Sardinia Bike Tour

Your guides will meet you at the Olbia airport for a short transfer to our first hotel. Check-in at this classically Mediterranean property, located right on the famed Costa Smeralda, where we’ll get fitted to our bikes before our first ride. Our warmup route follows the cerulean coast before heading inland to our friend Max’s hidden winery. Here, we’ll have our first taste of Sardinia’s flagship varietals, Vermentino and Cannonau, paired with local cheeses and a home-cooked lunch. After lunch, opt to visit some prehistoric stone edifices called nuraghe or bike directly back to the hotel to get settled. Tonight’s dinner sets the tone for the week: a fresh seafood feast enjoyed as the sun sets over the Mediterranean.

Meals: Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Cannigione, Arzachena
Accomplished: 14 miles / 23 km, elevation gain: 1,440 feet / 439 meters
Longer Option: 25 miles / 41 km, elevation gain: 1,768 feet / 539 meters
Accommodations: Aethos Sardinia

Pedal up the coast today and catch a short ferry to La Maddalena, part of the archipelago just off the main island. We’ll bike in and out of hidden bays with views of the rugged coastline, then cross the causeway to Caprera, Maddalena’s sister island. Caprera was the historic home of Giuseppe Garibaldi—one of modern Italy’s most fascinating figures—so we’ll spend some time learning about his life and legacy. This afternoon, board a private yacht and experience Costa Smeralda’s glamour as we swim in secluded coves. After a simple and satisfying lunch on deck, we’ll sail right to our hotel. You’re free to choose your own restaurant for dinner, and our guides are happy to recommend their favorites in town.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Destinations: Palau, Maddalena, Caprera
Accomplished: 22 miles / 36 km, elevation gain: 1,647 feet / 502 meters
Longer Option: 29 miles / 46 km, elevation gain: 2,083 feet / 635 meters
Accommodations: Aethos Sardinia

This morning we head inland to explore the island’s center—over the next few days, we’ll see how Sardinia’s interior is replete with natural beauty that’s been respected and preserved for centuries. Our ride begins in a small mountain village, following a scenic ribbon of pavement that hugs mountainous bluffs and peers all the way to the sea. After a quick coffee in the little town of Lula, we’ll keep cruising to lunch at a whitewashed restaurant that produces its own wine and truly sets the standard for celebrating regional cuisine. Afterward, it’s just a few more miles to our next hotel—an incredible property devoted to upholding Sardinia’s simple, old-world traditions.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Sant’Anna, Lula, Oliena
Accomplished: 38 miles / 62 km, elevation gain: 3,283 feet / 1,001 meters
Longer Option: 43 miles / 69 km, elevation gain: 3,355 feet / 1,023 meters
Accommodations: Su Gologone

Today’s ride visits Sardinia’s up-and-coming wine region where local producers are crafting award-winning Cannonau. First, we’ll ride through Orgosolo, a village that stands apart thanks to its ubiquitous murals: the public paintings first emerged in the 1960s and today they number well over 150. A local guide will take us on a different kind of gallery tour, strolling through this open-air museum and explaining the significance of standout murals. Continue cycling through the vineyards to lunch at one of Sardinia’s emerging wineries, then choose to transfer or finish riding the loop back to Su Gologone. Tonight, we’ll taste Sardinia’s classic wood-fired fare as we prepare dinner alongside a lovely local.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Orgosolo, Mamoiada, Oliena
Accomplished: 32 miles / 51 km, elevation gain: 4,061 feet / 1,238 meters
Longer Option: 43 miles / 70 km, elevation gain: 4,402 feet / 1,342 meters
Accommodations: Su Gologone

We’ll set off for the Supramonte mountain range and the most epic riding of our trip, full of staggering scenery on a 3% grade as the road climbs gently along the Goroppu Gorge. At the top of the Genna Silana pass (featured in the 2017 Giro d’Italia), we’ll celebrate our feat of the week before enjoying the sweet reward: a 36-kilometer downhill to the coastal village of Santa Maria Navarrese. Check in to our beachfront hotel, take a swim at the private beach, and toast to a wonderful week at our final dinner.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Dorgali, Baunei, Santa Maria Navarrese
Accomplished: 46 miles / 74 km, elevation gain: 4,146 feet / 1,264 meters
Shorter Option: 35 miles / 56 km, elevation gain: 2,811 feet / 857 meters
Accommodations: Lanthia Resort

Sleep in, enjoy a relaxed breakfast or rise with the sun for an early-morning swim. Your guides will transfer you back to the Olbia airport and see you off to your next destination.

Meals: Breakfast
Destinations: Santa Maria Navarrese, Olbia