Sardinia by motorbike - Individual holidays made to measure

Stage 1: Holiday from the start! (550 km)

It’s best to start in the direction of Étain (Meuse). This way you avoid the motorway and don’t end up in a traffic jam. Via Commercy, Neufchâteau, Langres, Dole, Lons-le-Saunier and Bourg-en-Bresse, you will reach your first overnight stop: the Hôtel de France in La Tour-du-Pin (www.hotel-de-france-isere.com). Your motorbike can spend the night in a closed garage right next to the hotel.

Stage 2 – Off to the sea! (440 km)

The first stops on the second day of the journey are Grenoble, Gap and Sisteron. A special treat for motorbike fans is the winding Route Napoléon. The destination of the 440 km long day’s stage is the harbour of Toulon. The Corsica Ferries ships always moor in the same place and are impossible to miss. As soon as you enter the harbour area, the Corsica Ferries staff will ensure that everything runs smoothly. They will check your ferry tickets and affix a sticker to the tickets and your motorbike. You will also be given the number of your cabin, which you should have booked before travelling. Attention: You will be sent to a special waiting lane for motorbikes. You should not make a mistake here. A little tip: Always park your motorbike in the ferry with the left side facing the wall – this is the correct position. Clothes and toiletries that you need in the cabin should therefore be stowed in the right-hand case beforehand. The overnight crossing gives you an extra day’s holiday – a good decision. Of course, it is all the more important that you reach the ferry on time.

Stage 3 – Finally on Italian soil! (295 km)

You will dock in Porto Torres on Sardinia between 6 and 7 in the morning. Remember to set your alarm clock, get up on time and vacate your cabin one hour before docking. The ferry is unloaded quickly. You remove the lashing straps from your motorbike yourself and follow the instructions of the ferry staff. Once ashore, you head towards Alghero and from there continue along the magnificent SP 105, which runs along the coast as far as Bosa. Then head eastwards through a very barren region. We recommend stopping for a bite to eat in one of the mountain villages. The small restaurants there offer a very friendly welcome and excellent food. I recommend staying at the Rejna Residence Hotel in Cardedu (www.rejnaresidencehotel.it) for the next three days. It is 300 metres from the beach and, thanks to its pool, bar, restaurant and convenient location, is the ideal starting point for excursions to various places.

Stage 4: A detour to the island’s capital (295 km)

No suitcases to pack for three days – a real treat. Today you will be travelling to the south-east of the island. The route to Cagliari runs along the coast for long stretches. Along the way, there are plenty of viewpoints and beaches in Sant’Elmo, Cala Pira, Punta Molentis and elsewhere to linger. For lunch within earshot and sight of the sea, we recommend the White Box Café on Solanas beach. Here you can take a break in a relaxed atmosphere before you reach Cagliari, which is anything but rural and tranquil. A little tip: always choose a self-service petrol pump when filling up. You’ll get cheaper petrol there.

Stage 5 – From the mountains westwards (400 km)

A trip to the west coast is a must, even if Sardinia’s east is more fun for motorbike enthusiasts. The route becomes less mountainous with every kilometre ridden. Instead, pastures and sheep increasingly dominate the landscape. The stage is considerably longer, but the route towards Oristino is easy to ride. On the return journey, you reach the mountain village of Gairo Sant’Elena on the SP 28 about 20 kilometres before your hotel. Right at the start of Via Eleonora d’Arborea, you will come across an inconspicuous pizzeria whose owner is a great fan of good Sardinian cuisine and where you should definitely make a stop.

Stage 6 – Back to the north (250 km)

The last stage on the Italian island takes you to Santa Teresa Gallura, the northernmost point of Sardinia. From here it is only a stone’s throw to neighbouring Corsica. The north of the island offers extremely winding roads and breathtaking panoramas. After a short detour to the chic Porto Cervo, the route leads to the next accommodation – the Hotel Majore in Santa Teresa (www.hotelmajore.it). It is just a few steps from the harbour and offers optimum comfort.

Stage 7 – A piece of Corsica (150 km)

If you take the ferry to Bonifacio at 11 a.m., you can make it to the harbour in Ajaccio in the late afternoon without rushing. The crossing from Sardinia to Corsica takes 50 minutes. Remember to arrive at the harbour early. Once you arrive in Bonifacio, you only need to head for Propriano and then Ajaccio. After about 30 kilometres, you will see the Lion of Roccapina on your left and the museum ‘A Casa di Roccapina’ on your right, where you can also eat very well. Corsica Ferries will be waiting for you at around 6 pm: time for the crossing to the mainland.

Stage 8 and 9 – two days travelling back to Luxembourg (640 and 420 km)

After the night crossing, you will be back on solid ground in Toulon. I recommend two stages for the journey home. The first stop is the Hôtel Les Gentianes in Rochejean in the Jura (www.hotelmetabief. net). The hotel owner – himself a passionate motorcyclist – has a lot to tell.

With the last stage, your Sardinia tour draws to a close after 3200 kilometres, countless bends and overwhelming panoramas – a journey that you will remember often and fondly.

Jean-Luc VANQUIN