Sardinia walking tour: Cagliari to the Costa Smeralda

Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean, suspended off the Italian coast between Corsica and Sicily.  It is an island of contrasts, with buzzy cities like Cagliari, its capital, a beautiful port with ancient origins; spectacular coastline; and rugged, brooding mountains, where the 'real' Sardinians live. 

Apart from its stunning landscapes, Sardinia also has a long and interesting history, most of which has been under the domination of foreign powers, including: the Pheonicians, the Romans, the French, the Spanish and, closer to home, the Pisans, the Ligurians and the Piedmontese, all of whom have left their mark on this fascinating region, not least on the island's marvellous cuisine. 

Sardinia is a terrific destination and, undoubtedly, the best way to see and experience it is on foot, following some of the many trails that weave their way across the island.

Lead by a very qualified (and nice) local guide, this marvellous tour really does uncover some of the secrets of Sardinia, taking you from the bustle of Cagliari to the hidden delights on the south-west; and then from there into the mountains (the heart of the island); finishing with three days on the celebrated Costa Smeralda.  What more could you want??

The walks on this tour are as varied as Sardinia itself.  They include a guided morning walk through Cagliari's old town; spectacular walks along the island's peerless coastline; walks in the mountains with breath-taking views of the interior; and a forest walk to find the ruins of a Pheonician temple.  The walks are from 5 to 12 kilometres long, take from 2 to 4 hours.  They follow good trails over mostly undulating terrain. There are some steeper climbs in the mountains. Details of each day's walk are listed in the itinerary.

The accommodation is in excellent boutique hotels: two nights in a classic 4-star hotel in the centre of Cagliari; three nights down in the south-west corner of Sardinia, staying in a gorgeous family-run hotel in the historic centre of a small car-free town, a short walk from the port; four nights in a luxurious, family-run 4-star 'country house' in the mountains, which is itself part of the island's history; and. finally, three nights in a 4-star resort staying in deluxe rooms each of which has sea views over the Costa Smeralda!

Sardinian cooking is deeply rooted in its past, full of flavours nearly forgotten elsewhere.  The essence of Sardinian cooking is unmistakeably biased towards traditional country dishes: fresh seasonal vegetabels; suckling pig and wild boar; rustic stews with wild vegetables and beans; fresh pastas; mountain cheeses; and boggling array of breads, including the famous carta da musica... and, of course, plenty of fresh seafood on the coast.  We will eat in a variety of settings including elegant dining in Cagliari and on the Costa Smeralda; seaside osterias, country trattorias, and picnics with the shepherds in the mountains.

Gabriela is a proud Sardinian, and she loves to share this beautiful island’s secrets: its people, its beaches, its mountains, its towns and villages and all its ancient histories and traditions.  She also loves swimming, hiking and yoga.  Gabriela has been working in tourism in Sardinia for most of her adult life.  She has a degree in tourism from the University of Cagliari and is a qualified archaeological guide and environmental guide.  She is fluent in Italian, English and German.  As an insider, there are few people better than Gabriela to unlock the secrets of this fascinating island!