Italian Connection Tailor Made Bespoke Holidays In Italy

From Alghero, 11 days
 

A tour inside another tour. This tour is simply a shorter version of the longer tour, that starts and finishes directly on the island, of Alghero.

 

 

Why Alghero?

• Well-served. Alghero is easy to reach by plane from many places in Italy and abroad and by boat from the mainland, from France, and from Spain

• Rental bikes available on the spot

• Alghero is an enchanting place. A delightful Spanish-styled, romantic old town whose bastions jutting out onto the sea will bewitch you just as the cobblestone paved lanes of the historical centre, the lovely Catalan churches, the fine handicraft shops housed in vaulted stone cellars, the horse-drawn carriages, and the many little restaurants and bars on each square and sidewalk.

 

A motorcycle journey in Sardinia is a life experience and a little foretaste of paradise. Fantastic twisty roads, highly gripping tarmac, amazing landscapes, pristine nature, and wonderful colours make it a dream destination for bikers. The marvellous crystal-clear sea of Sardinia lacks nothing compared to the exotic dream places we all long to travel to for heavenly holidays. It is a land blessed by the sun, whose generous rays warm people, traditions, and landscapes, all unique and without any blots to distract the traveller’s gaze. A land where friendship and hospitality are as old as the Nuragic, Phoenician, and Roman civilisations that can be seen and felt everywhere.

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• Inclusive of beautiful 4-star accommodation and one meal per day.

• 1 Unesco world heritage site on our itinerary: Su Nuraxi di Barumini

This tour explores the other side of Sardinia – the hinterland, Wild, pristine natural beauty, its mountains, history, and traditions… yet without neglecting the sea. 

 

Day 1: Arrival in Alghero Individual arrival of participants at the hotel in Alghero. Those who have booked a rental bike shall go and pick-up their bike from the rental point. You’ll meet our staff who bring up the group from Milan, Our suggestion for today is an excursion to the Neptune Cave by boat from the port of Alghero, or a visit of the Anghelu Ruju Necropolis with a stop for a tasting at the Sella & Mosca winery (the biggest wine producer of Sardinia) and of course a stroll in the enchanting historical centre of Alghero with its maze of Spanish-styled lanes. Overnight in a 4-star hotel in Alghero. Included meals: dinner.

 

Day 2: 190 km Merging with the group arriving from Milan in the morning at the hotel. After a short briefing, we begin our Sardinian wandering along panoramic coastal roads and exciting mountain routes, looking for lakes and prehistoric remains. Then head to the valley of the Nuraghes along exhilarating twisting roads in the hinterland and we will visit our first Nuraghe before riding back to the enchanting Catalan town of Alghero. Chilling out after dinner with a stroll to savour the charming Catalan historical centre is a must. Overnight in a 4-star hotel in Alghero. Included meals: breakfast and dinner.

 

Day 3: 190 km Today is about relishing the biking paradise that is Sardinia in all its glory. We take in some classic routes with an archeological theme, heading southwards. An itinerary made up of exhilarating motorcycling roads, wandering among the many fascinating villages with painted murals, another typical Sardinian feature, like real open-air galleries, and some Roman history. Overnight in a 4-star hotel in Guspini. Included meals: breakfast and dinner.

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Day 4: 220 km During a superb ride in the hinterland, we visit the most important nuraghe in the world (a Unesco world heritage site). It’s the second time that we mention nuraghe and I’m sure you’re wondering what it is. A construction with more than a hint of mystery about it! You’ll find out more on the spot.  And then we have our first encounter with the mountainous landscapes of Gennargentu Park, named after the island’s highest peak. Overnight in 4-star hotel in Guspini; included meals: BD.

 

Day 5: 200 km A full day awaits with visits to two of Sardinia’s most unmissable sights: one of the most important Phoenician-Punic settlements and a cave whose crystalline formations are virtually unique in Europe. There are some great riding roads here, as used by the leading motorbike manufacturers (including Aprilia and BMW) to film their TV adverts and as test routes. Lunch in a typical restaurant. We’ll conclude the day in the enchanting Sardinian main town Cagliari and would suggest you have an aperitif in the old castle district, on the bastions, then a nice dinner in the picturesque harbour lanes and finish the evening with some night life at the Poetto, Cagliari’s beach and disco area. Overnight in a 4-star hotel in Cagliari. Included meals: BL.

 

Day 6: 210 km  More classic roads and breathtaking coastal scenery lie in wait, with further fascinating remains of ancient civilizations, before we head over to the eastern coast. A wow day with typical Sardinian lunch on the go.  Overnight in a 4-star hotel in Arbatax. Included meals: BLD.

 

Day 7: 0 - … km After 6 days on the bike, you deserve a rest day to be spent as you like. We recommend spending the rest days off the bike and giving your body some relief. Hereunder just three proposals for a relaxing day:

 

• Stay in our seaside hotel and enjoy the beach, the pool, the sauna … whatever takes your fancy

• Take a boat trip to the Bue Marino Grotto (named after the monk seal or “sea ox”) and have a dip in Sardinia’s three most famous coves, reachable only by water

• Marvel at the unique creations by motorcycle-sculptor-cum-engineer Giordano Loi. We then take a guided tour of a Sardinian goldsmith’s studio (with a demonstration of the filigree work at which the islanders excel). But this option will require a short transfer by bike!

 

Overnight in a 4-star hotel in Arbatax. Included meals: B. No main meal is included  so this rest day is your oyster from early morning until late.

 

Day 8: 260 km  Another superb tour beckons out north-east. What’s better after a relaxed day than a great ride on the mythical Orientale Sarda, stopping at the delightful seaside enclave of Cala Gonone, followed by a typical shepherds’ lunch in the hinterland heights and another fantastic twisty road afterwards, to help you digest, before reaching our last hotel in Sardinia on the famous Emerald Coast. Overnight in a 4-star hotel in the area of Olbia. Included meals: BL.

 

Day 9: 240 km With so many kilometres, we need to reload our batteries, first exploring the most glamorous contemporary resorts of the famous Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast), realm of the international jet set, and then, skipping back in time to mysterious Ichnusa, at the prehistoric energy centres called Giants’ Graves… Our next destination will be the wild and amazing Maddalena island before turning back to our hotel. Overnight in a 4-star hotel in the area of Olbia. Included meals: BD.

 

Day 10: 190 km  Our last touring day, the last ode to the beautiful scenery and, as every day, to the fantastic motorcycle roads of this enchanting land. We go for a ride through the moonscape scenery of Valle Della Luna and pay a last visit to the charming town of Castelsardo before returning to Alghero where the group will part and we say our goodbyes. Indeed, while those who have chosen to start and finish the tour in Milan reach Porto Torres to embark, participants to this shorter version get back to the hotel in Alghero where the tour started from. Those who have hired the bike will have to go and drop it off at the rental point.  Dine where you please in Alghero. Overnight in a 4-star hotel in Alghero. Included meals: BL.

 

Day 11: Departure from Alghero After breakfast it’s everyone for himself, free to go home or explore further the magic of Italy on your own. Included meals: B.

 

If you prefer to do the above tour from Milan…then here are the additions - From Milan, 13 days

 

We meet up in the afternoon at our hotel in Milan and go together to pick up the rental bikes. We all meet up before dinner for a short but important briefing, the time to explain a few simple rules for organizing and synchronizing things, thus ensuring that everyone has a safe holiday that is unforgettable for all the right reasons. Then we’ll break the ice and start forging some group spirit over a classic Italian pre-dinner

Day 1: Meeting in Milan (Milano)  Aperitivo. Overnight in a 4-star hotel in Milan. Included meals: D.

 

Day 2: 260 km Our tour begins at 9:00 AM, heading to Genoa (Genova). After a short stretch on the motorway, just the necessary distance to leave Milan behind us, we’ll find ourselves meandering on beautiful roads in the middle of the superb vineyards and amid the passes of the lower Alps of Piedmont. As regards food too, we start the journey in the best possible way enjoying a delicious lunch made up of regional specialties in a typical Piedmontese restaurant. In the late afternoon, we will reach Genoa, in Liguria, where we’ll embark for Sardinia from the port of Genoa. Overnight on board in a double en-suite cabin. Included meals: B, L. 

 

Day 3: 230 km After docking at Porto Torres and a quick break in a coffee shop for those who want to have breakfast on terra firma, we reach our hotel in Alghero where we’ll merge with the group of those who have chosen to start the tour directly in Sardinia. After a short meeting, we begin our Sardinian wandering along panoramic coastal roads and exciting mountain routes, looking for lakes and prehistoric remains. It’s properly in the valley of nuraghes along exhilarating twisting roads in the hinterland that we’ll visit our first nuraghe before riding back to the enchanting Catalan town of Alghero. Chilling out after dinner with a stroll to savour the historical centre and its charming Spanish-styled lanes is a must. Overnight in 4-star hotel in Alghero; included meals: D. The tour continues as above.

 

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