8 Days - Classic Escorted Tours

Speak of Sardinia and the glamorous scalloped bays of Costa Smeralda spring to mind, but the Mediterranean’s second-largest island has so much more to offer. A closer look reveals delightful surprises at every turn: an exhilarating thousand-mile coastline of translucent sea, white sands and hidden coves; a long history as diverse and fantastic as its rugged landscapes; and a unique identity that is familiar yet distinct from mainland Italy. Further inland away from the bustling coast is a very different yet perhaps more intriguing and authentic side to Sardinia: immaculate beaches give way to undulating countryside, cloaked in forests of cork oak in the uplands, and swathed in myrtle and olive on the lower slopes. Tucked away are sleepy towns and villages, where you’ll catch enticing glimpses of local life and centuries-old traditions. Even the cuisine of Sardinia differs with distinct takes on Italian staples. Semolina-based ‘fregula’ challenges our preconceptions of pasta as its spherical shape bears a closer resemblance to couscous than spaghetti. ‘Zuppa gallurese’ is Sardinian comfort food at its best and, despite its name, has nothing to do with soup – slices of bread are soaked in lamb stock and sprinkled with cheese and herbs, then baked in the oven to golden perfection. Some might say the culmination of Sardinian cuisine is the ‘porceddu’, suckling pig wrapped in myrtle and bay leaves, spit-roasted for hours over an open fire. Off the beaten track are verdant vineyards producing superb wines, such as the Cannonau reds and Vermentino whites. Sardinia shares much of its history with Corsica, which once formed a head to its torso before the Straits of Bonifacio divided them over time. The islands’ strategic position between Europe and Africa has long attracted invaders since prehistoric times. Scattered across Sardinia are some 7,000 ‘nuraghi’ – these Bronze Age settlements were left by a mysterious civilisation and are an unceasing allurement to the curious traveller. Then came the Phoenicians who founded trading posts followed by the Romans who ruled Sardinia and Corsica as a province. Both islands were liberated by Genoa and Pisa from Moorish invasion, and in the 14th century the kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica was offered by Pope Bonifacio VII to the Catalan-speaking Aragonese. The entire island is an open-air museum best explored at leisure, and our wonderful tour follows this fascinating journey through time across Sardinia and the southernmost tip of Corsica. We visit one of the island’s largest nuraghi, the astonishing Santu Antine. Observe the legacies of the Genoese in the elegant Corsican town of Bonifacio, and of the Spaniards in the medieval port city of Alghero. Of course, we experience Sardinia’s wide-ranging landscapes, from fine-sand beaches and towering cliffs to granite mountains and rolling hills. Along the way you’ll encounter the perfectly hospitable Sardinians, who are extremely proud of their heritage and more than happy to share a slice of traditional, idyllic island life with anyone willing to embrace it.

Highlights

  • Happy by day two or we'll bring you home with a full refund
  • Discover hidden cultural treasures in the charming traditional villages of inland Sardinia
  • Explore medieval Alghero’s fascinating Catalan heritage on a guided tour
  • Tour Italian-influenced Bonifacio in French Corsica with an expert guide
  • Admire the fabled Costa Smeralda’s picturesque coastal villages
  • Marvel at the Santu Antine nuraghe, one of the thousands of Bronze Age settlements scattered across the island
  • Visit a family-owned wine estate and enjoy a tasting of Sardinia’s excellent wines
  • Enjoy scenic drives with superb views along the breathtaking coast
  • Feast on traditional Sardinian fare at a family-run agriturismo, a rural restaurant serving dishes made with fresh, local produce
  • Seven nights accommodation in four-star hotels inclusive of all local taxes, with breakfast and four dinners
  • The Signature Tour option includes all of the above as well as:
  • Sip a chilled aperitivo and absorb the magnificent views over Alghero’s old town and dazzling bay from the fabulous viewpoint of the town’s only skybar
  • Enjoy an exhilarating cruise to the magnificent Neptune Caves with their spectacular ‘rooms’ and myriad of fascinating and beautiful rock formations
  • Relax over drinks and typical Sardinian specialities in the elegant ambience of the Vigneti Surrau, amidst a stunning landscape of vineyards and rolling hills

Inclusions

  • The price of this holiday is per person based on two people sharing a twin room. Single rooms are subject to availability at the relevant supplement. The price includes
  • Return flights
  • Seven nights accommodation
  • Daily breakfast and four dinners (including one in a local restaurant)
  • All local taxes and transfers
  • All tours as mentioned
  • The services of a Riviera Travel tour manager
  • Included excursions: entrances to Calangianus Cork Museum and Nuraghe Santu Antine, ferry crossing from Santa Teresa Gallura to Bonifacio