• Meals: Dinner

Following your arrival into Cagliari airport, we’ll meet you and make the hour or so transfer to our accommodation in the village of Orroli. The rest of the day will be spent organising bikes and going through the route with your guides to make sure all is well for the week ahead, as well as getting to know the rest of the group.

• Meals: Breakfast, dinner
• Ascent: 690 Metres Approx.

Leaving our accommodation, we’ll start the day exploring the plains of the Marmilla, a hilly region which extends from the outskirts of Cagliari towards Oristano. Since Roman times, this fertile part of the island has been the centre of cereal cultivation as well as olives and grapes. Today, bread making in this region still follows ancient recipes, with exceptional results! Here we will visit the archeological site of Barumini. This Nuragic site is the most important on the island. Built in the Bronze Age, around the 15th century BC, this fortress and its surrounding village demonstrate an incredible architectural feat: massive basalt blocks of rock, built up into three storey towers, internal staircases, outlook posts,courtyards and even an ancient sauna!

Cycling south west we’ll then curve around the Giara, a high volcanic plateau, populated by hundreds of wild horses. Riding on we’ll find ourselves cycling over rolling hills of vineyards and olive groves, leading us to the village of Collinas.

Leaving the hills behind, we’ll venture down to the Campidano Plain, the biggest of the island, making our first stop in the town of Sardara. The closeness to a hot spring area and the quality of its fresh water has made Sardara, and specifically its well, a sacred area since ancient times – it’s believed that Nuragic people venerated the water as having healing properties. Your hotel is set near the Roman remains of the old thermal baths. Time to enjoy the spa facilities before dinner!

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Ascent: 830 Metres Approx.

Setting off from Sardara and its rural church of St Maria delle Acque, we’ll leave this thermal water oasis behind us and cycle on, across the plain, passing Pabillonis. This is an agricultural area and the fields around us may be growing artichokes, wheat or saffron, offering a tapestry of colours and perfumes.

Heading westward, Gonnosfanadiga is nestled below the rocky eastern spurs of the Iglesiente region and is known for its olives and olive oil. If the timing is right, a stop at a local cafè and patisserie will allow us time to sample some of the local traditional cakes. Leaving the plain it’s time to get into a smaller gear as we head back into the hills, just below Mt Linas, gradually cycling up again through the cork oak forests. Soon we will reach the Bidderdì Pass, the highest point of our journey. Our reward is a superb 8 kms of downhill riding with beautiful mountain views until we reach the coast again!

Cycling along the long sandy beach of Portixeddu, we’ll have time to stop for a brief swim before continuing to the little hamlet of Buggerru where we stop for the night. Once a thriving mining coastal town, Buggerru now tries to survive on few resources: fishing and the odd traveller who ventures this way.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 780 Metres Approx.

Leaving Buggerru in the morning we continue along the coast, with a first short break in the secluded Cala Domestica cove. Our route will then take us inland again, before veering towards the coast of Masua and its towering limestone pinnacles and cliffs.

This is a free climber’s heaven, with excellent routes starting from sea level towering up to the sky. From here, we’ll pedal onwards to Nebida, another hamlet bristling with abandoned mining buildings. A short break for coffee at the local bar located above the old ore washery with an amazing panoramic view is called for, before moving on to Gonnesa and Portovesme. At Portovesme we board the ferry to the Island of St Pietro and its (only) town, Carloforte, where we will stay for the night.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 615 Metres Approx.

The town of Carloforte, on the island of St Pietro, was founded by Genovese coral fishers of Genoa, who moved here from Tunisia where they had lived since the middle of the 16th century. Their influence is felt in the architecture of the island as well as the cuisine. With its pastel coloured houses set along narrow cobbled lanes, Carloforte is a fascinating place to stroll around. The island is well known for its fishing community, in particular tuna fishing. Since ancient times, fishermen have awaited the arrival of schools of tuna that stream by along the same route, not far from the islands. In the morning we will go out for a ride to majestic Capo Sandalo and the sandy beach of La Caletta, after which we return to Carloforte. Here you are free to please yourself for your lunch break, choosing one of the lovely fish restaurants or a delicious panino from one of the many bars. Another short journey on a ferry will take us across to the island of St Antioco, where a short ride will take us to the town, and our accommodation for the night.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Ascent: 730 Metres Approx.

It’s well worth spending a few hours visiting some of the hidden archaeological sites of St Antioco. The development of the area in fact goes back to the Nuragic times, but only truly thrived when the Phoenicians founded it as “Sulki” in 259 BC. Worth a visit is the Punic Necropolis and Tophet, as well as the Catacombs below the Church of St Antioco.

Leaving the island by the causeway across the bay of Palmas, we’ll carry on cycling towards the Sulcis mountains, riding through the fertile, rolling hills around Trattalias and Santadi. As we cycle past vineyard after vineyard, it will become obvious that we are entering the wine region of the Carignano grapes. From here the undulating road winds its way 8 miles/13kms to Teulada, passing some remote farming hamlets and at points affording some great views across the south coast.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 530 Metres Approx.

Our final day in the saddle will see us cycling along a roller coaster road towards Pula. The Costa del Sud is a wonderful 20 km spectacle of twisting, turning road above rugged cliffs that plunge into the deep blue sea. There are many outlook points and small sandy coves to stop and enjoy the sea. Cala Tuerredda is one of the most stunning beaches along this coast, protected by two promontories; the emerald blue colours are breathtaking.

From here the road climbs away from the coast, dropping back toward the long sandy beach of Chia. A short detour to the right will take us to Chia tower, from where we can enjoy a spectacular view of the long stretch of Chia beach and the islands. The next section follows the main road north, along a quiet coast road, finally reaching the little town of Pula, where our trip officially comes to an end. The excellent gelateria in the main town square, which serves home made ice-cream, is a well deserved treat and reward after this long journey of flavours.

We’ll have the evening free to wander around the town and try out one of the many quality restaurants.

• Meals: Breakfast

A relatively early start to the day for the 1 hour journey to Cagliari airport. Depending on flight schedules, we’ll hopefully have some time for a wander around the city; the perfect place for those last minute goodies or to put your feet up in one of the many piazze sipping a last glass of vino rosso.