffee. Continuing the cycle, we reach the archaeological site of Noto Antica, the original settlement of Noto, which was destroyed by the 1693 earthquake. Another ascent takes us to the viewpoint of Cavagrande del Cassibile (1,657ft/505m), one of the deepest canyons in Europe, where we enjoy a lunch stop with sweeping views of the gorge and the Cassibile river far below. In the afternoon, we enjoy a magnificent descent with hairpin bends towards the coast, before returning to Noto for a second night in this wonderful city. Accommodation: Grand Hotel Sofia (or similar)
Day 7 Day 7: Final Coastal Ride To Syracuse; Free Time To Discover The Historic Town (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Final Coastal Ride To Syracuse; Free Time To Discover The Historic Town (Breakfast)

Today’s gentle ride will lead us first to Avola for an espresso or cappuccino, then along the coast to Syracuse, passing beautiful beaches where we will stop for a refreshing sea dip. Once we arrive in Syracuse, described by Cicero as "the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all", our tour leader will provide a short orientation tour of Ortigia, the island where the city was founded. In the afternoon, there is free time to explore at your own pace, do some shopping or visit the archaeological park with its spectacular hillside Greek theatre. We stay overnight in Syracuse. Accommodation: Hotel Centrale (or similar)
Day 8 Day 8: End In Syracuse (Breakfast)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: End In Syracuse (Breakfast)

The trip ends in Syracuse after breakfast. If you’d like a bit more time to explore, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

8 days tour

Cycling In Sicily

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Cycling In Sicily

Day 1: Start In Palazzolo Acreide, Welcome Briefing And Bike Fitting

Day 2: Ride South To The Hilltop Baroque Town Of Ragusa Ibla; Cycle Scenic Roads To Modica (Breakfast)

Day 3: Cycle To The Architectural Delight Of Scicli, The Filming Location Of ‘Inspector Montalbano’, Then On To Our ‘Agriturismo’ (Breakfast,Dinner)

Day 4: Gentle Circular Route Through Vineyards, Along The Coast And Back To Marzamemi (Breakfast)

Day 5: Coastal Ride To Vendicari Nature Reserve, Continue To Noto, The Capital Of Sicilian Baroque Architecture (Breakfast)

Day 6: Circular Ride To Cavagrande National Reserve And The Deep Cassibile Canyon (Breakfast)

Day 7: Final Coastal Ride To Syracuse; Free Time To Discover The Historic Town (Breakfast)

Day 8: End In Syracuse (Breakfast)

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