Mr Sinclair says...
This holiday had a lot going for it - wonderful scenery, nice hotels, good food, friendly, helpful people. Overall, I enjoyed it but there were, ...
Read reviews »
Sardinia's north western coast, the aptly named Costa Smeralda, has been enchanting visitors for years with its stunning rugged coastline, beautiful inlets, impeccable white sandy beaches and of course impossibly turquoise seas. This 7 night self guided holiday takes you to some of the highlights of the Emerald Coast, as well as to its lesser known inland wine area, inner heartlands and traditional hilltop villages, which sit perfectly placed between Sardinia's craggy mountains and the glittering sea.
Explore la Maddalena, an island of simply exquisite beauty encapsulating the very best coastal vistas of pristine shores, deserted coves and shimmering waters. Pedal into the heart of the Gallura countryside, once the territory of smugglers and bandits that hid in the age old cork forest. Sample some of the best wines Sardinia has to offer from its abundant Vermentino vineyards and discover the mysterious nuraghe - remarkable Bronze Age remains that are unique to Sardinia. Pick up a souvenir at the lively market in the artists' village of San Pantaleo and wander the chic, pastel coloured lanes of elegant Porto Cervo before ending the trip in Cannigione, the gateway to the Costa Smeralda.
Your accommodation for the week is in comfortable hotels with enviable positions, including a stunningly converted stazzo with spa facilities, and a 4* hotel overlooking the bustling harbour in Palau.
Whilst every effort has been made to avoid main roads on this trip, some small sections are unavoidable. Roads in Sardinia are generally quiet, but there is a notable increase in traffic to this popular part of Sardinia in the hot summer months of July and August. If you prefer quieter roads and to avoid very hot weather, it's better to come outside these months
Arrive in Cannigione, the gateway to the Costa Smeralda.
Pedal along the coast to Palau, then hop on a ferry to La Maddalena, a National Park and one of the 60 islands in Sardinia's largest archipelago. There are breathtaking views as you follow the stunning coastal road around the island. Cross to the island of Caprera, the resting place of Garibaldi, the unifier of Italy, before returning to vibrant Palau.
Meals: Breakfast
Head for the hills and the pretty village of San Pasquale for spectacular views of La Maddalena archipelago. Continue on tranquil country lanes to the charming seaside town of Santa Teresa, with its rugged coastline and gorgeous sandy beach, and views over to Corsica on a clear day.
Meals: Breakfast
Detour to the promontory of Capo Testa for superb vistas over to the Bonificio Strait then head into the peaceful Gallura countryside with its endless cork forests, dramatic wind carved boulders and craggy peaks looming overhead. Overnight in a stunning Sardinian stazzo, a series of lovingly converted rural dwellings, with swimming pool and wellness centre.
Meals: Breakfast
Cycle along quiet country lanes to the megalithic Giant's Grave of Coddu Vecchiu and the Nuraghe la Prisgiona, the fascinating stone remains of a Bronze Age village. Today the sites are surrounded by endless Vermentino vineyards. Savour the prize-winning wine in a local winery (wine tasting included) before returning to your stazzo.
Meals: Breakfast
Ride to colourful Arzachena, the town around which the Costa Smeralda emerged, then climb to the lovely village of San Pantaleo, nestled below towering granite crags. A haven for artists and sculptors, wander round the village's cobbled streets and its art shops and cafes and enjoy its lively artisan market (Thursday morning).
Meals: Breakfast
Superb cycling today as you make your way back to the Costa Smeralda. Lunch perhaps in glamorous Porto Cervo with its exclusive boutiques and fine dining, then pedal past white sandy beaches, hidden inlets framed by fragrant juniper bushes and impossibly turquoise waters to Cannigione.
Meals: Breakfast
During your holiday you stay at the following hotels. If you'd like to extend your time at any of these or, if you'd like to enhance your stay with an upgraded room, just let us know at the time of booking.
To find out more call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347, use our live webchat or email usa@exodustravels.com
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
The family run Hotel del Porto is located just opposite Cannigione's lovely marina. It started life as a popular local restaurant before the family decided to add guest rooms; today, it is a *** hotel and has retained its restaurant as well as adding a guests' lounge area and bar. The comfortable bedrooms are all ensuite and decorated in the traditional Sardinian pastel blue colour.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
Find out more on the hotel website.
Read customer reviews on Tripadvisor.
Call now to speak to our specialist team at 1-800-267-3347 or email us at usa@exodustravels.com for enquiries or to book your trip.
Everyone who goes on a Headwater holiday will be emailed a link to our post-holiday questionnaire where they can give us an honest assessment of all aspects of their holiday - everything from how quickly we answer the phone to how clean the hotels were - plus an overall rating and comments about their holiday.
Any feedback collected is posted to our website, so that people can make an informed decision based on past experiences before heading off on holiday. We don’t edit the reviews, the only thing we do is proofread them and alter any typos, where necessary, to ensure they are easy to read for everyone. All reviews will be published (except in certain extreme circumstances), and a member of the Headwater team will respond to any constructive criticisms/comments under the reviews, at their discretion. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of our holidays, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.
This holiday had a lot going for it - wonderful scenery, nice hotels, good food, friendly, helpful people. Overall, I enjoyed it but there were, unfortunately, two negative issues. First, a lot of the cycling was on very busy main roads with lorries, buses, motorcyclists and fast cars. On days when there were strong cross winds I found the experience unnerving at times. The second was the shortness of the routes. Four of them were less than 20 miles, the other two just over 20 . Admittedly they were often hilly but hills present few problems for an ebike rider and with limited opportunities to stop this meant that I was often arriving at my destination by mid-day - on two occasions before my room was ready and in one 4 hours before the arrival of my luggage. I appreciate that logistically there are probably no alternatives to the use of the main roads and the particular routes chosen but additional options, as on other Headwater holidays would have benefitted me.
You can be confident that our pricing includes all the standard requirements of your holiday and many additional extras. Always ensure that you are comparing like for like when booking your holiday.
This 7 night self-guided cycling holiday includes:
Hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of and hotels
All breakfasts
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
Route directions and maps
High quality bikes
Complimentary upgrade to electric bikes available
Luggage transfers between hotels
Wine tasting on day 5
How to book:
For further details, or to check availability, speak to our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or click on the 'check availability' links below to complete our holiday enquiry form (we'll contact you at a time that's most convenient for you).
To enquire about this holiday, or for further information, call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or click on the 'Check availability' links below to complete our holiday enquiry form.
| Departing | Tour only | Prices  |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 20th Aug 2022 | US$2699 | Tour only: US$2699 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 27th Aug 2022 | US$2699 | Tour only: US$2699 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| Departing | Tour only | Prices |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd Sep 2022 | US$2249 | Tour only: US$2249 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 8th Sep 2022 | US$2349 | Tour only: US$2349 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 10th Sep 2022 | US$2249 | Tour only: US$2249 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 17th Sep 2022 | US$2249 | Tour only: US$2249 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 24th Sep 2022 | US$2249 | Tour only: US$2249 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| Departing | Tour only | Prices |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Oct 2022 | US$2249 | Tour only: US$2249 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 8th Oct 2022 | US$2249 | Tour only: US$2249 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| Departing | Tour only | Prices |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Apr 2023 | US$2349 | Tour only: US$2349 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 8th Apr 2023 | US$2349 | Tour only: US$2349 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 15th Apr 2023 | US$2349 | Tour only: US$2349 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 22nd Apr 2023 | US$2349 | Tour only: US$2349 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 29th Apr 2023 | US$2349 | Tour only: US$2349 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| Departing | Tour only | Prices |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th May 2023 | US$2349 | Tour only: US$2349 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 13th May 2023 | US$2349 | Tour only: US$2349 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 20th May 2023 | US$2349 | Tour only: US$2349 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 27th May 2023 | US$2349 | Tour only: US$2349 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| Departing | Tour only | Prices |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd Jun 2023 | US$2349 | Tour only: US$2349 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 10th Jun 2023 | US$2349 | Tour only: US$2349 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 17th Jun 2023 | US$2349 | Tour only: US$2349 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 24th Jun 2023 | US$2349 | Tour only: US$2349 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| Departing | Tour only | Prices |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Jul 2023 | US$2849 | Tour only: US$2849 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 8th Jul 2023 | US$2849 | Tour only: US$2849 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 15th Jul 2023 | US$2849 | Tour only: US$2849 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 22nd Jul 2023 | US$2849 | Tour only: US$2849 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 29th Jul 2023 | US$2849 | Tour only: US$2849 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| Departing | Tour only | Prices |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 5th Aug 2023 | US$2849 | Tour only: US$2849 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 12th Aug 2023 | US$2849 | Tour only: US$2849 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 19th Aug 2023 | US$2849 | Tour only: US$2849 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 26th Aug 2023 | US$2849 | Tour only: US$2849 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| Departing | Tour only | Prices |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd Sep 2023 | US$2349 | Tour only: US$2349 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 9th Sep 2023 | US$2349 | Tour only: US$2349 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 16th Sep 2023 | US$2349 | Tour only: US$2349 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 23rd Sep 2023 | US$2349 | Tour only: US$2349 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| 30th Sep 2023 | US$2349 | Tour only: US$2349 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
| Departing | Tour only | Prices |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 7th Oct 2023 | US$2349 | Tour only: US$2349 | Check availability |
| Check availability | |||
The prices quoted for each individual departure supercede those published in our current brochures. Air prices are subject to change and we advise early booking to obtain the best prices. Please see our Planning your holiday and What's included in the price? pages for additional information.
Children
This holiday is unsuitable for children.
Holiday type
Self-guided cycling Managed locally by Headwater appointed agent.
Departures
Saturday departures from 20th Aug 2022 to 7th Oct 2023, for 7 nights. All dates are subject to availability, please contact us to check.
Meals
All breakfasts
Electric bikes
Complimentary electric bikes are available on this holiday. As these are available on a first come first served basis, we recommend early booking to avoid disappointment.
Other details
Ferries to and from la Maddalena are not included. An indicative cost for this is 10€ per person.
E-bikes are a great way to tackle the more challenging routes on this trip but we would not recommend these for anyone out of practice on a bike. E-bikes are heavier than regular bikes and as such are better suited to proficient cyclists who need a boost up the hills! Please contact us to discuss if you are unsure on the suitability for the user.
This holiday does not include any flights or rail.
For further details, or to check availability, speak to our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or complete our holiday enquiry form (we'll contact you at a time that's most convenient for you).
Call now to speak to our specialist team at 1-800-267-3347 or email us at usa@exodustravels.com for enquiries or to book your trip.
