Ghilarza to Nuoro Tour - Bike Trips Italy
Bike Tour Fast Facts...
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Tour Name: |
Ghilarza to Nuoro Tour |
| Difficulty: |
Difficult |
| Duration: |
4 Days |
| Distance: |
293.4 KM |
| Begin/End: |
Ghilarza / Nuoro |
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Bike Trips In Italy Is A Great Way To Explore The Land
It's a bold promise: Along this four day tour you may not see another tourist. Not one. Out of all the bike trips in Italy, this route works its way through the central-east region of Sardinia, weaves around the Gennargentu mountain range and through the winding rivers and gorges of Parco Nazionale del Golfo.
When to Cycle
The best times to cycle bike trips in Italy in Sardinia are April-June and September-October. July and August are uncomfortably hot and there's snow in the mountains during winter.
Getting To/From Cycling Route
There is no train station in Ghilarza. You must ride 2 km to Abbassanta. Trains run from Cagliari (€7.60 plus €3.50 supplementary bike ticket; 2 hours) via Oristano (€2.55 plus extra bike ticket; 40 minutes).
Trains from Nuoro head to Macomer (€2.63 plus extra bike ticket; 1.25 hours)which connects to Cagliari (€10.80 plus €3.50 supplementary bike ticket; 3.5 hours).
Cycling Route
Day 1: Ghilarza-Tonara (5 hours; 50 km)
Today is a tough – but rewarding – ride. Several climbs reward you with panoramic views of the valley below. From Ghilarza, you'll cycle through Boroneddu and Tadasuni, both small villages along the road. Just outside Tadasuni you'll cycle around the western shore of Lago Omedeo. From there the route begins its longest climb of the day.
Busachi is a great place to stop and rest. There are several restaurants where you can grab a bite to eat here. Continue the climb up; eventually it levels out to a rolling series of meadows and vineyards. The temperature starts to drop as you gain elevation; the mountain villa of Sorgono is an ideal rest spot before tackling the final climb up to Tonara.
Day 2: Tonara-Tortoli (9 hours; 103 km)
It's a long, quiet ride through numerous terrains: forests, mountain lakes, rolling meadows and flat high-elevation plains. There are a number of climbs, though you lose over 800m by the end of today's ride.
From Tonara, it's a slow gradual descent along the River Tino valley. You'll pass through Tiano and Ovodda – two charming small villages with markets and restaurants – before hitting Lago di Gusana. Consider packing a picnic lunch for a rest along the lake; it's mostly up for the next 35 kilometers.
Alternatively, bike up to Fonni and take a lunch break there. There's plenty of supplies in Fonni, and the views over the valley are breathtaking.
Stock up on water in Fonni. It's the last stop before the exposed climb up to Arcu Correboi. While traffic is usually light, portions of the road are rough. Keep an eye out.
From the pass, it's almost all downhill to the valley below. The last 20 km into Talana is a hair-raising descent with incredible views of the entire valley.
Day 3: Tortoli-Dorgali (5 hours; 65 km)
This route follows SS125 throughout the day. Cycling along the high ridge line gives you panoramic views of Sardinia. Every inch of this ride is gorgeous. The climb up to Lotzora isn't as tough as it looks; the 1 km gain in elevation is mostly the first 400m before easing considerably.
Cycling through the pine forest, you'll see several places to stop for a picnic lunch (some even have water fountains).
Climbing over Passo Genna Silana is perhaps the best scenery of the day (which, believe us, is saying a lot). From the pass it's an awesome downhill slalom down to Dorgali.
Day 4: Dorgali-Nuoro (6 hours; 67 km)
Once again, you're biking through Sardinia's rocky landscape with more spectacular views. There are a number of small towns – such as Orgosolo and Manoiada – which don't have supplies. However, it's a great opportunity to see how Sardinians live up close.
From Dorgali, it's a steep descent to Lago Cedrino and an even steeper descent to the Oliena River. Then you'll climb up through pine forests up to the pass at Cantoniere Iannas. There's still more climbing up to Orgosolo, and from there, the road descends through the small village of Mamoiada. From Mamoiada the route becomes a cyclists dream: stunning coastline views along near-deserted roads with sufficiently challenging hills all the way to Nuoro.
Bike trips in Italy are challenging but rewarding if you stay the course and finish the tour.
Ghilarza to Nuoro Tour Map
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Sardinia Bike Tours
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