When speaking trails, only one takes the crown in terms of difficulty, rewarding scenery and overall challenge: Sardinia’s Selvaggio Blu.
When speaking trails, you can go the distance, like the Pacific Crest. You can boast altitude, Oh!, the Annapurna Circuit has enough of that. What about history: the Inca Trail or Camino de Santiago could easily claim the honours. But you wouldn’t believe me if I told which trail takes the crown in terms of difficulty, rewarding scenery and overall challenge: Sardinia’s Selvaggio Blu.
The Selvaggio Blu is a 40 kilometre trail that runs along the eastern coast of the island. Expert guides and hikers can complete it in 4 days, I would recommend at least a week. While other trails can boast of days of up to 30 km, a 3-km day would not be unheard of at the Selvaggio. How this short stretch of coastal cliffs can contend with other Goliaths is all about the difficulty and the variety of the terrain. A mix of trekking, abseiling, scrambling and climbing challenge even the most intrepid of trail travellers. To add to the adventure, there are no stops to buy food or water, so the full length of the trail has to be done self-supported.
VIEWS OF FORESTS AND SEA
With days of 1,200 metres of elevation gain, the Selvaggio Blu takes travellers from craggy shores to forested clifftops where the Mediterranean can be gazed in all its glory. Sardinia’s geological formations and karst environment add to the myth of this trail. This is a perfect trekker’s destination for Spring or Autumn.
GETTING THERE
If you’re flying from Italy, arrive at Olbia, a drive or bus ride south will take you to Santa Maria Navarrese, very near the trailhead. If you are flying from other European capitals you will have to fly into Cagliari and go to the trailhead by land. There is a ferry from Cagliari to Arbatax, but it runs just two times per week. Of course, if you want to take the stress out, have the best guides alongside you and discover much more of Sardinia, at Blueflower we create experiences custom-made for adventurers and inspired travellers.
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