Grand Tour of Sardinia
> Arrival in Olbia
1st DAY – FRIDAY
Arrival at Olbia Airport. Welcome by our hostesses and transfer to the hotel (Olbia or surrounding areas). Room check-in. Lunch and/or dinner (depending on flight times). Overnight stay.
> Costa Smeralda – La Maddalena – Porto Cervo
2nd DAY – SATURDAY
After breakfast, departure by coach for Arzachena where we will visit the Giants’ grave of Coddu Vecchiu. Continuation towards Palau along a beautiful panoramic road along the most evocative coastal strip of Sardinia: the Costa Smeralda. Once in Palau, board a boat for Maddalena Island, the main island of the archipelago of the same name made up of around twenty islets. Tour of the island and free time for shopping. Lunch at a restaurant and boarding of a boat for Palau. Return to the hotel after a stop in Porto Cervo, the most fascinating seaside resort on the Costa Smeralda. Dinner and overnight stay in the hotel.
> Tempio Pausania – Castelsardo – Alghero
3rd DAY – SUNDAY
Breakfast and departure towards Tempio Pausania crossing the wild nature of Sardinia. Stop at the Valle della Luna (Valley of the Moon) where you can admire the evocative lunar landscape before continuing to Tempio Pausania. Walking tour of the town built entirely of granite, such as the Cathedral and the Piazza del Municipio. Continuation to Castelsardo, crossing the Doria valley. This small fishing village is set in a stunning location, standing on a promontory overlooking the sea. Lunch. In the afternoon, visit the castle and the weaving museum inside, followed by the historic town centre and a walk through the typical streets. Castelsardo is renowned for the craft of weaving. Short stop at the Roccia dell’Elefante (Elephant Rock) and continuation to Alghero. Arrival at the hotel (Alghero or surrounding areas) and accommodation in the rooms. Dinner and overnight stay.
> Capo Caccia – Alghero
4th DAY – MONDAY
Breakfast and departure for the optional visit to the most important natural site in Sardinia: the Capo Caccia promontory and the suggestive Neptune’s Cave. Arrival at the port of Alghero, boarding of the boat which will sail along the majestic cliffs of Capo Caccia and then enter the cave where you can admire the natural formations of stalactites and stalagmites that are reflected in the crystal clear waters. Return to the hotel for lunch. In the afternoon, visit to Alghero, the beautiful city of Catalan origin where you can stroll through the typical streets that wind along the old, still well-preserved neighborhoods and along the ancient ramparts. Among the seaside cities of the island, Alghero is renowned for the production of coral objects. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
> Bosa – Paulilatino – Barumini – Cagliari
5th DAY – TUESDAY
Breakfast and departure for Bosa via a panoramic road that runs along the sea. Visit to the small town on the Temo river, dominated by the Serravalle castle. The town, full of suggestive panoramic views, is characterized by a succession of narrow streets, arches, bastions and stairways which give it a very picturesque appearance. Visit to the church of San Pietro, one of the most beautiful in Roman-Gothic style in Sardinia and continuation to Paulilatino, with a visit of the famous sacred well of Santa Cristina, one of the most beautiful examples of architecture in Sardinia dating back to 1,300 BC. Continue to Santa Giusta to admire the splendid and sumptuous Romanesque church built in the 12th century. Lunch along the journey. In the afternoon, visit to Barumini, famous for the largest nuragic complex in Sardinia, the Su Nuraxi, which dates back to the Bronze Age. This complex represents, from an archaeological point of view, the most significant expression of the Nuragic civilization currently present on the island. Continuation to Cagliari. Arrival at the hotel and room check-in (Cagliari or surrounding areas). Dinner and overnight stay.
> Cagliari – Nora
6th DAY – WEDNESDAY
Full board in hotel. Morning dedicated to visiting Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia, which has the typical structure of the most important cities on the Mediterranean coast. At the top of the hill stands the ancient residential district while descending towards the port, one can see the popular neighbourhoods with the typical streets full of craft shops. Visit the historic centre and the medieval quarter where you can admire the majestic cathedral of Santa Maria, the Elephant Towers, San Pancrazio, the church of San Saturno, a splendid example of Romanesque style, and the Terrazza Umberto I, the most famous viewpoint of the city. Then, Piazza dell’Arsenale with the Cittadella dei Musei and Porta Cristina. Returning to the hotel, we pass by the splendid white sandy beach of Poetto and the Molentargius lagoon, the famous oasis of pink flamingos. Lunch at the hotel. Free afternoon or the possibility of taking the optional excursion to Nora. The town, occupied by the Phoenicians in the 9th century BC, today represents the greatest testimony of the Roman era in Sardinia. Visit the excavations, in particular the amphitheatre and the mosaics. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
> Cagliari – Nuoro – Orgosolo – Olbia
7th DAY – THURSDAY
Breakfast and departure for Nuoro. After crossing an evocative landscape, you will ar-rive in the capital of Barbagia. Visit to the Museum of Sardinian Life and Traditions, which has more than 7,000 artefacts. Then continuation to Orgosolo, a typical Barbagia village that offers its visitors a particular image of Sardinia. Walk to admire the murals that cover the facades of the houses. Lunch with the shepherds based on typical Sar-dinian specialities, including the famous “purceddu” (suckling pig roasted on the grill) and the traditional sheep “in cappotto”, all enlivened by the accompaniment of folk songs and Sardinian wine. In the afternoon, continuation to the karst spring of Su Go ogone, located at the foot of the spectacular Supramonte of Oliena. These are the most famous and suggestive springs in Sardinia, which we will reach by crossing a small forest of wild eucalyptus. After the splendid walk to the springs, in the late afternoon departure for Olbia or surrounding areas. Room check-in. Dinner and overnight stay.
> Departure from Olbia
8th DAY – FRIDAY
Breakfast and/or lunch (depending on flight departure times) and transfer to Olbia Airport. Check-in and boarding either a special or a commercial flight followed by de-parture.
N.B. The circuit could be organized in a different order but the programme and desti-nations would remain unchanged.
