Day by Day program

Day 1 – Welcome to Sicily!

Arrive at Palermo’s Falcone-Borsellino Airport and transfer to your hotel in the city. For those arriving before 12:00 p.m., enjoy a guided tour of Palermo – winding streets, cathedrals, and markets. Dinner is on your own this evening.

Day 2 – Transfer to Scopello and Segesta with a bike ride to Trapani (27 miles/45 kilometers)

Begin the day with a shuttle ride to the charming fishing village of Scopello, enhanced by the beauty of the adjacent Zingaro Nature Reserve. You will also be shuttled to the ancient site of Segesta where you will enjoy a guided tour of the spectacular temple and amphitheater. You will be ready to bike a peaceful route from Segesta to the coastal town of Trapani, where we will stay for three nights. Dinner is together tonight.

Day 3 – Bike from Trapani to the lovely San Vito lo Capo (27 miles/45 kilometers)

Enjoy a bike ride north to the lovely San Vito lo Capo, a coast with Sicily’s most beautiful sandy beaches and secret coves welcoming you for a relaxing swim after your bike ride. There may be time to enjoy the delicious cake and gelato dessert known as “caldofreddo.” We will shuttle back to Trapani, relax and refresh, and enjoy another dinner together.

Day 4 – Cycle to the medieval town of Erice (33.6 miles/56 kilometers)

Bike ride to Erice for a visit of this beautiful medieval town known for its charming cobblestone streets and buildings. Spend some time in the shady garden overlooking the land and sea below. We will have a unique experience making our own Genovese cake at a local pastry shop…and yes, we will get to eat them! Bike back to Trapani where we will enjoy our last night in this town with a dinner together.

Day 5 – Boat ride to the island of Levanzo for a tour of the Caves of Genovese

Enjoy this special day with a relaxing boat ride to the quaint island of Levanzo, part of the Egadi Islands off the northwestern coast of Sicily. Our captain, a fisherman and resident of the small island, is an enjoyable man….one you will remember. We will enjoy a swim in the ocean and a picnic lunch. Once on land, we will explore the Caves of Genovese, prehistoric caves with engravings (dating back 11,000 – 12,000 years ago) and paintings (dating back 5,000-6,000 years ago). This is a unique experience that few know about or take the time to see; a day you will remember. Back to Trapani with dinner on your own.

Day 6 – Bike to Marsala with worthwhile side stops at the ancient salt marshes museum and the Island of Mozia ( 27.6 miles/46 kilometers)

Today we will bike along the coast to the quaint town of Marsala, our “home” for three nights. Along the way, we will take a break from our bikes and take a worthwhile excursion to the tiny Island of Mozia where we will see the amazing marble statue, The Boy of Mozia, a remarkable piece of art from 5th Century BC. The adjoining museum is a true treasure chest with relics from the many colonies that inhabited this island. Once back on the shore of Sicily, we will enjoy the salt mines and the wonderful “salt” museum, which explains the traditional mining method still done by hand, and wind, today. Tonight, our first night in Marsala with dinner on your own.

Day 7 – Bike to Mazara del Vallo with a visit of the town and The Dancing Satyr (25 miles/40.25 kilometers)

Pedal along the green fields and through olive groves of this lovely region. We will find a beautiful beach setting for a picnic lunch before going on to lovely little town of Mazara del Vallo. Here we will enjoy a guided tour that will also lead us to the museum of The Dancing Satyr, an enchanting bronze statue pulled from the sea in the 1990’s – the sculpture and the story of its discovery are amazing. Back to Marsala by van or bike. Our last night in Marsala. We will enjoy a farewell dinner together.as you make your way to Mazara del Vallo. Enjoy this lovely little town on a guided tour that will also lead you to the museum of The Dancing Satyr, an enchanting bronze statue pulled from the sea in the 1990’s – the sculpture and the story of its discovery are amazing. Back to Marsala by van or bike. Our last night in Marsala. We will enjoy a farewell dinner together.

Day 8 – Departure Day

After breakfast, departure and end of our services. Ciao!

Actual tour itinerary may vary slightly due to unforeseen circumstances.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

Travel notes

Airport: for this trip you can use both of the airports in west Sicily to land and to leave the island:
Palermo and Trapani Birgi

Books

• Divorce, italian style 1961, film director: Pietro Germi. This movie It won the Academy Award for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay.
• Anni difficili 1948, film director Luigi Zampa, from the novel of Vitaliano Brancati, “II vecchio con gli stivali”
• Gente di rispetto 1975, film director Luigi Zampa, from the homonymous novel of Giuseppe Fava
• Kaos 1984, Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, from several novels of Luigi Pirandello
• The star maker or best known as L’Uomo delle stelle 1995, Giuseppe Tornatore

Group tour price

• 4-5 people € 1990 per person
• 6-7 people € 1840 per person
• 8+ people € 1690 per person

Pricing philosophy

Additional options and fees

• Road bike rental €175.00
• Single occupancy for hotels € 240.00

Services included in the tour:

• 8 day tour
• 7 nights lodging in three comfortable hotels
• 7 breakfasts
• Picnic lunches on Days 5, 6 and 7
• 4 dinners
• Cooking the Genovese cake in Erice
• Hydrofoil tickets on Day 5
• Fisherman boat excursion on Day 5 with lunch included
• Sail boat excursions on Day 6 with lunch included
• Hybrid bike rental
• Transfer from Palermo airport to hotel
• Guided walking tour of Palermo
• Transfer from Palermo to Scopello and Segesta
• Admission and guided walking tour of Segesta
• Transfer from San Vito lo Capo to Trapani
• Transfer between Trapani hotel and port
• Boat ride and admission of Mozia
• Admission to salt mine museum
• Guided walking tour of Mazara del Vallo and admission to The Dancing Satyr museum
• Detailed road book and maps
• One English speaking tour leader
• Van support throughout tour

Not included

• Flights and public transportation
• Travel insurance
• Admission fees not mentioned above
• Personal expenses such as drinks, phone calls, etc.
• Gratuity of Tour Leader(s)

Self-guided option

This tour is not available as a self-guided option.

Tour code

SB

Day 1 – Welcome to Naples, Italy!

Arrive on your own in Naples. Enjoy a guided tour of this fascinating city in the afternoon (3:00 p.m.).

Day 2 – Hike Mt. Vesuvius, visit to Herculaneum and private shuttle to Maratea

Today, before we leave Naples, we’ll enjoy a gentle hike of Mount Vesuvius volcano with our volcanologist to guide you. Onto the archaeological site of Herculaneum for a guided tour of this city devastated by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. This day will offer a glimpse into the culture 1,000 years ago. A unique opportunity.

We will coordinate your transport to Maratea, where we will begin the biking portion of the tour.

Day 3 – Biking to Palinuro (33.12 miles/55.2 kilometers)

A mostly gentle ride, with some climbs along the coast at first and then later inland. Our bike route will take you to Palinuro. This first section of the ride will give you a beautiful view of the Gulf of Policastro. Then we cycle inland, around the eastern part of Mount Bulgheria, an impressive block of limestone. We’ll pass a number of charming villages and will have time to enjoy an Italian coffee or cappuccino. Then we’ll reach the entrance of the Mingardo Canyon, dominated by the abandoned village of San Severino. Soon after we’ll ride downhill to Palinuro, nestled in a dramatic and beautiful seaside setting.

Day 4 – Boat excursion and bike ride to the farm (19.95 miles/33.25 kilometers)

This day starts with a boat excursion to enjoy some of the grottoes and perhaps… a swim.

After the boat trip you will bike to Pisciotta and Ascea.

Some stretches include a climb that will take you in land. Here we will be stay in a comfortable agriturismo inn with an olive field (olive oil and wine are produced here).

Day 5 – Two options: Bike loop rides of Cilento National Park or the Campania countryside – (12.69 miles/21.25 kilometers for the short loop or 49.08 miles/81.8 kilometers for the long loop)

Today you have a choice of a bike loops.

The longer one will allow you to enjoy some little towns inside of the Cilento National Park. Along the loop you’ll bike along one of the finest coasts of Italy with alternating views of the charming seaside and medieval villages. We’ll have some superb views overlooking both the southern coast, towards Palinuro, as well as the Gulf of Salerno and the Amalfi Coast. As we get to Acciaroli, we can stop for a coffee in this little sea village where Earnest Hemingway spent so much time.

The shorter bike loop will take you along a quiet secondary road close to the farm. You’ll pass through some small villages and will enjoy large views of the valleys. This is the perfect choice if you want to ride a bit and enjoy some time at the farm too.

Day 6 – Bike the ‘heart of the Cilento’ and visit ancient Paestum (43.25 miles/72.1 kilometers)

The bike ride today will take us to Paestum. We’ll begin with a climb and will pass through small villages such as Moio della Civitella, Stio, Magliano, Monteforte Cilento. The route then continues, without much climbing, through the heart of the Cilento National Park, with beautiful mountainous scenery and thick forests. Along the way we’ll have some opportunities to stop for a rest and discovery. Then the route continues along the west side of an impressive mountain chain. The next section of cycling becomes easy, almost all downhill, taking us easily to the fertile plain of Paestum.

Day 7 – Tour Paestum and the Amalfi Coast (optional 5.4 miles/9 kilometers)

We will begin the day with a guided visit to the archeological sites of Paestum. We will take a break from biking and transfer by van along the Amalfi Coast to Praiano where the next hotel is located. Along the way we will stop for lunch in Salerno, gateway to the Amalfi Coast. After lunch enjoy a tour of the Amalfi Coast by boat. If you would like to bike from Amalfi to the hotel, you may – it is approximately 5.4 miles or 9 kilometers.

Day 8: Cycling Amalfi Coast and Punta Campanella (31.7 miles/52.85 kilometers)

Today we’ll have the opportunity to enjoy the dramatic ‘Strada Amalfitana’, along the Amalfi Coast. A short ride will take us to Positano, the most scenic of the villages on the coast. After Positano the coast becomes wilder and more rugged, some stretches we will climb and then take a break. We will continue onto Colli di San Pietro, a ridge that separates the Amalfi Coast from the rest of the Sorrentine Peninsula. Our loop will continue to Sorrento and towards the very end of the peninsula: Punta Campanella. Lunch will be enjoyed in Sorrento, a popular tourist area. On the way back to our hotel we’ll enjoy the sunset along the Amalfi Coast — a wonderful experience!

This is definitely one of the nicest bike rides in the world and certainly the best way to end a terrific Siciclando Bike Tour of the Amalfi Coast and Cilento National Park in Italy!

Day 9 – Departure Day

End of our services after breakfast. Ciao!

Actual tour itinerary may vary slightly due to unforeseen circumstances.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

Level of difficulty: MODERATE

This group trip is suitable for regular bikers who are in good general physical condition. All rides are easy to moderate. For this trip we require a cycling experience. The climb to Mt.Vesuvius, at the beginning of the trip, is about 200 m uphill on a steep path. The rides have some stretches in climb that need a good experience in managing the gears and a reasonable capacity to ride on climb.The trip anyway includes several enjoyable bike rides on downhill and includes the service of the van support, which allows you to avoid the most difficult climbs. Our guide will be there when you need, and will be happy to support you.

Airflight

The reference airport for the tour is NAPLES.
Naples has an international airport which has flights arriving from throughout Italy. There are a number of low cost airlines flying into Naples including EasyJet, Air One, Air Berlin, Air Italy. Here the links of the airport website where you can get the airlines company internet address most convenient for you: NAPOLI.

Suggested Readings and Famous Writers:

• George Norman Douglas, Siren Land
• Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Italian Journey
• Henry James, Italian Hours

What to taste:

Don’t miss the “limoncello” in the Amalfi Coast. This is an easy and inexpensive to produce requiring only sugar, water, lemon zest, alcohol, and time to mature.

Movies:

A Good Woman film directed by Mike Barker. The screenplay by Howard Himelstein is based on the 1892 play Lady Windermere’s Fan by Oscar Wilde. It is the third screen version of the work, following a 1925 Ernst Lubitsch silent film and Otto Preminger’s 1949 adaptation entitled The Fan.

It Started in Naples, film directed by Melville Shavelson and produced by Jack Rose from a screenplay by Suso Cecchi d’Amico based on the story by Michael Pertwee and Jack Davies. The film stars Clark Gable, Sophia Loren, Vittorio De Sica and an Italian cast.

Peperoni ripieni e pesci in faccia, film directed by Lina Wertmüller. The film stars F. Murray Abraham, Sophia Loren.

The Talented Mr. Ripley, film directed by Anthony Minghella. It is an adaptation of the 1955 novel by Patricia Highsmith, which was also filmed in 1960 as Plein Soleil. The Talented Mr. Ripley starred Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett.

Ciao, Professore! (original title Io speriamo che me la cavo, or “Me, Let’s Hope I Make It”), film directed by Lina Wertmuller. Comedy film about an elementary-school teacher from northern Italy who is sent by mistake to an impoverished town in the Naples region of southern Italy, where he must deal with vast cultural differences and teach chronically truant children who only respect violence and power.

Group tour price

• 4-5 people € 1990 per person
• 6-7 people € 1865 per person
• 8+ people € 1680 per person

Pricing philosophy

Additional options and fees

• Private room – € 230 (not available for self-guided trips)
• Hybrid Bike rental – € 100 (€ 18 each additional day), which includes 1 bike pannier per bike, helmets and a cycle computer.
• Road Bike rental – € 175 (€ 27 each additional day), which includes 1 bike pannier per bike, helmets and a cycle computer.

Services Included

• 1 English-speaking trip leader
• 8 nights in double rooms: 4 nights in 4 star hotel; 1 night in 3 star hotel; 3 nights in 4 star agriturismo inn
• 8 breakfasts
• 5 dinners
• Boat trip on day 4
• Guides for Naples on day 1, Vesuvius and Herculaneum on day 2, and Paestum on day 4
• Admission to Mt. Vesuvius and Herculaneum
• Baggage transportation between hotels
• Detailed route information and maps
• Van support

Services Not included

• Admission to museums and archaeological sites (unless specified above)
• Tickets for trains or any public transportation
• Wine or beverages
• Airfare
• Transfers to the starting point or from the finishing point unless specified; we can assist you in planning and arranging for any necessary shuttles
• Transport of bike case (for guests who bring their own bike)
• Personal expenses (laundry, personal supplies, phone calls, etc.)
• Gratuity

Self-guided option

This tour is not available as a self-guided option.

Tour code

AB

Day 1 – Welcome to Sicily!

Arrival at Palermo Airport with a private transfer to an “agriturismo” very special: it’s located in one of the several ancient quarries the Greeks used for their temples. A place out of the time! A faboulus dinner with a very rich local food is included tonight.

Day 2 – Bike loop to Selinunte (14 miles/40 km)

Bike loop to Selinunte, the ancient Greek settlement with stunning temples. It is one of the most important archaeological sites in southern of Italy. A longer option is available for the day. Sty overnight in the same hotel with dinner included tonight.

Day 3 – Selinunte/Contessa Entellina (33 miles/55 km)

Bike ride to the bio-farm where you will stay the night. Pass through the villages of Giuliana and Santa Maria del Bosco. The Castle of Giuliana, near Palermo, overlooks the Sosio volcanic valley. It is not far to the monastery of Santa Maria del Bosco.

You’ll spend the night in the country near Contessa Entellina and the archaeological site of Entella. Overnight in the farm with dinner included.

Day 4 – Cooking class or loop to Corleone (35 miles/60km)

Relax at the country house learning to prepare a delicious Sicilian meal or enjoy an optional ride to Corleone, the famous town of the Corleone “family!” Overnight at the farm with dinner included.

Day 5 – Departure Day

End of tour with a transfer to Palermo Airport. Ciao!

Actual tour itinerary may vary slightly due to unforeseen circumstances.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

Coming soon.

Travel notes

The reference airport for this tour is Palermo, served by both Italian and international airlines.

Books

• Salvatore Quasimodo, poet and writer: Ed è subito sera, Giorno dopo giorno, Dare e avere. Modica
• Gesualdo Bufalino, novelist Diceria dell’untore (the plague sower), Le menzogne della notte (Night’s lies). Comiso
• Jacopo da Lentini (sec XIII), poet. Lentini
• Vitaliano Brancati, novelist: Don Giovanni in Sicilia, Il Bell’Antonio, Paolo il caldo. Pachino

Movies

• Divorce, italian style 1961, film director: Pietro Germi. This movie It won the Academy Award for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay.
• Anni difficili 1948, film director Luigi Zampa, from the novel of Vitaliano Brancati, “II vecchio con gli stivali”
• Gente di rispetto 1975, film director Luigi Zampa, from the homonymous novel of Giuseppe Fava
• Kaos 1984, Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, from several novels of Luigi Pirandello
• The star maker or best known as L’Uomo delle stelle 1995, Giuseppe Tornatore

Self-guided tour price

€ 635  – currency converter

Additional options and fees

• Single traveler surcharge – € 110
• Private room – € 70

Included

• Transfer from Palermo Airport to hotel and back again
• Four nights, based on double occupancy
• Four breakfasts and three dinners
• Bike rental – which includes one bike pannier per bike, helmets and a cycle computer.
• One cooking class at the 3 star bio-country house
• Detailed route information and maps

Not included

• Admission to museums and archaeological sites
• Tickets for trains or any public transportation
• Wine or beverages
• Airfare
• Transfers to the starting point or from the finishing point unless specified; we can assist you in planning and arranging for any necessary shuttles
• Transport of bike case (for guests who bring their own bike)
• Personal expenses (laundry, personal supplies, phone calls, etc.)
• Gratuity

Tour code

BICO

Day 1 – Welcome to Sicily!

Arrival at Trapani Birgi Airport with a transfer by public transportation (public bus or taxi) to Trapani and from Trapani to Erice (by taxi, public bus or cable way). Arrangements can also be made for private transfer. Overnight in Erice at a 3-star hotel. Dinner is on your own.

Erice is located on the top of a hill that towers above Trapani. The town has a very

pleasant medieval atmosphere. In ancient times it was an important religious center for the Elymians, a population that lived in western Sicily before Greek colonization. Here they built a temple to the goddess of fertility where the Phoenicians worshiped Astarte, the Greeks Aphrodite and the Romans Venus. Erice was contended by the Syracusans and the Carthaginians until the Roman conquest in 244 BC. During the Arabian invasion it was called Gebel Hamed (Mount of Hamed). In the Twelfth Century it again gained some of the lost importance and then followed the political fate of the Island.

Day 2 – Bike loop ride to San Vito Lo Capo (42 miles/70 km)

Bike a moderate loop to San Vito Lo Capo, spend time at the protected Egadi Islands of Favignana or Levanzo or enjoy a Sicilian cooking class at the hotel. The cooking class option begins in the morning as the guests go to the market with the cook to buy what is in season. There is an additional charge for the cooking class. Overnight in the same hotel.

Day 3 – Erice/Marsala (36 miles/60 km)

Enjoy an almost flat bike ride to Marsala. The route begins with a panoramic descent from Erice and follows an interior route to me Marsala Salt Mining Reserve where you will discover the process of salt cultivation. You will then take an excursion to the island of Mozia with an archeological site of a considerable ancient civilization. The nearby museum shows some of the finds from the site which have a distinctive Egyptian influence. Other items are more Hellinic in detail.

Continue biking to Marsala where you will visit a winery. Enjoy a taste or two. Overnight in Marsala at a 3-star hotel. Dinner is on your own.

The origin of Marsala, the most populated town in the province of Trapani, dates back to 397 BC when the Greeks of Siracusa defeated Mozia. The Phoenicians, inhabitants of Mozia, found shelter in this level coastal district. They founded a city called Lilibeo with a strategic role in the area of the Mediterranean Sea. In fact, it became a joining point for the exchange of goods between East and West.

Day 4 – Rest day in Marsala or optional ride to Mothia – (15 miles/20km.)

Rest day with a wine tasting at one of the largest and most famous wine producers of Sicily or a short bike ride to Mothia. Overnight in the same hotel with dinner on your own.

Day 5 – Departure Day

End of tour and departure. Ciao!

Actual tour itinerary may vary slightly due to unforeseen circumstances.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

Coming soon.

Level of difficulty: Easy

This is an easy tour because the ride from Erice to Marsala is mostly downhill and you can really ride enjoing the view and taking a break along the way or get the hotel in Marsala and its swimming pool where speding the afternoon.

Highlights include Erice, a medieval town so suggestive! A wonderful downhill to Marsala, a spectacular ride through the salt mines of Trapani, the Marsala dessert wine, bike, food, wine… only 3 days! Do you want more?

Travel notes

The reference airport for this tour is Trapani.

Books

• Salvatore Quasimodo, poet and writer: Ed è subito sera, Giorno dopo giorno, Dare e avere. Modica
• Gesualdo Bufalino, novelist Diceria dell’untore (the plague sower), Le menzogne della notte (Night’s lies). Comiso
• Jacopo da Lentini (sec XIII), poet. Lentini
• Vitaliano Brancati, novelist: Don Giovanni in Sicilia, Il Bell’Antonio, Paolo il caldo. Pachino

Movies

• Divorce, italian style 1961, film director: Pietro Germi. This movie It won the Academy Award for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay.
• Anni difficili 1948, film director Luigi Zampa, from the novel of Vitaliano Brancati, “II vecchio con gli stivali”
• Gente di rispetto 1975, film director Luigi Zampa, from the homonymous novel of Giuseppe Fava
• Kaos 1984, Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, from several novels of Luigi Pirandello
• The star maker or best known as L’Uomo delle stelle 1995, Giuseppe Tornatore

Self-guided tour price

€ 635  -  currency converter

Additional options and fees

• High season surcharge – € 150 (effective July 1– August 31)
• Single traveller surcharge – € 159
• Private room – € 99

Included

• Transfer from Trapani Airport to hotel and back again
• Four nights in three-star hotels, based on double occupancy
• Four breakfasts and two dinners
• Bike rental – which includes one bike pannier per bike, helmets and a cycle computer.
• Detailed route information and maps

Not included

• Admission to museums and archaeological sites
• Tickets for trains or any public transportation
• Wine or beverages
• Airfare
• Transfers to the starting point or from the finishing point unless specified; we can assist you in planning and arranging for any necessary shuttles
• Transport of bike case (for guests who bring their own bike)
• Personal expenses (laundry, personal supplies, phone calls, etc.)
• Gratuity

Day 1 – Welcome to Sicily!

Arrival at Palermo Airport with private transfer to the Hotel Spa located close to Santa Margherita Belice. The small town of Donnafugata is described by Tomasi di Lampedusa in the novel The Leopard. Overnight stay: in Hotel & Spa close to Montevago. Dinner is on your own.

Day 2 – Loop ride to Selinunte (24 miles/40 km)

Enjoy a gentle bike loop to the ancient Greek site of Selinunte. This is one of the most important archaeological sites in southern Italy. Overnight in the same hotel with dinner included.

Day 3 – Rest day or bike ride and Departure (31 miles/50 km)

Relax at the spa or enjoy a bike loop of about 31 miles/50 kms. Lunch included before we end the tour. Private transfer to the Palermo Airport. Departure flights should be scheduled no earlier than late afternoon. Ciao!

Actual tour itinerary may vary slightly due to unforeseen circumstances.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

Coming soon.

Level of difficulty: Easy

This is an easy tour because of the length of the section. Since the hotel is also a spa, you can decide to ride just one day and take a very relaxing time at the thermal pool. You can get also a massage (optional) or any other services from the beauty center of your hotel.

In our opinion, this tour gives the possibility to enjoy the “Sicilian time”, biking slowly, looking a wonderful view, enjoing a massage or drinking the excellent sicilian wine. It’s a perfect way to come out from the stress of the everyday life and to feel deeply the magic atmosphere of ancient sicily.

Travel notes

The reference airport for this tour is Palermo, served by both Italian and international airlines.

Books

• Salvatore Quasimodo, poet and writer: Ed è subito sera, Giorno dopo giorno, Dare e avere. Modica
• Gesualdo Bufalino, novelist Diceria dell’untore (the plague sower), Le menzogne della notte (Night’s lies). Comiso
• Jacopo da Lentini (sec XIII), poet. Lentini
• Vitaliano Brancati, novelist: Don Giovanni in Sicilia, Il Bell’Antonio, Paolo il caldo. Pachino

Movies

• Divorce, italian style 1961, film director: Pietro Germi. This movie It won the Academy Award for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay.
• Anni difficili 1948, film director Luigi Zampa, from the novel of Vitaliano Brancati, “II vecchio con gli stivali”
• Gente di rispetto 1975, film director Luigi Zampa, from the homonymous novel of Giuseppe Fava
• Kaos 1984, Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, from several novels of Luigi Pirandello
• The star maker or best known as L’Uomo delle stelle 1995, Giuseppe Tornatore

Self-guided tour price

€ 439 – currency converter

Additional options and fees

• High season surcharge – € 60 (effective July 1– August 31)
• Private room – € 45,00
• Single traveller – € 65,00

Included

• Transfer from Palermo Airport to hotel and back again
• Two nights in three-star hotels, based on double occupancy
• Three breakfasts and two dinners
• Bike rental – which includes one bike pannier per bike, helmets and a cycle computer.
• Detailed route information and maps

Not included

• Admission to museums and archaeological sites
• Tickets for trains or any public transportation
• Wine or beverages
• Airfare
• Transfers to the starting point or from the finishing point unless specified; we can assist you in planning and arranging for any necessary shuttles
• Transport of bike case (for guests who bring their own bike)
• Personal expenses (laundry, personal supplies, phone calls, etc.)
• Gratuity

Day 1 – Welcome to Sicily!

Arrival at Trapani Birgi Airport with a private transfer included. Overnight in Erice, at a 3 star hotel. Dinner is on your own.

Day 2 – Erice to Marsala (36 miles/60 km)

You’ll pedal totally relaxed along flat roads in the open country. Enjoy the panoramic descent from Erice and follow the route to the Marsala Salt Mining Reserve and view the adjacent wind mills. Consider a side trip to Mozia, a small serene island. Arrive in Marsala for the night.

Day 3 – Rest day in Marsala and Departure

Rest day in Marsala. Discover this lovely town and enjoy a wine tasting at one of the largest and most famous wine producers of Sicily. The tour ends today with a transfer to Trapani Airport. Ciao!

Actual tour itinerary may vary slightly due to unforeseen circumstances.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

Coming soon.

Level of difficulty: Easy

This is an easy tour because the ride from Erice to Marsala is mostly downhill and you can really ride enjoing the view and taking a break along the way or get the hotel in Marsala and its swimming pool where speding the afternoon.

Highlights include Erice, a medieval town so suggestive! A wonderful downhill to Marsala, a spectacular ride through the salt mines of Trapani, the Marsala dessert wine, bike, food, wine… only 3 days! Do you want more?

Travel notes

The reference airport for this tour is Trapani.

Books

• Salvatore Quasimodo, poet and writer: Ed è subito sera, Giorno dopo giorno, Dare e avere. Modica
• Gesualdo Bufalino, novelist Diceria dell’untore (the plague sower), Le menzogne della notte (Night’s lies). Comiso
• Jacopo da Lentini (sec XIII), poet. Lentini
• Vitaliano Brancati, novelist: Don Giovanni in Sicilia, Il Bell’Antonio, Paolo il caldo. Pachino

Movies

• Divorce, italian style 1961, film director: Pietro Germi. This movie It won the Academy Award for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay.
• Anni difficili 1948, film director Luigi Zampa, from the novel of Vitaliano Brancati, “II vecchio con gli stivali”
• Gente di rispetto 1975, film director Luigi Zampa, from the homonymous novel of Giuseppe Fava
• Kaos 1984, Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, from several novels of Luigi Pirandello
• The star maker or best known as L’Uomo delle stelle 1995, Giuseppe Tornatore

Self-guided tour price

€ 439 – currency converter

• High season surcharge – € 60 (effective July 1– August 31)
• Private room – € 40 (€ 65 in case of a person traveling alone)

Included

• Transfer from Trapani Airport to hotel and back again
• Two nights in three-star hotels, based on double occupancy
• Three breakfasts and one dinner
• Bike rental – which includes one bike pannier per bike, helmets and a cycle computer.
• Detailed route information and maps
• Van support

Not included

• Admission to museums and archaeological sites
• Tickets for trains or any public transportation
• Wine or beverages
• Airfare
• Transfers to the starting point or from the finishing point unless specified; we can assist you in planning and arranging for any necessary shuttles
• Transport of bike case (for guests who bring their own bike)
• Personal expenses (laundry, personal supplies, phone calls, etc.)
• Gratuity

Tour code

BSE1

Day 1 – Welcome to Tuscany! – Poggibonsi

You will arrive on your own in Poggibonsi. You will be met by our representative who will drive you to your villa in Staggia near Castellina in Chianti.

Day 2 – Colle Vald’Elsa to San Gimignano (21 miles/35 km)

Departing from Villa Lecchi, first you will encounter the fortified town of Monteriggioni with its distinctive round shape dominating the surrounding plain. On to Colle Val d’ Elsa and its glass blowing artisans, some of which you can visit. Today’s route will also take us to San Gimignano with its beautiful towers. You will want to spend some time here to explore the city and perhaps some of the village shops before starting back to Villa Lecchi.

Day 3 – Castellina in Chianti to Siena (31 miles/52 km)

Enjoy beautiful biking through winding Chianti roads among luscious landscapes with vineyards and superb wineries. Our day will end in Siena where you may enjoy a gelato (ice cream) at one of the most famous squares in Italy, the Piazza del Campo. Overnight in Siena.

Day 4 – Siena to Buonconvento (19 miles/32 km)

As you bike today you will notice lush vineyards give way to the linear cypress-crested hills of the “Crete.” Murlo is a charming little village on your way to the farm where you will spend the night. In summer months you may enjoy a refreshing dip in the swimming pool. There are also relaxing massages and a sauna available for your enjoyment.

Day 5 – Buonconvento to Montalcino (27 miles/46 km)

We start towards Buonconvento, then head for the Monte Oliveto Monastery, an imposing brick building that overlooks a rugged landscape of dry ravines. A soft downhill will take you to the start of a fairly long uphill to reach Montalcino. You will spend the night in a nice hotel in Montalcino, the home land of Brunello wines.

Day 6 – Sant’Antimo abbey loop ride (20 miles/34 km)

Enjoy this fortified town from which you will enjoy stunning views from all directions. The descending trail road will lead you to the beautiful and peaceful church of Sant’Antimo Abbey where you may be able to listen to Gregorian chants. A lovely end to a peaceful day.

Day 7 – Montalcino to Pienza and Montepulciano (27 miles/45 km)

A very full day beginning with Bagno Vignoni and its thermal pool in the center of town. On to Pienza, the renaissance jewel redesigned by the pope Pio the II to become a “liveable” town. It is also an agricultural center well known for pecorino cheese and truffle production. A dirt road will take you to Montichiello, a nice little village immersed in the “Crete.” Here you can stop for a nice lunch or a cappuccino before continuing to Montepulciano known for its “Nobile” wine.

Day 8 – Departure Day

End of our services after breakfast. Ciao!

Actual tour itinerary may vary slightly due to unforeseen circumstances.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

Level of difficulty: Moderate

There is no easy way to tour Tuscany. It is a hilly country so with all the ups and downs, the altitude gap at the end of the day is never small. However we tried hard to keep it as smoth as possibile. The toughest day is the third, from Siena to Buonconvento and the longest is the fifth if you have road bikes and have to stay on asphalt roads.

Travel Notes

The reference airports for the tour are Perugia, Pisa, or Rome.

You can also find information about travel by train.

Books

• Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayers

Movies

• Il Paziente inglese
• Ballo da sola

Group tour price

• 4-5 people € 1590 per person
• 6-7 people € 1455 per person
• 8+ people € 1280 per person

Pricing philosophy

Additional options

• Private room – € 260
• Hybrid Bike rental – € 100 (€ 18 each additional day), which includes 1 bike pannier per bike, helmets and a cycle computer.
• Road Bike rental – € 175 (€ 27 each additional day), which includes 1 bike pannier per bike, helmets and a cycle computer.
• Cooking class – € 80 per person
• GPS – € 35 Garmin E-Trex Venture HC

Included

• One English-speaking trip leader
• Seven nights in three-star hotels, all rooms with en suite bathroom
• Seven breakfasts and three dinners
• Baggage transportation between hotels
• Detailed route information and maps
• Van support

Not included

• Admission to museums and archaeological sites
• Tickets for trains or any public transportation
• Wine or beverages
• Airfare
• Transfers to the starting point or from the finishing point unless specified; we can assist you in planning and arranging for any necessary shuttles
• Transport of bike case (for guests who bring their own bike)
• Personal expenses (laundry, personal supplies, phone calls, etc.)
• Gratuity

Self-guided option

This tour is also available as a self-guided option at a cost of € 1.130 per person. This option includes:

• Seven nights in three-star hotels, all rooms with en suite bathroom
• Seven breakfasts and two dinners
• Welcome meeting (tour explanation)
• Baggage transportation from between hotels
• Detailed route information and maps
• Telephone assistance

Tour code

TU