Sardinia Adventure

Start your adventure in Dorgali, where we stay at a family-run hotel just a short walk from the small town itself and an easy bus ride to the beach. Around 6pm, say salude to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big Sardinian welcome by arranging a group dinner. Want more time in Dorgali? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Enjoy sweeping views on a drive (just over an hour) above the Flumineddu Valley, before arriving at Gorropu Gorge, also known as the Grand Canyon of Europe. Its narrow, vertical walls reach 1,640ft (500m), making it the deepest natural gorge in Europe. Appreciate all its glory on our walk, with the chance to paddle in the river, if conditions allow. Along the way, we also stop for a packed lunch, a chance to relax and enjoy the views. This evening, you may wish to wander into Dorgali town centre to enjoy dinner in one of the local restaurants, perhaps seeking out the local wines and traditional cuisine, such as the stuffed pasta dish, culurgiones.

Head to the seaside town of Cala Gonone this morning, where we venture onto the waters by kayak for an intimate exploration of the dramatic coastline. Paddling from the town, we immediately encounter limestone cliffs rising from the turquoise waters, before passing hidden coves and exploring sea caves and grottoes, where the water often glows an ethereal blue, illuminating ancient rock formations. The 7.5mi (12km) kayaking tour ends at Cala Luna, a crescent-shaped beach of pale-gold sand, framed by imposing cliffs and featuring six large caves, perfect for exploring or finding shade. The water here is shallow and crystal clear, ideal for swimming.

Discover the beauty of the Gulf of Orosei today in the most intimate way: by bike. Our 20.5mi (33km) adventure starts directly from the hotel, with an optional morning visit to the Grotta di Ispinigoli, a vast cavern containing an impressive 125ft (38m) limestone column. We then continue along quieter roads and trails, avoiding the busy state road, and ride towards Osalla di Orosei beach. Along the way, we stop at Passo Lithu for glorious views across the forests and out to sea. On arrival at the beach, we carry our bikes across a short section to reach the sands, where we refuel with a delicious lunch. After lunch, we get back on the bikes and tackle 7.5mi (12km) with a 1,970ft (600m) elevation gain. The average incline is 6%, reaching 10% in places. It is a challenging ride, even for fit cyclists, so you may wish to hire an ebike for the day. Ebikes must be reserved before the trip departure; see the Is This Trip for You? section for more information. Our return route takes us through pinewoods and the town of Orosei before continuing back to the hotel, passing Baluvirde church along the way.

After an adventurous few days, today is free to explore the archaeological sites of the Dorgali region, take an optional self-guided walk or simply relax by the beach and enjoy the leisurely Sardinian lifestyle. Horse riding can also be arranged (the price and details are agreed with the hotel). Alternatively, take an optional boat trip to the Bue Marino Grotto (weather permitting).

Visit the mysterious Nuragic village of Tiscali today – not much is known about its origins, nor the people who lived there. It seems to have been populated before the Nuragic era, but archaeologists put its main period of activity between the second and first centuries BCE. The dwellings are virtually invisible until you reach the vast cavity in which they are built. This has led some to postulate that people returned here to hide from the Romans. We also visit the Su Gologone spring, described as a natural masterpiece, where karst has been sculpted by rushing water as it exits the gorge. The water is tinged green or blue, depending on the angle of the sun, and an astonishing 130 gallons (500 litres) of water per second comes crashing out of the chasm into this mini oasis.

You’ve walked the deepest natural canyon in Italy, kayaked along the Sardinian coastline, and witnessed the natural beauty of the Gulf of Orosei by bike; but now it’s time to begin your return journey home. Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our large range of extension options.