North Sardinia Circle Tour

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Highlights

From the northeastern coast to the northwest, cutting inland and looping back to the start: a road biking tour showcasing all the highlights of northern Sardinia in one epic circuit.

Number of days: 9

Level: Challenge

Tour code: TNSCT-25

Price from: € 1185

Support levels

Guided tours: expand to see inclusions

Support level

Detailed briefing. Access to SardiniaCycling App. Van assistance. Group transfer from/to Olbia airport. Luggage transport. 10% discount on bike rentals.

Accommodation

6 nights at 4-star | 2 nights at 3-star

Meals

Two dinners; all breakfasts.

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.

Upon request

Individual transfer from Olbia airport to Olbia € 40 p.p.; Individual transfer from Olbia to Olbia airport € 40 p.p.; single accommodation € 340 p.p.; bike rental.

Self guided tours: expand to see inclusions

Support level

Detailed briefing. Access to SardiniaCycling App. Telephone assistance during your stay. 10% discount on bike rentals.

Accommodation

6 nights at 4-star | 2 nights at 3-star

Meals

Two dinners; all breakfasts.

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.

Upon request

Transfer from Olbia airport to Olbia € 40 p.p.; transfer from Olbia to Olbia airport € 40 p.p.; single accommodation € 340 p.p.; bike rental; luggage transport (€ 799 + 10 per pax).

Supported tours: expand to see inclusions

Support level

Detailed briefing. Access to SardiniaCycling App. Van assistance. Group transfer from/to Olbia airport. Luggage transport. 10% discount on bike rentals.

Accommodation

6 nights at 4-star | 2 nights at 3-star

Meals

Two dinners; all breakfasts.

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.

Upon request

Individual transfer from Olbia airport to Olbia € 40 p.p.; Individual transfer from Olbia to Olbia airport € 40 p.p.; single accommodation € 340 p.p.; bike rental.

Technical facts

Number of stages:
7
Total distance:
790 KM
Total elevation:
12,864 M

Description

Click here to expand our trip presentation!

North Circle is an exhilarating biking adventure around the northern end of Sardinia. Beginning in the vibrant town of Olbia, your journey takes you on a counterclockwise expedition that promises an immersive exploration of the island's diverse landscapes and rich cultural tapestry.

From Olbia, set your wheels in motion towards the picturesque town of Castelsardo, passing through the charming village of Aggius. As you pedal along, the stunning coastal vistas and the rustic charm of the countryside will accompany your every turn.

Continuing your voyage, the route leads westward to the historic marvel of Alghero, offering a delightful blend of medieval heritage and coastal beauty. Traverse the captivating landscapes as you make your way to Santu Lussurgiu, a tranquil haven that exudes Sardinia's authentic essence, passing through the enchanting town of Bosa.

The journey then ventures inland towards Fonni, a mountainous gem that treats you to panoramic views and a taste of the island's rugged, untamed beauty. Regaining the embrace of the eastern coast, the path winds its way to the seaside allure of Cala Gonone, where the azure waters greet you.

The expedition isn't just about the coastal splendor; it delves back into the mountains with a stage to Bitti, to enjoy the last bit of typical inner Sardian hospitality before heading back to where the circle of your adventure completes, encompassing the northern tip of Sardinia.

Throughout this 'challenge' level trip, the journey is complemented by exceptional accommodations and delectable meals, offering a blend of comfort and culinary delight to complement your cycling escapade. Each day of your biking adventure will unravel the island's diverse tapestry, from the seaside panoramas to the mountainous vistas, complemented by the warmth of Sardinian hospitality and the sumptuous flavors of its cuisine.

Get ready to pedal through history, nature and culture, embracing the thrill of the journey and the joy of exploration. Pay attention, this trip has a very smart design: for the self guided or private trips, it's in fact possible to make the trip start either from Olbia or Alghero. Or to make a custom and shorter version from Alghero to Olbia, for example.

This is more than just a cycling tour—it's a vibrant tapestry of Sardinian life, where the whispering winds, rugged cliffs, and azure waters orchestrate a symphony for the senses. Discover the essence of Sardinia through the rhythm of your pedals and the warmth of its hospitality.

Day 1: Welcome to Sardinia

Arrival in Olbia, transfer to accommodation in Olbia at a four star hotel.

Accommodation:
4-star hotel

Meals:
Breakfast

Day 2: From Olbia to Castelsardo

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.

Distance: 102.6km
Elevation gain: 1,741m
Riding terrain: hilly
Riding time: 4,30h

Accommodation:
4-star hotel

Meals:
Breakfast

Day 3: From Castelsardo to Alghero

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 four star hotel.

Distance: 102.3km
Elevation gain: 736m
Riding terrain: hilly
Riding time: 4h

Accommodation:
4-star hotel

Meals:
Breakfast

Day 4: From Alghero to Santu Lussurgiu

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 three star hotel.

Distance: 84.6km
Elevation gain: 1,960m
Riding terrain: hilly
Riding time: 5h

Accommodation:
3-star hotel

Meals:
Breakfast, dinner

Day 5: From Santu Lussurgiu to Fonni

This is a real mountain stage. It takes you 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.

Distance: 97.7km
Elevation gain: 1,969m
Riding terrain: hilly
Riding time: 4h

Accommodation:
3-star hotel

Meals:
Breakfast

Day 6: From Fonni to Cala Gonone

Leaving Fonni, we ride southwards and soon we climb over Correboi pass (1250m) and head down a long descent on a quiet and panoramic road that will take us briefly out of the Barbagia region. As we 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 of the southeastern coastline. It is impossible to go quick here: every 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 SS125, the ancient and 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 a cyclists paradise. You'll discover why. At the end of another long descent on the SS125, we find our destination: the tourist resort of Cala Gonone. Time to take a swim! Accommodation in a four-star hotel.

Distance: 95.3km
Elevation gain: 1,531m
Riding terrain: hilly
Riding time: 4,30h

Accommodation:
4-star hotel

Meals:
Breakfast

Day 7: From Cala Gonone to Bitti

There's a spectacular way to get out of the Cala Gonone cove, however, as in life, the best things seldom come easy. We need to climb up a steep old road carved into the white limestone. After this tuff start your legs will get some time to recover. We will cross the SS125 again on our way to Galtellì. A stop here is like looking back in time. 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 helped inspire Nobel Prize winning author Grazia Deledda when she wrote her book Canne al Vento. Quite soon after Galtellì we encounter the main climb of the day before passing through two typical Sardinian villages Lula and Orani. Shortly after Orani we will reach the daily destination: Bitti. Dinner and overnight at a four-star hotel.

Distance: 65.7km
Elevation gain: 1,485m
Riding terrain: hilly
Riding time: 4h

Accommodation:
4-star hotel

Meals:
Breakfast, dinner

Day 8: From Bitti to Olbia

Hopefully your smartphone's memory card still has some space left, as today will give you plenty of great photo opportunities. You ride to the north to close the Circle. Right from the beginning the scenery is gorgeous: you'll ride along the very large limestone and 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. Contained within a the Tepilora Regional Nature Park: almost eight thousand hectares of unspoilt forests, trails, springs, rivers and ‘dunes’. After some more hilly roads the final descent, of this challenging and unforgettable tour, brings you to Olbia. Overnight at a four-star hotel.

Distance: 117.3km
Elevation gain: 1,567m
Riding terrain: hilly
Riding time: 5h

Accommodation:
4-star hotel

Meals:
Breakfast

Day 9: Goodbye Sardinia

Transfer to Olbia Costa Smeralda airport and end of services.

Dates and prices

Support level	Departure	Price	Book now
Support level: Guided group tour Price for min 6 people	Departure: 19 April 2025	Price: € 2099	Book now:
Support level: Self guided \| early season	Departure: Apr 1 - Jun 21, 2025	Price: € 1285	Book now:
Support level: Self guided \| late season	Departure: Sep 1 - Nov 15, 2025	Price: € 1185	Book now:
Support level: Supported tour Price for min 6 people	Departure: Apr 1 - Jun 21, 2025 \| Sep 1 - Nov 15, 2025	Price: € 1820	Book now:

Bike rental service

the SardiniaCycling way...

Unlike most tour companies, we operate an in-house rental service, offering top-quality bikes tailored to enhance your journey. We believe that the right bike can turn a great trip into an unforgettable one. Instead of prescribing a specific model, we invite you to choose the bike that best suits your riding style from a wide range of platforms, models, and sizes. To make things even easier, when you book your trip, you’ll receive a 10% discount code to apply to your bike rental.

Go see the bikes!

Planning for your next North Sardinia Circle Tour

We suggest the following arrival and departure locations. The earlier flights will help us arranging transfers or other activities such as bike rental formalities, bike fitting and all services that are provided individually.

Best landing airport

Olbia
Best departure airport

Olbia

Transfer time from Airport to hotels is about 15 minutes on landing, 15 minutes on departure.

Logistics

Packing and Weather

Sardinia is a region known for mild Mediterranean weather. It generally features warm, dry weather which makes these rides particularly enjoyable. The spring and fall can see the highs range from the 18s to 25s (Celsius), while the lows are generally between 14 and 18. Summer highs are generally between 28 and 25. We always recommend bringing along riding layers and even a bit of rain (might happen in Spring and Fall) gear so you can keep riding comfortably throughout the day.

Transfers

Sardinia Cycling arranges group transfers from and to the closest airport for the trip: Olbia. Individual transfers can be also planned and the cost might depend from the departure or arrival location, from the transfer time and it can also be influenced by the presence of bulky luggage, like a bike case. Other transport option is public transport. About this last opportunity, we suggest you using Google Maps and select 'public transport' from and to your selected destination. In any case, we're ready to help you selecting the quicker, smoother and most cost effective solution.

Go Custom

Sometimes your trip on Sardinia simply isn’t long enough! Extend your stay for the best vacation possible. If you wish to spend a few days in our lovely island either before or after your trip, and need assistance making those plans, we're available help. Self guided and supported trips can be extended too and that can happen in any intermediate location along the itinerary: we can help selecting the best one!

Terrain

One thing riders learn soon is that Sardinia is hilly. The terrain is varied, with gradual and short, or very long and progressive climbs throughout the week. The Gravel Ring is best suited for our 'Challenge' riders. The routes have been designed to avoid busy roadways, that are very rare in a large and sparsely populated island. However, very little urban riding and short sections of busy roads are unavoidable in Sardinia.There are a few hundred meters on single trail as well has a few short section where carrying the bike is needed: it's little and for a good reason!