Cycling in Sicily

Ride through the UNESCO Val di Noto and Montalbano's filming locations

Sicily is not only the biggest island in the Mediterranean but also one of the most fascinating. Its incredibly diverse heritage of civilizations including the Phoenecians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans and Spanish have all left their mark. On this exciting cycling tour we explore the south-eastern part of the island, pedalling through the Baroque gems of Ragusa, Modica, Noto, as well as other locations that provided the setting for the well known and long running television series Inspector Montalbano, before ending in Syracuse, the ancient Greek capital. Along the route we enjoy landscapes of farmlands, deep gorges and dramatic coastal scenery. No trip to Sicily is complete without sampling some of the finest regional delights considered amongst the best examples of Italian cuisine.

Responsible Travel

Tourism can be a real help to local communities, providing income, positive cultural exchanges and a financial incentive to protect their natural environment. Ours is a 'total approach' to responsible tourism, covering everything from the way we plan and operate our trips to the practices of Exodus as a company. 

As much as possible, we try to use accommodations that are family run or at least employs local staff and uses local produce. This ensures that our visit has a positive effect on employment levels and economy in the region. Cuisine is a huge part of Sicilian culture and so we include several stops to locally owned businesses to introduce traditionally crafted produce and customary specialties. Clients can taste the famous chocolate with chilli in the Modica region and the delicious almond granita with brioche in Noto.

As a cycling trip, it allows easier access to the local communities, and hence facilitates interaction with locals, including visits to local cafés and restaurants as well as markets to purchase traditional gifts and crafts, and get a real impression of the country. Water is especially important, and whilst we must stay hydrated, it is also vital to not cause too much waste from single use plastic bottles. Hence, we provide large water containers so that clients can refill their reusable water bottles.

In March 2019, Exodus Travels launched the Exodus Travels Foundation where we support initiatives all around the world. But it cannot exist without travellers who care. Get involved or learn more about what Responsible Travel means to Exodus here…

Visa

Italy

No visa required for British passport holders. Please note in Italy it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times.

For further Brexit travel advice please visit https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/brexit-advice-for-travellers

Vaccination

Italy

There are no specific health risks.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts and 1 dinner is included.

Sicilian cuisine is a melting pot of all the different cultures that have occupied the island, from the Arabs to the Normans. The island itself is incredibly fertile, enjoying a perfect climate which is ideal for the cultivation of fresh produce such as olives, oranges, lemons, eggplants, tomatoes, pistachios, almonds, grapes, and more—not to mention all of the seafood, tuna and swordfish fished right off the coast. The result is a cuisine that’s fresh, varied, and absolutely delicious. Sicilian wines are also superb and known to be strong and syrupy, like Marsala and Moscato. On this trip there is the chance to sample some unique Sicilian products. Lunches normally consist of delicious pic-nics, freshly prepared by your assistant leader each day. Dinners will be taken at the hotels or local restaurants recommended by your guide.

Weather

Sicily has a good all year round climate, with plenty of sunshine and warm/hot temperatures. The summer departures ought to have daily hot sunshine and temperatures can reach 30 to 35°C . The earlier and later departures will be cooler with a slightly higher chance of rain - please make sure you pack some warm clothing if you travel in low season. In late summer there is the possibility of heavy thunderstorms, but these are usually short-lived.

Weather Charts

Is this trip for you?

This trip is classified Road. 6 days cycling with partial vehicle support (due to limited seats) and a cycling guide; 90% tarmac and some easy sections of gravel.

There are no transfers to or from hotels on this trip: all the rides are designed to be door-to-door. Most of the cycling is along flat to hilly tarmac roads (mainly traffic-free), with a couple of days (Day 2 and 6) of more demanding ascents and undulating routes, so a reasonable level of fitness is required. As we approach the main towns and cities such as Syracuse there are busier sections with traffic at peak hours. A support vehicle (with limited seats) is available throughout the trip. It will not be able to follow the group at all times but it will meet you at the end of cycle paths and at junctions to give route directions and allow access to any items you don’t wish to carry on the bike. E-bikes are available on request for a fee payable prior depature. 

If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to call us.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.