Sardinia SUP Hike Yoga Weekend - Everything you need to know!
We’ve put together this detailed guide on our 4/5 Night SUP Hike Yoga Weekend 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
Via Ferrata
Packing and packing list
DESTINATION
We’ll be staying in Bosa, one of Italy’s most picturesque villages just a stone’s throw from the coast. This pretty medieval town is set along the River Temo; its pastel coloured houses stacked along the hillside below its own castle, with cobblestone streets and lively piazzas. It’s the perfect base for accessing wilderness and coastal locations by standup paddleboard and on foot, with beautiful coastlines and sea caves to explore, secluded bays and hidden beaches and with easy access to Sardina’s only navigable river, the tranquil Temo, on which we’ll meander into the countryside on our river tour.
FLIGHTS
The closest airport to Bosa is Alghero, on the northwest coast of Sardinia. We have based our itinerary and airport transfers on the timings of Ryanair flights from London Stansted. Flights are not included in the cost of the trip.
We ask that you book the specific flights that we've earmarked for each trip (see below). This trip has been designed around these flight times to ensure you have the most meaningful and worthwhile experience with us for a shorter stay.
MAY AND SEPTEMBER - 4 nights
TUESDAY ARRIVAL
Ryanair FR232
Depart London Stansted 07:30, arrive Alghero 10:55.
SATURDAY DEPARTURE
Ryanair FR231
Depart Alghero 21:35, arrive London Stansted 23:00.
JUNE , JULY AND AUGUST - 5 nights
THURSDAY ARRIVAL
Ryanair FR232
Depart London Stansted 06:00, arrive Alghero 10:00.
TUESDAY DEPARTURE
Ryanair FR231
Depart Alghero 11:25, arrive London Stansted 12:50.
The Gutsy Girls team will meet you at Alghero airport and transfer you to our hotel in Bosa.
TRAVELLING TO BOSA WITHOUT OUR TRANSFER
We cannot provide individual transfers for anyone arriving at different times. You are welcome to arrive on a different flight, but if the times do not match up with the Ryanair flights specified above, you will have to make your own way to Bosa.
If you are not arriving on our preferred flights, it is your responsibility to get yourself to Bosa. Some ideas are below but please do your own research and make your own arrangements.
Our activities will begin at lunchtime on your arrival day, so make sure you arrive by 12pm to meet the group!
If you need to make your own way from Alghero airport to Bosa, there is a bus service running a few times a day; Line 9312. The timetable is here: http://www.arstspa.info/9312.pdf.
Getting from other Sardinian airports to Bosa is time-consuming. There is a train from Cagliari airport to Macomer, where you’ll need to change for a bus to Bosa. Or the same train runs in the opposite direction from Olbia (town centre; so you’d need to take a bus from the airport) to Macomer, where you’ll need to change for a bus to Bosa. Both of these journeys are likely to take at least 4 hours.
Taxis from Alghero are approx 90€ and Olbia 200€. You could organise to share a taxi to Bosa if a few of you are flying into the same alternative airport or on alternative flights.
Struggling to find a flight to Alghero? Our Weeklong Retreat transfers are from Olbia airport!
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 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 the airport and drive to Bosa (1hr)
Check into the hotel; there’ll be time for a quick shower
Have lunch together
First activity that afternoon - we’ll tell you what this is at lunch as it will be chosen based on the conditions that day. You’ll have time to change and pack your bag for the adventure.
Activity: Hike and swim or paddleboarding
Dinner together and an early night ready for the next day of adventure.
Our activity choices are based on weather, wind and sea conditions.
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
The hotel we stay in is a family run three star hotel in the town, overlooking a little piazza in the historic centre. The rooms are simple but comfortable and Mediterranean in style with tiled floors and each room has a little fridge and air conditioning.
There is wifi in the main hotel lounge and in the breakfast area, however not in most of the rooms.
The hotel has hairdryers, although not particularly strong ones!
FOOD & DRINK
The tap water in Bosa is not recommended for drinking, but we will collect bottled drinking water from the local supermarket together on our day of arrival, and you can keep this in the fridge in your room and restock at the supermarket is easy whenever you need to.
Food is a big part of this holiday as we’re in Italy - culinary capital of the world! We eat very well and try lots of delicious local food. It’s a great place to eat fish, but if you don’t you’ll still have plenty of options.
We can cater for all food requirements, however do be aware that Bosa is not a big tourist destination (that’s why we chose it!), so this does mean that there won’t always be a huge selection of vegan options on menus. We will always do our utmost to accommodate your dietary needs but we may also need a level of flexibility or understanding from you.
Breakfast at the hotel is continental, and includes fruit, yogurt, bread, cheese, meats, cereals, croissants etc, as well as great coffee of course!
Lunch will either be a fresh packed lunch which we’ll stop and eat while we’re out on an activity, for example fresh pasta salad, or at times we stop for lunch at a restaurant.
Dinners will be at local restaurants - this will sometimes be a set menu that we’ve created with the restaurant, or sometimes you’ll choose your own from a menu with one drink included. We’ll have one evening at an Agriturismo (farm stay) to have a lesson in how to make ravioli from real Sardinian nonnas (grandmothers), which we’ll sit down to enjoy together overlooking the stunning farmland.
We’ll also have an evening of wine tasting paired with delicious cheeses at a local wine cellar.
Please note that we can't provide discounts for guests who choose not to partake in the wine tasting or wine with dinner.
FREE TIME
There will be a little bit of free time every afternoon (2-3 hours) 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 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 could walk down to the nearest beach, which takes about half an hour, or we can assist in booking taxi to it or to other nearby beaches.
Many of our guests opt to take it easy in one of Bosa’s piazzas with a gelato (you can’t go wrong with Italian ice cream!) and a good book, or take a little afternoon nap.
We can also arrange massages too, we can arrange this when you arrive in Bosa.
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!
HIKING
Our hikes take us to very remote places, you must have proper hiking shoes or boots with good ankle support and grip. Running trainers do not have suitable grip or support. Trail running shoes are ok!
You will not be allowed to join our hikes if you come in Converse style trainers.
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 guide us in three practices, which are suitable for all level yogis. Yoga is fantastic not only for improving flexibility, strength and balance (very useful for paddleboarding), but it’s also a great way to unwind and reconnect with yourself. Our yoga sessions will be in our studio overlooking the river and if the conditions are right, we may even try some on our SUPs.
You do not need specialist clothing, just normal gym wear will do fine! Anything that's comfortable and flexible for yoga is perfect.
VIA FERRATA
A Via Ferrata is a protected climbing route, on which you are attached via a harness, with a variety of steel cable rails, metal steps, ladders, suspension bridges and zip wires. Described as halfway between scrambling and rock climbing, Via Ferrata allow non-experienced climbers the opportunity to scale to new heights. It’s an exciting activity but you do not need previous experience or a high level of fitness or strength.
If you are afraid of heights, we can’t arrange a different activity for you and we do recommend you try it! On a Gutsy Girls trip, you’ll never be forced to do an activity you don’t feel comfortable doing, but we encourage you to approach our adventures with an open mind! It’s an opportunity to get out of your comfort zone in an incredibly supportive environment. There will be opportunities to try small sections of the climb before you commit to the whole experience and we can accommodate you if you decide not to continue.
We have chosen a route that is the right level of challenging but also still enjoyable. We’ve had many guests who are scared of heights complete the Via Ferrata, finding that the supportive approach of the group and guides helped them along the route. Our guides are highly trained to support you through the experience, so if you are nervous they’ll be right next to you to help and give words of encouragement.
There is no pressure for you to complete or join the activity, we will support you no matter what you choose.
Please note though that we cannot switch our activities or offer discounts should you wish to not take part.
If you choose not to take part on the Via Ferrata day, you could:
Join us for the 20-minute hike to the start point and see what it looks like, give some of the practice sections a try and then make a decision. There’s a pretty shaded spot for reading a book and enjoying the views!
Stay in Bosa to explore - we can arrange a massage for around €60, or you could hire a bike from the hotel and cycle to the beach, or catch a taxi to the local beach.
We’ll discuss options with you when you arrive as the day we choose to Via Ferrata will depend on the weather conditions for your trip.
In the height of summer, when it is very hot during the day, we may need to replace the Via Ferrata with aquatrekking instead if it is too hot to be out on the exposed climbing route all day! Aquatrekking is a bit like canyoning, where we explore a mountain river by walking, jumping, swimming and sliding in the river stream. It’s a great hot weather activity!
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 tshirt/rash vest to wear in midday heat.
Cap/Hat -essential!
Sunglasses
Hiking shoes/boots - hiking boots/shoes/trail running trainers with good grip and ankle support. 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
Gloves for Via Ferrata
Insect repellent
Shorty wetsuit/long john wetsuit - optional but recommended for October trips.
Waterproof case for phone
Sunglasses strap - to keep them safe