Day 1: Cefalù
PALERMO / CEFALU’ (-/-/D)
We propose a fascinating horseback trekking adventure in Sicily, through its wildest and most remote parts, with six days in the saddle starting from the Madonie Regional Park and reaching the spectacular Mount Etna volcano.
The Madonie area offers incredibly diverse landscapes, flora, and fauna, stretching from the Sicilian hinterland to the sea: plateaus and valleys are at times interrupted by sudden cliffs, while the scenery reveals its vibrant diversity with oaks, birches, holm oaks, and beeches shading various portions of the territory.
Reaching our final destination will be thrilling... Etna, also called Mongibello, is the highest and most active volcano of the so-called Eurasian plate. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2013, it is a magical, legendary place, shaped over time by its fire and lava, continuously transforming its landscape. Its fame is tied to ancient gods from classical mythology: the highest active volcano in Europe has been the stage of countless legends and historical references. According to Aeschylus, the giant Typhon was imprisoned under Etna, and this exile caused many of the eruptions. Etna dominates the valley and the Gulf of Catania, visible even from Reggio Calabria and the Madonie mountains in northern Sicily, and was said to be the unwilling home of Aeolus, god of the winds, trapped beneath its caves.
Pick-up from Palermo airport and transfer.
Arrival at Casa "Il Bosco", a charming 19th-century noble house, beautifully restored and immersed in the wild nature of the Madonie Park, with breathtaking views of the island's north coast and the Aeolian Islands. Dinner with local products and overnight stay.
Day 2:
CEFALU’ / SAN MAURO CASTELVERDE (B/L/D)
Breakfast and departure around 8:30 AM.
We begin the day crossing a lush Mediterranean vegetation area with beautiful views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Passing near Castelbuono and stopping for a picnic, we continue through the Pollina river valley—one of the most fascinating, wild, panoramic, and lesser-known places in Sicily—and ascend to the gates of San Mauro Castelverde, a medieval mountain village over 1000 meters above sea level. The trail follows forgotten paths and old "trazzere" (ancient tracks) to reach Al Convento, a former 16th-century monastery turned into a high-quality accommodation.
Delicious dinner with local products and overnight stay.
Day 3:
SAN MAURO CASTELVERDE / MONTE SOPRANO (B/L/D)
Breakfast and departure around 8:30 AM.
We cross the village and ride along a scenic ancient trazzera that skirts the borders of Palermo, Enna, and Messina provinces, reaching an altitude of about 1200 meters. We then pass beneath the huge turbines of a wind farm before entering the forests of the Sambughetti-Campanito reserve, where we stop for a picnic. In the second part of the day, we ride into the territories of Nicosia and Cerami, finally arriving at Monte Soprano farmhouse, equipped with a swimming pool, on the slopes of the Nebrodi mountains. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Cesarò
MONTE SOPRANO / CESARO’ (B/L/D)
Today’s ride takes us into the heart of the Nebrodi Park, along the famous “Dorsale”, a long dirt track through high mountain forests and pastures. This area is rich in charm and offers extraordinary views: to the north, the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Aeolian Islands, to the south, the Sicilian hinterland (Enna, Caltanissetta, Agrigento, Siracusa, Catania) and the dominating presence of Mount Etna.
We ride through the beech forests of San Fratello, known for its local horse breed, the Sanfratellano—a strong and hardy native breed with distinctive large heads—grazing in the wild.
Picnic in the shade of centuries-old trees.
Arrival in the afternoon at Relais Villa Miraglia, with a gourmet dinner of Nebrodi specialties.
Day 5: Randazzo
CESARO’ / RANDAZZO (B/L/D)
This stage covers more than 40 kilometers along the “Nebrodi Ridge”, through mountains, woods, and lakes in a landscape of astonishing beauty.
We pass Lake Maulazzo, overlooked by Mount Soro—the highest peak of the Nebrodi (1847 meters), covered in magnificent beech forests—followed by the famous Lake Biviere di Cesarò, a stopover for migratory birds.
We continue along the Ridge through alternating lush forests and scenic clearings, where to the north we see the Aeolian Islands, and to the south, the majestic summit of Mount Etna.
Arrival in the evening at Monte Colla, the most isolated hotel on the island, a former aristocratic residence at about 1400 meters above sea level. A rich dinner with local products awaits us.
Day 6:
RANDAZZO / MALVAGNA (B/L/D)
Breakfast and departure around 9:00 AM.
After leaving the farmhouse and its cherry orchards, we re-enter the woods and descend into the valley where the Alcantara river originates. We continue through the forest to the village of Santa Domenica di Vittoria, where we stop for a picnic.
In the afternoon, we descend again into the Alcantara Valley through fields, vineyards, and orchards to reach the typical village of Malvagna, right in front of Mount Etna.
Dinner and overnight stay at Arco dei Sogni.
Day 7:
MALVAGNA / ETNA NORTH (B/L/D)
Breakfast and departure around 8:00 AM.
After leaving the village, we descend into the Alcantara river valley, crossing near the small gorges of Malvagna before ascending the northern slopes of Mount Etna.
After a picnic stop, we continue through forests and lava fields, reaching Rifugio Timpa Rossa (1844 meters above sea level). Depending on the season, weather, and volcanic conditions, we may reach the craters of the major 2002 lateral eruption.
Dinner and overnight stay at Chalet Clan dei Ragazzi, nestled in a majestic larch pine forest.
Day 8:
ETNA NORTH / CATANIA (B/-/-)
Breakfast and transfer to Catania airport.
Note: The itinerary described above should be considered indicative. It may be subject to changes due to weather conditions or circumstances beyond our control.
Key:
(B/L/D): B = breakfast; L = lunch; D = dinner
Level of difficulty: From ° to °°°°°
DURATION: 8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS
DIFFICULTY: °°°° (INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED)
ACCOMMODATION: Farm stays and B&Bs
EQUIPMENT: English saddles with sheepskin pads for comfort. Western saddles available on request.
HORSES: Sicilian breeds, well-trained and accustomed to the terrain
RIDING TIME: 6 TO 8 HOURS PER DAY – Riders must be comfortable and confident at all gaits in open spaces. The terrain varies and includes opportunities for long trots or canters.
WHAT TO BRING: Helmets and gaiters available to borrow. Essentials: waterproof clothing, layered clothing (it can get cold at altitude), waterproof boots, sunscreen.
MINIMUM AGE: 16 years
MAXIMUM WEIGHT: 90 kg
TYPE: Itinerant trekking with overnight stays in farmhouses
ACCOMMODATION:
Overnights in clean and comfortable farmhouses and B&Bs.
Dinners feature authentic Sicilian cuisine with local ingredients. A typical evening meal includes a variety of appetizers, pasta, meat, dessert, wine, water, and a digestif.
Picnic lunches are brought by the support vehicle (with tables, chairs, and utensils) and include: fresh bread, salad, cheese, olives, cured meats, Sicilian specialties, wine or other drinks, and coffee or tea on request.
Guaranteed departures with a minimum of one rider:
May 24 – May 31
July 5 – July 12
August 23 – August 30
October 11 – October 18
PARTICIPANTS: MIN 4 – MAX 10
