This area boasts europe’s tallest sand dunes, reaching over 70 meters (about 230 feet) high. This location is fairly remote and it’s crazy to find a Five-star hotel here. This eco-resort was built from a repurposed former mining warehouse. While the area has a wild and rugged coastline with untouched beauty, there are other activities besides the beach and feasting on the scenery in which to engage. Such activities include mine touring, visiting the mining ruins, horseback riding, diving, quad biking, yoga, and more.
On the way to my final destination I stopped to explore some of the old mining ruins.Remnants of a very old mining site and factory dating back to 1850. The area here was chosen for its zinc, lead, and silver deposits. I wonder what these mine workers would think if they could see what is happening now 200 years later at the site of the eco-resort (formerly the mining warehouse.)Still some distance away to the coastline, the dunes can barely be seen far in the distance. That is also the location of what once-upon-a-time was the mining warehouse, now the eco-report Le Dune Piscinas.Drone perspective of the remote eco-resort. This image captures just how remote and secluded this place is. Also, barely visible in the foreground on the beach is the old pier. Back in the day this was used for the ships that would dock and then be loaded with the mined metals.This is a close up of the old shipping pier. I was glad that this was not removed when the hotel was created. While not beautiful to look at, it provides a link to the history of this place.This image was captured from the beach looking back to the hotel.At the beach the people are quite sparse. They are mostly camping nearby since there are no homes or lodging anywhere close to this location. The nearest town is Arbus, about 30 Km away, via mostly narrow winding dirt roads.Another perspective with some very rugged mountains in the background.Very welcoming hotel lounge. One of the many hotel sculptures around the property. In the off-season the hotel hosts an artist-in-residence program. The program invites contemporary artists to create works in dialogue with the surrounding landscape, the hotel, and its mining history.Relics and some art pieces as you walk to the beach.The giant beetle, while appearing to be menacing, is entirely harmless.Some company at breakfast. These are not bees and they do not sting. They are attracted to primarily food and flowers. I opened the honey (which they especially enjoy) so they wouldn’t bother me, and it worked.Great table for two and an incredible sunset happening. What a beautiful place for dinner. The menu was awesome too. That was critical because there are no other dining options anywhere nearby.
After a two night stay here I will be headed north for a bit. For my next stop I plan to see some small towns. Not exactly sure yet where that is, but I will know before I depart. Since there are many fewer towns and villages along Sardinia’s western coast the decision should be an easy one. Probably head to Bosa and then Alghero.
Chia is located on the southern coastline of Sardinia. I decided to spend only two nights here. The beaches were fabulous, the crystaline water was warm, and the sun was hot. The hotel I booked was The Baia di Chia Resort, part of the Curio collection by Conrad. It had 77 rooms on numerous hilly acres of coast-side land. Some of the cottages offered amazing views of the coastline. Since I was staying only two nights, I booked a superior cottage with an incredible view, as seen below.
View to the beach from my cottage near the top of the cliff..This perspective of the cliffside hotel cottages was taken from the lighthouse.A portion of the path down to the water. The only downside to the amazing views and privacy offered by my accommodations was the 80-100 steps down to the beach.The water felt as good as it looks.Pictured above is the lighthouse to which I hiked earlier in the day. The path can barely be seen just along the rocky plunge to the water.The view to the north from the lighthouse. Part of the charm here in Chia is the lack of commercial development. There was only one larger hotel. That hotel seemed like way too much for this area.The view to the south from the lighthouse. More amazing beaches as far as the eye can see.I hiked around the coastline for a couple of hours and discovered this nice secluded spot that someone was enjoying.And so my final morning here begins with this glorious sunrise over the lighthouse.
And that’s it for this stop on my island tour. After breakfast I will drive north and then west to the coast. I am heading to a very secluded and unique hotel. The journey to this very secluded spot will take three to four hours along some very challenging roads. See you there at Le Dune Piscinas.
Cala di Sinzias is located near the very southeast point on Sardinia. I found a great hotel with a great location to a stunning beach. The hotel dining options left something to be desired. However, there was an awesome beach restaurant named Lido Tamatete. Serving both Italian and Mediterranean fare I took full advantage of this place and proceeded to eat lunch and dinners here. The beach and Tamatete were a short 10 minute walk through the forest from the hotel. When I wasn’t at Tamatete I spent most of my time in the water or on the beach. I’m sure there was more here to do, but I never found it. The beach scene was it for two days.
These are the typical hotel accommodations at Hotel Cala Sinzias Resort. Modest yet fully functional units. The property had a spa, gym, several private pools, and plenty of well maintained gardens.Hotel pool was both inviting and nearly empty at the same moment. I believe it’s because the beach was such an incredible draw.The walk through the woods and then some dunes near the beach. I’m beginning to resemble my stone friend here.More of the dunes on the walk to the beach. This place is both scenic and raw. Just a stunning beach in both directions. This is the view to the north. The greenish color of the water is a direct result of the golden sand and the steep angle of the sun. Here’s the beach view to the south. Notice how the water color is different from the image above. This was taken mid-day when the angle of the sun was more direct.Another pic of this beautiful water.This is an example of an “organized beach” offering chairs, drinks and some food. It’s hard not to notice the coordinated chairs and umbrellas. It looks organized.This is an example of a “disorganized beach”, offering many colored umbrellas and some congestion. Here it is hard not to notice the clashing umbrellas, towels and chairs. But who really cares anyway, we’re all at the beach.Lunchtime view of the beach from my table at Tamatete. A table in the shade with an awesome view, a bowl of hot mussels, and an ice cold Peroni beer. Sometimes the simple things in life are the best. The name of this establishment is painted in blue and white on the large rock in the foreground.Restaurant Tamatete as evening comes to the beach.
That’s it from this place. My research indicates that I will drive 2-3 hours tomorrow mostly along the southern coastline on my way to the town of Chia. Chia is located on the southwest part of Sardinia. See you there.
The Golfo di Orosei was only a 3 hour drive south from the La Maddalena district. It was also in the general direction of my plan to travel clockwise around the entire island. Since there are no paved roads and very few dirt or rocky roads to the coastline, the only viable access is from the water. Consequently, I decided to take a full-day boat excursion in order to explore this beautiful rugged coastline on the eastern side of the island. I also believe that the best views are to be experienced from the water. Our charter had 11 other guests from various parts of the world. I befriended some Brits, and a mother and daughter from Japan. It made for a very enjoyable day. The charter provided beer, wine and a hot lunch.
Some of the rugged coastline along the Golfo di Orosei.Another area and some of the granite spires dramatically surging up from the coastline.Because of today’s partly-cloudy skies, there were fewer people at the beaches where we stopped to swim.One of the few beaches along the Golfo di Orosei. This point in the foreground provided a great spot to jump-off into the water, as well as a fabulous view.Another beach, another view.These are my new friends enjoying lunch and some white wine on the boat as we motor toward another beach.Everywhere I swam there were fish. I love the expression on the fish staring straight at me. What would he say if he could talk?
Next, I plan I will be traveling to Cala di Sinzias, which is very near the most southeastern point I can drive on the island. My research indicates that it’s a place worth checking-out. Hope you can join me.
La Maddalena is an area off the northeast coast of the island of Sardinia, essentially being islands off the main island. Part of the islands are a designated national park and protected area. This was an outstanding choice for today’s ride. Just beautiful water and beaches everywhere you looked.
Water transfer out to the islands for our ride.View from above. Seen in the distance is the main island of Sardinia.Partial coastline image looking north to Corsica. If Corsica wasn’t shrouded in clouds it would be clearly visible.A tranquil little bay along the ride. It seems like the perfect spot for an overnight, as a couple of yachts have discovered.One of the plentiful beaches here. I had to keep stopping for pictures.A more popular beach.Wherever I go here I’m always reminded of where I am, Italia. Classic Vespas for hire.The awesome track back to our aquatic transfer. Today’s ride was truly different from the prior few days, and far less life-threatening as there was little if any road traffic here.
After six days of riding I say goodbye tomorrow to my fellow bikers. I have rented a car and plan to explore Sardinia for the remainder of my time on the island. Keep you posted in a few days.
I am on the island of Sardinia which is approximately 300 miles (500Km) from the western coast of the Italian mainland, in the Mediterranean. Sardinia is only second in size to Sicily as being the largest island in the Mediterranean. The first segment of my month-long trip to Sardinia is a bike trip. The Backroads Company delivered a fantastic cycling experience. This was a six day ride with generous elevation gains most of the days. The average daily ride was 35-45 miles (58-75Km). Our group of ten was led by a couple of great guys. They were excellent as leaders, as well as cohorts. The Backroads Company arranged all the logistics, as well as lodging/baggage transport, and most meals. From beginning to end this was a well organized and well executed operation. The first few days’ rides were in and around the Gennargentu Mountains. These mountains are extremely rugged with stunning formations of granite rising to elevations in excess of 6,000 feet from sea level.
Our leader Gioele (pronounced Jo-eleh) is seen here giving the group the AM briefing. Each morning we were given the bullets of that day’s ride, as well as some approximate meeting spots along the way. Because each bike was equipped with a handlebar mounted satellite GPS device, it precluded having to ride as a group. It was nearly impossible to lose that day’s ride plan and get lost. Some riders chose to ride solo and some in pairs.This image is at the beginning of our ride on iconic highway SS 125. The ascending highway can be seen as the horizontal line cutting across the mountains in the distance.Vineyards along the ride could be seen frequently. Many other fruits and vegetables were also being cultivated. Refueling with fruits and water after two hours of riding. These were three of my fellow riders who happened to be at our van’s roadside stop when I arrived. (The woman nearest the van bears a striking resemblance to the housekeeper I had in my 2013 trip to Sicily.) Not only did we need water and fruit sugar at these roadside stops, we needed plenty of sunscreen, as we barely saw a cloud for the entire time.The charming little village nestled in these mountains is San Pantaleo. Little cafes, bars, restaurants, and of course some shopping can be found here. I had time, so I decided to enjoy a beverage at a cafe.These two women were not part of the biking group, in case that wasn’t obvious.. They were enjoying an Aperol Spritz and a white wine, while also inhaling hard on their vapes. They also spoke with heavy Russian accents. It’s nice to see these Eastern Block folks enjoying some of the same vices as western folks do. See, we have that in common.From my observations of this guy, he owned the little cafe. I was observing him from one of the cafe’s outdoor tables. He seemed to be constantly pacing, while engaged on his phone, drinking espresso alternating with Aperol Spritzes, and smoking cigarettes incessantly. He’s also a Jack Nicholson fan judging by his tee-shirt.View from the summit of today’s ride.Motos from Deutschland at the summit rest stop. After spending three hours riding up to this point it’s easy to see why people from all over the EU travel here with their motorcycles to gobble-up these awesome mountain drives and vistas. Their body armor was impressive too. I’m glad no one in our group experienced an incident requiring such protection.Another pic of my German friends and their powerful machinery. The women looked tougher and stronger than their male counterparts.Ready for the 17 mile (27Km) ride downhill? Not a lot of shoulder for us here. The idea is to stay your line and hope that everyone else does the right thing too. Any altercation is most likely a horrific one. Besides a possible distracted driver, the most significant danger is a pot hole. However, this highway was in exceptional condition. Had I known at the beginning that there was not one pot hole to be encountered, I could have relaxed a bit more on my handgrips.Pictured here is the switchback portion of the decent to our lunch spot and then to the sea.Lunch at the Hotel Villa Cedrino located near the bottom of our decent.There was an awesome hotel pool here as well. Our group was able to have lunch, but no pool activities were permitted. I get it, “some people just don’t belong.” If I ever revisit this area I will consider a two night stay here. It’s an absolutely peaceful and beautiful location.Finally back to sea level and in the water. Air temp 85, water temp 78, just perfect.No photo filters were applied to this image. You think this guy will wish he had used some sunscreen? Ouch, that’s gonna hurt later. He looks like he spent some time in a microwave. And if you zoom in, there’s another small unpleasant surprise waiting.Moonrise over the mountains, and a picture perfect way to welcome the evening.
Our next ride will be north of our present location on the eastern side of Sardinia. The area we will be visiting and exploring is know as Isola Maddalena and the Parco Nazionale de La Maddalena. These areas will be as stunning as today’s but different; as mountains are replaced with beaches and ocean vistas.
