Walking holiday in La Costa Verde, Sardinia

Amongst stunning Mediterranean scenery you walk at your own pace along picturesque wooded tracks following abandoned miner's trails through remote mining villages and secluded valleys.

The base for the first part of the week, nestling in the peaceful foothills of the Sulcis Mountains in the south west of the island, is a family-run ‘Turismo Rurale’, with mouth-watering home made food and great hospitality. From here you'll take a few days to explore the mining region following a network of ancient mining paths through lush vegetation.

Moving to the coast mid-point, your accommodation is a charming residence. With sun terraces overlooking uninterrupted views of La Costa Verde, it is only a short walk from the magnificent sand dunes of Piscinas, one of the biggest in Europe that stretches for several kilometres along the Costa Verde. Coated in juniper and Mediterranean scrub, the dunes reach heights of up to 50 metres in places.

Ghostly towns and ruins will surround you on your walk to the next accommodation. Heading up stream and leaving behind derelict buildings and mining materials, the landscape opens up to granite boulders and the summit of Mt Linas ahead of you. For your final day's walk, the scenery yet changes again. Taking a well beaten track past a goat farm and into the lower slopes of Mt Linas, you reach the sleepy village of Fluminimaggiore. Here the coast is again enchanting, an ideal location for your rest day.

Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1 – Arrive
Arrive in Cagliari and you will be transferred to your first accommodation where you will be briefed on the trip.

Day 2 – Loop Sanna Mines or Loop walk Mt Arcuentu (8km, 3hrs)
Depending on how you feel, you have a choice of two walks taday:

OPTION A: A gentle start to your walking holiday, setting off from La Miniera Fiorita, you follow old miners' trails past abandoned mine buildings and through lush vegetation. As the route is not overly long, you have plenty of time to explore the fascinating old zinc and lead mines - mineshafts with their original equipment, former factories and workers’ villages, all set amid lush Holm and cork-oak woods. It is likely that you will see some Sardinian deer during your walks. In the afternoon you can visit the museum in Montevecchio, a historical account of the mining tradition of this area. (8km, 3hrs)

OPTION B : For those feeling more energetic, today you explore mt Arcuentu range, a volcanic plug and range that rises quite dramatically from the Campidano Plans. After a short transfer, the walk starts on a gentle path through broom, to then become steeper as you reach the sacred basalt summit. A shrine nestled in the dense Holm oak wood  and the 360 degree views, make it a truly remarkable place. The descent is across pastureland all the way to your accommodation in Montevecchio. (10km, 4hrs)

Day 3 - Montevecchio to Piscinas (17.5km, 5hrs)
From Montevecchio, you head towards the coast on gently meandering footpaths through dense shrub and past shepherd holdings. The path reaches Riu Irvi, an iron coloured  stream the you will cross several times before reaching the majestic sand dunes of Piscinas, one of the biggest in Europe that stretches for several kilometres along the Costa Verde. Coated in juniper and Mediterranean scrub, the dunes reach heights of up to 50 metres in places. A short section will lead you to your next accommodation.

Day 4 - Rest day
Time to relax, or if you wish more coastal walks available.

Day 5 - Piscinas - Sibiri (20km, 51/2hrs)
Today you head inland, following a river upstream through a small canyon before rising though Mediterranean scrub to join a disused railway. You pass buildings which reflect the richness of industrial archaeology of this area: the Brassey washery, named after its English owner, the Viscount of Brassey; Pozzo Gal, a well reserved shaft  recently opened as a multi-media museum. Walking though Ingurtosu Village, you can admire the interesting architecture of the Administrative offices. Taking a network of goat tracks will lead you to your next Agriturismo accommodation where a delightful meal awaits.

Day 6 - Sibiri – Fluminimaggiore (20km, 6 hrs)
You will start off with a transfer, to the start of our mountain trail close to Mt Linas. This route was once the “smugglers way”, used by cattle thefts to transport their stolen animals down to the coast. The initial climb is gradual, following a tight valley and narrow stream, then walking through mountain pastures and meadows, finally reaching Planucheddu (630 metres) from where you will have a breathtaking 360 degrees view of all the Sulcis Iglesiente range.  Giving time to fully absorb the vista and catch our breath, you will embark on a rewarding 10 Km descent into the sleepy town of Fluminimaggiore. This is the first time during this trip that you come into a village. After a short coffee break and a quick visit of the interesting wall paintings known as “murales”,  the last section of walk is towards the coast, along the fertile Flumini valley, along country lanes, past olive plantations and vineyards. Your next accommodation is not f ar from the the long and sandy beach of Portixeddu.

Day 7 – Fighezia to Portixeddu beach – loop walk (12-15km, 4 hrs)
Your final day walk will lead you to the coast again and the long sandy beach of Portixeddu. Here you have the option to take an easy stroll along the long sandy beach towards Buggerru or to follow the trails along the rocky promontory towards Capo Pecora. Returning to your Agriturismo, you finish with another mouth watering meal in the good company of your local hosts, Massimo and Francesco.

Day 8 – Departure
After breakfast we will collect you from your accommodation and transfer you to your departure destination.

What the price doesn't include
A) Personal clothing and equipment.
B) Meals and drinks whilst travelling to and from Sardinia.
C) Travel insurance.
D) Bar bills, telephone calls, souvenirs, etc.
E) Entrance fees to archaeological sites (approximatly 5 euros per visit).
F) Single room option (if required) - £140.00.