Grotto, Cala Luna, Sardinia. Photo: StockiO
4.8
| 5 reviews

Canyons to Coast Adventure in Sardinia

6 nights
Moderate

Hike, canyon, kayak, sail and coasteer your way through Sardinia's wildest spots on this ultimate Mediterranean escapade

What's Included?

Activities & Certified Guides

All itinerary activities with certified, English-speaking local guides

Chalet

6 nights in woodland chalets

Meals

4 packed lunches and 2 dinners

Transfers

Airport transfers and everything in between

Equipment

All kayaking, canyoning and coasteering gear and safety equipment

Small Like-minded Groups

Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 8 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people
From

excluding flights

What's it like?

4.8
| 5 reviews
Beautiful week in Sardinia
July 2024
Charles B.
Beautiful week in Sardinia
July 2024
Charles B.
Beautiful week in Sardinia
July 2024
Charles B.
Grotto, Cala Luna, Sardinia. Photo: StockiO
Coasteering, Sardinia. Photo: Host/40 Gradi Nord
Coasteering, Sardinia. Photo: Host/40 Gradi Nord
Cala Luna, Sardinia. Photo: Host/40 Gradi Nord
Dry canyoning in Codula Fuili, Sardinia. Photo: Host/40 Gradi Nord

Tackle the island’s remote hiking trails, then leap, clamber and abseil your way down canyons and along sea cliffs

Sail along the sparkling Mediterranean coastline, hopping from beach to beach and swimming in hidden coves

Kayak Lake Cedrino, a tranquil gem in Sardinia's rugged interior surrounded by karst ravines and glistening grottos

Key Information

Day 1

Welcome to Sardinia!

Cala Gonone beach, Sardinia. Photo: GettyImages-1247800638

Touch down in Olbia Airport and transfer to Cala Gonone, a beautiful seaside town on Sardinia's eastern coast. Your home for the week is a comfortable campsite, where you'll be accommodated in cosy wooden chalets surrounded by an age-old pine forest – within walking distance from local amenities and the stunning beaches Sardinia is famous for. Meet up with the rest of your group for a delicious welcome dinner in town, and chat through the adventure ahead with your host.

Day 2

From wild canyons to dreamy beaches

Dry canyoning in Codula Fuili, Sardinia. Photo: Host/40 Gradi Nord

Canyoning

5hrs · 6km · 330m up · 330m down

Kickstart your island adventure with some hiking and dry canyoning, ending at the beautiful Cala Fuili cove. Begin with an uphill hike along ancient mule tracks, built by charcoal burners in the nineteenth century, to reach the entrance point to the Codula Fuili canyon. Next, gear up with harnesses and helmets and start the thrilling wild descent all the way to the coast. The canyon becomes gradually narrower and deeper, so your guide will assist you as you abseil down four drops (maximum height 20 metres) to the very heart of the gorge. Continue along the ancient riverbed until you reach the beach at Cala Fuili, where it's time to relax and enjoy a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear Mediterranean.

Day 3

Kayak tranquil Lake Cedrino

Kayaking Lake Cedrino, Sardinia. Photo: Host/40 Gradi Nord

Kayaking

4hrs · 8km

Today will be spent kayaking Lake Cedrino, one of the quietest spots in the whole of Sardinia. After rushing through deep canyons, endless underground rivers and deep caves, the waters flowing from the Supramonte range merge in this oasis of peace. Setting off from a midpoint station, you'll paddle along different sections of the lake, amongst high limestone walls and basaltic columns. Enjoy a stop by the Grotta del Guano and the old church of San Pantaleo, dating back to 1600 and reachable only from the water. Back in Cala Gonone later in the day, enjoy a few hours at leisure or head into town for some drinks and food.

Day 4

Sail Sardina's turquoise waters

Sailing, Sardinia. Photo: Host/40 Gradi Nord

Boat Ride

6hrs

Swimming

2hrs

Enjoy a leisurely day along Sardinia's breathtaking Gulf of Orosei, hopping from beach to beach and swimming in stunning beaches and coves. Your private motor boat will leave the port of Cala Gonone to cruise along the spectacular sea cliffs which make this area so famous. There will be plenty of stops to explore and relax, including the iconic Cala Mariolu and Cala Sisine.

Day 5

Wild coasteering and refreshing swims

Coasteering in Sardinia. Photo: Host/40 Gradi Nord

Coasteering

5hrs · 4km · 180m up

Today you'll explore the coast from a completely new perspective: venturing along cliffs and rock faces, crossing caves and underground tunnels, and jumping into the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean. During this thrilling coasteering adventure, you'll have the opportunity to jump into the sea from various heights, including an eight-metre option. There will be some swimming time with optional snorkelling too, and you'll end the day with a quick visit to the enormous cave of Biddiriscottai, followed by a short climb (via ferrata) up to the panoramic road above the cliffs, from where you'll walk back to your campsite.

Day 6

Trek to Cala Luna and explore secluded caves

On the Selvaggio Blu, Sardinia. Photo: Host, 40 Gradi Nord

Hiking

5hrs · 7km · 160m up · 520m down

On your final day of adventure, you'll hike from Cala Gonone to Cala Luna, through some of the most beautiful landscapes of the island, trailing through scrub and juniper trees. Your final destination is a secluded beach only accessible on foot or by boat – a great spot to take a break and soak up some sun, surrounded by towering cliffs and crystal-clear waters. Enjoy some time swimming or snorkelling, then catch a boat back to Cala Gonone. This evening you'll celebrate with a final group dinner, tasting some typical Sardinian dishes.

Day 7

Aaaand relax...

Swimming in Sardinia. Photo: GettyImages-636791818

Spend the morning relaxing with a well-deserved lie in, or soothe your muscles with a reinvigorating swim at Cala Gonone. If you are feeling energetic, you may opt to hire a SUP or kayak from the campsite and spend the morning out at sea. Your transfer will depart Cala Gonone after lunch and will take you back to Olbia Airport in time for your afternoon flight home. Arrivederci!

Day 1

Chalet · Twin or triple share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 2 – Day 3

Chalet · Twin or triple share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 4

Chalet · Twin or triple share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 5

Chalet · Twin or triple share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 6

Chalet · Twin or triple share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 7

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

What is the food like?

Breakfasts are not included in this trip, as the only place to eat together on site is a cafe where very light breakfasts are served (coffee, plus a croissant or a cake). This is usually not enough to fuel most people for a day of activities, so for this reason, your guide will take you to a local shop where you'll be able to choose and purchase your favourite breakfast foods and drinks for the week, then you will have breakfast in your own self-catering chalet. During most days of the trip you'll be provided with a packed lunch, usually featuring freshly baked bread with a choice of cured meats, cheeses, vegetables and fruit. Dinners are included on the first and final night of the trip somewhere local. For the remaining evenings, your guide will recommend and arrange optional group meals in a variety of local establishments in Cala Gonone, where you'll have the chance to taste a wide range of delicious Sardinian specialities, including fresh fish and seafood.

Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for – please just request this on your passenger info form.

What is the accommodation like?

Cala Gonone

You'll have a single base for your whole trip, allowing you to kick back and enjoy plenty of downtime at the end of each day. You'll be staying at Camping Car Palmasera in Cala Gonone, nestled among four acres of ancient pine forest yet within short walking distance from the lively coastal village and its beaches. Accommodation will be in comfortable, twin or triple-share, wooden chalet bungalows equipped with private bathrooms. The apartments range in size, typically they have a small living room with kitchenette and an outdoor dining area. Some of the accommodation is based on converted mobile homes and caravans rather than purpose built chalets, with exterior private bathrooms, also decorated in a similar style and with the same facilities. Free WiFi is available throughout the campsite and there are bars and restaurants nearby.

Upgrades

For solo travellers wanting their own personal space, you can request your own private room (subject to availability). Please see Optional Extras for the pricing.

This trip has been rated as Moderate

All of the activities on this trip can be done without any previous experience – you'll have an expert guide to show you the ropes and help you navigate the canyoning, coasteering and kayaking. A few of the trails will involve narrow parts with exposed sections and you'll also be expected to abseil (up to 20 metres) or jump from the cliffs (up to 8 metres), so those with an extreme fear of heights should be wary, but it's really quite a relaxed hike managed by people of all ages and fitness levels. You must also be comfortable in the water if you wish to join the coasteering tour.

You don’t have to know how to abseil. Your professional mountain guide will take care of all rope manoeuvres. You just need to relax and carefully follow their instructions.

From May to October the daytime temperatures in Sardinia range from 22–35°C and cool off to 15–25°C at night. You'll have plenty of time at the beach and out at sea during the trip, so there will be always the chance to refresh in the water should the weather get really hot. 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. Continuous rain is uncommon, so you're sure to get a lot of sun.

The Area

map

Logistics

Starts

Olbia Airport

17:00 on Day 1

Ends

Olbia Airport

14:00 on Day 7

Transfers

A group transfer is included on Day 1, which will depart Olbia Airport around 17:00. It will take just over 1h30m to reach the campsite located in Cala Gonone. Your return transfer will arrive at Olbia Airport at around 14:00 on Day 7, so you'll need to book flights departing from 16:00 onwards.

It will be difficult to use public transport to reach the start point of the trek independently if you choose to travel at different times, so we strongly recommend taking advantage of the set group transfers from and to Olbia Airport.

Private transfers can also be arranged on request – see Optional Extras for prices.

Travel options

There are regular direct flights to Olbia from airports in London, the rest of the UK and Europe. Alternatively, you can also search for indirect flights via Rome or Milan.

Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear

In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.

What's included?

  • All your canyoning, coasteering and kayaking equipment

What's not included?

  • Snorkelling gear (optional)

What do I need to bring?

BAGS

  • Soft overnight duffel bag or luggage
  • Daypack (20-30 litres)
  • Small drybag/waterproof phone case if you want to take your phone with you on the water-based activities

CLOTHES

  • Waterproof jacket
  • Fleece jacket or warm jumper
  • Trekking shoes with a hard sole
  • T-shirts
  • Lightweight trousers/shorts/skirts
  • Trekking socks
  • Swimwear and light towel
  • Hat, glasses, and suncream
  • Something to sleep in
  • Sandals
  • Trainers for the coasteering and canyoning (that you don't mind getting wet)
  • Fingerless gloves for canyoning and kayaking (optional item for hand protection)

OTHER

  • Towel for the shower (or rent for €7 for the week at the campsite)
  • Universal travel plug adapter
  • Power bank or solar charger
  • Passports (and visas)
  • Travel insurance documents
  • Ear plugs
  • Insect repellent (recommended!)
  • Suncream
  • Personal first-aid kit (inc. blister treatment)
  • Personal items (biodegradable toiletries, sanitary wear etc)
  • Alcohol hand-gel
  • Reusable water bottle(s) (1.5 - 2 litre capacity)
  • Biodegradable wet-wipes
  • Energy bars and snacks - read our article on Best Hiking Snacks
*Requests for optional extras can be made after booking on your “My Bookings” page

Optional Private Bungalow Upgrade (Jul, Aug)

Payable Before Departure

Optional Private Bungalow Upgrade (Jul, Aug)

Optional Private Bungalow Upgrade (May, Jun, Sep)

Payable Before Departure

Optional Private Bungalow Upgrade (May, Jun, Sep)

Private Arrival Transfer Olbia airport - Cala Gonone

Payable Before Departure

Private Arrival Transfer Olbia airport - Cala Gonone

Private Departure Transfer Cala Gonone - Olbia ariport

Payable Before Departure

Private Departure Transfer Cala Gonone - Olbia ariport

Charles B.(July 2024)
Beautiful week in Sardinia
Beautiful week in Sardinia
Beautiful week in Sardinia
Beautiful week in Sardinia

Excellent week of activities on the east coast of Sardinia. The activities are well planned and as described in the itinerary. The trip host Ivan is incredibly hands-on, leading most of the activities. He is passionate, knowledgeable and flexible (in terms of group requests and weather conditions). The trip has been curated to give a balance between the activities (usually finishing by 2pm) and downtime. You are based in Cala Gonone a small town on the east coast, with nice beaches as well as plenty of restaurants, bars and gelato shops to explore in the evenings.

Kathleen H.(July 2024)
Add this to your bucket list!

Such a fabulous trip! I booked this wanting a balance of high adrenaline activities as well as a chilled-out beach-life feel and it did not disappoint! The host, Ivan, is warm, welcoming and extremely knowledgeable about Sardinias wildlife, history and culture. You really get the perspective of a local here and fully experience the natural gems of this beautiful island. I LOVED the canyoning and coasteering in particular as it pushes you out of your comfort zone and makes you feel alive! Great food, great people, lovely well-equipped cabins, turquoise waters and daring adventures. What’s not to love?

Jane J.(June 2024)
Camaraderie, canyons, colour, caves. It’s all brilliant.

This week gave us all the stimulation, camaraderie, and laughter hoped for. . The exercise and challenge levels subtly crank up each day. I am 63, female, strong but not particularly fit, yet I managed everything, and Ivan is always there: calm and professional. The packed lunches are really generous, (I personally question the need for ‘snacks’, on MBA’s kit-list, and on that point, one piece of advice I would give concerns the coasteering: Take an old pair of lace-up canvas sports shoes for the coasteering. I took those rubber soled beach shoes, but I had to get something more substantial to protect the top of the foot.) I suppose one’s group is the luck of the draw to some extent, but you all have a common purpose, and a successful team of 8, from singles, couples and a family in our case, formed very naturally. The caravan site is near to the shops and beach, but was quiet at night, and run by helpful staff. The caravans are adequately equipped, clean and air conditioned. The meals are pretty amazing, and the farewell supper is truly out of the ordinary! There is plenty to learn, if you love botany and history, as I do, because Ivan is so knowledgeable. In fact the final accolade has to go to this, utterly delightful, Sardinian: Thank you Ivan for all your patience, enthusiasm and easy grace. We have superb memories or your beautiful homeland - and that’s precious indeed.

Matthew T.(June 2024)
Brilliant Fun

Brilliant fun exploring a wild side of Sardinia along the cost

Helen W.(June 2024)
Active fun shame about the rain!

I enjoyed the activities, which were ok for beginners but a little challenging, opening and last night feasts and location and weather mostly. The guide was friendly and informative. Lots of beach time.

The accommodation was a little basic with outside private bathrooms which was a little too basic for others in the group.

The hike as part of canyoning was similar level of hiking as the hike - not too challenging.

We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.

What's the number?
It works out on average at 200kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.

The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.

But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:

  • Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
  • A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
  • 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.

What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.

Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.

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.

You don’t have to know how to abseil. Your professional mountain guide will take care of all rope manoeuvres. You just need to relax and carefully follow their instructions.

Your local guide knows the itinerary and routes very well, and holds a professional mountain hiking certificate as well as First Aid certifications.

Tap water in Sardinia is safe to drink so please bring a 1.5-2L refillable bottle with you to avoid purchasing single-use plastic bottles locally.

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.

Your host will be checking the weather forecast before and during the trip. Depending on the forecast for the week some days of the itinerary may be swapped around in order to make the most of the conditions each day. Your guide will brief the group throughout the trip with updates on what the plan is to keep you informed. This flexible approach in the itinerary is necessary as several of the activities are water-based and more impacted by the wind and rain than hiking for example.

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 and also talking to a travel nurse.

This trip visits locations where daytime temperatures can be extremely high during the times of year when this trip operates. High humidity and limited access to shade can also be factors, and warm temperatures can continue into the nighttime, which additionally influence the body’s ability to cool down. Personal care should be taken to keep cool as best possible in the conditions, such as wearing appropriate clothing and proper hydration. Very high temperatures can impair an individual’s physical abilities to perform an activity that they may otherwise be able to do competently at cooler temperatures. People may experience symptoms associated with dehydration and Heat Stroke. Your guide(s) are trained to mitigate the risks associated with high temperatures, by carefully managing the intensity of the activity, and to provide the appropriate support response should someone feel ill during the trip. Should you experience health issues during your trip you should inform your guide immediately so the proper care can be provided.

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. Read more information about the local teams we partner with.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

Private trip

Got questions? We've got answers

Our friendly and expert team is on hand to help you choose one of our adventures. So if you want answers to questions like "Who else is going?" or anything else about this trip – please get in touch.

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Connect before you go

You'll be invited to join a WhatsApp group to get to know each other before your big adventure together. Full details

DEPARTURE DATES

August 2024

Sunday • 25th August 2024

to Saturday • 31st August 2024
Guaranteed to run
Fully Booked
Private trip

Go private and split the bill with ease.

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