Tour code: TNSCT-23

The North Sardinia Circle Tour

The North Circle: a road biking tour that includes all the highlights of north Sardinia in one loop

Date 1

starts on: 07/10/2023
ends on: 15/10/2023
Type: Scheduled

Circle is the perfect geometrical shape...

...If you go round a circle, your start and finish will be the same. And on your journey you can embrace a wide space.

The North Sardinia Circle Tour takes place in seven stages. This special tour is designed to highlight the outstanding features of northern Sardinia. It is also incredibly versatile as a self-guided tour. You can start from the airport in Alghero and finish there. Or you can start at the airport in Olbia and finish there. Or you can start in Alghero and finish in Olbia or vice versa. These options are also a possibility for a guided tour, just tell us what suits you best and we’ll tailor it to your specific needs. However you decide to experience this tour it contains a lot that we consider amazing and we’re quite sure you’ll agree with us. You’ll visit places offering coastline views of the Costa Smeralda and the hilly landscape of the northeast of our lovely island. And if that’s not enough you’ll experience the medieval heritage and Mediterranean lifestyle of cities such as Castelsardo, Alghero and Bosa. The tour also visits some of the most secret areas of Sardinia such as Barbagia and Ogliastra with their strong traditions, true Sardinian pride and of course outstanding cuisine.

The Pro Tour Series
The Journey Begins Here

TOUR STOPS AND TOPS

Things You Don't Want to Miss
  • Views from one of the...
    wildest regions

  • The west coast
    has some of the most beautiful views in the world

  • One of the Sardinian assets
    Friendly people and lovely Hospitality

Ride Highlights:
The North Sardinia Circle

Circle is the perfect geometrical shape. If you go round a circle, your start and finish will be the same. And on your journey you can embrace a wide space. So we wish our friends to enjoy all the beauties enclosed into one of our classics: the North Sardinia Circle Tour.

Tour highlights

TRIP program

Total distance: 667.9km

total elevation: 11,126m

Duration: 9 days

difficulty level: Challenge

DAY 1: ARRIVAL DAY

Arrival in Olbia (OLB), transfer to accommodation in Arzachena. Dinner at hotel

DAY 2: RIDE ARZACHENA TO CASTELSARDO
96.9km | 1,414m | 1,403m | 4,30h

From Costa Smeralda, riding along the hills of northern Sardinia, and passing through the famous landscapes of the Aggius valley, you come to the medieval town of Castelsardo. This is a very well preserved historical city, thanks to the fact that it’s perched atop a promontory high above the sea that has protected it from attacks and destruction over the centuries. Today, Castelsardo is a well-known tourist destination with all the services imaginable available for you. There’s a marina and beautiful beaches and small inlets perfect for a pleasant summer holiday. But rituals and traditions such as the famous Festa di Lunissanti mark the everyday life of the town, characterized by the industrious work of basket-weavers, fishermen, and farmers. You’ll love it! Accommodation in a four-star hotel.

DAY 3: RIDE CASTELSARDO TO ALGHERO
100.5km | 778m | 760m | 4h
 Alghero is another medieval town, and an extremely interesting one. And that's your destination today. This time you ride westwards on the beautiful coastal road very close to the beautiful and outstretched beaches of the Asinara Gulf. Some kilometers after Porto Torres, the main industrial settlement in the north, you change direction and ride southwards. Before arriving in Alghero, you can take in the magical views offered by the Argentiera and the Porto Conte Regional Park as well as enjoy Capo Caccia, a protected the marine area. This is a stage with a lot to see! Accommodation in a three star hotel.
DAY 4: RIDE ALGHERO TO SANTU LUSSURGIU
85.4km | 1,956m | 1,466m | 5h

On this stage, you’ll experience the special connection between the coastline and mountains in Sardinia. You start from Alghero and ride south to Bosa on one of the most renowned coastal roads on Sardinia. The medieval village here is one of the best preserved on the island. And it’s worth visiting. Enjoy an unforgettable ride through the narrow streets and stop for a quick meal in the heart of this old town. It's simply special. Bosa is the place where you leave the sea behind you. A long climb into the inner mountains of western Sardinia takes you to the historical city of Santu Lussurgiu. A Sardinian traditional dinner awaits us. Accommodation and dinner in a hotel.

DAY 5: RIDE SANTU LUSSURGIU TO FONNI
98.2km | 1,980m | 1,514m | 4h

This is a real mountain stage. It takes you on a climb up to the highest mountain village in Sardinia. After 30 km, you enter the wildest area of Sardinia, called Barbagia. This region is considered the heart of the island, for thousands of years it is here Sardinians took refuge from the invasions of other mediterranean cultures, and an area where tradition and true Sardinian pride live on. You can almost breathe it and you shouldn’t miss it. Here, you ride through very small villages such as Neoneli, famous for the Neoneli’s tenors. This is a male quartet which sings the so called 'Su cantu a tenòre', a style of polyphonic folk singing characteristic of the Barbagia region and today it's a proud member of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The more you climb, the deeper you get into Sardinian tradition. For instance, you pass through Tonara, a village famous for the production of delicious Torrone nougat. Sardinian nougat is known and loved by many for its delicious taste and top-quality natural ingredients. Fortunately, you will need some extra calories at this stage of the trip. From Tonara we climb up Tascusì pass topping out at 1250m. Your legs will get a well earned respite on the descent before the last hill on the way to Fonni, where we overnight. Accommodation in a three-star hotel.

DAY 6: RIDE FONNI TO CALA GONONE
94 | 1,634m | 2,608m | 4,30h
Leaving Fonni, we ride southwards and soon we climb on top of Correboi pass - 1250m asl and go down on a very long descent on a very quiet and panoramic road that will make us leave the Barbagia region for a while and approach to the very wild Ogliastra mountains. We bend decidedly towards the coastline and after a lovely up and down section, we take another super long and winding descent with a spectacular view on the southeastern coastline. Impossible to go quick here: every single hairpin calls for a photo! The small town of Talana is a good opportunity for a coffee stop before we turn left and ride towards the famous SS125, the ancient - iconic - road that once was the only connection between south and northeast. Now we have quicker roads to do the job, and the SS125 is the cyclists paradise. You'll discover why. At the end of another long descent on the SS125, to the right and down again to destination: the tourist resort of Cala Gonone. Time to take a swim! Accommodation in a four-star hotel.
DAY 7: RIDE CALAGONONE TO BITTI
71.9km | 1,518m | 918m | 4h
There's a spectacular way to get out from the Cala Gonone cove. And as in life, nice things aren't easy things: you need to climb up the old, somehow steep and sticky - we'd say pre-touristic - road carved in the white limestone. Tough it's so nice we're sure you won't blame us for that. We cross again the SS125, but keep riding towards Galtellì. A stop in that town, with it's awesome old town, will make us immerse in the history of the island. Galtellì has been awarded the Touring Club Italiano’s orange flag rating for excellence. The streets of the old town centre, its traditions and sensations inspired the author and Nobel Prize Grazia Deledda when she set her book Canne al Vento. Quite soon after Galtellì we take the main climb of the day, crossing other typical villages like Lula and Orani, and reach the daily destination: Bitti. Dinner and overnight at a four-star hotel.
DAY 8: RIDE BITTI TO OLBIA
120.3km | 1,871m | 2,472m | 5h

Hope the memory card of your smartphone has still some space left, as this day will give you plenty of great photo opportunities. You ride to the north to seal the Circle and right from the beginning the scenery is gorgeous: you'll ride along the very large limestone - extraordinarily white - range of Monte Albo. Many of the peaks of the limestone bastion are over a thousand metres high; Mediterranean scrub is all around and evergreen. After a long descent, you'll find the valley of the Torpè lake and nowadays a park oasis: almost eight thousand hectares of unspoilt forests, trails, springs, rivers and ‘dunes’ in the territory of Bitti, Lodè, Posada and Torpè. Some more hilly roads will take you to the last - final - descent to Olbia at the end of a challenging and unforgettable trip! Overnight at a four-star hotel.

DAY 9: FAREWELL AND DEPARTURE DAY.

Transfer to Olbia Costa Smeralda airport and end of services.

Tour price

And support levels

Guided group tour

From €: 1879

What's included

Accommodation

5 nights at 4-star | 3 nights at 3-star

Meals
Three dinners; all breakfasts.
Support level
Guiding; van assistance; mobile workshop; spare bike, bars, gels and electrolytes available on purchase; group transfers from/to Olbia airport; 10% discount on bike rentals.
Not included
Flight tickets; extras in hotel, etc. Drinks during the dinner; city tax (if any); travel insurance; individual arrival and departure transfer; bike rental.
On request

Individual arrival transfer from Olbia airport to Arzachena € 80 p.p.; individual departure transfer from Olbia to Olbia airport € 30; supplement for single accommodation € 340 p.p.; bike rental.

Self Guided tour

From €: 999

What's included

Accommodation

5 nights at 4-star | 3 nights at 3-star

Meals
Three dinners; all breakfasts.
Support level
Detailed briefing. Access to SardiniaCycling App with all the information regarding your tour, the itinerary, points of interest as well as all the documentation for your trip. Telephone assistance during your stay. 10% discount on bike rentals.
Not included
Flight tickets; extras in hotel, etc; drinks during the dinner; city tax (if any); travel insurance; arrival and departure transfer; bike rental; luggage transport.
On request

Arrival transfer from Olbia airport to Arzachena € 80 p.p.; departure transfer from Olbia to Olbia airport € 30; supplement for single accommodation € 340 p.p.; bike rental; luggage transfer (€ 799 + 10 per pax).

Supported tour

From €: 1559

What's included

Accommodation

5 nights at 4-star | 3 nights at 3-star

Meals
Three dinners; all breakfasts.
Support level
Detailed briefing. Access to SardiniaCycling App with all the information regarding your tour, the itinerary, points of interest as well as all the documentation for your trip. Van assistance; mobile workshop; spare bike, bars, gels and electrolytes available on purchase. Group transfer from/to Olbia airport. Luggage transport. 10% discount on bike rentals.
Not included
Flight tickets; extras in hotel, etc. Drinks during the dinner; city tax (if any); travel insurance; individual arrival and departure transfer; bike rental.
On request

Individual arrival transfer from Olbia airport to Arzachena € 80 p.p.; individual departure transfer from Olbia to Olbia airport € 30; supplement for single accommodation € 340 p.p.; bike rental.

Trip Quick Inquiry

Useful Information

Tips & Resources

Travel arrangements

The best airport for arrivals is Olbia Costa Smeralda (OLB): from there we arrange the group transfer. Other options are possible and we can help you select the best one.

Food & Drinks during stages

During the rides we plan at least one longer food stop in the middle of the stage plus one or more coffee stops. In the assistence van we have bars, gels and water.

Necessary Gear

Our guests will get a pre tour info kit that gives useful suggestions on how to enjoy our trips in full. Here is a quick selection that might be useful at this stage.

  • We suggest renting a Canyon bike with us. But feel free to bring your own bike. Just consider bringing along a selection of model specific spare parts (ie. derailleur hangers). 

  • The hotels have a room for the bikes, and we will have a selection of tools to perform basic maintenance.

  • Bring along a wide selection of clothes, including some full arm jackets, rain coat, leg and arm warmers: there are a lot of hilly areas where the weather is never completely predictable.

Useful Information
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