• Meals: Dinner

Following your arrival in Cagliari you will be met and transferred (approx. 1 hour) to Montevecchio, an abandoned mining town just below the Arcuentu mountain range, three quarters of the way down the island.

You should arrive at your accommodation with plenty of time to discuss the details of your tour with your Skedaddle Representative, before sitting down to your first Sardinian meal.

• Meals: Breakfast, dinner
• Ascent: 800 Metres Approx.

Your first 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 this adventure with a great route which contours the Montevecchio mountains, taking you to Marina di Arbus Beach and offering superb vistas of the volcanic plug of Mount Arcuentu. Here your coast to coast adventure officially starts and you have plenty of time to absorb the remarkable landscape around you, with the emerald blue sea surrounded by hills carpeted with lush green maquis vegetation.

Heading north you will keep close to the coast before turning east and riding past the lagoon of Marceddi, where pink flamingoes can be spotted. The small town across the lagoon is famous for its shellfish. Pedalling through the Campidano Plain will not require much effort, as you ride past vast cultivated fields and little farming estates.

On reaching Guspini a gradual climb leads you back to Montevecchio, riding past the abandoned mine which once was a thriving community. Settling back at the accommodation you can relax by the pool enjoying the sunset and more delicious food.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 750 Metres Approx.

Leaving the Costa Verde, the first section contours the hills before descending into Arbus and the lower Campidano Plain that you will cross heading eastwards.

Taking a narrow country lane below the Castle of Monreale, you will arrive at St Maria delle Acque. Once a Roman thermal settlement, it is now one of the few remaining spa areas in Sardinia. A further 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 Nuraghic Bronze Era, an ancient civilization unique to Sardinia.

Cycling onward on narrow country roads now brings you over the rolling Marmilla hills, offering great views of the expanse of agricultural land, olive groves and vineyards of this fertile part or Sardinia. Finally riding into Barumini, you have reached today’s destination.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 900 Metres Approx.

Following breakfast and with only a short day ahead of you today, you should have plenty of time pre-ride to visit the most important archeological site on the island, the Nuragic Fortress of Su Nuraxi and the near by museum. Keen to get going again, you’ll set off on today’s ride taking a superb selection of winding roads over the Marmilla Hills, riding past olive groves, vineyards, small farms and sleepy villages. The route takes you past the lake of Barroccus before you ride up to the sleepy hill town of Laconi.

• Meals: Breakfast, dinner
• Ascent: 1,800 Metres Approx.

With the whole day to reach your next destination, you have some time in the morning to wander the back streets of Laconi and visit the lovely gardens surrounding the Aymerich Castle. Leaving this quiet town behind, you take a winding road through lush oak woods, gradually climbing on a car-free road through the Gennargentu range in the very heart of Sardinia.

OYour ride will take you through the mountain villages of Meana Sardo, Atzara and Belvi. The landscape will have now altered and is relatively barren and wild, with the sky filled with birds of prey, circling the thermals in search of their next meal. The unspoiled 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. Shepherds trails and huts litter the landscape and villages perch over steep-sided valleys.

Tonight’s accommodation is on the outskirts of the town of Seulo and dinner will be at your accommodation. It is in these mountain village communities where you will find the highest concentration of ultra-centenaries! Spend your evening here immersing yourself in their way of life, learn their secrets and make sure to sample the delicious homemade pasta and wine.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 1,350 Metres Approx.

A combination of climbs and descents will take you through another day of exhilarating landscapes and even deeper into the heart of Sardinia. Utilising mountain roads, you’ll have fun exploring the ‘Tacchi di Usassai’ and Montarbu mountain range, as you edge your way towards the fascinating mountain peak of Perda Liana. You will be passing a few small sleepy mountain villages and once more the vistas of the surrounding mountains are outstanding. 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 the view of Perda Liana and an afternoon descent towards Villagrande Strisaili. 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: 1,400 Metres Approx.

Today is the grand finale of your road cycling adventure with superb riding through the wild and rugged landscape of the Supramonte di Baunei.

Leaving the accommodation, the initial part of the day will involve skirting the Urzulei range, averaging 800m, 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 to the Genna Silana Pass. You are now in the true wilderness of the Supramonte, where limestone rocks tower above you, and wild boar and horses graze in the lush meadows. It’s here that your cycling reaches its thrilling climax, and you can enjoy the final 25km of superb descending, surrounded by rocky pinnacles, centenary juniper trees and abandoned shepherd huts, taking you all the way to the coastal town of Cala Gonone.

Here you stay at our well-appointed sea front hotel and this evening there are many places in town to enjoy your final Sardinian feast of fine foods, wines and music.

• Meals: Breakfast

Depending on your flight time, hopefully you can set aside time in the morning to wander around Cala Gonone or simply laze on the beach. Once you‘re ready we will pick you up and transfer you to Cagliari airport for your flight home (approx. 3 hours).

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 which stretch both north and south from Cala Gonone. 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.