8-Day Independent Mt Etna and Taormina Bike Tour
Catania, Italy
Trip Type: Multi-day Tours
Duration: 8 days
A striking bike tour along the Etna foothills and along the national park. This journey will take you through ancient towns, pervaded by history and myths, on the tracks of ancient savors and exquisite wines. It is of medium difficulty and will allow you to visit Taormina, pearl of the Ionian coast, the medieval towns of Randazzo and Castiglione, and the baroque city Acireale. You will see some of the most important Sicilian nature reserves: the Etna National Park, the park of the Alcantara valley and the nature reserve "Forre Laviche del Simeto".
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A striking bike tour along the Etna foothills and along the national park. This journey will take you through ancient towns, pervaded by history and myths, on the tracks of ancient savors and exquisite wines. It is of medium difficulty and will allow you to visit Taormina, pearl of the Ionian coast, the medieval towns of Randazzo and Castiglione, and the baroque city Acireale. You will see some of the most important Sicilian nature reserves: the Etna National Park, the park of the Alcantara valley and the nature reserve "Forre Laviche del Simeto".
This self-guided bike tour gives you enough freedom to organize your trip independently but still offers the convenience of an organized tour to let you enjoy your bike vacation. Please see below for details regarding the itinerary.
Day 1: Nicolosi
Individual arrival at Nicolosi, handover of the bikes, road maps containing and information on the itinerary.
Day 2: Etna - Nicolosi (km 23)
Arrival at Rifugio Sapienza with public transportation, possibility to go further up the Etna mountain with funicular, four-wheel-drive and a guide and return to Nicolosi with the bikes.
In case of adverse weather conditions public bus transfer to Catania and possibility of a sightseeing tour in the city old town.
Day 3: Nicolosi - Bronte (km 49)
You are leaving Nicolosi on quiet back roads, almost all the time downhill and arrive at the nature reserve "Forre laviche del Simeto" to see the famous bridge of the Saracens. From here you will pass through huge pistachio plantations. After an uphill slope you will reach Bronte. On request a transfer to avoid the last 5 km (demanding ascent) to the hotel.
Day 4: Bronte - Maniace - Randazzo (km 35)
Before leaving Bronte you might like to check out one of the many pistachio producers in town. From here you will go to Maniace where you can visit the Castello Nelson and the ex monastery of Santa Maria di Maniace. Continuing on secondary streets you will reach Randazzo, with it's rich and interesting medieval town center.
Day 5: Randazzo - Castiglione - Gole dell’Alcantara - Giardini Naxos (km 50)
Today will be an easy downhill trip along the Etna Wine Road with many winemakers along the way. From the gracious town center of Castiglione you will have a nice view over the Alcantara valley, which separates the Etna from the Nebrodi forests and which you will visit further down the road. You final destination will be Giardini Naxos on the Ionian coast, where you might enjoy a regenerating bath in its splendid waters.
Day 6: Giardini Naxos - Taormina - Giardini Naxos (km 20)
After only a few kilometers uphill you will reach Taormina, pearl of the Ionian coast and by itself worth a travel. Here you will have the possibility to visit Castelmola, a picturesque medieval village 5 km above Taormina with breathtaking view over the whole bay and from Calabria to Mount Etna, before you return to Giardini Naxos.
Day 7: Giardini Naxos – Acireale (km 35)
This easy trip takes you along the Ionian coast, also known as Sicily's Lemon Riviera. After a short uphill slope you reach Acireale and it's interesting baroque city center.
Day 8: Acireale - Catania
After breakfast end of tour and individual departure.
This self-guided bike tour gives you enough freedom to organize your trip independently but still offers the convenience of an organized tour to let you enjoy your bike vacation. Please see below for details regarding the itinerary.
Day 1: Nicolosi
Individual arrival at Nicolosi, handover of the bikes, road maps containing and information on the itinerary.
Day 2: Etna - Nicolosi (km 23)
Arrival at Rifugio Sapienza with public transportation, possibility to go further up the Etna mountain with funicular, four-wheel-drive and a guide and return to Nicolosi with the bikes.
In case of adverse weather conditions public bus transfer to Catania and possibility of a sightseeing tour in the city old town.
Day 3: Nicolosi - Bronte (km 49)
You are leaving Nicolosi on quiet back roads, almost all the time downhill and arrive at the nature reserve "Forre laviche del Simeto" to see the famous bridge of the Saracens. From here you will pass through huge pistachio plantations. After an uphill slope you will reach Bronte. On request a transfer to avoid the last 5 km (demanding ascent) to the hotel.
Day 4: Bronte - Maniace - Randazzo (km 35)
Before leaving Bronte you might like to check out one of the many pistachio producers in town. From here you will go to Maniace where you can visit the Castello Nelson and the ex monastery of Santa Maria di Maniace. Continuing on secondary streets you will reach Randazzo, with it's rich and interesting medieval town center.
Day 5: Randazzo - Castiglione - Gole dell’Alcantara - Giardini Naxos (km 50)
Today will be an easy downhill trip along the Etna Wine Road with many winemakers along the way. From the gracious town center of Castiglione you will have a nice view over the Alcantara valley, which separates the Etna from the Nebrodi forests and which you will visit further down the road. You final destination will be Giardini Naxos on the Ionian coast, where you might enjoy a regenerating bath in its splendid waters.
Day 6: Giardini Naxos - Taormina - Giardini Naxos (km 20)
After only a few kilometers uphill you will reach Taormina, pearl of the Ionian coast and by itself worth a travel. Here you will have the possibility to visit Castelmola, a picturesque medieval village 5 km above Taormina with breathtaking view over the whole bay and from Calabria to Mount Etna, before you return to Giardini Naxos.
Day 7: Giardini Naxos – Acireale (km 35)
This easy trip takes you along the Ionian coast, also known as Sicily's Lemon Riviera. After a short uphill slope you reach Acireale and it's interesting baroque city center.
Day 8: Acireale - Catania
After breakfast end of tour and individual departure.
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