Enjoy the Sardinia Experience:

a taste of some of the most beautiful Sardinian Routes

Sports&Natural Routes

Sailing from Villasimius to Arbatax
Villasimius, Porto Corallo, Villaputzu, Bari Sardo and Arbatax
Distance: 80 miles
Time required: from 5 to 7 days

1st leg: Villasimius - Porto Corallo
For those of you who have decided to follow this itinerary we recommend visiting the centre of Villasimius as your first stop. The village is characteristic due both to its architecture and hospitality and is one of the most famous tourist resorts in the south of Sardinia. The presence of numerous hotels, pubs, clubs and shops, which sell typical local products, attracts visitors into discovering this southern corner of Sardinia.
Leave from the port of Villasimius and head towards Isola Serpentara. The incredible coastal sights combined with the turquoise blue colour of the sea will take your  breath away. The small island known as Isola di Serpentara can be sailed around and you will admire its untouched beauty. Carry on toward the beach of Cala Pira. The beach has nowhere to berth; you should therefore drop anchor in the harbour, letting the waves gently rock you. Cala Pira is set in one of the most beautiful coastal areas in Sardinia. It has a sea bottom of fine white sand with occasional pink streaks. On the north eastern side you can see the recently restored tower called Torre di Cala Pira rising amidst sand dunes, granite rocks and juniper trees that are hundreds of years old. The next destination on the itinerary is Costa Rei. Whilst sailing, you can admire the beautiful beach of Cala Sinzias from a distance. Once at Costa Rei, you should stop in the harbour. The view of the coast from the sea will leave stunned by its beauty. The intense colours of the sea and the white beaches together with the lush Mediterranean vegetation create a scene of pure beauty. For those of you who would like to sample some typical Sardinian dishes we suggest stopping in one of the several restaurants to be found in Costa Rei. When you have completed your stay in Costa Rei carry on towards Capo Ferrato. The journey by boat is short, yet the fascinating sights of the coast will definitely slow you down so you can gaze at the beautiful coastline. Once at Capo Ferrato you can berth in the harbour and maybe enjoy a meal while you admire a unique landscape characterised by deep, intense colours. The sparking sky blue water and sweet perfumes of the sea combined with the typical Mediterranean vegetation provide moments of indescribable pleasure. When you have ended your visit to Capo Ferrato carry on towards Porto Corallo. Here you will be able to land and stock up with all the necessary supplies. You can also visit Villaputzu, a small, pretty village in the Sarrabus area. Villaputzu and its surrounding areas abound in archaeological sites dating from the nuragic period. If you hire a car you’ll be able to visit the nearby nuraghes, Crobecadas, Luaxiu and Cuili Gureu. Tourist harbours: Marina di Villasimius, Marina di Porto Corallo

2nd leg: Porto Corallo – Arbatax
Leave Porto Corallo and head in the direction of Spiaggia di Coccorocci: as you travel you will be accompanied by bright colours, crystalline water and a prominent coast in the distance. The trip does not take long. You will soon be able to berth in the harbour at the beach called Coccorocci, a large expanse of porphyritic pebbles of volcanic origin, ranging in colour from grey to red to green. Coccorocci is the largest pebble beach in Sardinia. It offers a splendid view of the rocky, thickly forested Ferru and Cartucceddu mountains, which loom over the coast.
The water is a transparent, sparkling pale blue and the play of the sun’s rays causes light to reflect off the seabed. Once at Coccorocci, we recommend that you visit the nearby village of Bari Sardo. It is in the centre of Ogliastra and is a large agricultural village nestled amidst a luxuriant countryside full of fruit groves and vineyards. The historical heart of the village lies around the Church of San Leonardo and the parish church dedicated to the Beata Vergine del Monserrato, which displays a distinctive bell tower built in the Rococo style. Located near Bari Sardo are the caves of Su Murmuri. We therefore recommend that you hire a car in Bari Sardo and visit the nearby fascinating caves. Once back in the centre of Bari Sardo you can sample typical local dishes in one of the local “agriturismi”, or country inns. We suggest trying out the delicious and tasty Culurgiones and the sweet Seadas drizzled with honey. Upon ending your visit to Bari Sardo carry on towards the Porto di Arbatax. Here you will be able to stock up with all the necessary supplies. It will also be possible to visit the small village of Arbatax, a pretty village in the Ogliastra area. A few kilometres from Arbatax you can see Tortolì, a town with many pubs, clubs and restaurants. Tourist harbours: Marina di Porto Corallo, Marina di Arbatax

From Olbia to Santa Teresa: Gallura from the sea
Olbia, Porto Rotondo, Cannigione, Santa Teresa di Gallura
Distance: 50 miles
Time required: from 7 to 10 days

1st leg: Olbia - Porto Rotondo
From the small tourist harbour in Olbia it is possible to embark on a wide range of itineraries, towards Sardinia’s most popular summertime destinations frequented by the international jet set. Places offering a wealth of opportunities for fun and enjoyment, with hundreds of night clubs, restaurants and hotels.
The Gallura coast alternates between beautiful beaches and small bays enclosed in the emerald green of typical Mediterranean shrubs. The beaches along this coastal area often offer large number of services and facilities, enabling tourists to enjoy all the comforts without having to give up the tranquillity and quiet characteristic of other areas of Sardinia.
The most highly frequented beaches, such as Lo Squalo, La Playa or the Spiaggia dei Sassi, alternate with less crowded areas such as Cala Moresca, with the small island of Figarolo and Cala Sabina, not directly accessible by land, where it possible to anchor and enjoy the untouched beauty that nature offers.
Not to be missed is Cala Punta di Volpe. Cream-coloured beaches, with hints of gold, lie in front of rocks which take on different colours according to the time of day.

The view of the islands of Mortorio and Soffi and the beautiful surrounding coast add to the breathtaking splendour of these beaches.
In the area of Cala Sabina there is a railway line that links up with Golfo Aranci and Olbia, as well as the Marinella beach. It is therefore also possible to travel with this convenient means of public transport.
Near the town of Golfo Aranci, where you can easily berth in the port, look out for the “pozzo sacro” or sacred well of Milis, dating from the nuragic period. The ancient stairs are still intact (about 40 steps), as is the well chamber, of imposing proportions.
The town of Porto Rotondo, where you can easily berth in the small tourist harbour, is a veritable epicentre of fashionable life. Here you can visit the open air theatre, which was inaugurated in 1995; designed by the architects Gianfranco Fini and Marina Sotgiu, it drew its inspiration from an idea of the sculptor Mario Ceroli.
The theatre is made up of semicircular tiers of raw granite and a wooden stage with affixed masonry foundation; it opens up to nature with its arched ''serliane'' windows: you can clearly see it is based on an ancient theatre due to the presence of a ''frons scenae'', typical of Roman tradition.
It is also worth making the pleasant trip to the small rural village of San Pantaleo, which lies just 18 km from Porto Rotondo. It was built upon the rock of Cugnana at the beginning of the XIX century and still today preserves the characteristic Gallura architecture. Here you can enjoy a splendid view spanning the entire Emerald Coast.
Tourist harbours: Marina di Olbia, Marina di Golfo Aranci, Marina di Porto Rotondo

2nd leg: Porto Rotondo – Cannigione
When you leave Porto Rotondo, after having seen the most famous beaches, a pleasant stop is that of the Le Camere islands, which, like Soffi and Mortorio, belong to the Maddalena Archipelago, despite being close to the territory of Arzachena.
With their jagged coasts these small islands create splendid coves framed by red rocks and lapped by clear sparkling water: a fairytale scene, where time seems to stand still in undisturbed peace. The coastal area included in this part of the itinerary is also among the most popular and highly frequented during the summer months. But if you visit it in the months of June and September you will be able to sail in undisturbed peace among the beautiful small bays with turquoise water and highly suggestive views of red rocks.
While sailing between Porto Rotondo and Cannigione you can stop to visit the beaches of Portisco or La Celia, Capriccioli or Cala di Volpe, and of course the town of Porto Cervo with its exclusive shops and luxury villas, followed by the beaches of Liscia di Vacca and Baia Sardinia.
However, you can also venture on fascinating inland excursions in search of the most remote roots of the Sardinian civilisation. Not far from Arzachena you can find several highly interesting archaeological sites such as the “tombe a circolo” (circular tombs) of Li Muri and the tomba di giganti (giants’ tomb) of Coddu Vecchiu (about 10 km from the gulf of Arzachena). Here you can also visit two nuraghs: one at W-SW, near Punta di La Ettica, and the other at E-SE, the nuragh of La Prisciona.
Tourist harbours: Marina di Porto Cervo, Marina di Cannigione

3rd leg: Cannigione - S. Teresa Gallura
While the entire coast of Sardinia offers unusual sights and abounds in marvels that can be seen from the sea, the stretch between Cannigione and Santa Teresa is undoubtedly one of the richest in colours and most suggestive, with its rocks lapped by the turquoise sea and the thousand islands and rock pools that make up the Archipelago of Santa Teresa Gallura and create an incomparable backdrop.
The territory of Palau is characterised by a very irregularly shaped coastline, with alternating coves and promontories that give rise to oddly shaped rock formations, like the Orso, or “Bear” of the Promontory at Capo d’Orso. This is a famous rock which atmospheric agents have sculpted over the centuries, lending it a bear shape visible from a distance of several kilometres.
Here you can also find Punta Sardinia, another promontory of scenic beauty, which ends with the beach of Cala di Trana: this is a highly fascinating stretch of coast lying between two huge granite rocks, with sand dunes of medium height at its back; further inland the ground is thickly covered with Mediterranean vegetation, still untouched. The abundant juniper and lentisk trees give off intense perfumes.
You cannot not miss sailing around La Maddalena and the other islands in the archipelago, which are crowded with both the locals and tourists in the summer months, but spellbinding and solitary from September to the first half of July. Here there are two harbours in which to berth, Cala Gavetta and Porto Massimo, and many beautiful beaches where you can stop to enjoy the natural Gallurese beauty. At Caprera you can visit the Garibaldi museum, with the home and tomb of this Italian national hero. The smaller islands in the Archipelago offer a delightful sequence of coves surrounded by red granite and thick vegetation, a true naturalistic paradise, in some cases part of the protected area of the Maddalena Archipelago National Park and hence subject to constraints. For example, access to the famous Spiaggia Rosa (“pink beach”) of the island of Budelli is no longer permitted, but other equally beautiful beaches can be reached. The Spiaggia di Santa Maria, for example, is an ideal place to stop, with its 200 metres of light-coloured sand framed by red rocks and lush vegetation. The seabed gradually gets deeper as you head out, creating a sort of natural pool of great beauty. Stretching out behind the beaches is a body of water known as the Palude, a salt-water lake where you can see various types of birds such as coots, mallards, moorhens, woodcocks, ducks and black-winged stilts. Here you can also find services such as bars and restaurants.
As you carry on sailing towards Santa Teresa Gallura you will encounter several other beautiful beaches. It is up to the tourist to decide whether or not to stop or continue sailing on towards other marvellous surprises.
Along the entire route described, it is highly recommended to go scuba diving in this crystal-clear water abounding in life. Even with just a mask you can enjoy suggestive natural scenery or visit sites of interest such as the roughly hewn granite columns dating from Roman times, visible at Capo Testa (due to the Roman Pantheon, several colonies came to this area).
Tourist harbours: Marina di Palau, Cala Gavetta, Porto Massimo, Porto di Santa Teresa
 

Amongst the granite seabeds of Gallura
Santa Teresa di Gallura, Golfo Aranci, Tavolara-Loiri Porto San Paolo
Distance: 104 km
Time required: 01h41

1st stop: Santa Teresa Gallura

Santa Teresa Gallura is a beautiful medieval village that faces the Bocche di Bonifacio and the nearby Corsica, from which it is separated by 12 kilometres of sea exposed to strong currents and wind and often dangerous for sailing.
From this location you can get to several different diving areas, which will enable you to explore some of the most spectacular seabeds in the Mediterranean. Two of these are well known for their scientific points of interest.
Not far from the Gallurese town, the diving centres take visitors to a depth of 30 metres where the famous Mediterranean false coral lives and grows. It has colonised an enormous number of red corals, completely covering them with its golden yellow structure: one branch is over 2 metres high, with a base diameter of around 15 centimetres. False coral usually lives in deeper waters, so this is a sign as to how clean the water is in this area, as it undergoes a continuous change thanks to the underwater currents of the Bocche di Bonifacio.
Situated about 6 nautical miles from Santa Teresa, and 10 miles from Fiordo del Pozzo – another local diving area – is the island known as Lavezzi, also called “secca delle cernie” or “le cernie di Lavezzi”. Its Italian name indicates the main peculiarity of this location, where divers are taken down to a colourful blue world populated with hundreds of sea bass, many of an extraordinarily large size, which approach humans with no fear.

2nd stop: Golfo Aranci
From the port of Golfo Aranci head towards the island of Figarolo, with its sea bed made up of large, soft chalk rocks, which provides a fantastic habitat for fish and marine flora in this area. Here you can see an underwater nativity scene, where local divers organise dives every December, braving the cold water. Many white sea bass and groupers swim and octopi hide here, and you can also see colourful sea slugs, bright red sea fans and marine sponges.

To the north of Capo Figari there is a stretch of sea well known for the frequent sightings of dolphins. The seabed is sandy and many razor fish live here. Dolphins adore this fish species and are therefore attracted in large numbers to the area.
Not far from the port of Golfo Aranci lives the largest Sardinian colony of pen shells (the largest bivalve mollusc of the Mediterranean) on a sandy seabed at a depth of about 6 metres. The closeness to the port is not a problem for this species, as it is very clean; several broken shells or molluscs that have died remain attached to the seabed.

3rd stop: Tavolara, Loiri Porto San Paolo
One of the most fascinating areas of the Sardinian coast, with its intense colours of water and earth, is the area of Capo Coda Cavallo. In 2004 it became a protected area (Area Marina Protetta di Tavolara – Capo Coda Cavallo) which extends between Capo Ceraso and Punta l’Isuledda and also includes the islands of Molara and Molarotto. The stretch of sea closed in by these surroundings is rich in natural attractions, thanks to protection regulations that allow rare species to reproduce here with no risk of outside interference.
The most interesting dives can be made near the stretch of coast opposite the eastern face of the island of Tavolara, a limestone and dolomite massif resting upon a granite foundation. In this stretch you can find the Secca del Papa (“shallows of the Pope”), which takes its name from a rocky formation present on the coast, suggestive of the profile of a prelate. At 500 metres from the coast there is a series of rocky spires, between 15 and 50, where you can see a forest of large bright red and yellow coloured sea fans; swimming among them are damsel fish, groupers and the occasional school of small tuna but also white sea bass and small schools of white sea bream, making this one of the most beautiful seabeds in the Mediterranean. However, this dive is only for experts as there are strong currents in this stretch of sea.
Another interesting dive may be taken to explore the wreck of the Omega, a large fishing boat that sank in the 1970’s due to a storm; only the captain survived. The wreck sits at a depth of 18 metres and is inhabited by moray eel, wrasse, white sea bass and other fish. The large number of fish enliven this place and their colours and movements make the dive unforgettable.

Trekking: from Oliena to Lanaittu
Oleina, Monte Corrasi and Valle di Lanaittu
Distance: 15.8km
Time required: 06h30

1st stop: Oliena
The proposed itinerary foresees a trip through the territories of the Sopramonte in the commune of Oliena up to the valley of Lanaittu. The details are illustrated in a pdf document which can be accessed by clicking the link.
 
Oliena, recently awarded an Orange Flag by Touring Club Italiano, is a characteristic village of inland Sardinia, situated at the base of Monte Corrasi. Besides the numerous attractions, ranging from its historical town centre abounding in churches to a rich and tasty selection of food and wines (you must try the Nepente, a Cannonau wine praised by Gabriele D’Annunzio), from archaeological monuments that stud its territory to the strong traditions that today still live in the village and enchant visitors, Oliena has a lot to offer from a naturalistic point of view. There are numerous excursions that can be made starting off from this town, particularly from Rifugio di Monte Maccionejust outside the village.

2nd stop: Monte Corrasi, Oliena
Monte Corrasi is an imposing limestone mountain which rises to a height of 1457 m asl, dominating the village of Oliena and the whole Sopramonte region and giving rise to landscapes of enchanting wild charm. This is what led the director of "The Ten Commandments" to choose Monte Corrasi in 1956 as the setting for the famous scene where Moses (Charlton Heston) receives the tablets of the law.
According to the glottologist G. Paulis, the toponym derives from the Latin cornu, to which the suffix -arius was added to evoke the jagged profile of the mountain (as a series of horns) as it appears especially to those who observe it from Oliena.
Salvatore Satta defined Corrasi as "the most beautiful mountain that God created”.

3rd stop: Valle di Lanaittu, Oliena
At the end of the proposed itinerary you come to the valley of Lanaittu, abounding in places of great interest both from a naturalistic and historical viewpoint. There are numerous caves in this suggestive valley, such as those of Sa Oche and Su Bentu. Both caves extend inward for several kilometres and feature ample chambers up to a hundred meters tall, embellished by numerous stalactites and stalagmites, concretions with galleries and floor surfaces covered with sharp crystals, in a setting characterised by deep fissures, small underground lakes and quartz sand beaches. The entrances of the caves are extremely suggestive, given the intense beauty of the excellently preserved surrounding environment. Not far is the Corbeddu cave, which takes its name from the bandit Giovanni Corbeddu, who in the middle of the 19th century chose the site as his secret refuge. It is also particularly important for the paleoanthropological remains found here in 1967, ascribable to the upper Paleolithic, together with other finds dating back to the Mesolithic and ancient Neolithic eras. These are among the most ancient traces of the human presence in Sardinia.
At Lanaittu it is also possible to visit the nuragic village of Sa sedda e sos carros and at the far end of the valley the Dolina di Tiscali, located within the municipal territory of Dorgali, inside the fascinating nuragic village of the same name.
 

The green train: within the island soul
From Macomer to Sindia, from Tinnura to Tresnuraghes, from Modolo to Bosa
Distance: 45 km
Time required: 43 minutes

1st leg: From Macomer to Sindia
Stops: Macomer – Sindia
The departure is from the station in Macomer, opposite the main railway station. From here the public transportation line will take you as far as Nuoro, or you can take a tourist line to Bosa. The routes divide shortly after departure: the local public transport line heads east, to the west you go towards the sea. The route continues uphill, passing beneath the railway line in “pontes de Bosa”. The landscape is marked by broad stretches of pasture divided up by low dry stone walls and dominated by the strong and reassuring presence of the nuraghes, including the well-preserved Succoronis nuraghe a short distance from the line. After arriving at the highest point of the line at Bara (537 m), the train starts a slow but constant descent toward the sea. The next stop is next to the Cistercian abbey of Santa Maria di Corte, built at the initiative of  Gonario, “Giudice” of Torres, in the 12th century. From here the line continues parallel to the Rio Furrighesu, tributary of the Temo river, and shortly you arrive at the station of Sindia. The sea cannot be seen, but you can feel its closeness because of the intense brightness; the train proceeds onwards and you will notice that the tree trunks are increasingly bent by the force of the strong winds. You are travelling through another region: the Planargia. The surrounding landscape is cultivated and flatter and the villages are spaced more closely together.

2nd leg: From Tinnura to Tresnuraghes
Stops: Tinnura – Suni – Flussio – Tresnuraghes
The train travels downhill toward the station of Tinnura. The village of Tinnura, whose houses are practically attached to those of Suni and Flussio, is well known for its production of wicker, cane and willow baskets and for its excellent wines. The next stop is Tresnuraghes, which is also the stop for Magomadas and the more distant Cuglieri. Finally, the sea: a bright, open horizon appears beyond the coast. To the north you can see the harsh profile of Capo Marrargiu and to the south of CapoMannu, not far out to sea, the flat Island of Male Bentu.

3rd leg: From Modolo to Bosa
Stops: Modolo - Bosa
The last kilometres towards the sea are the most spectacular. You arrive at the stop of Nigolosue, round a sharp bend called the Curva di Nanio, which offers a panoramic view, high above the sea. The train heads down into a valley known for its production of Malvasia, the excellent wine from the area. It then turns again towards the coast. After passing the station of Modolo, one of the smallest villages on the island, renowned for the excellent Malvasia made there, the train proceeds towards the pebble beach of Turas; it then turns suddenly and continues parallel to the coast, a few metres from the water’s edge. Shortly afterwards you get to the final station, Bosa Marina, near the mouth of the Temo river, from where you are within sight of what remains of the Malspina castle.
 

The North West Oasis
Regional park of Porto Conte - Capo Caccia, Asinara National Park
Distance: 56km
Time required: 01h00

1st stop: Regional park of Porto Conte - Capo Caccia
To visit the Protected Marine Area of Capocaccia - Isola Piana it is necessary first to reach the town of Alghero and then follow the signs for this natural oasis.
The alluring beauty of limestone rocks punctuated by caves and ravines and lapped by transparent waters is the dominant feature of the protected sea area of Porto Conte.

On the eastern slope of the imposing promontory of Capo Caccia you will find the Grotta Verde, covered by moss and lichen, and, beneath a rocky spur, the Grotta di Nettuno, or Neptune’s Cave, which can be reached by land by climbing down the steps of the Escala del Cabirol.

2nd stop: Asinara National Park
The island of Asinara can be reached from Porto Nuovo in Stintino and from Porto Torres, where you can information and tickets at specially set up kiosks. Thanks to the visits organized by the park management authority and private operators specialized in boating excursions, trekking, mountain biking or off-road tours, the Asinara National Park welcomes visitors with its untouched beauty.
You can follow different routes, along the coastline or further inland. A naturalistic fairytale setting, not only for the wild charm of the coasts, but also for the rich variety of birds and fauna, which makes the island a veritable ecological jewel. Among mammals, Asinara boasts a population of white donkeys which are the only ones of their kind in the world, and make the island even more special.

For any further information:
Carl Byoir & Associates +39 02 3314593
Annalisa Nunziata – annalisa.nunziata@carlbyoir.com