Essence of Sardinia

Welcome to Sardinia! Upon arrival at Olbia Airport, a private transfer will take you to your hotel in Olbia, which in ancient Greek means “the happy” or “the fortunate”, a name that reflects the city’s privileged location. Once you arrive and check in, take a nice walk to explore the historic center of Olbia: admire the Basilica of San Simplicio, symbol of the city and the Church of San Paolo, which animates the center with its colorful dome. The city overlooks a spectacular bay, which surrounds the marine Area of Tavolara and gives access to the exclusive Emerald Coast.

Overnight in Olbia 

Vermentino is a white grape variety that has found its maximum expression in Gallura with its DOCG. Today you can visit a small winery near Olbia to learn the secrets of its production and discover its semi- aromatic taste. You will continue the day to discover another pearl of Gallura, the Costa Smeralda. A bus route will take you along the most beautiful panoramic points to Baia Sardinia and Porto Cervo, the luxurious Sardinian resort most frequented by VIPs of the world jet set. You will walk to admire the beautiful white church of Stella Maris, Piazza Rossa, Porto Vecchio and you will have free time to lose

yourself in the five shopping streets full of luxury boutiques. Alternatively, you can combine the visit to the Vermentino winery with the walking tour of Olbia

Overnight in Olbia

Activities: Vermentino Wine Cellar visit and tasting and Emerald Coast Walking tour – Full Day (City tour and Traditions – Food & Wine)

Alternative experience: Vermentino Wine Cellar visit and tasting with Olbia walking tour – Half Day (City tour and Traditions – Food & Wine)

Live a combined experience by sea and land, discovering the Island of La Maddalena, the big sister of some 60 islands and islets that make up the archipelago now a National Park and once an Italian and American military base. On board an inflatable boat and accompanied by the tales of an expert guide, you will have the opportunity to stop at the main beaches of the island of Budelli, such as the precious pink beach. You will continue to the beach of Cala Corsara, the most famous on the island of Spargi, where you will discover rocks with a thousand faces and the important ‘tafone’, where remains dating back to the Neolithic period have been found. Tasting on board.

Overnight in Olbia 

Activity included: Private boat tour to La Maddalena Island Full Day (Boat Tour – Archeology and Museums)

Alternative experience:

Private boat tour to Caprera Island and Garibaldi Museum Full Day (Boat Tour – Archeology and Museums) Boat Tour to Figarolo with Dolphin Watching & Snorkeling – Half Day (Available from May 1st to October 31st) (Boat Tour)

On the way to your hotel in Oliena, you will stop in Posada, a medieval village characterized by cobbled streets and stone steps that lead to the top of the Castello della Fava, with a priceless view of the sea. Then enjoy a walk to the Posada pier to admire the decorations made with a mosaic. Conclude with a visit to a farm to taste its Slow Food products including Sa Pompìa, a unique variety of citrus fruit that grows only in this area. As an alternative to the uphill route of the historic center of Posada, comfortable bus ride along the nature trail of the Posada wetland between the Longu and Tundu ponds, to admire pink flamingos.

Overnight in Oliena

Activities: Posada walking tour with tasting of Sa Pompia, unique variety of citrus fruit that grows only in this area – HD (City tour and Traditions- Food & Wine)

Alternative experience: Exploring the cultural heart of Nuoro on a tour that celebrate its literary figures, including Nobel laureate Grazia Deledda – HD (City tour and Traditions)

Today you can live a rural experience in a typical “Pinnettu”, the ancient shepherd’s hut. Pietro will welcome you to his farm overlooking Mount Ortobene and will tell you the secrets of cooking Sardinian piglet, the undisputed king of Sardinian cuisine. While the piglet slowly cooks (about 3 hours) Pietro will show you around the farm and finally you will this delicacy accompanied by good local Cannonau wine. If you prefer a more dynamic and cultural activity, we suggest a visit and tasting of a Cannonau winery in Orgosolo, combined with a walking tour through the city streets, embellished with hundreds of murals that tell the story of traditions, culture and the intimate dissent of the Barbagia people since the 1960s.

Overnight in Oliena

Activity included: Porcetto show cooking and lunch with shepherd in a typical “Pinnettu” – Full Day (Food & Wine)

Alternative experience: Orgosolo Murales walking tour and wine cellars with tasting – Half Day (City tour and Traditions – Food & Wine)

Ogliastra, area on the eastern coast of Sardinia, is one of the 5 Blue Zones in the world for the longevity of its inhabitants. On this tour you will immerse yourself in the slow life of Arzana, a village that has held the record for centenarians for years. A local guide will accompany you through the alleys where you can meet the locals who will tell you how the combination of biological food, daily physical activity and strong social relationships is the real secret to a long life. Conclude by enjoying the centenarians’ menu at a nearby farmhouse. Ogliastra has other ancient traditions such as local craftsmanship, textile art and fishing, to be discovered in two alternative activities.

Overnight in Oliena

Activity included: Walking tour of Arzana, the Sardinian Blue Zone, with lunch of Centenarians – Full Day (City tour and Traditions – Food & Wine)

Alternative experience:

– Exploring fish farm in Tortolì, with oyster and clam farming, as well as the fine processing of “Bottarga” grey mullet’s eggs with tasting – Half Day (not available from April 15th to May 15th) (Food & Wine)

– Visit to a Sardinian craft boutique in Tortolì with narration by an expert – Half Day (Handcrafted and tradition)

Today we propose a stop in an area not far from Oristano in the west coast, particularly suited for the cultivation of olives thanks to the natural conditions in which the olives ripen, between sun and sea breeze. A family will welcome you in their 18th century farmhouse, surrounded by centuries-old olive trees to tell you the secrets of the harvest and pressing of olives, combined with unmissable tastings, allowing you to understand the thousand-year-old art behind one of the most prized products of Made in Italy.

Alternatively, always along the road to your hotel in Oristano, live a rural experience on a farm at the foot of the medieval village of Burgos, where among the activities you can watch the sheep being milked.

Overnight in Oristano

Activity included: Visit and tasting of extra virgin olive oil in a centuries-old Olive Grove in Donigala–Half Day (Food & Wine)

Alternative experience: Visit to a farm with pecorino cheese making and typical Sardinian lunch – Half Day (Food & Wine)

Sardinia, with its thousand-year history, is famous for its archaeological sites and the Nuragic civilization is undoubtedly the one that characterizes it more than any other. Visit today the site that best represents it, Su Nuraxi in Barumini, a UNESCO heritage site since 1997. Here you can admire the Nuraghi up close, stone constructions that have become emblematic of the island and walk among the ruins that arose on the plateaus to defend the territory from incursions. Alternatively, always of great importance, we suggest a visit to the archaeological area of Tharros, a site that overlooks the sea of Cabras (western coast), founded by the Phoenicians in the 8th century and later conquered by the Carthaginians and the Romans.

Overnight in Cagliari

Activity included: Barumini Nuragic Village and Casa Zapata Museum with typical lunch at Su Nuraxi farmhouse – FD (Archeology and Museums)

Alternative experience: Tour of the archaeological area of Tharros and Sinis PeninsulaHD – (Archeology and Museums)

Immerse yourself in the history of Sardinia’s “white gold” with a guided tour that will take you to the heart of the Saline Conti Vecchi, a short distance from Cagliari. Discover the secrets of salt production in an active factory and a dedicated museum. Continue the adventure aboard a small train that will take you through the Santa Gilla Basin area. Keep your eyes peeled for pink flamingos elegantly circling the brackish waters, with mountains of white salt as a backdrop. Conclude the experience at a nearby bakery, where you can enjoy Sa Panada, a savory pie filled with meat, fish or vegetables whose recipe has been passed down from generation to generation.

Overnight in Cagliari

Activities: Tour of Conti Vecchi salt pans in Assemini and tasting of Sa Panada typical bread –Half Day (Archeology and Museums)

Alternative experience: Virtual tour of Punic-Roman archaeological site of Nora and Lagoon with Cetacean and Sea Turtle Recovery Center – Half Day (Archeology and Museums)

Explore the two most emblematic district of Cagliari on a tour that blends culture and history with traditional Sardinian flavors. Start by strolling through the alleys of the Marina District, near the port, and taste the burrida cagliaritana accompanied by orziadas (sea anemones) and crostini with cream of pecorino cheese and bottarga, the “Sardinian caviar”. Crossing the picturesque Piazza Santo Sepolcro, you will arrive in Stampace, the most authentic and ancient district. Discover the pani frattau, a traditional agro-pastoral dish, and conclude this historic culinary journey with a tasting of amaretti and pardule, Sardinian holiday pastry. If you prefer an archaeological tour, we suggest the guided tour of the underground of Cagliari, among the crypts and ancient tunnels rich in history.

Overnight in Cagliari

Activity included: Cagliari food tour around main historical districts – Half Day (City tour and Traditions -Food & Wine)

Alternative experience: Ancient Crypts and tunnels: stories from the underground of Cagliari Half Day

Your fantastic journey from north to south of Sardinia has come to an end.

Get ready for the private transfer from your hotel to Cagliari Airport.

Thank you for your visit and see you very soon in Sardinia!