Horseback riding in Sardinia: discover the wild beauty of the coastline

Ideal for outdoor enthusiasts seeking adventure and beauty

The breeze among the myrtle bushes, the gentle crunch of hooves on ancient land, the intense aroma of mediterranean scrub: it’s the start of a journey that turns travel into a very special experience. The horse is the key to crossing the threshold between a tourist excursion and the most authentic and secret spirit of Sardinia.

In the saddle of a noble Sardinian Anglo-Arab – a breed shaped by the elegance of the English thoroughbred and the toughness of the local Arab stock – the ride takes you on a trail where time seems to stand still. The landscape is revealed in a symphony of colours, scents and sounds: yellow broom exploding among the rocks, the sparkling sea glimpsed between branches, the distant shrill of cicadas. Our first trip takes us to the Padula Saloni nature reserve, an oasis covering some 400 hectares behind the Gulf of Arzachena. Here, among mediterranean scrub and freshwater pools, there’s a natural world teeming with life.

This idyllic place is home to over 180 bird species, of which 77 nest here regularly, including the magnificent pink flamingo, graceful heron and delicate black-winged stilt.

Horseback Riding in Sardinia

But north-eastern Sardinia offers countless other treats to discover on horseback. The promontory of Capo Ferro, with its vertiginous plunge to the turquoise sea, lends itself to rides packed with light and excitement. Here, among hidden coves and sheer cliffs, the horse follows trails that challenge vertigo to offer unparalleled views of the Mediterranean.

Equally spectacular are the routes that wind among the gentle hills of Arzachena, where vineyards and olive groves meet untamed pasture land, a rural sight yet so close to the endless blue of the sea. These trails lead to storied villages and archaeological sites, offering a travel experience that combines nature, culture and tradition.

Another particularly stunning option is the dunes at Porto Pollo, famous for its beach of the finest white sand and the pine woods that protect the hinterland. Here the horses walk on long, semi-deserted beaches in bays little-affected by tourism, with the opportunity to gallop freely, just metres from the sea.

Horseback Riding in Sardinia

From the saddle of a horse, the landscape is no longer mere scenery to admire, but becomes a place to inhabit with all the senses. Every step is an invitation to explore the smallest details: the fragrant herbs that line the path, the ever-changing colours of the water, the shadows among the trees as the sun does down. At the end of this experience, you’ll not only have the memory of a route, but also the knowledge of having had a genuine encounter with the island’s true nature. An experience that leaves you with the feeling of a deep-seated bond, a Sardinia that gives itself solely to those who slow down and listen.

Riding in this area means immersing yourself in an ancient story written at the slow, regular pace of a horse, and experiencing the poetry of an island that continues to bewitch anyone with a desire to discover its more intimate side.