Sicily: From the Centre to the Sea – Independent
This route takes in Sicily’s historical relics, unspoilt villages and superb scenery as you walk from the little-known centre of the island, crossing rolling mountain pastures with panoramic views of the beautiful Madonie National Park. Aside from impressive panoramas, this conservation area protects many rare, endemic plants as well as some colossal ancient trees and a wide variety of fauna.
Pilgrim paths then descend through woods, vineyards, olive and lemon groves to the coast. Finish with time at leisure in the port town of Cefalù.
You can expect to see migrant birds all year round and, in spring, the island is covered in wildflowers, earning it the nickname ‘the garden of the Mediterranean’.
Duration: 8 or 9 days
Itinerary
Enjoy the panoramic views and explore the historic fortress and cathedral. Friendly, 3-star accommodation in historic centre.
A Roman and later an Arab stronghold, this historic town occupies a commanding ridge-top position, with fine views. Its impressive fortress has withstood sieges over many centuries. Visit the cathedral, archaeological museum and Lombard Castle.
Friendly, family-run B&B in historic centre
The Route Manager will drive you to the town of Villadoro, from where paths and ancient drove roads cross gently rolling hills with views to Mt. Etna. Continue to the dramatically situated town of Gangi. (9.9 miles, 5 hours). Simple hotel in Gangi or farmstay in countryside outside Gangi (upgrade).
Houses packed tightly together, encircling the crown of a hill, with Mount Etna ever present as the backdrop – Gangi is a visually striking town but remains delightfully ‘untouristy’. It is an archetypal Sicilian village, steeped in tradition, distinguished by the friendliness and integrity of the people as much as its unique construction.
Simple, family-run hotel
Agriturismo – Converted baronial house in countryside
Time to relax or take an optional Gangi town walk discovering the chaotic network of alleyways and important landmarks (3.8 miles, 2 hours), before walking on. Paths across farmland lead to the route of an ancient road to the hilltop village of Geraci Siculo, with its ruined Saracen castle, fountain and picturesque alleys (9.2 miles, 5 hours). 3-star boutique hotel with views or upgrade to a 4-star with spa, garden and terrace.
A lovely and authentic Sicilian village with a tangle of alleyways to explore, a ruined Saracen castle, impressive fountain and a viewpoint with a difference…!
Friendly, boutique hotel with glorious view of the valley
Elegant, boutique hotel with spa, garden and terrace
Paths through open mountain meadows, with extensive views, lead steadily up to a high plateau. Overnight stay at a comfortable mountain refuge in spectacular setting. (12.1 miles, 6.5 hours).
This route passes through the Madonie mountains and a fascinating limestone landscape of sink holes, flat-floored valleys (such as the Piano Battaglia) and cave systems. Aside from impressive panoramas, this conservation area protects rare, endemic plants as well as some colossal ancient trees and a variety of fauna, including porcupine, wild cats, butterflies, beetles, peregrine falcons and a few pairs of golden eagles.
Comfortable, family – run mountain refuge in spectacular setting
Follow well-maintained paths in a loop across Piano Battaglia’s sister valley, then up amongst rubble-fields and the most southerly beechwoods in Europe, past the mysterious dips of karst landscapes, to Pizzo Carbonara, the highest point of the Madonie mountains (1979 m) (5.3 miles, 2.5-3 hours). NB this 'free' day is included in the 9 day option only.
Comfortable, family – run mountain refuge in spectacular setting
Descend amidst inspiring scenery, through a former nature reserve and down a geologically interesting valley, to the village of Isnello (7.3 miles 4 hours) and your family-run guesthouse.
(For very keen walkers opting to take the 8 day trip which does not include the 'free' day in Piano Battaglia, there is the option to walk to explore the high landscapes of Pizzo Carbonara (1.9 or 5.3 miles, 1 or 2.5/3 hours) before continuing on to Isnello).
Another quaint and unspoiled Sicilian village that straddles a valley, with steep streets, a ruined castle and several churches worth visiting.
Family run, centrally located guesthouse
After a short descent and stream crossing, farm tracks lead up to a ridge and pilgrim church with panoramic views – the sea! An ancient pilgrim path then leads down through woods and meadows, olive groves and vineyards, scrub and lemon groves, finally reaching Cefalù and the sea (10.9 miles, 5.5 hours). Modern 4-star hotel or upgrade to a 5-star luxury seafront hotel with pool and gardens.
Relax on the golden sands, take a dip in the Mediterranean Sea or explore the sights of this lively port, in particular the Unesco-listed Norman cathedral with fine Byzantine mosaics. Perhaps combine this with a visit to the cathedral in Monreale, an easy day trip from Cefalù. Here the extraordinary mosaics cover almost every wall, alongside marble floors, Corinthian columns and intricately carved ceilings.
Modern, friendly hotel in convenient location
Luxury, seaside hotel with pool in terraced gardens – lovely views
Explore the picturesque ancient streets and fishing port of Cefalù on an optional town walk. Take in the magnificent Romanesque cathedral, and the massive buttress of rock above the town, with paths to prehistoric, Phoenician, Greek, Roman and Medieval sites and fortifications, and spectacular views (3.8 miles). Good beaches for swimming.
Modern, friendly hotel in convenient location
Luxury, seaside hotel with pool in terraced gardens – lovely views
Trip Planner
Walking & Terrain
Walking: Moderate to challenging. The walk lengths vary from 4 hours to a maximum of 7 hours walking. Hours of walking, which may vary from individual to individual, means hours of actual walking and does not include stops for lunch, sightseeing, rests or siestas.
Terrain: Paths are mostly well-made farm and mule tracks crossing rolling hills, grassy meadows and scrub. Through the Madonie National Park, paths become more rugged and exposed. Please be sure to carry a compass in case of poor visibility in this mountainous section. We'd also recommend long trousers and long sleeves on some sections due to mountain broom and holly which can sometimes become quite overgrown. There is a small section of the route that could possibly be vertiginous, but an alternative route can easily be taken.
All ATG trips include facilities and options so that you can arrange to walk as much or as little as you like – or not at all - and your Route Manager will be able to advise you on public transport or taxi options.
Walking & Terrain
Walking: Moderate to challenging. The walk lengths vary from 4 hours to a maximum of 7 hours walking. Hours of walking, which may vary from individual to individual, means hours of actual walking and does not include stops for lunch, sightseeing, rests or siestas.
Terrain: Paths are mostly well-made farm and mule tracks crossing rolling hills, grassy meadows and scrub. Through the Madonie National Park, paths become more rugged and exposed. Please be sure to carry a compass in case of poor visibility in this mountainous section. We'd also recommend long trousers and long sleeves on some sections due to mountain broom and holly which can sometimes become quite overgrown. There is a small section of the route that could possibly be vertiginous, but an alternative route can easily be taken.
All ATG trips include facilities and options so that you can arrange to walk as much or as little as you like – or not at all - and your Route Manager will be able to advise you on public transport or taxi options.
Additional activities available locally
This is a wonderful area offering these additional local experiences:
Piazza Armerina - From Enna visit Piazza Armerina, famous for its classical mosaics at the Villa Romana del Casale. This UNESCO world heritage site is definitely worth a visit and depending on your arrival time you could either visit en route to Enna or book an extra day in Enna. Taxi costs from Enna to Piazza Armerina are in the region of 150€ and from Catania to Piazza Armerina then on to Enna from 250€. Entry tickets to see the mosaics is about 20€ per person
Olive oil tasting - In Cefalu, on the ‘free day’, enjoy a local olive oil tasting from 60€ per person or from 95€/person with a light lunch, in a historical family run olive mill in a nearby village. Taxi cost from 40€.
Additional activities/taxis are paid for locally and can be booked via your Route Manager who will contact you 2 weeks prior to departure.
Your Personal ATG Route Manager
I live in Sicily and have always worked within the tourism industry here, helping to run my family’s hotels. In 2006, I joined ATG. It’s a joy to introduce clients to the lesser-known and more authentic aspects of the island. The Madonie Park is particularly special – small but so rich in biodiversity, offering new and breathtaking views at every corner. Walking this route is like reading a brilliant book – you can’t wait to reopen it the next day and continue from where you left it.
“Our Route Manager, Carmelo, was brilliant throughout…always in the background, quietly encouraging us on, and just around the corner when we needed him!”
Route Book
The ATG Route Book is a detailed, day-to-day guide. The book anticipates your needs with easy-to-follow instructions, maps, plans and other information that will guide you to discover the best that the area has to offer and is the key to the success of an independent holiday with us.
Walking App
Your Route Manager can provide you with a link to download an app to your smartphone. This app provides the GPS track for your route on your phone. You can use this digital support to find your position and navigate the route, even without an internet connection or mobile phone reception.
Accommodation & Meals
You can expect each hotel to be one of the most characteristic, comfortable and best located for travellers on foot, with the character and sometimes the standard varying from place to place. In more remote areas hotels may be of a generally lower standard in relation to their ‘star ratings’. Much of this itinerary is ‘off the beaten tourist track’ so expect something different on occasions – and we think you may be delighted!
Single travellers are accommodated in double rooms for single occupancy for a supplemental charge.
On this route, upgraded accommodation is available at some overnight stops, as specified on the itinerary.
Breakfast is included and there are suggestions in the Route Book about where to buy provisions for a picnic lunch, as well as restaurant recommendations. Dining options often include a choice of restaurants that can be pre-booked for you by your Route Manager.
Food & Wine
Sicilian cuisine is one of contrasts: simple, peasant cooking combined with the richer, more exotic styles brought over by invading civilisations. Whatever the dish, expect intense, pure flavours from the local ingredients, grown in fertile volcanic soil under the hot sun. Fish is, inevitably, predominant on every menu with a huge variety on offer, cooked in every way possible. Sicily, along with Puglia, is the largest wine producer in Italy. The quality has improved considerably in recent decades. Local white grape varieties notably include Grillo, Inzolia and Catarrato. Red varieties include Nero d’Avola (the dominant red grape in Sicily), Nerello Mascalese and Frappato. The Route Book contains a section on the cuisine and wines of the region, and a list of recommended restaurants en route. The Route Manager will be pleased to help you with any queries, requests or advice.
History
Straddling the Mediterranean between Italy and Africa, the island of Sicily has long commanded strategic importance. The result has been 2,000 years of successive invasions, all leaving behind an abundance of impressive monuments including Saracen and Norman fortifications, ancient pilgrim churches and the fine Romanesque cathedral and mosaics of Cefalù. The Route Book provides a detailed account of the history of Sicily.
Flora & Fauna
Sicily’s location between Europe, Africa and Asia as well as its range in climatic conditions, from alpine to Mediterranean scrub and coastal, makes for a wonderful variety of flora and fauna. This route passes through the Madonie mountains and a fascinating limestone landscape of sink holes, flat-floored valleys (such as the Piano Battaglia) and cave systems. Aside from impressive panoramas, this conservation area protects many rare, endemic plants as well as some colossal ancient trees and a wide variety of fauna, including porcupines and wild cats, butterflies and beetles, peregrine falcons and a few pairs of golden eagles. Our Route Book provides further detail while apps such as ‘LeafSnap’, ‘Flora Incognita’, ‘ChirpOMatic’ and child-friendly ‘Seek by iNaturalist’ can identify the flora and fauna en route.
Travel arrangements
Travel arrangements, including flights, for ATG Independent Footloose trips should be made independently.
Outward travel to Enna: From Catania airport there is a bus service to Enna (journey time approx. 1.5 hrs). From Palermo airport there are trains via Palermo central station (3 hrs). There is also a bus service from Palermo central station to Enna (1 hr 50)
Return travel from Cefalù: Trains run at varying intervals from Cefalù to Catania Airport. Journey time varies greatly but generally takes 4 to 5 hours. Regular trains run from Cefalù to Palermo airport via Palermo Centrale. Journey time is generally 1h 30 mins to 2 hrs.
Trip Options & Prices
Overview
This 8 day independent walking tour in Sicily starts in the mountainous centre of the island. Keen walkers will enjoy 6 days of excellent walking with impressive views and an abundance of wildlife in the Madonie National Park, before descending to the coast, with opportunities for sightseeing, swimming and relaxing; a wonderful end to this weeklong trip to Italy.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Enna
Day 2: Enna (Villadoro) to Gangi*
Day 3: Gangi to Geraci Siculo*
Day 4: Geraci Siculo to Piano Battaglia
Day 5: Piano Battaglia to Isnello
Day 6: Isnello to Cefalù*
Day 7: Cefalù* - free day
Day 8: Departure
*The upgrade price option includes upgrades at these locations
Prices (per person)
Overview
This 9 day independent walking tour in Sicily is a more extensive visit to the area. It includes everything on the 8 day itinerary plus an extra day at Piano Battaglia to enjoy an excursion on foot to Pizzo Carbonara, the highest peak of the Madonie mountains and second highest in Sicily after mount Etna. Highly recommended for keen walkers, this walk offers panoramic views of the geo-park and across Sicily.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Enna
Day 2: Enna (Villadoro) to Gangi*
Day 3: Gangi to Geraci Siculo*
Day 4: Geraci Siculo to Piano Battaglia
Day 5: Piano Battaglia - free day
Day 6: Piano Battaglia to Isnello
Day 7: Isnello to Cefalù*
Day 8: Cefalù* - free day
Day 9: Departure
*The upgrade price option includes upgrades at these locations
Prices (per person)
Frequently Asked Questions
On each route there is an ATG Route Manager, who is there to take care of all the practicalities and ensure the success of your trip. Route Managers have all been ATG-trained, speak English and the language of the country fluently, and live in the local area. Your Route Manager will make contact with you a couple of weeks prior to departure (usually by email) and will then meet you at the start of your trip and will be available during your trip to move your luggage from hotel to hotel, provide local information, make restaurant reservations and do everything possible to ensure that you derive maximum enjoyment from your holiday.
Please let us know about any dietary restrictions or allergies in advance so that our Route Manager can ensure that you are catered for during your holiday. Most dietary restrictions do not present a problem on our trips and the Route Manager can discuss your requirements in more detail with you at the start of your trip.
The walks are graded according to difficulty but you can walk as much or as little as you like.
Easy: walking along well-established paths and tracks with some short ascents/descents. These trips are suitable for most people who enjoy occasional exercise.
Easy to Moderate: walking along well-established paths and tracks. Occasional loose (gravel) surfaces. Ascents/descents up to 1 hour. These trips are suitable for most people who have a reasonable level of fitness.
Moderate: walking along a variety of paths and tracks. Occasional uneven areas. Ascents/descents 1-2 hours. These trips are suitable for those who have a reasonable to good level of fitness.
Moderate to Challenging: walking along varied paths and surfaces, occasionally challenging, with ascents/descents of 2-3 hours. These trips are suitable for more experienced walkers who have a good level of fitness.
If you are planning to take an Independent trip as a single traveller, we would ask you to consider the potential dangers of walking alone before making a booking and if necessary discuss this with our Sales team.
Single travellers will be booked into a double room which will carry a single occupancy supplement.
Flights are not included in the price of your ATG holiday and should be booked independently.
The trips in our Independent programme make ideal family holidays for those with children who are old enough (and keen enough!) to enjoy a walking holiday or young enough to be carried in a backpack.
You would need to consider costs for lunches (either a picnic style lunch or lunch in a café as you prefer) and evening meals. Where an evening meal is included at a hotel this is indicated on the trip page. For evening meals not included, the route book provides restaurant recommendations to suit a wide range of budgets. You would also need to factor in any entrance fees to museums, churches, galleries and other sightseeing costs, items of a personal nature, shopping expenditure and transport if you choose to not to walk on some days.
Tourist Tax
This tax is charged per guest per night and the rate is determined by the local council based on the star rating of the accommodation. The rate usually varies from €2 up to €5 per person per night, although the rate can be higher in major cities. This tax is not included in the price of your holiday but where applicable will be payable direct to your hotel in cash.
We are delighted to book extensions for you at either end of your trip. We only book hotels with which we have an established relationship and where we can ensure a high level of service and enjoyment. If you would like an extension hotel booking please indicate this during the booking process and we will contact you with pricing information.
ATG does not provide any form of insurance cover. However, it is a condition of booking that you have fully comprehensive insurance cover, including:
Cancellation/curtailment up to the cost of the holiday (preferably including flights)
Medical emergencies and repatriation
Travel delay / missed departure
Lost or stolen personal belongings
Personal liability
Legal expenses
Natural Disasters
Although most credit card companies offer travel insurance as something that is included when paying the balance with the card, it may be advisable to check that the cover offered is what you expect it to be. Very few companies include cancellation and curtailment or medical expenses. Whatever the insurance policy you have taken out, please read the documentation carefully. Please ensure also that you take it with you on your trip and refer to it in the case of any claim or emergency.
Yes, please click here for what to bring. A packing checklist is also included with your booking confirmation.
Sustainability
ATG was founded on principles of conservation and sustainable development. It was the first company to win the tourism industry’s two top awards: Tourism for Tomorrow (UK) and the World Legacy Award (National Geographic and Conservation International USA) and also the first to have an accredited Environmental Management System.
Everyone who walks with ATG contributes to the ATG Trust, which funds projects that benefit local communities in the regions visited. By supporting these initiatives, ATG promotes sustainable tourism. Past projects have included heritage restoration projects, environmental conservation and educational projects.
Your Route Manager will be able to tell you about the ATG Trust project on this route involving the conservation of a section of the Roman road between Gangi and Geraci, including a fine Roman bridge.
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