Cycling Tour in Sardinia

From famed Alghero on the northwestern coast, we explore this gorgeous isle by bicycle riding south along the coast before cutting inland to Tresnuraghes and Bosa, and then further inland to Santu Lussurgiu area and Oliena, ending on the eastern shores at Cala Gonone. Off the bike, we restore ourselves with splashes of the indigenous wines and recipes that comprise the distinctive Sardinian cuisine. We’ll meet with local Sardi including shepherds, fishermen, and cheesemakers who have been living and working here in accordance with the traditions of their ancestors for centuries.

Come with us to discover wild Sardinia. Buon appetito and buon viaggio!

See here for more info on Sardinia region.

Dates & Pricing

Minimum of 6 participants, maximum of 16, with a maximum guide-to-guest ratio of 1 to 8

DATES (7 days)

For dates, more info and availability please contact us.

TOUR PRICE

Per person in double occupancy: from $4,190

Single Supplement: $690

For travel in 2021 and beyond, your tour is carbon neutral! In addition, we donate more than 1% of your trip price to food-literacy and environmental non-profits that share our values. (Details here)

Tour Highlights

Learn more about local Slow Food Presidium of Casizolu cheese and other artisanal products such as olive oil, wine, and leather
Exposure to local culture and history with bilingual, experienced Tour Leaders
Tastes of regional grapes and foods with visits to meet local Sardinians
Up close and personal looks at agriturismi and the methods behind Sardinian cuisine and agriculture
Explore the west and east coasts of Sardinia: Alghero, Bosa, and Cala Gonone
Discover Sardinia inland, visiting the Barbagia through Mamoiada, Orgosolo, Oliena and the Supramonte mountain range
Traditional, local recipes to bring home with you!
Exhilarating rides with opportunities to swim in the beautiful Mediterranean sea
Traditional local polyphonic music performed live

Cycling Level 3 – Antipasto, Primo and Secondo (Entrée)

What's Included

6 nights of accommodation in 3- and mostly 4-star hotels
6 breakfasts and 3 lunches
5 dinners each with either a 3- or 4-course menu
Discover Sardinian coastline and the Barbagia area inland
Visit the tanneries museum in Bosa and the Nuraghe Palmavera in Alghero
Guided walk through Orgosolo to discover its murals
1 wine tasting with local winemaker
Traditional poliphonic music performed live
2 visits and meals to local agriturismi
1 cooking demo showing a traditional recipe
1 private boat ride in Cala Gonone area
1 visit to an olive oil producer and 1 visit and tasting at a cheese maker
Bike rental (see more info here) and Garmin Touring Edge unit (if you have one, bring yours and we’ll upload the routes onto your unit)
Comfortable transportation and assistance by 9-seat van for all travel on tour as cited in the itinerary
Refreshments, snacks, fruits and other local delicacies during our rides
Two bilingual, professional Tour Leaders
One group transfer at the end of tour to Olbia airport
Local taxes and gratuities for luggage porters and restaurant servers during tour

What's Not Included

3 lunches and 1 dinner on your own
Alcoholic beverages at group meals (including wine and spirits)
Round-trip airfare and expenses to/from the tour
E-bike, upon request and availability, with $150-250 surcharge depending on the type (see more info here)
Trip cancellation, baggage loss or travel delay insurance (this optional coverage is highly recommended. See more info here)
Gratuities for your Tour Leaders
Personal expenses, such as, but not limited to, phone calls, laundry, emails, snacks, gifts

Itinerary

Optional Pre-Tour Night in Alghero
Day 1 & 2 – Alghero and Capo Caccia

Cycling Route Info on day 1: Main Route: 14mi/1100ft of elevation gain | Extra loop adds: 6mi/600ft or more!

Cycling Route Info on day 2: Main Route 32mi/1400ft | Extra loop adds: 15mi/1200ft or more!

For our first two nights, we’ll reside in the lovely seaside town of Alghero. The ancestors of modern-day Sardinians (Sardi in Italian) were the Nuragic peoples whose name derives from once common cone-shaped megalithic buildings dating back to 1400 BC. Among our history lessons, we’ll have a chance to visit some of these. More recently, starting in the mid-fourteenth century, for four hundred years, the Aragonese dominated the island. The local Catalan dialect is still spoken here.

Other highlights here include: the local ancient tradition of coral fishing, nowadays regulated and entrusted to a few local experts; the natural reserve of Capo Caccia with dramatic views of the promontory that we’ll explore by bike; and the agriturismi (family-run farm-stays that combine agriculture and tourism, with an emphasis on accommodation and meals in a partially or totally renovated farmhouse) where we’ll enjoy a dinner featuring locally-grown and seasonal products.
Day 3 – Alghero to Tresnuraghes via Bosa

Cycling Route Info on day 3: Main Route: 29mi/3700ft | Extra loop adds: 8mi/1400ft

From Alghero, we’ll continue south, riding with the beautiful western coastal views, and stopping by Bosa, one of the Borghi piú Belli d’Italia (Most Beautiful Villages of Italy, a national designation) for a lunch by the beach and a nice swim in the Mediterranean. The following day, we’ll have a chance to take a walk in town and visit the old tanneries in the historic center.

Our final destination is the tiny village of Tresnuraghes, where we’ll stay in an albergo diffuso, best translated as “dispersed hotel” as services and accommodation are spread across different, existent structures all within the same area. Tonight we’ll enjoy a cooking demo and dinner, followed by traditional polyphonic music performed live for us!
Day 4 – Santu Lussurgiu and Montiferru Area

Cycling Route Info on day 4: Main Route: 41mi/3300ft | Extra loop adds: 6mi/350ft or more!

The beauty of the albergo diffuso where you are staying is that it allows travelers to imbed themselves in village life while enjoying all the services of a standard hotel. And, alberghi diffusi are healthy for the host village because converting existing rooms and structures protects cultural heritage and is far more sustainable than building a new hotel.

On these days we’ll have also a chance to visit the village of Cuglieri and sample its renowned olive oil with the local producer, before an exhilarating climb in the Montiferru area, upon a now extinct volcano.

Today we’ll visit a local cheese maker and sample Sardinian recipes in a local restaurant. Continue riding back to the hotel or add some miles for an optional extra loop or hop in the van to shorten the route.

Later in the afternoon transfer to Bosa for a visit to the local tanneries museum and dinner on your own, please ask us for suggestions!
Day 5 – Tresnuraghes to Oliena Area via Orgosolo

Cycling Route Info on day 5: 1-hour van transfer to Gavoi area – Main Route: 32mi/1700ft | Extra loop adds: 6mi/700ft

En route to Oliena, we’ll explore the local village of Orgosolo, renowned for its Murales, over forty-year-old paintings that depict various aspects of Sardinian culture, tradition, and both local and international political concerns.

Our last two nights we spend inland near the town of Oliena, also famous for winemaking with local indigenous grapes such as Vermentino and Cannonau that we’ll savor while we learn from the local oenologist during an aperitif. After check in at the local hotel, we’ll have a chance to relax and get ready for a yummy dinner featuring 0-mile ingredients!
Day 6 – Around Oliena and Cala Gonone

Cycling Route Info on day 6: Main Route: 29mi/3000ft | Extra loop adds: 10mi/900ft or more

On our last day, we’ll bike near the Supramonte Mountain Range, offering striking highland views into which the rivers have dug deep ravines and canyons. Finally we’ll reach Cala Gonone where we board a private motorboat for a cruise along one of the most beautiful stretches of the Sardinian eastern coastline: do not forget your swimsuit today!

Our food journey concludes with a final dinner celebrating local recipes, an array of wines, and our great memories of an unforgettable tour together.
Day 7 – Olbia Airport

To request the itinerary as a PDF or to ask us any questions please contact us today!