Highlights
* explore the island’s lively capital, Cagliari
* enjoy hiking through gorges and past dramatic limestone formations
* half-day easy river kayaking
* taste delicious wines and enjoy the cuisine of the island
* exciting daily walks to see natural and archaeological sites
* relax on a quartz sand beach on the west coast of the island
* visit a 3,000-year-old “nuraghe” stone tower complex
* stay 2 nights at a fabulous country “experience” hotel
Trip price includes
7 nights in 4-star hotels, country resorts and/or luxury guesthouses; 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 5 dinners + 1 light dinner; guided visit of Cagliari; 1 winery visit; 1 distillery visit; 6 entrances to museums and/or archeological sites; kayak rental; all transfers as per itinerary; luggage transfers for each hotel change; welcome and farewell drink, 1 bilingual Italian/English tour leader for groups up to 8 people, 2 guides for groups from 9 to 14 people
Not included
6 lunches and 1 dinner; drinks other than water at meals; and anything not mentioned in the inclusions
ITINERARY
Day 1: Independent arrival in Cagliari
Meet in the hotel lobby at 4 pm for a guided visit of the city including a short stop at the fabulous archeological museum. It’s a great stop on its own but it’s also a perfect introduction to the island’s history and culture that we’re going to see throughout the week. Afterwards, enjoy a welcome drink and dinner al fresco. Overnight Cagliari.
Days 2-3: The Center of the island
Head inland for 2 days of history, hiking and adventures in the island’s interior, with visits to extraordinary archaeological sites, a trip to a high plateau where wild horses live, some delicious food experiences, and overnight at a beautiful country hotel with pool and spa.
Days 4-5: The West Coast
Head west and explore the coastal area around the Sinis Peninsula, which has been inhabited since ancient times. We’ll also bask on gold and rose quartz sand beaches and try some interesting local liquors at an innovative distillery. Stay two nights at a fabulous hotel spread over a variety of restored elegant homes and villas.
Days 6-7: The Eastern Side
Continue east for some gorgeous hiking, river kayaking, and relaxing downtime at a fabulous hotel set amidst a verdant garden. The landscape and traditions change with every new destination, and you’ll taste new food and wine as you go.
Day 8: Transfer to Olbia and Departures
We offer one final transfer to the Olbia airport after breakfast for flights or ferries.
Jeff C. –
Sardinia with Wild Sage was fantastic. Discovering the sophisticated ancient Nuragic civilization, searching for the last remaining wild horses in Europe, beaches that literally glitter, and a deep gorge filled with boulders as big as buildings are just some of the highlights. The scenery and history was only matched by delicious local specialties and local wines. From farmhouse to resort we discovered new vistas and regional history each day. Oh did I mention the Roman ruins, kayaking and craft gin tasting?
Gary P. –
This is a great trip. We visited archeological sites of the Nuragic people, a sacred well, a burial tomb, including a tour of one of their villages. The guide explained what is currently known about the ancient civilization which was fascinating and frustrating because there is still so much about them that is unknown. We visited museums which have Nuragic bronzes and stone giants. We hiked through the countryside with panoramic views of coastlines, valleys, and mountains and sightings of a range of wildlife including the last wild horse herd in Europe. Six hundred horses in family groups of 30-40. There were so many wonderful things about this trip: the city guide who spoke a few lines of the native Sardinian language for us and answered all my questions about the language, the guide at the vineyard who was enthusiastic about his job, the park guide who showed us the wild horses, the beautiful beaches where we relaxed and all the Sardinians we met. The food, wine, and hikes were amazing. A huge grazie mille to Manu and Wild Sage for putting this trip together to this wonderful island.