Bike and Walking Holiday: Trapani area to Favignana Island – 5 days

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 Trapani.

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.

Later shuttle to get back to 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.

Private Bike and English speaking biker disposal: full day from h 8AM
Dress Code: dress in layers and use sneakers
Hydrofoil Tickets: included, round trip
Km: 30 | minimal elevation gain

Today on board on the first hydrofoil to the Egadi island. We soon arrive to Favignana, or La Farfalla as it is often referred to thanks to its butterfly shape. This is the largest and most important of the Egadi Islands. The most popular form of transport on Favignana is the bicycle, and thanks to the island’s diminutive size --it measures under 9km from east to west--, it is easy to see it all in a full day. Among the sandy beaches, rocky shores, there is much to choose from.  Our bike tour will embrace all the most picturesque area of the island, such as the small beach of Cala d’Azur, starts on the eastern side, where the name of the place comes from the clarity of its waters.  Of course a short stop is at the Bue Marino and Cala Rossa, in the eastern part of the island, offer two great places to enjoy this sea of dreams that Favignana boasts of, where the color of the water takes on hues of turquoise. Not to be outdone, there is also Punta Lunga, Centre Iron, Stack Punta, Punta Marsala, Cala Rotonda, Grotta Perciata. Our last stop today is at the Florio Tunary immediately draws stares from those who are about to reach Favignana. Currently in disused, it was, for a long time, the staple for the island’s economy, thanks to its tuna processing.  Built in 1859 it remains today a symbol for Favignana.

We then return to Trapani by hydrofoil.

Private vehicle and Italian speaking chauffeur disposal: transfer out only

Today transfer to the airport.