Sardinia and the Emerald Coast
Wednesday 15th October to Friday 24th October 2008
When D H Lawrence wrote about Sardinia he said that it was left outside of time and history. Spectacular scenery, ancient history, friendly locals and amazing little railways make this Italian island a truly magical place to visit. A mountainous island, about the size of Wales, Sardinia also has a most beguiling coastline. Narrow gauge railways run for over 450 miles through some of the most beautiful areas. We travel on privately chartered trains. Steam locomotives are available on some sections.
The coaches used for us are normally kept on display in the Sardinian Railway Museum and date back to the early 1900s. The carriages have polished teak bodies and the open balconies give stunning views. We are pleased that mass tourism has not yet spoilt Sardinia, but the narrow gauge railways are increasingly under threat. They are not, however, run down but are fully staffed and well maintained. The only thing missing is the passengers! This has proved to be such a popular destination with our travellers, that this is our eleventh year touring this beautiful island.
The coaches used for us are normally kept on display in the Sardinian Railway Museum and date back to the early 1900s. The carriages have polished teak bodies and the open balconies give stunning views. We are pleased that mass tourism has not yet spoilt Sardinia, but the narrow gauge railways are increasingly under threat. They are not, however, run down but are fully staffed and well maintained. The only thing missing is the passengers! This has proved to be such a popular destination with our travellers, that this is our eleventh year touring this beautiful island.
Wednesday 15th October
Fly to Olbia
We board our morning scheduled flight from London Gatwick for Olbia checking into our four-star hotel. (D)
Thursday 16th October
Steam from the Coast to the Mountains
After breakfast we depart Olbia by coach and head south to Villa Grande. We have arranged lunch in a nearby open air restaurant.
Following lunch we join our special steam hauled narrow gauge train for our journey to Arbatax. We enjoy fantastic views over the mountains down to the sea. On arrival in Arbatax it is a very short walk to our hotel, the four star Arbatasar Hotel. (B L D)
Friday 17th October
Steam from the Coast to the Mountains
This morning we take a short walk to Arbatax Station situated by the harbour. Here we join our special vintage train steam hauled by 2-6-2T number 400 or 402. Soon after leaving Arbatax Station we begin our long climb to Villa Grande where we have a typical Italian lunch in the open air. We return to our train for the climb through the spiral to Gairo before returning by coach to our hotel in Arbatax. (B L D)
Saturday 18th October
Narrow Gauge Steam in Spectacular Scenery
We leave our hotel by coach and transfer to Gairo station where our vintage steam hauled train will be waiting. It is a spectacular climb up to the summit at Anulu then dropping down to the interesting town of Seui where our locomotive is serviced. We carry on to Bertilli where we have lunch at the station beside the train. It is a superb place and the wine will flow freely. We continue through some of the best scenery we have seen through Nurri and Mandas and on to Senorbi.
On arrival we transfer to the Jolly Hotel in Cagliari for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B L D)
Sunday 19th October
By Steam Train to Carbonia
We transfer to Cagliari main station, with its splendid overall roof, to travel on a superb vintage train hauled by 740 Class 2-8-0 740.303.
Around 10:00 we depart to steam through the hilly countryside to Villamassargia, where we take the little used Carbonia branch and run past some old collieries, an industry long gone from this region. At Carbonia we reverse and head north to Iglesias where we break for another of our splendid Italian lunches complete with wine.
Early in the afternoon we return to Cagliari under steam where there will be a choice of returning to the hotel or enjoying a guided tour of this fascinating city. (B L D)
Monday 20th October
Narrow Gauge Steam Train to Sorgono
Our narrow gauge train, made up of restored wooden bodied vintage coaches and a diesel locomotive, will be waiting for us at Monserrato station. We head north to Mandas, where we take a break and visit the local depot to see some old steam locomotives. Our train then continues northwards hauled by a narrow gauge 2-6-2T steam locomotive number 400 or 402 on the scenic Sorgono branch, a line no longer open to regular traffic. At Ortuabis we enjoy an Italian style barbecue with a local folk group providing entertainment. We continue on to Sorgono where we say goodbye to our steam locomotive.
Our coach will be waiting to take us to the Hotel Taloro, situated by Lake Gusana. (B L D)
Tuesday 21st October
From Nouro down to the Sea
We take the coach to Nouro, where a narrow gauge train will be waiting to take us to Bosa.
A small town, with an ancient history, Bosa lies on the left bank of the River Temo on the west coast of the island. We will have time to explore the town and perhaps see its cathedral, or visit the Piazza Umberto with its marble fountain. At Macomer we enjoy a typical Italian lunch in a local restaurant before heading over the escarpment to the coast with magnificent views of the sea. After the visit to Bosa we rejoin our coach for a glorious coastal ride down to Alghero. Here we check into our hotel. (B L D)
Wednesday 22nd October
Alghero to Palau by Narrow Gauge Train
At Alghero station we join a special vintage train and travel in style aboard a first class coach sporting plush velvet seats. We pass through the mixed gauge station of Sassari before heading into the hills winding our way through rural villages. We pause at Nulvi for another excellent local feast before continuing through more of Sardinia’s dramatic uplands. Our train climbs up to the town of Tempio where there is a short break before gradually descending to Palau Marina, by the sea. From here, we transfer to our four star hotel in Palau. (B L D)
Thursday 23rd October
Cruising the Emerald Coast
After a leisurely breakfast we transfer to Palau’s harbour and join our specially chartered boat for the day. We cruise to the picturesque Maddalena Island for lunch then cruise along the Emerald Coast. Once a wild stretch of coastline, it was developed in the 1950s as a millionaire’s playground, and is now well cared for and kept in pristine condition. We call at Spargi Island where it is possible to swim from the beach if you wish. Our boat returns us to Palau Harbour. (B L D)
Friday 24th October
Return to London Gatwick
After breakfast, we enjoy a visit to Olbia for last minute shopping followed by a farewell lunch in a local restaurant. Afterwards we transfer by coach to Olbia Airport for our late afternoon flight to London Gatwick. (B L)
Fly to Olbia
We board our morning scheduled flight from London Gatwick for Olbia checking into our four-star hotel. (D)
Thursday 16th October
Steam from the Coast to the Mountains
After breakfast we depart Olbia by coach and head south to Villa Grande. We have arranged lunch in a nearby open air restaurant.
Following lunch we join our special steam hauled narrow gauge train for our journey to Arbatax. We enjoy fantastic views over the mountains down to the sea. On arrival in Arbatax it is a very short walk to our hotel, the four star Arbatasar Hotel. (B L D)
Friday 17th October
Steam from the Coast to the Mountains
This morning we take a short walk to Arbatax Station situated by the harbour. Here we join our special vintage train steam hauled by 2-6-2T number 400 or 402. Soon after leaving Arbatax Station we begin our long climb to Villa Grande where we have a typical Italian lunch in the open air. We return to our train for the climb through the spiral to Gairo before returning by coach to our hotel in Arbatax. (B L D)
Saturday 18th October
Narrow Gauge Steam in Spectacular Scenery
We leave our hotel by coach and transfer to Gairo station where our vintage steam hauled train will be waiting. It is a spectacular climb up to the summit at Anulu then dropping down to the interesting town of Seui where our locomotive is serviced. We carry on to Bertilli where we have lunch at the station beside the train. It is a superb place and the wine will flow freely. We continue through some of the best scenery we have seen through Nurri and Mandas and on to Senorbi.
On arrival we transfer to the Jolly Hotel in Cagliari for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B L D)
Sunday 19th October
By Steam Train to Carbonia
We transfer to Cagliari main station, with its splendid overall roof, to travel on a superb vintage train hauled by 740 Class 2-8-0 740.303.
Around 10:00 we depart to steam through the hilly countryside to Villamassargia, where we take the little used Carbonia branch and run past some old collieries, an industry long gone from this region. At Carbonia we reverse and head north to Iglesias where we break for another of our splendid Italian lunches complete with wine.
Early in the afternoon we return to Cagliari under steam where there will be a choice of returning to the hotel or enjoying a guided tour of this fascinating city. (B L D)
Monday 20th October
Narrow Gauge Steam Train to Sorgono
Our narrow gauge train, made up of restored wooden bodied vintage coaches and a diesel locomotive, will be waiting for us at Monserrato station. We head north to Mandas, where we take a break and visit the local depot to see some old steam locomotives. Our train then continues northwards hauled by a narrow gauge 2-6-2T steam locomotive number 400 or 402 on the scenic Sorgono branch, a line no longer open to regular traffic. At Ortuabis we enjoy an Italian style barbecue with a local folk group providing entertainment. We continue on to Sorgono where we say goodbye to our steam locomotive.
Our coach will be waiting to take us to the Hotel Taloro, situated by Lake Gusana. (B L D)
Tuesday 21st October
From Nouro down to the Sea
We take the coach to Nouro, where a narrow gauge train will be waiting to take us to Bosa.
A small town, with an ancient history, Bosa lies on the left bank of the River Temo on the west coast of the island. We will have time to explore the town and perhaps see its cathedral, or visit the Piazza Umberto with its marble fountain. At Macomer we enjoy a typical Italian lunch in a local restaurant before heading over the escarpment to the coast with magnificent views of the sea. After the visit to Bosa we rejoin our coach for a glorious coastal ride down to Alghero. Here we check into our hotel. (B L D)
Wednesday 22nd October
Alghero to Palau by Narrow Gauge Train
At Alghero station we join a special vintage train and travel in style aboard a first class coach sporting plush velvet seats. We pass through the mixed gauge station of Sassari before heading into the hills winding our way through rural villages. We pause at Nulvi for another excellent local feast before continuing through more of Sardinia’s dramatic uplands. Our train climbs up to the town of Tempio where there is a short break before gradually descending to Palau Marina, by the sea. From here, we transfer to our four star hotel in Palau. (B L D)
Thursday 23rd October
Cruising the Emerald Coast
After a leisurely breakfast we transfer to Palau’s harbour and join our specially chartered boat for the day. We cruise to the picturesque Maddalena Island for lunch then cruise along the Emerald Coast. Once a wild stretch of coastline, it was developed in the 1950s as a millionaire’s playground, and is now well cared for and kept in pristine condition. We call at Spargi Island where it is possible to swim from the beach if you wish. Our boat returns us to Palau Harbour. (B L D)
Friday 24th October
Return to London Gatwick
After breakfast, we enjoy a visit to Olbia for last minute shopping followed by a farewell lunch in a local restaurant. Afterwards we transfer by coach to Olbia Airport for our late afternoon flight to London Gatwick. (B L)
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Price
| Price per person | £1345 |
| Single supplement | £130 |
Price includes:
- Flights
- All rail and coach transport
- Transfers
- Hotel accommodation in 3 and 4-star hotels, mostly with pools
- 9 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches and 8 Dinners
- Wine and mineral water with lunch and dinner on the island
- The services of a tour manager
Meals included each day are shown as:
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner