A MINE OF MEMORIES
Plunge into the unspoilt and romantic beauty of south western Sardinia, amongst abandoned mines and empty beaches. In total freedom, at your own pace, enjoying every single spot of this wonderful land. A very extensive network of dirt roads perfectly maintained and closed to motorised traffic makes this tour technically easy and extremely fascinating for the savage wilderness you’ll go through.
Tour details
Tour code: MBS1
Starting point: Montevecchio
Finish: Pula
Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Departures: Every Saturday all year round, it is possible
to start other days of the week paying a supplement.
Price: € 490
High season supplement: € 150 (1 July – 31 August)
Half board supplement: € 150 (6 dinners, all except Pula, drinks not included)
Non-Saturday departure supplement: € 50
Single room supplement: € 100 (€ 200 in case of a person travelling alone)
Bike rental: € 120 front suspended Felt o simile (€ 15 per ogni giorno extra), € 160 full suspended Trek Fuel 80 o simile(€ 20 per ogni giorno extra)
Transfer rates per person (min. 2 persone):
- Cagliari - Pula: € 30
- Montevecchio - Cagliari: € 45
Services provided:
- 7 Nights in 3 star hotels or Agriturismo (except for Nebida: 2 stars) with en suite bathroom
- 7 Breakfasts
- Welcome meeting
- 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
- Tickets for ferries to Carloforte and Calasetta
Activity level
- Total length: 270 Km (45km/day) Total climb: 4.880mt (815mt/day)
Highlights
- The exciting single track along the Rio Irvi
- Costa Verde and the dunes of Piscinas
- The ancient mines of Sulcis
- The Pan di Zucchero (Sugar loaf) in Nebida
- The island of Carloforte and Sant’Antioco
- The spectacular Costa del Sud and the Roman trial on day 6
Programme
Arrival day
Transfer or independent arrival to a lovely farmhouse near Montevecchio where you will have a welcome meeting with our local representative: explanation of the route and bike delivery.
1st day: Montevecchio loop tour (38 km, climb 920mt)
After the centre of Montevecchio, once the most important mining village of the Sulcis area, enjoy the truly spectacular single track descent along the Rio Irvi. You will cross it 18 times before arriving to the sea! Relax along the magnificent Costa Verde, the Green coast, so named after the colour of its waters. Time for some climbing now: the unique profile of Monte Arcuentu soon comes into view and will take you back to the agriturismo.
2nd day: Montevecchio – Sa Perda Marcada (33 km, climb 750mt)
Ride through the scents of the Mediterranean bush along another breathtaking single track down to one of the most fascinating spots of the island’s: Piscinas beach with its sand dunes over 50 m high - the highest in Europe. During the following ascent you will cross Ingortosu, another important village of the abandoned mining industry. Tonight a charming agriturismo is ready to welcome you with its fine regional cuisine.
3rd day: Sa Perda Marcada – Nebida (44-49 km, climb 1060 mt)
Start your day with yet another exciting descent (this time on asphalt) down to Fluminimaggiore. Along old mining roads, you will ride through one of the wildest and most remote areas of Sardinia. Back to the coast in Nebida, don’t miss a beautiful natural show: the view of the Pan di Zucchero cliff at dusk.
4th day: Nebida - Calasetta (43 km, climb 250 mt)
After three hilly days, you can take a day to relax. After a beautiful descent to Fontanamare, you will reach Portoscuso, and board on the ferry to Carloforte, where locals still fish the Red Tuna fish. From Carloforte, continue to the island of Sant'Antioco and end your day in Calasetta.
5th day: Calasetta - S.Anna Arresi (46 km, climb 700 mt)
Another easy day pedalling through the meadows, green in springtime and golden yellow in the summer, of Sant'Antioco. At Tratalias, visit the Pisan sanctuary, one of the most important monuments of the Sardinian Romanesque period. Riding along the lake Monte Pranu, savour the quiet peace of the rolling plains of Sulcis.
6th day: S.Anna Arresi - Pula (60 km, climb 1200mt)
Final catwalk of your tour is the beautiful Costa del Sud with its gleaming white beaches, unspoilt natural landscape and imposing cliffs: Cape Malfatano with its 16th Century tower and Cape Spartivento. At Nora you will visit the ancient Phoenician settlement. Alternatively, if you are looking for something harder, climb the Sulcis mountains and ride through the Is Cannoneris forest along a striking inland itinerary that will take you directly to Pula.
Departure day
After breakfast, end of services.