Prepare to be seduced by Sardinia! This beautiful island is loved for its white sandy beaches and deep turquoise seas that are found dotted among the rugged cliffs of some 1800Km of coastline – the perfect setting to relax and enjoy an authentic taste of Mediterranean life and delicious cuisine.
Sardinia might not be the first place you think of for a cycling holiday, but our Skedaddle Italia team has been based on the island for over 20 years and, as you can imagine, we’re a little bit hooked on the riding here! The best thing about cycling in Sardinia is the varied landscape. Head inland away from the coast and you’ll discover a surprisingly wild and rugged heart to the island with cork oak clad hills and mountains. The roads are peaceful, serving up incredible views at almost every turn, and there are endless trails to explore if you enjoy mountain biking or gravel riding. Whether you prefer an adventure off the beaten track or want to stick to the coastal areas, there’s something here for everyone.
Road cycling in Sardinia
Road cycling in Sardinia is sublime. The smooth tarmac roads are generally quiet and there aren’t many urbanised areas to pedal through. Our two favourite routes are moderately challenging with a nice balance between occasional climbs and undulating roads where you can relax a little and soak in the views.
Our Coastal Explorer tour begins in Alghero and takes you all the way down the southwest coast of Sardinia. The riding begins with roller-coaster roads over high cliff tops and past secluded bays. We’ll head inland briefly to explore the forested Montiferru mountains before continuing south towards the marshlands of Cabras and the spectacular Sinis Peninsula. Sardinia’s Costa Verde, part of the macchia mediterranea, along the south-west treats us to sweeping unspoilt beaches against a backdrop of juniper and myrtle trees. The final day of riding is a real treat with incredible coastal cliffs, ancient towers and views out to an emerald ocean. Our final destination is a charming colourful town called Pula.
For a taste of everything this beautiful island has to offer, you can ride Coast to Coast from Montevecchio on the west to Bari Sardo on the east coast. Pedalling deep into the rural heart of Sardinia you’ll discover olive groves and vineyards, fascinating archaeological sites and lush green oak woods covering a spectacular mountain landscape – the highest range in Sardinia. The geography here alternates from barren mountains to limestone and canyon-like peaks, with livestock roaming freely. Pedalling on, our route passes through Nuoro Province – the first identified ‘Blue Zone’ where the highest concentration of people live to be over 100. We recommend sampling the delicious homemade pasta and wine of this region and who knows, maybe you’ll learn a few secrets to longevity!
Leisure cycling
Exploring Sardinia by bike is a brilliant way to enjoy an active yet relaxing holiday here. The quiet roads are beckoning to be explored and, if you know where to go, then you can find gorgeous coastal lanes overlooking sandy beaches and remote coves.
Food and wine lovers must explore the beautiful southwest corner of Sardinia. Our Island Flavours tour is a journey for the senses with the opportunity to stop and visit wineries, farms, traditional bakeries, fisheries and olive oil mills. The route combines undulating country lanes and coastal roads, stopping at B&Bs, quality agriturismi and small hotels along the way. Again, you have the option to hire an electric bike, should you prefer a pedal assist along the way.
Mountain Biking
Sardinia might not be on your riding radar but there are some very good reasons why it should be. The rugged mountains are criss-crossed with amazing trails but, unlike mainland Italy, you’ll often find you have them all to yourself. If you love riding off into the wilderness on your bike, then there are plenty of adventures to be found in Sardinia. Oh, and did we mention the idyllic views, mediterranean weather and incredible food and wine?
These are our two favourite routes for mountain bikers:
Our off-road Coast to Coast route travels from west to east along remote mountain roads, dirt tracks and fun singletrack trails. The riding is not overly technical but there are plenty of climbs along the way. Your efforts are rewarded with incredible views in the Gennargentu Mountains and the “Tacchi” of Ogliastra – shoe heel shaped limestone mountains. If you opt to go on a self-guided tour, then you could hire an eMTB for a boost up those cheeky hills.
Island Traverse is our electric mountain biking tour riding down the east coast of the island from La Caletta to Costa Rei. With a backdrop of breathtaking coastal views, high rugged mountains and fun singletrack through dense forest, we soon find ourselves in the wildest area of Sardinia – the Supramonte di Dorgali with its soaring limestone peaks. Our route heads out to the coast once more passing lagoons with pink flamingos and arriving with plenty of time to enjoy a sea dip in the crystal-clear waters of Costa Rei.
Gravel Riding
Sardinia is growing in popularity as a gravel riding destination thanks to its variety of trails, spectacular wilderness and idyllic climate. The trails aren’t always easy to find though and unless you know where you’re going you mind find yourself riding towards a dead end or riding down rocky tracks that are more suited to a mountain bike.
Our Cape to Cape route showcases the best of Sardinian gravel riding in the southwest of the island. We cover a mix of everything from sandy clifftop trails and countryside dirt roads through rolling hills, to fun singletrack and exhilarating mountain descents. The route takes us past endless beautiful views and there’s lots of exciting wildlife to spot along the way including, flamingos, ospreys, cranes and wild horses. Few tourists head into the rural heart of Sardinia so if you love an adventure off the beaten track then this holiday is for you!
Food and drink – a cycling journey for the taste buds
The Mediterranean cuisine in Sardinia is quite distinctive and each region boasts its own traditional recipes. Pasta dishes include fregola (often called ‘giant cous cous’) maloreddus alla campidanses (‘Sardinian gnocchi’), and culugiones – a kind of stuffed pasta with fillings that vary between each village on the island. One of Sardinia’s most famous pasta dishes is actually a desert. Sas seadas are fried ravioli filled with soured fresh cheese and lemon and drizzled with honey.
Sardinia has a number of native grapes that produce some amazing wines. Carignano is a red or rose that you’ll find in Sulcis in the South of the island. Cannonau red wine is popular across Sardinia. And for white wine lovers, chilled Vermentino is the perfect pre-dinner drink or accompaniment to fish. Another popular drink is mirto liqueur made from myrtle berries.
