Hike the Selvaggio Blu, Sardinia’s Mythical Trek

Our trip begins in the Piemonte region of Italy, in the beautiful city of Turin. At Torino Porta Susa station is where you will meet Monica Wuthrich, a native of Torino and graduate of Slow Food’s University of Gastronomic Sciences. After checking into a B&B and refreshing ourselves, we will walk to Ernesto and Carlotta Wuthrich’s spacious apartment, where bottles of prosecco will be a start to our “aperitivo,” which will eventually progress to dinner.

Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Bed & breakfast

Today we’ll go to Porta Palazzo, the biggest open-air market in Europe, where our senses will be delighted by the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures of delicious vegetables, fruits, cheeses, meats, spices, and other products. After a delicious seafood lunch at Pescheria Gallina, we will pack up the van and drive a few hours southeast to Genoa in the Liguria region.

Here we will drive onto an overnight ferry, which will take us to Olbia in Sardinia. The ferry has 4-person sleeping rooms, so we will be able to sleep during the long crossing.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Quadruple rooms on a ferry

Once we reach Olbia, we will drive about three hours along the coast to the refuge at the Golgo Plateau, where we will stay. On the drive we can stop for a gelato, wine tasting, or cheese visit, depending on desires!

Our operational base is located on the Golgo plateau. The refuge we’ll be staying at is completely immersed in the Mediterranean scrub. The dinner tonight will include appetizers such as salumi, antipasto, pecorino, then traditional first courses like freshly made pasta and ravioli, second courses of Sardinian roast meats (pork, veal, goat) or freshly grilled fish, with bread vegetables, and dessert, all accompanied by excellent Cannonau (Sardinian Red Wine) and Mirto (Sardinian Digestivo).

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Tent in a refuge

We’ll check into our bungalows for the night. These are simple wooden houses equipped with two bunk beds. Bringing your own sleeping bag is a must! Bathrooms are shared with the camping area. We’ll have a briefing before dinner and prepare for the trek tomorrow.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Bungalow

We’ll hop into an off-road vehicle and head for Pedra Longa. We’ll then continue on foot to Ginnirco. Following an easy path up to the Cengia Giradili, we will climb up the cliff for 2,500 vertical feet (760 m) until we reach the top. From here, we can gaze out over the entire gulf of Arbatax towards the sea and up to the peaks of Gennargentu inland.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 5 hours
Elevation: +2,600 ft (+790 m) / -650 ft (-200 m)
Accommodation: Tent

We’ll start the day with a hike along the edge of the Capo Monte Santo cliff, a promontory that separates the Gulf of Arbatax from the Gulf of Orosei. Using juniper ladders put in place by the shepherds, we will descend into the Bacu Tenadili gully, and then climb up the opposite side. From here we have a chance to see Eleonora’s Falcon, as they live here in the greatest concentration in Europe.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 6 hours
Elevation: +2,600 ft (+790 m) / -650 ft (-200 m)
Accommodation: Tent

Passing by the inlet of Porto Cuau, we will continue until we reach Punta Salinas overlooking Cala Goloritzè, from where we will admire the grandeur of the Spire of Punta Caroddi. Then we will descend surrounded by imposing holm oaks and junipers until we reach the scenic beach of Goloritzè. We go up the Boladina gully and two short climbs of III° and IV° will allow us to continue to Su Tasaru.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 8 hours
Elevation: +3,200 ft (+975 m) / -1,600 ft (-490 m)
Accommodation: Tent

Today is the most demanding stage of the entire trek, due to the rough path and various mountaineering passages, including 5 rappels of at least 45 feet each. It is perhaps also the most beautiful stage because we reach otherwise inaccessible points. Our final point for today is Bacu Su Padente.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 8 hours
Elevation: +2,000 ft (+610 m) / -2,300 ft (-700 m)
Accommodation: Tent

This section, although less tiring than the previous one, has unforgettable and exciting climbs and descents including four longer rappels and two roped climbs! Enjoy your last day of the trek as tomorrow we’ll bring the trip to an end.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 6 hours
Elevation: +1,500 ft (+460 m) / -2,100 ft (-640 m)
Accommodation: Bungalow

Driving back to Olbia, we will have lunch on the way and perhaps stop for a winery/cheese tasting, or just relax on the beach. We will then take the overnight ferry back to Genoa and the next day drive back to Torino.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Quadruple rooms on a ferry

We should arrive in Torino around noon on the last day of the trip. You can either book a flight home for later on that day or spend a day relaxing and exploring Torino or Milan on your own.