On the water, sensations guaranteed
Sailing. Sardinia is one of Europe's regatta capitals. The waters around the La Maddalena archipelago are the most popular with amateurs, but it's on the Costa Smeralda that the main international competitions are held from June to October.
Windsurfing, kitesurfing, surfing, wakeboarding. Sardinia has some excellent spots for windsurfing and kitesurfing. The best spots for funboarding and kitesurfing are the beaches of Cala Piscina, Rena Majore and Marina delle Rose in Santa Teresa di Gallura, Capo Mannu near Oristano, and Chia beach near Cagliari for lovers of big waves. For slalom, the beach at Porto Pollo on Isola dei Gabbiani, between Palau and Santa Teresa di Gallura, is the venue for kitesurfing championships. Big waves are not uncommon in this area, which prides itself on being one of the world's windsurfing sanctuaries. Numerous clubs rent out all kinds of equipment. Other renowned beaches include Salines and Calagrande in Sant'Antioco, Pelosa in Stintino and Poetto in Cagliari. Finally, while surfers head for the Sinis region to the west of the island, wakeboarders head for the beach at Cagliari or Lake Flumendosa.
Kayaking. Sea kayaking is practised all along the 1,800 km of coastline, often lined with small coves and caves to explore. Kayaking is the ideal way to make sure you don't miss out on the wonders of every corner of the coast. It's a good alternative to the popular"gommone" (motorized zodiac). The best spots are the Gulf of Orosei and the Maddalena archipelago. Kayak rental companies are to be found just about everywhere on the coast at reasonable rates.
Underwater, a magnificent natural aquarium
Sardinia's seabed offers a completely different vision of the island, silent and fascinating. The fauna and flora are very well preserved. While some will be content with a short snorkeling session, experienced divers will be able to make some very interesting dives to discover wrecks and relics of vanished civilizations. The infrastructure is excellent, with around a hundred diving centers all over the island, most of them open from April to October, allowing you to explore this magnificent aquarium.
The La Maddalena archipelago is surely one of the best spots. Its status as a natural park gives it a privileged status, and only divers accompanied by instructors from Diving Centers authorized by the park will have access to it. Diving centers are located in Palau, Isola dei Gabbiani, Santa Teresa di Gallura, Arzachena and La Maddalena.
The Costa Smeralda is rich in wrecks (Relitto Omega and Relitto di Molara), and its transparent green waters can be explored from Porto Rotondo, Olbia, Budoni and Golfo Aranci.
Further south, on the Ogliastra coast between Cala Gonone and Vilasimius, you'll find a beautiful seabed and countless caves and airplane and ship wrecks.
In the south of the island, the islands of Sant'Antioco and San Pietro, as well as the Chia region, are interesting for their rich fauna of moray eels, lobsters, tuna and other fish.
Finally, the north-western side of the island, which can be explored from Alghero or Stintino, boasts a good 15 sites. Caves and wrecks rich in fish and coral of all kinds will delight divers of all levels.
Inland, in the assault of nature
Canoeing, kayaking, rafting. The lakes in central Sardinia are ideal for canoeing. Lake Gusana, near Gavoi in Barbagia, and nearby Lake Omodeo, with its submerged nuraghes, are ideal for kayaking, as is Lake Mulargia, near Cagliari. Lake Coghinas, in Gallura, is also ideal for rafting. In addition to its four large lakes, Sardinia also boasts 7,000 ha of lagoons and a large river, the Flumendosa.
Hiking. Sardinia has no very long or well-known hiking trails. However, the diversity of the landscape lends itself very well to hiking, which is best done in spring or autumn. Please note that it's best to obtain trekking maps before you arrive in Sardinia. You won't always find precise hiking maps on the spot, and the signposting leaves something to be desired. Make sure you're well-equipped, or ask local guides to accompany you.
Horse-riding. Horseback riding is very popular in Sardinia, where you'll find dozens of riding schools. It's an excellent way of discovering sites that are difficult to reach on foot, and nothing beats a ride along mule paths or shepherd's paths. The best rides are on the Oristano plain, in the Iglesiente, in the Giara di Gesturi park, south towards Pula, and in the heart of Barbagia from Oliena.
Cycling. The Alghero and Capo Caccia regions, with their small roads lined with oleanders and beautiful coastal landscapes, can be visited in just a few days by bike. You'll pass the Palmavera nuraghe and the Angelu Ruju necropolis, and visit the superb town of Alghero. The Sinis peninsula around Oristano is also an ideal place for cyclists, who can ride between marshes and ponds, discovering the Phoenician town of Tharros and strolling along the white sandy beaches of Is Arutas. And let's not forget the Giara di Gesturi park, also great for cycling to meet wild horses. The Gallura and Barbagia regions and the area around Iglesias also offer great mountain bike trails.
Climbing. The Gulf of Orosei, with its high cliffs, is a paradise for rock climbers. The routes around Cala Luna, Cala Sisine and the Gorropu Gorge are the best known and a must for climbers.
Via ferrata and coasteering. The entire Supramonte region and the indented coastline of the Gulf of Orosei lend themselves to these two activities, which are increasingly being promoted by specialist agencies. The island of Tavolara boasts one of Europe's finest aerial courses, the Via degli Angeli.
Canyoning. When in water, Sardinia's canyons are magnificent: limestone, porphyry and granite provide an excellent playground. Sardinia is home to Europe's only underground canyon, Grotta Donini... A marvel that all self-respecting canyoneers must explore before they die.
Golf. Sardinia boasts a number of prestigious golf courses, including the Pevero Golf Club, not far from Cala di Volpe (Costa Smeralda), one of the world's finest and most prestigious, designed by American architect Robert Trent Jones. You can also practice your swing at Is Molas, in Pula, or at Is Arenas, north of Oristano.
