Undiscovered Sardinia Cycling

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8 Days from

CAD 2,795

incl. Taxes

Cycling

Ways to Travel :

Self-Guided Holidays

Activity :

Cycling

Activity Levels :

2 out of 7 - Leisurely / Moderate

Group Size :

Ages :

12+

Trip Code :

C07SA

Sardinia's south-west corner is brimming with immaculate beaches, untouched hidden coves and far reaching coastal views.

There's no better way to discover this beautiful region than by bike. This 7-night holiday takes you from the former mining village of Nebida along undulating country lanes and panoramic coastal roads, to the colourful town of Pula, a short distance from the Sardinian capital of Cagliari. Enroute you pass expanses of vineyards and olive groves and pedal along high rugged cliffs dotted with Spanish and Pisan watchtowers. You'll discover the stunning islands of St Pietro and St Antioco, with their bustling harbours selling the freshest of fish, and admire picture perfect white sand beaches lapped by those famous emerald waters.

Sardinia's position in the Mediterranean made it an enviable trading outpost and the island is an archaeologist's delight, boasting a historical treasure trove ranging from the unique yet mysterious Bronze Age nuraghi, to the Punic remains at St Antioco and the Roman settlement at Nora, where the ruins of its ancient temple panoramically gaze out to sea.

Highlights

The unspoilt landscapes of Sardinia's south-western coast
Unrivalled coastal vistas, the Pan di Zucchero sea stacks, glittering emerald seas, pure white sand beaches
Colourful fishing villages, abundant vineyards, verdant olive groves, panoramic watch towers
Island hop to the beautiful isles of St Pietro and St Antioco
Discover the fascinating archaeological sites of Nora and St Antioco

Key Information

7 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of simple B&Bs, agriturismi and comfortable 3 star and 4 star hotels
5 days self-guided cycling
99% tarmac, 1% easy gravel roads
Mix of easy riding with a few climbs
E-bikes available on request

Countries visited: Italy

What's Included

All accommodation
All breakfasts and 1 evening meal
Local bike hire
Route directions and maps
Luggage transfers
Transfer from Cagliari airport to Nebida on day 1
Transfer from Pula to Cagliari airport (if Flight Inclusive)

What's Not Included

Ferries to St Pietro and St Antioco islands are not included. An indicative cost for this is 15€ per person.
Hotel tourist tax (approx. 10€ per person)
Travel Insurance
Single accommodation (available on request)
Solo traveller supplement (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)
Visas or vaccinations

5 Days of Cycling

Terrain:

Tarmac: 99%; strada bianca: 1%

Day 2

40 km / 24.9 miles

Day 3

36 km / 22.4 miles

Day 4

52 km / 32.3 miles

Day 5

35 km / 21.7 miles

Day 6

30 km / 18.6 miles

Itinerary

Transfer from Cagliari airport to your accommodation in the former mining village of Nebida. Walk out to the belvedere for amazing views of the towering white Pan di Zucchero sea stacks.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Leave the rugged limestone cliffs of Nebida behind and head south along the stunning coastal road, with superb views of the Pan di Zucchero. At Portoscuso, hop on a ferry to the island of St Pietro and the gorgeous town of Carloforte with its pastel coloured houses, cobbled streets and plethora of fish restaurants. Overnight in Calasetta on the island of St Antioco.

Ferries to St Pietro and St Antioco islands are not included. An indicative cost for this is 15€ per person.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Follow quiet country roads along St Antioco's rugged coastline with peregrine falcons soaring overhead. Arrive at the bustling fishing town of St Antioco. With a rich archeological heritage, there's much to explore here including the Punic Necropolis and Phoenicean-Punic Tophet. Cycle back to your hotel via the sleepy hamlet of Cussorgia.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Return to the mainland via the causeway across the Bay of Palmas, then pedal past salt pans and lagoons of pink flamingos to the gently rolling, vineyard clad hills of St Anna Arresi and Teulada. Enjoy the best of Sardinian hospitality at a traditional agriturismo, where your evening meal is included.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Admire unrivalled coastal views as you cycle along the spectacular Costa del Sud, with its hidden sandy coves, panoramic watch towers, stunning white sand beaches and rugged cliffs that plunge into pure emerald blue waters. End the day in Chia with time to relax on the town's immaculate, long sandy beach.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Head north past the gorgeous beach at Santa Margherita di Pula to the ancient Phoenicean site of Nora. Visit the remains of the Roman amphitheatre, temple and baths, one of Sardinia's best archeological sites, before continuing to colourful Pula with its winding alleyways and lively piazze.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Relax on the beach, enjoy a leisurely fish lunch in one of Pula's excellent restaurants or take a bus (40 mins) to the Sardinian capital of Cagliari to discover its many historical sites and museums.

Meals Included: Breakfast

The tour ends after breakfast in Pula.

Essential Info

Visa

Italy

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Italy. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/italy
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/italy
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Italy.html

Please note: it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times in Italy.

Vaccination

Italy

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

The food on Sardinia is as unique as it is, with simple dishes packed with intense flavours. Rich sheep cheeses served with the traditional, crisp shepherd's flat bread, saffron infused ravioli and to finish, cheese and lemon seadas drizzled in honey can be found everywhere, as well as, of course, freshly caught seafood, all washed down with the excellent local Carignano and Vermentino wines. Fregola – a kind of giant couscous often served tomatoes and seafood – is also popular. Of course, you also get the more traditional Italian dishes including pizza, and grilled or roasted meats – like suckling pig – which make tasty secondi. To compliment the end of your meal, try a glass of Mirto - Sardinia’s after dinner liqueur, which is made from the leaves of the myrtle plant.

Weather

Sardinia enjoys a Mediterranean climate, usually warm in spring and autumn and hot, dry summers. April, May, September and October usually have an average daytime temperatures around 20-25ºC. Rain is unlikely but possible throughout the year.

Weather Charts

Is this trip for you?

Cycling Conditions
Classification: Self-Guided
Average daily distance: 36km (22.5 miles).
No. of days cycling: 5
Terrain and route: The suggested cycling mainly follows quiet cycling routes and tarmac roads. The Routes are gently undulating with the occasional steeper ascent or descent.

Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to cycle independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodations, provide you with a map and route notes so that you can cycle at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next. Your bikes will be delivered to the start hotel, all set up relevant to your height and ready to go. Our local agent will be on call throughout the trip should you need.

It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked. Where possible we stick to cycle tracks and quiet roads to make the journeys as pleasant as possible, however, on occasion we have to use busier routes into larger towns and cities.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There maybe others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The route notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the local agent is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

Families
Self-guided cycling holidays are a perfect option for families as they offer the freedom for you to take your holiday at your own pace. You can stop as and when you want and need, at the cafes and restaurants that suit your family and the sites that interest you. We have suggested that 12yrs is the minimum age for this trip, but as it is self-guided and you will be leading your own family we will ultimately leave this decision up to you. The daily distances are all published in the trip notes along with a description of each day's cycling so you have a good idea of what to expect. However, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact one of our experts. The principle idea is that these holidays can be as flexible as you like, with logistical support but no group or leader to dictate the daily activities. Please consider the weather when choosing to book, temperatures can be high in the middle of summer.