Welcome to Sardinia!

Alghero airport sits just minutes from this historic town. Once you've settled into your hotel, our guide will help you fine-tune your bike fit.

You'll then have plenty of time to wander the streets of the old town, enjoy an aperitivo as the sun sets behind Capo Caccia, and savor a traditional dinner at one of the area's celebrated restaurants.

The road from Alghero to Bosa is no ordinary coastal road. For over 42 kilometers it clings to the coastline in a continuous, demanding saliscendi, climbing and descending through more than 800 meters of elevation gain — a road that rewards every bit of effort it asks for.

What sets it apart is its sheer wildness: this is one of the last stretches of Sardinian coast left almost entirely untouched by human presence, with no villages, no buildings, nothing but rock, sea and sky for kilometer after kilometer.

Along the way, a stop at the Capo Marargiu belvedere adds yet another layer of natural drama, overlooking the sanctuary of one of Europe's last colonies of griffon vultures. It is, without question, one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the world — but also one of the most uncompromising.

The effort is rewarded in Bosa, Sardinia's only river town, where the historic center — a maze of narrow lanes beneath the Malaspina castle — is best explored on foot before the day's ride continues. Leaving Bosa toward Cuglieri, look back one last time: the postcard view of the colorful houses and the castle rising above the river is one of the most photographed scenes in all of Sardinia. From here, the stage begins its long climb averaging 5.9%, rewarded by sweeping views back over the colorful houses and the Castello Malaspina.

We turn away from the coast and climb into the mountains of the Montiferru region, passing through a string of tiny villages — Modolo, Tinnura, Tresnuraghes, Sagama and Scano di Montiferro — each barely a few hundred souls, where rural traditions and a slower pace of life remain untouched by time. The last major village before the summit is Cuglieri, home to the Basilica di Santa Maria della Neve, which you will see long before you reach the town.

From Cuglieri, a long climb in the shadow of an oak forest leads you towards Santu Lussurgiu, a medieval village that is the perfect example of the culture, hospitality, gastronomic traditions and quality of life inland Sardinia has to offer — and where you'll stay overnight.

From the medieval village of Santu Lussurgiu, tucked in the hills of the Montiferru, the road descends toward Lake Omodeo, the starting point for our climb into the Gennargentu range.

Tackled from its western side, the ascent is long but gentle and progressive, never punishing, as it winds through a string of small inland villages perfect for a coffee stop or a quick sandwich along the way.

As we gain altitude, the mountains begin to reveal themselves, and we enter a countryside where nature — not the clock — sets the pace of life. The road continues to weave upward through the pristine green forests of Barbagia, Sardinia's wildest and most authentic heartland.

Arriving in Belvì, one of the island's few true centers of mountain tourism, there's nothing left to do but earn your dinner: a hearty local meal, a glass of the region's robust red wine, and a well-deserved night's rest at the hotel.

A pure mountain day!

We cross the Gennargentu range from its heart toward its southern edge, reaching the ancient village of Orroli. Heading south, we soon pass through Gadoni and are welcomed by a wonderful descent full of hairpin turns that leads down to the Flumendosa river, which we admire from high above, riding across a spectacular bridge spanning the very gorge the river carved over millennia — a truly majestic sight!

This stretch of road then climbs into the Addolì forest before dropping down toward Lake Flumendosa on an exhilarating descent, on perfect tarmac and with the lake in full view the whole way.

One last climb brings us to our destination, Orroli. Before calling it a day, there's time to visit the Nuraghe Arrubiu, adding a touch of culture and millennia-old history to a stage in which nature was, above all, the true protagonist.

This stage is one of the jewels of the tour — an unforgettable, must-ride day, and one that plunges you into the wildest, most exploratory side of Sardinia.

After a bit of descending, we begin a long climb toward the top of Monte Santa Vittoria, passing through the small town of Esterzili. From there, after a few kilometers in the shade of a beautiful pine forest, we connect to one of the most iconic roads in Sardinia: the Montarbu road.

Once an important link between the island's traditional inland areas, it's now used mainly by shepherds and cyclists, drawn by the sheer, moving beauty of its views. It's 30 kilometers deep in the wild — a stretch our groups tend to ride at a progressively slower pace, reluctant to let this natural spectacle end too soon.

Most of the riding sits above 900 meters, in one of the wildest corners of the island, one of the few places left where you can experience the countryside without a single trace of human presence. It's the perfect appetizer before a well-earned dinner and a comfortable night's sleep at a lovely hotel in the lush mountains of the Ogliastra region.

After four days in the mountains, we meet the sea again on the east coast of Sardinia. Chances are you've been missing the island's incomparable coastline — today you'll be rewarded, and richly so. The first stretch of the stage is a relaxing ride through the Supramonte of Talana, still within the boundaries of the National Park.

A Supramonte is a mountainous complex, subdivided according to the municipal territories it spans — by definition an uninhabited, wild landscape. In Sardinia, the word has become synonymous with untouched nature, precisely because of its harsh, remote character.

It's a paradise for us cyclists: kilometres of quiet roads through primordial scenery, with barely another soul in sight. We ride through this wilderness until we reach the famous Belvedere Madonna della Pace, one of the most celebrated viewpoints on the island. It's well worth taking advantage of the benches here to admire both sea and mountains from nearly 1,000 metres of altitude.

Then comes the day's last surprise: a fun, scenic descent leading into the long flat stretch that carries us down to the coast. We spend the night in Arbatax, a lively fishing harbour where the sea is never far from the table. It's the perfect place to rediscover the flavours of Sardinian seafood — freshly caught fish, spaghetti with bottarga or sea urchins — paired with a glass of local white wine, well earned after a day in the saddle.

Another ride on an iconic Sardinian road, the SS125. It was once the only route connecting the northern and southern halves of the island.

Its winding character, and the impossibility of adapting it to modern traffic demands, eventually forced the construction of faster alternatives — a stroke of luck for us cyclists, who get to enjoy its endless curves, hairpin bends and high-altitude ups and downs all to ourselves.

The views are just as striking, including a glimpse of Gorropu, one of the deepest canyons in Europe. The Supramonte of Baunei is defined by limestone rock hosting typical Mediterranean vegetation.

After a medium-length climb at the start of the stage, the road levels out for a while before leading into the tour's final ascent. Fortunately, it comes with a gentle gradient, leaving plenty of breath to admire the majestic rock formations of this part of Sardinia. From here, it's all downhill — a 25 km descent into Cala Gonone, to be exact.

Time to celebrate the end of an unforgettable trip, with an overnight stay right next to the beach.

Transfer to Olbia airport (when included in the package). End of services — and, we like to believe, the beginning of new friendships. Eight remarkable and varied days, nearly 500 km, and a journey through the many faces of Sardinia: from medieval villages to the timeless charm of the inland, weaving together the island's interior with some of the most spectacular coastal roads in the Mediterranean.