Sitting in the Mediterranean, the Italian island of Sardinia is framed by stunning turquoise waters and white or golden sandy beaches. Rightly regarded as having some of the best beaches in the world, Sardinia is ideal for multi-activity holidays.
A Neilson activity holiday in Sardinia is just as much about relaxing as it is about adventuring. Soak up that glorious Sardinian sunshine by the pool, followed by a gentle stroll through the sand dunes and sweet-smelling pine trees that line the beach. Get stuck into your favourite sports or try your hand at something new. The choice is yours.
If you want to book one of our activity inclusive holidays to Sardinia, get in touch today.
Sardinia holidays are perfect, whether you’re travelling solo, as a couple or in a group.
Our Baia dei Mori Beachclub on the northeast coast of the island is the perfect location for activity holidays in Sardinia. Budoni Beach is amongst Sardinia's best beaches, so you couldn't get a better spot.
Hit the beach to make the most of the stunning coastline or venture into the mountainous backdrop to enjoy some of the best cycling at any of our beachclubs. Our friendly team is ready to show you the ropes when it comes to a huge variety of activities.
They also run our inclusive kids’ clubs where little adventurers will have a great time, burning off energy and meeting new friends.
You might expect all the Sardinia holidays activities to be water-based. It's true, there are a huge number of watersports to enjoy on the island, but there's plenty to explore on dry land too.
The warm waters of the Med are ideal for watersports. You can enjoy inclusive dinghy sailing, windsurfing, paddle boarding, and kayaking in the beautiful bay. Or head slightly further afield to the breezier kitesurfing beach and, for a supplement, learn from scratch how to enjoy this fun watersport.
On land, cycling is an incredible activity experience on your holiday in Sardinia. Mountain bikers and road cyclists have almost 2,000km of exhilarating routes and trails to choose from. Let one of our expert guides show you the best rides on the island or go it alone. Just remember to take plenty of breathers to soak up the gorgeous scenery around every bend.
You can also take your pick from tennis or a wide range of fitness classes, from yoga to HIIT. And we count lounging by the pool or treating yourself to pampering at the spa as legitimate holiday activities too.
Even beginners can pick up the basics of windsurfing in no time, thanks to inclusive beginner sessions and tuition. More advanced windsurfers can even enquire about their Royal Yachting Association (RYA) 'Start Windsurfing' qualification and certificate.
Expect to trek up and whiz down some of Europe's best cycling routes on your holiday to Sardinia. Mountain and road cyclers alike can zoom through pine forests and soak up views of the crystal-clear waters as you wind your way along coastal paths.
Whether you decide to kayak or paddleboard, picture-perfect seascapes await. Both activities are ideal for beginners and pros, thanks to the serene waters. Our sit-on-top kayaks can fit one or two people, so little ones can be accompanied.
Beautiful Sardinia is part of Italy and sits in the sparkling blue waters between the Mediterranean Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea. It's the second-largest island in the Mediterranean, after Sicily.
If you look at a map, Sardinia can be found beside the western coast of mainland Italy. It sits directly below the French island of Corsica, which is less than an hour away by ferry and can be easily visited on a day trip during your holiday to Sardinia.
Sardinia has long, hot summers. May and June herald the start of the summer with temperatures in the mid-20s. It isn't super-hot at this point, making it great for shore-based activities, such mountain biking and road cycling.
July and August temperatures usually top out in the low 30s, but can be hotter, while September sees a return to the mid to high 20s. If you're looking for the most consistent wind conditions for sailing, windsurfing, or kitesurfing, it's best to travel in June, July, or August.
There's always time for a spot of culture during your multi activity holiday to Sardinia. Expect to see ancient villages with narrow cobbled streets and cosy family-run eateries, as well as hilltop castles boasting jaw-dropping vistas, and seaside towns where you can sample local delicacies.
The rugged landscape is dotted with countless nuraghi – mysterious stone ruins shaped like beehives. They are unique to Sardinia and were built centuries before the birth of Christ. Then for natural beauty, you'll be met with the dazzling sandy coves of the famous Costa Smeralda, as well as rolling vineyards and rugged peaks.
Whether you stay near the Baia dei Mori Beachclub or venture further afield, lots of local culture is on tap during your holiday to Sardinia. Just a 15-minute drive south is the ancient village of Posada. Set atop a cliff, and adorned with trees, the winding streets offer picturesque scenes at every turn. The 360-degree views from the Castello della Fava at the top of the village are stunning.
After all that action, it's time to refuel with delicious food. Antipasti, pizza, pasta, seafood, gelato – you’ll find all the Italian favourites at our al fresco beachclub restaurant, while also having the freedom to eat out in the local area three evenings a week.
Sardinia is an island with a farming and agricultural background. Pecorino sheep’s cheese is produced everywhere, which is no surprise really considering there are more than three million sheep on the island – that’s two for every person on the island.
If you’re familiar with Italian food, you’ll relish old favourites, such as pizza and pasta. Other staples include grilled or spit-roasted meats, cheeses, salami, and olives – and there are hundreds of varieties of bread to choose from. Something you’re bound to come across is Porceddu, suckling pig, wrapped in myrtle and bay leaves, spit roasted for several hours over an open fire. It’s delicious, succulent meat that falls from the bone and is packed with flavour.
As is the way in the rest of Italy, restaurants in Sardinia offer the traditional meal of antipasti (appetisers) followed by primi (first course, usually a pasta dish), then secondi (main dish of fish or meat) finishing with dolci (dessert). In other words, you'll eat like royalty during your holiday in Sardinia.
Italian is the most common language in Sardinia. However, it’s not the only one. There are over one million native speakers of Sardinian, also known as Sardu.
You won’t hear the same variety of Sardinian spoken across the island, though, as there are four different dialects. Roughly 100,000 in the northwest of the island speak Sassarese, which has Corsican influences.
Another 100,000 or so people in the northeastern corner of the island speak Gallurese, whilst about 500,000 people, mostly in southern Sardinia, speak Campidanese. A further 500,000 speak Logudorese, mostly in the north of the island.
Sardinia is in the same time zone as Italy (Central European Time), meaning that it is one hour ahead of the United Kingdom. When booking, you should bear in mind that you’ll lose one hour between the time your flight departs and when it lands in Sardinia.
With a relatively short flight and a 40-minute transfer time from the airport, you’ll arrive at Baia dei Mori with plenty of time to settle in, explore a little, enjoy a sunset drink and an evening meal in the restaurant.
Travelling to and from your holiday in Sardinia is simple. There are flights to Sardinia from all over the UK, so even though it’s an island, it’s not difficult to reach. The main airport on the island is Cagliari Airport, which is located 7km north of Cagliari, the capital city of Sardinia. It serves the southern part of the island and has nearly five million passengers travelling through it every year.
For our Sardinia beach club, the best airport to fly into is Olbia Airport in the northeast of the island. From there, it’s just a 40-minute transfer to Baia dei Mori. Flights from London Gatwick take roughly 2 hours 30 minutes, 2 hours and 25 minutes from Bristol, and 2 hours 40 minutes from Manchester.
With over 40 years' experience, you can rely on us to set you up with the perfect inclusive activity holiday to make the most of Sardinia. We help all kinds of adventurers, and we can guarantee you an epic time filled with activities you'll love. We have over 1,000 positive reviews you can check out.
If you need inspiration before committing, why not pay a visit to the Neilson hub? Here, you'll find tons of resources that showcase a range of adventure activities, from cycling to tennis. You can pick up tips while you're at it.
To find out more or book your next holiday with us, contact our friendly team.
Language: Italian
Currency: Euro
Local time: GMT/BST+1
Flight time from UK: approx. 2 hours 45 minutes Visa info: Visa is not required for UK passport holders. Additional info: Before you travel, check out official UK travel advice for Italy to get recommendations on your holiday to Sardinia.
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