Magna Via Francigena walking holiday in Sicily

Planet

This trip follows the ancient road from Palermo to Agrigento, to discover the rugged beauty of inland Sicily with its archaeological treasures and friendly locals who have been welcoming pilgrims for centuries. The Magna Via Francigena was officially re-opened in 2017 in celebration of its rich historical legacy as a trade route connecting Africa and the Middle East to Europe. Today hikers pass through small towns and villages, which brings valued extra income to these areas and helps prompt cultural exchange.

We believe that walking trips are the best way to explore a destination; because you have more time to appreciate the changing landscapes and get to know locals in the villages that you pass through while having a minimal impact on your environment. As a hiker we encourage you to stay on the marked trails to stop erosion, especially when you are in areas like the Monte Carcaci Nature Reserve.

This slow style of travel not only affords you more time to appreciate the natural beauty of the region but, just as importantly, positively contributes to the regions that host you.

We are aligned with “Leave No Trace”, an international organisation that has set the global standard for outdoor ethics. Through targeted education, research and outreach, its mission is to ensure the long-term health of our natural world while maintaining sustainable recreation in nature.

Our Waste Management Policy encourages our travellers to take their own reusable water bottles, coffee cups and reusable stuff sacks to avoid single-use plastics. We follow this same philosophy in our office as well as on the trail: in our London office we have banned single use coffee cups and water bottles. We use recycled paper in our office and we are working towards reducing the amount of paper we use, as well as recycling all of our paper and plastic waste.

People

Our preferred accommodations we use on this trip are locally owned small hotels and B&Bs; this way we ensure your tourist spend is staying within the area and benefiting local people. Plus you receive a warm welcome! For example when available we book the Hotel Leon d’Oro which is a family run small hotel which includes traditional Corleone specialities and typical Sicilian dishes in its menu; and the Hotel Regalpetra which is run by 4 brothers.

During your tour we encourage you to purchase your lunch/snacks from local shops and cafes whenever you get an opportunity. It will give you a chance to meet the local people, and can encourage genuine cultural exchange. For example, you might like to stop in Comitini where they make fabulous arancini (fried rice balls filled with ragu or spinach and ham).

In 2000 we developed the award winning Responsible Travel Guidebook, which presented our Travel Group’s comprehensive policies on sustainable travel. Over the years our Responsible Travel Guidebook has evolved to meet the ever-changing landscape of sustainable travel. In March 2018 The Thoughtful Traveller booklet was launched, which is an easy-to-read document that empowers travellers with suggestions about how they can be part of the solution and collectively make the world a better place when they travel. Everyone is encouraged to read the Thoughtful Traveller ebook before departure.