Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Catania
You'll fly into Catania and get settled at your hotel. After checking in and taking a bit of time to freshen up, head out on foot to a rustic restaurant within walking distance for your first meal together. It's a relaxed way to start, nothing too ambitious on arrival day.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Day 2
Mount Etna Cycling & Catania
This is a cycling day on Mount Etna's slopes, reaching about 1,900 meters elevation. You'll ride through volcanic landscapes and younger lava flows, then stop for a picnic in an old pine forest. After that, you're heading down to Catania's baroque city center and the UNESCO old town. Dinner comes later at an established restaurant in the old town. The cycling is roughly 28 km with about 2 hours of actual riding time.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic in old pine forest), Dinner
Included Activities
- Mount Etna cycling tour
- Hiking along younger craters at high altitude
- Picnic in old pine forest
- Catania city center tour including Piazza del Duomo and elephant fountain
- Visit Catania UNESCO World Heritage old town
Landmarks Mount Etna Piazza del Duomo Catania Old Town - Day 3
Alcantara Valley to Taormina
You'll cycle through Alcantara Nature Park along a green valley with lemon and olive groves. The route descends gently through remote villages toward the coast, covering roughly 33 km in about 2 hours of riding. Lunch happens in Naxos, then you'll take the cable car up to Taormina. Once there, walk through town and see the ancient Greek theater overlooking the sea with Mount Etna visible in the distance.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Alcantara Nature Park cycling tour
- Cable car to Taormina
- Taormina guided tour including ancient Greek theater
Landmarks Alcantara Nature Park Ancient Greek Theater of Taormina Mount Etna - Day 4
Pantalica Necropolis & Syracuse
A bus takes you into the Monti Iblei landscape for one of the longer cycling days. You'll ride through limestone terrain with broad views, roughly 24 km over 2.5 hours. Lunch is at a local restaurant in the area. After that comes a hike through the Pantalica necropolis, where there are more than 5,000 ancient burial caves. You'll spend about 2 hours walking through the deep gorge with the crystal-clear Anapo River visible below, and there's an option to swim. The bus brings you back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Typical local dishes at small restaurant), Dinner
Included Activities
- Monti Iblei limestone landscape cycling
- Pantalica necropolis tour with 2-hour hike through deep gorge
- Swimming in Anapo River
Landmarks Pantalica Necropolis Anapo River Monti Iblei - Day 5
Syracuse Ancient Heritage & Ciane Spring
Starting in Syracuse, you'll see the archaeological excavations first. Then you'll cycle to the Ciane spring outside the city, about 20 km of riding over 2 hours. The spring is peaceful and known for wild papyrus bushes and its role in ancient mythology. Lunch is on a country estate surrounded by orange plantations. Later, you'll return to Syracuse and walk through the old town, checking out the cathedral built directly on top of ancient Greek temple remains.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (On country estate surrounded by orange plantations)
Included Activities
- Syracuse archaeological excavations visit
- Ciane spring cycling tour
- Syracuse old town exploration including cathedral
Optional Activities
- Individual dinner at recommended restaurant in old town
Landmarks Syracuse Archaeological Sites Ciane Spring Syracuse Cathedral - Day 6
Baroque Highlights: Palazzolo Acreide to Noto
You'll start at Palazzolo Acreide, which overlooks remains of Greek civilization, then descend gently to Noto Antica. This town was destroyed in the 1693 earthquake and now sits abandoned. You'll have a picnic there amid cicada sounds while viewing the ruins. After that, the ride continues through hilly landscape to rebuilt Noto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and notable for its European Baroque architecture. You'll tour the baroque facades and grab espresso or gelato before heading back to Syracuse by bus for your final dinner at a traditional fish restaurant. This is the longest cycling day at roughly 41 km over 4 hours.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic), Dinner (Traditional fish restaurant in Syracuse old town)
Included Activities
- Palazzolo Acreide Greek ruins visit
- Noto Antica abandoned town exploration
- Noto baroque city tour
- Visit Noto UNESCO World Heritage Site
Landmarks Palazzolo Acreide Noto Antica Noto - Day 7
Return to Germany
You'll depart Sicily with memories from the week and head back to Germany.
- Meals
- Breakfast
