7-day walking in Sardinia | Pilgrimage to the blue wilderness of the Mediterranean

Core trip experience:

① Embark on the world’s top coastal hiking route and be in the boundless blue wilderness.

② Visit isolated subsistence farms, taste delicious food in the shepherd’s hut, and stay in simple and warm guest rooms.

③ Experience a unique night’s boat accommodation in a quiet bay with waves and moonlight on your pillow.

④ Learn rope downhill skills and deeply explore the secrets of coastal caves formed 800,000 years ago.

⑤ Walk to the hidden beach that can’t be reached by vehicles, and enjoy the authentic food and wine carefully cooked by the hospitable Sardinian host family.

⑥ Accompanied by professional hiking guides throughout the journey, it is safe and worry-free, and properly solves the problems of traffic connection and boat conversion during hiking.

⑦ The itinerary includes cliff sections and areas without clear paths. The difficulty is average to above, and it is not suitable for novice hikers or participants with symptoms of fear of heights.

Detailed itinerary

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Sardinia

After flying to Sardinia, you will be picked up by a special car and drive for about 2.5 hours to the small town of Santa Maria, which is surrounded by mountains and seas. There are olive trees, fig trees, acacia and lotus trees on the hillsides along the way, and the vegetation is lush.

As the second largest island in the Mediterranean, Sardinia was settled by humans as early as 8.5 million years ago, and was occupied by Phoenicians and Carthaginians successively. Until the 3 rd century BC, the first Punic War broke out between ancient Rome and Carthage, and this place was owned by Rome. In the following long years, although it experienced the period of barbarian invasion and independent kingdom, its cultural development has always been deeply influenced by Italian peninsula civilization.

Dining: Dinner

Accommodation: Select design hotels

Day 2 Trek off the coast of Sardinia

Take a bus to a pyramid-shaped giant rock with a height of 120 meters on the coastline, and start from there to hike along the magnificent coastal path. We will climb to the top of a cliff at an altitude of 750 meters, overlooking the blue Mediterranean Sea and rugged cliffs. In the evening, arrive at a self-sufficient seclusion farm and enjoy a flavored dinner in a traditional shepherd’s hut.

○ Today’s hiking: about 5 hours | The cumulative climb is about 700 meters

Dining: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Farmhouse Basic Rooms

Day 3 Deep Fjord Coast Trek

Today, we continue to hike along the cliff coast with a drop of about 200 meters. Instead of yesterday’s open sea view, we will walk through the winding fjord landscape. In the evening, board the boat prepared for us, accompanied by the soft sound of waves and hazy moonlight, and spend a unique night’s onboard accommodation experience in a quiet bay.

○ Today’s hiking: about 5 hours | The cumulative descent is about 450 meters

Dining: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Basic rooms on board

Day 4 Visit the secret beach and mountain cabin

Today, I went to Punta Salinas by car and hike, enjoying the blue scenery of the Mediterranean Sea all the way. Then it goes downhill to a white cobblestone beach, not far away from which stands a 130-meter-high rock peak and a blue sea-eroded cave. The sea water here is extremely transparent, with a water depth of about 30 meters, and it is praised as one of the best beaches by Italian tourists. Tonight we will stay in the simple and welcoming alpine wooden cabin.

○ Today’s hiking: about 5 hours | cumulative climb of about 400 meters | cumulative descent of about 500 meters

Dining: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Takayama Chalet Rooms

Day 5 Spelunking and Ropedownhill

After walking through several hidden beaches and sea caves, under professional guidance, we descended to the Fico Cave, which was formed 800,000 years ago with the help of ropes. This cave didn’t see the light of day until 1957 when shepherds accidentally discovered it, and it has been unknown in history. Scientific research shows that because its lowest point was below sea level, it was once the habitat of endangered Mediterranean monk seals (less than 500 existing in the world). Return to the small town of Santa Maria by boat in the evening.

○ Today’s hiking: about 4 hours | cumulative climb of about 200 meters | cumulative descent of about 400 meters

Dining: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Select design hotels

Day 6 Hidden Beach Surrounded by Cliffs

Today, combine boat ride and hike again to explore coastal cliffs, beaches and caves. Finally, we arrive at a sandy beach surrounded by 500-meter-high cliffs, which is lined with trees (with century-old carob and oak trees) and is an excellent place to rest and enjoy water. Return to the small town of Santa Maria by boat in the evening.

○ Today’s hiking: about 5 hours | cumulative climb of about 200 meters | cumulative descent of about 200 meters

Dining: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Select design hotels