Sicily by Mountain Bike
An exciting guided mountain bike circuit from the sea and the hills of Messina to the peaks of Mount Etna!
*additional charge for electric MTB € 100.00
The price includes
Guide/Driver in tow
3 nights in B&B Messina
2 nights Mount Etna North Refuge
1 night Refuge Etna South
1 night Htl Catania ***
MTB rental
All transfers as per programme
Tft IN – out apt cta (1 rotation)
Picnics on days 5-6-7
Dinners on days 1/3/4/5/6
Top Etna excursion (Volcanological Guide +MTB )
Tourist taxes Messine, Catania, Etna Sud.
Assistance Mediterranea Trekking
Liability insurance
The price does not include
Airfare
Drinks
Meals that are not expressly indicated in ” the price includes ”
Entrances to museums or sites of cultural interest
Everything not indicated under ” the price includes “.
*Electric MTB supplement € 100,00
Day 1 - Catania Airport
Arrival at the airport and transfer to Messina, accommodation in a B&B
Located in the extreme northern tip of the island and the third largest city in Sicily by number of inhabitants, Messina offers many opportunities to marvel at its historical and scenic beauty. Depending on arrival time, possibility of visiting the city and its historic centre.
Dinner in a pizzeria
Day 2 - Messina - Excursion to Torre Faro
Today’s excursion is very easy and is mostly on asphalt in flat conditions.
Departure is from the north shore of Messina, on the seafront. We will continue along the coast until we reach the Capo Peloro Nature Reserve and the small seaside village of Torre Faro.
The symbol of this small village is ‘il Pilone’, a disused electricity pylon that has become a tourist attraction over time.
Arriving at the village, there will be the possibility of leaving the bicycles to enjoy a walk on the beach to reach the extreme tip of north-eastern Sicily, Capo Peloro.
Return to the city centre, free dinner and overnight stay.
Dislivello:
+20 / -20 mt
Km
25
Day 3 - Messina - Forti Umbertini
The excursion develops within the hilly district of the city of Messina, where both natural and historical beauties are to be found. The route uphill on a mostly paved road will allow us to discover ancient fortifications built at the end of the 19th century.
Return to the city, dinner in a restaurant and overnight stay
Dislivello
+ 600 / – 600 mt
Km
36.4
Day 4 - Messina - Dorsale dei Peloritani – Fiumedinisi – Etna
Transfer to the Dinnamare Sanctuary. From here, a route starts on an old, all dirt military road “La dorsale dei Peloritani”, a panoramic road that overlooks the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas. After about 20 km of high-altitude trail, we face a descent of about 800 metres in altitude to reach the charming village of Fiumedinisi. Transfer in the direction of the refuge on Etna’s northern slope. Dinner and overnight stay in the refuge.
Dislivello
+300 / - 800
Km
30
Day 5 - Linguaglossa – Vecchia Ferrovia – Alcantara – Giardini Naxos
Departure from the refuge on Mount Etna. From here the route continues downhill to Taormina, crossing an old disused railway line, skirting the Alcantara river, where it will be possible to stop and admire the “Gurne dell’Alcantara”. Picnic during the excursion.
Possibility of visiting the town of Taormina. Dinner and overnight stay in a refuge.
Dislivello
+ 200 / - 1400
Km
50
Day 6 - Pista Altomontana - Etna
From the refuge, we start the traverse of the altomontana track.
This is a very easy dirt track, at an average altitude of about 1700 metres above sea level, more than 35 km long, which traces almost a semicircle around Etna from the northern slope to the southwest.
Picnic during the hike.
Night at the refuge on Etna’s southern slope. Dinner and overnight stay.
Dislivello:
+ 800 / - 650
Km
35
Day 7 - Etna crateri sommitali
From the Refuge on e-bikes we will set off for the summit craters, an exciting ascent until we reach the authorised altitude of 2900 metres. Here we will leave the bikes to continue on foot guided by an expert volcanological guide until we reach the summit where we can finally admire the majesty of the craters.
Free dinner and night in a hotel in Catania
Tempo
7h
Dettaglio hike:
Dislivello
+/400 mt
Km
6
Dettaglio biking:
Km
16
Day 8 - Catania
Transfer to apt cta
Climate: high temperature in July and August (30° / 35° C), thunderstorms possible. Temperate or cold climate on Mount Etna
Accommodation: B&B, Rifugio (rooms for 2 to 4 people at the Chalet), Rifugio Htl.
Organisation: Guide
Group: min 3 max 7 pax
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