Sardinia in Italy

Isola Tavolara

The Gorropu Canyon

La Maddalena

San Teodoro

The core of the trip. We rotated between a few favorite spots along the coast, some shallow and family-friendly, others rocky with insanely clear water for snorkeling. The water genuinely looks Caribbean: shades of turquoise and emerald you wouldn't believe are in the Mediterranean. The famous ones are very crowded in the summer and they also cost money to enter, for example 3,50 euro. My friend who already goes 21 years to Sardinia has never seen it before so i think it's only in peak season that they do it. Strange to pay for a beach but it is what it is. One of the beaches we did for example was La Cinta.

Spent a full day on a boat circling Isola Tavolara. The dramatic limestone island that dominates the northeast coast. Anchored in hidden coves for swimming, snorkeled in water so clear you could see straight down to the seabed. The island itself rises out of the sea like a fortress. Isola Tavolara seems nice for hiking (or go to the top) but that wasn't possible and also it was hot. Don't forget to protect yourself against the sun because there is almost no shadow.

One of Europe's deepest canyons, hidden in the Supramonte mountains. The hike takes you through dramatic limestone cliffs with walls towering hundreds of meters above. Completely different vibe from the beaches: wild, raw, and quiet. Bring good shoes and plenty of water because you will need it, especially in peak summer. You can fill your water next to the canyon with a natural source. Water goes out fast so we were lucky that we could fill our water.

The Sardinian coastal roads are an experience on their own. Winding cliff-side routes opening up to panoramic sea views around every bend, with countless pull-offs leading to empty coves the tour buses miss. Some of the best moments were unplanned stops at random viewpoints. Rent a car, it's non-negotiable here and worth it. Also about driving here, in my experience no one follows the speed limit and sometimes the speed limit is a little strange so i would say adjust to the situation and what traffic around you is doing.

Paddled out at sunrise hoping to spot dolphins, and actually saw them. A small pod swimming alongside the kayak for a few unforgettable minutes. Then the bigger tourist boats came with lots of sound and they vanished. It was kinda like that the whole time. Even without the dolphins, kayaking the calm evening sea along the cliffs is magical. This was my first time kayaking so i did an 180 degrees in the water which was quite funny. We booked a guided tour with the kayak, where we did a big tour. We took a swim & snorkeling with lots of fish & spotted the dolphins.

Took the ferry over to La Maddalena, one of the islands in the archipelago just off Sardinia's northeast coast. Spent the day combining beach time with a scenic hike to Cala Napoletana, a hidden cove on the northern coast of the island accessible only on foot. The trail winds through wild Mediterranean scrubland with sweeping views, and the reward at the end is a quiet beach with crystal-clear water and barely any people. A perfect mix of light adventure and pure relaxation. We also went into the city to explore it a little, afterwards we headed back home.