Holiday Highlights
- Blasting the singletrack downhill from Monte Albo
- Biking through a constantly changing landscape
- Fun downhill through a limestone landscape towards Cala Gonone
- Panoramic 360° mountain views
- Riding the singletrack below Perd’e Liana pinnacle.
- Delicious home cooked food, washed down with tasty local wine
It was worth it in every way – the biking was the hardest thing I’ve ever done (but enjoyable) on a beautiful island with great guides and very good company.
Itinerary
- Meals: Dinner
Following your arrival into Cagliari (CAG) in the south of the Island, we will transfer to the first nights’ accommodation near Olbia in the north. Once here we check into our hotel and after organising our bikes for the journey ahead sit down to our first delicious Sardinian meal

- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Ascent: 630 Metres Approx.
Your mountain biking adventure begins south of Olbia, near the small town of Lode in the limestone territory of Mt Albo. From our vantage point in the mountains we head down to the coast on one of the most beautiful singletracks on this part of the island, 6 km of real fun before a tarmac section leads us into the hills and onto a dirt track to the coast.
Our journey then progresses along the coast as we ride narrow trails and country lanes over granite hills to the sea. From here we continue south on a fun coastal roller-coaster ride though a dense pine forest towards Capo Comino promontory, passing huge granite rocky outcrops and some of the most beautiful beaches in Sardinia along the way.
Next up, we’ll pass through the Bidderosa Natural Park famous for its lagoons and white sandy beaches. This will be your last chance to take in the stunning sea views, before heading to our overnight stay near Cala Liberotto and another succulent Sardinian dinner.

- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
- Ascent: 1,030 Metres Approx.
With a less strenuous day ahead, we can allow a little bit more time over breakfast before we get ourselves on our bikes. Leaving our accommodation near Bidderosa, we follow the coastline on a mixture of off-road trails and singletrack, through a landscape of low Mediterranean shrub, lagoons and long sandy beaches.
Reaching the basalt promontory of Osalla, a short technical climb will lead us to a nuraghe (bronze-age dwelling) from where coastal views open up ahead of you. Down on the beach, a short singletrack from Cala di Osalla to Cala Cartoe will keep everyone entertained and hopefully on their bikes! We then head inland past the Ispinigoli caves towards Dorgali where after a short climb we embark on an amazing singletrack descent. Time permitting, we’ll stop off and visit the impressive Nuraghe Mannu, perched at the top of the Fuili Gorge.
The final singletrack descent to the coast and Cala Gonone is a special treat and ends today’s ride in style. Tonight’s accommodation is at a small hotel close to the sea front. With the evening meal taken in town, it’s time to try out one of the many excellent restaurants and celebrate the ride so far in one of the bars.

- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Ascent: 2,150 Metres Approx.
From Cala Gonone, we embark on a challenging day’s riding, leaving the coast behind and gradually climbing into the oak forest of Givine.
The climb is initially on paved road, through some stunning limestone mountains. It then becomes tougher as the loose gravel track become steeper towards the end. Our reward is the technical singletrack on the opposite side leading onto a tarmac road, from where we climb up gradually to the Genna Silana Pass at 1017 m.
A coffee stop at the little café at the pass is a must before we head off onto our next off-road section into the Supramonte di Urzulei.
Here it feels like entering the wild west, wild pigs and horses graze freely in a barren landscape of rock and pastures, as birds of prey soar in the thermals above our heads. After a last glimpse of the east coast in the far distance from our panoramic viewpoint (1,350m) our fast descent on a stony, loose gravel trail leads us to the oak forest below.
A final 10km of ups and downs to go before we arrive at the accommodation and a no doubt a chilled Ichnusa Beer.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
- Ascent: 1,300 Metres Approx.
This morning, the artificial Lake Flumendosa perched high up in the mountains is soon ticked off the schedule as we head towards the rocky peak of Perda Liana. Climbing gradually, the natural monument of Perda Liana will edge closer before we finally reach its base. From here we easily reach the panoramic viewpoint from where the highest mountain ranges in Sardinia, as well as the ranges to the south you’ll be crossing in the next few days are all visible.
Moving on we have a fun challenge for you as we ride down a steep fire break. Continuing on, a ‘carefree’ descent on forest trails leads us to the forestry land of Monte Arbu National Park. Here there is more forest singletrack before a gravel road takes us to river valley of the Niala Natural Park nestled under the ‘Ogliastra Tacchi’, whose large limestone peaks are covered by dense oak wood.
After climbing up from the little river we head to Gairo Taquisara from where an abandoned rail way line takes us to Ulassai. Located at the bottom of a limestone cliff with views to the sea, this small mountain village is a great place to end the day
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
- Ascent: 1,630 Metres Approx.
Our journey continues south with an easy start to the day, descending into the river valleys below the town of Ulassai before winding back up. The unspoilt nature of this area makes it a fascinating spot for naturalists and bikers alike. It is an area that most vividly reflects the ancient character of the island. Shepherd’s trails, huts and ancient Nuraghi litter the landscape and villages perch over steep sided valleys.
Leaving the village of Perdasdefogu behind us (after a coffee stop!) we ride along the Quirra Plateau. The landscape changes yet again as we ride up and down the valleys across this vast plateau, with the highlight of today’s ride the long sweeping descent from the plateau to the Flumendosa River. After crossing the river a short climb on a quiet secondary tarmac road takes us to the town of Armungia where we settle into our accommodation.

- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Ascent: 1,200 Metres Approx.
Today we’ll continue our journey through the mountains of the Sarrabus region. The first 10 kms from Armungia take us on a roller coaster ride on wide gravel roads through the lush countryside
The following sections see us riding a mountain road contouring the peaks of Mt Genis, taking us up to about 800 m above sea level.
After lunch we head downhill for a few kilometers and then up on a challenging gradient. The last climb is a classic Skedaddle challenge with a 33% gradient. The reward though is a 360° view of the whole range of mountains we’ve crossed during our Sardinia Traverse right back to our first day’s riding. We end the day a few kms later via a beautiful singletrack that takes us to the outskirts of Dolianova where we stay for the evening.

- Meals: Breakfast
- Ascent: 500 Metres Approx.
A Grand Finale on our last riding day as we ride through pine forests on a series of singletrack trails that whilst not overly technical are nevertheless great fun!
After another delicious lunch, we continue towards Cagliari, our final destination after eight days of challenging riding. Which ever thrilling route we take it’s down to the south coast and the beach where we celebrate our achievement.
Our accommodation is a short ride away in town, mostly on cycle paths, with a celebratory meal on the cards to celebrate our epic biking journey through Sardinia!

- Meals: Breakfast
Following breakfast it’s sadly time to head to Cagliari Elmas Airport (CAG) for return flights. Depending on flight times, there may be the option of exploring Cagliari prior to checking in for your flights.
If you have a day or two to spare why not extend your trip with some trekking or sea kayaking exploring the picturesque coastline and sandy shores which stretch along the coast to the east of Cagliari. Our local team can join you for a day’s guiding or we can provide the information and equipment to allow you to enjoy the routes self-guided, just give us a call for further info.
Gallery
The Cycling
Terrain
The beauty of a journey across an island from North to South is the continuous changing landscape and variety of terrain, resulting in a truly challenging adventure. Sardinia is predominantly mountainous and hilly, composed of large plateaus and massifs crossed by deep valleys with rushing streams. The result is a daily succession of climbs and descents on a variety of terrain.
The riding involves wonderful stretches of steep and fast downhill on loose gravel, dirt roads or fun singletrack; but not before earning it with daily climbs, often made quite demanding by loose stones and rocks on the trail.
Short sections of technical twisting singletrack may comprise of tight corners, “steps”, rocks, roots and rocky drop-offs. The singletracks are often very narrow and pass through typical Mediterranean vegetation, including thorny bushes. We therefore recommend baggy shorts and possibly light long sleeves.

Mountain Biking Grade
Distances of 25-50 miles / 40-80 kms per day
For regular mountain bikers who have a good level of fitness
Routes with frequent moderate to difficult technical sections
Our grading guidelines have been carefully created based on our many years of cycling experience, as well as customer feedback from our trips. Of course, if you're still struggling to figure out where you fit on the scale, do feel free to give us a quick call and we'll be more than happy to help!
For more information about our grading system click here.
Is this suitable for you?
As well as keeping a good level of fitness you are also an experienced biker and enjoy riding more challenging trails. You usually ride most weekends and can cover between 30 and 50 miles over a full 8-9 hour day (with breaks). The routes you choose generally include more challenging 1-2 hour long climbs perhaps with sharp switchbacks and sections of large and loose rocks. You are comfortable riding most trails including sections of technical or exposed singletrack with some testing obstacles such as drop offs and steep downhills. Our grade 4 trips should suit you.
Guides superb and really made the holiday with their endless enthusiam, humour and hard work.
Dates & Prices
Late Availability
We want you to know which holidays are coming up soon, so you don’t miss out! If a trip has this symbol beside it, it means you don’t have long to snap up your place.
SPECIAL 2023 OFFER! Book now and make savings on our Sardinia - Island Traverse holiday. Please quote code EM2023 at the time of booking your trip to get 5% off. *T&Cs apply, offer ends 31/01/2023.
Private Departures
Are you keen to only travel with your family or friends? Struggling to find the right date? Well, we can organise a private departure for this tour and tailor aspects to suit your group's specific needs. Contact our friendly team and we'll help you turn your dream into reality.
Whats Included 
A) Accommodation (shared twin / double en suite rooms) in small hotels / agriturismi
B) Meals as per the itinerary (B-Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
C) Full tour service, including Skedaddle guides
D) Unless stated, at least one leader qualified in first aid
E) Support vehicle, for tired bikers and luggage transfers
F) Airport transfer on scheduled arrival day from Cagliari airport (CAG)
G) Airport transfer on scheduled departure day to Cagliari airport (CAG)
What's not Included 
A) Bike rental (available if required)
B) Flights and charges for travelling with your bike (if applicable)
C) Single room (available if required)
D) Travel insurance
E) Meals not stated in the itinerary
F) Personal clothing and equipment
G) Personal expenditure (souvenirs, bar bills, hotel facilities etc)
H) Entrance fees to museums and other attractions en-route
I) Airport transfers on days other than the scheduled arrival / departure days
The Essentials
News, Reviews & Stories
Reviews
Cathy, LondonI was very impressed from start to finish with my dealings with SkeddadleThis was the first skeddadle holiday we have been on and we will definitely be back. I have been on a couple of cycle trips with other companies and can safely say that this was by far the best: in terms of organisation, attention to detail and the overall ‘customer’ experience. It felt professional, was beautifully organised and the guys went over and above the call of duty. my husband had a few mechanicals and these were sorted with minimum fuss despite it being a pain and additional work/faff.
Our guide Alessandro was fantastic. Nothing was too much trouble, he was a great guide: clear explanations at the start of the day together with clear instructions on the trail. He engendered total confidence and is a geniunely lovely guy! He and his team made the holiday for sure.
The MTB-ing in Sardinia was spectacular and I am a better biker for it!!
Simon, HerefordshireI recommend Skedaddle as the best cycling holiday company to travel withA tough but rewarding trip featuring great technical mountain biking through stunning landscapes.
The guides really went out of their way to help solve anyone’s problems. Our tour leader Alessandro was extremely professional in the way he led the trip and a great person to spend the holiday with.
Many thanks to Paul and Naomi for your response when I phoned the skeddadle emergency number after Alex collapsed due to illness 20 minutes before our taxi was due for our return to the airport. This level of care for your customers is what truly sets you apart from other companies.
Ian, EssexFirst class tour leader...A proper cross-country journey across a very wide variety of terrain and trails in remote mountains. Some stiff climbs on single and double track, fast flowing undulating traverses across ridges and through forests, and some fun technical descents. This is a tough trip which requires a good level of fitness and technical skills, but it is very rewarding. The evening meals in some of the more out of the way hotels were truly memorable – put a smile on all our faces.
We had a first-class tour leader – friendly, knowledgeable about all aspects of the route, the terrain and the island, and he worked extremely hard to ensure we all had an enjoyable trip, as did the other guides. He was extremely professional in the way in which he made decisions about route selection when we encountered some poor weather and organised a visit to an amazing cave when the decision was made not to ride one day because of the thunderstorm risk. Other guides were always encouraging and fun to ride with.
Hanna, EssexOne of my best holidays ever :-)A beautiful place for mountain biking, excellent guides, yummy Italian food and great pack of co-riders! Massimo was an excellent leader! Enthusiastic, friendly, professional, his knowledge of local trails made the riding so enjoyable. Good team work made the holiday just excellent.
Nathan, West MidlandsFaultless!I can’t really fault the whole experience. The guides, Massimo and Gionata, absolutely made the trip. They are a pair of diamonds who couldn’t do enough for us. The routes were fantastic, the food great, especially the lunches and the overall team spirit that was fostered was just brilliant!
Michael & Susan S. California, USA.You guys are fantastic!The guides were fantastic they managed a very group excellently. There were some very difficult climbs and a few of the descents were also harder than I expected. On the final day the ride into Cagliari, the shared prosecco in a square below the Casetello and the superb dinner really rekindled our spirits :)
We are now veterans of two Skedaddle trips and will definitely be going for number three! You guys are fantastic!
Russell, LondonA great trip...I’d worked so hard all summer and this Skedaddle trip was my focus to get me through it. The holiday and Skedaddle lived up to the expectation. Thank you for a great trip in a lovely island.
Elaine, BirminghamA trip that's set the standard!This, my first trip with Skedaddle, has really set the standard. I felt that all of the local tour guides went out of their way to help the group, tell us about their beautiful country and make sure we enjoyed the trip. They provided more help with bike repairs/cleaning than I expected to see. Also makes a difference having somewhere nice to relax and dry off after a long day’s cycling, and helps to justify the price of the tour. There was delicious fresh food virtually everywhere we went!
Andrew, NewcastleExemplary service...The service provided was exemplary. Massimo was thoughtful, well organised, conscientious, energetic and really cared about his clients. It seemed really important to the guides that we should get the most out of the tour.
Clinton, KentGreat food!The accommodation was of good standard but there were some limits due to availability in rural areas. I am amazed you managed to find acommodation in some of the areas we stopped! Italian style breakfasts were good, a fine provision of lunches each day (a mini feast every time) – food, food and even more food! It was a good job we were burning all those calories!