An excellent place for serious walking on mountain terrain, with sea and beaches within easy reach. Anthony Rugg, 2017 See more reviews
Was on the 16th Sept. departure for Walking in Sardinia - proved to be a good time of year 25*C... Valerie Simmonds, 2017 See more reviews
Excellent walking in an unspoilt, wild part of Sardinia. Walks are varied and interesting and... Françoise Walker, 2017 See more reviews
A well organised and enjoyable trip with varied walks in scenery and technicality. We were never... Simon Pugsley, 2017 See more reviews
A good mix of walking, site seeing and free time (however not many options on the free day). Angela Pugsley, 2017 See more reviews
Dorgali is a lovely small Italian town, very friendly, as is the family-run Hotel S'Adde. ... Robin Wells, 2016 See more reviews
Varied walking with plenty of opportunities for personal choice in an incredibly beautiful part... Mike Perry, 2016 See more reviews
This trip has the right mix of walking and free time. Two days walking, a sightseeing day and a... Elizabeth Lafferty, 2016 See more reviews
A very full week with excellent walking....possibly too much food!!!! Peter Winter, 2015 See more reviews
Itinerary Include flights Expand all London to London Day 1 Fly to Olbia; transfer to Dorgali Fly to Olbia and transfer to the Hotel S'Adde in Dorgali. Meals included: Dinner Day 2 Orientation walk through a maze of old paths around Monte Tului with beautiful views of the Gulf of Orosei We start with an orientation walk through a maze of old paths around Monte Tului (916m), which boasts one of the most beautiful views of the Gulf of Orosei along with the mountainous inland around Dorgali. (approx. 5 hours walking, ascent 600m descent 600m, 13km). Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 3 Walk along the Gorropu Gorge, Italy's deepest natural canyon; free time to paddle on the Flumineddu River On our drive above the Flumineddu Valley, we enjoy stunning views until we arrive at the Gorropu Gorge - also known as the 'Grand Canyon of Europe'. Its high, narrow, vertical walls reach 200 metres making it the deepest and roughest natural gorge in Europe. Over millions of years, the Flumineddu River has eroded the landscape to create the incomparable natural beauty of the gorge. There is a chance to paddle on the river, if conditions allow. This evening, there is the opportunity to enjoy dinner in a restaurant in Dorgali centre - payable locally (approx. 6 hours walking, ascent 415 meters -420 meters, 15km). Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 4 Explore Nuraghic village of Serra Orrios, with its complex circular huts dating back to the Bronze Age; relax on an idyllic sandy beach. Local wine tasting We begin with a drive to the site of the renowned Giants Tomb, the Sardinian megalithic gallery grave built during the Bronze Age by the Nuragic civilization. We then continue on to the site of the Serra Orrios, one of the most famous of the Nuraghes villages. The Nuraghes, cone tomb-like towers positioned around the island, are the symbols of Sardinia and of its unique ethnicity. The Nuragici people, who built these towers, are considered as the most accomplished, yet mysterious, civilisation in the Mediterranean. We explore this Nuraghic village of Serra Orrios and its complex arrangement of circular huts dating back to the Bronze Age. After this we have time for a quick coffee stop before driving on to Cala Orsala. This is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, surrounded by rocks, pinewoods and lush Mediterranean scrub. Weather permitting, we will have lunch on the beach. After this we visit the 'Grotta degli Ispinigoli' home to the longest stalactite-stalagmite column in Europe. We finish the day with a visit to a wine factory (cantina) for wine tasting and a short talk about the local wines. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 5 Free day; explore the archaeological sites of the Dorgali region, take an optional self-guided walk or simply relax by the beach and enjoy the leisurely Sardinian lifestyle Today is free to explore the archaeological sites of the Dorgali region, take an optional self-guided walk or simply relax by the beach and enjoy the leisurely Sardinian lifestyle. Horse riding can also be arranged for you; alternatively, you can take an optional wonderful boat trip to Blue Marino Grotto (weather permitting). Meals included: Breakfast Day 6 Walk around the prehistoric Tiscali Village, built inside a cave; visit the springs of Su Cologone After a short transfer, we start our rewarding (and perhaps the most challenging) walk to the deserted village of Tiscali. Tiscali is built in a huge cave inside Monte Corrasi and it is speculated that its inhabitants hid here from the Romans. We also make an essential visit to the karstic springs of Su Cologone, where an imposing mass of mineral water carves shapes into the rocks as it gushes out of the impressive gorge. As well as boasting some amazing traditional Sardinian food, it is also the ideal place for bird watching (approx. 5 hours walking, ascent 430m descent 480m, 15km). Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 7 Explore the caves and cliffs on walk from the beach of Cala Luna; free afternoon We start the day with a boat trip to Cala Luna, known as one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean. Here there will be time to explore the large caves and perhaps watch the rock climbing. The walk back to Cala Gonone starts through a vast forest and gulleys, with occasional views of the coast. At the end of the walk at Cala Gonone we will have time for a very welcome drink and the opportunity for a swim before we return to Dorgali (approx.5 hours walking, ascent 310m descent 310m, 10km). Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 8 To Olbia; fly to London. Transfer to Olbia airport; fly to London. Meals included: Breakfast
Italy No visa required for British passport holders. Please note in Italy it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times.
Hotel S'Adde - 3 Star You will spend 7 days at the Hotel S'Adde; a comfortable family-run 3 star hotel. All the rooms are en-suite and equipped with telephone and a satellite T.V., while only a few have minibar. The hotel facilities include bar, restaurant, TV room and terrace. Wi-Fi is only available in the reception area, not in the bedrooms. The hotel is located within walking distance from Dorgali, situated 1.5 hours from Olbia airport in the beautiful Gulf of Orosei. Only 7km from the coast, this small agricultural town is famous for its crafts and ceramics and offers a wide choice of shops, restaurants and bars.
February 6, 2018 Our Top 10 European Bike Rides Embracing a healthy lifestyle can be a challenge, but if you’re going to keep it up there’s got to be more to it than
February 1, 2018 Roaming Catholics: Walking The Francigena Way Via Francigena is a journey of 150km and
January 30, 2018 Machu Picchu: The Not So Lost City for Exodus Porters Porters - they’re the beating heart of the Inca Trail.
January 26, 2018 5 Great Hikes in Italy You May Not Know Who could fail to be charmed by Italy, the renaissance nation that seems to be able to please all travellers?
Reviewed October 2017 Anthony Rugg Trip: Walking in Sardinia Walking in Sardinia An excellent place for serious walking on mountain terrain, with sea and beaches within easy reach. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Walking a deep gorge . What did you think of your group leader? Leadership was inspired. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? October proved to be a good month. Not too hot but still summer temperatures for UK residents.
Reviewed October 2017 Valerie Simmonds Trip: Walking in Sardinia Sardinia is special Was on the 16th Sept. departure for Walking in Sardinia - proved to be a good time of year 25*C and plenty of sun but also some shade and gentle breeze. Lovely time to arrive as it was the weekend of the annual Dorgali festival, with small groups of singers and musicians touring the streets, street stalls, wine tastings etc. etc. Nice atmosphere and the town felt safe to wander any time of day. Local people were polite & helpful. Walks were on the strenuous side for me - but I enjoyed the challenge and on the few occasions I needed advice or assistance it was available immediately from our leader and/or other members of the group. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The scenery - absolutely stunning. Esp. Gorroppu Gorge and views on walks across mountain ranges and down to the coast. What did you think of your group leader? Eric was very experienced and competent. On Day 1 briefed us with a few basic rules to ensure safety and goodwill of the group, e.g. turning up on time! Thereafter created a happy and relaxed atmosphere. Always happy to answer questions and provide information as he knew the area well. Gave us a full programme of activities, never a dull moment. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? For me, I'd avoid the hottest months of the year as I am not a super strong walker. Do carry plenty of water and wear good boots. Maybe hold back a bit on the beer and ice cream. The food is wholesome and plentiful and it's easy to gain weight despite all the exercise. Is there anything else you would like to add? Aside from the walking programme, you get to see Gorroppu Gorge, Nuraghic villages, Tiscali, Su Cologone, Ispinigoli caves and have an excellent tutored wine tasting at local cantina.
Reviewed September 2017 Françoise Walker Trip: Walking in Sardinia Unspoilt Sardinia Excellent walking in an unspoilt, wild part of Sardinia. Walks are varied and interesting and reasonably hard going. If you like craggy, rocky landscapes with lots of up and down, this would suit you. Also enjoyed the cultural day visiting archeological sights, it made a good contrast and I was keen to find out more about bronze age Sardinia. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The walk to Tiscali was fantastic. Both for the views, Tiscali itself and the rocky paths we had to negotiate. What did you think of your group leader? Eric was excellent. Very sociable, organised and good at imparting his enthusiasm for Sardinia and its history and culture.
Reviewed June 2017 Simon Pugsley Trip: Walking in Sardinia Pleasant walks and good food A well organised and enjoyable trip with varied walks in scenery and technicality. We were never left hungry as the Hotel S'Adde catered very well for us with packed lunches and evening meals. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Gorroppu Gorge is an amazing site to see, so do go into the gorge once you reach it, The walk up to and in Tiscali, with added bonus of seeing a pine martin there. What did you think of your group leader? Eric was a great guide, well organised, and has good relationships with the hotel staff and locals. Eric is very informative and provides accurate descriptions of the walks for the next day so you know what you are in for, He engages well with group. On the walks Eric keeps a steady pace with reasonable rest stops. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Whilst this is a medium grade walking trip, I would say its not overly strenuous and the paths are mostly good. The Tiscali walk and the coastal walk needs concentration in some parts as to where you are putting your feet do to the rocky nature of the paths, On the free day we went to Bue Marino cave. I've been to quite a few cave systems before and was a little disappointed. Not that long, colourful, or dramatic in stalactites. Its main attraction is the water entering from the sea and river. I'd recommend the Liquorice and Whiskey ice cream at the La Gelateria in Dorgali. Is there anything else you would like to add? Maybe because we were early in the season, but there was not a whole lot to do in Dorgali once we got back from the walks. I think the trip would benefit from being located in Cala Gonone for 2 nights to cover the free day and the coastal walk, leaving better free time after the walks.
Reviewed May 2017 Cherry Panter Trip: Walking in Sardinia TES 0605127 Excellent organisation and hotel. great food What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Tiscali What did you think of your group leader? Excellent Is there anything else you would like to add? Tiscali walk - at the end of this quite technical and excellent trip walk why did we walk 1+ hour along a hot, open, dusty, hard road with cars coming past creating more dust? I do not see the point of walking along a road at the end of a walk when a vehicle could pick us up. Last day - ferry (nice experience but most of us had already done this) to a beach and then walk in the forest along the cliffs. not very inspiring. few views. felt like a walk for the sake of it, must be better walks around.
Reviewed May 2017 Angela Pugsley Trip: Walking in Sardinia Dorgali A good mix of walking, site seeing and free time (however not many options on the free day). What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing the Pine Martin was the highlight of my trip in Tiscali & the Gorge walk. What did you think of your group leader? Eric was really good, he got the pace just right for the group & everything was well organised. Good description of the walks terrain and so you knew what to expect. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Poles & boots are a must, the underfoot is quite rocky in parts, I felt it was an easy walk, it's the underfoot that makes it a Moderate. I'm not keen on heights, but there were no problems, as foot paths are quite wide and well marked. I didn't think the optional visit to the Grotta del Bue Marino, was worth the price (transfer to harbour/boat/entry), especially if you have seen cave systems before. However there isn't much to do on your free day otherwise. Take a kettle if you want hot drinks (not many staff around in the hotel), hairdryer can be provided at the hotel. Is there anything else you would like to add? I think it would be good to be a 2 centre based trip so you get to see another part of Sardinia, as there is not much to do in your spare time in Dorgali.
Reviewed September 2016 Robin Wells Trip: Walking in Sardinia Walking in Sardinia Dorgali is a lovely small Italian town, very friendly, as is the family-run Hotel S'Adde. Great walking country, with mountains, excellent views, and ancient sites of the Nuraghi people. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Funnily enough, for me it was the view when we climbed to the top of the mountain above Dorgali, with clear views to the sea, and a long way inland too. Tiscali was a special site in its own way, but the first climb was the most rewarding. What did you think of your group leader? Eric Woolley is a seasoned veteran of the outdoors, and the group was very safe in his hands. The first day's walking, he pushed us a bit, in order to get the measure of us, all the better to time the rest of the week's walks, which were timed almost perfectly. One slight criticism; Eric's Italian seemed somewhat scanty, but this didn't affect the trip at all, since one of our group was of Italian extraction, and was thus able to translate when having more complex conversations, and the rest of the time, the group had enough Italian to get by. Most of the hotel staff spoke English. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared to sample some excellent wines; the hotel "house red" was quite acceptable, and the local Cantonau Classico and Reserve were delicious. Not quite so sure about the local myrtle-based aperitif, "Mirto", though! Being a vegetarian on southern european trips can be difficult at times, and I found myself being offered fish at least twice - luckily, I'm flexible, but others might not be so. Is there anything else you would like to add? Overall, a decent week's rock-hopping, clambering, and walking, all in a pleasant climate, staying in a friendly and very pretty town.
Reviewed June 2016 Mike Perry Trip: Walking in Sardinia Sardinia - another part of Italy Varied walking with plenty of opportunities for personal choice in an incredibly beautiful part of Sardinia. The alluring combination of mountains, white beaches and turquoise seas was incredible. The walks provided challenges in length and technical skills with some great fun scrambling along the routes. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The cave at Spinigoli was stunning and in its own way inspiring bot The Gorropu Canyon for shear, overwhelming impact was stupendous What did you think of your group leader? Eric Woolley was the best! He knew how to guide and be involved as a member of the group. I can best describe it as like being away with friends - Eric created this effect. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Go for it - there is nothing not to enjoy! Is there anything else you would like to add? So happy were we that we would consider going back to the area for more walks end exploration. The Sardinian people are so welcoming and friendly!
Reviewed June 2016 Elizabeth Lafferty Trip: Walking in Sardinia Walking in Sardinia - May 2016 This trip has the right mix of walking and free time. Two days walking, a sightseeing day and a free day and then two more days walking. As we arrived early on the Saturday and departed in the afternoon the following Saturday it felt like a longer holiday than a week. I loved the countryside, olive trees, farmland, mountains, incredibly beautiful beaches and crystal clear water, fascinating caves, lovely people, very kind and hospitable people. The family who ran the hotel were very welcoming and obliging and made our stay very special. The food was excellent and we were very well catered for. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? I really enjoyed the walk to the Gorruppu Gorge and the walk up to Tiscali. Lovely shady paths through trees and great views. Also enjoyed the clambering over rocks. I really enjoyed the visit to the Grotta del Bue Marino. We went by boat on our free day and the cave is amazing! On the same day enjoyed a fish lunch and Vermentino (white) wine in the restaurant at Cala Gonone, overlooking the beautiful bay. What did you think of your group leader? Alexis was cool! A fun personality and very polite and helpful. Kept everyone well motivated and was always attentive to individual's needs and kept the group together. He helped organise other activities for the free day and was always around if needed. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Sardinia is a lovely island. May was ideal for walking, not too hot and lovely weather. Bear in mind that the walking is on quite stony paths so have robust footwear with you and socks that wick. Is there anything else you would like to add? I'd go back to Sardinia, it's very relaxed and it's just what I needed.
Reviewed June 2015 Peter Winter Trip: Walking in Sardinia Walking in Sardinia A very full week with excellent walking....possibly too much food!!!! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Reaching Tiscali What did you think of your group leader? Knowledgeable and personable
ON OFFER Walking in Madeira Explore the verdant landscapes of Portugal's largest island Guided Group Walking & Trekking 8 days Incl. Flights From £849 4.3 / 5 from 51 reviews Add to wishlist
ON OFFER Mountains & Villages of Evia Walk on an authentic Greek island Guided Group Walking & Trekking 8 days Incl. Flights From £999 4.3 / 5 from 52 reviews Add to wishlist
ON OFFER Chianti Walking & Wine Experience the magic of Italy in Tuscany Guided Group Walking & Trekking 8 days Incl. Flights From £999 4.7 / 5 from 35 reviews Add to wishlist
ON OFFER Premium Portugal: Walking & Wine A perfect introduction to Porto and the UNESCO Douro wine region Guided Group, Premium Adventures Walking & Trekking 8 days Incl. Flights From £1,269 4.7 / 5 from 3 reviews Add to wishlist