A women-only cycling trip through Sicily, from Palermo to Catania, discovering hidden landscapes and authentic villages, far from the beaten tourist track. A 470km gravel adventure with 9,000m elevation gain on dirt, asphalt, and secondary roads in unsupported mode.
SOLD OUT - NEXT DEPARTURE: 11/19 APRIL 2026 - SOLD OUT
DAYS: 9
LENGHT: 475 km
POSITIVE GAIN: 9.100 m D+
DIFFICULTY: 8/10
We’ll ride along the Sicily Divide, from Palermo to Catania, discovering hidden landscapes and authentic villages, far from the beaten track. The route is suitable for both gravel and mountain bikes, as we’ll be riding on secondary roads and mixed terrain (asphalt, dirt, and gravel roads). As usual, we’ll make many stops along the way to explore the area, visiting picturesque villages, churches, museums, and more. The cuisine will be mostly plant-based, as we want to offer you a truly sustainable and respectful experience, which we believe in.
The travel method is unsupported, meaning everyone will carry its own gear and there will be no support vehicles. The elevation gain is significant and there are many off-road sections, so it’s suitable for trained cyclists familiar with dirt roads. Overnight stays will always be in hotels for a restful sleep: we’ll primarily sleep in double rooms, though in some cases we may also have triple or quadruple rooms where there are no larger hotels. Half-board is included.
E-bikes and bike rentals are available.
PRICE PER PERSON: 1.760€
Deposit € 528 / Balance € 1.232
Minimum number: 6 persons
Maximum number :10 persons
Below you’ll find a description of the stages and what’s included in the price. For more information, please email info@ciclistepercaso.com
STAGES
Arrival in Palermo, hotel check-in and bike reassembly. Free time to explore the city with its splendid Arab-Norman monuments and magnificent Baroque churches. Overnight stay at the hotel, dinner at a restaurant.
The first day of the journey is immediately one of the most challenging. Leaving Palermo, a long 20km climb begins, but we’ll break it up in Monreale to visit the majestic Cathedral, known for its golden mosaics. We’ll ride along scenic roads and dirt roads through the Sicilian countryside to Gibellina. We’ll spend the night in a B&B and dine at a restaurant.
A challenging stage, the first part immersed in the nature of the Finestrelle Forest. The visit to Burri’s Cretto and the ruins of the towns destroyed by the 1968 Belice earthquake is not only evocative but also deeply moving and certainly one of the highlights of the journey. We arrive in Sambuca di Sicilia, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, where we’ll stay in various B&Bs in the historic center and dine in a traditional restaurant.
The first part of the stage (25km) is relatively easy, with only a modest elevation gain and riding along sections of abandoned railway tracks. However, the day’s menu includes two challenging climbs: the first from Burgio to Lucca Sicula and the second from the evocative Invaso Castello to Santo Stefano Quisquina. A spectacular stage with breathtaking views and encounters with small villages steeped in history. Overnight stay and dinner at a farmhouse.
This is considered one of the less challenging stages of the route, as it features no significant elevation gains or difficult climbs. There is only one challenging climb, the one that will take us to Mussomeli, famous for its imposing Castello Manfredonico, one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses in Sicily. The stage ends in Montedoro, a small village perfect for relaxing and enjoying the scenery. Dinner, overnight stay, and breakfast at the hotel.
Today’s stage is challenging, but also one of the most spectacular of the route. It begins with a roughly 20km climb to Caltanissetta, followed by a long descent to Borgo Cascino, before tackling the final, short but intense climb to Enna, one of Sicily’s most evocative cities. Overnight stay, dinner, and breakfast at the hotel.
A continuous up-and-down ride through nature, through centuries-old poplar groves and small towns. Just before reaching Regalbuto, we’ll enjoy beautiful views of the artificial lake of Pozzillo (the largest in Sicily), near which we’ll stay. Overnight stay, dinner, and breakfast at the hotel.
After the initial climb to Centuripe, the stage is mostly downhill on secondary roads, dirt roads, and rural stretches with breathtaking views of Mount Etna. The finish line will be in Piazza Duomo, beneath the Elephant Fountain. In the afternoon, we’ll have free time to explore the city before celebrating the end of our journey at a restaurant. Overnight stay and breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast, we’ll pack up the bikes and transfer to the airport.
PRICE PER PERSON: 1.760€
THE PRICE INCLUDES:
- Baggage medical insurance
- Personalized advice on materials and bike setup before departure.
- GPX Traks.
- 2 guides with decades of travel experience.
- Transfer from Palermo Airport to the Hotel
- One night in Hotel with dinner and breakfast in Palermo.
- Entry ticket Monreale Cathedral.
- One night in B&B in Gibellina.
- Restaurant dinner in Gibellina.
- One night in B&B in Sambuca di Sicilia.
- Restaurant dinner in Sambuca.
- One night in agriturismo in Santo Stefano di Quisquina with dinner and breakfast.
- One night in Hotel with dinner and breakfast in Montedoro.
- One night in Hotel with dinner and breakfast in Enna.
- One night in Hotel with dinner and breakfast in Regalbuto.
- One night in Hotel with breakfast in Calania.
- Restaurant dinner in Catania.
- Shipping of our boxes/bags from Palermo to the hotel in Catania.
- Transfer from the hotel to the airport of Catania.
- High resolution photo report.
THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Round-trip transportation (available upon request).
- Lunches not specified in “The price includes.”
- Additional costs in the event of logistical changes (extra transfers, unscheduled hotel stays).
- Cancellation insurance (available upon request).
- Anything not listed in The price includes
CANCELLATION POLICY
If you cancel your journey, please write immediately to Inspiring Tours (which is responsible for the technical management of the tour) to be entitled to a refund of the amount paid, excluding the deposit and train/flight tickets, in the following percentages:
- 75% of the tour cost up to 45 days before departure.
- 60% of the tour cost up to 30 days before departure.
- 50% of the tour cost up to 21 days before departure.
- 30% of the tour cost up to 14 days before departure.
- No refunds after this deadline.
No refunds for those who do not show up for departure or cancel during the trip.
The agency can arrange cancellation insurance that will cover the entire cost of the service, excluding flights. Simply request it when signing the travel contract.
EXTRA SERVICES
- Rental bikes, both gravel and e-bikes.
- Bike shipping with Ship to Cycle. 15% discount for tour members