Sardinia - Island Flavours - Self-Guided Leisure Cycling Holiday
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Tel : +47 22413030 | Epost :[email protected]| Web :www.reisebazaar.no Karl Johans gt. 23, 0159 Oslo, Norway Italy - Sardinia - Island Flavours - Self-Guided Leisure Cycling Holiday Turkode Destinasjoner Turen starter 42543 Italia Cagliari Turen destinasjon Reisen er levert av 8 dager Pula Fra : NOK Oversikt Sardinia’s south-west corner is brimming with unrivalled views and fantastic flavours, and there's no better way to discover this beautiful region than by bike! Reiserute Day 1: Arrival into Cagliari Airport - Transfer to Villanovaforru Day 2: Loop Ride – Marmilla and Barumini Day 3: Villanovaforru to Arbus Day 4: Arbus to Nebida Day 5: Nebida to St Pietro Island and St Antioco Island Day 6: St Antioco to Teulada Day 7: Teulada to Pula Day 8: Departure From Pula - Transfer to Cagliari Airport Detailed road books and maps will take you along a route that combines undulating country lanes and coastal roads, allowing you plenty of time to explore, whilst your luggage is transferred from place to place. Long sunny days allow for a gently-paced cycling holiday, giving you plenty of time to fully immerse yourself in this enchanting island. Sardinia is passionate about its production of organic foods and the island is bursting with intense flavours; cheeses, wines, countless varieties of bread, cured meats, saffron, juicy fruits and much more. Your cycling holiday will take you on a journey of flavours, giving you plenty of opportunity to stop and visit wineries, farms, traditional bakeries, fisheries and olive oil mills. Throw in the delicious aroma of fresh Mediterranean herbs that will accompany your cycling, and you'll have a true journey of the sense. If you would prefer to join a group of cyclists on one of our scheduled dates, we also offer a fully guided version of this trip, or if you have a day or two to spare why not extend your trip with some trekking or sea kayaking. Our local team can join you for a day’s guiding or we can provide the information and equipment to allow you to enjoy the routes self-guided, just give us a call for further info. Day 1: Arrival into Cagliari Airport - Transfer to Villanovaforru (D) Following your arrival into Cagliari, we’ll transfer you to your accommodation in the village of Villanovaforru (approx 1 hour). The rest of the day can be spent organising bikes and going through your route notes ahead of your week of cycling to come, before enjoying a delicious meal prepared by your host. Day 2: Loop Ride – Marmilla and Barumini (B, D) Leaving your accommodation, you’ll start the day with a gentle descent to the lower plains of the Marmilla, a hilly region which extends from the outskirts of Cagliari towards Oristano. Since Roman times, this fertile part of the island has been the centre for growing cereal, as well as olives and grapes. Today, bread making in this region still follows ancient recipes, with outstanding results! Cycling inland, you’ll head towards the Giara, a high volcanic plateau, populated by hundreds of wild horses. Nestled below it are the villages of Tuili and Barumini. Allow plenty of time to stop and visit the impressive Nuragic complex of Barumini. Built in the Bronze Age, around the 15th century BC, this complex fortress and its surrounding village demonstrate an architectural feat; massive basalt blocks of rock, built up into three storey towers, internal staircases, outlook posts, courtyards and even an ancient sauna! Riding on you can make a short stop to admire the rose window of the charming granite Church of St Maria, before cycling past the remains of the 12th century Castello di Marmilla, perched on a hill beside the hamlet of Las Plassas. From here you’ll head back towards Villanovafforru, cycling through rustic towns. Be sure to stop at the Enoteca winery, where you can sample some of Sardinia’s finest wines, and regain your energy for the last stretch back to your hotel in Villanovafforru. Approx. distance: 34 Miles / 55 Kms Day 3: Villanovaforru to Arbus (B, D) Leaving the hills behind, you will venture down to the Campidano Plain, the biggest of the island, making your first stop in the town of Sardara. Its proximity to a hot spring and the quality of its fresh water, has made Sardara and its famed well a sacred area since ancient times. Believed by the Nuragic people to have healing properties, it’s well worth a visit! Cycling on across the plain, you will pass the hot spring area just below the Castle of Monreale. From here, Pabillonis is your next stop, famous for the production of saffron. Make sure you stop at one of the bakeries to try some delicious Sardinian cakes filled with saffron-scented paste. Heading westward, Gonnosfanadiga is nestled below the rocky eastern spurs of the Iglesiente region and is known for its olives and olive oil. Leaving the plain it’s time to get into a smaller gear as you head back into the hills, just below Mt Linas, making your way to your accommodation, a delightful agriturismo offering legendary home made pasta, home-cured meats, cheeses and of course olive oil, with wine included. What better way to round off a fantastic day in the saddle? Approx. distance: 31 Miles / 50 Kms Day 4: Arbus to Nebida (B, D) Leaving the agriturismo today you’ll cycle towards the coast. The day starts with an incredible 15 km descent, with spectacular mountain views surrounding you. Cycling along the beautiful sandy beach of Portixeddu, you’ll have time to stop for a swim before continuing your cycle south. The lesser-visited hamlet of Buggerru, once a thriving mining coastal town, now survives mainly on fishing and so with fresh fish being brought into the small port daily, it’s the perfect place to stop for lunch and enjoy some fresh, local delicacies. In Buggerru you’ll have the chance to visit one of the coastal mines, Galleria Henry, which has been opened to the public as part of an Industrial Archaeological itinerary of this fascinating mining area. If interested, let your Rep know at the beginning of the trip so a visiting time can be arranged. Jumping back on your bike, the road will take you along the remote coastal route towards the towering limestone cliffs of Masua, a free climber’s heaven. Your accommodation and dinner will be in Nebida, an unforgettable village perched on the cliffside offering mesmerising views of the Mediterranean sea. Approx. distance: 31 Miles / 50 Kms Day 5: Nebida to St Pietro Island and St Antioco Island (B) From Nebida you’ll continue south down the coast, leaving the rugged limestone behind and heading towards the lower lands and the islands of St Pietro and St Antioco. Giving your legs a rest, you’ll catch a ferry first to the island of St Pietro, where you’ll discover a new landscape and culture from those you’ve experienced so far. The town of Carloforte on the island was founded by the coral fishers of Genoa, who moved to the island from Tunisia where they had lived since the middle of the 16th century. This influence is felt in the architecture on the island as well as the cuisine. With its pastel coloured houses set along narrow cobbled lanes, this makes it an interesting place to pootle around, maybe stopping for a fine meal at one of the town’s delicious fish restaurants. Don’t miss the island’s famous fresh tuna! Since ancient times, fishermen have awaited the arrival of schools of tuna that stream by along the same route, not far from the islands. Another short ferry journey will take you across to the island of St Antioco, where a short ride will take you Calasetta town and your accommodation. Approx. distance: 31 Miles / 50 Kms Day 6: St Antioco to Teulada (B) It is worth spending a few hours to wander and visit some of the hidden archaeological sites of St Antioco. The development of the area in fact goes back to the Nuragic times, but only truly thrived when the Phoenicians founded it as “Sulcis” in 259 BC. Worth a visit is the Punic Necropolis and Thophet, as well as the Catacombs below the Church of St Antioco. Leaving the island by the causeway across the bay of Palmas, you’ll carry on cycling towards the Sulcis mountains, riding through the fertile gentle hills around Trattalias and Santadi. As you cycle past vineyard after vineyard, it will become obvious that you are entering the wine region of Santadi. Here you’ll have the chance to try out some of the local wines at the Cantine di Santadi winery. 5 kms south of Santadi, the carsic caves of Is Zuddas are one of the island’s many spectacular natural sculpture museums. From here the road winds its way 13 kms to Teulada, passing some remote farming hamlets and at points affording some great views across the south coast. Approx. distance: 40 Miles / 64 Kms Approx. Day 7: Teulada to Pula (B) Your final day’s riding will take you along a roller coaster road towards Pula, your final destination for this trip. The Costa del Sud is a wonderful 20 km spectacle of twisting, turning road above rugged cliffs that plunge into the deep blue sea. There are many outlook points and small sandy coves to stop and enjoy the sea. Cala Tuerredda is one of the most stunning beaches along this coast, protected by two impressive promontories and with emerald blue waters it’s like something out of a picture book.