Trek the Selvaggio Blu Trail in Sardinia

The Selvaggio Blu (translated as 'Wild Blue' in English) is an extreme adventure, often referred to as the most challenging trek in Italy. It's more than just trekking - it is a mountaineering and wilderness experience. The itinerary was developed in 1988 by two Italian guides, and it follows the coastline over the mountains and sea cliffs of Sardinia's Baunei area. The trail crosses thick forests, hidden caves and deep canyons, making it necessary to abseil, climb and walk along exposed paths. There are now many variations of the original trail, but on this trip you'll follow the original trekking route – including its technical sections – as it offers the best panoramas and the most rewarding experience.

Marta Marinelli, raised in Italy’s serene Prosecco Hills, dreamt of global adventures, inspired by her father's travel stories. Her passion evolved into a career, backed by a decade of studies including degrees in international tourism and destination management. She’s worked in the adventure travel sector since 2012, living in Italy, the UK, and now sunny Portugal.

Over twenty years, Marta has explored over 55 countries, visiting remote areas like Ghana, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Haiti and Nepal’s Upper Mustang region. As a Senior Adventure Expansion Manager at Much Better Adventures, she focuses on creating life-changing experiences, ranging from multi-activity adventures, challenging treks to ultimate adventures in iconic places. She loves the challenge of finding the best local adventure hosts around the world, collaborating on adventures that offer genuine immersion, pushing beyond the beaten path and working on exclusive itineraries that challenge your comfort zone.

What makes her tick? Enabling people to live adventure-rich lives while positively impacting and empowering local communities around the world, generating sustainable opportunities for both the host, guides, community, and the environment.

A good level of fitness is required, as you'll be out for up to 10 hours a day in a difficult environment – moving over challenging terrain and ascending considerable heights. You must be confident walking on steep and very uneven terrain, scrambling and descending on scree. Having a head for heights and good balance is absolutely crucial, as you'll be traversing many narrow paths and exposed sections next to vertical drops. The route and terrain, therefore, requires great stamina, so previous trekking experience on difficult mountain terrain is preferable (although not essential). You'll be fully supported by a team of local guides who will take care of the equipment porterage for you, so you'll be hiking only with your daily backpack. You'll sleep five nights in the forest, away from any trace of civilisation or comfort, so an adventurous spirit and adaptability are crucial for the enjoyment of this unique experience.

You don’t have to know how to abseil. Your professional mountain guide will take care of all rope manoeuvres. You just have to relax and carefully follow their instructions. You also don’t have to be a trained climber, but you should have good balancing skills and be confident climbing easy sections of rock. The only essential requirement is that you are not overly afraid of heights, as along the trek you will often have to scramble on scree and leaning rock walls. More difficult climbing passages are equipped with fixed ropes and will require you to wear a harness and via ferrata kit (which will be provided by your host).

Your local guide knows the itinerary and routes very well, having led Selvaggio Blu for years, and holds a professional mountain hiking certificate as well as First Aid certifications.

Yes, you are free to come with your own your abseiling, climbing and via ferrata kit if you prefer (helmet, harness etc). Please contact your host to let him know, or if you have any specific questions.

Climbing shoes are not required and all climbing sections on this trek can be tackled with standard trekking shoes.

No. You'll need to have a larger duffel bag suitable for all your belongings which will be transported for you to each camp spot, and then a small daysack to carry personal items during each day of hiking.

You can leave any excess luggage with your host at the mountain hut for the duration of the adventure and this will be delivered to you on the final day of the trip before you head to the airport.

Unfortunately, there are very few fresh water sources on the route, and they may be dry at any time. Therefore, the local team will be carrying drinking water containers which will be refilled each day at the wild camp spots. Please bring at least two 1.5-2L refillable bottles with you.

You would have to complete the daily hike to get to the final destination and camping spot, but if you wish to take a rest day and prefer to skip a stage of the trek, you can! Each day, a transfer will reach the group in the evening to deliver luggage and dinner, and another transfer in scheduled in the morning to bring breakfast and pick up your luggage again. After breakfast, you may decide jump on the 4x4 and get a lift to the mountain hut where you can take a day off at leisure. In the evening, you can then jump in the same vehicle and rejoin the group, continuing the trek the following day.

Yes, there is usually mobile reception on at least 70% of the route, with the exception of the camping areas on the second and third nights of the itinerary.

Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion but there is an expectation to tip for good service. Of course, you are free to tip more or less, and the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality - a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.

Due to safety reasons and challenging nature of the trek, the trip cannot run during the hottest summer months of July and August. From May to June and September to October the daytime temperatures in Sardinia range from 22–30°C and cool off to 13–18°C at night, making this the ideal season for hiking. Unseasonable weather is possible at any time of year, but your guide will be assessing the weather conditions daily and will plan the walking times, routes and schedules accordingly. Rain is uncommon, so you're sure to get a lot of sun.

If it’s just a case of drizzling rain you can wear a rain jacket and walk, occasionally you may have to wait for it to stop by seeking shelter in one of the many caves along the route. When camping, the local team can help by setting up a large tarpauline above the dining table, if needed.

In the case that the weather is seriously bad, your guide may decide to abandon the trail for safety reasons. In that case you'll reach your daily destination, but instead of camping you'll be transferred back to the mountain hut/base used on Day 1. You'll have dinner at the hut and sleep under a canopy or in a small bungalow. The following day you'll take transfer and, if possible, you'll start hiking from the point where the trek was interrupted.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

We recommend checking out the country specific information here and also talking to a travel nurse.

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.

Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.

Our team of Adventure Hunters create exclusive adventures with highly vetted, specialist hosts. We only work with independent, local in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. See here for more info about the local teams we partner with.