Cycling Sardinia: Gallura and Cala Gonone

Day 1: Lago Liscia
Transfer or individual arrival at the country hotel on the shores of Lake Liscia in the heart of Gallura. Today we get to know each other, while the companions during the introductory meeting explain the route and assign the bicycles. Dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Gallura (31 km)
Pedaling in the peaceful countryside of Gallura among secular olive groves and cork oaks we reach Calangianus, where we stop to visit the necropolis of Sa Pascaredda. A few kilometers further we reach Tempio Pausania, the capital of Gallura characterized by elegant granite block architecture. Dinner and overnight in Tempio.

Day 3: Tempio Pausania – Pattada (45km)
We leave Tempio with our gaze turned to the imposing granite massif of Limbara. We stop near Lake Coghinas to visit the country church of Nostra Signora di Castro, a significant example of 12th century Romanesque architecture. In Oschiri we take a bus to Ozieri where we visit the Grotta di San Michele, a necropolis of fundamental importance in the study of the final Neolithic period in Sardinia (from 3200 to 2800 BC). We finish the stage in the mountain village of Pattada, famous for the craftsmanship of shepherd’s knives (Pattadese).

Day 4: Pattada – Bitti (44 km)
Today we cross a very remote area of the island, cycling most of the day on a plateau with stunning views of the mount Albo range. Su Romanzesu is a very interesting nuragic complex extending on an area of over 7ha. Relatively unknown till few years ago, it has acquired importance thanks to recent excavation works. Dating back to the late Bronze age (XIII Century BC), the site features among others the remains of a holy spring and two temples used for religious purposes. We rest for the night in Bitti, home of the famous singing group Tenores which had made quite an impact internationally in recent years. The group is formed by four members that perform unaccompanied harmony songs whose origins go back several centuries.

Day 5: Bitti – Lago Cedrino (40 km)
In Bitti we visit the Museum of Peasant Civilization, which offers a precious journey into memory among work tools of other times, objects of the daily life of shepherds, farmers, artisans and housewives. After passing a few hills, the spectacular limestone massif of Supramonte appears in front of us. After the interesting necropolis (Tomb of the Giants) of S’ena and Thomes, our bike tour continues towards Serra Orrios, considered one of the most interesting Nuragic sites in the whole of Sardinia. We spend the night in a cozy farmhouse on the shores of Lake Cedrino.

Day 6: Lago Cedrino – Cala Gonone (20 km)
The last day of cycling takes us to the Ispinigoli Caves. The visit opens onto a room dominated by a grandiose stalagmite column 38 meters high. The walls of the hall are full of marvelous concretions and limestone cascades of extraordinary beauty. The historical interest of the chasm is exceptional: the discovery of small human remains, rings, jewels and solar symbols revealed the existence in the cave of a Phoenician sacrificial well. A breathtaking descent takes us back to the crystalline sea of ​​Cala Gonone where we stay overnight.

Day 7: Cala Gonone 
The Gulf of Orosei has one of the longest stretches of coast in Italy devoid of any human settlement. At the end of a week of cycling we enjoy an unforgettable cruise that will take us along some of the most beautiful and remote beaches in the world.

Day 8: Cala Gonone
End of services after breakfast.