Mount Etna is just one of Sicily's many highlights. Discover more highlights on our trail ride through the Madonie, whose melodious name perfectly describes the enchanting mountain world. The mountains are often referred to as the Sicilian Dolomites, due to the imposing limestone cliffs that can be seen everywhere. In the secluded mountain world, far away from the tourist crowds, you will be equally at home in nature and culture: flowering mountain meadows where sheep, goats, cattle and horses graze, alpine forests and, here and there, a historic church or ancient village. Every day of your trail ride, you will climb a different Sicilian mountain and enjoy a magnificent panorama. Of course, culinary delights are also on the menu, and you will be treated to delicious traditional specialities for lunch and dinner.

Itinerary

Madonie Nature Park Ride

Day 1: Transfer from Palermo airport to the first accommodation. The transfer takes about an hour. Guests will be welcomed by the host and his family at the beautiful Agriturismo Le Campanelle, which offers magnificent views of green hills and the Mediterranean Sea. Depending on the time, availability and weather conditions, guests can enjoy a drink by the pool and take a dip. Then dinner will be served.

Day 2: On the first morning, after breakfast, guests will be given some information about the horses and the training method, which is based on natural horsemanship. Then the first ride begins. The trail leads you across pastures and through oak forests to the small, charming village of Gratteri, which offers a magnificent view of the coast. Here you will take a break and enjoy a light lunch. After lunch, you will saddle up again and ride towards the old village of Collesano. The old path connecting the two villages leads you through a large forest full of different types of oak trees. Once you arrive at the accommodation, you will take care of the horses and have a drink together. This place is called Casale Drinzi and used to be a riding school. Now it is a well-known agriturismo and a famous restaurant. A hearty dinner will be served.

Day 3: After a hearty breakfast, you will mount your horses and begin the ride up the mountain. You will ride across pastures and through forests to Piano Zucchi. This is a plateau on the mountain where you will have a light lunch. Afterwards, the ascent to Piano Battaglia begins. The ride ends in Piano Farina, where you will find a shepherd's hut, a good place to leave the horses. A short drive then takes you to your hotel in Petralia Soprana. Dinner in the town.

Day 4: In the morning, you will return to Piano Farina. Today's ride takes you up to the Madonna dell'Alto pilgrimage church on the summit of Monte Alto (1,819 m), where you will enjoy your packed lunch. After lunch, you will descend the other side of the mountain back to the beautiful Agriturismo Terravecchia. This place used to be a riding school, but today it is home to only two old horses, which are now part of the family. Today, Terravecchia is known for its special cuisine. Here you will have the opportunity to enjoy the pool, depending on the season and weather conditions. Dinner will be served.

Day 5: On this day, you will ride to the other side of the Madonie Park, to the village of Geraci Siculo. A beautiful and fast route will take you to the old village, where you will enjoy a good light lunch. Then you will take another route along the rocky mountain to return to Piano Farina. You will leave the horses behind and walk to your hotel in Petralia Soprana. Dinner in the town.

Day 6: Today you will spend the morning with the shepherd and help him make cheese. After a delicious lunch featuring local products and, of course, fresh cheese, you will be ready to saddle up and ride down into the valley towards the pretty village of Castelbuono. You will cross pastures and woods before reaching a stable near the village. Here you will leave your four-legged friends behind and, after a short drive, you will arrive at the beautiful guesthouse where you will spend the night. Dinner in town.

Day 7: On your last morning, you will have the opportunity to visit the beautiful castle in the town before setting off on today's ride. The horses will take you through the beautiful and rich valley surrounding Castelbuono until you reach Piano delle Fate, a quiet plateau in the forest. A perfect place for your last lunch. The afternoon ride is shorter and takes you to a horse pasture. Here you will say goodbye to your four-legged friends. A short drive then takes you to Le Campanelle.

Day 8: After breakfast, transfer to the airport or bus station and departure.

Madonie Short Tour:

Day 1: Arrival in Palermo and transfer to the agriturismo in the Madonie Nature Park, approx. 1 hour. Depending on your arrival time and the weather, you can use the pool before enjoying a homemade dinner.

Day 2: You will take your first ride through the green hills around Lasciari with a picnic lunch in your saddlebags. Overnight stay again at the agriturismo.

Day 3: You ride up into the mountains with beautiful views over the green alpine meadows. Picnic in the cork oak forest near Gratteri. Afterwards, you explore the historic Gratteri on horseback. The destination is a green meadow outside the village where the horses stay. You ride back to the agriturismo yourself.

Day 4: Short transfer back to the horses. Today you will ride even higher up to a beautiful, wide plateau. Later you will reach a rustic forest where wild boars, deer and many other animals live. Then you will follow a path downhill towards the north coast. You will spend the night in a quaint village above the coast. Enjoy a delicious pizza from a wood-fired oven today.

Day 5: In the morning, various activities can be planned depending on the season and your preferences, e.g. a visit to an alpine dairy or a cooking class. In the afternoon, you will ride the horses to the vast pastures where they live. You will once again enjoy the narrow paths past rocks and across meadows with views of the blue sea. Transfer back to the agriturismo for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 6: Breakfast and departure.

Subject to change.

Accomodation
You will spend the night in beautiful country hotels and agriturismo, choosing the best possible accommodation in the area. You will also have an excellent dinner here. Breakfast is rather sweet; typically Italian. At lunchtime there is an extensive picnic with delicious specialties.

Saddle & Tack: comfortable trail riding saddles and snaffle

Experience: You should be confident in all gaits and have some trail experience, as the terrain is quite demanding in places. You will spend approx. 5-6 hours per day at saddle. You ride in all gaits, but due to the mountainous and partly pathless terrain a lot of walking. In between, however, there are opportunities for short trotting and cantering sections.

Horses: 15 horses of different breeds, including Italian half-breeds and Arabian mixes, heigth between 1.45 and 1.65 m.