The Alcantara River Mountain Bike Tour

The departure for our mountain bike tour The Alcantara River will be from our home base in Giardini Naxos. We will take care to set up the bikes according to your sizes and needs and after the initial briefing, we will start our bike adventure leaving the Ionian sea behind us.

We head towards the town of Calatabiano with its spectacular Arab-Norman castle upon the hill. Then we follow an asphalted road along the Alcantara River bed, ride uphill on a sweet false plain, pass by the typical lava stonewalls, citrus and medlar groves, which characterize that part of Nebrodi Mountains. 

Upon reaching the old village of Mitogio, we will stop on an old bridge of the fascist age. From there we can enjoy one of the most amazing views on Alcantara Gorges. Must do some photos for the memory!

From that point our off-road adventure begins. Its first part is quite easy to do on a dirt road. Instead, at the upper bank of the river we will have to get off the bikes and carry them for about 200 meters since there is plenty of lava stones.

As we get over that hurdle, the single track begins. We will ride by hazelnut groves, stone built houses, drinking-water points and springs until we arrive to the medieval village of Castiglione di Sicilia, which is in the list of the most beautiful towns of the whole Italy.

We will make quick stop at Castello di Lauria to visit the castle itself and take some pictures from the panoramic viewpoint at about 650 meters above sea level. After that, we will head to a bar for traditional local sweets and a cup of coffee.

Our adventure will continue by a bike path built along an old railway, which runs around Mount Etna. That road goes through the tunnels and passes by the unspoiled nature. It will bring us to the center of Linguaglossa town to close up our off-road trail. 

From here, we will continue riding downhill by asphalt road, crossing the areas of vineyards Etna DOC and the villages built on the black lava stone.