Sicily Bike Tour

Your guides will meet you in Siracusa, and then we’re off to the ancient Pantalica Valley. Get fitted on the bikes and warm up your legs on the way into Baroque Ferla—named one of Italy’s borghi piu belli, or most beautiful villages. Your first few glimpses of Sicily are overwhelming, with views of Etna and the eastern island dominating the ride to lunch. Arrive at a restaurant in the village of Buccheri that’s owned by a pair of brothers who have devoted their lives to preserving local culinary traditions, foraging for wild ingredients, and generally serving one of the best meals you’ll ever have. After, pedal across the Iblean plateau through Buscemi and Palazzolo, finally reaching our boutique hotel. The up-and-coming resident chef welcomes us with a memorable first dinner that showcases the flavors of this special island.

• Meals: Lunch / Dinner
• Destinations: Ferla, Buccheri, Buscemi
• Ride: 30 miles / 48 km, elevation gain: 2,716 feet / 828 metres
• Shorter Option: 20 miles / 32 km, elevation gain: 2,125 feet / 648 metres
• Overnight: Dimora delle Balze or Il San Corrado di Noto

Depart right from the hotel this morning, warming up our legs on the rolling terrain of the Iblean plateau. Pedal through the site of Avola Antica, an ancient settlement leveled by the earthquake of 1693, which also destroyed the nearby fortress of Noto Antica. The rebuilding of these two towns on the plains below marked the flowering of the Sicilian Baroque age. Take in sweeping views of the Mediterranean on the descent to modern Noto, then ride through Porta Reale, a magnificent triumphal arch, to explore the city’s stunning center. Almond trees flourish on the coastal plain, which makes stopping for an almond granita at an iconic pastry shop extra sweet. Back on the bikes, cap off the day’s ride with a gradual climb and some jaw-dropping scenery en route to an al fresco lunch amidst the olive trees. Tonight, we’ll gather for a convivial evening of cooking, eating, and drinking with a local chef.

• Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Destinations: Avola Antica, Noto, Testa dell’Acqua
• Ride: 29 miles / 47 km, elevation gain: 2,637 feet / 804 metres
• Longer Option: 38 miles / 62 km, elevation gain: 3,024 feet / 922 metres
• Overnight: Dimora delle Balze or Il San Corrado di Noto

Set out on a scenic journey across the open pastures of the Val di Noto, through Giarratana—known for its heirloom sweet onions—and into Monterosso. Stop for a Sicilian pastry and coffee among the locals just before a climb up to Vizzini, birthplace of Sicily’s greatest realist writer, Giovanni Verga. Here we’re welcomed onto a family-run farm for a home-cooked meal with our friend Giuseppe. Lunch is long on true Sicilian hospitality, and we’ll take our warm and fuzzy feelings with us across the plains of Catania where our next hotel is located on the slopes of Mount Etna. This evening is an introduction to the elegant vintages of this unique winegrowing region during our paired tasting dinner.

• Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Destinations: Giarratana, Monterosso Almo, Vizzini, Linguaglossa
• Ride: 35 miles / 57 km, elevation gain: 3,237 feet / 987 metres
• Shorter Option: 28 miles / 45 km, elevation gain: 2,289 feet / 698 metres
• Overnight: Villa Neri

Today we see an entirely new side of Sicily as we pedal through a region defined by Etna. With grapes growing out of black volcanic soil next to farmhouses built from basalt rock, it’s hard to believe this is the same island we’ve been cycling all week. Medieval Norman castles peer down on us from the heights of Castiglione and Francavilla as we wind our way through the wild Alcantara Valley. After a tasting lunch at one of the region’s top wineries, settle in for a long and gradual downhill to the coast. Hop in the van or finish with one last push up to our five-star hotel in Taormina. The rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish: wind down with a swim in the hotel pool, watch the sunset over Etna, admire the craftsmanship of the Greek amphitheater, or plunge headfirst into the city’s bustling restaurant scene.

• Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
• Destinations: Linguaglossa, Francavilla, Taormina
• Ride: 38 miles / 62 km, elevation gain: 2,240 feet / 683 metres
• Shorter Option: 20 miles / 33 km, elevation gain: 1,866 feet / 569 metres
• Overnight: The Ashbee Hotel or Grand Hotel San Pietro

Right out of Taormina we’re met with a scenic descent to the coast. Warm up on a road beside the Mediterranean, then turn inland to tackle a series of challenging climbs that wind deep into the coastal mountain range. If you find the string of improbably-perched mountain villages captivating, you’re not alone—Francis Ford Coppola chose this area to film some of the most iconic scenes from The Godfather. The coastal vistas and ancient landscape of Savoca are indeed cinematic as we approach the town from above. Here, in his tiny ristorante, a passionate emerging chef will wow us with lunch. Choose to complete the loop ride this afternoon, or transfer directly back to Taormina. We’ll regroup for tonight’s farewell dinner and raise a glass to our week on this island unlike any other.

• Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Destinations: Letojanni, Roccafiorita, Savoca
• Ride: 27 miles / 43 km, elevation gain: 3,785 feet / 1,154 metres
• Longer Option: 42 miles / 64 km, elevation gain: 4,871 feet / 1,485 metres
• Overnight: The Ashbee Hotel or Grand Hotel San Pietro

Bid farewell to Taormina with a last leisurely breakfast or a final stroll around town. Your guides will transfer you to the Catania airport and see you off for your journey home.

• Meals: Breakfast