Premiere Hotels
Accommodations may vary based on departure date. Any difference from what is listed below can be found by clicking on your desired date on the View Scheduled Dates or Private Dates tabs.
Castello Camemi
Vizzini Scalo (2 nights)
A beautifully restored 15th-century fortified castle that was once home to a noble family. (pool)
Eremo della Giubiliana
Ragusa (2 nights)
This elegant 900-year-old property, a former hermitage and fortress, sits amid orchards of almonds, figs and olives. (pool)
Grand Hotel Minareto
Siracusa (1 night)
Take in stellar sea views at this luxury resort, perched on a promontory overlooking the Plemmirio Marine Nature Reserve and featuring two private beaches. (pool, spa)
This Trip Is Rated Levels 2-5
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
Daily Route Options (drag to see full )
| Daily Route Options |
| 1 |
16 |
800 |
|
|
29 |
1800 |
|
|
|
|
| 2 |
|
|
21* |
1200 |
34* |
2800 |
41 |
3500 |
52 |
4300 |
| 3 |
|
|
23* |
1200 |
|
|
45* |
3100 |
60 |
4500 |
| 4 |
|
|
22* |
1400 |
28* |
1700 |
42 |
3500 |
57 |
4800 |
| Scicli Guided Walking Tour (1 Hour) |
| 5 |
|
|
23* |
2000 |
|
|
44* |
3400 |
62 |
3700 |
| 6 |
13 |
400 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ortigia Walking Tour (1 Hour) |
|
|
Note:
* Includes shuttle.
Learn more about how we determine our activity level and fully support a range of abilities and interests.
Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies and other external factors.
Meals
All breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
Available Bike Options
The key to a stellar day’s ride is a bike that’s perfectly in tune with your cycling style… Backroads has you covered with the best bike fleet in the world! Read on for your available bike options for this trip.
Backroads Titanium Bikes (Included in your trip price)
Our custom-built titanium bikes are specially designed for you—and we offer different models for varied terrain so your bike is ideally suited to the region. Our custom-made bikes are included in your trip price.
Touring Bike (Included)
Performance Road Bike (Included)
Backroads Custom Electric-Assist Bike (Included in your trip price)
Wishing for a little extra assistance up those hills? Our custom Backroads Electric-Assist Bike lets you experience the thrill of exploring on two wheels while providing a boost when you want it. We've modified a selection of our great Titanium Bikes with the intuitive BionX "pedal-assist" system.
Backroads Custom Electric-Assist Bike (Included)
Cannondale Pro Carbon Upgrade ($400 rental fee) – Available 7/1/19
We’re excited to announce that beginning July 1, 2019, we’ll offer the new and much-anticipated Cannondale 2020 Synapse Hi-MOD pro carbon upgrade on Biking Trips in Europe, United States and Canada. Delivering phenomenal acceleration and handling in a light and powerful package, the Synapse is built for experienced cyclists, men and women alike, who are looking for a high-performance bike that doesn’t sacrifice comfort. The Synapse will be offered in a complete range of sizes; detailed bike specifications will be announced in February 2019.
Cannondale 2020 Synapse Hi-MOD
Co-Motion Torpedo Tandem ($400 rental fee)
Do you prefer to spin in tandem with your partner? You'll love the Co-Motion Periscope Torpedo tandem on your Backroads trip. You can upgrade to a Co-Motion Torpedo Tandem on your trip.
Co-Motion Torpedo Tandem (Upgrade)
Also Included
- Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
- Snacks and beverages between meals
- Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
- Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
- Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
- On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
- Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
- Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
- Park and other entry fees
- Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
- Select coach transfers
- Baggage transfers and porterage
Get the Straight Talk about This Trip
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Biking in Sicily
Although Sicily is part of Italy, the island can feel worlds away from the mainland, as it remains one of the country's most rural and economically challenged regions. Cycling here is both a physical and cultural experience where a touch of patience and humor go a long way—watch out for that rooster! And believe it or not, litter can occasionally be part of the landscape, especially when approaching small villages. For most, these challenges are overpowered by the indelible beauty of Sicily's serene countryside and its warm hospitality.
Service Standards
The slower pace and relaxed approach to life in Sicily is one of the highlights of this spectacular island and is reflected in the hotels and restaurants on this trip. This said, service can lack a sense of urgency when compared with the service found in other regions. Because dining is an event unto itself here, our restaurants encourage you to slow down and enjoy a leisurely paced meal. Your best bet is to sit back, relax and soak in the Sicilian way of life.
Why Travel with Backroads in Sicily
More Leaders to Support You
On our Sicily trips we have an extra leader supporting you along the road—for a total of three, compared to the industry standard two. So we can be in more places at once, giving personal attention to guests traveling at their own pace. Here's more on our Trip Leaders.
A Second Van When You Need It
Backroads is the only active travel company providing two support vans in Sicily—because we know it's essential to ensure a truly great travel experience. It doubles our ability to be there when you need us to offer hydration, lighten your load or give you a lift if it's time to take a break. Read more on why two vans make all the difference.
The Best Leaders in Sicily
Backroads has the best-qualified people to lead your trip in Sicily, and our guests back that up, rating our Trip Leaders an average of 9.75 out of 10 for all-around quality of performance. Get the facts (and no fluff) on how we recruit and develop the very best people for your trip.
Great Bikes Included
Our custom-designed titanium bikes are best in class. From avid cyclists to easygoing riders, we believe that everyone deserves a seriously great bike to match their riding style. Learn more about our bike fleet.
Navigate Your Way in Sicily
Your ride comes equipped with a GPS device, preloaded with all the routes and route options for your trip. If you prefer to bring your own device, we also have downloadable GPS files and of course, our good old paper directions are always available. Read more on why our navigation options are the best.
Everyone at Their Own Pace
We design and support our Sicily trips to suit mixed abilities and varied interests—so you can set your own pace, then change things up as the day unfolds. And all guests are free to do the same, traveling together or apart, with no one cramping anyone else's style. Which sounds easy in theory, but it's hard to pull off. Here's more on how we do it.
Our Cultural Roots Run Deep
Thanks to our extensive connections in Sicily, Backroads takes you off the beaten track and deep into the region's culture in ways that traditional travel can never hope to do. We know the people and their customs, the legacy of art and architecture, the complex history and politic—and if we're not sure, our amazing local experts can fill in the blanks.
We Speak the Language
If we told you many companies' leaders can't actually speak the language where they lead trips, you'd say incroyable... ridicolo... không the tha thú. At Backroads, fluency in the local language is a given. Find out more on the best leader recruitment, training and development in the business. (And by the way, that was "unforgivable" in Vietnamese.)
We Live in the Neighborhood
Our Trip Leaders in Sicily live in the area and are deeply engaged in their communities, giving them unique inside knowledge they're happy to share in making your experience that much richer. They'll introduce you to people, customs and parts of town you'd likely never encounter on your own—and teach you a few local phrases to help break the ice.
Experts with Secrets to Share
In choosing the ideal experts to enrich your travel experience, we look for people with a wealth of local knowledge, but also the ability to convey their insights in English. Too often travelers find themselves smiling politely, not quite understanding what they're being told. Our experts share intriguing facts, anecdotes and inside stories that stay with you forever.
The Right Local Pairings
Our Trip Leaders combine deep local expertise with a firm grasp of North American expectations around quality of service. By the same token, we pair experienced Backroads leaders with local guides who know how to cater to your needs while cracking open the culture or natural history in ways that are meaningful, memorable and often magical.
Signature Backroads Picnics
Guests rave about our picnic spreads. Enjoy a welcome break in a scenic spot, or a quick refuel stop if you don't want to lose momentum. And because we have two vans, one can host lunch while the other is out providing support along the route.
