Activity holidays in Sardinia

You might expect all the Sardinia activities to be water-based. It's true, there are a huge number of watersports to enjoy on the island, but there's plenty to explore on dry land too.

The warm waters of the Med are ideal for watersports. You can enjoy inclusive dinghy sailing, windsurfing, paddle boarding, and kayaking in the beautiful bay. Or head slightly further afield to the breezier kitesurfing beach and, for a supplement, learn from scratch how to enjoy this fun watersport.

On land, cycling is an incredible activity experience on your holiday in Sardinia. Mountain bikers and road cyclists have almost 2,000km of exhilarating routes and trails to choose from. Let one of our expert guides show you the best rides on the island or go it alone. Just remember to take plenty of breathers to soak up the gorgeous scenery around every bend.

You can also choose between tennis and a wide range of fitness classes, from yoga to HIIT. And we count lounging by the pool or treating yourself to pampering at the spa as legitimate holiday activities too.

Beautiful Sardinia is part of Italy and sits in the sparkling blue waters between the Mediterranean Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea. It's the second-largest island in the Mediterranean, after Sicily.

If you look at a map, Sardinia can be found beside the western coast of mainland Italy. It sits directly below the French island of Corsica, which is less than an hour away by ferry and can be easily visited on a day trip during your holiday to Sardinia.

There's always time for a spot of culture during your multi activity holiday to Sardinia. Expect to see ancient villages with narrow cobbled streets and cosy family-run eateries, as well as hilltop castles boasting jaw-dropping vistas, and seaside towns where you can sample local delicacies.

The rugged landscape is dotted with countless nuraghi – mysterious stone ruins shaped like beehives. They are unique to Sardinia and were built centuries before the birth of Christ. Then for natural beauty, you'll be met with the dazzling sandy coves of the famous Costa Smeralda, as well as rolling vineyards and rugged peaks.

Whether you stay near the Baia dei Mori Beachclub or venture further afield, lots of local culture is on tap during your holiday to Sardinia. Just a 15-minute drive south is the ancient village of Posada. Set atop a cliff, and adorned with trees, the winding streets offer picturesque scenes at every turn. The 360-degree views from the Castello della Fava at the top of the village are stunning.

Italian is the most common language in Sardinia. However, it’s not the only one. There are over one million native speakers of Sardinian, also known as Sardu.

You won’t hear the same variety of Sardinian spoken across the island, though, as there are four different dialects. Roughly 100,000 in the northwest of the island speak Sassarese, which has Corsican influences.

Another 100,000 or so people in the northeastern corner of the island speak Gallurese, whilst about 500,000 people, mostly in southern Sardinia, speak Campidanese. A further 500,000 speak Logudorese, mostly in the north of the island.

Travelling to and from your holiday in Sardinia is simple. There are flights to Sardinia from all over the UK, so even though it’s an island, it’s not difficult to reach. The main airport on the island is Cagliari Airport, which is located 7km north of Cagliari, the capital city of Sardinia. It serves the southern part of the island and has nearly five million passengers travelling through it every year.

For our Sardinia beach club, the best airport to fly into is Olbia Airport in the northeast of the island. From there, it’s just a 40-minute transfer to Baia dei Mori. Flights from London Gatwick take roughly 2 hours 30 minutes, 2 hours and 25 minutes from Bristol, and 2 hours 40 minutes from Manchester.

Language: Italian

Currency: Euro

Local time: GMT/BST+1

Flight time from UK: approx. 2 hours 45 minutes 

Visa info: Visa is not required for UK passport holders.

Additional info: Before you travel, check out official UK travel advice for Italy to get recommendations on your holiday to Sardinia.