An irresistible challenge for the adventurous at heart, the Selvaggio Blu Trek (literally “the Wild Blu”) is Sardinia’s famous mythical trail. Add to it terrific authentic food and local wines, and you’ve got yourself 11 days in a rugged paradise. Charged by the Mediterranean sun, we’ll start in Turin, sail to Sardinia, and embark on the legendary Selvaggio Blu. The invigorating Tyrrhenian Sea will keep us going while we hike, scramble, abseil, and rock climb—and it will always be there for quick refreshing dips. Though this challenging trek might drain us at times, the views will recharge our batteries: massive limestone spires emerging from the sea, golden sandy beaches, hidden coves, and so much more. All the foodies out there in search of a real challenge—this adventure is practically tailor-made for you!
Often regarded as one of the most challenging treks in the world, Sardinia’s Selvaggio Blu isn’t for the faint of heart. Winding its way along the island’s east, rugged coastline, the trek demands of us to scramble, hike, rock climb, and abseil. Apart from an IFMGA-certified guide who will keep you safe, another thing that makes this 11-day adventure so alluring is all the incredible food and wine we’ll be tasting the whole way through. This is an all-inclusive trip from the moment you set your foot in Torino, so all that’s left to do is enjoy this testing trek and all that comes with it!
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.
Aaron is a great group leader. He’s smart, kind, thoughtful, patient and generous. He is a highly knowledgeable food enthusiast and supreme advocate for eating well and eating often. It’s easy to tell he puts a tremendous amount of time and consideration into organizing these memorable excursions. Every day is loaded with fun and interesting activities, interactions with local producers, gorgeous scenery and outrageously delicious foods and drinks. We experienced many humble, deeply traditional and abundant meals as well as higher end dining with dishes that were more experimental. I felt happy, intrigued and impressed every step of the way along this unforgettable journey.
To Explore Italy with Saveur the Journey is the best way to do it. Excellent food, wine and perfect accommodation and our guides made us feel at home. I do recommend it!
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
In order to join this Selvaggio Blu trek, you should be a solid hiker, comfortable with carrying a day pack that weighs 10-15lbs and be able to climb and descend steep, rocky trails, sometimes with exposure. You’ll be in a very remote area where travel by foot is your only means of transportation.
There’s quite a bit of elevation gain and loss on this trip, so good physical shape is a must. In general, you have to be able to hike up to 8 hours with up to 3,500 ft (1,070 m) of elevation gain and 2,000 ft (610 m) of loss in a day. Please check out the itinerary to see day-by-day distances and elevation changes. Prior climbing experience is not necessary, but it would be helpful. Your professional guides will take care of setting ropes, belaying, and keeping everyone safe.
But if you like hiking in a rugged and wild area with great food and wine, excellent guides, and the sea always nearby for a quick dip, this trip is for you!
Travel Documents
Luggage
Hiking gear
Hiking clothes
Other gear
Group sizes and pricing
Selvaggio Blu Treks can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
The starting point of your Selvaggio Blu Trek in Sardinia is Turin in Italy. You can fly into Torino Airport (TRN), but another great alternative is Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), 1.5 hours away from Torino by car or public transport.
You’ll meet your guide on Day 1 of the trip at Turin Porta Susa (Corso Bolzano) and then check into your B&B for the night.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance.
With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more. Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.
We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to. If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!
Deposits
You can secure one of the set dates with a 30% deposit upon booking. The remaining 70% of the trip price is to be paid 90 days prior to departure, at the latest.
Cancellations
Booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:
Basic
Flexible
Super Flexible
I have been on two trips (so far) with Saveur the Journey, both of them fantastic. The proprieter, Aaron Schorsch, partners with locals, most of whom he knows very well, to provide an intimate and extraordinary deep dive into the foods, food systems, and cultures of his carefully selected locales. The group size is small and the people always congenial. You will learn a lot and will eat even more if you go on one of these trips. These trips tend to have a ‘active’ component built in – some more so than others, and it’s a good thing as the calorie intake is significant. Can’t wait to go on another trip with this company.