Hiking Tours Sardinia: Best Routes by Region — North, South & Mountains

Sardinia's hiking landscape divides naturally into four regions, each with its own character and best-suited activity level:

South Sardinia — Cagliari and surroundings. The capital region offers the island's most accessible hiking tours — flat wetland nature trails through Molentargius Natural Park alongside pink flamingos, and the moderate coastal climb to the Sella del Diavolo (Devil's Saddle) viewpoint above the Gulf of Angels. Most tours in this area combine e-biking with hiking, making them genuinely accessible for all fitness levels. See the Cagliari Bike & Hike tour for the full guide.

North Sardinia — Gallura and Castelsardo. The north offers Sardinia's most dramatic coastal hiking — medieval cliff-top towns, panoramic ridgelines above the La Maddalena archipelago, and routes that pass Bronze Age nuraghe towers with views stretching to Corsica. The terrain here is genuinely hilly — the Castelsardo panoramic e-bike tour covers 700 m of elevation gain — but the pedal assist makes it manageable.

East Sardinia — Supramonte and Orosei Gulf. The east coast and its mountainous interior is Sardinia's wild heart — the Supramonte limestone plateau, Gorropu Canyon (one of Europe's deepest canyons), and the coastline of the Orosei Gulf. The Cala Gonone and Dorgali full-day e-bike tour covers this terrain comprehensively: 45–70 km through the mountains, past a nuraghe archaeological site, and down to a secluded beach.

Central Sardinia — Gennargentu and Barbagia. The Gennargentu massif (Sardinia's highest mountain range, up to 1,834 m) and the Barbagia valleys are the island's least-visited and most culturally distinctive hiking region — ancient shepherd villages, cork oak forests, and long-distance trails rarely covered by short-stay visitors.

The Castelsardo panoramic e-bike tour is the best guided hiking and cycling experience in northern Sardinia. The route departs from Castelsardo — a medieval town built on a volcanic headland above the Asinara Gulf — and climbs through coastal maquis scrubland to a series of viewpoints that look out across the Strait of Bonifacio toward Corsica.

The route covers 30 km with 700 m of elevation gain across asphalt roads, dirt tracks and walking paths. Key stops include the Roccia dell'Elefante (Elephant Rock) — an ancient Domus de Janas tomb carved into a natural elephant-shaped rock formation dating to the pre-nuragic period — the Paddaggiu nuraghe on the hillside plateau, and the summit of Monte Ossoni at the top of the route. The summit stop is 15 minutes of panoramic time — views of Castelsardo's tightly packed stone buildings below, the wide Asinara Gulf and, on clear days, Corsica on the horizon.

• Castelsardo departure — medieval town on volcanic headland
• Elephant Rock (Roccia dell'Elefante) — pre-nuragic tomb in natural rock formation
• Cala Ostina — first coastal panoramic stop above the crystal-clear sea
• Panoramic road above the Monte Ossoni valley
• Paddaggiu nuraghe — Bronze Age tower on the hillside plateau
• Monte Ossoni summit — 15-minute panoramic stop with views to Corsica
• Return descent on dirt tracks through Castelsardo countryside

The $110 per-person price covers the full four-hour experience in northern Sardinia:

• E-bike — available in sizes S (150–168 cm), M (168–178 cm) and L (178–190 cm)
• Helmet — must be worn throughout, provided to all riders
• Tyre repair kit
• Experienced local guide for the full route

Not included

• Food and drinks
• Transport to/from Castelsardo
• Personal expenses

What to bring

The Castelsardo route combines paved road cycling, dirt track riding and short walking sections — bring mountain-appropriate kit:

• Comfortable closed-toe shoes — trail shoes or cycling shoes preferred
• Hat — the Monte Ossoni summit is exposed to wind and sun
• Sunscreen — the coastal route has minimal shade from April to October
• Water and snacks — no resupply points on the route
• Comfortable clothes appropriate for cycling and short hikes
• Warm layer for autumn and spring tours — the summit can be cool

Not allowed

For safety on this route:

• Pets
• Participants who cannot ride a bike
• Sandals or open-toed footwear on the dirt and trail sections

The Castelsardo panoramic tour is best for:

• Visitors staying in northern Sardinia — Olbia, Sassari, Santa Teresa Gallura, Palau
• Cyclists and walkers who want significant elevation gain with e-bike support
• History enthusiasts — the route includes Domus de Janas, nuraghe and medieval Castelsardo
• Photographers — Monte Ossoni summit is the best viewpoint in northern Sardinia
• Riders who find flat city tours too tame but aren't ready for a full-day mountain expedition

Not suitable for

This tour is not recommended for:

• Children under 15 years
• Pregnant women
• People who cannot ride a bike
• Wheelchair users
• Anyone uncomfortable with moderate dirt-road cycling and short off-bike trail sections