Italy: Sicily: the madonie natural park
From 1.170 €

Italy: Sicily: the madonie natural park

holiday package
Created: Monday, June 30, 2025
Ref ID: 29712935
prezzo del pacchetto per persona From
1.170 €
Based on 2 adults
Created: Monday, June 30, 2025
Itinerary
Tours
More pictures (4)

Day 1: Cefalù

PALERMO / CEFALÙ (-/-/D)
We invite you on a captivating horseback trek through the Madonie Regional Park, covering almost 40,000 hectares in north-central Sicily—home to over 70% of the island’s biodiversity. The highest peaks of Sicily open to breathtaking views over the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Sicilian interior. The landscape is varied—plateaus and valleys lined with oaks, birches, holm oaks, and beeches; abrupt cliffs accentuate its natural drama.
Fauna includes Mediterranean hare, hedgehog, wild boar, fallow deer, and diverse birds such as eagles and hawks. Our journey begins in Casalvecchio and the Rainò River Valley, at the southern edge of the park.

Highlights:
San Mauro Castelverde, a medieval village at 1,000 m altitude
The stunning town of Cefalù and its panoramic coastal view
Gibilmanna Sanctuary, devoted to Cefalù’s patroness
Gratteri, another charming medieval village
Madonna dell’Alto Sanctuary
Petralia Soprana, crowned “Italy’s Most Beautiful Village” in 2018

Arrival in Palermo, transfer to Casa Il Bosco, a beautifully restored 19th-century noble house immersed in the wilds of Madonie, overlooking the Tyrrhenian coast and Aeolian Islands. Dinner with local products and overnight stay.


Day 2:

CEFALÙ / PIANO BATTAGLIA (B/L/D)
After breakfast, meet the horses and depart around 8:30 a.m. for a 7‑hour ride through wild vegetation and Mediterranean forests, with panoramic views of the Tyrrhenian coast. Traverse holm oak, cork oak, and downy oak woodlands, reaching Isnello, where we stop for a picnic.
Then climb the northern slope of Pizzo Carbonara, Sicily’s second-highest peak (1,979 m), through lush forests of oaks, beeches, and other local species, arriving at Piano Battaglia (1,600 m) in the heart of Madonie Park. Dinner with local specialties and overnight at Rifugio Marini.


Day 3:

PIANO BATTAGLIA / GERACI SICULO (B/L/D)
Another full day in the saddle. After breakfast, pass the impressive Battaglietta, a natural karst sinkhole channeling meltwater through underground galleries to the sea. Then we begin the ascent toward Pizzo Carbonara (1,979 m). Here it’s common to spot wild deer and goats. On clear days, you may see Mount Etna to the east, Rocca Busambra to the west, Monte Cammarata to the south, and the Aeolian Islands to the north.
We stop for lunch at Portella Mandarini, then ride through semi-abandoned paths on the northern slope of the Pizzo Catarineci massif into Geraci Siculo—a majestic medieval town dominated by the ruins of Ventimiglia barons’ castle (11th century). Dinner and overnight at Hotel Donna Vì, featuring a spa.


Day 4:

GERACI SICULO / CEFALÙ (B/L/D)
After breakfast around 8:30 a.m., we ride through Geraci Siculo and descend through extensive cork oak woods. Picnic near an ancient abandoned water mill close to Castelbuono, then continue back to Casa Il Bosco, passing through cultivated fields with olive groves, vineyards, and Mediterranean scrub. Dinner and overnight.


Day 5:

CEFALÙ / PALERMO (B/-/-)
Breakfast and transfer to Palermo Airport.

Note:
Itinerary indicative—subject to change based on weather or unforeseen circumstances. A shorter version (2–3 nights) is also available.

Note:
(B/L/D): B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
Difficulty: °°°° (Intermediate / Advanced)
Accommodation: Agriturismi and B&Bs
Equipment: English saddles with sheepskin pads; Western saddles available on request
Horses: Well-trained Sicilian breeds familiar with local terrain
Riding time: ~6 hours per day—riders must be confident and capable at walk, trot, and canter; terrain varied with opportunities for trots and canters
What to bring: Riding clothes, helmet, water bottle, sunscreen, insect repellent
Minimum age: 16 years
Maximum weight: 90 kg
Trip type: Point-to-point horse trek with overnight stays in agriturismi

Accommodation & Meals
Overnight stays in clean, comfortable agriturismi and B&Bs.
Evening meals feature authentic Sicilian cuisine using local ingredients: multiple antipasti, pasta, meat, dessert, wine, water, and digestif.
Picnic lunches (provided by support vehicle) include fresh bread, salad, cheeses, olives, cured meats, regional specialties, wines or other drinks (on request), and tea/coffee. Tables, chairs, and cutlery supplied.

Available Departure Months:
April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November

Group size: Min 4 – Max 10 participants

prezzo del pacchetto per persona From
1.170 €
Based on 2 adults
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This idea includes
Destinations 2
Tours 1
Tour summary
Guide languages
English
Français
Italiano
Included
All meals as per the program
Transfers to/from Palermo Airport
4 nights of accommodation in agriturismi
3 days on horseback (6–8 hours per day)
Horses and riding equipment provided
Support vehicles
Expert local guide (speaks Italian, English, and French)
Basic insurance covering medical assistance, medical repatriation, and baggage damage
Excluded
Flights to/from Palermo
Meals not mentioned, airport taxes, drinks, tips, personal expenses
Alcoholic beverages
Anything not specifically listed under “included services”
Optional or cancellation insurance