We will depart for the nearby village of Samugheo to visit a traditional cheese factory. Here, every day the shepherd’s craft merges with that of the cheesemaker. Our guide will lead us through a cheesemaking workshop using methods unchanged for centuries. We will work warm sheep’s milk, learning to recognize the precise temperature and texture. As we shape wheels of pecorino, we will practice this ancient craft that has sustained families through generations.

We will continue to the Roman Baths of Fordongianus, where we can wade into thermal pools that maintain a constant 54°C from natural springs. It’s remarkable to bathe in the exact same waters that Roman soldiers soaked in two thousand years ago -- the springs flow unchanged, offering us an intimate connection across millennia.

After lunch, we will check into our hotel in Oristano’s historical medieval center.

The afternoon will take us on an archaeological journey to San Salvatore village, where we will explore a sacred well that demonstrates the continuity of spiritual practices across millennia. We will continue to a scenic walk through San Giovanni di Sinis, a coastal village where traditional fishermen’s houses face the lagoons. The village sits between two remarkable bodies of water -- the open Mediterranean to the west and the protected lagoons of Mare Morto (Dead Sea) to the east. Mare Morto stretches like a mirror, its shallow, salt-rich waters creating a natural sanctuary for flamingos and other migratory birds. The contrast is dramatic, from the ancient ruins of Tharros perched on rocky cliffs to these serene lagoons where traditional fishing boats navigate channels unchanged for generations. Walking along the shoreline, we see how this landscape has shaped human settlement patterns, offering both the protection of inland waters and access to Mediterranean trade routes. We end the day with a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear waters of the Sinis Peninsula. As evening falls, we dine at a restaurant on the beach, watching the sun set over waters that have witnessed three millennia of human settlement.

We will embark on a morning sailing excursion around the stunning Sinis Peninsula, one of Sardinia's most pristine coastal areas. We will discover hidden coves and beaches accessible only by sea, while our captain shares stories of the area’s coastal history. We will enjoy a leisurely lunch on board at a secluded beach where we can swim in turquoise waters and relax on unspoiled sands. We will return in the afternoon for rest, and then will enjoy a free evening to wander through Oristano’s medieval historic center. We will discover local restaurants tucked into ancient buildings, their menus reflecting the marriage of land and sea that defines Sardinian cuisine. In the piazzas, we will watch locals gathering as they have for generations. This evening will become integration time, allowing the day’s experience on the sea to settle into our understanding of how geography shapes culture, and how water shapes the soul.

We will depart for Mamoiada, home to one of the island’s most fascinating cultural traditions. We will visit the Museum of Traditional Masks to learn about the ancient carnival rituals that connect modern Sardinians to their pre-Christian past, then we meet a local mask maker who continues this sacred craft. The carved wooden masks represent the ‘Mamuthones’ — dark, imposing figures draped in black sheepskins, heavy cowbells strapped to their backs, their dance both funeral march and fertility rite.

These are not mere carnival costumes but sacred vessels connecting the living to forces older than memory. In the Mamuthones’ rhythmic steps, paganism breathes through Christian celebration, and the boundary between human, animal, and spirit dissolves into something primal and profound. These figures carry winter’s death and spring’s promise in their bells, reminding us that some truths are too deep for words: they must be worn, embodied, and danced through masks and bells that speak directly to our ancestral memory. 

We will then experience the highlight of Sardinian pastoral culture with lunch among shepherds, where we will listen to the haunting ‘canto a tenore’, a UNESCO-recognized form of polyphonic singing that mimics natural sounds and creates harmony between human voices and the landscape. We will continue to Orgosolo, a mountain town famous for its striking political murals that tell the story of Sardinian resistance and identity. Here we will have dinner at a local restaurant and then will sleep in mountain silence.

We will enjoy a scenic boat tour along Sardinia’s spectacular eastern coastline, where dramatic limestone cliffs rise from turquoise waters and hidden grottos reveal secrets carved by millennia of waves. Our boat takes us to pristine beaches that remain largely untouched by mass tourism: Cala Goliritzè with its iconic limestone spire, Cala Marioulu’s perfect white pebbles, and Cala Luna’s crescent of sand framed by towering cliffs. These beaches, considered among the Mediterranean’s most beautiful, offer us the experience of untouched nature. As we anchor in secluded coves, we understand why sailors have been enchanted by these waters for thousands of years. The clarity remains unchanged, we can see the seabed clearly several meters below, making these perfect waters for snorkeling among rocks and marine life that thrive in this protected environment. 

If weather conditions will make boating unsuitable, we will instead embark on an invigorating hike to Cala Luna through Mediterranean scrubland. This trail winds through aromatic maquis, such as wild rosemary, juniper, and myrtle releasing their fragrances as hikers brush past.  The descent to Cala Luna will end  at a crescent-shaped bay of white sand, where the effort of reaching this remote paradise will make the crystal-clear waters even more refreshing. Whether by boat or on foot, we will gain deep appreciation for how geography has shaped access to Sardinia'’s most beautiful places, protecting them through their very remoteness and ensuring that experiencing them requires intention, effort, and respect for the natural world that guards their secrets.

We will depart for Alghero and begin our final full day with a visit to the extraordinary ‘Domus de Janas’ (‘Fairy Houses’, in Sardinian) necropolis of Anghelu Ruju, where we explore over 30 prehistoric rock-cut tombs dating back 5,000 years. These ‘fairy houses’ represent some of Europe’s most important Neolithic burial sites, carved with symbols and architectural details that reveal sophisticated spiritual beliefs about death and the afterlife. We will continue to the prestigious Sella e Mosca vineyard, one of Sardinia’s most historic wine estates, where we will tour the cellars and vineyards while learning how this volcanic soil has produced distinctive wines for over a century. We will enjoy a wine tasting paired with local specialties, understanding how terroir and tradition combine in Sardinian viticulture.

The afternoon will provide free time in Alghero’s enchanting medieval old town, where Catalan influences blend with Sardinian culture. We can choose to swim at nearby beaches, explore the ancient ramparts, or browse local boutiques before gathering for a memorable farewell dinner celebrating our journey through this ancient land. As the day, and the journey, will draw to an end, we will realize that we can now carry forward the island’s gift of continuity between past and present, land and water, hands and soul.

After breakfast, check out and depart from Alghero airport