Trans Sicily

No island in the Mediterranean has more to offer to the active bicycling community than Sicily. Its mountainous landscape is full of historic treasures and the network of bicycle tracks available is outstanding. It is no problem to find a suitable tour for all demands, no matter how ambitious or high your expectations might be. We prepared our Tour Trans-Sicily to show the endless varieties this island has to offer: You will cruise on ancient, long forgotten roads that you will not discover on current maps.

You will find yourself constantly surrounded by history: in defiant mountainous villages or in ethnic bars, from Cefalú's Norman Dome and to Taormina's Greek theatre - you will breathe history.

Smoking Mount Etna is keeping watch!

Name: Around Mount Etna - character: about 470 km long, 8800 meters of altitude in total

Day 1: flight to Catania or Palermo. You will have a transfer to Hotel Kalure followed by a team dinner and meeting to discuss the tour.

Day 2: After a rich breakfast we start first day with has all characteristics of a warm-up tour. We will turn our back on the ocean while we climb up into the Madonie, Sicily's beautiful nature parc. We enjoy a breath-taking view while we are riding through luxuriant flora and rugged mountains. The down-hill crosses thick forests and leads us to Castelbuono, where we spend the night staying in Hotel Pontieri. Castelbuono is a beautiful little town, the chapel in the main piazza and the castle are worth a visit, for sure. 65 km, 2100 hm.

Day 3: Off-road fun at its best awaits you while crossing Madonie's nature parc. We will ride along vivid examples of the various peoples who all have left their traces in Sicily's history. Some of the highlights is the Geraci, a village very typical for this area located in over 1,000 meters of altitude and Ventimiglia castle. Once, Geraci was the capital of the Lords of Ventimiglia who built the castle in Castelbuono as well. The name Geraci is of Greek origin and hints at the fact that this area has always been home for lots of falcons. A falconer and a falconery still exist here! Our hotel for this night is located in Reitano. 95 km, 1400 hm.

Day 4: Today will will go to Portella del Obole - this stage is for champions! We will cross Monti Nèbrodi, Europe's biggest nature parc which is adjacent to Madonie. We might encounter rare species of orchids or even a herd of wild boars. If we are lucky, they might even be willing and tame enough to be our models for a foto-shooting! (Better keep a safe distance!). We will spend the night in an ethnic Sicilian mountain-hut. 60 km, 1400 hm.

Day 5: The Monti Nèbrodi invite us for another trip, today's stage will be our longest day-trip. Along lakes high up in the mountains with their clear waters and deep gorges we will be rewarded with fantastic views at Mount Etna. There it sits, waiting for us! Soon we are going to explore the volcano, but already it seems to be right within our grasp. 105 km, 1600 hm.

Day 6: Our extensive Tour Mount Etna takes us to its highest peak today. Depending on the volcano's state of activity, we will start our ascent on Europe's highest active mountain. Mount Etna is a must for every visitor who explores Sicily. The extraordinary expressions that we will gain are a reward for the tribute our body has to pay: the air gets pretty thin in 3,000 meters of altitude! We will spend the night in Zafferana in a typical Italian agri-tourism. 70 km, 1600 hm.

Day 7: After the strains of Day 6, we will relish our easy ride along the Sicilian Reviera today, which deseves its nickname. We enjoy some cultural highlights the island has to offer here, Fiumefreddo di Sicilia, the Gardens of Naxos. And last, not least, Taormina's famous amphitheatre located in a very pitturesque environment it is one of Sicily's most visited tourist attractions. The theatre is used nowadays for concerts, rehearsals and film festivals. This day's hotel is located in Acireale. 70 km, 700 hm.

Day 8: Departure and transfer to the airports Catania or Palermo. <(The trip's schedule might be object to changes)

Tour-management:

Dario is a native Sicilian and your tour-guide on this trans-Sicilian tour. His main profession is sports director at Kalura Hotel. As the former Sicilian Cross Country Champion, he is not only an outstanding athlete, he knows almost every farmer on the island! This insider-knowledge provides unique experiences such as lunch-breaks in ethnic village inns in the middle of knowwhere.

Mount Etna:

Mongibello or Buono - the Good, this is how the Sicilians call their mountain. Mount Enta has four crates and is over 3,300 m high. He is Europe's highest active mountain and therefore, not as kind or harmless as his nickname. During the entire trip, the volcano seems to be within our grasp! The fascinating mountain and its beautiful surrounding landscape form this tour's unique character!

Information:

Arrival: Flight to Catania oder Palermo.
Tracks and Trails: Minor roads, road-metal tracks and forest trails.
daily quota: 700-2100 hm, 65-105 km Level 4-5

included in the price: 7 overnight stays in double room in various hotels and pension, escorting vehicle, baggage transfer, airport transfer, Italian-English tour management.

Availability of single rooms is limited, the surcharge is payable at the respective hotel

bike rental: "Porsche" with fully suspension
minimum: 6 people
Organizers: Kalurasport und Kefa Reisen