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Ancient Sardinia
Sardinia
From
This trip supports
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Esential info
- Reviews
- Packing list
Grade:
Entry Level
Type:
Cultural
Transfers
Duration:
7 Nights
4 - 12
Group size
Leaders
Tour Highlights
- Pink flamingos - "sa genti arrubia" (the red people)
- Ancient Nuragi ruins 1800-500 B.C.
- Stunning beaches, food, wine and Sardinian culture
- The mines of Montevecchio
- Explore the sound garden of Pinuccio Sciola
- "Pan di Zucchero" Island (the Sugarloaf)
Add on Adventures
This itinerary has options for you to extend & customise your experience before &/or after your holiday. See Itinerary for details.
Immerse yourself in Southern Sardinia, a mystical and deeply artistic island
As if the mainland wasn't good enough, Sardinia offers you something extra-special with all of the charming elegance of Italy's peerless food, wine, fashion and flawless coastline, but away from the crowds, in a quieter, more ancient realm still deeply connected to its past.
This boutique itinerary exploring Southern Sardinia begins in the vibrant capital of Cagliari, with its sun-drenched alleys, historic architecture, and the renowned National Archaeological Museum. From flamingo-filled wetlands at Molentargius Park to the evocative salt pans of Conti Vecchi, you’ll explore ecosystems rich in wildlife and industrial heritage. Discover San Sperate, Sardinia’s “Museum Town,” and visit the incredible Sound Garden of Pinuccio Sciola, where sculpted stones produce music. Hike along the scenic Costa Verde coast, meet shepherds in Arbus raising rare black sheep, and experience farm life firsthand.
(Available as a small group tour or tailor-made holiday)
Uncover Sardinia’s mining legacy in Montevecchio and witness the vast golden dunes of Piscinas at sunset. Step back thousands of years in ancient Nuragi sites including the Barumini’s Su Nuraxi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and wander prehistoric tombs carved into the sandstone hills. The journey concludes in Orroli, where you’ll visit the imposing Nuraghe Arrubiu and learn the secrets behind the "Bread of the Centenarians" in a hands-on workshop.
With rustic accommodations, expertly guided tours, and intimate cultural experiences, this trip offers a rare, deeply authentic view of Sardinia — ideal for curious travellers seeking beauty, history, and a connection with island life.
Adventure Optional Addons
Northern Sardinia Add-on adventure
An immersive historical and cultural trip in to the Barbagia and Northern regions of Sardinia
Add on Adventures
This itinerary has options for you to extend & customise your experience before &/or after your holiday. See below for details.
Day 1: Arrive in Cagliari & city tour
Transfer
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
After arriving in Cagliari you will be transferred to your hotel to check in. You will then be taken on a city tour of Cagliari, guided by one of our most experienced guides. Lose yourself in the alleys among the small craft shops and discover the reasons why Cagliari is the jewel of the Mediterranean.
The tour will take you through all the city has to offer, from the charm of thousand-year-old buildings and areas, to the beauty of one of the largest city beaches in Europe and then to the lagoon areas within the city populated by numerous species of birds.
The second part of the tour will take you to the National Archaeological Museum which is located in the ancient Castello district, inside the Citadel of Museums. It is the most important archaeological museum in Sardinia with over 4000 objects that tell a story almost 7000 years long, from Prehistory to the Early Middle Ages, from Neolithic mother goddesses to Nuragic bronzes, from Phoenician and Punic jewels to Roman statuary and finally to cult objects from the Byzantine era.
There will be a choice of two recommended options for dinner either an authentic pizzeria or a seafood restaurant.
Overnight: Giardino Segreto or similar
Day 2: The Molentargius – Saline Regional Natural Park
Transfer
Wildlife
Lunch
Boutique Hotel
After breakfast, we will head to The Molentargius – Saline Regional Natural Park whichis a stunning wetland of international value, especially as a habitat for numerous species of water birds, found within the metropolitan area of Cagliari.
The history of the reserve is linked to the long history of the salt pans in the city so much so that the site owes its name to molenti (donkeys in Sardinian), the "means of transport" used in the past to bring the salt collected from the salt pans to the port.
The naturalistic complex that extends for about 1600 hectares includes fresh water basins, containing water with different degrees of salinity, and a plain of sandy origin. The Park boasts a rich variety of plant and animal species, many of which are protected. In particular, the site is famous for the presence of pink flamingos, sa genti arrubia(the red people) as they say in these parts, which nested here for the first time in 1993.
In the afternoon, embark on a journey back in time with a private trip to the Salt Pans of Conti Vecchi. This guided tour lets you walk in the footsteps of 1930s salt workers, exploring historic structures like the workshop, chemical lab, main office, and archive. The adventure includes a train ride through the saltworks, where the industry's history blends with nature, and flamingos roam freely.
Overnight: Giardino Segreto or similar
Day 3: Exploring San Sperate & The Sound Garden Of Pinuccio Sciola
Transfer
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
Today’s adventure takes you to the vibrant town of San Sperate. Known as the "Museum Town," San Sperate is an open-air gallery, where hundreds of murals—bright, expressive, and deeply rooted in memory—tell the stories of its people, its traditions, and its evolving identity. This unique form of street art began in 1968, when visionary local artist Pinuccio Sciola launched a revolutionary project to transform his hometown into a living canvas. A space where art and community would grow hand in hand. Since then, artists from all over the world have added their voices to the walls, and the town continues to breathe creativity.
Guided by a local expert, you’ll explore this dynamic village through a walking tour of its most iconic murals and hidden corners. You’ll also visit one of its most extraordinary sites: the Giardino Sonoro (Sound Garden), an open-air museum conceived by Sciola himself. Here, you'll walk among great limestone, basalt, and granite sculptures—stones that sing.
After lunch you will embark on a circular route Belvedere of Nebida, a route that winds for about 700m close to the sea, offering a breathtaking view of Pan di Zucchero (meaning Sugarloaf), one of the most beautiful stacks in Italy.
Tonight we head back to Nebida for the night and to enjoy dinner.
Overnight: stay in Pedra Rubia, or similar
Day 4: Costa Verde
Transfer
Packed Lunch
Boutique Hotel
Starting in the morning, you will set off to discover one of the most captivating stretches of the Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara: the 7-kilometre route linking San Nicolò Beach to Portixeddu. This coastal trail winds between wild cliffs and secluded coves, where Mediterranean light dances on the waves and sculpts landscapes made to be captured through the lens.
With its gentle elevation, this stage is accessible to all, perfect for taking the time to observe and wait for the perfect light. Arriving in Portixeddu, framed by dunes and pine forest, the view opens onto a horizon that melts into deep blue: a scene that feels designed for photography. Total length 7 km, ascent 310 m, 325 m descent.
Late afternoon sees you meeting Monica and the people of Arbus, an authentic corner of Sardinia, where time flows at the rhythm of nature and the bond with the land is deep and genuine. In her farm, surrounded by silent pastures and the scent of wild herbs, Monica raises rare black sheep (la pecora nera) with passion—guardians of an ancient tradition and pride of the territory.
During a two-hour walk, she will guide us among her animals, sharing her story and the daily gestures that define agropastoral life: milking, transforming milk into cheese, and patiently waiting for the wheels to mature.
Round off your day with dinner in the village of Montevecchio.
Overnight: Miniera Fiorita, or similar
Day 5: Montevecchio
Transfer
Packed Lunch
Boutique Hotel
First, enjoy the sunrise in Montevecchio and then take a visit to the old mining area of the Medio Campidano province which was central to the mining industry in the south-west. Today, it is the site of the Geominerary park of Sardinia, a UNESCO world heritage site. A historical-cultural tour of the site allows you to discover a “ghost world” evoked by a complex of mines, a few hundred metres from the Piscinas dunes and close to other beaches on the Costa Verde.
Savour the sunset in Piscinas - the Dunes of Costa Verde. After walking along the unpaved and sandy trails, you will suddenly spy the immense and deep golden expanse, extending seven kilometres.This 'pearl' of the Costa Verde, in south-western Sardinia, is a dazzling yellow-ochre desert, stirred by the wind and dotted with Mediterranean greenery.
This wonderful oasis far from everything, with imposing and sinuous dunes of fine, warm golden sand that reach up to 60 metres in height, is shaped by the mistral winds and extends several kilometres from the hinterland until diving into the boundless and shimmering blue sea.
Overnight: Miniera Fiorita, or similar
Day 6: Discover Barumini
Transfer
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
A late departure and visit to Barumini "Su Nuraxi", the "giant" in the heart of Marmilla territory. Lunch will be in the hotel you are staying in but first a chance to explore the beauty of Barumini.“Su Nuraxi”, the nuragic complex of Barumini and part of the 58 Italian sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List is one of Sardinia’s landmarks.
The Nuragic complex, built between the Middle Bronze Age and the Late Bronze Age, is the best preserved of the 7000 nuraghi of the island, the centre of the social life of the Nuragic tribes. Explore the massive central tower, built from large dressed stones. The green hills of the Trexenta region, in southern Sardinia, conceal prehistoric ‘houses’ of the deceased, built on the rocky slopes and enriched with mysterious decorations.
The necropolises of Corongiu and S’Acqua Salida – also known as Pranu Efis, from the name of the locality in which it lies - are located slightly north of the town of Pimentel, just one kilometre away from each other. Carved into sandstone banks, they date back to the Final Neolithic period. There is much to explore and absorb in this rich cultural and historical part of Sardinia.
Overnight: Sa Lolla Hotel Ristorante or similar
Day 7: Orroli
Transfer
Lunch
Boutique Hotel
An early start to catch the sunrise in Nuraghe Arrubiu in Orroli. A Nuragic site that is much more than its picturesque ruins, it is a place of mystery and the vestiges of an ancient past. Visiting the Nuraghe Arrubiu whose name translates to red nuraghe, due to the colour of the stones which dominate the plateau. Discover the little-known history of this ancient civilization.
Then you'll stop for lunch at the Farmhouse. Immerse in the rustic charm of a countryside restaurant just steps from the ancient majesty of the Nuraghe Arrubiu, where each course is made with ingredients sourced straight from nearby fields.
After lunch, enjoy a visit to Orroli itself. Amidst the village's stone houses extending along the Pranemuru plateau, the ancient manor houses stand out and are used as museums and artisan workshops.
In the late afternoon, immerse yourself in a workshop where history, flavour, and sustainability come together. Here, in an authentic setting, an ancient farming art is brought to life: the production of the famous “Bread of the Centenarians,” named after the remarkable longevity of the people in this area. During your visit, you will be welcomed by a family-run, women-led business that has preserved a timeless knowledge: baking with organic hard wheat Senatore Cappelli, stone-milled on volcanic mills to retain the precious germ and all its nutritional qualities.
After an enriching adventure in Orroli you will head back to Baramini for the night.
Overnight: Sa Lolla Hotel Ristorante or similar
Day 8: Orroli - departure day
Transfer
After breakfast today, you will be transferred to Cagliari airport for your international departure flight, reinvigorated by beauty that Sardinia has to offer.
Adventure Optional Extras
Plant an additional 15 trees for your adventure
Carbon Compensation is not the perfect solution, and it is important to first reduce our carbon emissions as much as we can, yet trees remain an excellent natural technology to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to slow global warming.
For every client and guide who attends a YellowWood Adventure, we donate £30 to our partner charity WeForest to plant 15 trees to (over) compensate for the carbon footprint of the tour.
We also invite our clients to match this with an optional additional £30 for another 15 trees to be planted to help compensate for the carbon footprint of their international flights.
WeForest run many tree planting and tree maintenance projects such as this seedling nursery in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil and many other projects in other countries including Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania & India.
Click Here to find out more about their amazing projects around the world.
Not Included
- International Flights & airport taxes
- Visas
- Insurance (compulsory)
- Some group transfers, where use of public transport is easy and cost effective
- Lunches and some dinners - see itinerary for details
- Drinks & snacks
- Tipping (not widely expected - see Essential Info)
Adventure Optional Addons
Northern Sardinia Add-on adventure
An immersive historical and cultural trip in to the Barbagia and Northern regions of Sardinia
Contents
Am I fit Enough?
This adventure is a fabulous mix of sightseeing with private transfers, and exploring the stunning islands on foot.
To get the most of out of this adventure, you need to be in good physical health, and enjoy walking as a way of exploring an area. You do not need to be an experienced hiker as the walks on the itinerary are taken at a leisurely pace (to enable wildlife spotting and photography) on well trodden paths, for short periods of time (up to 2hrs) and with regular stops. You will be carrying just a day pack and bottle of water (bottled water) when walking or sightseeing.
Walking shoes or lightweight walking boots are more appropriate for this trip than hard and heavy walking boots.
Please note that you need to have an open mind to adventure travel, and experiencing different cultures to your own, first hand.
Travel & Arrival
Travel
Your YellowWood adventure starts at the start hotel in Kagoshima city, Kyushu Island. We understand that arriving into an unfamiliar airport can be daunting, so we aim to give you as much information here as possible to help you prepare. If you would like us to get you a quote for a private airport transfer then do contact us.
Finding flights
Flights are not included in the cost of your holiday, and whilst we are happy to help advise you, responsibility for booking the correct flights rests with you. We recommend that you use a comparison tool such as www.momondo.co.uk or www.skyscanner.net when searching for flights.
Insurance
Holiday insurance is essential for all Yellow Wood Adventures. Unfortunately anyone without insurance is not able to take part in the holiday, so please make sure you arrange cover. We recommend sorting your insurance when you book so that if you have problems during the run up to your holiday, and need to cancel, you are covered, particularly in the light of effects that the pandemic has had on travel.
You can find our travel insurance partner HERE.
Prior to the holiday, we will ask you to send us details of your insurer, policy number, 24 hr emergency assistance contact details and the name, address, and telephone numbers of your NOK or persons to be notified in the event of an emergency.
Your insurance needs to cover you for moderate walking with the following fairly standard inclusions:
- Medical Expenses
- Coronavirus linked expenses (these may be country specific, so please ensure you know what the requirements are relating to the country you are visiting)
- Repatriation
- Helicopter rescue & Air ambulance
We would also recommend that you have cover for the following optional items:
- Cancellation
- Loss or damage to property
Reviews
YellowWood Adventures
This is a new itinerary for YellowWood and as such, we do not yet have any reviews. We would love you to be the first to review the adventure!
Receive a 15% discount off Water-to-Go filtration water-bottles to help reduce plastic waste.
Compulsory
- US$ or GB£ to exchange for local currency
- Passport and Insurance Documents
- Credit / Debit Cards (for use in ATMs in cities only)
- Prescription medication & antibiotics such as Azithromycin to stop serious traveller's diarrhoea
- First aid kit: paracetamol, anti-diarrhoea tables, rehydration sachets, antihistamine cream, ibuprofen cream, thermometer & blister kit (eg plasters & zinc oxide tape).
- Washbag & usual contents - small travel bottles please! Biodegradable multi purpose soap can be used for washing clothes & self.
- Mosquito repellent
- Hand sanitiser (70% alcohol) & min of 2 reusable & 10 disposable face coverings
- Day rucksack for walking / sightseeing (approx 20L)
- Water-to-Go filtration water-bottle & additional storage water-bottle - ideally 2 litres per person
- Sunglasses & Sun cream (high factor)
- Plug adaptor
Clothing
- Socks & underwear
- PJs / nightwear
- Light tops that can be layered for day time - long and short sleeved tops (av trip temp: low 14ºC, high 28ºC)
- Trousers, shorts & skirts as required
- Warm layer: fleece or jacket
- Waterproof jacket (good quality)
- Good hiking shoes with non slip soles (for Yakushima)
- Sandals or trainers
- Swimwear & quick drying towel
Optional
- Camera & charging cables / plug
- Ear plugs (in case of snorers!)
- Head torch & batteries
- Umbrella
- Phone & Charging cables / plug
- Sun hat / baseball cap
This trip supports
Need a little help?
All adventures can be tailored as private bespoke trips.
Please contact us for more information:
+44 207 846 0197
Related Adventures
Booking Process
Select dates: Choose the dates for your adventure and consider adding any extra adventures or add-ons to enhance your experience.
Check the box to agree to our Terms & Conditions.
Make Booking: Click on "Make Booking." If you're booking more than 56 days before your adventure, you'll be redirected to secure WorldPay to make your deposit. If it's 56 days or less before your adventure, you'll need to make full payment. Rest assured, your money is held securely by the Travel Trust Association.
Your booking will show as 'pending' in your YellowWood online account.
Confirmation: We'll be in touch as soon as possible to confirm your booking or discuss any availability limitations. Please refrain from booking transport or flights until we've emailed you to confirm your booking. (Note: Receipt of your booking form is not confirmation.)
Making payment: Once your booking is confirmed, we'll change the status of your final invoice from 'Pending Approval' to 'Outstanding,' indicating that it's ready for payment online.
You will receive a reminder email for your final payment 56 days before the departure date.
Feel free to contact us with any questions about your adventure or booking, we're here to help!
Grading
To help you choose the right adventure for you, we have given each itinerary a grading that relates to the level of Walking / Trekking you will experience during the trip. This grading can be found on the Yellow map on the adventure page of the website.
All of our trips involve a level of general activity so are designed for people who are in good health, enjoy the outdoors, and have a taste for adventure and some level of fitness. As will be clear from our destinations, the climate (and altitude) may be different to that which you are used to, so please take this into consideration when choosing the most suitable holiday.
Please read our Adventure Itinerary & Essential Information for more information and don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to chat through whether you have found a suitable adventure for you.
Grade 1-3: Entry Level
You need to be in good physical health to enjoy your active holiday, but you don’t need to be an experienced hiker. These itineraries offer a mix of sightseeing and easier walking for around 2-4hrs a day, with the emphasis on sights and cultural experiences.
Walks will be well marked or on defined pathways, and often around sites of interest. The expected amount of descent/ascent will depend on the landscapes of the destination, but will not exceed 400m/day, and will often be much less. Walks are at low altitude (below 3000m).
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack with water and essentials. Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have a pair of comfortable and worn in walking shoes/boots.
Grades 4-6: Intermediate
You need to have a good level of fitness and be a regular walker for these adventures, with ideally some trekking experience. You can expect to be walking for 3-6 hours per day, not including rest stops, normally on good trail paths but with some uneven surfaces at times.
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack. You may be walking in more challenging temperatures. You will generally be walking at low altitude (below 3000m) but may walk at altitudes up to 4000m. The amount of ascent could be up to 800m in a day but will frequently be less. You may walk on consecutive days.
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable clothing for this adventure.
Grades 7-9: Challenging
You need to have a good level of fitness with previous experience of trekking. Extra training before your trip will ensure that you get the most out of your adventure. Areas will be remote and terrain uneven.
Expect to walk for 5 – 8 hours a day, not including breaks, with some very steep ascents and descents. You will be walking at altitude (over 3000m but not higher than 5000m).
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable equipment/clothing for this adventure (see the packing list for your adventure).
Please check individual itineraries for details of what you will need to be carrying with you.
Get in touch
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