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Walking Holidays in Sardinia

Walking is environmentally friendly, good for fitness and enables you to get a real taste and feel of the island, meet the local people, stay in family run accommodation and get off the beaten track and experience the real Sardinia...

New for 2010 Just Sardinia are offering a Self Guided Walking Tour so you can experience the coast and countryside, warm sunshine and fantastic views that Sardinia has to offer and see more of this beautiful island.

The tour will include transfers to and from Cagliari airport, welcome meeting, route guide and maps, accommodation in personally chosen hotels and agriturismi on a B&B basis, transfer of your luggage between your accommodations, telephone assistance.
A thrilling trip through the natural beauty spots and history of north western Sardinia, passing from mountains to the sea, crossing forests, olive groves, artichoke fields and vineyards, passing lagoons and beaches, bird watching and hiking along cliffs with Spanish watchtowers.

Trips are available from 1st March - 30th June and 1st Sept - 30th November 2010

	Book online: Book now >
	Call us: +44 (0) 1202 484858
	Email us: holidays@justsardinia.co.uk

West Sardinia Walk
‘From Mountains to Sea’

From the black mountains of Montiferru to the Sinis wetlands and the sea.  Montiferru is a basaltic area famous for the green forests and the local red beef celebrated by the Slow Food Movement. The Sinis is a natural reserve home to thousands of pink flamingo and a wealth of other birdlife. It is a remarkable example of low impact fishing activity on the local environment, with charming accommodation to make this tour memorable.

• Prices from: £739pp B&B
• Total distance: 88km
• Nearest Airport: Alghero/Cagliari
• Duration: 7 nights

Features

• The Montiferru Mountain range
• The cliffs of Su Tingiosu
• Sinis wetlands wildlife
• Fishermen villages of Putzu Idu and Cabras
• Charming accommodations

Ability Level

• Walking days: 6
• 4 easy stages (mostly flat)
• 1 medium stage (mostly flat but long)
• 1 challenging stage (hilly, mainly downhill)

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival day
  Transfer to the first hotel in Santulussurgiu where there will be a welcome meeting with the local representative who will provide an explanation of the route, a map and route notes.
• Day 2: Santu Lussurgiu - Santa Caterina di Pittinuri (22km)
  Transfer from the hotel to the starting point of the walk (included in the price). The route descents from the village of Santu Lussurgiu, laid in the Montiferru Moutains, to Santa Caterina di Pittinuri, located right on the sea. You will be crossing oak forests, olive groves and quiet pastures.
• Day 3: Santa Caterina di Pittinuri - Su Pallosu (20km)
  After the village of S'Archittu (which owes its name to the popular natural arch along the nearby coast), you will enter the vast forest of Is Arenas, whose pine trees protect the area from the sand dunes erosion. At the end of the forest is the Is Benas lagoon, home to large colonies of Grey Herons and Pink Flamingos. A beautiful track on the cliff leads to the beach of Su Pallosu.
• Day 4: Su Pallosu loop (9km)
  Today the walk is along the cliffs of Capo Mannu, along the light house and the ancient Spanish watchtowers. After Putzu Idu, a village located on a stretch of coast often visited by the strong Mistral wind which made it a popular spot for sailing and surfing, you will return to the hotel in Su Pallosu.
• Day 5: Putzu Idu - San Salvatore Sinis (18km)
  The day starts walking on the amazing cliffs of Su Tingiosu, 6km of limestone plenty of bird nests. The cliffs end in the beautiful quartz beaches of Is Aruttas and Mari Ermi whose sand is made of little grains of quartz quite similar to rice seeds. In the final part of the day, you move inland, crossing artichoke and wheat fields to arrive in San Salvatore Sinis.
• Day 6: San Salvatore Sinis - Cabras (10km)
  A pleasant path leads you out of San Salvatore to Cabras, the main centre in the Sinis. During the itinerary you walk along artichoke fields, Vernaccia vineyards, olive groves and the Cabras Lagoon, the largest in the area, famous for grey mullet and above all its Bottarga, the cured roe of mullet. Don't miss the fresh fish, the Bottarga and the Vernaccia wine.
• Day 7: Cabras loop (9km)
  If you are passionate about birdwatching today is your day! You will cross the swamp of Pauli 'e Sali, a protected area where an immense number of birds (some are very rare) usually nest. Sheltered by the caves you can take beautiful pictures without disturbing them. Then back to the hotel walking along the lagoon shores.
• Day 8: Departure day
  After breakfast, transfer to Alghero airport.
  

Accommodation List

We believe that the accommodation is a very important factor of a hiking tour, therefore we take the greatest care in carefully selecting small family-run 3* hotels and country lodges with excellent regional cuisine.

The following properties have been selected for this tour (please note that they are subject to availability and we reserve the right to change hotels should the need arise).

• SANTULUSSURGIU (Night 1) Antica Dimora del Gruccione
  Host: Sig.ra Gabriella Belloni
  The “Antica Dimora del Gruccione” is a 17th century mansion of Spanish design, entirely made of stone with arches, barrelled ceilings, wooden beams and ancient wrought iron throughout the structure, and furnished with comfortable original antiques, many from the family of the owner. The property features unique rooms, each different from the other, and offers a warm hospitality rather the anonymous sameness found in many hotels. The management (still from the family of the original owners) believes passionately that a hotel is more than just a room but must also offer food of xceptional quality. The “Antica Dimora del Gruccione” follows the principles of “Slow Food” by exclusively using fresh items, products of small Sardinian companies of excellent quality, and products of fair trade. All served with warm, inviting, hospitality in their beautiful restored dining room.
• SANTA CATERINA DI PITTINURI (Night 2) Hotel La Baja
  A nice hotel located right on the coast high on a cliff. The beach itself is not so great (you will see much better beaches during the tour) but it has a swimming pool, nice rooms and an excellent cuisine. There are also some other excellent beaches nearby (but not in walking distance). It is located in Santa Caterina di Pittinuri, some 116km north of Cagliari and 30 km north of the start of the tour. The village of Santa Caterina is very quiet.
• SU PALLOSU (Nights 3-4) Hotel Su Pallosu
  The Carta family is managing this small property since 1970. The location of the hotel is the unspoilt Capo Mannu, on the Northern tip of the Sinis peninsula. A stunning scenery of white, lonely beaches and the turquoise sea give a real plus to this place.
• SAN SALVATORE SINIS (Night 5) Sa Pedrera
  Hotelier: Sig. Carlo Picconi
  Sa Pedrera is a charming countryside complex located in San Salvatore Sinis, a tiny village in the heartland of the Sinis peninsula. Its U-shape layout resembles that of a Spanish hacienda with 14 lovely decorated rooms surrounding the flourishing garden in the central courtyard. The hotel has a restaurant and comfortable living room. In the park outside the hotel, there are two tennis courts.
• CABRAS (Nights 6-7) Villa Canu
  This lovely small property is located in a restored house in the centre of the village of Cabras, in Sinis wetlands. The whole building has been decorated following the traditional local architecture and the result is really dramatic. Under the same management, the nearby restaurant “Il caminetto” is renowned among locals for its genuine cuisine.

FAQ's

1. Will I have a guide to assist me?
   Not on the self guided tours however they will only be a phone call away.
2. What happens if I get tired along the way?
   On self guided tours it's best to stop and take a rest but remember to always drink plenty of water.
3. What happens to my baggage?
   Your baggage travels on the van, under the care of the guides. You will usually find your things waiting for you in your room at the hotel.
4. Do I need to train before the walk?
   To get the most out of your holiday, all we suggest you do is get in some training, preferably a couple of weeks before the start of your holiday.
5. How far must I walk each day?
   On average its 14.6 km a day which is about 9 miles per day
6. How do I get to the starting point of my tour?
   Starting and finishing points of our tours have been planned so that they are close to the island's airports to make things easier for you. Transfers are included in the price of the holidays.
7. I'm travelling alone - do I have to pay a single supplement?
   The prices quoted for our tours refer to accommodation in double rooms based on 2 sharing with bed and breakfast however a single room supplement is available. Please note that there is also a single traveller supplement.
8. What should I bring with me?
   We suggest that you bring your normal clothes that you would wear when walking in the UK, ie walking shorts, and tops, hiking boots/shoes plus your normal holiday luggage. Listed below are other items that we recommend:
   • Small first aid kit
   • Small torch
   • Hat
   • High factor sun cream
   • Mobile phone
     
     

 

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