Going Wild in Sardinia

Itinerary:

Day 1. Dorgali
Arrive in Sardinia and take the local bus to Dorgali bus stop, where you will be picked up and will have a private transfer to hotel for the overnight.

Day 2. Rio Flumineddu - Tiscali - Rio Flumineddu via Scala de Surtana
Today you will be transfered to Rio Flumineddu. Then start walking along the Scala de Surtana valley; a right turn leads you to a limestone plateau where two beautiful ovili huts have been recently restored. If you enter inside you can admire the fine technique that is needed to build them. You descend again to the valley and start climbing up Monte Tiscali. Near the top you can visit, hidden in cave, the remains of a prehistoric Nuraghe village. You can enter the enormous round hole, which is formed by the erosion of the limestone rocks (the entrance fee is about €5.00). The spot itself is very remarkable, like an oasis in the mountain, inside you will only find some remnants of Nuraghe houses but it is really worth the climb. After passing through the wooded gorge of Surtana follow a descent to the River Flumineddu, where you will be picked up for a short ride to the hotel. Overnight in Dorgali.
Walking: 11 km, 5 hours; Ascent / Descent: +700 m / -700 m

Day 3. Gola di Gorropu walk or alternative route to Silana
Delve deep into Italy’s deepest gorge: the Gola di Gorropu, with its stunning, vertical white walls over 350m high. It’s a long but easy walk to get there, where you can peer into the belly of the earth and scramble over the huge boulders within. Short morning and afternoon transfer to/from the start of the walk. Overnight in Dorgali.
Walking: 15 km, 5 hours; Ascent / Descent: +341 m / -177 m

Alternative walk Suttaterra - Dorgali
This route follows the mountain ridge, starting near the Silana Pass and going all the way to the town of Dorgali. Along the route there are spectacular coastal views of the Gulf of Orosei and inland on the Supramonte range. The route is quite easy with any remarkable level change; it is not marked but sufficiently beaten. Overnight in Dorgali.
Walking: 11 km, 3,5 hours; Ascent / Descent: +320 m / -689 m

Day 4. Dorgali - Monte Bardia - Cala Gonone
A car transfer takes you just outside Dorgali where you start the walk via an old tunnel that connects Dorgali with Cala Gonone. The track climbs to the top of Monte Bardia, from where there is a long gradual descent (via some other summits). You have several great views into both valleys during the walk. Overnight in Cala Gonone.
Walking: 11 km, 4-5 hours; Ascent / Descent: +486 m / -958 m

Alternative walks:
- transfer to Cuccuru su Corvu and walk to Cala Gonone via Codula di Luna
Walking 16 km, 6 hours; Ascent / Descent: +569 m / -946 m
- transfer to Cala Ganone and walk from there to Cala Luna beach and return by boat
Walking: 9 km, 4 hours; Ascent / Descent: +405 m / -402 m

Day 5. Departure
Departure from Cala Gonone with local bus.

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Luggage transportation:
Day 1: Dorgali bus stop to your accommodation
Day 4: From your hotel in Dorgali to the hotel in Cala Gonone

Please clearly mark all your belongings with your name and put a small note with the name of the next accommodation in order to indicate where the bags should go to next (check your accommodation list). Also ask the accommodation owner where the bags should be left in the morning. Labeling your belongings prevents mix ups, delays and loss. Bags should be ready and at the reception or store room by 9:00 hrs.

Practical information: ► You can fly in to Cagliari, Olbia or Alghero airport, served by several low cost carriers. There are local buses from Cagliari, Olbia and Alghero to the meeting on Day 1 in the village of Dorgali. ► We suggest arriving in Sardinia before 16:00 h because some time is needed to catch the bus to Dorgali. However, if your flight lands in Sardinia after 14:00 h or on a national holiday, you must either book a private transfer to the first accommodation in Dorgali or spend your first night in your city of arrival. ► On departure - If you have a late morning/afternoon flight any day from Monday to Saturday and do not want to spend an extra night in Cala Gonone, you must book a private transfer with Gisellu Minibus from Cala Gonone to Nuoro, the closest nearby city. From Nuoro, there are ample connections to get to your departure airport on time. If your return trip is on a Sunday or a national holiday, the private transfer must be from Cala Gonone all the way to Cagliari, as there are no buses that leave from Cala Gonone on Sundays or on holidays. If you fly out on a Sunday, you can sleep in Cagliari on Saturday night, instead of Cala Gonone. Otherwise, you must book a private transfer with Gisellu bus to the Cagliari airport. ►The walks are poorly to moderately marked, often on uneven footpaths, small tracks amongst shrubs and, on a rare occasion, on small gravel roads. Some routes (such as Monte Tiscali) are a bit demanding, with some parts of (easy) climbing being a desolate limestone area, with no springs or villages along the way. Bring sufficient water with you.

Recommended travel period of the year: April – July and September – October. The trip is not possible in August because it gets very hot.

Necessary equipment: Sturdy walking boots and walking socks, a small rucksack, a water bottle with at least 1 litre capacity, sunglasses, sunhat, sun cream, rainwear and insect repellent.

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