Horseback Riding in Italy
FOUR PARKS OF SICILY |
There are very few places in the world where you can ride through so many different landscapes and natural wonders in such a short time as you will on this ride on the beautiful island of Sicily. The ride starts in the Madonie region, trekking across the steep, white cliffs and green forests sometimes known as the Dolomites of Sicily. From there you will gallop along smooth soils passing many lakes, rivers and the uninterrupted forest of the Nebrodi region. Ancient lava flows, grottos and old craters greet us as we near the Etna volcano before passing on to the Alcantarra river course. Our final days will take us along the beaches of the Jonio Sea, south of Taormina.
Six nights will be in comfortable country houses and B&Bs with two nights in Sicilian Forest Guard huts using comfortable camp cots made up with regular sheets, pillows and blankets.
Dinners will be the rich, traditional foods and wines for which this area is famous. Picnic lunches will be served along the route.
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| Itinerary |
| Day 1: | Saturday. Arrival at Palermo (or Trapani) airport and transfer to Castelbuono. After a briefing about the ride we will meet the horses followed by a short ride to become familiar with your horse and tack. Visit the Castelbuono historical centre followed by dinner. |
| Day 2: | Sunday, Madonie Natural Park. From San Gugliemo to Gangi.
From San Gulielmo, just a little higher than the town of Castelbuono, we will cross the Woods of Castelbuono, going up into the mountains to Piano Ferro and Pizzo Canna. Here you will see golden eagles nesting. Cross the limestone dolomites that are the heart of the park. Ride over Portella Colla pass and the pass of Portella Mandarini with their breathtaking views where we will stop for lunch. The afternoon ride will take us through the magnificent Gorgonero area and the spectacular Portella Bifolqui pass before reaching the country house near Gangi town where we will overnight.
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| Day 3: | Monday, Nebrodi Natural Park, Da Gangi a Capizzi.
After breakfast we will cross the eolic park of Marrocco before trekking through the wide forest of la Giumenta, stopping for a picnic lunch in the beautiful area of Sella del Contrasto. This afternoon we will ride along oak forests before reaching the mountain village of Capizzi.
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| Day 4: | Tuesday, Nebrodi Natural Park. From Capizzi to Portella Femmina Morta.
Ride up along the sides of the Nebrodi Mountains till Portella dell ‘Obolo where we will follow a trail that takes us to the top of the mountains. From here we will be crossing oak and beech forests with incredible open landscapes inbetween. Today’s lunch stop will be near the spring of Nocita. The afternoon will take us long the mountain divide until we reach the pass of Femmina Morta where we will find our hotel lodging for this night.
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| Day 5: | Wednesday, Nebrodi Natural Park. From Portella Femmina Morta to Tre Aric lake.
Today’s trek across the mountains will lead us past the lakes of Maulazzo, Biviere, Cartolari and Tre Arie. On the South you will see Etna volcanco. On the North will be the Eolian Islands archipelago and the Tirreno Sea. Tonight we will sleep in a Sicilian Forest guards’ hut. (Showers are available.)
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| Day 6: | Thursday, Parco dell ‘Etna. From Lago Tre Arie to Mount la Nave.
Leaving the Tre Arie Lake, we will follow the course of Flascio river to ride into the Gurrida Lake Reserve inside the Etna Natural Park. The riding will be through lava flows of different generations. Once again we will overnight at a Sicilian Forest guards’ hut. This one will be near Monte la Nave. This is the only night showers are not available.
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| Day 7: | Friday, Etna Natural Park. From Monte La Nave Mount to Castiglione di Sicilia.
Leaving the Forest Guards’ hut, we will follow a trail called Altomontana of Etna. It runs all the way through the sides of the volcano at a medium height of 1400 meters. Along the way we will come across birch, beech, oak and fine forests, encountering ancient lava flows and old volcanic craters. We will stop to see 1981 eruptive craters that were able to stop the lava flows that almost hit the town of Randazzo, lower in the valley. After a picnic lunc in Solicchiata we will descend along the Etna slopes, covered by woods and vineyards to the village of Castiglione di Sicilia. Dinner and overnight at a country house.
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| Day 8: | Saturday, Alcantara River Natural Park. From Castigione di Sicilia to South Marco beach and return.
This is an incredible day of extraordinary landscapes. The magnificent trail follws the Alcantara river, whose waters have excavated their way along a very old and massive lava flow. After the magnificent Alcanttara Gorges wie will go around the medieval village of Calatabiano to reach the beach of South Marco on the Jonio Sea coast. Riders will have the opportunity to ride their horses into the sea. After a relaxing lunch along the beach, we will ride back to the country house where will we have dinner and overnight.
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| Day 9: | Sunday. From Castilione di Sicilia to Catania Airport.
After breakfast we will transfer by minibus to Catania Airport.
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| THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. |
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| Pricing and Dates |
| Length of Ride | 9 days, 8 nights and 7 days riding. |
| Riding Ability | Strong Intermediate |
| Group Size | Minimum-6 Maximum-12 |
| Riding Per Day | 6-7 hours |
| Pace | Moderate with some fast canters and gallops. |
| Tack | English or western |
| Horses | Menorcan and Spanish Thoroughbred crosses, Arabs and warmbloods |
| Weight Limit | 220 lbs |
| 2012 Dates | April 14-22, June 2-10, July 7-15, Sept 22-30, Oct 20-28 |
| 2012 Price | $2,530 |
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