• Meals: Dinner

Following your arrival into Cagliari airport you will be transferred to Montevecchio (approx 1 hour), an abandoned mining town below the Mount Arcuentu range, 3/4 of the way down the island.

• Meals: Breakfast, dinner
• Ascent: 950 Metres Approx.

Today’s ride is a journey through varied landscapes, a true taster of what Sardinia has to offer and a great start to your challenge. Setting off from your accommodation, you will start your adventure with a great route countouring the Montevecchio range, offering superb vistas of the fertile Campidano plain and scattered abandoned mining ruins. Leaving the small town of Arbus behind you, the freewheeling descent towards the sand dunes of Piscinas offers more spectacular scenery as well as a deeper insight into the mining history of this unique coastal area.

Reaching Piscinas Beach will be your official start to your Coast to Coast adventure across Sardinia, and you have plenty of time to absorb the remarkable landscape. Around you, the towering sand dunes of Piscinas, surrounded by hills carpeted with lush green Maquis vegetation. Heading north this time, you will keep close to the coast before heading east and riding below the volcanic peak of Mt Arcuentu. This loop ride will take you back to your accommodation where another fine meal of fresh farm produce and plenty of wine will be waiting for you.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 550 Metres Approx.

Heading eastwards, the first section of today’s ride is another freewheeling descent down to the Campidano plain, the largest and most productive in Sardinia. Today your riding will take you through some busy Sardinian towns, such as Guspini, a little town with medieval origins.

Crossing the Campidano plain won’t require much effort, as you ride past cultivated fields and little farm estates. Taking a narrower country lane below the castle of Monreale, you’ll arrive at St Maria delle Acque, once a Roman bath settlement, it is now one of only a few spa areas left in Sardinia.

Another short ride will take you to Sardara. Here, a stop to visit the remains of a pre-historic well temple and adjacent museum, will give you an insight into the Nuragic Bronze Era, an ancient civilisation unique to Sardinia. Following a break in Sardara, you’ll cycle to the most important archeological site on the island, the Nuragic fortress of Barumini. With your hotel near by, this is an ideal stop allowing time to visit the sights tomorrow.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 550 Metres Approx.

Following breakfast, with only a short ride ahead today, you’ll have some time to visit the Archeological site of Su Nuraxi and the near by museum.

When you‘re ready to hop on your bikes, you’ll set off on today’s route taking in a superb selection of winding roads over the Marmilla Hills, riding past olive groves, vineyards, small farms and sleepy villages. Plenty of time to absorb the Mediterranean atmosphere and perfumes as you gradually ride up towards the sleepy hill town of Laconi.

Your final destination for the day will be a family run B&B in the centre of Laconi, where you will have time to explore the beautiful park and castle before dinner.

• Meals: Breakfast, dinner
• Ascent: 1150 Metres Approx.

Before setting off today, take a stroll around the back streets of Laconi and pay a visit to the lovely gardens surrounding the Aymerich Castle. Then when you‘re good to go, you’ll leave this quiet town behind, taking a winding road through lush oak woods, gradually climbing on a car-free road towards the Gennargentu range in the very heart of Sardinia. Reaching the 1040 metre pass, you will have climbed one of the highest points of the trip.

The landscape will have now altered and is relatively barren and wild and the sky filled with birds of prey circling in the thermals in search of prey. The un-spoilt nature of this area makes it a fascinating area for naturalists, walkers and cyclists alike. It is an area that most vividly reflects the ancient character of the island. Shepherd trails and huts litter the landscape and villages perch over steep sided valleys. Tonight’s accommodation, will be on the outskirts of the town of Seulo.

In these mountain villages, you will find a high concentration of ultra-centenarians! Nuoro Province was the first event identified “Blue Zone,” where people live well into their 100’s. You’ll spend your evening immersing yourself in their way of life (and maybe learn a few of their secrets). While you’re here, make sure to sample the delicious homemade pasta and wine of the region.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 1150 Metres Approx.

A combination of climbs and descents will take you through another day of exhilarating landscapes and deeper into the heart of Sardinia. Utilising mountain roads, you’ll have fun exploring the Montarbu range, as you edge your way towards the fascinating mountain peak of Perda Liana. Once more the vistas of the surrounding mountain ranges are outstanding, with the highest peak in Sardinia, Punta Lamarmora (1868 metres) forever present in the distance. The silence is broken only by the sound of sheep bells, cows and goats. You might even be lucky enough to spot royal kites, vultures, rock thrushes and pipits as you cycle along. The morning climb is rewarded by an afternoon descent towards Lake Flumendosa, one of the biggest reservoirs in Sardinia.

Contouring the lake, you’ll soon reach your next accommodation in the town of Ulassai. Whilst you remain in the bluezone hot spot you may be interested to know, Sardinia is unique among the blue zones as the only location where the ratio of male and female ultra-centenaries is just about even. Other blue zones the proportion is around 5 women : 1 man!

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 200 Metres Approx.

Today you’ll experience the grand finale of your cycling adventure with superb riding through the wild and rugged landscape of the Supramonte of Dorgali. Leaving the agriturismo, the initial part of the day will involve skirting the Urzulei range, averaging 800 metres, until you reach the high plateau just above the town of Talana. Here you will be in for a great surprise! More climbs and descents will take you through Urzulei and finally Genna Silana pass.

You are now in true wilderness. The Supramonte limestone rocks will be towering above you, whilst wild boar and horses graze in the lush meadows. It’s here that your cycling reaches its thrilling climax, as you enjoy the final 25 Kms of superb downhill, surrounded by rocky pinnacles, centenary juniper trees and abandoned shepherd huts, taking you all the way to the town of Bari Sardo.

There are many places in town where you will be able to enjoy your final Sardinian feast, wine and music.

• Meals: Breakfast

Depending on flight schedules, time is set aside to wander around Bari Sardo or to simply laze on the beach, before you are met and transferred to Cagliari airport (approx. 2 hours) for your return flight home.

If you have a day or two to spare why not extend your trip with some trekking or sea kayaking exploring the rugged coastline, sea caves and white sandy beaches.

Our local team can join you for a days 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.