Unknown Sardinia

What sort of weather can I expect?

Meteorological records for the area, taken over a period of more than 10 years, are represented in the Weather Chart provided
with each itinerary.  Spring can be cool, particularly in the mountains and in the evenings, however the advantages of Spring are the glorious flowers and the deep greens of the trees and grasses. Autumn can be very warm through November, and can be very dry or very wet! Bring waterproofs and layers.

What sort of walking can I expect?

Our support vehicles allow you the flexibility to walk 'as much or as little as you like', with drop-offs and pick-ups appropriate to the given day's itinerary. The Tour Leader will tell you each evening about the following day's walking options.

This is an 8-day tour, with walks offered on 6 days. The length of each day varies from 2 hours to a maximum of 5 hours walking. The fitness level of this tour is Grade 3 . There are short and challenging walks, then longer easy walks… but plenty of time to enjoy the comforts of the hotel. Hours of walking, which may vary from group to group, means hours of actual walking and does not include stops for lunch, sightseeing, rests or siestas.

The paths are very varied with some gravel country roads and some challenging rocky mountain paths. These need care and concentration. Some of our routes are not footpaths as such, so there is a certain amount of climbing over/through fences and hedges. The walk to Tiscali is quite vertiginous: not cliff hanging, but steep scrambling. The coastal walk also involves short steep ascents/descents which might trouble some people.On certain days our walk takes us into the hills where the paths cross a more rugged terrain – please make sure that your footwear provides sufficient ankle support. There is also some steep uphill and downhill. Some of our walks are very weather sensitive. If it is not possible to do a walk due to inclement weather, an alternative will be organised. Any such decision is at the
discretion of the Tour Leader.

What if I don’t want to walk?

You don’t have to! You can either get a lift with the Tour Manager to the lunch location or the next hotel, or we can suggest options
to allow you to walk for part of the day. If the itinerary does not involve a hotel change on a given day, you can simply stay in the town and explore, and join (or not join) the group for lunch. The Tour Leader will discuss the next day’s options with the group every
evening.

Where do I meet the group at the start of the trip?

The destination airport for this Sardinia walking holiday is Cagliari. There will be a set meeting time at Cagliari airport for the transfer to the first hotel; a set time for the return transfer to the airport at the end of the trip; and a 'recommended flight' to connect with the airport transfers. Booking the recommended flight - which we strongly encourage - guarantees transfers to and from the airport, irrespective of flight schedule changes or delays. For clients not on the 'recommended flight' we cannot guarantee a transfer from the airport should you be delayed for any reason in meeting the group at the specified place and time. In this instance you will have to make your own way to the first hotel, at your own expense. The transfer to the airport at the end of the trip will also be timed according to the recommended flight and we cannot offer transfers at alternative times. Please check with the Reservations Team before making independent arrangements.

You are of course welcome to meet the group at the first hotel:

Hotel Su Gologone

Localita’ Su Gologone, Oliena (NU), Sardinia
08025

Tel: (39) 0784 287 512

Please indicate your intention during the booking procedure.

What should I bring?

Bring whatever clothes and footwear you find most comfortable for everyday wear, and a change or two for the evenings – smart/casual.
Most trips tend to include some quite distinguished hotels and restaurants, for which you may wish to ‘dress up’. For walking we recommend lightweight walking boots with firm ankle support (make sure you wear them in before the trip!), a small daypack for your
lightweight waterproof clothing, camera, fleece etc. An increasing number of people bring telescopic walking poles. For a comprehensive packing list click here:what to bring

What sort of food can I expect?

On our escorted Sardinia walking holidays all meals are included.

Breakfast

Most of the hotels we use offer a buffet-style breakfast with a range of both hot and cold choices. 4- and 5-star hotels almost always offer ‘cooked’ breakfast. Occasionally, in more remote areas, or in some 2 or 3-star hotels, breakfast can be a decidedly more ‘contenental’ affair – e.g bread, croissant, juice, coffee. If a breakfast needs ‘topping up’ to meet the needs of those with a
full morning of walking ahead, the Tour Manager will ensure this happens.

ATG Picnic lunches

ATG picnic lunches in Europe are renowned! ‘Happening upon’ an ATG picnic in an idyllic location punctuates each day’s walk. Picnics are colourful, varied and nutritious. Buffet-style, there is a choice of meats, cheeses, salads and fruits. Many salads are ‘exclusive’ to ATG and some of these original recipes are in the ATG ‘Table of Moveable Feasts’.

After being greeted with mineral water, followed by wine and an abundant lunch of local organic produce and specialities, there’s usually time for a siesta! Where there is a particularly spectacular and remote picnic spot we may occasionally carry
packed lunches. Outside Europe the location of lunches may vary, from picnics to meals in restaurants or private houses.

Dinner

Dinner is usually at about 8.00pm (later in Spain). We tend to eat in the best and most interesting restaurants available, which serve traditional local dishes as well as regional classics and excellent regional wines. To ensure that we enjoy the best that the area has to offer, the Tour Manager, with his/her specialist knowledge and experience, will have worked closely with the chef in advance, selecting the most interesting and characteristic menu possible. This not only ensures that we eat far better than people who ‘come in off the street’, but enables us to enjoy a very wide range of local specialities during the trip, and also to cater imaginatively for those with special dietary needs.

At the start of dinner each evening, it is ATG ‘style’ to
tell you about the menus and wines for that evening. If there’s anything different that you would prefer, you have only to ask.

What sort of food can I expect in this area?

Most Sardinian food is traditionally based on pork, lamb or kid goat, wild boar, partridge, or hare. Fish is not considered part of the essential local diet as the coasts once teemed with pirates. These days, however, there are more than 200 seafood restaurants in Cagliari, the capital, and we do eat seafood or fish
during the trip. Many country dishes are vegetarian-based and include pasta and nuts even though tradition leans towards game and domesticated meats. In Sardinia food varies with the terrain. From the roasted wild boar and suckling pig of the mountains to the octopus and tuna of the coast, or the eel and
asparagus of the river margins, both food and wine can change in its ingredients, its colour and its consistency between villages or hamlets less than a few miles apart.

And wines?

There is a wide variety of local wines, many of which are versions of the ubiquitous Cannonau which comes as a red, rosé and white. Look out for the red Cannonau at the hotel, Rosato d’Oliena, Cannonau Nepente amongst others. Whites produced on the island include the light, sparkling Vermentino, Cala Luna and Cala Viola, both fairly dry. You may also like to try the island’s digestivi: liquore di mirto, distilled from myrtle, and aquavita, a grappa.

We aim to match the wines to the style of the restaurant and the cuisine provided, and to sample local wines whenever possible. Local wines are provided with the picnic lunch but you will probably find that in view of the walking you will appreciate the water more than the wine and therefore the better wines will be
served in the evening.

What if I have a dietary restriction or food allergy?

When you book, let us know about any restrictions. This will give the Tour Manager the opportunity to shop and prepare menus
accordingly prior to your trip. At the start of the trip the Tour Manager will meet with you to discuss in more detail your requirements.

What should I bring to wear in the evenings?

We dine at the hotels excellent restaurant throughout the trip. The restaurant is reasonably smart - a jacket or dress/skirt would be appropriate.

Does the hotel have WIFI, hair dryers, laundry service?

There are hair dryers and laundry service, but no WIFI.

How much should I budget for items not included?

On escorted trips everything is included (per the published itinerary) apart from travel to/from the destination airport, items of a personal nature, snacks and drinks outside of the set meals.

What if I want to extend my trip?

We are delighted to book extensions for you at either end of your trip. We only book hotels with which we have an established relationship and where we can ensure a high level of service and enjoyment. If you would like an extension booking please indicate this during the booking process and we will contact you with pricing information.

Where can I find general FAQs?

For FAQs relating to the Company and general trip questions, click here