Transfer Option:

Day 1  Arrival in Cefalu, a beautiful town by the sea famous for its wonderful Arab-Norman Cathedral and the Unknown Sailor painted by Antonello Da Messina - so well worth coming in a day or two early to explore and relax.Transfer in the afternoon to the lodgings. We have a meeting to introduce the adventures of the next week then enjoy dinner and overnight at the 5* Abbazia Santa Anastasia - a few miles outside of Cefalu.
Day 2 After breakfast you will depart from Cefalu and begin the first day of your trail. Cefalu is known as the pearl of the Tyrrhenian and one of the most beautiful destinations within the island of Sicily. It is famous for its fascinating Arab-Norman cathedral and a renowned portrait of the mysterious sailor Antonello da Messina. Our route today starts from sea level along the coast and continues like this for about half of the trip, crossing plenty of vineyards, and the olive and ash trees typical of the area. Crossing the River Pollina, we ride over vast hilly pastures; here agriculture is still the reigning profession. Tonight we rest in Tusa, a little town of medieval origin and where a rich and traditional rural culture is preserved. Dinner and overnight stay at Holiday Margiscammari.  20 miles, 6 hrs of riding
Day 3 The medieval town of Tusa is mentioned by Ptolemy in the 2nd century BC and was founded between the 8th and the 9th century and destroyed by an earthquake in 856. We ride today from Tusa, in the direction of Mistletta, where you can admire the gorgeous lake of Urio Quattrocchi, located on the slopes of Mount Castle. This trek will cross a mountainous landscape of common and cork oak woods. Mistretta is an ancient village rich in history, located at the edge of the national park of Nebrodi at 900 meters above the sea level and built on the crown of a mountain. Dinner and overnight at Holiday Santasofia.  22 miles/7 hours
Day 4 On this fourth day we depart from Mistretta and ride towards Villa Miraglia. On the mountain we will discover the oak and beech Mare, continuing to the mountain pass "Portella Contrast". Next we find the natural tunnels inside the woods and the wild "San Fratellani" horses. Finally we arrive tired and happy to Villa Miraglia. Dinner and overnight at a park refuge. 32 miles/ 8 hours .
Day 5 After breakfast we will ride away from Villa Miraglia onwards Floresta. Perhaps the hardest part of the entire journey, but also the best! At this point of the ride we arrive into the heart of the Nebrodi park where the altitude is considerable; Mt Soro soars to the altitude 1847m. Other towering vistas are the King Serra and Serra Peak Fau Pignataro. Our trail runs along the slopes of Mt Soro and the "Biviere of Cesar", a natural high altitude mountain lake. The "Biviere" is an ideal place for bird watching because it is home to a large variety of birds, including “His Majesty”, the griffin. In These lands you can also find the famous black pigs of the Nebrodi Suidae, from which derives the hybrid boar we consume as typical cold cuts. We arrive to Floresta - a Sicilian town which boasts the highest altitude, located 1275 meters from sea level! Dinner and overnight stay at B&B Josephine Garden. 28miles/8 hours
Day 6  Departure from Floresta, which is set in an excellent position at the border district of Catania, on the watershed that rises between the high valleys of the Alcantara river (tributary of the Ionian Sea) and the torrent nose. We ride to Castiglione di Sicilia on the trails of the land of the Tholos, complete with ancient remnants of buildings of stone with straw roofs and the famous Sicilan Caciocavallo. The small and ancient village is located in a fabulous plateau at 1300 meters, made up of wide pastures and dense forests. Today you will start a descent along the south side of Nebrodi. Your route takes you through valleys and in between the lovely hills of Alcantarra and Etna. Approachinf Etna, the landscape changes, and we see the wide vineyards surrounding Randazzo. The land here is very fertile with black volcanic soil and wonderful for manmade, as well as natural, vegetation. Slowly, the land starts to take on more volcanic characteristics as we approach our riding destination for today. We then take the car and drive a short distance to the beautiful mountain village of Taormina. As soon as you arrive in Taormina, you will feel the magical, mythical atmosphere spread all around which has enchanted visitors from all over the world for years and years. Settled on a hill of the Monte Tauro, Taormina dominates two grand, sweeping bays below and on the southern side, the top of Mount Etna often capped with snow, offering us a breathtaking, dramatic and memorable view.  We have some time to stroll the small streets, do a little shopping and meet for a typical Sicilian pizza before returning by car to our lodgings at La Conca dell’Etna.  Riding: 14 miles/5 hours
Day 7  From the village of Castiglione di Sicilia, you will begin to ride to infamous Etna. You will cross wonderful and unique volcanic landscapes until you reach Hotel Ragabo 2000m above the sea. If you think that is wild, get ready because today you will also climb the volcano to reach an altitude of 2500 meters. Mt Etna is the highest volcano in all of Europe and consistently active. Here is a real adventure for all! Dinner and overnight at Hotel Ragabo.  Riding 20 miles/ 5 hours.
Day 8  After breakfast we transfer you to the airport in Catania  for your flight home.

   Subject to changes

March: On the coast the winter is truly over, with wild flowers starting in abundance, the days lengthening and the average temperatures making warm clothes decidedly uncomfortable. Inland the farmers start preparing the land, tending the vines and planting the grain.

April: The wild flowers begin to truly explode all over Sicily and on the coast swimmers start taking to the waters (though the water is still very fresh). The interior is now warming up fast and the array of colours is spectacular. It’s well worth making a trip just to experience the Easter processions, bringing together folklore and tradition in an incredibly mystic way.

May: The interior of Sicily is spectacular, with mountain slopes exploding in colour and the temperatures ideal for walking. The temperatures on the coast and in the islands will now be ideal. If you’re lucky, you might get to witness the “mattanza” or tuna harvest in the fishing towns all over the western part of the island.

June: The first smells of summer waft through the island and the strong colours on the coast and the lower plains succumb to the bleaching rays of the sun. This is probably the perfect time for walking in the higher mountains. The temperatures everywhere are generally agreeable, though the Sirocco wind can send them soaring for a few days. The sea is warm but the beaches are still deserted, except at weekends when the first Sicilians start to brave the waters. The fruit trees are laden with cherries, plums and the local speciality "gelsi".

July: The sea becomes the focus for most Sicilians (and visitors) and the major resorts testify to the glorious temperatures and sea conditions. Do not shy from the interior though, where the walking is wonderful and the upper slopes cool and still luxuriantly green. Peaches and water melon are in season.

August: The sometimes stifling heat of the cities and the general holiday feel pushes almost everyone to the coasts, which are almost invariably crowded. The beautiful areas of the interior (and a few “undiscovered” parts of the coast) are however relatively unfrequented. Towards the end of the month begins the spectacle of the salt harvest in the salt pans around Trapani and the grape harvest or “vendemmia” all over the islands. The fig trees are laden with their welcoming fruit.

September: The vendemmia continues in earnest and all hands move to the fields. The summer is often interrupted by coastal storms, which can be accompanied by high winds. Temperatures remain very comfortable everywhere, and the coast and islands retain that summer feeling, but without the crowds. The olive harvest is also well under way. Hazel nuts are plentiful and many small villages celebrate their arrival with traditional "feste".

October: The abandoned vines turn to reds and oranges giving the vast areas of vineyards a spectacular range of hues and making this one of the most beautiful periods for country walking. Seasonal rainfalls help develop an astonishing variety of mushrooms. The prickly pears are at their best.

November: Autumn is well and truly here, though the temperatures can stay in the high twenties during the day to produce a surprisingly balmy Sicilian “Indian summer”. This is generally the month with the highest rainfall, though the big storms that often sweep the Italian peninsula generally pass safely to the north of Sicily. The orange and mandarin season begins.

Accommodations along the way are in nice 3 star hotels and country inns. 
All meals are provided during the riding tour.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.