The Heart of Sardinia
From the Gennargentu Mountains to the Sea
Tour Dates
2 – 9 September 2025
Tour Cost
€3,650 per person
Single supplement: €385
The second largest island in the Mediterranean, Sardinia is perhaps best known for its azure coastline and clear waters. However, the centre of the island reveals rugged mountains, Bronze-Age treasures and a cuisine which still follows the shepherds’ traditions of centuries gone by. We start this tour in the evocative town of Cagliari, on the southern coast of Sardinia, before heading inland to the Gennargentu mountains with their sweeping views of the dramatic landscape. We move to the east of the island, an area often overlooked by visitors, to explore hidden villages, pristine coves and high mountain panoramas. The tour finishes at Olbia airport, on the north-east coast, before we continue on to discover the captivating island of Corsica. We expect some hikers will opt to book the two tours together and explore both islands on the same holiday.
This tour starts in Cagliari and finishes in Olbia. Many hikers choose to extend their holidays by seeing more of Italy so with good connecting flights from Cagliari and Olbia the mainland is easy to visit. For more ideas on where to go visit our City Guide page.
What is included?
- 7 nights’ accommodation in two wonderful hotels
- Two experienced and knowledgeable guides to look after your every need and bring this stunning area to life
- All meals including excellent wines
- Gourmet picnic lunches each day and snacks en route
- Support vehicle, enabling you to walk as much or as little as you please
- Transport in air-conditioned minibus
- All museum entries and cultural visits as per the itinerary
- Comprehensive pre-trip information
Our tours are genuinely all-inclusive – learn more about what we offer.
Tour Highlights
Discover Sardinia’s unique Bronze-Age sites
Hike to the highest points on the island with unbroken views to the Mediterranean Sea
Enjoy a traditional Sardinian lunch prepared by local shepherds
Walking / Terrain
There are 5 days of walking on the trip. We walk on strade bianche (dirt roads), mule tracks and some rocky mountain trails. There are some significant ascents and descents of up to 500 metres. The walking is quite rugged in places, so sturdy walking boots, with good ankle support, are essential. Walking poles are highly recommended, especially on steeper sections. Whilst the climate is generally good at this time of year, we are walking in the mountains so need to be prepared for changes in conditions.
Shortest/Longest Day: 4km/2.5 miles: 14.2km/8.8 miles
We have graded this hike a Level 3. Some of our tours are more challenging than others, so see how we grade our hikes to make sure you choose the right one for you. If you are interested in this tour, then you might also like to take a look at Etruscan Trails in Central Italy, Northern Tuscany and Ravenna or Parma, Tuscany and the Ligurian Sea
Accommodation
Sa Muvara: Nestled in the heart of the Gennargentu mountains, this family-run hotel has a tranquil setting with a wonderful restaurant, outdoor pool and small Wellness Centre.
Su Gologone: This rustic yet chic hotel has a stunning mountain setting and a serious reputation for fabulous authentic Sardinian cuisine.
Itinerary
LEAVE BLANK
Day 1
We meet at the Holiday Inn hotel close to Cagliari airport on Viale Umberto Ticca at 09:45 am. We head northwards for a private guided visit of the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site known as Nuraghe Su Nuraxi, one of the best-preserved Bronze Age defensive complexes on the island. After lunch, we visit the local museum before continuing towards the Gennargentu mountains. We stay in Aritzo at the charming Sa Muvara hotel for four nights. After settling in, we have welcome drinks and dinner at the hotel.
Day 2
We set out from the hotel on foot, following old mule trails and climbing above Aritzo with fabulous views of the wild Barbagia landscape, concealing villages lost in time. We descend on farm tracks through ancient chestnut woods for our picnic beside a fountain. After lunch, there is the chance to visit some of the fascinating small museums in Aritzo before hiking back to the hotel. Time to relax before dinner at a local restaurant.
(10km/6.2 miles)
Day 3
A short drive from the hotel takes us to the start of our hike at 1000 metres. We follow a pretty trail which climbs steadily with expansive views of the Gennargentu. Above us rises Monte Funtana Cunciada, where, up until the 1920s, ice was collected and stored to be transported to Cagliari. There is the option to climb to Punta Cungiada at 1459m. Lunch today is a traditional Sardinian barbeque, prepared by the locals, at a shepherds’ hut. After lunch, a short walk brings us back to the start, and we return to the hotel (option to return by jeep). Later in the day, we visit the local ethnographic museum before a picnic in the hotel garden.
(4km/9km + 3km/2.5 or 5.7 miles + 2 miles)
Day 4
After breakfast, a short drive takes us up to an abandoned refuge in the Gennargentu mountains where we start our hike. Good paths above the tree line climb up 350m to the highest point in Sardinia, Punta La Marmora, at 1834m. On a clear day, we can see to the coast and beyond to the peaks of Corsica. We return by the same path and have our picnic en route. Both guides accompany the group today and carry the picnic for you. Dinner in the hotel.
(14.2km/8.8 miles)
Day 5
We depart Aritzo after breakfast and drive north to the fascinating town of Mamoiada, where we visit the Museo delle Maschere (Masks). We continue on to a local winemaker for a tasting and light lunch. The final leg of our journey takes us to Oliena, where we stay in the lovely Su Gologone hotel for three nights. Dinner is in one of the hotel’s wonderful restaurants.
Day 6
From the hotel, a short drive up the Lainattu valley takes us to the start of our hike. We ascend on a well-graded rocky trail, which zigzags as it climbs steeply above the valley to reach the Nuragic village of Tiscali, hidden in a gorge at the top of the mountains, 400m above the valley floor. After time to explore, we descend to our picnic lunch at the end of the hike. In the afternoon, we drive to Cala Gonone to enjoy a private boat trip with the opportunity for a swim in the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Orosei before a wonderful fish & seafood dinner overlooking the sea.
(8km/5 miles)
Day 7
A spectacular 1-hour drive takes us high above Oliena. We start at just below 1000m and hike to the top of the craggy limestone peak of Monte Corrasi. At 1463m, this is the highest mountain in the Supramonte. From the summit, we enjoy a 360-degree panorama that stretches from the coastlines of the Gulf of Orosei to the Gennargentu massif. We descend by the same trail and enjoy a fabulous picnic overlooking the valley. Both guides accompany the group today and carry the picnic for you. We return to the hotel where there is time to relax in the afternoon before our final dinner.
(10.5km/6.5 miles)
Day 8
We drive to Olbia Airport to arrive by 10:30 am. Here we will say goodbye to hikers leaving the Sardinia tour and welcome those joining us for our Island of Corsica tour. We continue to Santa Teresa Gallura, a pretty town on the northern tip of Sardinia, with time to explore and enjoy lunch before taking a ferry across to Corsica mid-afternoon.
