• An experienced local English-speaking cycling guide
• A single group Catania Airport transfer on arrival
• Etna summit excursion including all transfers and specialist guide
• Baggage transfers and partial vehicle support
• All accommodation as described
• Meals as described in the Meal Plan
• Hire bike - Bianchi E-Impulso Gravel bike

• Travel Insurance
• Some meals as per the Meal Plan
• Tranfer to Catania Airport on the final day
• Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souveniers etc

TRAVEL TO YOUR DESTINATION

If flying from the UK there are low cost airlines available to the start and from the end of your holiday.

To benefit from full financial protection, ease your holiday planning, and avoid dealing with airlines, we can book scheduled flights from the UK as part of a flight inclusive package. Scheduled flights are usually more expensive that low cost alternatives, however potentially less stressful if your flight is cancelled or delayed. If you book flights through KE Adventure Travel we will offset the carbon of your flight.

The group will meet at the first night's farmstay accommodation near Sortino.

A single transfer is included from Catania Airport on Day 1. On the final day of the holiday a transfer from the hotel in Catania to Catania Airport is not included - taxis are readily available.

Hotel contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation.

All breakfasts and 3 dinners are included.

Water from the taps is perfectly drinkable on this holiday - please use this to fill your personal bottles for your daily activities. We do not encourage the purchase of single-use plastic bottles.

Part of the experience of any visit to Sicily and Italy is the opportunity to taste its wonderful cuisine. Breakfasts are usually continental in style - bread, pastries or cakes, yoghurt, jam and honey served with tea or coffee. For lunch, there will usually be time each day to visit a local supermarket to buy picnic items; bread, dried meats, cheeses, fruit and vegetables. Alternatively, the group may choose to stop at a snack bar or cafe at lunchtime. Dinner will be taken at small local restaurants, which gives us a chance to try traditional Sicilian food and get a real taste of Italy. Pasta alla Norma, combining local tomatoes, aubergines, garlic, basil and salted ricotta cheese, is a popular dish in the Catania region. Alongside food, Sicilian wine is excellent and an important part of any meal – lunch and dinner!

The first 2 nights are in comfortable 'agriturismo' (farmhouse) accommodation and the remaining 4 nights in 3-star hotels. All rooms have private bathrooms. The accommodation is arranged on a twin sharing basis. If you are travelling by yourself, you will be paired up with another single client of the same sex. Single rooms can be pre-booked at supplementary cost. If you are planning to extend your holiday additional nights at the Catania (final night) hotel are available on request.

The trip will be led by an experienced, local, English-speaking cycling guide. This guide will also be an experienced vulcanologist and will accompany the group on the Etna excursion. There will also be a minibus and driver who will provide the baggage transfers and act as back up for the group only if needed.

Approximately 300 euros should be allowed for non-included meals, snacks, soft drinks etc. You can either carry your travel money in the form of cash (euros) or pay (and withdraw euros if needed from local ATMs) using your credit or debit card. If you are intending to buy expensive souvenirs, you should budget accordingly.

Tips do not form part of the wages of local staff but they are very much appreciated. It is important to remember that tipping is voluntary and should be dependent on good service. It is best if the tip is given at the end of the trip by the group as a whole. We recommend that each group member contributes around €25 – 30 and that this is distributed between the leader and any support staff. It is a good idea to carry some small change for other tips such as in restaurants etc.

Bikes are provided locally within the cost of the holiday. Our agent on Sicily provides Bianchi E-Impulso Gravel bikes with Shimano components, a single (11-speed) chainset, Shimano disc brakes and a 250W Ebikemotion motor. The bikes are fitted with flat pedals and 35mm off-road tyres. Availability of sizes is limited – first-come, first-served. Please provide us with your height when you book, so we can check availability.

We do not have full-time vehicle support during this holiday. Some of the roads and trails that we ride are not suitable for vehicles. If there is a mechanical breakdown that the guide cannot sort out, he (or she) will call up assistance. In the case of one or more of the group being unable to continue, the guide will arrange a pick-up. Baggage transfers are provided each day. Your bags will be picked up from the hotel after you depart in the morning and will be waiting for you when you get to the next night’s accommodation.

For this holiday you should take one main item of luggage as well as a small day pack or cycle-specific hydration pack. The day pack can be used to carry valuable items such as cameras and GPS devices whilst travelling and will also carry your day-ride essentials during the rides. Luggage with wheels is useful for this holiday. For international flights please check your baggage allowance with your airline.

For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in the ‘Dates and Prices’ table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.