Rural Villages and the Incomplete Railway of the Jato Valley by bike

Sicily by bike: a 4-days cycling Tour to discover the hidden jems of this territory

Drive through the Jato Valley and discover the incomplete railway that has become something magical.

Rural Villages and the Incomplete Railway of the Jato Valley by bike

Self Guided Bike Tour, Nature cycling, sport cycling
Tour duration: 4 days/ 3 nights
Bike difficulty
Easy
Middle-Easy
Middle-Difficult
Difficult
Challenging

Description

The Jato Valley and Western Sicily by bike. An unusual tour to be carried out with a Gravel Bike or Mountain Bike, where routes on asphalt alternate with those on gravel or dirt in the hinterland of the province of Palermo. You will often cycle in rural contexts going to the discovery of some villages created after the war and now abandoned.


Tour Map


Tour Plan

DAY 1: PALERMO

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DAY 2: PALERMO – MONREALE – PONTE CALATRASI

Length of the cycle route: about 75 km – Total ascent: about 1400 meters – Stage difficulty: medium-demanding

Breakfast at the hotel, luggage delivery to be carried and departure by bike towards the Jato Valley. You will leave Palermo first pedaling towards Monreale (stop for coffee and a short individual visit of the Duomo), then continuing the ascent towards Portella della Paglia (stop at the Giacalone fountain for bottle refills). descent towards San Giuseppe Jato / San Cipirrello and continuation towards Borgo Schirò. After the visit, back on the saddle towards Camporeale. You will cross a purely agricultural territory on a dirt road crossing the Belice Destro river. Stop in Camporeale and final continuation to the selected agritourism facility, located near the Calatrasi Bridge. Allocation of rooms, dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 3: PONTE CALATRASI – BORGO BORZELLINO – PIANA DEGLI ALBANESI – PALERMO

Length of the bike route: about 70 km – Total ascent: about 1000 meters – Stage difficulty: medium-demanding

Breakfast at the farmhouse, and departure by bike. The unfinished Salaparuta – Camporeale – Palermo railway line will be covered almost entirely. The site is now 50% on dirt roads and the remaining half on asphalted provincial roads.

The route will be characterized by the continuous presence of abandoned toll booths, viaducts, small stations and tunnels. After a few kilometers you will reach Borgo Borzellino where you can stop for an individual visit.

After the visit we will continue the ride on the remains of the unfinished railway heading towards the lake of Piana degli Albanesi, where you can stop for a packed lunch. After lunch, descent by bike to Palermo. Arrival at the hotel, free dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 4: PALERMO

Optional km by bike according to the time available

Breakfast in the structure and release of the rooms. Depending on the return flight plan, time available for individual activities. Transfer to the departure airport. End of services.

 


Point of Interest (POI)

  • Monreale with its Cathedral and the Cloister
  • Jato Valley
  • Borgo Schirò
  • Camporeale
  • Borgo Borzellino
  • Unfinished railway Lolli – Salaparuta
  • Piana degli Albanesi and its lake


Book info







    € 640,00* per person

    Conditions

    ×

    NOTICE:

    The participation fee refers to a minimum of 2 participants, in the case of a single participant there is a supplement (see “excluded and / or extra services”)

    Departures are guaranteed from March 1st to November 30th, other dates on request

    THE PRICE INCLUDES:

    2 nights in B&B formula in a hotel in Palermo
    1 night in HB formula in a farmhouse
    Medical baggage insurance
    Gravel Bike / MTB rental
    Telephone assistance from 9.00 to 20.00
    Maps and information booklet with description of the routes and places of interest of the Tour (1 kit per room)
    Luggage transport
    Gps tracks routes

     

    THE FEE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

    Transfers from / to airports or from / to railway stations
    Lunches and drinks not specified under “the fee includes”
    Entrance fees to nature reserves and / or museums not specified under “the fee includes”
    Tips and tourist taxes to be paid, where required, directly at the selected accommodation facilities
    Anything not specified under “the fee includes”

    EXTRA SERVICES:

    Supplement n. 2 dinners, drinks included (water and wine) in accommodation facilities or affiliated restaurants: € 60.00
    Single supplement € 120.00
    Single participant fee supplement: € 100.00
    High season supplement (July and August) € 80.00
    Single participant fee supplement € 120.00
    Garmin Edge 820 rental € 15.00
    Authorized escort cycle assistance for the entire duration of the bike tour € 500.00
    Travel cancellation insurance due to illness (also COVID), conditions and fee per person on request
    Supplementary accident insurance during the tour, conditions and fee per person on request
    Third party liability insurance in the event of an accident with the bicycle, conditions and fee per person on request
    Bicycle theft insurance, conditions and fee per person on request
    Other quotation services on request

     

    CANCELLATION CONDITIONS:

    from 28 to 14 days before the start of the tour, 50% of the total amount paid
    from 13 to 5 days before the start of the tour, 70% of the total amount paid
    from 4 days before the tour start date or no show 100% of the total amount paid

     

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    Gravel Bikes / MTBs will be equipped with special bottle cages and pedals (Shimano / Look on your request).

    Individual tour for people with athletic training. For organizational, climatic reasons or related to provisions of local authorities beyond our control, the itinerary may undergo more or less considerable changes before and / or during the holiday. Along the route, for example, there may be temporary deviations due to road construction sites that are impossible to predict and which are normally reported on site.

    Departure date
    On request

    Place of departure
    Palermo

    Place of arrival
    Palermo

    Total Km by bike
    150 km

    Total ascent
    2400 meters