Sardinia walking tour: Cagliari to the Costa Smeralda

Day 1

The tour starts with two nights in a 4-star hotel in the centre of Cagliari, Sardinia's charming capital.  THe group will meet in the foyer of the hotel at 19.00 for introductions before walking to a lovely nearby restaurant for dinner.

Day 2

We will be taken on a guided walk through the historical centre of Cagliari, including a visit to its extraordinary archaeological museum and finishing with a light lunch on the bastions with spectacular views over the city and the surrounding coast.  The evening is free.  (Lunch)

Day 3

Today we drive south, past lagoons filled with pink flamingos, following some of the most pristine and beautiful coastline in Europe.  On the way we will stop for a lovely walk along the coast, picking up the remains of a Roman road before finishing at a beach classified as one of the ten best beaches on the island.  (6 kms, 2 hrs, 76 mts ascent)

After lunch a picnic, we continue on to the southern tip of Sardinia, taking a short hop by ferry to a very small island, staying in a lovely harbour side (car-free) town, which will be our base for the next three nights.  After settling into our hotel, the evening is free to explore what I feel is one of the most pleasant Italian towns I have been to in years.  (Lunch)

Day 4

This morning we walk from the village across the northern tip island, following a winding trail that takes us down to a tiny bay. (9 kms 2.5 hrs, 229 mts ascent).

On our way back to town, we visit the island's only winery, where we'll have a light lunch while tasting some of our hosts' fine wines. After lunch, you’ll have the option of getting a lift or continuing back to town on foot (4 kms, 1 hr, 120 mts descent). 

In the evening we will have an alfresco dinner at the town’s best restaurant.  (Lunch/dinner)

Day 5

This morning we take a ferry back to the mainland then a spectacular drive above the south-western cliffs of mainland Sardinia.  We enjoy an undulating loop walk which takes us out through a forested valley and then back along a ridge, before descending to the well-preserved remains of a Phoenician/Roman temple, which stands isolated in a green valley.  (13 kms, 4 hrs, 223 mts ascent) 

After a delicious picnic lunch, we’ll head back to our base, where the evening is free.  (Lunch)

Day 6

Today we leave the island, taking an early morning back to the mainland.  From here, we drive across the plains to visit one of the most extraordinary Bronze Age sites in Sardinia, a 4000 year-old citadel recently added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list. 

From here we drive up through the spectacular Gennargentu Mountains, stopping for lunch at a lovely, family-owned vineyard, which has the oldest vines in Sardinia.  Here we have a delicious lunch based on fresh antipasto, accomanied by their own wines.

We then continue on to the Supramonte, a spectacular range of limestone mountains, which once considered Sardinia’s ‘badlands’ but is now the island's pride and joy.  Our accommodation for the next four days is in one of Sardinia’s most celebrated hotels, a 60-year, family-run, 'country house' in the heart of the walking country.  Dinner is at our accommodation.  (Lunch/dinner)

Day 7

Today we will be picked up from the hotel by two jeeps by local guide Fabrizio and his fabulous team, and driven up to the mountains above the town, the Supramonte, which is the north tip of the Gennargentu range.  Starting at 1200 metres, we will walk to the highest peak Punta Corrasi, 1463 metres, to enjoy the spectacular views over half of Sardinia. (7 kms, 3 hrs, 307 mts ascent).

We’ll have a delicious picnic lunch of local produce during the walk, before heading back to the base, where the rest of the afternoon is free.  Dinner is at our accommodation.  (Lunch/dinner)

Day 8

Today we be picked from our accommodation by Fabrizio and his team for a remarkable day exploring the heartland of Sardinia: its rugged mountains; its isolated villages and its ancient traditions.  This will include visits to the famous murals of Orgosolo (once a bandit stronghold); a fabulous outdoor lunch with some local shepherds; and, in the afternoon, a visit to fascinating museum that celebrates the districts long history. 

Dinner is at our accommodation. (Lunch/dinner)

Day 9

This morning Fabrizio will take us on one of the area’s classic walks heading up a long valley behind our hotel, before climbing up to Mt Tiscali, a ridge where the remains of two prehistoric settlements are hidden in a huge limestone cavern – a completely stunning and unexpected sight.  (6.5 kms, 3 hrs, 329 ascent).

After a barbeque lunch, we’ll head back to our hotel, time for a swim in the pool and relax for dinner.  (Lunch/dinner)

Day 10

This morning we leave the mountains behind us and head north to one of the most celebrated bits of coastline in Europe, the Costa Smeralda, which has been a ‘jetset’ destination since it was developed by the Aga Khan in the 1960s, driving to our base for the next three days. 

Our accommodation is in a lovely 4-star hotel overlooking its own private beach.  Each superior room has a view over the sea. Dinner will be at the hotel’s terrace restaurant.  (Dinner)

Day 11

The loop walk today leaves directly from our hotel and climbs up to Monte Riuiu. We walk through Mediterranean shrubs with breath-taking views over the coast,  before descending to the coastal path and returning to the hotel (7 kms, 3hrs, 269 mts ascent).

The afternoon is free to enjoy the hotel's, mooch on the beach or do some shopping.  Dinner is at our hotel.

Day 12

Today we'll have a relaxing day out on the hotel's boats, exploring the Golfo Aranci.  Apart from the beautiful scenery, this will include the option of a swim the blue Mediterranean Sea, lunch prepared on board and, if we are lucky, the chance to see some of the community of bottlenose dolphins who have happily settled in the waters of the gulf. 

In the evening, we will regroup for our farewell dinner on the hotel's terrace overlooking the gulf. (Lunch/dinner)

Day 13

After breakfast, we’ll transfer you to nearby Olbia an hour's drive away which has an airport (arriving around 10.00) and a port with ferries back to mainland Italy: to Genoa, La Spezia, Livorno (Tuscany) and Civitavecchia (Rome).