Welcome to Sardinia (Sardinia Diary Part 1)

Today we are taking you on our last voyage of discovery to our favorite island. Sardinia, a place with breathtaking, diverse nature, thousands of rocks for climbing enthusiasts, crystal-clear sea like in the Caribbean, delicious food, friendly people and an ancient culture with a spectacular, mysterious past.

A trip with 2 goals: One, vacation and enjoying the island including surfing, climbing and exploring. Also, a journey of discovery for our first retreat 'Sardegna goes... Piemount'.

Let's go!

With dinner in our luggage, we board the ferry late in the evening together with our van (our mobile hotel), friends who will accompany us for the first part of our trip and other adventurous travelers. For just 80 euros, it takes us from the mainland to the island. One night on the boat. As always (it will be our 4th visit to the island) with a sleeping mat and sleeping bag, we save ourselves the 100 euros for a cabin & actually we always sleep really well!

Arriving with a view. From the boat, we spot the first smaller islands around Sardinia in the morning light and also discover the first climbable rock faces. Good morning!

First we arrive and enjoy the first rays of sunshine and then we're off. First stop: shopping! As we are heading directly to the other side (west side) of the island and will be spending the next few days in the countryside, we first need to stock up on food and water. Then we enjoy a 2 1/2 hour (yes, Sardinia is not that big) drive through the interior. It's incredible how much different nature you can find on such a small island. From the 'jungle feeling' to the 'steppe' and then on across 'plateaus' to the west side with cliffs and a sea that resembles the ocean.

You may have already guessed it. First of all, surfing is on the program. A sport that is 100% vacation for us... and while we don't offer surfing as an activity in our retreats, we can recommend a very nice surf camp after (or before) our retreats if you want to add a few more days in the waves.

By the way, kite surfing, wind surfing and all other wind-board-sea sports are also possible (depending on the wind conditions).

So the first part of our trip is all about surfing. Sea, waves, yoga, lots of wind and colder temperatures in the evenings, lots of cooking in the van and lots and lots of nature, often without a cell phone signal. Switching off and a real vacation.

After days without a shower and kilos of salt water in my hair, it was time for a bit of warmth and where better than in warm water. Where? In the natural thermal baths in the interior of Sardinia, an absolute highlight for thermal bath lovers.

However, we are not interested in the classic spas with their huge pools and expensive entrance fees. We visit the outdoor spas. There are two different options here and we enjoy both. A picturesque river in the middle of nature. Hot thermal water meets cold river water. Stone pools built directly in the river create the perfect water temperature. A completely natural spa surrounded by greenery.

...and next door there is something more classic and still with a view of the beautiful river. Private SPA for 5 euros per person. We love it!

Let's move on. Culture is on the agenda today. Did you know? Sardinia is home to some of the oldest archaeological sites in history and there is still so much to discover.

In our previous trips and even before, we have already been able to visit various 'nuraghi' (prehistoric towers), tombs and caves. The purpose of these ancient relics is still disputed today, but you can always find various signs of ancient peoples such as paintings, graves and other evidence of life in these buildings. Some are well preserved and you can look forward to a guided tour, while others can simply be found in the landscape and can be explored by yourself. It's incredible to imagine what life might have looked like in the past. It is also exciting that you have the opportunity to enter such caves, tombs or nuraghi, often freely and without a guide. History up close.

We head to one of the largest: Su Nuraxi de Barùmini. A rainy day put to good use. We experience an exciting guided tour and are allowed to walk (and sometimes climb ;)) through the largest nuragic complex in Sardinia.

The next morning, the weather is on our side again and we are ready for our first climbing destination and a place we have not yet been to. The famous rocks of Iglesias/Domusnovas and the spectacular climbing walls of Masua.

First up: Domusnovas and climbing at the entrance to the huge 'San Giovanni' cave. Our pitch, in the middle of the countryside with a fire pit, river and lots of nature. We enjoy the peace and quiet and look forward to our first climbing experience of the trip.

We start the day with a visit to the 'San Giovanni' grotto. A huge tunnel leads right through the mountain and to the other side (the actual entrance - we reach the cave from the back). On the way we see one of the most difficult routes on the island, where Adam Ondra climbed. 'Marina Superstar' is an incredibly difficult line in 9a+/9b, impressive, but not for us. We continue and visit our first crag, which is right at the entrance to the grotto. A bit greasy, but aesthetically very pleasing.

After a long, sporty day, we look forward to our 'green oasis' and a bit of relaxation.

The next day we climb again and discover another crag on the other side of the cave. Deserted and with plenty of grip, we enjoy a sunny day of climbing before continuing on to Masua. Once we arrive, we get our first glimpse of the incredible panorama with the picturesque 'Pan di Zucchero' (the mini island of rock) and its multi-pitch routes.

We stay here for a few days and discover various climbing spots. Some of them right by the sea. There are also deserted bays for swimming, incredible picnic spots and, as it is off-season, we are even allowed to camp freely here. A dream.

The climbing itself is also impressive. Top rock and wonderful, long routes for all levels of difficulty are available to us. In the morning in the sun and in the afternoon in the shade, as the temperatures slowly rise, and a cool dip in the sea at the end. It doesn't get any better than this! Here are a few insights into our last stop on the west coast.

...Ciao West! We also say goodbye to our friends who accompanied us on the first part of the trip. The south is calling and the east coast. Warmer temperatures and lots of climbing are on the agenda. We will also visit (as it turns out, not only) possible (but the final) accommodations for our upcoming retreats in Sardinia.

More on this in part 2 of our Sardinia diary. Don't miss it!

See you soon,

Your Piemount team ;)