Please click the link below to book this tour
Our walking holidays in Sardinia are always very popular, not least this trip in the Supramonte Mountains on the east coast of this wonderful island. This hiking vacation in Italy on the island of Sardinia is a level 2-3 graded self-guided walking tour. This means that a good level of fitness is required and also map reading and compass use is fundamental due to the difficult limestone terrain. The landscape where this walking tour takes place belongs to one of the most dramatic coastlines of the Mediterranean. The dramatic white cliffs, rising 800m out of the blue crystal clear waters of the Golfo di Orosei are a sight to behold.
The thousands of mysterious Nuraghe villages and towers, scattered over this island, tell us of ancient times and cultures that once ruled Sardinia.
Your walking holiday Sardinia starts in the heart of the Supramonte, a rugged and rough mountain area, where many secrets are still concealed. Narrow footpaths lead you to the Su Gologone, a well that constantly pours out great amounts of crystal clear water.
By walking in Sardinia you will experience walking through the narrow and spectacular gorge called Gola di Gorropu, high up to Monte Tiscali, where you will find the ancient hidden city of the Nuraghe people.
The final stretch is down to the sea where a pleasant and relaxing stay awaits you at Cala Gonone and the beautiful beach of Cala Luna. This is a trip you must experience yourself.
Because of the difficult limestone terrain, it is fundamental you have a good compass and map reading skills in order to make this trip.
Oliena
This mountainous terrain can be demanding because of the rocky tracks requiring some stamina and a moderate to good physical condition. The walks are along moderately well marked, rocky and uneven footpaths and mule tracks with very few strade bianche, (small gravel roads).
Cosy and friendly 3 star hotels and typical farmhouse with superb views. All accommodation is in double rooms with private en-suite facilities. Throughout the trip, there are plenty of opportunities to taste not only the excellent local food but also the renowned Canonau wine the deepest shade of red you will find in Italy.
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Hooked on Walking that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the chosen activity and for emergency evacuation and hospital care.
4 Night tour – Arrive to Sardinia and transfer to Dorgali as on Day 1, then Day 4, Day 5, Day 6 and Day 8.
During the course of the day, you arrive in Sardinia and you travel to Oliena (via Nuoro) by public transport. In Oliena you are picked up at the bus stop in Oliena and transferred to the hotel in the mountains. Please see the “Travel” tab for details on arrival times and transfers. If you are on the 4 night trip you carry on through Oliena to Dorgali where you are picked up and transferred to your hotel.
NOTE: If you arrive on a Sunday then we suggest either booking an extra night in Cagliari, Algherro or Olbia or booking a private transfer.
As you climb out of bed and up to the mountaintop, you’ll feel you’re still dreaming of how beautiful your natural surroundings are. Gaze out at the calcareous Supramonte Mountains and the stunning valleys which await your upcoming visit.
Today’s walk leads you through the beautiful Holm oak woods that cover the lower slopes of the impressive limestone rocks of the Supramonte mountains. These are more than 800 metres high. During the walk, you will have numerous great views of the valleys of Oliena and Guthiddai. If you wish you can climb the steep, stony slope of the Scala di Sovana to the Punta Cusidore halfway along today’s walk. On the plateau of the Supramonte, you can look for the entrance of the Grotta Orgoi. At the end of the walk, you can walk another 2km to the limestone source of Su Gologone. This ‘Laghetto Sorgenti Carsiche Su Gologone’ is a narrow canyon, which is 108m deep, and the most important water supply of Sardinia.
After breakfast, you have a short transfer to Rio Flumineddu where you start today’s walk through the wonderful Scala de Surtana valley. You will soon come across a limestone plateau with two fully restored Ovili huts. Take some time to have a look at the construction techniques. Now you shall descend to the valley before starting your ascent of Monte Tiscali. Nearing the summit you can visit a cave which has the remains of a Prehistoric Nuraghe village. This truly is a remarkable place like an oasis on a mountain. Now you descend to the river Flumineddu where you have a transfer back to your accommodation.
– This option will allow you to delve deep into Italy’s deepest gorge, the Gola di Gorropu, with its stunning, vertical white walls over 350m 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.
– The second option 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 on the Supramonte range. The route is quite easy with little elevation change, it is not a marked trail but sufficiently trodden to be easy to follow.
You are driven to the tunnel that connects the inland area of Dorgali to the coast and as soon as you come out of you will have a full view of the Golf of Orosei, 40 km of high sea cliffs full of caves but only a few small, beautiful beaches.
Today you can choose from different activities and a couple of walks. From Cala Gonone, you can choose between several boat trips. Another option is to visit the Nuraghe Mannu site. You can also go diving, kayaking and fishing
Walk Cuccuru su Corvu to Cala Gonone: Optional transfer to the start of the walk from where you climb to ‘Sedda e s’Atta, that offers a view on the gulf. You then descend into a canyon full of large rounded boulders. You continue following the river bed until the famous Cala Luna beach (which can only be reached on foot or by boat) Take a refreshing swim and picnic lunch before continuing along the coastal trail to Cala Gonone.
Walk Cala Gonone to Cala Luna Starting from the harbour of Cala Gonone you follow the coastal road until the end and at Cala Fuili you enter the winding coastal trail that in a short while brings you to the beautiful beach of Cala Luna. You can return the same way you came or take a boat back. This beach can only be reached on foot or by boat.
Depart after breakfast.
There are several Islands off the coast of Italy, you may also wish to consider for a vacation the Volcanoes of Sicily, based around the small Islands to the north of the Island, or our tour in the north of the French Island of Corsica from the towns of Calvi to Corte.
By plane to Algherro,Olbia or Cagliari airports.
If you are arriving into Cagliari your flight must land before 4pm to allow you to catch the last bus. For Algherro you should arrive before 10am to allow you to catch the airport bus and to Olbia you can arrive up to 6pm.
For departures the earliest flights should be, from Cagliari please make sure mid-afternoon, Olbia late morning, Algherro late pm. If your flights do not match these times you can stay extra nights in Cagliari or Algherro or you can request a private transfer.
Ideal trip extensions, beaches at Cala Gonone, Cagliari, Algherro
The weather has been challenging with the extreme weather warnings but we managed three hikes and the last two days have been changed to beach days. The hotels and people have been lovely. Jon, this has been another well organized trip by Hooked on Walking. Our next trip will be a cycling adventure.
Our large group really enjoy the trip. We found all three hotels very comfortable, one minor hiccup at Sant Elene – when the hotel provided a double bed for two single men. However, this was soon remedied with an extra single bed when we asked. All the staff were extremely helpful and friendly. Nothing was too much trouble for them. The food was good and plentiful and the packed lunches more than adequate. Most of us bought one to share between two.