A fantastic adventure that takes you across Sicily from the north to the south coast. This trail offers you an unforgettable immersion in Sicily's complex history and agricultural heritage, its magic and legends, and of course the famous culinary diversity of Italian cuisine. At the end of the week, a lively beach ride awaits you on one of the most beautiful and best-preserved coastlines in Sicily.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival
Transfer from the airport to your accommodation at Casa ‘Il Bosco’, a charming restored 19th-century country house nestled in the wild landscape of the Madonie Park, with breathtaking views of the island's north coast and the Aeolian Islands. You will enjoy a dinner prepared with local products and spend the night here.

Day 2: Casa ‘Il Bosco’ to Piano Battaglia
After breakfast, you will be assigned your horse for the trail and set off from Casa ‘Il Bosco’ at around 8.30 a.m. The day begins with a beautiful climb through wild Mediterranean vegetation and forests with fantastic views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. You will pass the famous sanctuary of Gibilmanna and continue riding through forests of holm oaks, cork oaks and downy oaks into the Isnello area. After a picnic lunch, you will begin your ascent of the northern slopes of Pizzo Carbonara, at 1,979 metres the second highest mountain in Sicily in the Madonie Park, where you will enjoy a dinner prepared with typical local products and spend the night at the Rifugio Marini.

Day 3: Feudo San Giorgio
After breakfast, you will continue on a route through the Madonie Park. You may have to dismount from time to time and continue on foot for a few hundred metres where the terrain becomes rockier and steeper. The effort will be rewarded with views over half the island in good weather. You will have lunch in the Castellana Sicula area near Nociazzi before continuing along old paths to the southern part of the Imera, which you will then cross. At the top is the old farmhouse Feudo San Giorgio. There you will enjoy a regional dinner and spend the night. Riding time approx. 6/7 hours.

Day 4: Residence of Spadafora in Mappa
After breakfast, you will ride into the heart of the Sicilian countryside, the geographical centre of the island. You will have a picnic at the sacred site of Bilici. You will then continue past Marianapoli and through a eucalyptus forest before reaching the residence of the Prince of Spadafora. Here you will enjoy a delicious dinner and spend the night. Riding time approx. 6/7 hours.

Day 5: Farm of Principe di Aragona
You will leave Mappa early in the morning. The route then takes you through fields to the picturesque village of Sutera. From there, you will continue through the beautiful Monte Conca nature reserve to the Platani River valley. There you will take a break before continuing along the valley to the Principe di Aragona farm. There you will enjoy a delicious dinner and spend the night. Riding time approx. 7/8 hours.

Day 6: Monuments of the Agrigento region
After breakfast (around 8:30 a.m.), you will set off for Agrigento, founded in 580 BC by the Rhodians and Cretans. You will ride through agricultural land to Macalube di Aragona, where you can observe small mud volcanoes and take a break. In Agrigento, you will have a guided tour of the region's most important monuments in the afternoon. Enjoy dinner with regional products and spend the night at the Passo dei Briganti farm. Riding time approx. 4/5 hours.

Day 7: Torre Salsa Coastal Reserve
After breakfast, you will set off on a picturesque route along Agrigento, with beautiful views of the Mediterranean coast. Your destination is the Torre Salsa coastal reserve, one of the most beautiful and best preserved coastlines in Sicily. There you will ride along the coast to your accommodation, where a delicious dinner awaits you. Riding time approx. 6/7 hours.

Day 8: Departure
Breakfast and transfer to the airport.

Accomodation
You will stay in very different, but always typical local accommodation. These range from simple farms or B&Bs to old monasteries and hotels – some even with a pool.
Meals consist of local products and, in typical Italian style, leave nothing to be desired in terms of cuisine.

Saddle & Tack: Comfortable English saddles with sheepskin, Western saddles upon request.

Experience: You should be confident in all gaits and have many years of trail experience, as the terrain is very varied. The trails are often wide, but there are also narrower paths and a few steeper sections. You will spend approx. 6 to 8 hours per day in the saddle

Horses: Approx. 15 horses of local breeds crossed with Arabians, very sure-footed, hardy and enduring. The horses live in a herd in the countryside all year round. The horses are saddled daily for you. Rider weight max. 90kg.