Along the rugged east coast of the stunning island of Sardinia lies a trek described as the most beautiful and challenging walk in Europe with its beauty said to be unequalled.
Overview
Duration: 8 Days
Next Trip Dates: 23rd-30th September 2023
Along the rugged east coast of the stunning island of Sardinia lies a trek described as the most beautiful and challenging walk in Europe with its beauty said to be unequalled.
Traversing through the magnificent Baunei Territory, The Selvaggio Blu is sure to be an Adventure of a lifetime.
This multiday trek will have you walking through unique creeks, along cliff tops, across rivers and delving into the Mediterranean Bush.
You will cross ancient mule paths, through huge limestone Arches and century old Oak Woods, all the while surrounded by breath-taking panoramas.
The trek will be led by two local guides who have incredible knowledge, history and experience in the local area and of course on The Selvaggio Blu itself. The group will also have a logistics support crew who will transport the group’s larger bags, sleeping kit, food and water along the way to each Bivouac point. Each group will also be accompanied by our own Irish guide.
Throughout the trek you will be spending unforgettable nights under the stars, on incredible remote beaches and in wonderful unique and ancient Shepherd-Folds.
You will be living a truly fascinating adventure on the most isolated Mediterranean coastline.
A brief History of The Selvaggio Blu
In the mid nineteen eighties, Mario Verin, a leading Italian outdoor and mountain photographer and alpine climber received an invitation from Sard friend Peppino Cicalo to join him in Santa Maria Navarrese where he let him on an idea which he shared with his brother since they were young.
The idea was to walk from Pedra Longa to Cala Sisine following the edge of the cliffs.
This section of the Sardinian coastline between Baunei and Cala Gonone offers a great contrast between the wild Supramonte Mountains and the crystal clear sea with its rugged and steep limestone cliffs.
They set out with the objective to maintain a path for as long as possible along the very edge of the cliffs so as not to lose the thrilling views of the sea and the sense of exposure which are unique to this section of isolated Mediterranean coastline.
In May 1988, after several visits and a series of explorations, Verin and Cicalo completed the route to Cala Sisine and decided to give it a new name, “Selvaggio Blu”, “Wild Blue”, bringing together the two main ingredients of this extraordinary adventure.
Sleeping
Throughout the trek it is fair to say that you will certainly have some wonderfully unique sleeping experiences which massively add to the whole journey.
Both first and final nights of the trip will be spent in a quaint and lovely local hotel in Santa Maria Navarrese were you will be well taken care of by the superb local staff members.
Once on the trek our sleeping locations will vary with a number of options available. Tents are available and included throughout however these are not always necessary or always wanted by our trekkers with many opting to embrace the opportunity to sleep out under the stars or on a remote beach.
On a number of evenings you will have the truly unique opportunity to sleep in an ancient and traditional Shepherds or Sheep Fold. These extraordinary historic dwellings constructed from stone and juniper trunks were the heart of a shepherd’s life. The fold or ‘Coile’ in the local Sard dialect, compromises of a number of parts, each with its own specific function. The heart is the ‘barraccu’ where the shepherd lived and the ‘corte’, the enclosure for the goats. These ancient rural structures are a magnificent example of man’s adaptation to a barren, resource-poor environment which has allowed the shepherds to survive for centuries.
You will have the rare privilege of being welcomed in to a number of these remote folds where you will be truly well looked after by the shepherd and their families. You will dine on their very own home made produce and even sample some of their home made wine.
