Tour Type
Explorer
Riding Level
Leisure
Location
Sicily, Italy
Duration
6 nights | 7 days
Length
20 - 120 km
Climb
300 to 2,050 m daily
Sicily... the perfect destination for a cycle tour in off-season, well before the summer crowds descend, or to finish the season on the Mediterranean. Ride, discover and enjoy the incredible surprises that Sicily offers including exploring the ancient historic sites and of course take on the famous ascent of volcanic Mount Etna.
With a history stretching back over 10,000 years, Sicily is a tapestry of civilizations. Its strategic importance has shaped a rich heritage through successive dominations—from the Greeks and Romans to the Arabs and Normans. On this tour, you’ll not only ride the modern roads of today but also find remnants of the past through unique cuisine, stunning architecture, and ancient archaeological sites.
This tour is designed to be enjoyed at your own pace along routes offering magnificent views, with roads lined with olive, almond, and carob trees and vistas of the coastline and Mediterranean Sea. Highlights of the journey include the ascent of the legendary volcanic Mount Etna, and rides along the east coast to Catania and Syracuse before heading inland to the historic towns of Noto and Ragusa, as well as stay in the beautiful Greek city of Taormina. Each evening, we’ll enjoy authentic local cuisine and stay in specially chosen hotels, as the quality of the food and accommodation is as important to us as the quality of the cycling.
This seven-day tour provides a captivating snapshot of this stunning island. With so much more to see and experience, we can help you extend your trip to explore other parts of Sicily, ensuring your adventure continues.
Make It Private
Tour Highlights
Upon your arrival at Catania Airport, we will greet you and transport you to your hotel in Taormina. Our team will be on hand to assist with bike assembly and fitting, distribute your team kit, and ensure you are fully prepared for the week ahead. After a brief discussion of the tour program, we’ll enjoy a gentle warm-up ride around this beautiful city, followed by a delicious dinner at one of the excellent local restaurants specializing in authentic Sicilian dishes.
The beautiful pool and spa amenities at our hotel offer the perfect place to unwind before we savour our first meal together.
Today marks an epic day as we take on the ascent of Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano. A truly classic ride, this climb has been featured in the Giro d’Italia multiple times, cementing its legendary status. You’ll have the option to either ride from our hotel to the base of the volcano in Linguaglossa or, if you prefer, save your energy with a short transfer. From there, the 18.2 km, 1,235m ascent begins, offering a truly unique experience defined by the solidified black lava flows near the end. After conquering the climb, an incredible descent will take us all the way to the beautiful city of Catania.
We’ll check into our hotel for a well-deserved rest and prepare to explore the city in the evening.
Today is a shorter, more relaxed stage, allowing your legs to recover after yesterday’s epic ascent of Mount Etna. We’ll ride as a group along undulating coastal roads directly to Syracuse, taking our time to enjoy the stunning scenery. With plenty of time to spare, we encourage you to take a leisurely exploration of this beautiful and ancient city founded by the Greeks in 733 BC. It was conquered by the Romans in 212 BC; and later by successive invaders including the Arabs and Vikings!
Later, we’ll enjoy a delicious dinner overlooking the water in Syracuse.
Today we say farewell to Syracuse and journey inland, making our way to the UNESCO Heritage city of Noto. We’ll visit its beautiful Baroque centre to savour a rich coffee or a refreshing gelati before continuing on to the UNESCO city of Modica, rebuilt in the stunning Baroque style after a massive earthquake in 1693. After stopping for a light lunch, we’ll reach our final destination, the deeply divided city of Ragusa, split by dramatic ravines.
Upon arrival, we’ll help you settle into your hotel before exploring this fascinating city of two parts, followed by a well-deserved dinner.
After a delicious breakfast, we’ll begin our ride towards Vittoria, one of the region’s youngest towns where women still create elaborate embroideries first introduced during the Arabic period. We’ll stop for a well-deserved gelato before continuing on to the ancient town of Vizzini, one of the oldest in Sicily. From there, we’ll ride to your delightful hotel. The afternoon is yours to either explore the town or relax and enjoy the hotel’s facilities before we gather for dinner.
On our final day, we’ll embark on a journey through the rolling hills of interior Sicily. After a last espresso and sweet pastry in Vizzini, we’ll begin our ride to Caltagirone. This town, whose name is derived from the Arabic for ‘Castle of Jars,’ remains a thriving pottery centre to this day and, like much of the region, was rebuilt in a striking Baroque style after the devastating 1693 earthquake. After a light lunch, we’ll begin our last gentle descent to Catania, where the rest of the afternoon is yours to explore the city.
This evening, we’ll gather for our final dinner, celebrating your incredible journey through south eastern Sicily.
After a final celebratory dinner and a restful morning with a hearty breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye. Enjoy one last espresso, latte macchiato, or cappuccino with a sweet Sicilian pastry before we provide your transfer to Catania Airport.
Sicily before and after summer offers uncrowded places, warm temperatures, ancient cities and dramatic landscapes. Throw in sun blessed Sicilian cuisine – what’s not to like!
