Motorbike or off-road trips in Sardinia: routes to know

All the wild essence of the island, perfect for a trip on two or four wheels

Flippers and diving mask in the summer, gloves, protective gear and helmet in the other seasons. When the beach umbrellas close and towels give way to jackets and sweaters, there is a part of the island to discover with the wind in your face. It’s the north-eastern coast, to be tackled by Enduro motorbike or in a 4x4, alone or with an expert guide for an excursion, perhaps in a group. Paths and dirt roads that skirt the coast but also climb towards the tops of the more inland areas, all with absolute respect for the environment and the places.

Acting as an expert guide and advisor is Alessandro Marzi, an architect with a degree in territorial, urban and environmental planning but also a passionate biker, to the point of having transformed his love for two wheels and off-roading in general into Exploring Sardinia, an active tourism and tour planner for those who want to see Sardinia with different eye.

Sardinia by off-road vehicle

“The best, most scenic routes to enjoy the area around Porto Cervo by Enduro bike - he says - are those on the old paths from early last century. Some run along the coast and are the old routes used to bring water to the towns after the first urbanization. Off-road vehicles, on the other hand, need larger spaces and so one of the best destinations is inland, from San Pantaleo towards Monte Pino, in an area where there are granite quarries and country churches. Or towards Mount Limbara, the second highest mountain on the island, to admire the landscape and Corsica on the horizon”. All non-summer destinations, because with high temperatures and the risk of fires, the forests must be protected.

“We collaborate with the Forestry Corps - explains Marzi, who also has a partnership with a motorbike rental company - and we avoid excursions from mid-June to mid-September. Fire answers to no-one, and we would be very vulnerable on the trails. Furthermore, the dust raised by motorbikes could be mistaken at a distance for smoke and cause alarms. Shorelines and beaches are also off limits. But in the summer, at certain times of the evening, we can go on simpler outings in the countryside to reach some farmhouse or go to more mountainous areas, reachable only by motorbike, to visit shepherd friends to discover their life in the sheepfolds and eat ultra-zero kilometre products."