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- Epic Sardinia
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Days: 8 | -
Departure: Bari Sardo | - Return: Cala Gonone |
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Level: Challenge | -
Fly in: Cagliari | -
Fly out: Cagliari
Our Route
Total distance and elevation
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429.7km ...... -
11,369m
Day 1: Welcome to Sardinia
Arrival at Cagliari airport and transfer to Bari Sardo. Accommodation at four-star hotel and welcome dinner.
Accommodation:
4-star hotel
Meals:
Breakfast, dinner
Day 2: From Barisardo to Jerzu
The trip begins from the lovely beach of Bari Sardo and after a few kilometers on flat we start our climb towards Jerzu, our destination, and a small town that recalls the taste of red Cannonau wine in the mouth of the wine experts. The first part of the stage climbs up on slopes that are surrounded by these east-facing vineyards. The mediterranean chaparral made of small bushes will give way to trees and eventually forests as we approach Jerzu and Ulassai. Ulassai is a great spot for lunch or a refreshing stop. We keep riding across the ancient village of Osini, flooded in the 50s and frozen in time since then: it's now a quite interesting ghost village. From there, some kilometres on dirt roads and a few on single track in the woods of the Natural Park of the Ogliastra peaks, plus a climb through the natural monument of Scala San Giorgio - a deep canyon carved in the sandstone - that stands between us and our overnight location: a small family-run hotel in the mountains with an amazing view on the mountain we'll be climbing across over the next days. Accommodation and dinner at a 3-star hotel.
Distance: 48.3km
Elevation gain: 1,414m
Riding terrain: hilly
Riding time: 4h
Accommodation:
3-star hotel
Meals:
Breakfast, dinner
Day 3: From Jerzu to Seui
We promised wilderness, and that what you get on this day. Two small dots in the mountains connected by a 50km long winding line that crosses protected forests, peaks, old train lines and natural monuments. We leave the hotel and soon ride inside the Ogliastra Peaks park, leaving behind us the last traces of Mediterranean vegetation and entering inner Sardinia and one of its most famous and largest forests: Montarbu. It's a 2800 hectares, state-owned, territory, since 1980 wildlife reserve, that includes monumental olm oaks and it's home to fallow deer and mouflons. The golden eagle, the goshawk, the cinereous vulture, the peregrine falcon, the griffon vulture, the kite, the buzzard and the Eurasian sparrowhawk fly overhead. Could we be missing it? From the highest point of this mountain bikers paradise we descend and approach our overnight location. A small, family run agriturismo situated in this amazing setting. Is there something that we can add to a glorious day on the bike? While you might answer no, we in the heart of one of the most ancient European regions, so yes, sure: a visit to the very interesting Nuraghe Ardasai, a 3000 year old monument just a few hundred meters for the agriturismo. Dinner and overnight at the agriturismo.
Distance: 49.1km
Elevation gain: 1,446m
Riding terrain: hilly
Riding time: 4.30h
Accommodation:
At Agriturismo
Meals:
Breakfast, dinner
Day 4: From Seui to Belvì
We ride southwards for a few kilometers, up and down along the lonely peaks of the Gennargentu range. But after about 15km we start a long descent and lose about 700m elevation leading to segment covered by the shade of a dense dark forest. This forest is huge asset to the island, offering the ideal habitat for much of the autochtonous Sardinian wildlife. Soon we come to another vital element for the island: the Flumendosa river, the biggest and most important waterway, stretching 127km, it provides all the southern part of the island with drinkable water that it collects from the Gennargentu mountains. The descent ends in a canyon carved by the river. After crossing the river we begin to climb and regain much of the elevation we lost as we get close to our destination: the little mountain town of Belvì. We get there only after riding on an amazing bit of single track that bends around the natural monument of Meseddu de Texile. Belvì is a tiny village that specialises in the production of mountain food and robust red wine: one of the secrets that make the life expectancy so long here. While we are here we will try to discover the others. We can start our research right after the stage: why not start by tasting some fresh made nougat a specialty of Belvì? Accommodation and dinner at a 3-star hotel in town.
Distance: 45.4km
Elevation gain: 1,318m
Riding terrain: hilly
Riding time: 4h
Accommodation:
3-star hotel
Meals:
Breakfast, dinner
Day 5: From Belvì to Fonni
We can't say we've crossed Gennargentu until we ride up one of its tallest mountains. This is the plan on stage four of the Traverse. Leaving Belvì behind, before long we reach its sister town of Aritzo and soon after a short to climb towards the Tascusì pass. We get to the mountain pass riding into a wild valley inside the Girgini forest, another very interesting protected forest. From the mountain pass we begin one of the nicest adventures that mountain biking on this island can offer: going over the top of Bruncu Spina, over 1830m ASL. We get there from the south west side, along the remains of the La Marmora refuge, a mountain hut once dedicated to the Piedmontese explorer Alberto La Marmora. There's quite nothing left of the building, but from that very point we take a trail that will take us up top. We're sure you will, as it happens to us everytime we ride there, feel small as we ride up this majestic mountain without a trace of human presence. It's a mix of feelings: you want to quickly get up and over to the other side; but, at the same time, it is such a nice ride that you don't want the stage to end. Once on top, with clear skies, we'll have an amazing 360 view, including the sea to the east and west. From there, a nice section of single track will lead us to a dirt road and eventually to the accommodation in Fonni at three-star hotel.
Distance: 51,9km
Elevation gain: 1,684 m
Riding terrain: hilly
Riding time: 5h
Accommodation:
3-star hotel
Meals:
Breakfast
Day 6: From Fonni to Orgosolo
This is on of the longer stages of the trip - 55 km - and because of this great opportunity to experience the incredibly varied land morphology, vegetation, and wildlife. A day that makes us agree with a past advertising of the island's tourist board saying the island is like a continent. We leave the agriturismo and ride up in the same direction we came from on stage four, but we soon divert and go down a deep canyon to ride some single track, this leads to a dirt road that takes us to the east, towards the mountains of the very wild 'Supramonte of Urzulei'. This is a very peculiar area, characterized by Karstic highlands through which rivers have created deep ravines and canyons. The Supramonte range is subdivided into areas each named for a town or village. Theentire range is a harsh environment for living, but a paradise for mountain biking. In the prehistory (when shepherds didn't drive a pick up truck to go work), they were more densely populated, now they're kingdom for sheep, goats, shepherds (a thing that centuries can't change)... and the most recent addition us mountain bikers. In the middle of the stage we enter the Montes primary forest, as the junipers lgive way to a 4500 hectares centuries-old holm oak forest, unique in the Mediterranean basin for its size and characteristics. We enjoy riding under the shade of these giant threes for a while, until we get to our destination: Orgosolo. There is much to say about this iconic town, but even a quick Google search will reveal that the town is world famous for its amazing mural painings. Muralism, is still active and at the origin it was a tool of protest. Little lanes and stone houses are enriched by beautiful paintings, which have made the village internationally known. Many artists have contributed to the creation of a real outdoor museum: hundreds of murals color the streets and tell the stories of traditions, culture and deep dissent. Bars and cafes, in conjunction with the typical local hospitality, make a visit in town not only interesting, but also deeply enjoyable. Accommodation at a 3-star hotel in town.
Distance: 55.8km
Elevation gain: 1,090m
Riding terrain: hilly
Riding time: 5h
Accommodation:
3-star hotel
Meals:
Breakfast
Day 7: From Orgosolo to Cala Gonone
The longest stage of the Traverse will take us back to the sea and it does it in a spectacular way. The first part of the ride allows us to once more explore the Montes forest, while we ride southwards on the Supramonte di Oliena. The biggest challenge in designing this tour - and this last stage in particular - is getting past the huge limestone mountain that separates the Montes forest from the Marine Supramonte (the plateau that faces the sea on the central east coast). It is, in fact, a very harsh environment and there are very few ways across that don't involve walking for kilometres pushing the bike. The only rideable path takes us south to go around the mountain. After the Montes forest we're back on the Supramonte of Urzulei where we use an intricate network of trails that eventually reconnect to the 125 state road. Here we have a great opportunity to recharge our batteries (of our bodies and of the bikes, if needed) at a nice bar with view. From there, the trend is going down towards the world famous Cala Luna beach trough a road that becomes tighter as we get close to the sea. The last few kilometres are on an amazing stretch of single track. At the end of it, a cold beer at the bar to cheer the end of a great trip. A few hours on the beach, then a ferry ride will take us to Cala Gonone, where we stay overnight at a 4-star hotel.
Distance: 64km
Elevation gain: 1,295m
Riding terrain: hilly
Riding time: 5,30h
Accommodation:
4-star hotel
Meals:
Breakfast
Day 8: Goodbye Sardinia
Transfer to Cagliari or Olbia/Alghero airport and end of services.
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.
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landing airport: Cagliari
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departure airport: Cagliari
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Transfer time from Airport to hotels is about 1,30 hours on landing, 2,30 hours on departure. Bari Sardo and Cala Gonone are about 2 hours away by van.
Packing and Weather
Sardinia is a region known for mild Mediterranean weather. It generally features warm, dry weather which makes these rides particularly enjoyable. The spring and fall can see the highs range from the 18s to 25s (Celsius), while the lows are generally between 14 and 18. Summer highs are generally between 28 and 25. We always recommend bringing along riding layers and even a bit of rain (might happen in Spring and Fall) gear so you can keep riding comfortably throughout the day.
Transfers
Sardinia Cycling arranges group transfers from and to the closest airport for the trip: Cagliari. 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.
Go Custom
Sometimes your trip on Sardinia simply isn’t long enough! Extend your stay for the best vacation possible. If you wish to spend a few days in our lovely island either before or after your trip, and need assistance making those plans, we're available help. Self guided and supported trips can be extended too and that can happen in any intermediate location along the itinerary: we can help selecting the best one!
Terrain
One thing riders learn soon is that Sardinia is hilly. The terrain is varied, with gradual and short, or very long and progressive climbs throughout the week. Gennargentu Traverse is best suited for our 'Challenge' riders. The routes have been designed to avoid very technical or exposed trails, and to be easily accessible to e-bikes. However, some sections on open roads are unavoidable.
The Ogliastra Cross
Bike in the wild. The Ogliastra Cross is a mountain biking tour that takes place in the east of Sardinia.
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Professionals. Dedicated their time to find proper sized shoes and bikes. Also checked every aspect if it’s comfortable to ride. Can 100% recommend to choose them.
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If you are looking for rental bike in Cagliari look no further they offer great Canyon bikes and the staff are professional and kind. Super nice people in the cafe bar
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Although I only rented a bike and did not book a tour, Giovanni and Simona were very accommodating to make sure my three day bike-bum tour went well! They were open to give quick advice on my route and generously offered my stinky self a shower when I showed up to return the bike. The winora winora Bermuda handled the slightly rocky paths well. Hopefully I'll be back soon 🚲
