Self-Guided Walking in Sardinia
8 Days Starting in Montevecchio and ending in Sant'Antioco
Visiting: Montevecchio, Italy, Sardinia
Tour operator:
Tour code:
WSSD
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 16
Physical rating:
Medium, None
Age range:
14-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans, Meat
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Explore the Southwestern corner of Sardinia and its unspoilt beauty with wild dramatic coastlines and crystal-clear waters. Hike along the Costa Verde among dunes and wildflowers, past abandoned mines, ancient watchtowers and natural granite breakwaters with incredible views of the surrounding coast.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Trip Starts In Montevecchio
Location: Montevecchio
Accommodation: La Miniera Fiorita
Meals Included: Dinner
A private transfer will take you from Cagliari Airport (CAG) to Montevecchio, where you will spend two nights in a family run Agriturismo surrounded by nature. Here you can relax or take a dip in the pool, admiring the Sardinian sea at a distance. Your evening meals are include while staying here and are provided by the host, allowing you to try some traditional Sardinian cuisine.
Day 2: Montevecchio Mine Visit And Circular Forest Walk
Accommodation: La Miniera Fiorita
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Montevecchio is one of the most ancient mineral mining sites in Italy. This morning you have the option to go on a guided tour (there are 4 different tours of about 45 minutes) of the abandoned mine site of the Miniere di Montevecchio. In 2007 this mine was added to the UNESCO list of Geoparks. After visiting the mine you can enjoy a circular walk in the Croccorigas forest, thick with ilex groves, cork oaks and home to Sardinian indigenous deer.
Today's 9.5km walk is expected to take about 3 hours and you will ascend 370m and descend 370m
Day 3: Walk The Dunes Of Piscinas To Scivu
Accommodation: Agriturismo Fighezia
Meals Included: Breakfast
The dunes of Piscinas are some of the tallest in Europe and located next to Sardinia's most beautiful beaches. Today's walk explores this desert, and for about 6 km it is likely to be just you, the sea, the sand and the wind! The last part of the walk is on gravel roads to the Agriturismo Fighezia, where you spend the next two nights. If you arrive early you can enjoy exploring the gardens or relaxing on the veranda.
Today's 13km walk is expected to take about 4.5 hours and you will ascend 335m and descend 193m
Day 4: Cape Pecora To Portixeddu Beach Loop Walk
Accommodation: Agriturismo Fighezia
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today you head back to the sea (Scivu beach) then take a footpath into the Mediterranean macchia or shrubland, leading you to a panoramic view point on the Cape Pecora granite headland. This strip of pink granite shaped by wind and water juts out into the blue sea, considered to be the gem of the green coast. Continue along to Portixeddu, a 2.5 km white sand beach famous for surfing which is bordered by dunes, with forests of pines, oaks and junipers offering shelter during hot summer days. After relaxing on the beach return to Portixeddu by a different path.
Today's 18km walk is expected to take about 6 hours and you will ascend 637m and descend 665m
Day 5: Walk From Portopaglia To Portoscuso
Accommodation: Hotel Don Pedro
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today you have a taxi ride of around 1 hour to the ancient fishing village of Porto Paglia. Take time to explore the village before starting today's walk along a very wild and remote coastline. The route you follow is a sandy footpath with stunning views of the cliffs. This walk is not suitable for people who suffer from vertigo, since there are a couple of sections with no railings close to the cliff's edge. The path then winds down to Portoscuso where you spend the night. Portoscuso is home to a 16th century Spanish Tower, the 17th century church of Madona d Itria as well as the famous tuna fishery, all worth a visit.
Today's 12km walk is expected to take about 4 hours and you will ascend 392m and descend 419m
Day 6: Ferry To San Pietro Island, Circular Walk From Carloforte. Ferry And Taxi To Sant Antioco
Accommodation: Il Sentiero B&Bio
Meals Included: Breakfast
First thing you hop on the ferry to the port of Carloforte on neighbouring San Pietro Island. Today's walk starts climbing on a secondary asphalt road towards the north side of the Island, where at the end of May they start the so-called Mattanza, a system of nets that for about 45 days catch tuna fish. Walk back to Carloforte from where you will take the ferry to Calasetta and then a private transfer takes you to the town of Sant Antioco on the island of the same name where you spend the last two nights of this holiday. Once a Phoenician Carthaginian colony, then a Roman city, today Sant Antioco is a charming seaside town. Wonder through the streets and admire the coloured houses, maritime history and impressive churches as well as the working fishing port.
Today's 12km walk is expected to take about 4 hours and you will ascend 379m and descend 379m
Day 7: Drive To Cape Sperone Then Walk Back To Sant Antioco Via Torre Cannai
Accommodation: Il Sentiero B&Bio
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today starts with a short drive to Cape Sperone, from where you walk back to Sant Antioco. During today's walk you pass by the imposing watchtower of Torre Cannai, once the backbone of the medieval defence system. Following on past the watchtower the path takes you to the beautiful beach of Maladroxia, a popular spot for surfers and windsurfers when the Maestrale wind blows (winter and spring). The last part of the walk back to Sant'Antioco town is alongside the asphalt road.
Today's 18km walk is expected to take about 5.5 hours and you will ascend 363m and descend 342m
Day 8: Trip Ends In Sant Antioco
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, the organised part of your holiday comes to an end.
Private transfers are available back to Cagliari Airport (CAG). Please contact our self-guided team for further details.
What's Included
-
Accommodation
-
Meals – Breakfast Only
What's Not Included
Check out our Q&As
-
I'm going on a walking/cycling trip-do I need to train?
It will depend on the grade and how fit you already are. Check the trip page for details of the walking or cycling grade and how far you’ll be walking/cycling each day. For moderate or challenging trips in particular we’d recommend doing some walks or cycles before you leave to build up your fitness and prepare you for the distances being covered.
-
Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
We have a wide range of ages nationalities on our small group trips and they come from all walks of life.
-
Should I get travel insurance?
Yes–it is a condition of booking that you are fully insured when travelling with us
-
How long has the tour company been trading?
At Explore, we're the experts in adventure travel. Our small group adventure holidays have been running since 1981. Today, Explore is one of the most trusted travel companies in the UK with over 500 trips to more than 120 countries.
-
Can I join the tour once it has departed?
Yes, but there are no concessions for doing so, and we must have a record in your booking advising as such before the trip departs.
-
Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
Being a responsible company is a large statement, something that has to be entwined within the very fibre of a company. Discover the charities and partnerships we support as part of this at https://www.explore.co.uk/about/sustainability/charities-and-partners
-
What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
We want to be as clear as and as honest as possible about what happens if you decide to that you no longer wish to travel on your trip. Our booking conditions have details of the costs you’ll incur when you cancel-these charges depend on how long it is before your planned departure.
-
What is the accommodation like?
We choose comfortable accommodation in the best locations possible. We opt for small, local and family-run accommodation where we can, as opposed to large chain hotels. We typically use hotels that are the equivalent of European 3-star, and you’ll usually have an en suite room. Occasionally, where we want to get off the beaten trail we may stay in more basic accommodation.
-
What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Sustainability is embedded within the fibre of Explore, it emanates from the inside out. But as we enter a new decade it is clearer than ever that our world needs help, and Explore has created a sustainability strategy based on the 2015 UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
-
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Our flexible booking and safety policies mean you're protected before and during your travels with us. Receive a full refund if your trip is cancelled, transfer your trip free of charge up to 10 days before departure minus any irrocoverable costs.
-
Do I need to be very fit to book with you?
All our trips require some level of active participation. This could be on a cultural trip, trek, safari, expedition or voyage. It is in the interests of all members of the group that everyone should be capable of fully participating in the activities of their chosen trip.
-
What documents will I receive before I travel?
Final documents will include a comprehensive trip itinerary, climate and country information, budgeting and packing advice visa and passport information and details on optional activities available.
-
Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Yes on most of our trips. Most trips are based on customers sharing twin-bedded rooms. If you book a group trip as an individual, you will share a room with someone of the same sex. However, on many trips we offer the opportunity to pay a supplement to pre-book a single room, known as our single room option. On some trips a single room will be provided every night, on others it will be provided o
-
Do we have to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel
It’s now a condition of booking a trip with us that customers should have one of the following before they travel - — Be vaccinated against COVID, having received the full recommended course, and allowing enough time for immunity to take effect. Full vaccination includes any booster required to keep the vaccine valid. — Have taken a negative test (rapid antigen or PCR) within 72hrs of departure.
-
Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Explore will only offer hotels that have specific COVID-19 protocols in place and comply with local government guidelines. We will ensure these measures include; enhanced room cleaning, ventilation, social distancing, regular cleaning and disinfection of high frequency touch points in public areas, food safety, staff re-training and minimising contact within the properties.
Reviews of this Operator
Book with Confidence
-
Free Date Changes
Explore! allows you to make 1 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 60 days before the start of the tour.
-
Low Deposit
Explore! requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of explore! charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 13 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
Why book with tourhub?
Safe & Secure
Your money is protected in an external trust until you travel.
100% Guaranteed Refunds if your trip is cancelled.
The safest way to make overseas, multi-currency payments.
Guaranteed Best Value
Industry leading discounts, we won't be beaten on price.
No cancellation or amendment fees from tourhub.
(Operator terms may apply)
Expert Knowledge
Reliable & unbiased advice from travel experts.
Direct contact with the tour operator via our messaging service.
Inspiration & advice from a community of 6000+ real travellers, influencers & content creators.
Trusted Service
Official partners & licensed agents of 1000+ tour operators worldwide.
Don't just take our word for it...
"Tourhub: Friendliness, Professionalism & Integrity I would happily give tourhub a 6* review if I could..."