Character
Sardinia is located around 200 kilometres west of the Italian "boot" in the Mediterranean. At around 24,000 square kilometres, Sardinia is almost as large as Sicily and more than six times the size of Mallorca. The highest peaks are in the Gennargentu Mountains near the central east coast, at around 1,800 metres above sea level. However, some of our stages in the north-west also cover 1000 metres in altitude in just 50 kilometres. The even, moderate gradients (never over 10 per cent) make the climbing easy. The route almost always runs on low-traffic, asphalted side roads, cycle paths are practically unknown.
Best time to travel
April to the beginning of June and September/October.
Arrival
Flight: From several German airports to Olbia, from there by train to Alghero. Easyjet flies e.g. from Memmingen directly to Alghero.
Car/boat: By car to Livorno or Genoa, from there with car ferries from various companies (comparison on www.sardinien.com) overnight to Olbia. One-way trip incl. car from approx. 120 euros.
By train: In about 10-12 hours from Munich to Genoa, from there by (night) ferry in at least six hours to Olbia. www.bahn.de (Radfahrer-Hotline 0180/5996633)
Accommodation
Accommodation is thin on the ground in the low season. Longer advance planning or a call the day before is mandatory for travellers crossing the island. The Sardinian price level is generally rather high. An inexpensive option is the "agriturismo" accommodation (farm holidays). A planning aid can be found on the page www.sardegnaturismo.it
Tips:
Bosa: Hotel La Corte Fiorita, double room from 80 euros; www.albergo-diffuso.it
Santu Lussurgiu: Antica Dimora Del Gruccione, tel. 0039/0783/552035; www.anticadimora.com, HP 65 Euro
Literature and maps
Car and leisure map "Sardinia/ Cagliari 1 : 150,000", Freytag & Berndt, ISBN 978-3-7079-0763-6, 9.95 euros. Pleasantly clear map image, distance and altitude information.
Travel guide
Eberhard Fohrer: Sardinia, Michael Müller Verlag, 24.90 euros;
Very detailed, up-to-date handbook for individual travellers beyond the beaches.
Duncan Garwood: Sardinia; Lonely Planet Verlag, 17.95 euros;
Thinner, cheaper, but therefore also has small gaps in the information on the island.
Bike hire Alghero
Mountain Bike Porto Conte, Tel 0039 /079/952992; www.mtbportoconte.itTrekking bike 15 Euro/day
Xtreme, tel. 0039/0328/91 95 168; xtreme-alghero.comTrekking bike from 8 Euro/day
More info
ENIT Italian National Tourist Office; Tel. 069/237069; www.enit.it
Tourism website of the Sardinia region with detailed information, also in German.
www.sardegnaturismo.it/de
Organiser
A similar tour is organised by Wikinger Individuell, Tel. 02331/9046; www.wikinger.de
Tour tip
1) Alghero - Capo Caccia - Alghero;
approx. 50 km/250 metres in altitude; easy to moderately difficult
2) Alghero - Villanova Monteleone - Montresta - Bosa;
approx. 70 km/ 1,200 metres in altitude; challenging
3) Bosa - coastal road to Alghero and back;
approx. 50 km/ 450 metres difference in altitude; moderately difficult
4) Bosa - Bosa Marina - Magomadas - Tinnura - Ságama - San Leonardo de Siete Fuentes - Santu Lussurgiu;
approx. 50 km, 950 metres in altitude; demanding
5) Santu Lussurgiu - Bonarcado - Seneghe - Narbolia - Riola Sardo - San Salvatore di Sinis - Oristano;
approx. 50 km, 200 metres in altitude; easy
