Hotels and an agriturismo

On this cycling adventure in Sicily, we stay in hotels and an agriturismo, which were selected for their friendly atmosphere and character. Most are conveniently located near the UNESCO-listed historic centres we visit. Below are the properties normally used.

Upgrade to a superior room on Day 5 and 6, and a superior sea-view room with a balcony on Day 7 of the itinerary – speak to your sales representative for more details.

Palazzolo Acreide: Feudo Bauly (night 1)



Our adventure begins in this historic hotel run by the Corsino family. The stone-walled restaurant serves traditional Sicilian cuisine made from local, seasonal produce – you might even see black truffles sourced from nearby Bauly Forest on the menu. There’s also a swimming pool when you’d like some downtime.

Modica: Ferro Hotel (night 2)



Within a renovated building once used for railway workers, the Ferro Hotel takes us to modern Sicily. The contemporary décor pays tribute to the locomotive history of the building and there’s a varied spread for breakfast. The hotel itself is within walking distance of the main town.

Marzamemi: Agriturismo Tenuta Arangio (nights 3-4)



Enjoy a rural idyll with a stay at this agriturismo (farm stay). It’s a traditional Sicilian estate, owned by the Arangio family since 1980, and they still grow produce here. There’s also a large swimming pool area in the courtyard, where you can relax under the shade of olive trees.

Noto: Grand Hotel Sofia (night 5-6)



Back to more conventional hotel comforts, the Grand Hotel Sofia has an outdoor swimming pool with a bar (and happy hour). There’s also a restaurant, Limoneto, which serves Sicilian and Mediterranean dishes made from local produce, plus a small bar area.

Syracuse: Hotel Centrale (night 7)



The majority of groups spend their final night at Hotel Centrale, though some stay at Hotel Posta, Grande Albergo Alfeo or Hotel Gargallo, depending on availability. Centrale is one of the oldest hotels in Syracuse and close to local attractions including the Archaeological Park of Neapolis. When you're not out exploring, the hotel has a garden and reading room.

All breakfasts and one dinner are included.

Sicilian cuisine is a mix of the different cultures that have called this island home over the millennia: from the Greek and Arabs to the Normans and Spaniards. Soil here is incredibly fertile, with a perfect climate for the cultivation of fresh produce, such as olives, oranges, lemons, aubergines (eggplant), tomatoes, pistachios, almonds, grapes and more. Additionally, mussels, clams, tuna, swordfish and anchovies are fished right off the coast. This wide range of high-quality ingredients serves as a base for myriad dishes, resulting in a cuisine that’s fresh, varied and delicious.

Sicilian wines are also superb: grillo and inzolia are excellent white wines, Cerasuolo di Vittoria and Nero d’Avola are both fabulous reds, and marsala, moscato and zibibbo are wonderful dessert wines. As nearly 90 percent of Italian lemons grow in Sicily, sampling the local limoncello is a must.

On this trip there is the chance to join an optional picnic lunch, prepared by the support driver and your leader.

Dinners are taken at the hotels or local restaurants recommended by your guide, according to your budget and preferences.

— Spare inner tube (unless hiring a bike)
— Waterproof jacket
— Sunscreen and lip salve
— Warm jacket for evenings
— Energy snacks
— Mosquito repellent
— Water: The tap water in Sicily is not drinkable and there are limited water fountains on our route. To reduce plastic we recommend taking a suitable filtered water bottle so that you can easily refill your water and stay hydrated.

There will be a cycling leader with the group, plus a bicycle mechanic driving the support van.

— Discover the best of Sicily by bike with a small group of like-minded adventurers
— Ride through UNESCO-listed baroque towns in the Val di Noto, Marzamemi and Syracuse
— Cycle to Cavagrande del Cassibile, one of the deepest canyons in Europe
— Cool off with refreshing dips in hotel pools and in the Mediterranean Sea
— Sample the exquisite regional cuisine and wine of Sicily

Key information
Start hotel: Feudo Bauly, C/da Bauly, 96010 Noto SR, Italy
Phone: +39 0931 882088
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening, but if you miss it the leader will update you separately
Airport: Catania Airport (CTA)
Getting to the start hotel
Your options for this journey are:

Take an Exodus transfer

Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.

Make your own way

It’s possible to reach the start hotel by public transport, but the journey is complicated. We therefore recommend joining the group transfer where possible. If not, speak to your sales representative to organise a private transfer. On arrival at the hotel, please make the reception staff aware that you are part of an Exodus group and they will have more details on meeting with your leader and group

If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.
Catching your return flight
There’s a group departure transfer to the airport that's scheduled to align with a flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.

— Travel insurance
— Single accommodation (available on request )
— Visas or vaccinations
— Local city taxes (approximately €15)
— E-bike hire (available for an additional cost)

— Accommodation: 7 Classic nights (hotels)
— Six days of cycling with partial vehicle support (limited seats)
— Group normally 6 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16

For lunches and dinners not included, allow €300 per person for the week, depending on the standard of restaurant chosen.

The Vendicari Nature Reserve has introduced an entrance fee of €3.50 per person (subject to the local authority’s annual review).

Local taxes: Many Italian cities have a tourist tax for non-residents. The local administration oversees the tax, which will be collected by the accommodation provider at check-in or check-out. This fee varies depending on the hotel category, the season and number of days of stay. It is usually between €1 and €4 per person per night. For this trip, please allow approximately €10-€15 for the week.

Our local staff are paid fairly for their work. However, most of our clients wish to tip their guides in appreciation of their help. This, of course, is not compulsory and depends on the service received. If you would like to leave a tip, as a guide we would suggest approximately €20 for the leader and €10 for the support van driver, in two different envelopes.

This trip is rated Activity Level 3 (Moderate) and classified as Road. For more information on our trip gradings please visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

Six days of cycling
Partial vehicle support (due to limited seats) and a cycling guide.
The route is 95 percent paved



Cycling profile: All the rides are door-to-door, meaning there are no transfers to or from hotels. Most of the cycling is along flat to hilly paved roads (mainly traffic-free); days 2 and 6 include more demanding ascents and rolling routes, so a reasonably good level of fitness is required. As we approach the main towns and cities, such as Syracuse, and around popular beach areas, there are busier sections with traffic at peak hours.

Support vehicle: A support vehicle, with limited spare seats and driven by a bicycle mechanic, is available throughout the trip, following at all times (pedestrian areas excluded). The driver will help you at junctions by giving route directions and allowing you to access any items you don’t wish to carry on the bike.

E-bikes: E-bikes are available on request for a fee payable prior departure.

Weather: The region normally has a relatively mild and sunny climate, but heatwaves and heavy rains are possible. This, along with consecutive cycling days, may increase the difficulty of the trip.
Considering all of this, we recommend you arrive physically prepared to tackle slightly more challenging routes by exercising regularly before the trip. You should also bring suitable equipment with you and always stay hydrated.

Sicily has a good year-round climate, with plenty of sunshine and warm-to-hot temperatures. The summer departures ought to have daily hot sunshine and temperatures can reach 30C-35C (86F-95F). The earlier and later departures will be cooler with a slightly higher chance of rain – make sure you pack some warm clothing if you travel in low season. In late summer, there is the possibility of heavy thunderstorms, but these are usually short-lived.

— Spare inner tube (unless hiring a bike)
— Waterproof jacket
— Sunscreen and lip salve
— Warm jacket for evenings
— Energy snacks
— Mosquito repellent
— Water: The tap water in Sicily is not drinkable and there are limited water fountains on our route. To reduce plastic we recommend taking a suitable filtered water bottle so that you can easily refill your water and stay hydrated.

Transfers to/from the airport are by private vehicle. Your luggage is transported from hotel to hotel for you. The vehicle will be available with assistance on the later stages of rides. The tour leader cycles with the group.