The north of Sardinia is often identified with Costa Smeralda, however, it is so much more. In fact, Costa Smeralda and its "the billionaire's paradise" reputation are atypical and unique in the whole of Sardinia. The Gallura area (the region that surrounds Costa Smeralda) remains authentic and has preserved much of its old economy and traditions. This contrast of Sardinia's center for contemporary elite tourism and the vast ruggedly traditional area that surrounds it is intriging and will show you just how complex this corner of our island is.
The stages are between 60 and 80km and daily elevations are moderate making this tour approachable for most cyclists. The shorter distances ensure you will have time for exploring the lovely destinations as well as some of the highlights along the way. We will guide you across this misunderstood region on lovley roads that connect special locations with wonderful local food, wine and hospitality. That’s the SardiniaCycling modus operandi.
Arrival in Olbia, transfer to accommodation in Arzachena. Dinner at hotel.
45.6km +33km | 628m +461m | 621m +461m | 5h
A long day that includes the exploration of La Maddalena island and all its treasures. We leave the posh Costa Smeralda, and ride northwards to the small tourist resort of Palau. It is a quick ride on a very panoramic road. From there a ferry will take us to La Maddalena island. We will ride around La Maddalena and its twin island, Caprera. This a magical experience allows us to enjoy not only the incredible views, but also interesting pages from Italian history found at the Garibaldi museum and home, where he lived his last years. We will leave La Maddalena on a ferry back to Palau, and from there one last stretch to Santa Teresa di Gallura. A nice town with a view of Corsica. Overnight in a four-star hotel.
Sardinia has many sub-regions, and Gallura is just one. Today you'll visit another one, Logudoro, which features very different vistas, terrain, food and traditions. We will have officially left Gallura once we reach the spectacular Coghinas lake, which lies at the bottom of a long gradual descent. Lakes, may be common to our visitors from the north, but are relatively rare here in the Mediterranean. Lake Coghinas is the second largest body of fresh water in Sardinia, however it is the beautiful nature that surounds it that makes it truly special.
A mere 5km kilometers from the lake we find the small town of Oschiri. A food stop in the church square makes for a perfect Mediterranean experience. It is all up hill from here, we will cross the lonely mountains of the Logudoro region. This section contains most of the day's climbing and ends in the town of Pattada. The name of this town is synonymous with hand-crafted knives made of iron and deer horn. There are workshops everywhere that you can visit to watch these skilled craftsmen. And why not purchase a souvenir? Accommodation in Pattada in a three-star hotel with breakfast.
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