The Big loop of Sardinia | Self-Guided Bike Tour

Leaving Cagliari toward the east coast, you’ll first ride along the entire 11 km stretch of the vibrant Poetto beach, where locals spend their free time eating, drinking, surfing, tanning, and overall enjoying themselves.

For the first leg of your Sardinia bike tour, you have three options:

The stunning old Route 125: A 70 km ride through the mountains on a hilly, well-paved road with minimal traffic – a biker’s paradise.
The second one is a fantastic coastal ride, a never-ending series of ups and downs along a succession of impressive cliffs and beaches with crystal waters, such as Porto Sa Ruxi, Solanas, Torre delle Stelle, Geremeas, Mari Pintau, Cala Regina.
For your third option, you can add a breathtaking coastal ride between Castiadas and Villasimius, offering views of Isola di Serpentara.

Your final destination is Muravera, known as the land of citrus in Sardinia.

Overnight: Muravera
Included: Breakfast

Departing from Muravera, you’ll pedal northward through Sardinia’s scenic eastern coastal corridor, leaving the coastal plain behind as the road begins to roll and rise. Steady climbs test your endurance as the route winds through countryside and rugged hillsides, reaching peaks of around 280 meters above sea level before rolling into the Ogliastra district towards Tortolì.

Tortolì serves as the economic and cultural heart of Ogliastra, a region famous worldwide as one of the Earth’s few “Blue Zones”, areas known for extraordinary human longevity and high proportions of centenarians. Adjacent to the town lies the port of Arbatax, celebrated for its iconic Red Rocks (Rocce Rosse), dramatic cliffs of natural red porphyry that rise directly out of the emerald sea. These striking geological formations, sculpted over millennia by wind and waves, create a picturesque backdrop to mark the end of your journey along the island’s eastern coast.

Overnight: Tortolì
Included: Breakfast

Leaving Tortolì, you’ll pedal away from the coastal plain and tackle one of Sardinia’s most iconic mountain routes along the SS125 Orientale Sarda, climbing into the dramatic limestone peaks of the Supramonte range. Steady, sweeping inclines carry you past mountain villages toward the high point of the route near the Genna Silana pass, reaching elevations above 1,020 meters with commanding views of deep gorges and wild, untamed landscapes. From the summit, a long and rewarding descent leads down toward the coastal Baronia region, bringing your ride to an end in Orosei.

This historic town is famous for its preserved medieval core and pristine coastline, but the surrounding Supramonte wilderness is best known for housing the Gola di Gorropu, one of the deepest canyons in Europe. Formed by the erosive force of the Flumineddu River, the canyon features sheer vertical limestone walls rising over 500 meters high, creating a natural sanctuary for rare island flora and fauna.

Overnight: Orosei
Included: Breakfast

Overnight: Olbia
Included: Breakfast

Overnight: Palau
Included: Breakfast

Your bike holiday in Sardinia follows towards the Limbara Mountain range. The route takes you through charming villages and past meticulously maintained vineyards. Beyond Aggius, a scenic town in Gallura, the path descends into Valle della Luna, or ‘moon valley’. This region of Sardinia presents a vast open space dotted with minimal vegetation rising from granite rock formations. This valley serves as a bridge between Gallura and the Anglona. A gentle, extended downhill bike ride through the rural landscape brings you to the village of Santa Maria Coghinas and finally again by the sea at Valledoria. A brief ascent later, you’ll find yourself in Castelsardo, offering a splendid view of the historic Doria fortress perched on a cliff.

Overnight: Castelsardo
Included: Breakfast

We’ll leave Castelsardo following the coastal road towards the west, passing the long beach of Platamona and reaching the old town of Porto Torres, one of the most important ports on the island. Here we will head towards the Nurra plains, where, riding countryside back roads, we’ll reach Alghero, a Catalan heritage town. Alghero has a typical network of narrow streets and old ramparts overlooking the sea, perfect for a charming oceanfront dinner.

Overnight: Alghero
Included: Breakfast

Leaving Alghero, you’ll find yourself on a fantastic coastal road with a sea view and no traffic. What’s better for starting your West Coast bike tour in Sardinia? This 45 km stretch of ups and downs leads you to Bosa, one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Italy.

Bosa is a colorful village on a hill dominated by its XII-century Malaspina Castle and the Temo River winding through the valley below. Take a break in its historic center and taste the Malvasia, the wine symbol of the area.

After checking into your central hotel, enjoy a stroll through the historic heart of the city, where narrow cobbled lanes and small local shops create a timeless atmosphere. This is among the best-preserved old towns in all of Italy.

Overnight: Bosa
Included: Breakfast

The region of Sardinia you’re biking through today is a key area for Olive oil production. The main center of this industry is Cuglieri. The olive oil making began in the 16th century, thanks to the Jesuits. The Cathedral of Cuglieri will be the main landmark since you start riding. Once you reach Cuglieri, on the top of the hill, a thrilling downhill brings you to the coastline, where you can have a break at the beach of S’Archittu, the famous arch-shaped rock by the sea.

You will then enter the Sinis Peninsula, with its lagoons, pink flamingos, fishing traditions, and Phoenician heritage. Legend says that they started the preparation of Bottarga, a delicacy of salted and cured fish roe extracted from the local mullet. Cabras, the main town and your destination, hosts the “Giants of Mont’e Prama”, IX Century B.C. statues celebrating Nuragic warriors.

Overnight: Cabras
Included: Breakfast

Another spectacular ride, passing on the Marceddì lagoon, a place that seems frozen in time. Then, the majestic Costa Verde (the Green Coast) is quite a movie location thanks to the old mining villages and sandy dunes. This is considered one of the wildest areas on the island.

The next stint of your bike ride is about old ghosts mining villages, uphill surrounded by Mediterranean bushes and sandy beaches with dunes that seem deserts. A thrilling downhill finally brings you back to the sea level before our last effort to get Buggerru, an ancient mining village nestled in a cove on the coast. Here you’ll have your dinner in a very local trattoria.

Overnight: Buggerru
Included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Today’s ride on your Sardinia bike tour is another beautiful one with the sea by your side. You’ll start climbing again from Buggerru to reach the top of the hill in Acquaresi where you take a long downhill into the blue sea of Masua, admiring the magnificent Pan di Zucchero (Sugarloaf). This white limestone rock rises from the sea. Then, you continue your ride to Nebida, where walking on the seaside terrace is a must. Down again to Funtanamare beach and along the coast to Portoscuso. There, you catch the first ferry of the day to Carloforte, a Mediterranean gem where Ligurian, African, and Sardinian cultures blend harmoniously. The second ferry of your day brings you to Calasetta on Sant’Antioco island, where, after a short ride, you’ll reach the Sant’Antioco Village, your destination for tonight.

Overnight: Sant’Antioco
Included: Breakfast Dinner

We’ve told you this Sardinia bike tour has plenty of beauty. So what’s more marvelous than riding the southern Sardinia coast by bike?

After a few km, we’ll be enchanted by the neat Romanesque-Pisan architecture of the Cathedral of Tratalias in the ghost village of Tratalias Vecchia. We’ll cross the Sulcis countryside through artichoke fields and Carignano vineyards, a wine you can find just in this area.

After a stop for a wine tasting and a picnic by the impressive “Is Zuddas” caves, the ride follows the succession of secret coves and ancient Spanish watching towers, overlooking a sea with all shades of blue and green. The up and down ends in Chia, one of the most gorgeous beaches on the whole island, then we have just 15 km of peaceful countryside until the legendary Nora, the Phoenician town conquered by the Romans, one of the most important settlements of ancient Mediterranean.

Overnight: Pula
Included: Breakfast

It’s time to say goodbye, but we know our Island touched your heart, and you want to be back in Sardinia or one of Mediterras’ bike tour destinations with us!
After breakfast, we’ll help you with bikes and luggage and a shuttle to Cagliari airport, which is just 30 minutes from Pula.
Ciao Amici, ci vedremo ancora!