Hiking in Italy
Selvaggio Blu - Adventure Trek in Sardinia
Technical lev. : 3.5 / 5
An adventure trek combining climbing sections with numerous abseils (50 metres for the longest), adventure Via ferratas and technical walks on and off trails.
For groups of 6 or more, the guide is accompanied by a mountain leader to help with supervision.
Physical lev. : 3.5 / 5
CONFIRMED SPORTSMAN
Effort corresponding to approximately 1000 - 1400 m of ascent per day. You enjoy endurance sports and do them around twice a week.
The Selvaggio Blu is an itinerary created by Sardinian shepherds and local guides with the aim of creating a wild trek that links the sea and the mountains! We start with a day of rock climbing to learn how to handle ropes, and then it's off to abseil over the sea and via ferratas with greyhound footbridges!
We sleep in seaside coves, assisted by a boat to bring our equipment and food.
A unique adventure trekking where sea and mountains meet!
Dates & Prices
Don't hesitate to contact us to ask about options for the Selvaggio Blu. We can design climbing holidays for private groups or arrange a holiday to suit your dates!
Trip
The Selvaggio Blu is a demanding trekkin along the Sardinian coast from Pedra Longa to Cala Sisine, in the Baunei area.
It was conceived in the 1980s by two Italian mountaineers, Mario Verin and Peppino Cicalò, who skilfully linked the paths of Baunei's ancient shepherds with sections of the old mule tracks used by coal miners at the end of the 19th century.
Over the years, and above all thanks to the work of local guides, the Selvaggio Blu has become a trekking for real connoisseurs.
This trekking in Sardinia is a unique hiking adventure that will take you to the wildest and most unspoilt corners of the Italian island of Sardinia. Selvaggio Blu is for experienced and adventurous hikers who want to discover spectacular scenery, secluded coves and breathtaking panoramic views.
The Selvaggio Blu trek is not a signposted route and follows a natural path through the wilds of Sardinia, offering an authentic, non-touristic experience in the region.
Each day we'll walk along fairly technical paths and descend to the sea through canyons and gullies, or by abseiling using ropes.
The trek takes place along the coast, offering breathtaking views of the Sardinian coast and spectacular rock formations. We'll also pass through secluded coves and white sandy beaches, where you can relax and swim in the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean.
During the trekking, we'll have the chance to discover Sardinia's wild nature, as well as Italian culture and local traditions. We'll spend nights in bivouacs under the stars, in remote, unspoilt locations, where you can enjoy the tranquillity and beauty of nature.
The Selvaggio Blu trek is a new and demanding but incredibly rewarding adventure for those looking to explore Sardinia's wilderness and enjoy an authentic and adventurous experience ;)
See our blog page for more details about Selvaggio Blu.
Program
Meeting with your guide at 4 p.m. at the Olbia airport: transfer by minibus taking around 2.5 hours.
Arrival at our B&B in Santa Maria Navarrese (NU) at around 6.30pm. Arrival possible from 2.30 p.m. if you travel by your own means.
After a gear check, you will enjoy your first Sardinian dinner in the small town by the sea.
Overnight in a B&B in Santa Maria.
After a good breakfast in our B&B, we head off to the famous Pedra Longa for a day of climbing: we'll be climbing at a school site by the sea to familiarise ourselves with the aerial sensations and learn how to handle the rope, which will be useful for the Selvaggio Blu route. It'll be a great first day to get into the swing of things and get to know the rest of the group, while enjoying an exceptional setting above the crystal-clear sea typical of this corner of Sardinia!
At the end of the afternoon, we'll walk for around 1 hour through the Mediterranean forest to reach our bivouac for the night: a charming sheepfold with a breathtaking view over the Gulf of Santa Maria, where Mariano and his wife will be delighted to prepare a dinner fit for a king, using products from their farm!
Overnight bivouac in the sheepfold or under the stars.
Distance: around 5 to 7 km with 300 m of ascent and 600 m of descent, including a number of abseils.
After a dreamy breakfast on the terrace of our beautiful sheepfold, we pack our backpacks for our first day of trekking and adventure.
Transfer by minibus for around 1 hour to reach the end of the road and the start of the trail to Punta Salinas.
From here, it's a 1 hour walk to the top of the 7 magnificent abseils that will take us to the base of the Guglia (pillar) of Goloritzé and its heavenly cove! Throughout the day, we'll enjoy a magnificent view of this stretch of coastline, where our adventure will unfold over the next few days.
We arrive at the cove in the late afternoon, and after a refreshing swim, we're off by boat to the camp where we'll be staying for the next two nights: Cala Mariolu.
The boat sets us down along the coast and we climb into the lush Mediterranean forest, just above the cove, to set up our tents and camp: here, team work is what counts!
Once our bivouac is set up, we'll enjoy our wild evening above the sea and under the stars, accompanied by a delicious dinner carefully prepared by a local restaurant and delivered by our boat logistics ;) this will be our evening routine for the days to come!
Overnight in tents.
Distance: around 8 to 10 km with 600 metres of ascent and descent with a Via Ferrata and abseiling.
We set off lightly for an hour-and-a-half walk to reach a 60m abseil. From the bottom of the abseil we reach a via ferrata equipped with rungs, sections of juniper attached to the rocks to facilitate climbing, forming a sort of monkey bridge. Once at the top of the via ferrata, we take the path back to our base camp.
The day isn't very long, and we'll have time to enjoy the paradise beach of Cala Mariolu in the afternoon!
Overnight in tents.
Distance: around 10-15 km with lots of abseils and varied terrain
We're off for a great day of abseiling!
After a good breakfast, we pack up our tents and base camp and load our gear onto the boat, which will take us our supplies for the day.
The day is fairly long: we set off at around 8.00am for a great day that alternates walking and abseiling (including a 45m pendulum abseil) with climbing sections in cliffs and caves.
At the end of the day, we reach our new bivouac for the night : Cala Biriala.
Overnight in tents.
Distance : around 10-15 km with many abseils and varied terrain
It's a long day: we'll have to wake up very early! After loading the boat, we set off from the famous Grotta del Fico : we'll start by climbing a succession of caves and abseils above the sea. There are some great stretches of trekking on this day, and we'll pass through a large scree to reach the last abseil before arriving at Cala Sisine, where we'll take the boat back to Santa Maria.
We head back to our B&B for a nice shower: from experience, we'll need it ;)
A delicious dinner in a typical Sardinian restaurant will be the perfect way to end this adventure and plan the next one!
Night in a B&B in Santa Maria
After a good breakfast together and a final walk around the village by the sea, departure from Santa Maria scheduled for around 10.00 am: transfer of approximately 2h30 to Olbia airport. Arrival in Olbia scheduled for 12:30 / 13:00.
Do not plan your return flight before 3.30pm.
Materiel
If possible, take a backpack (35l) that is light enough to be easily carried. It may not weigh more than 1.5 kilos.
Your rucksack may have 10 to 15 litres of space for the food you'll be carrying for lunch and for your harness and lanyard.
Consider 2 litres of water and 1 kilo of food for the day.
IMPORTANT: if a person is not properly equipped and dressed, the mountain guide may decide not to allow him/her to take part in the climb. We ask you to read carefully the equipment list provided in the programme PDF and to call us if you have any doubts.
Level
An adventure trek that requires a fear of heights to complete a number of abseils, including some 50-metre drops into the void above the sea, and to walk through rugged terrain in the Sardinian scrubland.
Effort corresponding to around 1,000 - 1,400 m of ascent per day. You enjoy endurance sports and practise them about twice a week.
The hike has some vertiginous, physical and technical sections, and the path is equipped with cables and ladders to enable progress.
You may have to master the activity, you are autonomous in the mountains in the easy sections, the guide will help you in the difficult sections.
Learn how to use a mountain rope with a mountain guide.
10 clients maximum for 1 mountain guide and 1 mountain leader.
Useful infos
Meet your guide at Olbia airport at 4 p.m. on D1: transfer by minibus taking around 2:30 hours.
If you are travelling on your own, meet at Santa Maria Navarrese (NU) at around 6.30 pm (check-in possible from 2.30pm).
The trip ends in Olbia on the afternoon of D7, so don't plan to fly home before 3.30pm.
During the trekking days, luggage will be transported by boat. We recommend taking a waterproof bag to protect a change of clothes. This luggage will be collected each morning and evening by the boat. Make sure you limit the weight of your bag to between 10 and 15 kilos, as you will have to carry it yourself from the boat to the bivouac site. The trails can be uncomfortable, so it's important not to overload your luggage.
Supplies are available by boat so that you can walk the days carrying as little as possible.
Lunch will be carried in your rucksack, but hot evening meals will be brought by boat.
Cancellation and repatriation insurance is mandatory, as is mountain search and rescue insurance (minimum cover of 10,000 Euros).
Esprit Montagne offers the following insurance: https://www.assurance-multi-sports.com.
The week before your departure, you will receive a reminder by email with all the information concerning the meeting point and the guide in charge of your group.
Esprit Montagne / Esprit des Guides SA will take care of booking accommodation, so you may not have to worry about this.
Independent transfers by your own means to Santa Maria Navarrese.
When you register online, you can choose whether or not you wish to carpool to the starting point of your course. Once you have made your reservation, you can log back into your Esprit Montagne account to access a section dedicated to carpooling. Here you will find the contacts of participants on your course who are interested in carpooling, enabling you to contact them directly.
. Guiding by our team's UIAGM Mountain Guide for 5 people - for groups of 6 or more, a second Guide must be added, plus his/her accommodation and meal expenses
. Nights in B&B on D1, D2 and D6
. Full board from D3 to D6 with drinking water for the trek
. Transport from Cagliari airport to Santa Maria Navarrese (NU)
. Transport on site compulsory in the programme
. Luggage transport by boat on trekking days
. Personal technical equipment (harness and helmet)
. Dinner on D1 and D6
. Picnic on D2
. Drinks and personal expenses
. Everything not mentioned in the "Price includes" section
Photo gallery
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