Ride Description

Mount Etna is Sicily's greatest natural attraction and is Europe's highest active volcano. Over 1200 square metres of Etna's surface is covered with solidified lava. Etna offers skiing in the winter months and breathtaking horse riding during the Spring, Summer and Autumn..

Various species of oak and stone pine, as well as birch and beech, cover much of its sloped surface. Broom plant and other shrubs dot the area, especially at lower altitudes. Etna's deciduous trees change color in the Autumn, creating a spectacular panoply of changing shades.

Frogs, toads and turtles live in the streams and small ponds of Etna's forests. There are also various species of snakes and lizards. Foxes, squirrels, weasels, hare, hedgehogs, porcupine and a few wild cats also consider Etna their domain. Overhead, you'll see owls, falcons, partridges and the occasional golden eagle.

This exclusive trek climbs all the way round the nature paths crossing contrasting landscapes of breathtaking beauty and affording the most stunning views of Sicily.

The trail starts from the farm situated on the slopes of Mount Etna at 1500 metres inside the Nature Etna Park. You will ride your horse over this unique landscape rich in magnificent scenery through nature paths in the forest to the lunar landscape caused by the impressive lava flow.

Food & Accommodation

The accommodation on this trail varies with nights spent at hotels, farms, mountain refuges and hostels.

Food and wine are among Sicily's main attractions, and you may have sampled something of both long before arriving in Sicily. When most people think of Italian food, pasta and pizza come to mind. But Sicilian cuisine transcends even those culinary delights. Cheeses, pasta, artichokes, wild game, olive oil and wine are some of the specialities you can expect to sample on this trail.

Activities

This trail will keep you fairly occupied but on day 6 you have the opportunity to relax and do some sightseeing around the wonderful town of Taormina. Before you arrive here you will sail around the Isola Bella, the Blue Cave by private boat to the wonderful creek of Mazzaro. Here you will have the opportunity for a swim in the crystal blue waters. In the afternoon you will feel the magical mythical atmosphere of this small mountain town with its quaint streets and many restaurants and boutiques.

If you prefer, on this morning you can take a wine tasting trip to a vineyard on the north eastern slopes of Etna. At 800 metres above sea level, the vineyards lay on sunny and airy terracing facing a breathtaking landscape. Here you can partake of this wonderful wine along with some home made appetisers to give you a real taste of Sicily.

Another choice is to stay at the farm and take part in a cooking lesson with Domen and his wife. Here you can make some classic Sicilian dishes which you can then sample for your lunch.

Not for the faint hearted but we can also organise a hike to the summit craters of Mount Etna visiting the active vents, We cover the 15 km from Rifugio Sapienza using at first the cablecar and then the four wheel drive.

Horses

Type of horses: Sicilian, Sicilian/Arab cross, Purosange Orientali

Nature of horses: Calm and responsive, surefooted

Number of horses: 10

Height of horses: 14-16 hh

Weight limit: None within reason

Tack type: English

Further Details

Languages: English and Italian

Health requirements: Fit

Age limit: None within reason

Tuition: Tuition is not included but you can arrive a day or two early and have some lessons to refresh your skills ready for the trail.

Included: Transfers from Catania, accommodaton, riding, lunches, five dinners. a full day excursion including a boat trip on Taormina Sea. All terrain vehicle as support for the riders during the trip.

Not included: High cost bottled wines and spirits, last dinner in Taormina, culinary day, hike on last day

Travel Information

Flights are to Catania or Palermo. There is a regular bus service between Palermo and Catania for a very reasonable price. We can also arrange transfer. Transfer to and from Catania airport is included in the price.

Airport: Catania

Airport 2: Palermo

Etna on horseback

This exclusive trek climbs all the way round the highest volcano in Europe along nature paths crossing contrasting landscapes of breathtaking beauty and affording the most stunning views of Sicily.

The trail starts from the farm situated on the slopes of Mount Etna at 1500 metres inside the Nature Etna Park. You will ride your horse over this unique landscape rich in magnificent scenery through nature paths in the forest to the lunar landscape caused by the impressive lava flow.

Day 1
You will be met at Catania Airport and transferred to Frutteto D’Efesto, 1400 m. above sea level, a lovely little farm in the Etna Park territory. Once settled, your hosts will present a dinner of delicious home-cooked food.
Overnight stay.

Day 2
After breakfast, you begin the Etna trail riding through the woods as far as the high mountain track.

You can observe woods, old craters and lava flows as far as the Monte Scavo hostel, where there is a stop for a picnic lunch. Then you take again the track cutting trough the Monte Maletto wood and go over the 1991 lava flow. Dinner and overnight - in a sleeping bag on camp beds provided by us - at the Saletti’s. About 6 hours on horseback.

Day 3:
In the morning the group goes on horseback to visit the extinct craters formed during the eruption of 1980. You cross vast lava flows through which a nature path has been cut by the Forestry Corps. Along the way you pass the Lamponi and the Palombe caves in a wooded area of pine and larch in the territory of Castiglione di Sicilia, on the northern slopes of the volcano. This pleasant route crosses fragrant woodlands and gives spectacular views of the Alcantara valley.

At lunchtime you arrive at the Pirao refuge where a tasty hot lunch is ready for you. After a two-hour lunch break, you remount and ride through wooded areas towards the little mountain chalet hotel, Brunek (1370m.), which is well-equipped with modern comforts. Dinner is in its restaurant and then you will be ready for a good night’s sleep.

Day 4
After breakfast you ride along a forest path leading to Piano Pernicara In the Ragabo pinewoods of the Commune of Linguaglossa. Crossing the Chiovazzi area you reach Mount Crisino (1345m.) and then Mount Stornello (1150). The track crosses immense lava flows from 1865, 1928 and 1971.

From there a mule track of great anthropological importance takes you through chestnut woods to the Magazzeni area near the village of St. Alfio. By about 1:30 you reach the Cirasella farm a few kilometres from the Chestnut tree of a Hundred Horses. Here you have a hot lunch, and after a brief siesta you set out on your horses again to visit the pluri-millenary tree under whose breadth of foliage, as legend has it, one hundred horsemen took shelter from a storm. You get back to the welcoming farm for dinner.

Day 5
You ride across the Felcerossa area and go through the Nicolosi wood, along a nature path that takes you to Piano dell’Acqua at 717 metres from where you can gaze with awe on the impressive lava flow that threatened the village of Zafferana from 1991 to 1993.

Here and there, trees, patches of greenery and small country houses and lava shelters, encircled by the flow bear witness to the past. You now enter a larch wood in the Ilice area and skirt Mount Arcimis (1284m.). Here the scenery changes again totally and you ride across the lunar landscape of the 1634 lava flow to reach Mount Serra Pizzuta Galvarina (1704m.).

Your group now leaves the forestry park behind and goes along the quiet provincial country road, and can admire lava flows and extinct craters on either side, especially the Silvestri craters (1900m.). These craters mark the beginning of the small Etna South tourist area. This area was partly covered by recent lava flows.

The cableway taking visitors almost up to the summit has now re-opened and starts from here. You stop here for lunch and can also buy souvenirs in the many little shops, admire the breathtaking view down to the Ionian Sea and the Plain of Catania. With saddlebags full of souvenirs, you now start your downhill ride back to the Frutteto di Efesto for your last memorable night on Mount Etna.

Day 6
After a relaxing breakfast at Efesto farm, at about 10 am, you will be driven by private minibus to Catania., about 30 minutes’ drive. There you go for a short walk along the streets of historic centre and visit the coloured local open fish market.

For lunch you will dine on locally caught fish at a nearby trattoria.
After lunch you leave for Taormina Sea where, by private boat, you can sail around the Isola Bella, the Blue Cave and the wonderful creek of Mazzarò. Of course you will have the opportunity for a swim in the crystal blue waters.

At mid-afternoon you will arrive at the small mountain town of Taormina, famous for its monuments and Greek Theatre. As soon as you arrive in Taormina, you will feel the magical, mythical atmosphere spread all around which has enchanted visitors from all over the world. Take time to walk and shop along the quaint streets of this historic centre. Dinner (á la carte - not included) and overnight in this beautiful romantic village with is small streets (no cars) and its many boutiques and restaurants.

Just for this day you can replace the above programme with the following four optional activities:

1) Relax at Efesto Farm
you can rest and have lunch at Efesto Farm. Then, in the afternoon, you follow the above programmr entirely.

2) Wine Tasting at Etna Vineyard
At 11 am, by private bus, you leave for a vineyard on the north-eastern Etna slopes. In an exclusive natural environment, at 800 metres above sea level, the vineyards lay on sunny and airy terracing, facing a breathtaking landscape. Wine tasting is partnered with the tasting of typical home-produced products. Then, in the afternoon, you follow the above programme entirely.

3) Culinary Day
At Efesto Farm, you take part in a cooking lesson - some classic Sicilian recipes with Domenico and his wife. Then you will all have lunch in a friendly atmosphere. After lunch, about mid-afternoon, you transfer directly to Taormina. This option is an extra 40 euros per person (worth it for the lunch!).

4) Volcano Adventure (from mid-April to October)
You hike to the summit craters of Mount Etna visiting the active vents and the fumarole area. You will also visit the eruptive fractures, the awesome cinder cones that have modified and enriched the volcanic landscape on the upper flanks of the mountain during the spectacular eruptions of 2001 and 2002-2003. Once you get to the top, you can see a large part of Sicily from the Aeolian Islands to the Gulf of Augusta.

You cover the 15 km from Rifugio Sapienza (1910 m a.s.l) to Torre del Filosofo (2900 m a.s.l.) using at first the cableway and then, the four wheel drive vehicle. The hike begins from Torre del Filosofo to reach the summit area 3260 of the main cone of Mount Etna. On the way down you will not ride in the four wheel drive but will walk down to Rifugio Sapienza along the Piano del Lago, from the Cisternazza enjoying the view of Valle del Bove, you will then go down on the sandy slopes from the southern face of the Montagnola.

The walk is easy but you must also take into account high mountain conditions (strong wind, cold and snow even in summer) and high level of volcanic hazard in the summit area.

The above hike is led by an expert volcanologist guide. The participants must be in good health not suffer asthma or any breathing disease or suffer with heart or blood pressure problems. Proper shoes for rugged terrain and a wind-proof jacket are indispensable. The guide can modify the hike itinerary for bad weather conditions or sudden increase of volcanic hazard.
Timing of the hike 5/6 hours and is only for those reasonably fit. This option will cost an extra 60 euros per person.

At the end of volcano adventure about mid-afternoon, you transfer directly to Taormina hotel.

Day 7
In the morning after breakfast check out of the hotel and transfer to Catania Airport by minibus.

Minimum group size: 4

Maximum group size: 10

Ability description: Experienced riders only

Type of ride: Mountain trails

Total riding time: 4 or 5 days riding

Departure dates: 19 - 26 April, 3-10-24-31 May, 7-21-28 June, 30 August, 6-13-20-27 September, 4 - 11 October . Other dates are possible up on request for a min of 4 riders

Pricing: Prices as follows includes one full day excursion to Taormina including a boat trip on the Taormina Sea.

8 days/7 nights (5 riding days):
4 people: £1090 per person
5/6 people: £987 per person
7/8 people: £870 per person
single room supplement: £160

7 days/6 nights (4 riding days):
4 people: £1040 per person
5/6 people: £930 per person
7/8 people: £807 per person
single room supplement: £135

Third option on the last day: £35 extra (min 4 people)
Fourth option on the last day: £50 extra (min 4 people)

Sicily short Trail

Please contact the office for details of this trail.

Minimum group size: 4

Maximum group size: 8

Ability description: Novice to advanced

Type of ride: Trail

Total riding time: 3 days riding

Departure dates: Any date available on request

Pricing: Five days/four nights with three days riding.
4 people: £690
5/6 people: £595
7/8 people: £450