west sardinia scivu beach blue sea
west sardinia scivu beach blue sea

West Sardinia, Sea and Mines

Level
3
Distance
85 km
Duration
8 days | 7 nights
period
Apr May Jun Jul Sep Oct
price from
€ 769
CO2 footprint
140 Kg/person
  1. Italy
  2.  | 
  3. Self-Guided
  4.  | 
  5. Tourcode ITSW340

When you first get here, in the region of Sardinia called Sulcis-Iglesiente you immediately feel why it is also known as Costa Verde (The Green Coast): this place is remote, wild and has an industrial-mines past that forged the landscape and the people. This past of mineral extraction (started 8.000 years ago) creates a unique combination of abandoned mine sites together with the natural beauty of the area and stimulates the curiosity of
whom come to this area for the first time, that feeling of “here there’s a story to be told”. In 2007, this mining area (circa 3.800 km2) was added to the Geoparks list of UNESCO. The more you walk towards the south the more you get to know the Sardinian people, very helpful, welcoming and smiling (sometimes with a sardonic laughter! Some people say comes from their way of laughing to the various invaders they had for centuries...)

The Sulcis region is famous (in the world of wines) for the Carignano, a red grape that can live with almost no water and is no more than a foot high from the ground, because the strong winds don’t allow it to grow higher; almost every family still have a little vineyard to produce the Carignano del Sulcis and after a sip you know why they still make it!

The island of Sant’Antioco makes the perfect final stop for this trip: besides walking through stunning views and ancient watchtowers, you will have the chance to discover the many souls of this island with a range of optional activities such as fishing boat trips & horse riding.

Highlights

  • Spectacular landscapes, a little-known part of Sardinia surrounded by wilderness and an ancient, magical atmosphere.
  • Great and varied walks: dunes and wildflowers, granite headlands with incredible views of the surrounding coastline and ancient watchtowers.
  • Beautiful beaches such as Piscinas, perfect for a dip in Sardinia's crystal clear waters.
  • Small family-run accommodations and plenty of opportunities to try local specialties and Carignano wine.

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Buggerru

Arrive in Buggerru
Your trip starts in the small village of Buggerru, a village that was founded in 1864 as mine settlement. After check-in at the hotel, take your time to visit the small town, you can relax by the beach or you can visit the “Henry Tunnel” an old mining site, a labyrinth carved into the rock that opens onto sheer views of the sea and rocky coastline.

Day 2

From Buggerru to Portixeddu, 13 km

From Buggerru to Portixeddu, 13 km
Today a very nice coastal walk is awaiting you. From Buggerru you start climbing along a secondary asphalt road overlooking the superb coast and the long beach of Portixeddu (this uphill section can be avoided by organizing a private transfer). After 5km / 3 mi of gradual ascent the route starts its descent into the gorge towards the dunes and artificial pine forest planted to prevent the sand to cover the main street and only access to the town. Along the last section you will walk through some military fortresses of the second world war. After a scrumptious lunch in Portixeddu you can take the bus to go back to Buggerru.

Distance: 13 km

Elevation gain: +607/-617 m

Day 3

From Ingurtosu to Scivu, 14,5 km

From Ingurtosu to Scivu, 14,5 km
After breakfast a transfer (about 30 minutes) will lead you to the nearly-abandoned village of Ingurtosu from where you will start your walk towards the ruins of the ancient “Laveria Brassey” mine site. At some point today you may feel close to Charles Darwin when he arrived at the Galapagos in the 1830s. The dunes of Piscinas are the most extended desert area in Europe. For about 6km there is just you, the sea, the sand and the wind! At the end of the day a short transfer will take you to the agriturismo where you are going to spend the next two nights.

Distance: 14,5 km

Elevation gain: +50/-280 m

Day 4

Capo Pecora loop walk, 15 km

Capo Pecora loop walk, 15 km
Today you are going back to the sea (Scivu beach) then you take a footpath inside the Mediterranean macchia, leading you to a stunning panoramic view point on Capo Pecora granite promontory. Don’t miss to take some unforgettable pictures of what it is a unmissable highlight of your trip! You will then proceed to walk on to reach the tiny village of Portixeddu, notorious among surfers for its famous beach of Portixeddu. A short transfer will drive you back to the agriturismo.

Distance: 15 km

Elevation gain: +431/-559 m

Day 5

From Portopaglia to Portoscuso, 14 km

From Portopaglia to Portoscuso, 14 km
Morning transfer (1 hour) to the tonnara of Porto Paglia, the starting point of today’s walk. Even if this is a marked footpath (red/white signs) it is on a very wild and remote coastline. You follow a sandy footpath with stunning views of the cliffs. Today’s walk is not suitable for people who suffers from “vertigo”, since there are a couple of section with no railing close to the cliff’s edge.

Distance: 14 km

Elevation gain: +379/-386 m

Day 6

Carloforte loop walk, 12 km

Carloforte loop walk, 12 km
Today you take the ferries to Carloforte where start a round walk, climbing on secondary asphalt road towards the north side of the Island, where at the end of May they start the so-called Mattanza, a system of nets that for about 45 days capture the tuna fish. Back in Carloforte take a ferries to Calasetta then a private transfer to Sant’Antioco.

Distance: 12 km

Elevation gain: +379/-379 m

Day 7

Sant’Antioco walk via Torre Cannai, 16,5 km

Sant’Antioco walk via Torre Cannai, 16,5 km
Today’s a private transfer takes you to Capo Sperone, then you walk back to S.Antioco, passing by the watchtower Torre Cannai and the beach of Maladroxia (popular spot when the maestrale wind blows). The last part to town is on asphalt road

Distance: 16,5 km

Elevation gain: +439/-381 m

Day 8

Arrivederci Sardegna!

Arrivederci Sardegna!
The trip and our services end after breakfast and depart for the airport with public transport unless you have pre-booked a private transfer with us.

Details

Is this for me?


A journey to discover the lesser-known Sardinia, far from the Costa Smeralda and traditional tourist circuits - this part is wilder and less known, dominated by industrial and mining archaeology. The islands of Sant'Antioco and Carloforte are perfect for those who love the idea of island living. It's not a particularly challenging trip - the first day of walking is the most demanding, but it can be reduced with a transfer if necessary.

Included


What is included

  • 7 Nights in double room in **/*** hotels , B&B and agriturismi with breakfast
  • luggage transportation from hotel to hotel
  • transfers as described in the day by day program
  • maps and detailed description of the itinerary in digital form, app
  • Medical and luggage travel insurance
  • 24h phone assistance

What is not included 

  • Transfers to the starting location and from the arriving location of the tour
  • lunches and dinners, if not otherwise stated
  • visits and entrance fees - tips
  • personal expense
  • possible sojourn taxes
  • everything that is not mentioned in the "What is included" section.

Optional Services

These services can be added to the ones included in the base price of the tour:

  • Single room supplement
  • cancellation insurance
  • Transfers to reach the starting location or to leave the arriving location of the tour, which will be quoted on request.
  • travel documentation in printed form (maps and detailed description of the itinerary), shipped to the first hotel

Accommodation


Buggerru: Hotel '904

Located in Buggerru, Hotel '904 provides air-conditioned, full-equiped rooms. Providing a shared lounge, the property is located within a 6-minute walk of Spiaggia di Buggerru. Guests at the hotel can enjoy a continental or a buffet breakfast.

www.hotel904buggerru.com

Agriturismo Majori

Majori is the ideal place forthose looking for a farm that follows the real passing of the seasons. A green tourism that puts the concepts of sustainability and quality of life at the center of its mission. An uncontaminated placesuitable for those who want to experience a stay of relaxation and tranquility, or organize excursions and trips by Mountain Bike or motorbike, or even for those who want to take a trip to discover the traditions and history of Sardinia.

https://www.majori.it/

 

Portoscuso: Hotel Don Pedro

The Don Pedro is a 3 star hotel located in front of the Portoscuso marina. Portoscuso is a small coastal town in South-Western Sardinia, in the Sulcis Iglesiente area. Connected to the Marina and only 100 meters from the small beach of Sa Caletta, the Don Pedro Hotel is the perfect starting point to discover Southern Sardinia.

www.hotel-donpedro.com

Sant'Antioco: B&B Il Sentiero B&Bio

This B&B is near the sea in an area surrounded by peaceful countryside, in an area of great archaeological and architectural merit, in a quiet, panoramic setting, in the old city centre. "Il Sentiero B&Bio" has a hospitable and comfortable atmosphere.

www.bed-and-breakfast.it/il-sentiero-bbio-sant-antioco

When to travel


Sardinia has a typical Mediterranean climate with very hot long summers and short, mild winters. During summer, you can rarely experience somerainfalls,butweatherisquite stable from the middle of June until the middle of September.Inthis period the average daytime temperature near to the coast varies from 28°to 34° C, however, this can rise to 38°/40° Cwhenthe Scirocco wind blows from North Africa. Itis a verydry wind that makes the temperature feel slightly lower than it actually is. While the north-west main wind Mistral blows from the mainland of France.In the hilly and mountainous internal areas of the island, the daytime temperature may be similar to orslightly higher than the temperature in the coastal areas, whileat night the temperature in the internal areas is much lower than in the coastal oncewhich benefit from thesea breeze.

What to bring


Clothing and other items
You will need your regular walking/cycling gear, including some sort of reflective garment. For the evenings, smart outdoor style trousers (or shorts) are invaluable, as are quick-dry t-shirts. These can be washed easily and will dry overnight and still look good for sightseeing or having a drink in town.

Take as little as possible to avoid potentially lugging a heavy suitcase up three flights of stairs at the end of the day. Please be aware that laundromats (“Laverie”) are not common in rural areas, so plan to do handwashing of small items.

Lightweight walking shoes/ trainers
For wearing around towns & villages. They can also be a back-up pair.

Socks & underwear
Take only good quality socks with quick-dry and insulating qualities. Road test them before you go on the trip. Take a suitable quantity of underwear as washing facilities are limited.

Warm jacket, hat, gloves
Bring a fleece, Polartec or warm layers for the evenings especially in spring or autumn; be sure it is totally suitable for your needs.
A fleece jacket which blocks the wind (Wind-stopper) is the most preferable. In the summer months a lightweight jacket is suitable for evenings.
If you are cycling/walking in mountainous or coastal areas, even in the height of summer, the weather can change very quickly and unexpectedly and you should be prepared for fog, mist, rain, snow or hail at any time. Always take an extra layer with you, as well as a warm hat and gloves.

Waterproof jacket & trousers
If you are caught in heavy rain, with good waterproof clothing you should remain dry. Remember that most garments will lose their properties over time. Few will remain waterproof for more than five years and many deteriorate in three years or less. We recommend a rain jacket with a good hood and collar and waterproof or thermal walking/cycling trousers or tights.

Dress code
In general, you should wear suitable clothing when entering a church (in many places, it is considered unacceptable to go inside wearing shorts or a tank-top). We suggest that women carry a shawl to cover up bear shoulders or low-cut tops. It also comes in handy when your shoulders get sunburned!

It is considered inappropriate for men to go without a shirt / T-shirt (other than at the beach).

Trekking poles (adjustable)
Highly recommended. A pair works best, depending on what you are comfortable with. If you suffer from back or knee pain this should be considered essential. Remember to practise walking with your pole(s) on different types of terrain in the months preceding your trip.

Walking boots
The importance of good footwear cannot be stressed enough. Your boots should be sturdy and of good enough quality to handle all types of terrain. Lightweight boots, (cordura/leather boots) which have Gore-Tex or sympatex water-proofing are most suitable for this trip. They should provide good ankle protection and be well broken in. Waxing leather boots regularly prolongs their life.

Walking tops & trousers
We recommend walking trousers and shorts and quick-dry wicking t-shirts. These can be washed easily and will dry overnight and still look good for sightseeing or having a drink in town. Wicking T-shirts are fast drying, keep moisture away from your skin and are available at outdoor stores. You should also bring one pair of loose-fitting trousers to wear in cities and for evenings out, etc. Shorts or zip-off trousers are useful in warmer weather.

Practical info

How to arrive


Arrival in Buggeru

From Cagliari take the train to Iglesias  about 50-60 minutes ride (direct trains or with 1 change); from there you can take daily public busses to Buggerru via Fluminimaggiore (see www.arstspa.info). From Sant’Antioco, where the trip ends, you can take a bus to the city of Carbonia (see www.arstspa.info) and then a train from Carbonia to Cagliari Airport , about 1 hour ride (there are direct trains but 1 or 2 changes are possible, depending on trains)

Departure from Sant’Antioco

You can take a bus to Carbonia and then a train from Carbonia to Cagliari Airport 
 

Mobile App


Use the SloWays APP for iOS and Android smart phones in combination with the written documentation provided.

The App has the detailed tracks and maps that you can use offline and without roaming. Thanks to the phone’s internal GPS, you can check your exact position on the map, so you always know exactly where you are. It also helps you self-navigate you way while travelling. More information on how to use the App inside the roadbook documents.

The navigation features include:

  • Offline navigation. Mobile data not required after initial download
  • Accurate GPS tracks
  • Autorotation of the maps
  • Daily route summary and elevation chart
  • Panorama of the track and at street level
  • Alarm and vibration that alerts you in case you go off track.
  • Emergency SMS button with position coordinates
  • Possibility to record and take georeferenced photos of problems on route alerting fellow travelers
  • Hotel information
  • Points of interest along the way
  • Historical background

Wanderlust Nominee Best Specialist Tour Operator 2023
Wanderlust
Nominee Best Specialist Tour Operator 2023
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Touroperating
S-Cape Countryside Travels srl
Borgo Allegri 16R
50122 Firenze FI
P. IVA 05227330486

 
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Touroperating S-Cape Countryside Travels srl Borgo Allegri 16R 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
VAT Nr 05227330486

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