Welcome to Hooked on Walking Holidays and our walking holiday in Sicily. Our walking holiday in Sicily starts not far from Palermo and is based in the Madonie Mountains in this area. This walking holiday in the Madonie Mountains of Sicily is available as a 7 night self guided walking tour.
Almost literally ‘in the shadow of’ the most famous and dominant highest Sicilian peak, the Etna, lays the Parco delle Madonie, an incredibly beautiful yet unknown mountain area south east of Palermo. Rugged cliffs and razor sharp mountain crests almost reaching up to 2000m m that offer great panoramas to the walkers eyes. Small villages built like eagles nests lie scattered against the mountain slopes. The daily life passes away slowly, following the rhythm of the seasons and is strongly influenced by old rituals and traditions. People here still live off what nature has to offer. They work the small fields and grow their own vegetables, maintain the olive groves and vineyards and harvest the figs, almonds and hazelnuts. Through this timeless landscape you’ll make a real walk that takes you from the highest mountains to the sea at Cefalú, the famous harbour town with the thousand years old Norman Cathedral.

Day 1 Arrival in Sicily and transfer to Petralia Sottana
Arrive in Sicily and breathe in the warm island breezes and aroma of the outstanding local flora. A private transfer takes you from Palermo Airport to the first accommodation in the south of the Monti Madonie. Enjoy your first dinner in a local restaurant of your choice trying the many flavors of the tasty regional cuisine.

Day 2 Petralia Sottana round walk
Warm up with a loop walk through the hills and dales around Petralia Sottana. You will be rewarded with breathtaking views over Central Sicily’s rolling hills before the descent back to the traditional Sicilian town where you overnight.
12 km up/down 470m/470m, 4.5 hours.

Day 3 Pomieri.
Today you’ll turn to the very heart of the Monte Madonie. A sturdy climb through wooded hills up to a 1500m high mountain pass brings you to Pomieri, an isolated mountain hotel with a splendid view on the highest peaks. In springtime the ground is covered with different orchids that grow on these limestone rocks.
16 km up/down 830m/490m 6 hours.

Day 4 Pomieri loop walk
Today’s walk starts off fairly steep and rough underfoot but it eases out as you reach the higher lands where views begin to unfold and you follow panoramic dirt roads and well-marked trails, making a loop around the fascinating Vallone degli Angeli and on part of the long distance ‘Sentiero Italia’ where you can still find a few examples of the Nebrodi Fir tree, that once covered a vast section of the uplands.
12 km up/down 600m/600m 5 hours.

Day 5 Rocca di Gonato.
A real mountain walk today climbing from Pomieri to the plateau Piano Battaglia at 1700 m. You make a large circular tour around the Monte Ferro at 1900 m, before descending.
14 km up/down 550m/1050m 5.5 hours.

Day 6 Castelbuono.
Today you’ll say goodbye to the Monte Madonie and descend to Castelbuono. Since the walk is short (only 3 hours) so you’ll have time in the afternoon to have a stroll through Castelbuono. The ancient castle of the Ventimiglia family, the medieval town centre and the small streets are all worthwhile visiting.
7 km up/down 50m/570m, 3 hours.

Day 7 Cefalù.
After breakfast you’ll be transferred with your luggage to the bus stop of Castelbuono from where you’ll travel by public transport to Cefalú. After checking in at your hotel you’ll have the rest of the day to yourself. The Normans Cathedral, climbing the Rocca or the cool waves of the sea, the choice is yours.

Day 8 After breakfast the tour ends.
You can travel back to Palermo.

Best travel season
The best season for planning this tour is in late spring and early autumn. Not only the weather but also nature is at its best during these months. It rarely happens that you find snow on the highest pass at the beginning of May.

Level of walking
The daily distances fluctuate between 5-10 miles , 8 and 16 km. You’ll climb and descend between the 400 and 1000 m. Although the majority of the walks are not difficult and fairly well signaled you should however have some experience in mountain walking and orientation.

Accommodation and meals
The accommodations we’ve chosen for this tour are all different and special, ranging from a simple but friendly albergo, an old monastery to a luxurious estate or agriturismo. In all the accommodations there’re double bedrooms with bathroom. In the evening you’ll experience the richness of the local kitchen and the hospitality of the local people. They’ll transfer your luggage and prepare you dinner and mostly you can order your packed lunch at the accommodations. In Cefalú you stay in a hotel just outside the city centre where you are free to choose one of the many restaurants for dinner.

2013 Prices

How to get there
The best airport to use is Palermo Punta Raisi from where we pick you up and take you to the first accommodation.
Return Cefalu to airport by bus around £6 , 9€ ( pay locally )

Trip extension
It is possible to book extra nights for you in all the different accommodations. However we especially recommend the estate in Scillato (great place, good food), the agriturismo in Castelbuono (lovely accommodation with garden) or the hotel in Cefalú (nice town).
To view other Walking Holiday in Italy Umbria , Piemonte , Chianti , Cinque Terre , Dolomites , Sardinia , Amalfi Coast , Island of Elba , Sicily Active Volcanoes , Tuscany Dream , North of Siena , Lake Como ,, Walk Resort Dolomites, Glimpse of Sardinia

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