An island almost as close to Africa as to Europe. It's historic. Passionate. It's Sicily. The homeland of some of Europe's friendliest hosts. Where art and architecture hail from countless centuries. Where Mount Etna simmers on the horizon and delicious seafood forever raises the bar. Ready to surrender to an island's allure? Let it be Sicily.
Day 1 Get ready for fantastic biking with distant vistas of Mount Etna—on a clear day, it can be seen from over half of Sicily | A feast of traditional Sicilian cuisine awaits at a Slow Food osteria atop one of Catania’s enchanting hills | Ride peaceful roads through the late baroque towns of the magnificent Val di Noto | Find repose poolside surrounded by country views at our 15th-century hotel.
Days 2-3 Ascend the 142 tiled stairs in Caltagirone, inhabited since the Bronze Age and renowned for intricately painted ceramics | The fragrance of orange blossoms wafts by as you pedal by windmills, orchards and olive groves | Taste fresh-pressed olive oil at a centuries-old agriturismo, a working farm in a valley of cherry, almond and citrus trees.
Day 4 Climb winding roads to the extraordinary Duomo of San Giorgio | On a tour with our local host, discover ancient cave dwellings that were inhabited until the 1960s | Enjoy homemade gelato by the sea in Donnalucata.
Days 5-6 Cycle into the countryside, along rolling hills, past Greek ruins and small towns | Marvel at archaeological treasures | Explore Ortigia, Siracusa’s mesmerizing old city | Bike through a marine nature reserve, visit artists’ shops and the lively local fish market or lounge on the rooftop terrace of our hotel.
All trip details were handled by tour leaders. All we did was show up and enjoy and the ride, food and scenery. Biking routes were spectacular with very little traffic.- Seattle
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. Read the Straight Talk
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.
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A beautifully restored 15th-century fortified castle that was once home to a noble family. (pool)
This elegant 900-year-old property, a former hermitage and fortress, sits amid orchards of almonds, figs and olives. (pool)
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)
There's no better way to find out about Backroads than by hearing it from the people who have traveled with us. For more about the Backroads Experience, read our Guest Testimonials.
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REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 5 reviews)
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of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Reviewed by 5 customers
Displaying reviews 1-5
Comments about Sicily Bike Tour:
All trip details were handled by tour leaders. All we did was show up and enjoy and the ride, food and scenery. Biking routes were spectacular with very little traffic.
Comments about Sicily Bike Tour:
Really fun trip - interesting terrain and history and the food was outstanding! Had not been to Italy in 19 years, and it was a pleasure to experience the country again, in such a special area which is not on the usual tourist itinerary. The wonderful Sicilians we met (olive grove owner, restaurant owner, etc.) were a highlight, along with our superb guides!
Comments about Sicily Bike Tour:
This was our first Backroads trip and it was wonderful in every way. We had a great time, had lots of fun cycling, met great people and learned a lot about Sicily. The trip leaders were absolutely superb. A perfect trip.
Comments about Sicily Bike Tour:
We had high expectations for our Sicily bike tour after our amazing trip to Tuscany last year. Backroads didn't disappoint. Our guides were amazing, they couldn't do enough for us. Even surprised my husband one night with his favorite pistachio cake. Sicily was an amazing adventure, beautiful scenery, great food and beautiful hotels. We can't wait for our next Backroads adventure this June to Bryce and Zion.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Comments about Sicily Bike Tour:
The raw beauty of the Sicilian Countryside came to life on this trip. Beautiful, sometimes centuries old accommodations; magnificent food, fabulous biking with challenges for all. We took the trip in part to celebrate my 50th birthday. On that day, i awoke to find balloons on my bike and finished the day being serenaded at dinner by the musical entertainment. Our great leaders arranged for these special, personal touches.
Displaying reviews 1-5
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind—you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due.
Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
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AVAILABLE TO BOOKi GOING FASTi CONTACT USi PRIVATE TRIP - RESERVEDi
Interested in a Private Trip? Check out the Make It Private tab for private dates available, or call us at 800-462-2848.
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.
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| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 16 | 800 | 29 | 1800 | ||||||
| 2 | 21* | 1200 | 33* | 2800 | 41 | 3500 | 52 | 4300 | ||
| 3 | 23* | 1200 | 46* | 3100 | 60 | 4500 | ||||
| 4 | 22* | 1400 | 28* | 1700 | 42 | 3500 | 57 | 4800 | ||
| Scicli Guided Walking Tour (1 Hour) | ||||||||||
| 5 | 23* | 2000 | 44* | 3400 | 62 | 3600 | ||||
| 6 | 13 | 400 | ||||||||
Note:
* Includes shuttle.
Learn more about how we determine our activity levels and fully support a range of abilities and interests.
Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources (such as Map My Ride and Garmin devices) may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies. Readings from a Garmin or a smart phone are influenced by other factors such as air pressure.
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.
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.
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.
Choose a Backroads Custom Titanium or Custom Electric Assist bike—both are included in your trip price. Maybe a Specialized carbon-fiber pro model is more your speed or go for double fun on a tandem. Our fleet is the best in active travel, so you don't have to roll the dice on this vital trip component. Learn why our titanium bikes are ideal for most riders. See the bike options for this trip.
Your ride comes equipped with a Garmin Edge Explore 1000, the best bike-touring GPS device on the market. This is a Backroads exclusive, and it's included with your bike in Sicily. 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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities. You can pick from the selection of dates below for your group; some dates are only available for 16 or more guests while other dates are available for 8 or more guests. If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you. Call or email us to reserve your date.
Click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
8 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 8 OR MORE GUESTS 16 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 16 OR MORE GUESTS RESERVED
Don't see your ideal travel date? Make a Date! i
Invite your family and friends on an adventure that's entirely your own - for your group of 8 or more. Find out more
I simply can't imagine a better way to immerse yourself in the life of a region, to explore hidden corners and appreciate nuances while enjoying the benefits and enormous satisfaction of traveling under your own power. These are experiences you cannot have behind the wheel of a car, or on a train or a tour bus. Active travel is, at its heart, a way of connecting more authentically with the world. Sure, Backroads provides amazing leaders, superb accommodations and meals, and opportunities you could never arrange on your own. But all of our comprehensive planning and support is aimed at something far simpler: bringing you the immediate, highly personal satisfaction of discovering a new world on your own terms.
— Tom Hale, Founder & President
