Sardinia: Alghero, Costa Smeralda and Corsica
Sardinia: Alghero, Costa Smeralda and Corsica
Sardinia: Alghero, Costa Smeralda and Corsica
8 Days Starting in 07021 Cannigione, Province of Sassari, Italy and ending in 08013 Bosa, Province of Oristano, Italy
Visiting: Cannigione, Costa SMERALDA, Porto Cervo, Bonifacio, Santa Teresa Gallura, Corsica, Sardinia, Alghero, Su Nuraxi di Barumini, Area archeologica di Tharros, Bosa
Tour operator:
Tour code:
AC
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 50
Physical rating:
Please contact Riviera Travel if you have any concerns regarding the suitability of the holiday due to reduced mobility.
Age range:
9-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Please contact Riviera Travel with specific dietary requests.
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
From:
$1803 (USD) including Flights from the UKTour Overview
Speak of Sardinia and the glamorous scalloped bays of Costa Smeralda spring to mind, but the Mediterranean’s second-largest island has so much more to offer. A closer look reveals delightful surprises at every turn: an exhilarating thousand-mile coastline of translucent sea, white sands and hidden coves; a long history as diverse and fantastic as its rugged landscapes; and a unique identity that is familiar yet distinct from mainland Italy. Further inland away from the bustling coast is a very different yet perhaps more intriguing and authentic side to Sardinia: immaculate beaches give way to undulating countryside, cloaked in forests of cork oak in the uplands, and swathed in myrtle and olive on the lower slopes. Tucked away are sleepy towns and villages, where you’ll catch enticing glimpses of local life and centuries-old traditions.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival In Cannigione
Location: Cannigione
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 4* Hotel Baja (or similar)
Meals Included: No Meals
Arrive at the airport for your flight to Olbia or Alghero. On arrival, we transfer by coach to the coastal town of Cannigione, where we stay for three nights with dinner at the four-star Hotel Baja. Nestled in the Gulf of Arzachena on the Costa Smeralda, the hotel is a short walk from the beach and close to a number of cafés and shops.Â
Day 2 : Introduction To Costa Smeralda
Location: Costa SMERALDA, Porto Cervo
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 4* Hotel Baja (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we explore the dazzling Costa Smeralda, perhaps the best-known corner of Sardinia and yet completely unlike anywhere else on the island. In the 1960s, the Aga Khan hand-picked this very spot to carve out a corner of paradise. Today its main town, Porto Cervo, is an exclusive playground for the fabulously well-heeled and famous, and its pristine appearance and pale colour palette are a result of strict building regulations. There’s a fascinating juxtaposition between the rugged and refined – the naturally rocky coastline is populated by gleaming yachts and designer boutiques. To introduce the Costa Smeralda’s more serene side, we pass through a selection of its most charming villages, where we’ll see locals going about their day in attractive squares and green spaces. Later this afternoon, you will have time to further explore Cannigione or relax at the hotel.
Day 3 : Bonifacio
Location: Bonifacio, Santa Teresa Gallura, Corsica, Bonifacio, Sardinia
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 4* Hotel Baja (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we drive to Santa Teresa di Gallura on the north coast to take the ferry to Corsica. A highlight of the 50-minute ferry ride are the marvellous views of the grand approach to Bonifacio, located at the southernmost point of Corsica. Much-photographed Bonifacio boasts an expansive citadel, which is perched atop a limestone promontory poised over the glittering harbour and chic marina. Although Corsica has been a part of France for centuries, there’s a unique local identity with strong Italian influences and Bonifacio certainly has a distinctly Italianate feel, with narrow streets flanked by Genoese tenements. Listen closely to the local dialect, which is based on Ligurian and a legacy of the days when Corsica was under Genoese control. The island’s most famous son, military general Napoleon Bonaparte, was born to a family of Italian origins.
To gain a better understanding of Corsican history and culture, we have a guided tour through Bonifacio’s old town. Afterwards there is free time to soak up the atmosphere and admire the picture-postcard views before we return to Sardinia by ferry.
Please note: ferries between Santa Teresa di Gallura and Bonifacio do not run in adverse weather conditions. In such an event, an alternative itinerary will be offered.
Day 4 : Inland Sardinia & Cork Region
Location: Alghero
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 4* Catalunya Hotel (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we head inland to experience a vastly different side of Sardinia. The landscape is a sun-baked stretch of ‘macchia’ grassland and jagged granite mountains reminiscent of the Dolomites. The air grows ever cooler as we ascend hills covered in dense forests of cork trees – during harvest season, you may notice many have been stripped of their bark for cork production. As much of Italy’s cork is produced in Sardinia, we visit a cork museum to learn about the fascinating production techniques and the many uses of this versatile material.
We will call at a typical Sardinian town where you will have free time for lunch before continuing to Alghero in the Coral Riviera, where we stay for four nights at the four-star Catalunya Hotel. The hotel is well-located just a short walk from the historic centre, filled with lively restaurants serving local specialities and fresh seafood for which Alghero is renowned.
This evening, we are treated to a feast for the senses during dinner at a family-run agriturismo, a converted farmhouse that serves hearty traditional meals made with produce fresh from the farm. The rustic surroundings, eye-catching displays of ancient farming equipment and crackling open fires create a wonderfully authentic atmosphere, perfect for enjoying course after course of Sardinian dishes made with local ingredients – the smells alone will ignite your taste buds!
Day 5 : Alghero & Wine Tasting
Location: Alghero
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 4* Catalunya Hotel (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
One of the island’s most beautiful cities, Alghero is a medieval jewel with an independent spirit and intriguing history. It was founded in the 12th century by the Genoese and seized in 1353 by the Aragonese, who left an indelible mark. Much of the old town’s handsome architecture bears a Spanish appearance and a dialect of Catalan is still spoken here. Our guided tour takes us the through labyrinthine alleys of remarkably preserved old Alghero, defended by robust walls and four bastions dedicated to famous explorers. We’ll see the 16th-century cathedral, which is primarily Catalan-Gothic apart from its Aragonese portal. You have free time after to wander, enjoy lunch and browse the many shops in the vibrant centre.
This afternoon we drive along the coastline of Alghero, with beautiful views over the sparkling sea, before heading inland towards one of the finest wine-growing areas in Sardinia, producing the prestigious Cannonau and Vermentino wines. Winemaking is an important part of the local economy, so we visit a family-owned wine estate for a tour of the vineyards. Naturally, we enjoy a tasting afterwards.Â
Day 6 : Free Day In Alghero
Location: Alghero
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 4* Catalunya Hotel (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
The entire day is at leisure to continue your discovery of magnificent Alghero. Stroll along the lovely beachfront promenade or browse the many shops in town for souvenirs. Alghero is known for its coral, which is harvested off the coast and transformed into striking jewellery. Perhaps watch the world go by in a café-lined piazza over a delicious ‘seadas’, a cheese-filled pastry drizzled with honey, and a ‘mirto’, a unique Sardinian liqueur made with myrtle berries.
Day 7 : Nuraghe, Tharros & Bosa
Location: Su Nuraxi di Barumini, Area archeologica di Tharros, Bosa
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 4* Catalunya Hotel (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning we drive through the Valley of the Nuraghi – dotting the verdant countryside are striking conical stone structures called ‘nuraghi’, left by the mysterious Nuragic civilisation. Much is left to the imagination as little is known about them – perhaps these Bronze Age structures were palaces or forts, or simply domestic dwellings. We stop to examine the impressive Nuraghe Santu Antine with its 17-metre high tower protected by three bastions.
Next we visit the ancient ruins of Tharros extraordinarily situated in the gulf of Oristano with tremendous views of the sea. During our guided tour, we uncover thousands of years of absorbing history dating back to the 8th century BC. Originally a Nuragic village, Tharros became a Phoenician hub, a Carthaginian fortress, a Roman town, a Byzantine city and then capital of the Kingdom of Arborea before it was abandoned to avoid abandoned to avoid Saracen attacks.
Our last stop is Bosa, a picturesque hillside town Bosa, a picturesque hillside town at the mouth of the Temo, Sardinia’s only navigable river. You have free time to discover this quintessential Sardinian town, which exudes great charm with its colourful houses, cobbled alleys and scenic setting.
After a wonderful day of sightseeing, we wind our way along Sardinia’s coast high above the dazzling sea, across a rocky landscape carpeted by Mediterranean plants, and are rewarded with a superb view of the beautiful coastline, before returning to the hotel for our final night on this incredible island.
Day 8 : Uk
Location: Alghero
Meals Included: Breakfast
Transfer to the airport for your return flight.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Seven nights accommodation
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Fully Guided
The services of a Riviera Travel tour manager
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All tours as mentioned
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Transport
All local transfers
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Meals
Daily breakfast and four dinners (including one in a local restaurant)
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Local Taxes
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Airport Transfers at Destination
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International Travel
Return flights and Checked luggage
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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Insurance
Check out our Q&As
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No
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Is the tour coach air conditioned?
Yes
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Yes
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
No
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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
As detailed in the itinerary
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Are flights included in this tour?
Return flights
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Yes
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
As detailed in the itinerary
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
Yes
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
We are unable to accommodate children under 9 years old at the date of departure..
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How long has the tour company been trading?
For almost 40 years
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I have reduced mobility; can I still travel?
We want to ensure you make the correct choice before you book your holiday with us. If you have any concerns regarding the suitability of the holiday due to reduced mobility we would encourage you to contact us to discuss these concerns
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Do I require travel insurance?
It is a condition of booking that you carry suitable travel insurance.
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What is my luggage allowance?
You will receive details of your luggage allowance with your final travel documents, which are sent approximately 10 days prior to your date of departure.
Reviews of this Operator
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Oct 12, 2025 - Oct 19, 2025Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Riviera Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of riviera travel charges.
Up to 75 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.