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- Sardinia
- Epic Sardinia
- The North Sardinia Circle Tour
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All the highlights of north Sardinia in a biking tour.
Join us on an exhilarating biking adventure around the mesmerizing northern end of Sardinia. Beginning in the vibrant town of Olbia, your journey takes you on a thrilling counterclockwise expedition that promises an immersive exploration of the island's diverse landscapes and rich cultural tapestry.
From Olbia, set your wheels in motion towards the picturesque town of Castelsardo, passing through the charming village of Aggius. As you pedal along, the stunning coastal vistas and the rustic charm of the countryside will accompany your every turn. Continuing your
voyage, the route leads westward to the historic marvel of Alghero, offering a delightful blend of medieval heritage and coastal beauty.
Traverse the captivating landscapes as you make your way to Santu Lussurgiu, a tranquil haven that exudes Sardinia's authentic essence, passing through the enchanting town of Bosa. The journey then ventures inland towards Fonni, a mountainous gem that treats you to panoramic views and a taste of the island's rugged, untamed beauty. Regaining the embrace of the eastern coast, the path winds its way to the seaside allure of Cala Gonone, where the azure waters greet you.
The expedition isn't just about the coastal splendor; it delves back into the mountains with a stage to Bitti, to enjoy the last bit of typical inner Sardian hospitality before heading back to where the circle of your adventure completes, encompassing the northern tip of Sardinia. Throughout this 'challenge' level trip, the journey is complemented by exceptional accommodations and delectable meals, offering a blend of comfort and culinary delight to complement your cycling escapade.
Each day of your biking adventure will unravel the island's diverse tapestry, from the seaside panoramas to the mountainous vistas, complemented by the warmth of Sardinian hospitality and the sumptuous flavors of its cuisine. Get ready to pedal through history, nature and culture, embracing the thrill of the journey and the joy of exploration. Pay attention, this trip has a very smart design: for the self guided or private trips, it's in fact possible to make the trip start either from Olbia or Alghero. Or to make a custom and shorter version from Alghero to Olbia, for example.
ITINERARY
Arrival in Olbia, transfer to accommodation in Arzachena. Dinner at a four star hotel.
102.6km | 1,741m | 1,745m | 4,30h
From Costa Smeralda, riding along the hills of northern Sardinia, and passing through the famous landscapes of the Aggius valley, you come to the medieval town of Castelsardo. This is a very well preserved historical city, thanks to the fact that it’s perched atop a promontory high above the sea that has protected it from attacks and destruction over the centuries. Today, Castelsardo is a well-known tourist destination with all the services imaginable available for you. There’s a marina and beautiful beaches and small inlets perfect for a pleasant summer holiday. But rituals and traditions such as the famous Festa di Lunissanti mark the everyday life of the town, characterized by the industrious work of basket-weavers, fishermen, and farmers. You’ll love it! Accommodation in a four-star hotel.
Accommodation: 4-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
102.3km | 736m | 728m | 4h
Alghero is another medieval town, and an extremely interesting one. And that's your destination today. This time you ride westwards on the beautiful coastal road very close to the beautiful and outstretched beaches of the Asinara Gulf. Some kilometers after Porto Torres, the main industrial settlement in the north, you change direction and ride southwards. Before arriving in Alghero, you can take in the magical views offered by the Argentiera and the Porto Conte Regional Park as well as enjoy Capo Caccia, a protected the marine area. This is a stage with a lot to see! Accommodation in a four star hotel.
Accommodation: 4-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
84.6m | 1,960m | 1,457m | 5h
On this stage, you’ll experience the special connection between the coastline and mountains in Sardinia. You start from Alghero and ride south to Bosa on one of the most renowned coastal roads on Sardinia. The medieval village here is one of the best preserved on the island. And it’s worth visiting. Enjoy an unforgettable ride through the narrow streets and stop for a quick meal in the heart of this old town. It's simply special. Bosa is the place where you leave the sea behind you. A long climb into the inner mountains of western Sardinia takes you to the historical city of Santu Lussurgiu. A Sardinian traditional dinner awaits us. Accommodation and dinner in a three star hotel.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast | Dinner
97.7km | 1,969m | 1,494m | 4h
This is a real mountain stage. It takes you up to the highest mountain village in Sardinia. After 30 km, you enter the wildest area of Sardinia, called Barbagia. This region is considered the heart of the island, for thousands of years it is here Sardinians took refuge from the invasions of other mediterranean cultures, and an area where tradition and true Sardinian pride live on. You can almost breathe it and you shouldn’t miss it. Here, you ride through very small villages such as Neoneli, famous for the Neoneli’s tenors. This is a male quartet which sings the so called 'Su cantu a tenòre', a style of polyphonic folk singing characteristic of the Barbagia region and today it's a proud member of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The more you climb, the deeper you get into Sardinian tradition. For instance, you pass through Tonara, a village famous for the production of delicious Torrone nougat. Sardinian nougat is known and loved by many for its delicious taste and top-quality natural ingredients. Fortunately, you will need some extra calories at this stage of the trip. From Tonara we climb up Tascusì pass topping out at 1250m. Your legs will get a well earned respite on the descent before the last hill on the way to Fonni, where we overnight. Accommodation in a three star hotel.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
95.3km | 1,531m | 2,505m | 4,50h
Leaving Fonni, we ride southwards and soon we climb over Correboi pass (1250m) and head down a long descent on a quiet and panoramic road that will take us briefly out of the Barbagia region. As we approach to the very wild Ogliastra mountains we bend decidedly towards the coastline and after a lovely up and down section, we take another super long and winding descent with a spectacular view of the southeastern coastline. It is impossible to go quick here: every hairpin calls for a photo! The small town of Talana is a good opportunity for a coffee stop before we turn left and ride towards the SS125, the ancient and iconic road that once was the only connection between south and northeast. Now we have quicker roads to do the job, and the SS125 is a cyclists paradise. You'll discover why. At the end of another long descent on the SS125, we find our destination: the tourist resort of Cala Gonone. Time to take a swim! Accommodation in a four-star hotel.
Accommodation: 4-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
65.7km | 1,485m | 879m | 4h
There's a spectacular way to get out of the Cala Gonone cove, however, as in life, the best things seldom come easy. We need to climb up a steep old road carved into the white limestone. After this tuff start your legs will get some time to recover. We will cross the SS125 again on our way to Galtellì. A stop here is like looking back in time. Galtellì has been awarded the Touring Club Italiano’s orange flag rating for excellence. The streets of the old town centre, its traditions and sensations helped inspire Nobel Prize winning author Grazia Deledda when she wrote her book Canne al Vento. Quite soon after Galtellì we encounter the main climb of the day before passing through two typical Sardinian villages Lula and Orani. Shortly after Orani we will reach the daily destination: Bitti. Dinner and overnight at a four-star hotel.
Accommodation: 4-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast | Dinner
117.3km | 1,567m | 2,168m | 5h
Hopefully your smartphone's memory card still has some space left, as today will give you plenty of great photo opportunities. You ride to the north to close the Circle. Right from the beginning the scenery is gorgeous: you'll ride along the very large limestone and extraordinarily white range of Monte Albo. Many of the peaks of the limestone bastion are over a thousand metres high; Mediterranean scrub is all around and evergreen. After a long descent, you'll find the valley of the Torpè lake. Contained within a the Tepilora Regional Nature Park: almost eight thousand hectares of unspoilt forests, trails, springs, rivers and ‘dunes’. After some more hilly roads the final descent, of this challenging and unforgettable tour, brings you to Olbia. Overnight at a four-star hotel.
Accommodation: 4-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Transfer to Olbia Costa Smeralda airport and end of services.
Start: Olbia
End: Olbia
Accommodation
Handpicked hotels
Enjoy our personally selected range of authentic Sardinian accommodation. We propose you to stay in ancient restored villas with in the medieval town, beautiful seaside hotels with views over turquoise seas, farmhouses in the quiet countryside where families are still producing cheese and fresh pasta. This diverse experience brings together the beauty of ancient, historic Sardinia, the rustic side of the island and the contemporary and more tourism-influenced offering.
Food
Eat like locals
Indulging in local cuisine in Sardinia transcends mere sustenance; it forges a profound connection to the ancient roots of this land. If food serves as a narrative of a region, Sardinian cuisine eloquently speaks of its deep ties to sheep farming and agriculture, contrary to the common misconception that it predominantly revolves around fishing.
Sardinia showcases an array of pasta varieties, delectable ravioli, and a pervasive presence of cheeses spanning various stages of aging. Meat was once reserved for special occasions but has now become a staple, with renowned meat dishes available at any time.
Whether traversing the east, west coasts, inland areas, or the southern and northern regions, each locale offers distinct culinary experiences. Embarking on a biking tour provides an opportunity to blend cycling with the exploration of these culinary treasures. The indulgence may add some extra calories, but the following day offers a chance to burn them off.
Our best picks for this tour
As we have one of the largest and best bike fleets in Italy, we are proud to give our guests the freedom to choose the bike that suits them best.
Traversing Gennargentu:
A trip in space and time.
The Gennargentu massif, a majestic mountain range situated in the heart of Sardinia, Italy, captivates the imagination with its rugged beauty and rich ecological tapestry. Towering over the landscape, the Gennargentu massif is the highest mountain range on the island, forming a formidable backbone that spans approximately 25 kilometers from north to south.
The Gennargentu massif is not only a geographical landmark but also a repository of Sardinia's cultural and historical heritage. Ancient shepherding traditions endure in the mountain villages, and festivals celebrating local folklore and craftsmanship breathe life into the region.
Travel arrangements
We suggest the following arrival an departure locations and the earlier flights will help us arranging transfers or other services like bike rental formalities, bike fitting and all services that are provided individually.
Sardinia Cycling arranges group transfers from and to the closest airport for the trip: Olbia. Individual transfers can be also planned and the cost might depend from the departure or arrival location, from the transfer time and it can also be influenced by the presence of bulky luggage, like a bike case.
Other transport option is public transport. About this last opportunity, we suggest you using Google Maps and select 'public transport' from and to your selected destination. In any case, we're ready to help you selecting the quicker, smoother and most cost effective solution.
Food & Drinks during stages
During the rides on a guided trip we plan at least one longer food stop in the middle of the stage plus one or more coffee stops. In the assistance van we have bars, gels and water.
On a self guided trip there are chances to find in the villages mostly bars or small markets where get fresh water, drinks or sandwiches. Possible stops are marked in our maps so to help you planning your day.
Necessary Gear
Our guests will get a pre tour info kit that gives useful suggestions on how to enjoy our trips in full. Here is a quick selection that might be useful at this stage.
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We suggest renting a bike with us. But feel free to bring your own bike. Just consider bringing along a selection of model specific spare parts (ie. derailleur hangers).
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The hotels have a room for the bikes, and we will have a selection of tools to perform basic maintenance.
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Bring along a wide selection of clothes, including some full arm jackets, rain coat, leg and arm warmers, overshoes: it's the Alps and the weather is never completely predictable.
