Sardinia East Coast SUP Hike Yoga Adventure - Everything you need to know!
We’ve put together this detailed guide on our East Coast SUP Hike Yoga Retreat in Sardinia to give you all the info you may need before booking and for simple planning once you’ve confirmed your spot!
We’ll be covering:
Destination
Logistics - flights and transfers
Arrival day
Itinerary
Accommodation
Food and Drink
Free time
Paddling
Hiking
Yoga
Packing and packing list
DESTINATION
We’ll be staying at a rural farm stay just inland from the coast which has incredible panoramic views of the Lake Cedrino and the Supramonte mountains and is infused with that classic Mediterranean scent. It’s a mountainous and wild region which gives us excellent access to little known hiking trails, but it is also easy to get to Sardinia’s beautiful east coast with its many hidden bays with shallow turquoise water and gorgeous sandy beaches.
FLIGHTS
We ask that you arrive at Olbia airport in time for the transfers stated below.
You can choose any flight that gets you to Olbia prior to the pick up time specified. E.g. For a 4pm pick up at Olbia you could take EasyJet from London Gatwick arriving at 15.20 or EasyJet from Bristol arriving at 15.40. We have organised the transfers to work with as many flights as possible.
Flights are not included in the cost of the trip.
Arrival Day: All Trips
Olbia Airport pick up at 4 pm
Departure Day: September / October
Olbia Airport drop off at 1:30 pm.
The Gutsy Girls team will meet you in Olbia and transfer you to our accommodation, which will take approximately 1.5 hours.
Flights are available from London, Bristol, Manchester and other UK and European airports to Olbia airport.
We are only able to arrange one transfer to and from Olbia airport. If you want to take different flights, we are unable to arrange a separate transfer for you. We do not provide transfers from other airports for this trip, or pick-ups and drop-offs outside of published times.
If you arrive/depart at different times to those listed above, you will be responsible for getting to and from our accommodation. No discount is available for not using the transfer. Please ensure you are at our accommodation by the early evening of the arrival day to avoid missing the first day activities.
TRAVELLING TO OUR BASE WITHOUT OUR TRANSFER
We cannot provide individual transfers for anyone arriving at different times / airports. You are welcome to arrive on a different flight, but if the times do not match up with the transfer times specified above, you will have to make your own way to our base.
Our accommodation is very rural, so it is hard / impossible to get there with public transport. The nearest bus stop is about 5km away but it is not served by a direct bus from Olbia.
Your best option would be to take a taxi which will take about 1.5 - 2 hours from Olbia and will cost in the region of 150-200 Euros.
Please ensure you have arrived by the early evening of the arrival day to avoid missing the first day activities!
WHATSAPP GROUP
We will create a WhatsApp group for your trip; if you wish you can use this to plan any travel together.
Many guests arrange to meet at the airport before flying to us or arrange sharing taxis to or from the airport. Some choose to share a hotel at the airport in the UK before an early flight or after a late one!
You’ll only be able to access the WhatsApp group once you have confirmed your booking with us.
ARRIVAL DAY
To help you ease into the trip and so that you know what to expect, here’s what generally happens on your first day.
We meet you at Olbia airport and drive to our base (about 1.5 hrs). It’s a beautiful scenic drive, weaving through the mountain ranges.
Check into our rooms in the farmstay; there’ll be time for a quick shower.
Take a short walk around the grounds of our new home for the week.
We’ll enjoy our first group dinner together and have a briefing for the week ahead.
ITINERARY
The itinerary on our trip page is very much a guide; see it taster of the adventures you’ll have when you join us in Sardinia. We will arrange our timetable for the week based on weather, wind and sea conditions.
We are likely to make changes to the itinerary to ensure you have the best possible experience with us and to make the most of local conditions!
We have a little rule in place, that we don’t discuss what’s happening the next day until we’ve eaten dinner! This allows us to check for the most recent forecast and keeps you present in the moment.
It is also worth noting that in the unlikely event that weather conditions prohibit us from paddling, we will arrange alternative activities - sadly we cannot control the weather but we can keep our fingers firmly crossed!
ACCOMMODATION
We’ll be staying at the Ecoparco Neulè, a fantastic agriturismo (farm stay), with incredible views over Lake Cedrino and 50 hectares of private land to explore. When we aren’t out adventuring, we’ll be relaxing taking in the views from hammocks on the terrace. The rooms are simple but clean, bright and authentic. Twin rooms are encouraged - it's a small, boutique place with limited rooms, so we will only have a few private rooms. If you want a guaranteed private room, you should book early!
On the one night of our SUP expedition we'll be staying in tents in a beach cave, which is an amazing experience! We'll be sharing two man tents that night, as we can't carry individual tents for everybody, so please be prepared to share!
FOOD & DRINK
The tap water is not recommended for drinking, but we will collect bottled drinking water from the local supermarket together on our day of arrival, and we’ll make sure we can restock whenever we need to.
Food is a big part of this holiday as we’re in Italy - the culinary capital of the world! We eat very well and try lots of delicious local food.
We can cater for all food requirements, however, do be aware that the farm is a very local, rustic place, which is off the beaten tourist track (that’s why we chose it!), and although the food is excellent - the Italian culinary culture is one of the reasons we've chosen Sardinia for these trips - Italians are not big on veganism. This does mean that being vegan on this trip may be difficult or mean you have limited options that don't constitute a very well balanced diet. We will always do our utmost to accommodate your dietary needs but we may need a level understanding from you!
Breakfast is continental, and includes fruit, yoghurt, bread, cheese, meats, cereals, croissants etc, as well as great coffee of course!
Lunch will usually be a freshly packed lunch which we’ll stop and eat while we’re out on an activity, for example, fresh pasta salad.
Dinners will mostly be set menus at the farm stay or at local restaurants - with wine. Please note that we can't provide discounts for guests who choose not to partake in wine with dinner. On our night of camping, we’ll have dinner from a local restaurant delivered to our remote location by boat!
FREE TIME
There will be a little bit of free time every afternoon for you to do as you please. This is a conscious decision to ensure you have the best time with us, you may feel tired - that good kind of tired - after our activities, so it’s a chance for you to rest your body! Some guests may choose to spend this time alone which we fully support; it’s your holiday!
You can chill in a hammock on the terrace with a cold drink and a good book, or take a little afternoon nap. If you feel more active, there are 50 hectares of private land attached to the farm we’re staying on, which you’re welcome to explore!
STAND UP PADDLING
We provide:
Stand up paddleboard
Paddle
Leash
Small dry bags
Personal Floatation Device (waist belt ones)
You will need:
Water shoes for getting on and off the board, NOT flip flops.
Raincoats in case we are unlucky with the weather!
We don’t provide wetsuits, so if you have a shorty or spring suit for the shoulder months (May and October) you might like to bring it - but it is not really required.
The hotel can provide beach towels
A sunhat
Sunglasses
Sunblock
UV long sleeved top to cover up in the midday sun - this is non-negotiable - no heat stroke on our trips!
Overnight SUP Expedition
For one night of this retreat, we’ll paddle along the coastline to Cala Luna, one of the most beautiful beaches of Sardinia. Set against a backdrop of steep limestone cliffs and lush greenery, its turquoise and azure blue waters are crystal clear, making it one of the best snorkelling beaches in Sardinia.
Tonight we will camp in a beach cave. This wild and isolated location offers a great spot for yoga on the beach before dinner in the cave. We’ll stargaze around the campfire and enjoy an evening cut off from the world.
We provide all the camping gear you’ll require (though you might want to bring a camping pillow!), but due to the logistics of carrying gear, you will be sharing a two-man tent for this one night with one other guest.
HIKING
Some of the hiking on this trip will be challenging, with rocky ascents and descents taking us into real wilderness locations. Hiking boots with good grip and ankle support are absolutely mandatory on this trip. This is for your safety and comfort. If you buy a new pair of boots for this trip, please make sure you wear them in first. There’s nothing worse than blisters appearing on the first day of a multi-day hike!
Please DO NOT wear trainers - you really need good ankle and foot support on this hike. If you arrive with nothing but trainers you will not be able to join the hikes and no refund will be given.
Make sure you also have a long sleeved top to cover up in the midday sun, a sunhat, sunscreen and a backpack to carry water and clothes in!
YOGA
Our fantastic yoga instructor will lead yoga sessions in incredible locations throughout the week. The dynamic Vinyasa style is perfectly suited for all levels. With moves tailored to the individual, it’s perfect for reconnecting us with the breath, stretching out tired muscles whilst improving strength and balance.
You do not need specialist clothing, just normal gym wear will do fine! Anything that's comfortable and flexible for yoga is perfect.
PACKING LIST
We'll keep it pretty casual, mostly we will live in active / sports wear.
Day bag (Rucksack for carrying belongings on day hikes)
Swimwear
Water shoes (shoes you can get wet for exiting the water on sharp rocks). Avoid wetsuit booties as these are a nightmare to put on and flip flops are not secure enough.
Quick drying leggings / or shorts
Long sleeve top - To protect arms from bushes when hiking and to protect you from the sun
T-shirt - Ideally a UV protection t-shirt / rash vest to wear in midday heat.
Cap/Hat - essential!
Sunglasses
Hiking boots - hiking boots with good grip and ankle support - MANDATORY. This is for your safety and comfort.
Yoga clothes
1-2 litre water bottle
Suncream
Towel - a lightweight one is fine, just for taking to the beach
Rain coat (just in case)
Light jacket for the evenings
Jumper for the evenings
Insect repellent
Shorty wetsuit/long john wetsuit - optional but recommended for October trips.
Waterproof case for phone
Sunglasses strap - to keep them safe
Lightweight camping pillow
