Sardinia Hike - Coast to Coast

Meet your guide(s) this morning at 8:00 a.m. for a 1-hour drive to Capo Testa: The Valley of the Moon. This little valley has impressive granite rocks shaped by the force of the weather over thousands of years. We hike through hidden coves where crystal-clear turquoise water is in vivid contrast to the surrounding golden-colored rocks and the deep green of the dense Mediterranean scrub. We transfer to the Medieval hamlet of Castelsardo for lunch. From there, we go to the lovely seaside town of Alghero. Ancient walls ring the town, and rusty canons still point out to sea. The town center is cobblestoned and a maze of narrow lanes connecting gracious piazzas. Dinner in our favorite local trattoria, where our welcoming hosts enthusiastically treat us to their seafood specialties, accompanied by a delicious Sardinian Vermentino di Gallura. The Hike: 5.2 km/3.2 mls. 252 metes/827 ft elevation gain and loss. Duration: about three hours. This hike has some boulders along the path that we negotiate, so it takes longer than usual to cover the distance. Overnight Alghero at the 4-star Hotel Catalunya (or similar). Hotel, breakfast, and dinner included.

We head up the coast this morning for an adventurous and wild walk high above the sea. Continue another hour down to the wide, sandy beach of Porto Ferro for a refreshing post-hike swim and lunch with a sea view. Afterward, we have a short drive back to Alghero, where you’ll have some free time to wander the colorful city streets before dinner. We’ll dine in a great restaurant featuring creative and delicious Sardinian dishes. The Hike: 9.6 km/5.9 mls. Elevation gain 304 meters/997 ft, elevation loss 399 meters/1309 ft. Overnight Alghero. Hotel, breakfast, and dinner included.

After breakfast, we hit the road and head south along one of the most scenic drives on the island. Our destination is the beautiful coastal town of Bosa, where you'll find colorful houses in pastel hues, wrought-iron balconies, and narrow medieval alleys. Time for a mid-morning cappuccino and they we take you on a beautiful kayak trip down the Temo River with a local guide. We paddle through the old town, under the 16th century stone bridge, and gradually enter a wild and secluded part of the small river for an unexpected trip into the abundant flora and fauna of the small river. This is super easy kayaking so that novices will have no problems. After our aquatic adventures, we’ll have lunch with a wine tasting at a local wine cellar famous for its Malvasia wines. Afterward, we have a 1-hour transfer inland to Santu Antine, one of Sardinia's most important Nuraghe sites. Nuraghe are the ancient megalithic structures that the Nuragic civilization built as far back as 1,900 B.C. These impressive edifices are mysterious, intriguing, and unique to Sardinia. We then reach ”Su Gologone,” a welcoming 4-star hotel of whitewashed terracotta-roofed cottages set amongst a lush garden of hydrangeas, bougainvillea, and prickly pear. Each room is different, and the furnishings and materials are all local with colorful decorative flourishes. Overnight Su Gologone. Hotel, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Transfer this morning to the trailhead, which leads us to the hidden ruins of the ancient village of Tíscali. Built inside a massive collapsed cave it is protected by natural walls but open to the sun and fresh rainwater. It consists of two groups of dwellings inhabited between the 15th - 8th centuries BC. Its origins are still unclear today, as the building technique differs from other Nuragic sites. Besides the ruins of Tiscali, the hike features expansive views over the rough and rocky spine of the island. This afternoon, there is time to relax by the hotel pool this afternoon. Tonight, you will dine on the delicate filo-like flatbreads and hearty, savory tarts the village women have made for centuries. The Hike: 6.4 km/4 ml. Elevation gain 369 m/1210 ft. Elevation loss 340m/1115 ft. Dinner tonight on the terrace. Overnight Su Gologone. Hotel, breakfast, and dinner included.

A 50-minute drive takes us to the mountain pass of Genna Silana for a hike rocky and wild hike down into the spectacular Gorropu gorge. After a long descent we reach the crystal clear waters of the gorge. Natural rock pools invite you to soak your feet in the bracingly cold water or you can take a full plunge if you’re brave enough! The white gray rock of the gorge narrows to 5 meters (16 ft) wide between sheer rock walls that rise up 500 meters (1,650 ft) high. You can chose to hike up the boulder strewn gorge for as far as you like, but eventually you turn around to exit the gorge on an easy trail that follows the river. Eventually, we get to a point where we take a Jeep for an adventurous (and painless!) ride back up the Genna Silana pass. Keen hikers can also choose to do the ascent back up to the pass. Afterward, a short drive takes us east to the seaside to the lively port village of Cala Gonone. Our hotel, the 3-star superior Cala Luna Hotel (or similar), is right on the waterfront, so you can relax with a cold drink on the terrace or walk 20 meters to the beach for a swim before dinner on your own. The Hike: variable length, 5,3 km down the valley 1h30’, about 2 km in the gorge 1hr. Overnight Cala Gonone. Hotel, breakfast, and picnic lunch included. Dinner is not included.

Our final day is all about the sea: we begin with a two-hour coastal hike to Cala Luna, where we’ll stop for a swim and a tasty lunch. We finish off our tour with a boat trip to experience some of Sardinia’s most spectacular and isolated bays and beaches (weather permitting, of course). Alternatively, you can enjoy the afternoon exploring the coast by sea kayak (optional activity) or you can choose to simply chill out and enjoy our hotel overlooking the lovely Cala Gonone beach. The Hike: 5.4 km/3.3 miles. Elevation gain 242 meters/794 ft, elevation loss 272 meters/892 ft. Overnight Cala Gonone. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included. 

We offer one 1hr15 min transfer to the Olbia airport, arriving around 10:30 a.m. If you need to leave earlier, we can arrange a taxi for you (at your expense). Breakfast included.

Please note: Some details of the itinerary may change according to the departure date of your tour. Whenever we run a tour we make new discoveries. Sometimes they are good discoveries, like a wonderful new trattoria, and sometimes they are bad, like a trail has been washed away. The result is that we sometimes change our itinerary to improve it by adding new wonderful elements to the tour or by removing something that does not work anymore. Rest assured, our goal is to always provide you with the best possible experience. We will advise you of any changes to the original itinerary prior to departure.