Walking in Sardinia

Name: Walking in Sardinia
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.2 (64 reviews)

64 reviews

Activity

Walking & Trekking

Overview

Discover one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean

Sardinia is a natural marvel with crystalline waters, golden beaches and undulating limestone ridges. Based in the Dorgali area, we explore the forest-framed coastline of the east and rugged mountains in the west, walking through valleys, gorges, peaks and turquoise bays. The island is also a place of great historical interest. We explore some of it with a visit to monolithic monuments built by the Nuragic people, one of the most interesting prehistoric civilisations in the Mediterranean.

Key Information

Trip Code: TES
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Italy
Carbon Footprint: 19kg CO2e per person per day
Pace: Approximately five to six hours per day
Four days walking, one day sightseeing
Terrain: Low altitude; uneven paths with some steep ascents
Altitude maximum: 2,985ft (910m); average: 1,315ft (400m)

What's Included

All accommodation: 7 Classic nights (Hotel Il Querceto)
All breakfasts, five picnic lunches, one wine tasting and five dinners
Immersive itinerary with all transport and listed activities
Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure
Group arrival and departure transfers available

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations. On this trip local taxes (approx. €10) are not included.

Highlights

Discover the most beautiful walking trails in Sardinia with a small group of like-minded adventurers

Hike (and maybe paddle) in Gorropu Gorge, the deepest natural gorge in Europe

Explore the large caves at Cala Luna, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean

Visit the mysterious Nuragic village of Tiscali

Enjoy Italian hospitality and excellent food at the family-run Hotel Il Querceto

Itinerary

First Destination: Dorgali
Next Destination: Dorgali

Accommodation:Hotel Il Quercieto
Meals included:Dinner

Distance:13 km / 8.1 miles
Accommodation:Hotel Il Quercieto
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Distance:15 km / 9.3 miles
Accommodation:Hotel Il Quercieto
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:Hotel Il Quercieto
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:Hotel Il Quercieto
Meals included:Breakfast

Distance:12 km / 7.5 miles
Accommodation:Hotel Il Quercieto
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Distance:10 km / 6.2 miles
Accommodation:Hotel Il Quercieto
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Dorgali
Next Destination: Dorgali

Our week begins at Hotel Il Quercieto in Dorgali, a Sardinian hill town known for its mountainous scenery and close proximity to the coast.

Around 6pm, say ciao to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big welcome over our first group dinner.

Want more time in Sardinia? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Accommodation:Hotel Il Quercieto
Meals included:Dinner

We start with an orientation walk, talking an old path that winds around Monte Tului (3,005ft/916m) and offers some of the best views of the Gulf of Orosei to one side, and the mountainous interior around Dorgali on the other. The walk should take around five hours.

Distance:13 km / 8.1 miles
Accommodation:Hotel Il Quercieto
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy sweeping views on a drive above the Flumineddu Valley, before arriving at Gorropu Gorge, also known as the Grand Canyon of Europe. Its narrow, vertical walls reach 1,640ft (500m), making it the deepest natural gorge in Europe. Appreciate all its glory on our walk, which takes around six hours. There is a chance to paddle in the river, if conditions allow. This evening, there is the opportunity to enjoy dinner in a restaurant in Dorgali centre – payable locally.

Distance:15 km / 9.3 miles
Accommodation:Hotel Il Quercieto
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Today we learn more about the Nuragic people, considered the most accomplished yet mysterious civilisation in the Mediterranean. We start with a drive to the Giants Tomb, a megalithic grave site from the Bronze Age, before visiting the Serra Orrios archaeological complex, home to a fascinating collection of stone hut ruins.

We then have time for a quick coffee stop before driving to Cala Orsala. This is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, surrounded by rocks, pinewoods and lush Mediterranean scrub. We have lunch on the beach (weather permitting). Next up is a visit to the Grotta Ispinigoli, a cave home to the longest stalactite-stalagmite column in Europe. We finish the day in style, heading to a winery (cantina) for a tasting and short talk about the local wines.

Accommodation:Hotel Il Quercieto
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is free to explore the archaeological sites of the Dorgali region, take an optional self-guided walk or simply relax by the beach and enjoy the leisurely Sardinian lifestyle. Horse riding can also be arranged (the price and all details to be agreed locally with the hotel). Alternatively, take an optional boat trip to the Bue Marino Grotto (weather permitting).

Accommodation:Hotel Il Quercieto
Meals included:Breakfast

Today we visit the mysterious Nuragic village of Tiscali – not much is known about its origins, nor the people who lived there. It seems to have been populated before the Nuragic era but archaeologists put its main period of activity between the second and first centuries BCE. The dwellings are virtually invisible until you are at the vast cavity in which they are built. This has led some to postulate that people returned here to hide from the Romans.

We also visit Su Gologone, described as a natural masterpiece, where karst has been sculpted by rushing water as it exits the gorge. The water is tinged green or blue, depending on the angle of the sun, and an astonishing 130 gallons (500 litres) of water per second comes crashing out of the chasm into this mini oasis.

Distance:12 km / 7.5 miles
Accommodation:Hotel Il Quercieto
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We start the day with a boat trip to Cala Luna, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean. Here there will be time to explore the large caves and, as this is a popular spot for rock climbing, we may get to see some enthusiasts put their skills to the test. The walk back to Cala Gonone taks us through a vast forest and along deep gulleys, with occasional views of the coast. At the end of the walk at Cala Gonone we will have time for a very welcome drink and the opportunity for a swim before we return to Dorgali.

Distance:10 km / 6.2 miles
Accommodation:Hotel Il Quercieto
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Our Sardinia trip comes to an end after breakfast. Say a fond farewell to Hotel Il Quercieto, before beginning your return journey home. Alternatively, speak to your sales representative to extend your adventure and spend more time exploring Sardinia.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

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Accommodation

Hotel Il Querceto, a family-run hotel near Dorgali

Il Querceto is our host for this adventure in Sardinia. It’s run by a local family who have created a home-from-home feel and serve delicious, hearty meals.

Upgrade throughout your stay to a deluxe room with a terrace and a view – speak to your sales representative for more details.

The hotel itself is adorned with locally crafted wooden furniture and contemporary regional artwork while facilities include a bar, restaurant and terrace. We’ve found our groups tend to gather on the terrace with a drink before dinner, an ideal time to reminisce about the day’s adventures.

Additionally, the hotel, which is run on biomass, using wood which would otherwise be burned, is within walking distance of Dorgali, a small town specialising in crafts and ceramics, where there are shops, restaurants and bars. It’s also a 10 to 15-minute bus ride to the beach, home to a string of restaurants and cafes.

Essential Information

This trip has been rated Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

This is a moderate walking week with free time to relax and enjoy the excellent local food and wine. All walks take around five to six hours and require a good level of fitness. Walking is on a variety of dirt tracks, gravel and paved routes. There are also rocky sections that may require scrambling; in less visited areas, paths may be overgrown and rougher underfoot. Expect a few steep ascents and descents. The maximum altitude is 2,985ft (910m), with an average of 1,315ft (400m).

If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please do not hesitate to call us. Walking hours stated in the itinerary are given as approximates only. Timings include lunch and photo stops and will vary depending on the group’s pace.

Summer temperatures in Italy can be quite high. In very hot weather, it may be necessary to amend the itinerary.

Key information

Start hotel: Hotel Il Quercieto, Via Lamarmora 4, 08022, Dorgali
Phone: +39 041 5384485
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing around 6pm this evening.
Airport: Olbia Airport (OLB)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately just over an hours’ drive from the airport. Your options for this journey are:

Take an Exodus transfer
Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.

Make your own way
From Olbia, it is possible to reach Dorgali by public transport, which will cost approximately €20. Please check the Olbia Airport website for bus times. A taxi will cost about €140.

If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Catching your return flight

There’s a group departure transfer to the airport in time for a chosen flight. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.

Flights from London, UK

We normally use the scheduled services of EasyJet or Meridiana (depending on availability). As flight timings and schedules change regularly, we recommend you call your sales representative to confirm up‐to‐date timings. Please note timings may change and cannot be confirmed until approximately two weeks before departure.

Due to EasyJet’s booking system, we can only purchase flights six months before your departure date. If you book your trip before this date, a booking confirmation will be sent to you advising that flights are subject to confirmation. We will then secure the flights as soon as they become available. In the case that flights are not available at the original budgeted cost once they are released for sale, a flight supplement will be charged. If the supplement exceeds 10 percent of the original holiday price, you will be given the right to cancel.

Please note that many destinations now require Advanced Passenger Information (API), such as your passport number, date of birth and nationality, to be added to your booking before departure. When booking Easyjet flights through Exodus your sales consultant will do this for you.

Consider taking the train

Reach this trip by train from the UK or across Europe and lower your carbon footprint. Our partner, Byway, can take care of the planning and booking.

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.

All breakfasts, five lunches and five evening meals are included. In the itinerary, we state which meals are included on each day.

Breakfast: Buffet including cereals, yoghurts, fresh fruit and cold meats.
Lunch: Paninis (filled with cold meats/cheese), cake and fruit.
Evening meal: Three-course fixed menu with soup/salad for starters; meat/fish for main course and local dessert.

Popular Sardinian specialities include roast suckling pig, excellent seafood dishes, and local wines, such as vermentino, nuragus, cannonau and monica. Mirto, which is made from the leaves of the myrtle plant, is Sardinia’s after-dinner liqueur.

Although meals mostly consist of meat/fish, the hotel staff endeavour to meet specific dietary requirements. Please advise us before departure so the hotel has sufficient time to prepare.

Dorgali has a Mediterranean climate, usually warm in spring and autumn, with hot, dry summers. April, May, September and October are also warm with average daytime temperatures around 20C (68F). Rain is unlikely but possible throughout the year.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

Reviews

Add new review

Kent Noseworthy

Added October 2025

Walking in Sardinia

Interesting itinerary and well organized with a good group of like minded individuals. The inn chosen for the weekly stay was very spacious and comfortable and a great setting with a great staff, innkeeper and the meals were well done.

Most Inspirational Moment

Interesting itinerary and well organized with a good group of like minded individuals. The inn chosen for the weekly stay was very spacious and comfortable and a great setting with a great staff, innkeeper and the meals were well done.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent. He arranged an optional hike for people on our day off that was a bonus. He assisted me in replacing worn out hiking boots after hours to allow me to keep on trekking.

James Levi

Added October 2025

Walking in Sardinia

Some of the walks and landscapes in this area of Sardinia were absolutely stunning. The "culture day" was also very interesting with some excellent visits.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Gorropu Gorge and Tiscali mountain and archaeological site walks were both superb. Beautiful landscapes and some great walking that had a bit of challenge which made it more enjoyable.

Margaret Murphy

Added October 2025

Walking in Sardinia

The area was authentic and unspoiled. The hiking was varied and superb. The degree of difficulty was accurate. We felt prepared and challenged but safe at all times. The guide was excellent. Tony really knew all about hiking around Dorgali and the region.

Most Inspirational Moment

Hiking in Su Gorrupu, swimming in Cala Gogone, and eating at a local restaurant with authentic dishes.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lots of up hill rocky climbing so be prepared to be challenged!

Suggestions

Sardinia a lovely island stunning mountain scenery. Hotel chosen by Exodus excellent.

Maggie Holmes

Added May 2023

A fantastic adventure!

This was my first Exodus trip in many years - and what a trip. So much more than I expected - walking, swimming, history, culture, food, wine and super company. We packed a great deal into seven days - some high intensity days of climbing/walking up and down the mountains - but also rest days at the beach with pristine clear water and visiting historical monuments of which there are many. Sardinia has a rich history and a proud culture - I came away with a deeper understanding of the people and the country - and a greater appreciation of Sardinian landscape, beaches, wine and food. This trip is such good value - almost everything is included such as flights, accommodation, most meals including packed lunches for our walking days. We had two excellent meals out in Dorgali where our family run hotel was based; these were self funded but great value - mountains of food! The hotel was run by three sisters who worked their socks off to give us a good time. It's an authentic three star family run affair - I loved that so many local families came to dinner with their children and filled the restaurant with chatter and laughter.

Most Inspirational Moment

I stood at the top of the mountain after a long climb of around 2,000 feet and looked across the amazing landscape of valleys, gorges, rivers - green and vibrant. I never thought I would make it to the top - but I did and it was a deeply rewarding experience which will stay with me for a very long time. It has given me the confidence to book more trips - with Exodus of course!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michele was an inspirational and motivation group leader. He made each and everyone of us feel welcome and included. He was keen to understand what we as individuals wanted from the trip and built the itinerary around that and the weather - which can be variable in Sardinia. He shared his extensive knowledge of the island and the culture so we got a real insight into the place and its people. He had clearly built a good relationship with local people over the years and was keen that we, as travellers, appreciated their environment. Most of all he gave me the confidence to tackle challenging walks and it was a rewarding experience. Go Michele!!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Three pieces of advice: Ensure you are fit enough to undertake some challenging walks. The trip is rated 3 moderate but it felt more like a 4 at times particularly on some tricky screen and mountain paths. The coming down is as difficult as the ascent so you need to train in advance - as advised by the website. Take the proper equipment with you including walking poles - you might think you can manage without but they make a huge difference on difficult paths.Bring wet weather gear - the weather can change dramatically and suddenly. Finally go with the flow - this is an authentic experience in a family run hotel - just enjoy it and be grateful the island isn't full of Premier Inns and other chain hotels

Suggestions

The trip was everything I thought it would be - and more. I was stunned by the beauty of Sardinia, an island I had not previously visited. The scenery is beautiful but the beaches are amazing and deserve their world class recognition. I will definitely do a return trip. This Exodus trip is great value for money considering everything which is included.

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Walking in Sardinia

Activity Level

Comfort Level

Activity

Overview

Discover one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean

Key Information

What's Included

Don't Forget To

Highlights

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

Need flights or extra nights? Book through us and fly with confidence

Book Your Flights With Us

Accommodation

Hotel Il Querceto, a family-run hotel near Dorgali

Essential Information

Key information

Getting to the start hotel

Catching your return flight

Flights from London, UK

Consider taking the train

Italy

Reviews

Walking in Sardinia

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Walking in Sardinia

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking in Sardinia

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Beautiful island and lovely hotel

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Beautiful Trip

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Perfect week

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Great leader,great group.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

An all round fantastic experience.

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Suggestions

Fantastic

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Suggestions

A fantastic adventure!

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Suggestions

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