Five days on foot and by bike to explore Palermo and its surroundings. A special New Year 2025, including puppets, cannoli and cycling: to discover the natural landscapes, the culinary delicacies of this thousand-year-old city and the splendor of its architecture, a singular fusion of cultures and arts that have left their mark: Byzantine, Arabic, Norman, Renaissance and Baroque. In a group with a guide you will ride one day up to Monreale and for the historic center of Palermo, another day you will explore by bike the Norman and Bagheria coast, and finally one more day you will ride back to Mondello, where the brave can experience the emotion of a swim in the middle of winter and you will reach the Capo Gallo Nature Reserve. You will return home with Palermo in your heart.
1st day Arrival in Palermo
Independent arrival of participants at the accommodation and allocation of rooms. Meeting with our contact person for presentation program in detail. Rest of the day off. Dinner in an affiliated restaurant.
2nd day Palermo and Monreale
Total Km by bike: ca. 30 – total ascent: ca. 350 m – Route characteristics: floor on asphalt but short challenging climb for Monreale – Difficulty: medium with muscle bike
Extra ride with ascent to Montepellegrino: total km about 25 – total ascent 500 meters – Characteristics of the route: ascent and descent on asphalt – Difficulty: medium-high with muscle bike
After breakfast, in the early morning you will collect your bikes at the headquarters of our local employee, located about 300 meters from the hotel.
We will head, assisted by a accompanying cycle and facing a short climb, in Monreale, where you will discover the beauty of this town of Norman origins a few kilometers from Palermo; in particular with the support of an authorized tourist guide you can admire the beauty of the church and the cloister of the Norman age (entrance to the church and the cloister included in the package). At the end of the visit of Monreale, you will return to Palermo where you will start your bike tour through the historic center of the city to discover the beauties and treasures of Palermo.
Around lunchtime we will go to one of the historic markets of the city (Ballarò or Capo) where you can taste the delicacies of the Palermo “street food”. After lunch they will leave the bikes at the headquarters of our collaborator, while for those who feel it, it will be possible to make the ascent of Montepellegrino by bike (total km about 25 total ascent about 500 meters) with our accompanying cycle with a visit to the Sanctuary of S. Rosalia and back before the sun sets in Palermo. Dinner in a restaurant with an agreement on typical Sicilian dishes.
3rd day Bagheria and the Norman Coast
Total Km by bike: ca. 45 Total difference: ca. 350 m – Route characteristics: floor on asphalt with a few slight slope uphill – Difficulty: medium with muscle bike
Early in the morning, after breakfast and the collection of bicycles, with our accompanying cycle we will head to Bagheria, a town known for its wonderful ancient villas (including Villa Palagonia, also called Villa dei Mostri whose entrance and guided tour is included in the package), its eighteenth-century buildings (symbol of the past nobility), and the films such as Baaria and Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (known internationally as “Cinema Paradiso”). I lay a stop in a typical local bakery for a taste of a peculiar local pizza seasoned with ricotta and anchovies called “Baarese splashing”, you will reach the seaside villages of Porticello and Sant’Elia. Next, you will reach the Capo Zafferano lighthouse through a breathtaking road overlooking the sea. Afterwards, return to Palermo crossing the seaside village of Aspra. Afternoon dedicated to relaxation, shopping and / or visiting Palermo independently. Dinner with typical Sicilian dishes in a partner restaurant.
Day 4 Mondello, Capo Gallo Reserve, Favorita Park
Total Km by bike: about 40 Km Total difference: ca. 230 m – Route characteristics: floor on asphalt with some gravel or uphill stretch – Degree of difficulty: medium – easy with muscle bike
After breakfast and the collection of bikes, the day includes with the guide of a accompanying cycle the circumnavigation of Montepellegrino (a sacred mountain for all the people of Palermo overlooking the city of Palermo). You will first head to the “Parco Favorita” (one of the largest urban parks in Europe, where you can admire the architectural elements of the “Palazzina Cinese”, a unique eighteenth-century building, home of King Ferdinand IV), and then descend to the beach of Mondello (where the bravest can swim in New Year’s Eve) and the natural reserve of Capo Gallo. After a regenerating stop at the square of the seaside village of Mondello you will return to Palermo from the coastal road that crosses the seaside villages of Vergine Maria, Arenella, and Acquasanta.
Back in Palermo, after leaving the bicycles at the headquarters of our collaborator, you will have some free time to rest or take a ride through the historic counter of the city, before going to a restaurant with an agreement for dinner and the New Year’s toast.
5th day Palermo; end of services after breakfast
Type of group
Departure : 28/12/2024 - GUARANTEED
The tour is guaranteed even if in case of less than 6 participants all the services of the package will be provided except for the accompanying cycle and the authorized guide for 1/2 day of guided tour
Duration of the trip 5 days/4 nights
Average level of difficulty
The tour takes place mainly on paved roads; there are some short climbs that could be challenging for those who do not have a moderate level of cycling experience and a basic level of good physical condition.
Total Km 115/140
Type of bike trekking bike bike
Luggage transport is not
Information meeting / fiefing si
Only bike rental no
Customization of the trip no
|
Share per person in double room
|
Participation fee € 830.--
Discount third bed – 15%
Fourth bed discount – 20%
The fee includes
4 nights in the hotel *** with breakfast, including tourist tax
3 dinners in restaurants affiliated with typical dishes of the Sicilian tradition (every dinner includes: various appetizers; a first / second; dessert; water and wine)
1 dinner of 31/12 which includes (various appetizers, first courses, second courses, desserts, water wine and sparkling wine)
A licensed tour guide for visiting the monumental complexes of the Norman Arab itinerary of Monreale and Palermo and for the bike tour in the historic center of the city (half day 2nd day)
Support of 1 cycle-accompanier for the 3 bike tours around Palermo included in the package
Trekking bike rental model Trek Dual Sport (or similar), equipped with rear bag and helmet
Entrance ticket to Capo Gallo reserve
Entrance ticket to the Cloister and Cathedral of Monreale
Entrance and guided tour of Palazzo Valguarnera
Entrance and guided tour to the Chinese Palace
24-hour medical insurance/bagage
Emergency telephone support
Registration fee
The quota does not include
A/R flights to Sicily
Transfer from/to the airport/station
Entrance to museums/tourist sites not included in "the fee includes"
The tips
Extras in general of personal character
Anything not specified under the heading “the quota includes”
| Single room |
€ 170.-- |
| E-bike rental |
€ 60.-- |
| Seat |
€ 25.-- |
| Carrellino |
€ 35.-- |
| Transfer from/to Palermo airport (together, per person, minimum 2 pax) |
€ 35.-- |
On request
Travel cancellation insurance: 5% of the cost of the trip
Additional nights
Quotes for pre-established groups (CRAL – associations – friends - schools)
To book fill in and send the registration form on the side; pay 25% of the participation fee; pay the balance about a month before departure.
People
Groups
