FROM THE MOUNTAIN TO THE SEA
From the black mountains of Montiferru to the Sinis wetlands and the sea. Montiferru is a basaltic area famous for the green forests and the local red beef celebrated by the Slow Food Movement. The Sinis is a natural reserve home to thousands of pink flamingo and a wealth of other birdlife. It is a remarkable example of low impact fishing activity on the local environment, where we found some very charming accommodation to make this tour memorable.
Tour details
Tour code: HKS1
Starting point: Santulussurgiu
Finish: Cabras
Duration: Everyday from 01/03 to 30/06 and from 01/09 to 30/11
Departures: (dates refer to 1st day of tour)
Price: € 690
Single room supplement: € 120 (€ 200 in case of a person travelling alone)
Transfer rates per person (min. 2 persons):
- Cagliari - Santulussurgiu: € 70
- Cabras - Cagliari: € 50
- Alghero - Santulussurgiu: € 55
- Cabras - Alghero: € 75
Services included:
- 7 Nights in 4 / 3 star hotels and agriturismo, all rooms with en suite bathroom
- 7 Breakfasts
- Welcome meeting (tour explanation)
- 1 Transfers to shorten the first stage
- Baggage transportation from hotel to hotel
- Supply of route notes and maps
- 7 day telephone assistance
Not included:
- Lunches and dinners
- Admission to museums and archaeological sites
Activity level
- Walking days: 6
- 4 easy stages (mostly flat)
- 1 medium stage (undulating)
- 1 challenging stage (hilly, mainly downhill)
Highlights
- The Montiferru Mountain range
- The cliffs of Su Tingiosu
- Sinis wetlands wildlife
- Fishermen villages of Putzu Idu and Cabras
- The charming accommodations
Programme
Arrival day
Transfer or independent arrival to our hotel in Santulussurgiu, welcome meeting with local representative: explanation of the route, map and route notes delivery. Dinner and overnight.
1st day: Santu Lussurgiu – Santa Caterina di Pittinuri (22/15 km)
The route descents from the village of Santu Lussurgiu, laid in the Montiferru Moutains, to Santa Caterina di Pittinuri, located right on the sea. You will be crossing oak forests, olive groves and quiet pastures.
2nd day: Santa Caterina di Pittinuri – Su Pallosu (16 km)
After the village of S’Archittu (which owes its name to the popular natural arch along the nearby coast), we enter the vast forest of Is Arenas, whose pine trees protect the area from the sand dunes erosion. At the end of the forest, we find the Is Benas lagoon home to large colonies of Grey Herons and Pink Flamingos. A beautiful track on the cliff lead us until the beach of Su Pallosu.
3rd day: Su Pallosu loop (10 km)
Today we walk along the cliffs of Capo Mannu, along the light house and the ancient Spanish watchtowers. After Putzu Idu, a village located on a stretch of coast often visited by the strong Mistral wind which made it a popular spot for sailing and surfing, we return to our hotel in Su Pallosu.
4th day: Putzu Idu – San Salvatore Sinis (19 km)
The day starts walking on the amazing cliffs of Su Tingiosu, 6 km of limestone plenty of bird nests. The cliffs end in the beautiful quartz beaches of Is Aruttas and Mari Ermi whose sand is made of little grains of quartz quite similar to rice seeds. In the final part of your day, you move inland, crossing artichoke and wheat fields to arrive in San Salvatore Sinis, famous for its church erected over an hypogeum.
5th day: San Salvatore Sinis – Cabras (11 km)(12km)
A pleasant path lead you out of San Salvatore to Cabras, main centre in the Sinis. During the itinerary you walk along artichoke fields, Vernaccia vineyards, olive groves and the Cabras Lagoon, the largest in the area, famous for the grey mullets and above all its Bottarga, the cured roe of mullet. Don’t miss the fresh fish, the Bottarga and the Vernaccia wine.
6th day: Cabras loop (15 km)
If you are passionate in birdwatching today is your day! We’ll cross the swamp of Pauli ‘e Sali, a protected area where an immense number of birds (some are very rare) usually nest. Sheltered by the canes we can take beautiful pictures without disturbing them. We go back to the hotel walking along the lagoon shores.
Departure day
After breakfast, end of services.