Best of Sardinia

Begin your holiday with included airport lounge access before your flight to Cagliari. On arrival, pick up your hire car and make your way to your elegant boutique hotel in a peaceful, leafy corner of the city. It’s nicely detached from the hustle and bustle, but still within easy reach of the main sights. Spend the rest of the day exploring the sights of the Sardinian capital, such as the historic hilltop Quartiere Castello and the 13th-century Cagliari Cathedral, or simply kick back and relax in the hotel’s private garden. 

Today, you’ll embark on a journey back in time with a private tour of Nora, an ancient settlement on Sardinia’s south coast, founded around the eighth century BC during the Phoenician era. As you walk among the intricate mosaics and ruins of temples, thermal baths and theatres, many of which were built by the Romans, you’ll gain a fascinating insight into the island’s past. On the way back to Cagliari, you’ll take the scenic route along the shore of the Santa Gilla Lagoon, where you may be fortunate enough to spot pink flamingos. It’s then time for a guided tour of the city, with stops at the Basilica of Our Lady of Bonaria and the belvedere at Monte Urpinu Park.

Leave Cagliari behind this morning as you head north in the direction of Villamar, a village renowned for its colourful street murals. Continue on to Barumini, home to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Nuragic complex of Su Nuraxi, where you’ll find some of the best examples of ‘nuraghi’ — Bronze Age megalithic stone towers found throughout Sardinia. You’ll then visit a local vineyard for a guided tour and wine tasting, before ending up at the luxurious Is Arenas Resort, tucked away in a pine forest that fringes a sandy beach on the west coast. 

Spend today exploring the nearby city of Oristano, where you’ll find plenty of elegant piazzas, an archaeological museum and an impressive sandstone cathedral dating back to the 12th century. For the best views overlooking the city, take a trip up the 19-metre high Tower of Mariano II, which once formed part of Oristano’s medieval walls. You may also fancy heading to one of the area’s many fabulous beaches, such as San Giovanni di Sinis, Is Arutas, or Is Arenas, which is just a few steps away from the hotel. The hotel also has a spa where you can indulge in a range of reinvigorating massages and skin treatments using quality, natural wellness products. Cocktails by the poolside are always an option, while the restaurant specialises in seasonal, local cuisine paired with exceptional wines. 

After breakfast, you’ll traverse Sardinia from west to east, perhaps making a stop or two at the Santa Cristina Archaeological Park or the historic city of Nuoro en route. You’ll notice the terrain becoming increasingly mountainous as you approach the village of Oliena, just beyond which you’ll be spending the next two nights in a cosy and authentic hotel on the wooded slopes of the Supramonte range. It’s a perfect spot to embrace the peace, quiet and natural beauty of this often overlooked corner of Sardinia. Local arts, crafts and textiles create a unique sense of character throughout, while the secluded gardens and courtyards offer an abundance of space in which to switch off and unwind. There’s also a trio of restaurants serving traditional, home-cooked Sardinian classics, featuring ingredients freshly harvested from the on-site vegetable and herb gardens. 

You have the whole day free to take advantage of a raft of experiences on offer at the hotel, enabling you to delve deeper into Sardinian nature and culture. Learn how to make Sardinian pasta in a cooking class, choose from a range of arts and crafts workshops, go hiking, cycling or kayaking in the mountains, or join a full-day boat trip in the Gulf of Orosei. Alternatively, you may decide to visit the nearby villages of Orosei and Galtelli. Later on, there’s the option of wine tasting, star gazing, watching a movie at the open-air cinema, or enjoying traditional Sardinian folk dancing and singing shows. 

Your Sardinian road trip continues towards the north with a stop in the pastel-hued hilltop village of Posada, renowned as one of the island’s prettiest villages. The views overlooking the Rio Posada and the Mediterranean from the medieval Castello della Fava fortress are quite spectacular. You could also make a detour to Berchida beach, whose pristine white sand fringed by juniper and pine treats makes it one of Sardinia’s most idyllic swimming and sunbathing spots. Your final destination is Grand Relais dei Nuraghi, a stylish hotel built across a natural rock formation facing out towards the Maddalena Archipelago. As well as comfortable and spacious suites, it features a private beach, an outdoor rooftop pool and a restaurant serving gourmet Italian cuisine.

Over the next three days, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the Costa Smeralda – a scenic, 12-mile stretch of coastline that’s home to power-soft white sands and emerald waters. Some of the finest beaches in the area are Spiaggia del Principe, Liscia Ruja, Romazzino and Capriccioli. Also consider a day trip to the Maddalena Archipelago, a cluster of seven main islands and over 50 smaller islets that bear more than a slight resemblance to the Caribbean. There’s also plenty to see and do inland in the north of Sardinia, including visiting the granite villages of Aggius and Tempio at the foot of Mount Limbara, and award-winning wineries such as Surrau and Capichera. 

Enjoy one last breakfast at the hotel before heading to Olbia Airport to return your hire car and catch your flight home.