37.920199188261, 13.93561965
A horseback riding trip that immerses you for six days on horseback in the Sicilian territory of the Madonie Natural Park, spread over an area of more than forty thousand hectares offering more than half of the treasures of all biodiversity in Sicily.
HORSEBACK RIDING TRIP IN SICILY
INDICATIVE ITINERARY *
Day 1: Meeting at the end of afternoon directly at Palermo airport or directly at your first accommodation, an old farm dating from the eighteenth century which has been restored, immersed in the green hills of the River Rainò valley. Delicious dinner prepared using produce fresh from the farm and overnight at the agriturismo.
Day 2: Cefalù - Gole di Tiberio (6 hours on horseback).
Breakfast and departure around 8:30 am. You start the horseback ride crossing an area of dense Mediterranean vegetation, with magnificent views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Descent to Castelbuono, the largest village of Madonie, with about ten thousand inhabitants, the former seat of Barons Ventimiglia, who reigned for several centuries over all this territory, crossed on horseback on this riding trip. Picnic break in the shade of the famous Castelbuono castle and a short visit to the historic center. In the afternoon, you continue along olive trees and through the woods, to arrive in the beautiful valley of the Pollina river. Excellent dinner and accommodation at Agricampeggio Gole di Tiberio, perched above the UNESCO site of the Gorges de Tiberio with magnificent views over the valley.
Day 3: Gole di Tiberio - Casalvecchio (6 hours on horseback).
Breakfast and departure around 8:30 am. Ascent above the Pollina Valley, one of the most fascinating wild and panoramic places, between the territories of Castelbuono, San Mauro Castelverde and Geraci Siculo. Picnic break in the wild nature of the valley, and continuation along forgotten paths to Agriturismo Casalvecchio. Hearty dinner based on farm produce and overnight.
Day 4: Casalvecchio - Rifugio Marini (7 hours on horseback).
Breakfast and departure from the farm around 9 am, following an old trazzera, which follows the valley of the Rainò torrent, a tributary of the Pollina river, at the eastern limit of the Madonie Park. You cross a wild and uncrowded landscape, to arrive in the territory of Petralia Soprana: ancient medieval town, the highest in the province of Palermo, from where it is possible to admire magnificent views over almost the entire island. Picnic break in the woods, then you continue your ascent in the high mountains to Portela Mandarini, a strategic crossroads of ancient transhumance routes. You follow the paths of the park to arrive in the afternoon at Piano Battaglia. Hearty dinner based on local products and accommodation at the Rifugio Marini.
Day 5: Rifugio Marini - Giardino Donna Lavia (6 hours on horseback).
After breakfast, departure from Rifugio Marini around 8:30 am. Visit of the Battaglietta, a caric sinkhole where all the snowmelt water flows, to head towards Cefalù through underground tunnels. Passage through the Madonna degli Angeli valley to admire the last specimens of the Nebrodis pine trees (abies nebrodensis), emblem of the park. Continuation to the Madonna dell'Alto sanctuary (at 1819 meters), from where you can admire, when the visibility is clear, views over most of the island. Descent to the territory of Polizzi Generosa, an important historic town of Madonie, before arriving at Giardino Donna Lavia, a structure dating from the 14th century used in the past as a watchtower, monastery and residence of the nobles. Sumptuous dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Giardino Donna Lavia - Casena Mongerrati (6 hours on horseback).
Breakfast and departure from Giardino Donna Lavia around 8:30 am. You start the day on horseback going up into the high mountains through oak forests to arrive at Portella Colla and Piano Cervi, a very beautiful area of the park where you can often see hinds and deer. Picnic in the middle of the forests of Monte Cervi before descending through a very wild and rocky territory to arrive in the surroundings of Collesano, an ancient village of Arab origin (Qal'at as-sirat). Hearty dinner and accommodation in Casena Mongerrati, with swimming pool.
Day 7: Casena Mongerrati - Cefalù (6 hours on horseback).
Breakfast and departure from Casena Mongerrati around 8:30 am. You cross the Mugerrati dense forest of cork oaks and holm oaks. You continue on horseback towards the territory of Isnello for the picnic break, before riding up in the middle of dense forests until Gibilmanna: famous sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin, the patroness and the protector of the diocese of Cefalù. Visit of the sanctuary, which houses one of the most beautiful works of Gagini, a famous Sicilian Renaissance sculptor. You continue the ride through an area covered with Mediterranean scrub, with breathtaking views of the Tyrrhenian coast, to return to our base. Delicious dinner and accommodation.
Day 8: Departure. Breakfast and free transfer to Palermo airport.
* Indicative itinerary: can be changed if necessary. Indicative riding times.
MEETING:
Free transfer from Palermo airport at the end of afternoon.
DEPARTURE:
Free transfer to Palermo airport after breakfast.
FLIGHTS:
Flights are not included in our prices because it is generally more interesting to book your flights yourself, an inclusive flight package is generally more expensive with agency commissions. However, we are at your disposal to help you find the best rates or to offer you a trip including transport on request: free service.
Low-cost flights to Catane::
Easyjet from Bordeaux, Lyon, Nice, Paris-Roissy, Bâle-Mulhouse, Genève.
Ryanair from Marseille.
Transavia from Lyon, Nantes, Paris-Orly.
Vueling from Lyon, Paris-Orly.
Volotea from Toulouse.
RIDING LEVEL: 
You must be able to walk, trot, canter and galop outdoor on open spaces.
Between 6 and 7 hours riding per day.
HORSES:
Sicilian or crossbred, well trained, accustomed to the region, live in breeding. The guides clean, dress and saddle the horses.
TACK:
Comfortable English Saddles coated on request of sheepskin, and / or on request western, with hunting collar and croupiere.
GUIDE:
The qualified guide speaks English, French, Italian, Spanish and Sicilian.
NUMBER OF RIDERS:
8 riders maximum.
PUBLIC:
From 16 years old. Maximum weight: 90 kg.
ACCOMMODATION: 
In comfortable hotels and guesthouses (Agriturismi). Some nights in more simple mountain refuges. Single bedroom available with supplement.
MEALS:
An assistant prepares nice buffets at picnic places or in restaurants:
Picnic lunch, typical Sicilian dinner in the evening.
Refined sicilian cuisine based on local products. Evening meals include: starter, pasta, meat, dessert, wine, water and digestif (liqueur, grappa, limoncello or any other choice), coffee or tea. Continental or American-style breakfasts on request. Picnics: fresh bread, salad, cheeses, olives, charcuterie, Sicilian specialties, wines or other drinks on request, coffee or tea. (Meals brought by the stewardship car). Tables, chairs, cutlery are provided.
LUGGAGE TRANSFERS:
Every day, the luggage is transferred by car by the assistant from hostel to hostel.
2024 PRICE / PER PERSON:
In 2-3 person bedrooms: 1790 €Single bedromm supplement *: 260 €
Booking fees: 15 €* If you book in shared bedrooms and there is no one to share, the single bedroom supplement will be charged, refunded if a person wishing to share, subsequently registers.
THE PRICE INCLUDES:
Horse and tack rental, guide, assistant preparing meals and transfering luggage, full board accommodation, free transfers from / to Palermo airport at fixed times, the financial guarantee of your payments by our travel operator deposit.
THE PRICE DOESN'T INCLUDE:
Individual insurance, tips, personal expenses, drinks out of meals, lunch if you arrive in the morning, any visits and optional activities, travel to / from Sicily, anything not indicated in "the price includes".
INSURANCE:
A civil liability and travel insurance (assistance/repatriation) are compulsory. A cancellation insurance is strongly recommended.
A payment by credit card can make you benefit from its possible insurance (check your contract).
We offer to Europe Union, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway residents: the Chapka insurances.
Cap Security: full insurance with cancellation. Cap Cancellation: cancellation only.
See prices & information
FLIGHTS :
Flights are not included because it is more interesting to book directly your ticket: a transport package included is generally more expensive with agency commissions. However, we are at your disposal to help you find the best prices or to offer you a flight included package on request (free service).
Awesome week !!
Very good atmosphere, magnificent breathtaking landscapes, all with respect for the horse. Everything was perfect !
The days are busy, with a departure around 8:30-9am for the morning hike; a 2-3 hour lunch break, where a fantastic picnic awaited us; resumption of the ride to our lodge for the night, for an arrival around 6-6.30 p.m., followed by a delicious typical Sicilian meal.
Our guide and his companion were very welcoming, available and very kind. They know their region very well, and this crossing of the Parc des Madonies offers a true 100% nature getaway.
Very warm welcome from Alex and his wife. Very safe horses and a guide ensuring total security: Mora then Cora were formidable horses, sure footed and great endurance. Very comfortable saddle with over-saddle in case of rain ! All accommodation were friendly, clean and comfortable. A superb ride with breathtaking landscapes and excellent food. Cap Rando services: excellent relationship with Didier who responds to his customers the same day. All was perfect, nothing needs to be changed !