Grade

Adventurous

Hotel Accommodation

Not Included

Airline Ticket

Not Included

Season

All Year

Bike

Included

This is a Private Tour

Season: all year available on request
5 nights/6 days

Palermo (2 nights) Trapani (2 nights) Marsala (1 night)
Hotel Package: not included but available on request
Airline Tickets: not purchased by us

Land: Palermo airport – West Side
Leave: Palermo airport – West Side

Day 1 – Palermo airport > Town
Day 2 – Palermo Street Food Walking Tour and Monreale
Day 3 – Palermo > Hike Mount Cofano and picnic on the beach > Trapani
Day 4 – Trapani > Erice, Marzipan and Olive Oil > Trapani
Day 5 –Trapani > Bike Salt Way Road, Winery and Saltpans > Marsala
Day 6 – Marsala > Palermo airport

Featured Licensed Local Guide Recommended for the above tour
-Monreale, to visit the Dome | Already Included in the tour costs
The rates for the above services are available on request.

 

LEGEND AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION
TOUR DETAILS & BOOKING INFORMATION

TOUR CODE: MADTOUR

Day 1
Palermo Airport > Town
Private vehicle and Italian speaking chauffeur disposal: transfer in only
Welcome to the warm, beautiful and pleasant island of Sicily! Upon arrival at Palermo Airport please proceed through the Passport Control and collect your luggage inside the customs area. Then meet the driver showing a sign with your name and a short drive takes you to the town.
Day 2
Palermo Street Food Walking Tour and Monreale
Palermo Street Food Small Size Group Tour starts: h 10.30AM
Monreale, English speaking guide disposal: to visit the Dome
Today indulge your senses in the Palermo Street Food Gastronomy which has a centuries-old culinary tradition, with Greek, Arab, Spanish and French influences. This immersion into Palermitan street food will give you a good understanding of the provenance and use of many Sicilian foods, as well as of local gastronomy. During the walk we highlight many of Palermo's artistic and architectural landmarks, including its Norman heritage, which has recently been included on the World Heritage List.

This culinary and cultural immersion commences with a stroll through the Ballarò Market, one of the liveliest places of the city, with its shouting vendors, and colourful and fragrant stalls. Your guide will discuss the history of Palermo’s historical markets, and relate it to the peculiarities of some local food specialties, some of which can be traced back to the influence of the Arab, Norman and Spanish dominations. While exploring the market and other family-run speciality food shops, we will indulge in savoury snacks such as Arancine --fried rice balls filled with either meat ragù, béchamel, ham or butter--, Sfincione --deep pan pizza with tomato sauce, onions, anchovies and caciocavallo cheese--, Pane e Pannelle --fried chickpea flour pancakes seasoned with fresh lemon juice -- Pani Cca Meusa --spleen sandwich--. Our Palermo walk continues through other parts of the historical center, to explore the complexities and layering of the city’s history, cultures and artistic expressions. We will pay particular attention to three buildings of many styles, La Martorana, the Four Corners, the Cathedral and the Palazzo Reale, which reveal the sometimes harmonious, sometimes incongruous composition of different architectural and artistic cultures (Arab, Norman and Spanish) that has characterized Palermo for centuries.

This afternoon we shuttle to Monreale to see where Arab-Norman art and architecture reached its pinnacle in the Duomo (Tips: not included), launched in 1174 by William II. It represents scenes from the Old and New Testaments all in golden mosaics.

We then return to Palermo.
Day 3
Palermo > Mount Cofano Coastal Trail and picnic on the beach > Trapani
Private vehicle and English speaking driver disposal: full day from h 8.30AM
Dress Code: dress in layers and use hiking boots
Summit to Mount Cofano: not included
Km: 11 | 450 mt elevation gain
Today our first stop is in Custonaci, a small village located in the Trapani area. Our stop is dedicate to purchase the local Pane Cunsatua stuffed bread with organic olive oil, oregano, fresh tomatoes and anchovas—which is the base of our picnic on the beach. From here, a short drive takes us on the slopes of Mount Cofano, a natural protected area. Upon arrival, what immediately strikes those who look at Mount Cofano is its lonely majesty. It almost gives the impression of wanting to detach from the coast and dive into the blue sea. The route, loop-shaped, develops within the Riserva Naturale Orientata Monte Cofano (Mount Cofano Nature Reserve). The trail starts from the Bay of Cornino and passes through an unspoiled coastline with no houses, characterised by the typical Mediterranean maquis -dwarf palms, cistus, ampelodesma, wild orchids--, rather sparse but rich in endemic species --Sicilian heather, helicrysum cophanense, cavolo di Trapani-cabbage from Trapani-- which colour the mountain in all seasons. From here beautiful views can be admired: the cliffs rise steeply from the sea whose waves crash against the shoreline, thus creating charming water games.

Our picnic will be served on the beach.

Then, climb a part of Monte Cofano (Summit to Mount Cofano: not included in this tour) to return to the parking and admire an amazing view from the mountain.

Then transfer to Trapani.
Day 4
Trapani > Erice, Marzipan and Olive Oil > Trapani
Private vehicle and English speaking driver disposal: full day from h 9AM
Today meet the driver at hotel and departure for Erice uptown, which was an important religious site associated with the goddess Venus. Wander through its ancient streets and visit some of the famous homemade pastry shops -- world-famous for marzipan candies and other delicacies like almond and pistachio pastries – and the lovely preserved Mediaeval town offering the most breathtaking views and a palpable sense of history. Then by walk we join the most visited sites: the Pepoli Castle and Venus Castle. The former was built by the Arabs while the latter was a Norman construction with imposing towers that derived its name from the fact that it was built on the site of the ancient Temple of Venus, allegedly founded by Aeneas.

Later we travel in the country side and we soon arrive in an olive oil farmhouse for our delicious lunch

We then return to Trapani.
Day 5
Trapani > Bike Salt Way Road, Winery and Saltpans > Marsala
Private Bike and English speaking biker disposal: full day from h 8.30AM
Dress Code: dress in layers and use sneakers
Km: 35 | minimal elevation gain
Bike from Trapani to Marsala Salt Way Road, skirting the lagoon to see the snow-capped mountains but hills of salt, one of the Sicilian economy's historical resources that was already very precious in the days of the Phoenicians, who were the first to bring some form of technology to its production. The favourable climatic circumstances, such as high temperatures and a wind that increases evaporation, plus the shallowness of the water, contribute to create the evocative and unreal scenario created by the salt flats, which form a sort of immense chessboard that ranges in colour from off-green to pink. The tourist paths for visits to the salt flats wind their way around the great basins and, running along the edges of the tanks of seawater - which glistens in the sun as it crystallizes - finally reach the mounds of salt. These mounds are topped by a series of recently restored windmills that recall the days when they were among the main instruments for pumping the water and grinding the salt. A panorama that has to be enjoyed, preferably at sunset, when everything becomes tinged with red. We then arrive at the salt pans Saline Ettore Infersa (Admission fee: non included) which offer a truly unique landscape. Windmills, first introduced during mediaeval times, dot the horizon, a testament to how things were once done, though one or two continue to function, pumping water through the sluice gates into or out of the various basins. Piles of harvested salt, neatly covered with terracotta tiles, lie between the road and the basins waiting to be despatched.

In the early afternoon we join a Marsala winery to visit, wine tastings and snack. Then at hotel.

Tonight we shuttle you in a local slow-food trattoria for a Farewell Toast and Dinner.
Day 6
Marsala > Palermo airport
Private vehicle and Italian speaking chauffeur disposal: transfer out only
Today transfer to the airport.
Contact us for more information
DEUTER has developed specials ystem tailored to the specific requirements of the various areas of application. We are pleased to introduce them as below specified:

DEUTER AIRCOMFORT
For maximum ventilation, we use small to medium-volume backpacks that are well suited to easier terrain. The permanently elastic spring steel frame forms the indestructible heart of the Aircomfort. It provides the airy mesh net with a stable tension, even when fully loaded, and creates a ventilation space between the backpack and back that allows the humidity to be extracted freely.

DEUTER AIRCONTACT
The easiest way to carry large weights comfortably is when the backpack and wearer form a single unit. Our Aircontact principle starts here: The carry system sits directly on the body, and the weight is kept close to the body’s centre of gravity. This guarantees full control and an effective load transfer. At the same time, the breathable Aircontact back pads ensure noticeably comfortable ventilation with every movement through a pump effect.

DEUTER AIRSTRIPES
In every riding situation, a bike backpack must firmly sit on the rider’s back. Our unique Airstripes system ensures a firm fit and ventilation: thanks to the low backrest it continuously circulates fresh air between the Airstripes pads with their ventilation channels and the wide AirMesh cover. At the same time, the weight is always kept close to the body. This prevents the build-up of centrifugal forces that could cause the backpack to break loose.



GABEL Authorized Retailer is an amazing company specialized in trekking and nordic walking lines. Quality products are guaranteed by a leading brand in the industry as only Gabel can be, with costant new special offers, discounted products and new entries, including the new racing production line designed for the World Cup athletes.

Advantages of Hiking Poles
Most obviously, poles reduce the impact of hiking on knee joints and leg muscles. Arm and shoulder muscles support and relieve the leg muscles. With the basic "hands above the heart" position necessitated by the poles, circulation is improved and heart rate is reduced. The "rhythm" created by walking with poles leads to relaxed, more regular breathing and increased stamina.

A landmark study published by Dr. G. Neureuther in 1981 proved that use of "ski poles" while walking reduces the pressure strain on the opposite leg by approximately 20%. Furthermore, while walking on level ground, poles reduce the body weight carried by the legs by approximately 5 kg every step. Move to an incline, and that reduction increases to 8 kg. This translates into tons of weight -- yes, tons -- for even a two hour hike.

Jacquie Hunt, editor of a popular hiking newsletter, weighs in with additional health benefits: "An advantage that I found once I started using poles is that my hands no longer swell up when it is hot. Keeping your arms moving so the blood doesn't pool in the hands is a lot safer than keeping hands high on pack straps and risking a smashed face if you trip."


Finally, poles help many people with balance issues. We all have different comfort levels when balancing along puncheons, crossing streams, etc.; for some hikers, trekking poles are worth their weight in gold. They can certainly aid when crossing soft ground, and can be indispensible for tasks like river crossings, and scree running.

Book your Deuter Backapack and Gabel Pole with us!