4x4 Offroad SUV trip in Sardinia - Italy

The start of the adventure - Welcome on board! Our off-road journey begins with a warm welcome at the port of Genoa, where you'll meet your tour guide and the other participants of the tour. The atmosphere is charged with anticipation and a thirst for adventure - you can immediately feel: Here begins more than just a trip. Here starts a real 4x4 off-road experience! After a short briefing and check-in, we’ll board the comfortable night ferry - one of seven shipping companies offering the connection to the dream island of Sardinia. As the lights of Genoa slowly disappear on the horizon and the sea surrounds us, the excitement grows: "What awaits us on this wild island?" On deck or in the cabin - use the crossing to mentally prepare for what’s to come. Perhaps with a first chat with like-minded people, a cool drink at the ship's bar, or while gazing at the starry sky. Because tomorrow morning it will be: Land in sight - Porto Torres! From here, our real adventure begins: gravel paths, lost places, hidden coves, and Sardinian culture are waiting for you. So: Buckle up, charge your camera, sharpen your senses - wild Sardinia is calling!

The entry into wild Sardinia. Fresh and rested, we roll off the ferry in the morning - ready for our real off-road adventure in Sardinia. Just a few kilometers after Porto Torres, the wild beauty of the island awaits us: Our tour begins leisurely with a short but scenic gravel road along steep cliffs. At a hidden rocky beach, we take our first break - time for a rustic breakfast with a view of the deep blue Mediterranean, which crashes against the rocks below us. The sound of the waves, the scent of the maquis, and the warming rays of the sun give us the perfect feeling: Now the adventure truly begins. On our way south, there is still enough time for a short stop in the charming medieval town of Alghero. With its narrow streets, Spanish-Catalan architecture, and impressive city walls, it is a real highlight for those who want to recharge with culture alongside dust. In the afternoon, we continue - past small villages, olive groves, and hilly landscapes - until we finally reach the region around Santa Caterina. There awaits us our first overnight stay on the island: depending on your preference, in the camp under the starry sky or in a cozy hotel with local flair.

Today it's technical - and spectacular in terms of landscape! On this stage, we leave the comfortable paths and dive deep into the heart of the Sardinian wilderness. We drive through passages where not only the vehicle but also your skills at the wheel are required. Rough gravel roads, sandy sections, and steep climbs demand the right tires, good articulation, solid ground clearance, and - if available - the use of the differential lock. This route is not for fair-weather drivers - but exactly what real 4x4 fans love. Our destination: an abandoned radio tower from the Cold War, located high up in solitude. The reward: breathtaking views over the barren expanse, the mountains, the sea - and absolute silence. On the way there, we pass sandy paths, traverse lonely plains, and roll past a dried-up salt lake, where - with a bit of luck - even flamingos circle. The day's finale takes us to the legendary rice grain beach (Spiaggia Is Arutas) - famous for its white, grainy quartz sand that crunches like rice under the tires. In the evening, we reach our camp near Oristano, right by the sea. After a day full of dust, sweat, and goosebump panoramas, we enjoy the sunset - and maybe a cold beer on the beach. This is Sardinia. Untamed. Unforgettable. Real. ;-)

Today we can expect a particularly varied and technically demanding stage. Our journey follows the course of the Red River, and in some places, we even drive directly in the riverbed. Between waterways and rocky passages, we are accompanied by the remnants of abandoned mines, giving us a glimpse into the industrial past of the region. At the end of the trail, we reach an endless sandy beach, where the sea and the vastness of the landscape create the perfect contrast to the rugged route. But the way there is challenging: the track is demanding, with narrow, overgrown sections - scratches from the struggle against the maquis are part of the daily routine here. Another route takes us through mountainous terrain, past the majestic dunes of San Nicolò: a fascinating natural phenomenon that we can climb on foot. From above, spectacular views of the coast and coastal forest await. Later, we cross the historically significant mining area of Montevecchio, one of the oldest mining landscapes in Italy. Among old tunnels, rusty hoisting towers, and abandoned workers' houses, we experience industrial culture up close. To conclude the day, we discover old bunkers and fortifications from World War II near our camp - silent witnesses to history, nestled in a landscape that uniquely combines history and nature.

After the technically demanding off-road days, we take it a bit easier today - but without missing out on highlights! Our first stop: the Grotta di Su Mannau, one of the oldest and most impressive stalactite caves in Sardinia. On a guided tour, we dive deep into the underworld - into a system of fascinating stalactite formations, ancient passages, and hidden chambers that served as a cult site for the Nuraghic people. Afterwards, we take the wheel again - over a historic mining track that once connected the mines in the region. Then we follow a longer, but relaxed asphalt stage across the island, past endless hills, small villages, and wide views - an ideal day to enjoy and arrive at the east coast of Sardinia. In the evening, we reach the region around Torre Salinas. The medieval watchtower towers over the sea and offers a breathtaking view of the coast and the hinterland. These so-called Saracen towers were once built under the rule of the Genoese and Pisans - as part of an extensive signal system around the island. At the nearby beach, we let the day wind down in a relaxed manner - with a bit of luck, even in the company of flamingos that have found their home here in the lagoons.

Heute starten wir in den Tag mit einer abwechslungsreichen Schotterpiste, die zwar überwiegend gut fahrbar ist, aber dennoch "die ein oder andere" kleine Herausforderung bereithält - perfekt, um wach zu werden und das Fahrgefühl im Gelände zu verfeinern. Nach einer kurzen Verbindungsetappe auf Asphalt tauchen wir wieder in die Wildnis ein: Eine weitere Offroad-Passage führt uns durch eine felsige Landschaft mit spektakulären Felsformationen, die sich wie aus dem Nichts erheben. Kurz darauf erreichen wir das sagenumwobene Geisterdorf Gairo Vecchio - ein verlassener Ort, der durch einen Erdrutsch in den 1950ern unbewohnbar wurde. Die leeren Häuser, überwucherten Mauern und stillen Gassen strahlen eine ganz eigene, mystische Atmosphäre aus. Wir erkunden die Ruinen zu Fuß und nehmen uns Zeit, in diese vergessene Welt einzutauchen. Doch das eigentliche fahrerische Highlight des Tages folgt später: Eine technisch anspruchsvolle Strecke führt uns unterhalb des mächtigen Flumendosa-Staudamms entlang - dort, wo der zweitlängste Fluss Sardiniens aufgestaut wird. Die Route hat es in sich: enge Kehren, grober Untergrund und steinige Passagen, bei denen Fahrkönnen, Bodenfreiheit und Konzentration gefragt sind. Hier geht es wortwörtlich über "Stock und Stein" - und wer das meistert, wird mit epischen Ausblicken und einem echten Adrenalinkick belohnt.

The day is about to begin with a little adventure: a collapsed bridge on our first off-road stage forces us to cross the river - water displacement instead of asphalt comfort! A real start that immediately shows us: Today will be exciting!! We then drive to a remote mountain trail in the Monte Limbara massif. There, a true "goosebumps moment" awaits us for lost place fans: an abandoned US military facility from the Cold War, hidden between rocks and forest. It once served as a listening and radar station - today it is a silent, abandoned witness to international power games amid Sardinian solitude. Not far away, we encounter a testimony from an even older past: a Nuraghe, one of the iconic, tower-like stone constructions built nearly 4,000 years ago during the Bronze Age. Long before the Romans, Sardinia was home to a highly developed and still mysterious culture. The route takes us further through the impressive mountains of northern Sardinia. Although there are some longer asphalt sections, the panoramic views and the changing character of the route provide plenty of driving pleasure - and after the last intense days, a touch of cruising feeling is also good for our 4x4 off-road vehicle. To conclude, we roll back toward the sea. Our camp or hotel for today is near the beach, where we can unwind at the end of the day with a delicious dinner in a cozy restaurant with a sea view.

After the exciting days filled with adventures and challenges, we are taking a break today and spending a relaxing day on the beach of Sardinia. The sun, the sound of the sea, and the fine sand invite us to linger and enjoy. In the late afternoon, we will then return to Porto Torres, where the night ferry awaits us, which will take us back to Genoa in a few hours. On the way back, we will also have the chance to make a short stop at a beautiful nature park. Here, we may spot a few turtles at the Stagno di Platamona, one of the picturesque freshwater lakes in Sardinia. With fresh impressions and many new memories in our luggage, we head back home, but the experiences of this unique journey will stay with us for a long time.

With the first rays of sun, we reach Genoa - the last point of our 4x4 off-road journey, where our paths part ways for now. The moment of farewell approaches, but the memories of the unique adventure through Sardinia's wild landscapes, hidden history, and spectacular off-road passages will accompany us for a long time to come. Perhaps the return journey already inspires you to plan the next OVERCROSS® adventure - there's so much more to discover! Who knows, maybe your next destination will already become clear during this journey home: new routes, unknown places, and boundless freedom are waiting for you. Until next time - perhaps soon!