Cycling Tour from Alghero to Cabras

8 day self-guided bike tour in the  northwest of Sardinia, from Alghero to Cabras

A thrilling bike trip through the natural beauty spots and history of north-western Sardinia, passing from the sea to the lakes, from archaeological sites to castles, from woods to beaches.
 

Overview

• Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
• Overnight stay with breakfast
• Distance: 280 - 310 km
• Starting point: Alghero | End point: Cabras
• Difficulty level: easy to challenging, 6 stages: 3 easy (mostly flat), 1 moderate (with some short climbs), and 2 more challenging (with some demanding climbs)
• Start dates: always Saturdays, other days available upon request for an additional fee
• Best time to travel: April–June / September–October due to mild temperatures

 

Highlights

• The old town centres of Alghero and Bosa
• Lake Temo and Monte Minerva
• Slow food district of Montiferru
• The Sinis wetlands and the Tharros archaeological site

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Programm

1st day - arrival
Transfer or individual arrival at Alghero, meet up for a briefing on the route, handover of bicycles and info pack.

2nd day: Alghero loop (54 km)
Your tour starts with a visit by bike to the old fortifications and the appealing historic centre of Alghero, a splendid Aragonese city. Leaving Alghero, we come to the prehistoric bastion of Nuraghe Palmavera. Then on to Capo Caccia, an imposing rocky outcrop 168 m high, looking out over the sea and then to lake Baratz, the only natural lake in Sardinia where you can visit the Environmental Education Experience Centre. Back to Alghero through countryside covered with vineyards and olive groves, producing world renowned oil and wines.

3rd day: Alghero - Bosa (44 km)
Today you will cycle along the amazing panoramic coastal road from Alghero to Bosa, one of the most beautiful ones in Sardinia.  Bosa is a charming town with castle ruins and a medioeval center, the region is also known for its delicious Malvasia wine.

4th day: Bosa loop (26/62 km)
The short leg meanders through the vineyards along the Malvasia wine route, with tasting of these famous DOC wines at the various caves. The long leg is a ring route round the area where the griffons nest, going up towards Montresta and passing by the nuraghe Appiu, as far as the spectacular rocky outcrops and inlets of Capo Marrargiu, where if you are lucky you’ll be able to see the swooping flight of this rare breed of Mediterranean vulture. If you’d rather take a break, you can spend the day discovering Bosa: the fascinating Malaspina Castle, the Medieval quarter with its pastel-coloured houses with red trachyte decorations, small goldsmiths’ shops and charming beaches.

5th day: Bosa – Santu Lussurgiu (55 km)
Today’s route is flanked by vineyards and olive groves as far as Flussio and Tinnura, two small towns famous for their reed and wicker baskets and for their murales (wall paintings). Then on through the pasturelands of Sagama, with Mediterranean brush landscape stretching as far as the eye can see, until you reach the springs of San Leonardo, the area richest in water of the whole of Sardinia. At Santu Lussurgiu a well-deserved rest at a charming diffuse hotel, consisting of several tastefully restored old houses.

6th day: Santa Caterina loop (55 km)
Today’s route will lead you to the Sanctuary of Santa Cristina, one of the most representative, best preserved and mysterious nuragic well temple in Sardinia. The sacred nuragic area is built on a basalt plateau in the territory of the nearby town of Paulilatino and the name derives from the adjacent rural church of Santa Cristina. After a stroll around you will return to Santu Lussurgiu for the night.

7th day: Santu Lussurgiu – Cabras (55 km)
Today you will discover the splendid natural scenery of the Montiferru, a ‘slow-food’ area famous for its much appreciated Sardinian-Modican cows and its typical casizzolu, a stretched curd cheese. The land slopes down to the sea, bringing us to the Marine Protected Area of the Sinis, home to pink flamingo and herons. Here we take a dirt track flanking a series of white quartz beaches. Then on through a charming fishermen’s hamlet, where you will find one of the most important Early Christian churches in Sardinia, and continue to Tharros, a fascinating archaeological site on the sea shore, with a wealth of Phoenician and Roman remains. The tour ends at Cabras

8th day - departure
After breakfast, end of services and departure.

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FAQ

Who can participate?
Experienced cyclists. E-bike rental is available upon request to make the tour easier.

What's included in the price?
The base price includes 7 nights' accommodation with breakfast, luggage transfer from hotel to hotel, a support vehicle for a few days, an app with maps and information, telephone support, and travel insurance during the tour.

What extras are available?
We offer transfers to the starting point and at the end of the tour, room upgrades or dinners at the accommodation where possible, rental of bicycles and e-bikes, helmets, and panniers. We also offer car rentals, ferry tickets, and extended stays.

What's in the Bike rental included?
Each bike comes with a 20-liter waterproof bag, a smartphone mount, a combination lock, and a 0.75-liter water bottle. A repair kit is also included for every two bikes, containing a spare inner tube, a tube repair kit, tire levers, a pump, and a basic multi-tool.

Is the tour self-guided or guided?
The bike tour is self-guided. An app will guide you through the tour, and telephone support is also available.

When does the tour start?
The tour typically begins on Saturday afternoon with arrival at the first accommodation. The actual bike tour starts on Sunday morning after breakfast, consisting of six stages until Friday afternoon, followed by an overnight stay at the final accommodation and breakfast on Saturday morning. The tour can also start on other days of the week and will still last eight days / seven nights (upon request and with an additional charge).

When is the best time for this bike tour?
We recommend the tour in spring and autumn when temperatures are still mild and the island is less crowded. In autumn, the sea is Still warm enough for bathing.