On the water, sensations guaranteed
Sailing. Sardinia is one of the capital places of regattas in Europe. The waters surrounding the archipelago of La Maddalena are the most popular with amateurs, but it is on the Costa Smeralda that the main international competitions take place from June to October.
Windsurfing, kitesurfing, surfing, wakeboarding. Sardinia has very good spots for windsurfing and kitesurfing. The best places for funboarding and kitesurfing are: Cala Piscina, Rena Majore and Marina delle Rose beaches in Santa Teresa di Gallura, Capo Mannu near Oristano, and Chia beach near Cagliari for those who love big waves. For the practice of slalom, the beach of Porto Pollo on the Isola dei Gabbiani, between Palau and Santa Teresa di Gallura, is where kitesurfing championships are held. Big waves are not uncommon in this place, which prides itself on being one of the world's sanctuaries for windsurfing. Many clubs rent all the equipment here. Other famous beaches are the Salines and Calagrande beaches in Sant'Antioco, the Pelosa in Stintino and Poetto in Cagliari. Finally, while surfers will head to the Sinis area, on the west side of the island, wakeboarders will head for the beach of Cagliari or the Flumendosa lake.
Kayaking. Sea kayaking is practiced all along the 1800 km of coastline, often lined with small coves and caves to explore. Kayaking is the ideal way to get around and enjoy the wonders of every corner of the coast. It is a good alternative to the popular "gommone" (motorized zodiac). The best spots are the Gulf of Orosei and the Maddalena archipelago. There are kayak rental companies almost everywhere on the coast at reasonable rates.
Underwater, a magnificent natural aquarium
The seabed of Sardinia offers a completely different vision of the island, silent and fascinating. The fauna and flora are very well preserved. If some people are satisfied with a small snorkeling session, experienced divers will be able to make very interesting dives to discover wrecks and vestiges of disappeared civilizations. The infrastructure is excellent with about a hundred diving centers, installed all over the island and open for the most part from April to October, allowing the exploration of this magnificent aquarium.
The archipelago of La Maddalena is surely one of the best spots. In fact, its title 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, on the island of Gabbiani, in Santa Teresa di Gallura, in Arzachena and in La Maddalena.
The Costa Smeralda is rich in wrecks (Relitto Omega and Relitto di Molara), and its green and transparent waters can be explored from Porto Rotondo, Olbia, Budoni and Golfo Aranci.
Further south on the Ogliastra coast between Cala Gonone and Vilasimius, you can find beautiful sea beds and countless caves and wrecks of planes and ships.
In the south of the island, the islands of Sant'Antioco and San Pietro, as well as the area of Chia, are interesting for their rich fauna of moray eels, lobsters, tuna and other fish.
Finally, the northwest side of the island, which can be explored from Alghero or Stintino, has a good fifteen sites. Caves and wrecks rich in fish and corals of all kinds will delight divers of all levels.
Inland, in the assault of nature
Canoeing, kayaking, rafting. The lakes of central Sardinia are very suitable for canoeing. The lake of Gusana, near Gavoi, in Barbagia, and, not far away, the lake Omodeo, with its submerged nuraghes, are perfect for kayaking, as is the lake of Mulargia, near Cagliari. The lake of Coghinas, in Gallura, is also suitable for rafting. But apart from its four large lakes, Sardinia also has 7,000 hectares of lagoons and a large river, the Flumendosa.
Hiking. Sardinia does not have very long or famous hiking trails. However, the diversity of the landscape lends itself very well to hiking, which it is advisable to do in spring or autumn. Be careful, it is better to get the trekking maps before your arrival in Sardinia. You will not always find precise hiking maps on the spot, and the signposting leaves something to be desired. Go well equipped or have local guides accompany you.
Horseback riding. Horseback riding is very popular in Sardinia, where you will find dozens of riding schools. It is an excellent way to discover sites that are difficult to reach on foot and nothing beats the rides along the mule paths or shepherd's paths. The best rides are in the plain of Oristano, in the Iglesiente, in the park of Giara di Gesturi, south towards Pula, and in the heart of Barbagia from Oliena.
Bicycle. The areas of Alghero and Capo Caccia, with their small roads lined with oleanders and their beautiful coastal landscapes, can be visited in a few days by bike. You can pass by the Palmavera nuraghe and the necropolis of Angelu Ruju, and visit the beautiful town of Alghero. The Sinis peninsula, around Oristano, is also an ideal place for cyclists, who can ride through marshes and ponds, discover the Phoenician city of Tharros and stroll along the white sandy beaches of Is Arutas. The park of Giara di Gesturi is also very pleasant to ride a bike and meet wild horses. The regions of Gallura, Barbagia and the surroundings of Iglesias also offer beautiful mountain bike routes.
Motorcycle and quad. With its heights, beaches and beautiful landscapes, Sardinia offers exceptional motorcycle and quad routes. On the west coast, the dunes of Piscinas and the remains of the mines of Montevecchio and Sulcis are very suitable for this practice, as well as the surroundings of the lake of Gusana, in Barbagia.
Climbing. The Gulf of Orosei, with its high cliffs, is a paradise for rock climbers. The most famous routes are those located in Cala Luna, Cala Sisine and the Gorropu gorge.
Golf. Sardinia has some prestigious golf courses such as the Pevero Golf Club, not far from Cala di Volpe (Costa Smeralda), one of the most beautiful and prestigious in the world, designed by the American architect Robert Trent Jones. You can also practice your swing at the Is Molas golf course in Pula or at Is Arenas, north of Oristano.
