Supramonte Trek, Sardinia

Arrive Olbia before 6pm and transfer to Refuge Monte Maccione above Oliena. You can also choose to travel independently to the refuge if you prefer. You'll meet your local trekking guide and enjoy an evening meal. After supper, you can prepare your kit for the following 5-day journey through the heart of the Supramonte of Sardinia.

Monte Maccione to the Lanaitho valley. Time: 6hrs. Ascent: 600m. Descent: 1000m. Distance: 12km.

We start our adventure with a climb through old holm oak forest to the Scala ‘e Pradu pass at 1227m. Here we see the imposing rampart of cliffs that guard access the Supramonte plateau. We can enjoy breathtaking views of the mountain towns of Nuoro, Orgosolo, and Oliena below us to the west and the wild expanse of limestone mountains which roll eastwards to the sea.

We descend the slopes of Monte Corrasi (Sardinia’s second-highest mountain at 1463m and the Supramonte’s highest) through karstic limestone scenery and into the idyllic and open valley called Lanaitho. It’s easy to see why this well-protected valley has been the site of human habitation since the bronze age. It retains the sensation of entering a land lost from modern time for although there are cultivated olive groves and shepherds graze their goats and cattle here, there are no permanent settlements. Truly a valley that time forgot!

Lanaitho valley to Supramonte of Orgosolo. Time: 7hrs. Ascent: 800m. Descent: 400m. Distance: 11km.

After breakfast, we break camp and continue our journey southwards into the heart of the Supramonte of Orgosolo. We ascend gradually along an old track and climb towards a rocky outcrop which hides the famous Bronze age settlement called Tiscali. This world-famous archaeological site is not to be missed. Guarded well on the prow of a vertiginous limestone face that overlooks the entire Lanaitho valley. We gain access through a narrow cleft in the rock face and traverse an unlikely ledge system. We take the time to visit this important historical site and wonder at what life must have been like for our human forefathers.

We retrace our steps through secret access passage and descend a short way before the final gradual ascent to a wide-open plateau called Campu Donanigoro. This incredible meadow with its wide-open vistas and endless horizons is a perfect spot to relax and soak up these timeless views. There is very little light pollution in this part of Sardinia so the dark night skies and endless horizons make for excellent stargazing. From here we can make a short detour to view one of the biggest limestone sinkholes in Europe called Su Sercone before continuing to our camp for the night high on the Supramonte plateau.

Supramonte of Orgoloso to Sedda Ar Baccas. Time: 5hrs. Ascent: 500m. Descent: 500m. Distance: 10km.

Today we continue northwards skirting the rim of the famous Goroppu Canyon. One of the deepest canyons in all of Europe and an excellent excursion in itself. We'll get a real sense of the expanse and wilderness of the Supramonte and it is not unusual to catch a glimpse of the Sardinian mouflon, an ancient ancestor of the modern sheep, still roaming wild in these parts of Sardinia.

We'll discover beautiful traditional shepherd huts called “cuiles” made from circular stone foundations and with conical rooves made from juniper branches. These huts are used sporadically by local shepherds who still occasionally graze their goats here. Cuiles are excellent places to stop for a rest and soak up the views. After a few hours of walking we enter ancient holm oak forest and in the shade of this protective canopy begin to descent towards the mouth of the Goroppu Gorge. Here we'll pass several well-preserved ruins of towers from the Nuraghic Period a short distance from our route.

We then continue down to the junction of the two main tributaries which feed into Goroppu Gorge at Sa Juntura, a very tranquil spot with unique geological features. Then we make our final climb of the day toward the beautifully restored traditional shepherd's hut where we will spend the night.

Sedda Ar Baccus to Sa Portrisca. Time: 6hrs. Ascent: 600m. Descent: 500m. Distance: 13km.

We retrace our steps slightly towards Goroppu Gorge before taking an old trail eastwards and start to climb again towards Punta Cuccutos which at almost 900m towers over the narrowest part of the gorge and gives imposing views along its length.

We continue climbing along the crest leading towards Monte Su Nercone before descending to the high pass of Genna Silana at 1183m. Here we cross the only asphalt road of our journey and have an opportunity for a rest stop and coffee at the very friendly family run bar here at the col. It’s a famous rest stop for cyclists and trekkers descending to Goroppu Gorge on day trips and where the Giro d’Italia passed by in 2017 (although they didn’t stop for coffee).

After our rest stop, we continue for about one more hour along a very panoramic 4x4 track towards another old shepherd’s hut where we spend the night at Sa Portrisca with our first views out to the sea and the enchanting Orosei coastline.

Sa Portisca to Cala Luna, boat transfer to Cala Gonone. Time: 5hrs trekking. Ascent: 250m. Descent: 800m. Distance: 10km.

We start the day by steeply descending through woodland into the winding gorge which leads toward the sea. In the base of this canyon is a river which, due to the nature of the limestone terrain, only occasionally shows itself above ground. We follow it on its course south and east sometimes accompanied by sparkling pools of crystal clear water and often weaving between boulders and across dry sandy stretches where the water has plunged hidden underground.

The base of the canyon is often wide and host to a wide variety of trees and seasonally flowering plants. We can enjoy the shade from this exotic canopy and from the towering orange and beige striped limestone walls as we are drawn ever closer to the sea at Cala Luna.

Although Cala Luna is one of the Gulf of Orosei's most famous beaches, it is only accessible by foot or by tourist boat. As a result, it is often relatively quiet. A beautiful sweeping curve of fine sand lapped by sparkling crystal clear waters… it’s the perfect place to end our incredible journey. There are caves accessible from the beach to explore and a small restaurant area to relax in before we catch the tourist boat back to Cala Gonone for the early afternoon.

We check into a local hotel (La Favorita or equivalent) for your last two nights in Sardinia. The final day will be at leisure in Cala Gonone so tonight you will say goodbye to your local guide who has shared the last five incredible days with you.

Enjoy a rest day in the beautiful seaside resort of Cala Gonone. There are plenty of activities to enjoy here from swimming to sea-kayaking or an exploration of the stunning Orosei coastline by boat, rock climbing, scuba diving or simply relaxing by the tranquil harbour with an excellent bottle of locally produced wine.

After breakfast at the hotel, our transfer driver will meet you and take you back to Olbia airport. Normally this transfer will arrive at the airport in time for flights from 10am. However, to accommodate those in the group traveling on earlier flights the transfer may need to be brought forward and a packed breakfast can be provided by the hotel.