5 road trips that showcase the beauty of Sardinia, Italy

20.03.2024 - 21:41 / lonelyplanet.com

The Mediterranean island of Sardinia is home to some of Italy's most off-the-beaten-track beaches, archaeological sites and culinary experiences, many of which are inaccessible by public transport.

With your own wheels, you can experience Sardinia's hidden treasures at a pace that pleases you. Roads here are generally well-maintained, though access to the most sought-after mountain and beach destinations sometimes requires travel on narrow, curvy and/or unpaved roads – a perfect opportunity to slow down and enjoy the ride!

Best road trip for off-the-beaten-track adventures
Nuoro-Santa Maria Navarrese; 120km (75 miles); allow two days

Between the mountain outpost of Nuoro and the stunning Golfo di Orosei coastline lies a hauntingly beautiful landscape of limestone plateaus and deep gorges known as Supramonte.

From Nuoro, head southeast to Oliena, a whitewashed village backed by the Supramonte's highest peak, Monte Corrasi (1463m/4800ft). From here, it's a short jaunt east to Su Gologone, an emerald green pool fed by an underground river at the base of sheer limestone cliffs. Dip south into the remote, olive-studded Valle di Lanaittu to explore the Sa Ohe cave and the sacred well temple of Sa Sedda' e Sos Carros before heading back to Hotel Su Gologone for a fabulous dinner and overnight stay.

The next morning, drive 20 minutes east to Dorgali, and turn right off the SS125 just south of town to trailheads for Sardinia's "Grand Canyon" – the Gola Su Goroppu – and the eerie ruins of Tiscali, an abandoned Bronze Age village tucked into a collapsed cave. Continuing south, the SS125 threads beneath limestone cliffs and zigzags through rocky expanses inhabited only by shepherds and their flocks in the lonely high plateau country surrounding Urzulei. The tiny village of Baunei makes a welcoming oasis, with a few restaurants offering sustenance. Stop in for lunch or dinner on the outdoor deck at Le Radici before your final descent to the coast at Santa Maria Navarrese.

Planning tip: There are no services between Dorgali and Baunei, so fuel up before heading south on this lonely 50km (31 miles) mountain road.

Best road trip for history buffs
Olbia-Cagliari; 400km (249 miles); allow two days

Scattered about the Sardinian landscape are thousands of mysterious fortified Bronze Age settlements and burial sites, remnants of Sardinia's ancient Nuragic culture, which thrived here for nearly two millennia before the Roman conquest. Tour the classics on this two-day north-to-south jaunt through Sardinia's interior.

From Olbia, head into the hills around Arzachena to discover the impressive tombe dei giganti (giants' tombs) of Li Lolghi and Coddu Ecchju. Flanked by semicircular assemblages of giant granite slabs, these