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REGISTRATION & PAYMENT REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page. This is a paid event with payment managed through the AOC. Please read the event description carefully for details; you will be given payment instructions after you sign up. Late payments are NOT accepted for this event, in any circumstance.



Slight revision - Pilgrimage - Magna Via Francigena - Sicily




The Basics:
Event Type:Hike
Event Location: Sicily - from Palermo to Agrigento
Date(s) & Time:Sat, Apr 11 2026  10:00 am >> Tue, Apr 21 2026 9:00 pm
Registration Opens: Mon, Nov 10 2025 7:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Fri, Nov 28 2025 7:00 pm
Event Duration:10 Days 11 Hours
Difficulty Rating:D5: Difficult (Exploratory)
Distance:115 Miles
Pace:Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Ann
Ralph Howard
Email Trip Leader(s)
You must be logged in to get the Trip Leader contact information.
Member Cost:$25.00/Person (See Detailed Cost Info Below)

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:2
Minimum Group Size:2
Number Registered So Far: 2 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Note: This is an "EXPLORATORY" trip. This means that there are parts of this trip, or perhaps the whole trip, that is new to your Trip Leader(s). However, they are confident that this will not be an issue.
This note is here so that you can make an informed decision. When a Trip Leader isn't personally familiar with a trip, there is an increased chance of things not going as planned and you need to be prepared. The Trip Leader may have additional details in the itinerary.

Itinerary:

Please read everything before signing up.  You will be then placed on a waitlist and attendees will be chosen based on signup time, ability, and comptability.  Once you are selected to attend you will be asked to make payment for lodging (as TLs we are collecting this money - and in some cases are out the money until you pay us, so please understand our situation).

There will be a total of 6 participants.

We will hike as a group.  But feel free to use your time (in town) to explore :)

We will use whatsapp to communicate this event, by signing up for this event, you agree to provide the TL's and other members this information.

Our pace will be moderate, such to enjoy; take pictures!

Want to see this trail:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQem3CJFJnc

ITINERARY:

4/11:  Arrive in Palermo, sightsee; shopping; get credential, have group dinner

4/12:  Slight Revision:  Monreale Palermo to Santa Cristina Gela (we will take bus part way out to Monreale); Distance: 11.3 miles 15.4 miles; Elevation:  2500 3585.  Keep in mind Palermo is 45 feet above sea level.  

4/13:  Santa Cristina Gela to Corleone; Distance 16.3 miles; Elevation 2821.

4/14:  Corleone to Prizzi; Distance 12.3 miles; Elevation 2752

4/15:  Prizzi to Castronovo di Sicilia; Distance 15 miles; Elevation 2034

4/16:  Castronov to San Giovanni Gemini; Distance 7.4 miles; Elevation 1578

4/17:  San Giovanni Gemini to Sutera; Distance 11.7 miles; Elevation 2293

4/18:  Sutera to Grotte; Distance; 15.3 miles; Elevation 2837

On this day there will likely be a river crossing, we will follow the guidelines to ensure group safety.

 4/19:  Grotte to Joppolo Giancaxio; Distance: 12 miles; Elevation 1856

4/20:  Joppolo Giancaxio to Agrigento; Distance:  10 miles; Elevation 1706

4/21:  Agrigento to Palermo, take train, sight see, etc. dinner with group

4/22:  Fly out or travel on....

 

Travel info:

By air
  • Palermo Airport (PMO): 
    This is the most common way to arrive, with direct flights from many international locations, including some from the United States.  Cost around 1900 USD.  This flight is overnight.
     
  • Getting to the city center from the airport: 
    From the airport, you can take a shuttle bus, a shared taxi, the train, or an Uber. The shuttle bus is a budget-friendly option, running every 30 minutes and taking about 40-45 minutes to reach the city center. 
     
By ferry
  • Major ports: Ferries to Palermo's port are available from mainland Italian ports including Naples, Salerno, Genoa, Livorno, and Civitavecchia.
  • Travel time: Overnight ferries can take around 10.5 hours from Naples. 
  • Option:  You could do a roundtrip flight to Naples or Rome and work out a tour schedule of these places, if you have additional time in your schedule.
     
By train
  • From mainland Italy: 
    You can take a train to Sicily from major Italian cities like Naples, Rome, or Bari. 
     
  • Ferry transfer: 
    The train will travel to Villa San Giovanni in Calabria and then be loaded onto a ferry to cross the Strait of Messina to Sicily. 
     
  • To Palermo: 
    From there, you can continue by train to Palermo. Be aware that train travel within Sicily can be slow. 
     

Ralph and I are flying to Palermo via Rome, our flights are booked, we will provide this information if you are interested.

COST

Airfare:  around 2000 USD

Train:  around 60 USD (bus back and forth to Palermo airport; train from Agrigento to Palermo

Lodging:  around 550 USD (this includes each night as listed in the itinerary.  Our stays will be private room/private bath twin beds in 3 rooms; unless we just can get the right accommodations.  Please understand we will do the best we can and you'll know before hand what we have gotten.  The TL's will assign rooms/roommates and will do our best to accommodate your concerns.  Please know, if someone signs up and then drops, it will be possible that you could have a different roommate.  

Food:  around 550 USD (some places will include breakfast of croissant and coffee).  We will get food at markets; panetteria (bakery); or restaurants.  We will map this out.  We cannot accommodate dietary restrictions.

What is not included:  luggage storage (approximately 3Euros per day), drinking beverages, extra snacks, tips, tourist tax (this is small, we will let you know how much before we ask for money); extra sightseeing trips; unexpected travel (bad weather causes us to take other transport, health, unforeseen stuff); your shopping spree :)

 

Italy is on a level 2 travel advisory:  https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/italy.html


Required Items to Bring:

This information will be furnished to attendees in a separate email.

You should know, we are not engaging luggage service.  However, we are requesting that our first night stay and last night stay (both in Palermo) to hold luggage for us.  There may be an extra small fee for this.

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

This information will be furnished to attendees in a separate email.


How to Get There:
Event Directions:

See information in itinerary.


Notes:
Important information for paid events in which payment is managed through the AOC:

     - Payment must be received by the payment due date and prior to participation in the event.

     - Some paid events require a minimum number of registered participants. If that number is not met, the event will be canceled and refunds will be issued to those who have already paid.

     - Third-party vendors often require damage deposits. Each registrant agrees to be liable for and required to reimburse the Atlanta Outdoor Club for any withheld deposits due to the actions of or damages caused by that registrant.

     - No partial payments. All registrants must pay the posted Member Cost regardless of any agreement you may have with any party involved in the event.

     - Read the event description carefully for additional information, and contact the trip leader(s) with any questions.

* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost & Payment:
Member Cost:$25.00/Person
Cost Includes:

The TL(s) for this event has (have) elected either to personally collect the funds that event participants are required to pay, or to require participants to pay funds directly to a third party. No funds will be paid to the Atlanta Outdoor Club for this event. By registering for this event, you acknowledge and agree that: (1) the monies paid by registrants will not be monitored, managed, or otherwise accounted for by the Atlanta Outdoor Club; (2) that the Atlanta Outdoor Club bears no financial responsibility for this event; and (3) you waive any and all claims against the Atlanta Outdoor Club, and hold the Atlanta Outdoor Club harmless for the loss of any monies you paid for this event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any paid registrant may request directly from the TL(s), prior to the event, a breakdown of funds collected, estimated expenses, and deposits made in anticipation of the event. Within 30 days after the event, the TL(s) must complete a financial accounting of monies collected and spent, along with supporting documentation; any attendee may ask to see this accounting. If you are unable to obtain requested documentation, please contact the Director of Paid Events.

Payment Cut Off:Payment must be received by the AOC on Fri, Nov 28 2025.
Make a Payment:Click here for the details. PLEASE PAY AFTER YOU HAVE SIGNED UP BELOW.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.
*Note:

There is no cancellation.  You will be out the 25.00 paid to AOC and you may get a refund if a replacement is chosen and meets the trip leader qualifications for event (fitness and compatability).  If they are chosen, it will be your responsibility to collect the monies from your replacement.



Registration for this event opens at 11/10/2025 7:00:00 PM