Trekking
Trekking, along with other activities, allows you to visit the uncontaminated zones of our island, where civilisation has not yet arrived. The routes range from those for experts to families and novices. The objective is to experience nature, with its scents, panoramas and tranquillity.
To remember:never go into the mountains alone: the environment is wild, the routes are not signposted, there are no shelters, and an updated map of the pathways does not exist. Professional guides are to be found all over the island. They don't take the fun out of the excursion, but enrich it with information.
* Selvaggio Blu *
The original idea of this 7-day trek comes from two Tuscan mountaineers; Peppino Ciccalò and Mario Verin. In the 1980's, they attempted to link the numerous but rarely used miners' and shepherds' pathways in the Supramonte of Baunei to a pathway for trekkers as close to the sea as possible. After years of intense research, various attempts and lots of effort to find a pathway that inpart did not exist, Selvaggio Blu was born. Starting at Santa Maria Navarrese, the path crosses one of the wildest zones of Sardinia and finishes at Cala Gonone after 50km.
The Selvaggio Blu pathway is demanding, considered to be the most demanding in the whole of Italy. The daily outings last between 5 and 10 hours through dry and rocky terrain, in some parts, it is necessary to use climbing ropes. For seven long days, we miss the comforts of home; it is necessary to renounce certain things, to have tolerance, a sense of humour, and group work.
In a world of stones and rocks you can lose a sense of time. We are at the mercy of the sun, and the sea immersed in a dry, and sometimes brusque and deserted habitat. We seem to become a part of this wild land, surrounded for seven days by imposing mountains, deep chasms, blue seas, and sometimes an absolute silence.
Outings
7 full days:
1. Santa Maria Navarrese - Cuile Duspiggius
2. Cuile Duspiggius - Portu Quau
3. Portu Quau - Cala Goloritzè
4. Cala Goloritzè - Ololbizzi
5. Ololbizzi - Cuile Mancosu
6. Cuile Mancosu - Cala Sisine
7. Cala Sisine - Cala Luna - Cala Gonone
· 5 days, less demanding
1. Duspiggius - Portu Quau
2. Portu Quau - Cala Goloritzè
3. Cala Goloritzè - Ololbizzi
4. Ololbizzi - Biriola
5. Biriola - Cala Sisine
Excursions to Gorropu
This itinerary allows everyone access to the heart of Supramonte by the front door to be able to admire the various aspects of nature and the landscape of the territory's wild and uncontaminated habitat. Of these aspects, one of the more interesting is the Gola di Gorrpu, formed over 100 million years ago, with its height of over 500m, it constitutes the highest canyon in Europe.
Gorropu offers the chance to see an enchanting panorama. It really isn't possible to transmit on a simple postcard, all the sensations you can experience once inside the canyon: with its walls moulded by water and winds, it is a rare form of natural beauty.
1st itinerary
Duration: 5 hours.
Points of interest: nature
Difficulty: medium
Altitude - 650 m
Program: Departing from Genna Silana, where a disused pass allows us to reach a panoramic pathway through woodlands that, in 2 hours, brings us to the opening of the famous canyon, formed over millions of years. Once inside the canyon, you spend an hour admiring this natural wonder; you can even swim in one of the pools inside the canyon. The walk continues along the banks of the river Flumineddu, bringing us to Oddoene where we stop to eat a typical Sardinian lunch.
2nd itinerary
Duration: 5-6 hours.
Points of interest:nature, fauna, trekking
Difficulty: facile
Program: Leaving from Urzulei where the off-road vehicles depart for the zone of Sedda Ar Baccas and Campos Bargios. During the outing, you can see a splendid millennium yew tree (natural monument), a giants' tomb (Campu sa Carcara), all immersed in uncontaminated vegetation. Proceeding towards "S'Ischina e S'arraiga", and on towards the valley that indicates the beginning of the canyon. A visit to "Sa Giuntura" where numerous torrents unite to flow on to Gorropu. In one of the canyon walls, you can see the Donini cave: during the rainy season water gushes out under great pressure creating a spectacular waterfall "Su Cunna e S'Ebba". For the typical lunch, we return to Campos Bargios.
ALTERNATIVE An alternative itinerary leading to the canyon departs from Dorgali, through the valley of Oddoene. After having crossed the "Sa Barva" bridge, we join the pathway along the river Flumineddu. An inversion of the first itinerary.
We recommend that you are always accompanied by a guide on these excursions.
*Other trekking itineraries*
Nuraghe Mereu: leaving from the suburbs of Urzulei, crossing the canyon of the river Flumendosa, and descend towards Gorropu.
Perda Liana: a short walk to reach the limestone column, the symbol of the highlands of Ogliastra.
Valle del Lanaitto: in the zone of Oliena, crossing the valley for a visit of the Sa Sedda e Sos Carros nuragic complex, the caves of Sa Oche, village of Tiscali, and the Fonte Sacra..
We inform that in Ogliastra there are guides for excursions on the mountains or by the sea. Paths are not signed. Let's do excursions with guides. Prices depend by the number of people, distances, transfer, lunch, etc The tourist find info points or advertising in his village.
