Sicily New Year Ride.

Between 65 and 160 miles (105 to 255 kilometers), and never a race. Mornings are made for riding, with the best roads of the day coming first, while the air is fresh and traffic is still light. Every stop is part of the journey. Coffee might be served in a village square, lunch at a family-run trattoria, and the afternoon break somewhere chosen for its scenery, atmosphere or local character, not simply because it happens to be along the way. Riding is only part of the experience. Along the route you will explore Mount Etna with a volcanologist, taste the pistachio of Bronte, take part in a Sicilian cooking class, pass through Modica, home of the island's ancient chocolate tradition, visit the Valley of the Temples and Corleone, and discover Palermo through its street food. By late afternoon the motorcycles are parked and your room is already waiting. Then comes an aperitivo, a real Italian dinner, and time to enjoy the evening. There are five riding days over the eight-day journey. January 1 is a rest day, followed that evening by the Palermo street food experience. If guests would rather ride, an optional outing can be arranged on request. And winter is not an obstacle here, it is the reason: while most of Europe is locked in the cold, the Sicilian coast stays mild and the roads are free.

Authenticity is in the details. On Mount Etna you ride the volcano's lower loop before exploring it on foot with a volcanologist. At Bronte you taste the pistachio this mountain is famous for. Near Syracuse you take part in a traditional Sicilian cooking class. In Modica you walk through the home of the island's ancient chocolate tradition. The journey also includes the Valley of the Temples with a licensed guide, Corleone and The Godfather's House Museum, and a street food experience through the heart of Palermo. All guided experiences are conducted in English. You spend seven nights with breakfast, between carefully selected hotels, an agriturismo on Mount Etna and a private villa in the countryside near Syracuse. New Year's Eve is celebrated in Palermo. Dinner is included on five evenings, including the culinary experiences in the itinerary. These are not simply meals: they are how you meet Sicily, through its flavors, its traditions and its people. We would rather promise a few real experiences and deliver them well than fill the program with generic claims. Every road, every stop and every activity is chosen to bring you closer to the real Sicily.

Mild on the coast, cooler in the Madonie mountains — which is exactly why Sicily rides well in winter while most of Europe does not. The tour is built around the light, so the motorcycles are parked while the sun is still up, and weather alternatives are part of the plan.

The BMW F 800 GS is included in the price. If you prefer something Italian, the Moto Guzzi V85 TT or the Ducati Scrambler are available for €200 over the whole tour. Full specifications for all three are further up this page. Riding with a club? Tell us what your group rides and we shape the fleet proposal around you.

You should be a confident road rider, comfortable with curves, roundabouts and occasional cobblestones. Passengers are welcome.

Yes: layered riding gear with a waterproof outer shell, warm gloves and a neck warmer make the difference. We recommend bringing your own helmet and gear so everything fits the way you like. You will receive a detailed packing list with your proposal.

Two soft bags per person, no large hard-shell suitcases. Everything travels in the support van right behind the group and is at the hotel with you every evening. Proper riding gear is required — full requirements arrive with your confirmation pack.

The departure is finalized at least 60 days before the start date — bikes, hotels and experiences locked. We know you are booking transatlantic flights: you will never be left guessing two weeks before departure. Trip cancellation insurance is part of the package.

Yes. Italy requires non-EU license holders to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside their national license. US and Canadian riders should arrange it before flying through the official automobile association in their country; the rental partner will ask for it. We remind every confirmed rider in the pre-departure checklist.

Yes. Pre-departure communication, daily briefings, road support and guest assistance are provided in English — and so are all the guided experiences in the program.

Through Il Girasole Scurria Turismo S.R.L., the licensed partner travel agency and tour operator.