Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Alghero - Oliena - Cannigione
100% customisable for you
Your adventure to Sardinia starts today. Whizz through security and relax in the airport lounge with some nibbles and refreshments before setting off. Flight time to Olbia is about two-and-half hours, giving you just enough time to get stuck into your holiday read before touching down. On arrival, collect your hire car and drive just under two hours to Alghero, a beautiful seaside city nestled on the northwest coast of the island. You can break up the journey with stops in Tempio Pausania and Sassari, charming towns with picturesque cobbles streets. Settle in for two nights in a beautiful hotel just a stone's throw from the town's historic centre. The rest of today is yours to spend settling into your new home and enjoying some delicious Mediterranean food in the hotel’s restaurant.
Nicknamed the ‘Little Sardinian Barcelona’ because of its strong Catalan influence dating back to the 14th century, Alghero is a charming little town with a historic centre opening onto a peninsula surrounded by fortifications. Here you can discover a well-preserved medieval heritage, epitomised by the Alghero Cathedral and its Gothic bell tower. You can also admire the church of San Francesco, with its superb golden tufa cloister; the Church of San Michele, home to the Jesuits; and the Esperò Reial Tower, the Theatre Square and the Palazzo Machin. If you’d rather get straight out into the Mediterranean, we can also arrange for you to spend the day cruising the coast of the city on a catamaran.
After a hearty breakfast this morning it’s time to bid a (temporary) ciao to the coast and head through the colourful landscapes of the Sardinian countryside to Oliena, a two-and-a-half-hour drive away. There are a fair few sights to take in along the way, including the town of Nuoro with its surrounding valleys and mountains, as well as the Church of San Pietro di Sorres in the heart of the Valle dei Nuraghi. Settle in for two nights in a beautiful hotel surrounded by olive groves and vineyards in Oliena. As the sun starts to descend, enjoy a Sardinian aperitif out in nature and soak in your tranquil new surroundings.
This morning, set off on an adventure into the heart of the Lanaitto Valley with a private guide. This valley is rich in endemic plants, rocky caves and shepherds' villages. It's not unusual to come across wild animals such as mouflons (small wild sheep) and wild boar. Your first stop in the valley is Sos Carros, a beautiful village filled with buildings dating back to the Bronze Age. Then it’s on to the Sa Oche cave, where you can admire countless underground pools and rock tunnels that have been here for millennia. The tour continues to the Su Gologone karstic spring on the slopes of the Supramonte range. Its exceptionally pure waters have patiently worked their way through the limestone to emerge in this mystical place. Other options for today include a visit to a wine cellar followed by a wine tasting or a guided hike to Cala Luna.
It’s time to leave the countryside behind and head back to the coast. After a delicious breakfast this morning, hop back into your hire car and travel north along the eastern coast of the island. Your next destination is a charming hotel bordering the crystal-clear waters of the Costa Smeralda. Spend the rest of today relaxing on the beach before tucking into a tasty meal this evening.
For your last full day in Sardinia you’ll be heading out on a Zodiac to discover the idyllic Maddalena Islands. Classified as a national park, the lands that make up the Maddalena archipelago cover a vast territory dedicated to preserving a sumptuous natural environment. Granite boulders and white-sand beaches make this look more like the Maldives than the Mediterranean (if emerald scrubland replaced coconut palms). The day's sailing adventure in this marine paradise is broken up with several swimming stops and visits to some of the islands: Spargi, Budelli, Santa Maria, the south of Caprera and Maddalena. An alternative option for today is a private tour of the picturesque Gallura region, in the northeast of the island.
The time to head home had to come at some point or another. Enjoy one last dip in the turquoise ocean this morning before travelling back to Olbia. Drop your hire car off at the airport just in time to catch a two-and-a-half-hour flight back to the UK.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
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