Private Horseback Riding Tour on Etna Area + Traditional Lunch

Recommended by 94% of travelers

Taormina, Italy

4 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Experience life in the Sicilian countryside. After pickup from the Taormina area, take a scenic drive through the picturesque Sicilian countryside to a horse ranch, where a professional instructor helps you learn how to ride a horse. Then, hop on and ride through Etna Park with a guide for about an hour. Finish the tour with a traditional Sicilian lunch at a restaurant: fresh, local products and wines from local vineyards on the slopes of Mount Etna.

Explore the Sicilian countryside on horseback with an instructior
Take a scenic drive through the Sicilian country to the horseranch
Visit a restaurant to have a Sicilian lunch with local wines
Hassle-free round-trip transport from the Taormina area

What's Included

Private English speaking guide
Hotel/port pickup and drop-off in Taormina area or Messina port
Round-trip private transfer
Professional horseback riding guide
Etna Area 1-hour horseback riding tour
Traditional Sicilian lunch (locally produced cheeses, salami, prosciutto, traditional Sicilian relish caponata and parmigiana, olives, mushrooms, vegetables, domestic olive oil and home-made bread)
Local wine
Lunch

Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Your private guide will pick you up at your hotel, port or train station in Taormina, Giardini Naxos, Letojanni or Messina port.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed

Infant seats available
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Most travelers can participate
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

andre.vella01

Excellent excursion: extremely informative, knowledgeable and friendly guide Marco. The views whilst horse riding are absolutely spectacular, and the lunch was fit for the gods! Very highly recommended

Reviews

4.7

based on 50 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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Amazing views! Well...

Jeanne_S, Nov 2025

Amazing views! Well behaved and well taken care of horses. Would highly recommend. And the lunch was outstanding.

Our guide Omar made the...

Jill_C, Oct 2025

Our guide Omar made the day so special. He drove us through the quant towns from Taormina and shared his vast knowledge along the way. The lunch was delicious at a spot we would have never found on our own. Such a treat.

Beautiful views, followed by a flavorful Sicilian lunch!

Leona_M, Jun 2024

Our guide, Marco, was awesome! Not only was he on time, he was personable when sharing the many interesting facts about Sicily, the people, and the culture. Seeing the countryside by horseback was definitely out of our comfort zone, yet we found it to be relaxing and enjoyed every minute of it. Remember to bring sunscreen, shoes that you're okay with getting dirty, long pants (to protect your legs), and sunglasses (depending on the weather). As for the traditional Sicilian lunch, be prepared to have a feast! Starting out with a glass of your choice of red or white wine. Our appetizer was equivalent to that of a charcuterie board! Given the size of the platter, we thought it was our meal. We proceeded to indulge in over 85% of the platter, as we could not possibly finish it between the three of us. As I sat there, while in conversation, I noticed the owner placed a small bowl of parmesan cheese on the table. I was of the belief that it was by mistake; however, it turned out, it was not! Next up was our macaroni with red sauce. Our American macaroni is not the same as the Sicilian macaroni and, without a doubt, falls short of the flavorful Sicilian version!! Once we were done with the main entree, we were offered dessert. Although I felt I could not possibly have anything else, I opted for the limoncello dessert. Needless to say, it did not disappoint! We are eternally grateful for Marco and urge others to step out of their comfort zone to try something out of the ordinary...totally worth it!

I am not a horseback...

scarter004, May 2024

I am not a horseback riding person but our guide Sabrina was very kind and led me and my horse around.

Not as advertised

Kevin_K, Mar 2024

I highly suspect they've switched stables because this tour is almost completely not as described. The ride is not through the beautiful countryside but on pavement and a dried up aqueduct/river bed through town complete with litter and garbage. None of the pictures are accurate. The riding is not 1.5 hours either. It is more like 40 minutes of boring, straight-lines walk. You do not get to practice with your horse. You do not canter or trot. You also do not arrive upon a farmhouse with olive & lemon trees. The lunch is after the riding. separate and arriving via car to a restaurant. A very average restaurant and not a local farmhouse. That said, the stable owners are extremely nice, the driver is incredibly friendly and knowledgable however either switch to the previous stable of show more accurate photo's so customers can have better expectations.

Response from Host, May 2024

Good morning dear Kevin, Thank you for your opinion and for the compliments on our guide Maurizio and the ranch staff. At the same time we feel sad to read this review after all we did to make you, your wife and son have a good day. On this horseback tour there was a child, your son. Our priority was the safety of you and your family. Before we started the tour, the ranch owner called me and told me that it was better to take an easier route for safety reasons, because your son was not able to make the climb that takes us to the top of the hill where the tour then begins I immediately said yes. On this alternative route you saw in some places garbage but what fault do we have. This is a tour for beginners, anyone can do it, but for us safety is always the most important thing. When the owner of the ranch called me I was able to tell him: take the most beautiful road, the uphill one where there is a wonderful view, where the road is full of trees. Possibly we would have had a review with more stars but we would have risked it because your child would have climbed the hill to get to the hill but would have had problems on the way down. Regarding the description, it is important to understand where you booked the tour. Our products are on Viator and Tripadvisor. Sometimes there are other platforms that rely on these giants but sometimes they also change the description. In our description there is no mention of trotting or galloping. Regarding the restaurant, you ate the appetizers( Etna cheeses, olives, dried tomatoes, caponata, ricotta, Etna mushrooms, salami) and pasta alla norma. Maybe they weren't to your liking, I apologize for that. To conclude in honor of the truth it is fair to say that Maurizio returned to the office three hours later because you and your family had the desire after the tour to see the Etna volcano. I agreed to your request and Maurizio took you to 2000 meters and I didn't ask for Extra money. This tour has almost all 5 star reviews and it certainly happens that sometimes things don't go well. This time we are sorry because we didn't deserve it, Maurizio, your guide, didn't deserve it, Sabrina, the owner of the ranch didn't deserve it. I thought you would call us and thank us for all the effort we have done for you and your family but instead you thanked us with this review. With Respect Best regards Paola

Nice people, fun horse ride, bad lunch

Jared_R, Sep 2023

Our tour guide, who picked us up from our AirBnB, was an incredibly nice lady and a great guide. The horse ride was fun, but the horse expert who led us didn’t seem like he wanted to be there. The traditional Sicilian lunch was what ruined it for us, though. The place looked great, but we didn’t have a say in what we got to eat. We were served really weird appetizers and a very basic pasta dish, when there was much more good stuff available at the restaurant. Not to mention, the service was terrible. It took about an hour just to get the weird appetizers, and the pasta came around the hour and a half mark. It was a really painful lunch experience.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Dear Jared, thank you so much for the review and especially for the kind words you used for our tour guide. Horseback riding you also liked it, you used the words "that the horse ride was fun". The problem was for the slow service at the restaurant. Jared, it was Sunday, and there were a lot of tables reserved explained to me by the owner and maybe they were a little slow in serving you lunch. I apologize for that but the place like you wrote in the review is great. As for the food, it's all organic food: Etna antipasti such as cheeses, salami, sweet and sour squash, eggplant in oil, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, caponata, homemade bread, and afterwards your choice of either pasta or grilled meat. Local wine, water and coffee. This is what you ate and this is what the other guests ate. Thanks again, from me and from the guide for the review we rate it a positive review.

Book This Tour!

Stacey_L, Aug 2023

This was a great day! Our guide, Maurizio, picked us up at the cruise port and we drove to the most beautiful horseback riding location. We had a great ride, although the horses were a little feisty! Maurizio then drove us to a lovely restaurant for a traditional Sicilian lunch, which included antipasti, excellent pasta, red and white wine and cookies for desert. After lunch, Maurizio then showed us a few "local" areas, including a beautiful church and an excellent gelato spot! He then drove us back to the port . Totally private tour, although there was another group on the horseback riding, but other than that it was just us. I'm always a little concerned about booking an independent tour on a cruise, but this was just fine, we made it back with plenty of time. If you want to get away from the crowds and see some spots that are definitely not super touristy, this is the way to go!

You will be glad you booked this tour

Barbara_B, May 2023

We did this tour on our honeymoon, and had such an amazing time and highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the Taormina area. We were picked up by Alberto at our hotel and taken to the farm. He was very knowledgeable and pointed out different areas on our drive to and from the hotel. The owners of the farm do such an awesome job making you feel welcome and comfortable. The food after the trail ride was some of the best we had in Sicily. Everything was homemade and traditional Sicilian food, there was so much food to try we were very full. The only thing we would change is a longer ride to see more the of countryside.

Beautiful views and delicious food...

Matthew_G, Nov 2022

Highly recommended for any visitors to the Taormina area. The horseback ride was calming, with breathtaking views on all sides, and the lunch afterwards was the perfect sampling of local wine and dishes (prepared with local ingredients).

A NOT TO MISS EXPERIENCE- our most favorite

Susan_S, Oct 2022

What a fantastic experience!! I can not recommend this more! Our driver/guide Maurizio was amazing- so completely knowledgeable about the area and willing to share that with us. He was in contact with us from the time we booked to answer any questions and make our meeting easy when we got off our ship. The horses were so friendly calm and well behaved! Neither of us had any experience and were so afraid! Completely unnecessary- they were easy to handle, followed their leader and only walked gently. The staff was so accommodating- they got a step stool to help me get on and a chair to get off!! The horse was tall and I’m not a spring chicken anymore!! Lunch was a perfect selection of exactly what you think of as a traditional Sicilian lunch And everything was delicious!! The trails you walk thru are breathtaking- you can go walk they another tourist town or do something spectacular like this- DO IT and ask for Maurizio!!

Not exactly as described - just okay

Jessica_N, Jul 2022

This tour was the one we were looking forward to the most while in Taormina. The drive is about 1 hour from most hotels in Taormina into the countryside. Although you can see Mt Etna and such, it’s still very far away and the cover picture for this tour was nothing close to reality. We arrived and the horses were being prepped, our daughter who is 11 was able to ride her own horse, but on a lead rope with the instructor (who spoke no English). I was told repeatedly she would be able to ride alone (she rides both English and Western at home and is a confident rider). When we got there they told her no, she couldn’t ride alone and then we “talked to them” via translation from our drive and they allowed her to ride alone with the instructor. Thankfully she was on a lead rope because the instructors horse freaked out at one point and then her horse freaked out and so did mine and my husbands. The horses were, in my opinion, not well trained for trail rides and for individuals not familiar with riding. We road down a very rocky and dusty dirt path (nothing like the grassy countryside photo in ad) and I felt bad for the horses, it was insanely hot and the terrain was very unpleasant. Instead of enjoying the views of Mt Etna and the vineyards I was too busy pulling my horse away from eating everything he passed. It might be good for them to feed the horses before the trail ride?! Seriously it was constant battle and at one point the horse went for foliage deeper on the trail and I almost ended up hitting my leg on barbed wire. The guide was at the very front and made no effort to “slow down” or wait for the others so my husband and I were quite a ways back. He also spoke no English so it was impossible to communicate, especially when our horses freaked out, that was unsettling to not be able to communicate with him. He seemed completely uninterested in us whatsoever, which I suppose is fine but it didn’t make for a wonderful experience. The food afterwards was good, again, nothing special. Considering we spent ~ 4 hours on the tour (including 1 hour in the car each way) and paid $530, this was not at all worth it.

Excellent Excursion!

Philip_H, Jun 2022

Beautiful country side, fabulous meal and wonderful people. Great day! Highly recommend! Marco very enjoyable guide!

Great experience

Jennifer_H, Jun 2022

This was a highlight of our trip. Horses were very gentle and easy to handle and the family who runs the place were so nice. Lunch was delicious and all homemade.

An unforgettable experience!

Allie_E, Jan 2022

We could not recommend this tour more! Everything about our experience--from the tour guide, Marco, to the food at the farmhouse--was wonderful. Our guide was knowledgeable and accommodating, pointing out notable attractions in the area and even sharing fresh oranges with us from his own garden! The horseback riding tour was beautiful and the food was INCREDIBLE! The owner of the farmhouse and restaurant was so welcoming and everyone we encountered was so kind!

Fabulous Excursion

Laura K, Sep 2019

This is a trip well worth taking. Our guide, Roberto, has a wealth of information showing us sights on the way to the farm. He was very accommodating and interesting to listen to. The ride on the horses was enjoyable as we rode along vineyards and olive trees to see the beautiful landscape.We were treated to a delicious luncheon of vegetables, meats, cheeses, fruit and wine all of which was plentiful. This was a highlight of our trip. I highly recommend taking this tour. You won't be sorry you did!

Fantastic horse ride and lunch

Dan S, Jun 2019

My wife and I enjoyed every part of this tour! Gianluigi was our tour guide and made us feel very relaxed and he was very friendly, telling us about the area and answering any questions that we had. The horse ride was done very well and the stable personnel were very professional and cared about our safety.The horses were very well cared for and going up the country hillside was breath-taking. We also really enjoyed the lunch at the Tuscan style restaurant/ farm and the food and staff were great. The whole experience was well worth the cost, and it made for a very memorable time in Sicily.

Great fun for our family!

Ruth_C, Jun 2019

Our tour guide and driver picked us up right when we got off the ship and were so pleasant, Fabulina was our guide and Louisa our driver. The Mercedes van was very clean and nice. We drove through gorgeous Sicilian countryside for a little over an hour to a farm that was nestled in olive trees and vineyard. We rode 5 very well taken care of and beginner horses with helmets through the vineyard for about an hour. Very slow easy ride with my children ages 9 and 11, and my niece age 19 and myself age 42 and my sister in law age 45. We then ate at the family restaurant all authentic Italian food that was very relaxed. Also with family made wine. It was a very cloudy day (which is atypical) so we could not enjoy the views of Mt. Etna but if it had been a clear day I am sure it would have been gorgeous. We really enjoyed this adventure and loved our tour guide and driver! Great for a family!

Fantastic

Bart_M, Aug 2018

We had a great excursion to the country side in Sicily. Our driver, Marco, was excellent and explained the area. The owner of the Farm, Franco, and his family were great and the food excellent. Great day!

Our guide Marco provided detail on...

michael_s, Jun 2018

Our guide Marco provided detail on Sicily and the countryside with warmth and humour as he drove us from our Taormina hotel to the farmhouse. Once there, he walked us to the stables where our young riding guide mounted us and we rode through the foothill farmlands of Mt. Aetna. The grapes were on the vines with another 1-2 months for picking. We watched those vines being trimmed by the farmhands. We were escorted throughout by a frisky colt of one of our horses. After the ride, Marco escorted us to a private dining hall and began us on an adventure in tasting the amazing Sicilian cuisine prepared from arguably the best produce, dairy and meat products anywhere. What a treat! Afterward Marco returned us to our hotel with more narrative on The Sicilian culture. An excellent guide for an excellent day.

Excellent excursion: extremely...

andre.vella01, May 2018

We have taken many Viator tours, and...

William W, Mar 2018

We have taken many Viator tours, and this one is perhaps our most highly recommended. This memorable outing was a highlight of our Sicily visit. Our personable guide promptly picked us up at our hotel and drove us through small villages off the beaten track to the farmhouse. Along the way, we chatted about local culture, his experience living in the small villages of Sicily, and the like. One issue: on the drive, we had to wait for several minutes to allow a sheepherder to move his flock across the road. The horseback ride was a relaxing stroll through vineyards and small farms. The horseback guide exchanged familiar greetings with every farmer we passed along the way. The traditional Sicilian lunch was excellent, apparently all items coming from the farm. I could go on...just amazing!