Sardinia is a beautiful island and the south west part where we were is different from other parts of the island – secluded, no celebrities, great mix of beach and nature, and genuine Sardinian food. We had two guides, both were excellent. The tour was well organised, everyone was kept together and safety felt like a priority. I like that they organised snacks and drinks for our stops, including electrolyte drinks! Negatives – we feel this tour doesn’t offer value for money. Pro rata it is one of the most expensive cycling tours in Europe but the accommodation quality was low. Only two working ACs, showers were old and with weak water pressure. When we all arrived, some hotels didn’t have enough hot water so people who went for the shower late ended up having a cold shower. For one hotel where there was no working AC (muma hostel), we were told it was too late at night to call the electrician but they would repair it the next morning (but we were only there for one night!). Later our group leader told us that the AC in that particular room had not been working for the last 2 weeks. There was no offer to move us to a different room. We didn’t appreciate being lied to and will leave a review about this on the hotel’s website. Also note that the support van was small and filled with our bags so there’s only 1-2 spaces for people to sit if anyone decides not to do the hill climb. Though with the e-bikes I think this probably won’t be much of a problem.
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Serra Orrios: Located near the mountain town of Dorgali, Serra Orrios is a Nuraghic village famous for its archaeological complex made up of circular huts and ancient temples dating back to 1500 BC. This is one of the most incredible prehistoric sites in Italy and at sunset, it becomes even more captivating. Across the island, you’ll see towers built by the Nuraghes which represent the rich heritage of the island.
Nora: The ancient city of Nora stands inside the Pula Archaeological Park and is one of the most impressive and well-preserved Phoenician sites in the world. It’s worth visiting on Sardinia tours as you’ll have the chance to dig a little deeper into the island’s past. Walk around the ancient temple and baths and the ruins of the Roman amphitheatre to get an insight into the incredible history. Just a bit further along lies a partially submerged cemetery, which was only discovered because of a storm, and lots of Roman mosaics can also be found beneath the water.
San Salvatore Sinis: You’ll be forgiven for thinking you’ve just arrived on the set of a Sergio Leone film when you visit San Salvatore Sinis, as this unusual, uninhabited site was once the location for spaghetti Westerns. As you walk around the dusty and desolate hamlet, you’ll find the Roman hypogeum, an underground temple which was reconstructed in the 6th century and pays testament to the religions of this time. Narrow passageways of the village are lined with crumbling single-storey houses, and there was once a saloon here but sadly it was destroyed in a fire and never restored.
Costa Smeralda: Arguably the most picturesque region of Sardinia, Costa Smeralda is known for its astounding coastline that’s punctuated by clifftop villages and sweeping bays where the emerald waters wash onto golden sands. Porto Cervo is the central resort where jet setters and A-listers often come to dine at the fine restaurants in the Piazzetta. An evening stroll along the harbour, among the super yachts and luxury boutiques, is a must or you could head into the Gallura countryside where smugglers once hid in the cork forest.
Gorropu Gorge: Known as the ‘Grand Canyon of Europe’, Gorropu Gorge is the largest of its kind in Italy and its vertiginous walls plummet 500 metres, making it Europe’s deepest natural gorge. As if this isn’t spectacular enough, erosion of the landscape over millions of years, caused by the Flumineddu River, has made it even more beautiful. Gorropu Gorge lies among the Supramonte mountains and a great way to really appreciate its immensity and natural beauty is by canoeing along the river. If you visit between March and May, the landscape explodes with colourful spring flowers.
Bernadette Bhakti Cycling in Sardinia
Steven Elliot Cycling in SardiniaI do feel a little mean just giving 4 stars but there were a few niggles. It’s a great trip and particularly satisfying in that there are no transfers until the end – you cycle from hotel to hotel for 6 days. Lovely scenery, though not quite as gorgeous as described in other reviews. Accommodation basic but clean – no luxury but you don’t spend much time in it. Sardinian food and wine is pretty awesome but mostly fish based.
Gripes. Bikes are old and heavy which make the second and third rides more onerous than they should be- 3400 feet ascent in 36 miles does not usually faze me but knees were complaining for a few days after. I experienced a degree of bike envy for the guide’s lightweight gravel bike. As noted elsewhere the flight times are awkward and we were pretty bored by the end of the last day awaiting our transfer to the airport- a late check out from our rooms on a hot sticky day would have been good. The trip notes were inaccurate which, sadly, is a common issue with Exodus trips. Biggest grouse was, however, that there was only ever one guide on the rides, which meant that the weakest member was either cycling alone or dependent on the good nature of other participants for company. To my mind a bit of a safety risk but I guess we might have been spoilt after our trip to Indonesia where there were always three guides.
I am sounding a bit negative. We had a great time but some minor alterations would improve the experience substantially.
John Kaminer Walking in SardiniaI think everyone really enjoyed exploring Sardinia.
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