Hiking Sardinia’s “Wild East”

8 days

Duration

Moderate

Difficulty

Italy

Location

April-October

Availability

Spectacular hiking trails with views over the Supramonte Mountains and the Gulf of Orosei

Varied landscapes with underground caves, striking valleys and limestone ridges

Rugged coastal landscapes, overlooking some of Sardinia’s most beautiful beaches

Stay in small, family-run hotels set in remarkably panoramic places

Cool down with a refreshing dip in the crystal-clear, turquoise sea at Cala di Luna

Hiking in Sardinia

Self-guided walking holiday in the Supramonte Mountains on Sardinia’s wild east coast

Captivating coastlines and stark inland wilderness welcome you on this self-guided hike in Sardinia’s wild east. This is a spectacularly rugged landscape, where 800-meter-high limestone cliffs rise from the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea. You will walk along the rough, ragged ridges of the Supramonte Mountains and follow narrow footpaths through the spectacular Gola di Gorropu gorge; one of Europe’s deepest canyons, with impressive white walls towering some 350 m high on both sides.

As if the scenery wasn’t enough, the hills are also dotted with fascinating historical sites. You will see one of the best of these near the top of Mount Tiscali, where you’ll find the ruins of a Nuragic village that dates back to the 6th century BC.

Finally, you head to the Gulf of Orosei, 40 km of beautiful coastline along the turquoise Mediterranean. Reward yourself for your efforts with a refreshing swim at Cala Luna – a stunning crescent-shaped beach which can only be reached on foot or by boat.

8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS

From €950 per person sharing*

*Discounts available for triple rooms. Please enquire for prices.
*A high season supplement will apply during peak summer periods
*A single supplement charge will apply for solo walkers

ACCOMMODATION

The hotels in Oliena and Dorgali are cosy, friendly and nestled in peaceful remote locations with superb views of the mountains and easy access to the walks. The hotel in Cala Ganone is a simple 3* family-run hotel located on a peak’s edge overlooking the beautiful Gulf of Orosei. From the terrace of the restaurant you will enjoy one of the best views of the gulf.

All the rooms have private bathrooms, TV, mini-bar and hair dryer. A good continental breakfast is served each morning. Throughout the trip you will have plenty of opportunities to savour both the excellent local food as well as the renowned Cannonau wine, the deepest shade of red in Italy.

The hotels listed below have been carefully selected for their location, atmosphere and/or unique services. If either hotel is unable to confirm due to lack of availability, we will request a similar one and inform you about the alternative booked.

Oliena: Hotel Monte Maccione
Dorgali: Hotel Sant’Elene
Cala Gonone: Hotel Oasi

You can book additional night(s) at either of the hotels.

AVAILABILITY

You can start on any day of the week, subject to availability, between April 1^st and July 25^th, and between September 1^st and October 31^st. The trip is not possible in August because it gets very hot.

Please note that Sunday is the worst day to arrive, as there are very limited public transport connections. It is best to arrive Monday to Saturday on an early morning flight and depart on a late afternoon flight in order to avoid expensive private transfers.

INCLUDED

7 nights in selected hotels
7 breakfasts
5 dinners
Luggage transport on days 3 and 7
Day 1: car transfer from Oliena to the hotel
Day 3: afternoon transfer back to the hotel
Day 4: transfer to Rio Flumineddu and back to the hotel in the afternoon
Day 5 & 6: transfer from Dorgali to start of the walks and back to the hotel in the afternoon
Detailed maps and route notes
Pre-departure information pack
24/7 telephone support

NOT INCLUDED

Flights & travel insurance
Travel to Monte Maccione/Oliena and from Cala Gonone
Local trains/busses/boats
Lunches & Dinners not specifically mentioned
Personal expenses (drinks, phone calls, tips, etc.)
City taxes

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

Additional nights before, during or after the walk
Singe room supplement
Transfer from airport to Monte Maccione/Oliena
Transfer from Cala Gonone to airport

DIFFICULTY / TERRAIN

IMPORTANT! Because of the difficult limestone terrain, you must have a quality compass, good map reading skills and be an experienced mountain walker in order to undertake this Sardinian adventure. Make sure you have a fully charged mobile phone with you at all times during the walks – GPX tracks will be provided.

The walks are poorly to moderately marked, often on uneven footpaths, small tracks amongst shrubs and, on a rare occasion, on small gravel roads. Some routes (such as Monte Tiscali) are a bit demanding, with some sections of (easy) climbing in a desolate limestone area, with no springs or villages along the way.

Day 1: Arrive in Sardinia and relax

Arrive in Sardinia and take a local public bus to Oliena, where you are met and taken by car to the hotel located at the base of Monte Corrasi in a restored old farm building. Relax with a glass of Cannonau wine, a local speciality.

Overnight: Monte Maccione/Oliena with dinner included

Day 2: Monte Corrasi loop walk

Distance: 10 km | Ascent: 825 m | Descent: 815 m | 5 hrs approx.

Begin the day with a hearty breakfast on the outdoor terrace and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Gennargentu National Park. Gaze out at the calcareous Supramonte Mountains and the stunning valleys which await you on your hike.

Today’s route is not particularly difficult; the well-marked trail gradually ascends to a plateau, before returning on a different route.

Overnight: Monte Maccione/Oliena with dinner included

Day 3: From Monte Maccione to Su Gologone spring

Distance: 14 km | Ascent: 395 m | Descent: 990 m | 5 hrs approx.

Today’s walk leads you through the beautiful Holm oak woods that cover the lower slopes of the Supramonte. During the walk you will have numerous great views of the valleys of Oliena and Guthiddai. If you wish you can climb the steep, rocky slope of the Scala di Sovana to the Punta Cusidore, halfway along today’s walk.

At the end of the walk you have the option of continuing for another 2 km to the limestone source of Su Gologone. This ‘Laghetto Sorgenti Carsiche Su Gologone’ is a narrow canyon, which is 108 m deep, and the most important water supply of Sardinia.

Overnight: Dorgali with dinner included

Day 4: From Rio Flumineddu to Tiscali via ovili huts

Distance: 11 km | Ascent: 700 m | Descent: 700 m | 5 hrs approx.

Today begins with a short transfer to Rio Flumineddu (15min). You then start walking along the Scala de Surtana valley; a right turn leads you to a limestone plateau where 2 beautiful ovili huts have been recently restored: have a look inside to admire the fine technique that is needed to build them. You descend again to the valley before starting your ascent of Monte Tiscali. Near the top you can visit the remains of a prehistoric Nuraghe village. After passing through the wooded gorge of Surtana, you descend to the Flumineddu river, where you will be picked up for a short ride back to the hotel.

Overnight: Dorgali with dinner included

Day 5: Gola di Gorropu walk or alternative route to Silana

Distance: 11 km | Ascent: 320 m | Descent: 689 m | 3½ hrs approx.

Delve deep into Italy’s deepest gorge: the Gola di Gorropu, with its stunning, vertical white walls over 350 m high. It’s a long but easy walk to get there, where you can peer into the belly of the earth and scramble over the huge boulders within. Short morning and afternoon transfer to/from the start of the walk.

Alternative walk: Suttaterra to Dorgali

Distance: 15 km | Ascent: 341 m | Descent: 177 m | 5 hrs approx.

This route follows the mountain ridge, starting near the Silana Pass and going all the way to the town of Dorgali. Along the route there are spectacular coastal views of the Gulf of Orosei and inland to the Supramonte range. The route is quite easy, without any remarkable ascents or descents; it is not marked but the path is well-beaten.

Overnight: Dorgali with dinner included

Day 6: Walk from Dorgali to Cala Gonone

Distance: 10 km | Ascent: 486 m | Descent: 958 m | 4 hrs approx.

A short transfer takes you just outside Dorgali, where you start the walk via an old tunnel that connects Dorgali with Cala Gonone. The track climbs to the top of Monte Bardia, from where there is a long gradual descent. You have several great views into both valleys during the walk.

Optional ascent of Monte Irveri (616 m).

Overnight: Cala Gonone

Day 7: Cala Luna beach

Today you can choose among two different walking routes or a variety of other activities. From Cala Gonone you can choose between several boat trips (like the visit to the Blue Marina sea cave, which you will also pass if you return from Cala Luna by boat). Another option is to visit the Nuraghe Mannu site. You can also go diving, kayaking and fishing

Walk option 1: Cuccuru su Corvu to Cala Gonone

Distance: 16 km | Ascent: 569 m | Descent: 946 m | 6 hrs approx.

Optional transfer to the start of the walk from where you climb to Sedda e s’Atta and enjoy a stunning panoramic view over the gulf. You then descend into a canyon and follow the river bed to the famous Cala Luna beach (which can only be reached on foot or by boat) Take a refreshing swim and enjoy a picnic lunch before continuing along the coastal trail to Cala Gonone.

Walk option 2: Cala Gonone to Cala Luna

Distance: 9 km | Ascent: 405 m | Descent: 402 m | 4 hrs approx.

Starting from the harbour of Cala Gonone, you follow the coastal road to Cala Fuili. From here, you take another winding coastal trail that brings you to the beautiful beach of Cala Luna. You can return the same way you came or take a boat back.

Overnight: Cala Gonone

Day 8: Arrivederci Cala Gonone!

The trip and our services end after breakfast.

Getting to Oliena

The most convenient airport to fly to is Olbia Costa Smeralda (OLB).

Travel time from Olbia airport to the first hotel is approximately 2 hours. You will take a bus to Oliena, where you will be picked up by the owner of the hotel.

We suggest arriving in Sardinia before 16:00 hrs. in the afternoon because some time is needed to catch the bus to Oliena. However, if your flight lands in Sardinia after 16:00 hrs. or on a national holiday, you must either book a private transfer to the first accommodation in Oliena or spend your first night in your city of arrival. In this case, if you want to make the walks of Day 1, as mentioned in the programme, you must take a very early bus on the morning of Day 2 to Oliena. Otherwise, you may arrive the day before and book an extra night at the beginning of the trip.