Welcome to Hooked on Cycling Holidays and our cycling holiday in Sardinia. Our biking vacation in Sardinia is available as a seven night level 2 self guided tour and also a seven night level 2 guided cycling tour on selected dates. This cycling holiday follows the fantastic south west coastline of Sardinia which is the least populated on the island. Sardinia’s southwest forms a rugged wedge of land that's just south of the main body of the island into the Mediterranean, its craggy coastline has some fine beaches. Forests cling to the slopes of its predominantly hilly landscape, which is densely strewn with towns, temples and fortifications founded by Phoenicians, settled by Carthaginians and occupied by Romans. The best preserved ruins are at Tharros, strategically positioned on the southern most tip of the Sinis peninsula and Nora, a Roman harbour town, dramatically situated on a promontory overlooking the Golf di Cagliari. The Carthaginian remains at Sant’Antioco occupy an equally evocative location on an island joined to Sardinia’s coast by a road causeway; the isle and its neighbour San Pietro, are among the tour’s highlights.

Historically, the regions importance was due mainly to the mining of ores and minerals. Nowadays, mining is over, and the evidence of mineworks, often in a poignant state of abandon, can be seen around Arbus and Nebida, where the Pan di Zucchero outcrop sprouts dramatically out of the sea. The costa del sud offers a highly scenic sequence of inlets punctuated by Spanish watch towers and Chia has an almost unbroken succession of beaches, probably the best in Southern Sardinia.
Your tour starts in the Sinis peninsula, a wet area whose lagoons have attracted some of Sardinia’s most abundant bird life and are also the place to see the flat-bottomed fassonis, boats still used by the lagoon’s fishermen and hunters, or just for local races. The peninsula’s western coast provides same of the most alluring beaches: Mari Ermi and Is Arutas

Self led tour starting on a Saturday from 1st February to 30th November.
( Starting on other days is possible with a supplement ))
Guided tour available on 11th April , 9th May , 13th June, 5th September and 3rd October  

Day 1 Arrival in Sardinia.
Transfer from Alghero ( nearest airport ) or Cagliari airport to your first hotel, outside Oristano. On arrival or maybe tomorrow you will collect route notes and bikes at the welcome meeting. Our hotel is a small country estate on the Sinis peninsula, between Oristano and the ruins of Tharros.

Day 2  Circular tour of Cabras 33 miles 53km
An easy first day, cycling the flat coastal plains of the Sinis wetlands. The salt ponds around the gulf are home to thousands of pink flamingo in season and a wealth of other bird life, and you may see locals fishing for mullet or bass from traditional grass fassone boats. Circling the lake to Riola Sardo you return to the coast at Mari Ermi, and the spectacular white quartz beach of Is Arutas. A short trip down the peninsula to San Giovanni Sinis brings you to the Phoenician ruins of Tharros, with a history of inhabitation stretching back almost 2,500 years.  Wine production here is mainly sherry-like vernaccia, and you may be able to visit a cellar on the way.

Day 3  San Salvatore Sinis - Arbus. 30-35 miles 48-56km
To avoid the boring suburbs of Oristano we transfer by road to Arborea, to cycle to Piscinas, on the Costa Verde. It is a flat 8 miles across reclaimed farmland to the colourful fishing village of Marceddì. Rice, soft fruit and vegetables are grown for the cucinas of Sardinia. From Marceddì it becomes more undulating, with low hills and huge sand dunes skirting the coast. At Piscinas we are collected by transport and taken up into the hills for a night in Arbus, or there is an alternative inland route direct to the village , a little more hilly, but spectacular scenery

Day 4  Arbus - Nebida. 31 miles 50km
The toughest day, but some glorious scenery to compensate! You start by flying down hill (but uphill sections also!) from Arbus to the river Mannu, and the start of the miles of golden beaches of Portixeddu. To the left is the massif of Monte Linas, with the Costa Verde and erica covered sand dunes away on your right. After the unfortunately named mining town of Buggerru and the Pranu Sartu plateau is the charming Cala Domestica bay. Inland, the Marganai mountain group rises to almost 3,500 feet. After the 400 foot limestone cliffs of Pan di Zucchero, you arrive to Nebida, another old mining hamlet. Here you stay in a simple village 2 star hotel for a good home cooked dinner and overnight.

Day 5  Nebida - Calasetta. 27-32 miles 43-51km
A beautiful descent to Fontanamare followed by an undulating coastal ride to Portoscuso. Here, board the local ferry to Carloforte on Isola di San Pietro. There is time for a short itinerary around the island, exploring sandy coves and dramatic rocky headlands, tiny hamlets before rejoining the ferry to continue to equally unspoiled Sant' Antioco. Note that it is not possible to book the ferry in advance, and you will need to pay on arrival. Dinner and overnight just outside Calasetta at a lovely hotel near the white sandy beach of Spiaggia Grande.

Day 6  Calasetta - S Anna Arresi.  25-28 miles 40-47 km
A morning to laze by the pool or explore the coast nearby, or for a short cycle ride around the island with its wealth of coves and beaches, green meadows (or golden in the summer) and little villages. After a visit to Sant’Antioco, cross back to the mainland, to visit the Pisan sanctuary at Tratalias , one of the most important monuments from the Romanesque period. From here you follow the shoreline of lake Monte Pranu and through the rolling plains of Sulcis. Once again, rugged mountains rise up to your left, to around 4,000 ft. Just before the village of Sant' Anna Arresi you reach your hotel, well sited overlooking the emerald green waters of the Golfo di Palmas. Nearby are the bright white beaches of Porto Pino, backed by dunes and Aleppo pine woods.

Day 7  S Anna Arresi - Pula. 38 miles 61km
The longest day by distance, but gentle countryside across the rugged coastal plains of the Costa del Sud. This is a remote, wild and beautiful region of Mediterranean bush and coastal pools, gleaming white beaches and imposing cliffs. Cape Malfatano and Cala Piscinnì each boast a 16th C tower, while at Capo Teulada the spectacular cliffs rise more than 700 feet from a translucent sea. A short detour will take you to the beautiful beach of Su Giudeu in Chia, while at Pula is the important Phoenician city of Nora.

Day 8 
Tour ends after breakfast, with a transfer available back to Cagliari airport, or bus to Alghero.

Accommodation in lovely traditional hotels which are very well known for local cuisine and hospitality

Group Tour: Minimum 6 persons

Tariff 2009

How to get there

By Plane
Low-cost airlines are offering good deals from London to Sardinia. Ryanair offers a daily connection (two flights from April to October) from Stansted to Alghero in Northern Sardinia. A dedicated bus service operates the route Alghero airport-Oristano-Cagliari. The bus leaves the airport half hour after the flight has landed. If the flight is late, the bus waits for the flight arrival. On arrival, you should take the bus down to Oristano. At the end of the tour, the same bus will take you from Cagliari to Alghero airport.Fares Alghero to Oristano 8€ , Cagliari to Alghero 12.50€

Transfers from / to Cagliari airport to tour start 60€ per person , Tour finish to Cagliari airport 30€. per person paid locally. If arriving into Alghero please take the Ryanair bus. where we can pick you up in Oristano for 20€ per person ( paid Locally ) , from Pula to Cagliari a transfer is 30€ per person ( paid locally ) - all transferred need to be reserved at time of booking

You can now fly with EasyJet ( www.easyjet.com ) to Cagliari..

More expensive alternatives to low-cost carriers are BA or Alitalia. They don’t fly direct and it is necessary to change in Rome or Milan

To View our other cycling holidays in Italy

Click below to view our walking holidays in Italy
Walking Holidays in Italy

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