Trek Notes - Italy

Cycling in Sardinia

Plunge into the wild yet romantic beauty of south-western Sardinia and cycle beside the empty beaches and abandoned mines in total freedom and at your own pace, pedaling beside the big blue yonder. The terrain is rugged in parts, with high cliffs ascending from the coast, interspersed with long sandy beaches, grass covered dunes and breathtaking views. This is a tour to whet the appetite of anyone who loves cycling, Italy and the Mediterranean. It is an opportunity to discover one of the region's best-kept secrets.

After your arrival you will meet with our local representative who will give an explanation of the route and adjust the bikes for you accordingly. The ride commences through the fascinating Sinis wetlands where you may see colonies of pink flamingos and finally reaches one of the most beautiful spots on the island: the white quartz beach of Is Arutas and the Phoenician ruins of Tharros. After a transfer to Arborea, you then pedal through the natural beauty spots of the Costa Verde, some of the wildest scenery on the island, and onto the Piscinas beach with sand dunes over 50 m high - the highest in Europe.

The next stage takes you back into the island's ancient mining past, as we pass the fascinating abandoned mines of Ingortosu and Planusartu and onto the golden beaches of Portixeddu and the looming mass of the cliffs called Pan di Zucchero. The next day starts with a beautiful descent to Fontanamare. You reach Portoscuso, and board the ferry to Carloforte, where locals still fish for Red Tuna. You continue to the island of Sant'Antioco and end your day in Calasetta. Next you rove through the meadows, (green in springtime and golden yellow in the summer) of Sant'Antioco then you will be riding along rolling plains, savouring the quiet pace of life here. The final ride of your tour, wheels you along the beautiful Costa del Sud with its gleaming white beaches to Cape Malfatano and at Nora you will be able to visit an ancient Phoenician settlement.

Duration: 7 nights/8 days
Grade: Moderate (with one challenging  day)
Bike Hire: Euros 80
Day Stages: Min 40km, max 61km

Accommodation

7 nights/8 days - Our first 2 nights are spent in a countryside complex on the Sinis Peninsula. Its U-shaped layout resembles that of a Spanish Hacienda. It has 14 lovely decorated rooms surrounding the flourishing garden in the central courtyard. In Arbus our 3* Agriturismo is family run and the home cooking will be something to remember. Night 4 is spent in a 2* hotel in Nebida and the restaurant is worth a visit and is mentioned in many gourmet guides. Just outside of Calasetta you will stay in a charming seaside property. Night 6 just outside the village of Sant Anna Arresi in the quiet countryside your 3* hotel enjoys beautiful views of a large stretch of coast. Your last night is spent in a 3* hotel in Pula. This newly built elegant hotel has 10 finely furnished rooms.

Terrain

Out of 6 stages 3 are flat, 2 are undulating and 1 is hilly.

Bike Hire
Aluminium framed hybrid bikes with 24 gears, rear panniers, lock and basic repair kit

Accommodation and Meals
Half board on 6 days. In Pula bed and breakfast only, for your evening meal you can choose from the many restaurants nearby. Accommodation in 3* hotels except in Nebida which is 2*

Start and End of Tour
San Salvatore is easily reached by bus and taxi from Cagliari or a longer journey from Alghero.
Transfer available back to Cagliari Airport or a public bus to Alghero.

Bike Hire
Aluminium framed hybrid bikes with 24 gears, rear panniers, lock and basic repair kit

Accommodation and Meals
Half board on 6 days. In Pula bed and breakfast only, for your evening meal you can choose from the many restaurants nearby. Accommodation in 3* hotels except in Nebida which is 2*

Start and End of Tour
San Salvatore is easily reached by bus and taxi from Cagliari or a longer journey from Alghero.
Transfer available back to Cagliari Airport or a public bus to Alghero.

Itinerary

    Day 1.  Flight to Cagliari arrival and transfer to San Salvatore meeting with local representative: explanation of the route and bike delivery and collection. Dinner and overnight at our hotel

    Day 2: Circular rides San Salvatore  (Sinis - San Salvatore Sinis 33 miles / 52 km. Approx 4 hours cycling)
This is an easy first day cycling through the flat coastal plains of the Sinis wetlands. The salt ponds around the Gulf are home to thousands of pink flamingos in season and a wealth of other bird life, so bring your binoculars. There is a lot of local fishing for mullet or bass from traditional grass Fassone boats circling the lake to Riola Sardo you return to the coast at Mari Ermi and the spectacular white quartz beach of Is Arutas. A short trip down the peninsula to San Giovanni Sinis brings you to the Phoenician ruins of Tharros, with a history of inhabitation stretching back almost 2,500 years. Wine production here is mainly a sherry like Vernaccia and you maybe able to visit a cellar on the way. Dinner and overnight in at San Salvatore.

    Day 3: San Salvatore Sinis - Arbus (30/35 miles - 46/53 km, 5 or 6 hours of cycling)
To avoid the suburbs of Oristano, there is an included transfer by road to Arborea. From here you will cycle to Piscinas through the natural beauty spots of the Costa Verde, this is some of the wildest scenery on the island. Firstly there is a flat 8 mile section across reclaimed farmland to the colourful fishing village of Marceddi. Rice,  soft fruit and vegetables are  grown here  for the "Cucinas" (kitchens) of the island. From here the route becomes more undulating with low hills and sands dunes over 50 m high - the highest in Europe -skirting the beach. On request at Piscinas we are collected and driven up into the hills for a night at Arbus, or you could take the more hilly but spectacular inland route directly to the village by bike. Dinner and overnight in Arbus

     Day 4:  Arbus - Nebida (31 miles/ 41 km; 5 hours cycling)
This is the toughest day, but some glorious scenery to compensate! You start on an undulating 12km terrain crossing the Arbus highland to then take a spectacular 5km descent dropping down to the Mannu River and the start of miles of golden beaches around Portixeddu. To the left is the massif of Monte Linas, with the Costa Verde and the heather covered sand dunes away to the right. After the unfortunately named town of Buggerru and the Pranu Sartu Plateau, is the charming Cala Domestica Bay. Inland the Marganai mountain group rises to almost 3,500 feet. After the 400 foot limestone cliffs of Pan di Zucchero, you arrive at Nebida with its the old ore washery; nestling in the varied colours of the Mediterranean bush. Dinner and overnight in Nebida.

  Day 5: Nebida - Calasetta (27-32 miles / 43-52 km; 4 hours cycling) A beautiful descent to Fontana mare followed by an undulating coastal ride to Portoscuso. Here board a ferry (at own expense) to Carloforte on Isola di  San Pietro. There is time for a short tour round the island, exploring sandy coves and rocky headlands with tiny hamlets, before rejoining the ferry to continue to the equally unspoilt San Antioco. Note that it is not possible to book the ferry in advance. Dinner and overnight near to Calasetta.

     Day 6. Calasetta - S. Anna Arresi (25-28 miles / 40-45 km; 4 hours cycling) A morning to laze by the pool or explore the coast nearby, or for a short cycle ride around the island with its wealth of coves and beaches, green meadows (or golden in the summer!)  and little villages. After a visit to San Antioco, cross back to the mainland to visit the Pisan sanctuary at Tratalias - one of the most important monuments from the Romanesque period. From here you follow the shoreline of Lake Monte Pranu and through the rolling plains of Sulcis. Rugged mountains once again rise up to your left, to around 4000 feet. You reach your hotel just before the beach at San Anna Arresi. Nearby are the bright white beaches of Porto Pino backed by dunes and Aleppo pinewoods. Dinner and overnight.

    Day 7:  S.Anna Arresi - Pula (38 miles - 60 km; approx 5 hours cycling) This is the longest day by distance, but you pedal across gentle countryside over the rugged coastal plains of the Costa Del Sud. This is a wild, remote and beautiful region of Mediterranean bush and coastal pools, gleaming white beaches and imposing cliffs. Cape Malfatano and Cape Piscinni each boast 16th Century tower towers, while at Capo Teulada the spectacular cliffs rises more than 700 feet from a translucent sea. A short detour will take you to the beautiful beach of Su Giudeu in Chia, while at Pula there is the important Phoenician city of Nora. Bed and breakfast only.

     Day 8: Tour ends after breakfast.