Until now, the beautiful Italian island of Sardinia has attracted mostly wealthy Russians who discovered the destination back in the 1990s—private parties, champagne flows, the "millionaires without ties" format, yachts in marinas. However, the island's potential It's not limited to the VIP sector, and this is precisely what motivates TEZ Tour to actively develop this destination. For four years in a row, the tour operator has been making it accessible, family-friendly, and recurring!
According to Cagliari Airport statistics, in 2016, the island welcomed 40,000 tourists from the Czech Republic, 62,000 from Switzerland, and 2.5 million domestic Italian tourists. Russian tourist arrivals are much more modest—only 9,000. This is because strong myths and stereotypes have developed, and they are now difficult to dispel. The main one is that this type of vacation is not accessible to everyone.
Portrait of a tourist and the format of a holiday in Sardinia
Elmas Airport in Cagliari, located in the south of the island, serves international flights. The TEZ Tour flight program is available weekly on Saturdays on IFLY Airlines (a comfortable A319 with a capacity of 156 seats) with convenient flight times. S7 Airlines operates regular flights from Moscow.
Vacation prices start at €500 per week per person. High season on the island runs from June to September, with the peak season in August. Tourism experts emphasize that families with children initially start the season, followed by older tourists, and finally, couples without children arrive. Local hoteliers note that Sardinia is seeing an increasing number of solo travelers.
An island for the brave in spirit
A wide range of hotels, from economy to premium class, are available to Russian tourists in the south of the island.
They are diverse and cater to all travelers' needs and wishes in terms of recreation and leisure options. For example, the Horse Country Resort Congress Spa, Arboria 4*, founded over 40 years ago, welcomes enthusiasts and admirers of equestrian sports and horses, as it also houses one of Europe's largest equestrian centers.
The facility can accommodate more than 450 horses at a time (300 boarding places in the immediate vicinity of the hotel and a stable for 150 horses outside the hotel grounds).
The complex includes an open-air parade ground and two exercise fields, as well as a large indoor arena with stands for 1,200 spectators. In the evenings, colorful horse shows are held here.
The hotel offers horseback riding lessons at reasonable prices (from 20 euros per lesson), suitable for both adults and the youngest riders. It's worth noting that the Sardinians have historically held horses in high regard—the island even developed its own breed, the Sardinian, a cross between British and Arabian thoroughbreds. These sturdy, hardy Sardinian horses were bred in Sardinia for the Spanish royal court, under whose influence the island had been since the 16th century.
Incidentally, this resort was the venue for the major endurance horse racing tournament Sardegna Endurance Lifestyle, which was held in 2013 with the support and participation of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.
An island for connoisseurs of luxury
Hotels for discerning guests who value peace and relaxation are also available on the island. Excellent golf courses, a white-sand beach, premium service, and lush pine groves—the Iz Arenas Resort offers it all.
Meanwhile, the excellent Forte Village Resort 5* and Pullman Timi Ama Sardegna 5* hotels are, according to guests interviewed by TRN, "extremely addictive." Here, tourists receive top-notch service—premium champagne welcome, rooms with the best views, restaurants run by Michelin-starred chefs, and evening music and culinary shows featuring world-class stars, from Sting to Gordon Ramsay.
Forte Village Resort 5* offers spacious suites and luxurious villas with private gardens and unique designs.
The hotel's youngest guests are always welcome at the kids' club, where professional staff are ready to take care of them throughout the day. Young tourists will definitely not be bored: there's a giant chess set, a children's pool, a Barbie house where everyone is warmly welcomed by the "mansion's" owner, and Barbie Land toys are also available for purchase.
The resort also boasts its own thalassotherapy and spa center, whose doctors have spent many years developing and refining a unique seawater healing method.
Your guests will definitely not want to leave Pullman Timi Ama Sardegna. Its name means "fear of falling in love," and this danger will lurk at every turn at the hotel.
The hotel has its own unique charm, impossible to escape. This is enhanced by a wide range of accommodations—from classic to luxury—and a vast protected area. Flamingos come here to nest, and you can spot them right on the way to the beach.
There's also a children's center for younger guests and a separate recreation area for teenagers, complete with dartboards, hammocks, horizontal bars, and other challenging activities.
Guests can enjoy a luxurious thalassotherapy and spa center where they're sure to relax and unwind. The restaurants will delight discerning palates with Italian and European cuisine, with daily changing themes.
It's worth noting that coastal development is prohibited in Sardinia, driven by the island's desire to preserve the unique local natural environment. Therefore, hotels can be located up to 2 kilometers from the shore. Only a few hotels here have their own beachfront—these are properties built before the environmental ban was introduced. However, the distance from the shore is more than compensated for by the space—many hotels have beaches stretching for several kilometers, making it easy to find your spot in the sun.
You can walk or drive to the Pullman Timi Ama Sardegna beach – a minibus runs continuously from the beach to the hotel.
What makes the island unique?
We know so little about the island that, other than the stereotype of sardines, not a single association would spring to mind for the average Russian. Yet the island is the second largest in the Mediterranean (after Sicily), with its own flag, coat of arms, language, and the distinctive character of its local inhabitants, the Sardinians—a stern, beautiful, and proud islander who distinguishes themselves from other Italians.
The island's flag bears a red cross on a white background—a mark left by the Order of Malta. The island's name is believed to mean "footprint of God"—the ancient Greeks thought the island's outline resembled a footprint.
The island is perfect for relaxation, active, and leisurely strolls—there's nothing dangerous here, either on land or in the water. Perfect for ever-worried mothers!
The island is also of great interest to fans of educational and sightseeing tourism. Sardinia's history contains elements that can be traced back to the pan-European civilization, the early days of Christianity, and the Greco-Roman period.
The main historical "exclusives" are full of secrets and mysteries.
In 1974, a Sardinian farmer discovered a statue fragment—the head of a strange stone idol with round eyes, wearing a headdress more reminiscent of an astronaut's helmet. This discovery surprised and frightened him. Further excavations uncovered fragments of 13 statues. They were named the "Giants of Monte Pramo," after the place where they were found. The finds can be viewed today in a museum in Cagliari, and replicas are on display at the airport. Photographs of the giants' faces have become one of the island's calling cards.
Another mystery of the island—ancient towers and a city consisting of more than 40 buildings—were discovered near the town of Barumini and named Nuraghe. For nearly 40 years, scholars remained silent about this unique civilization. All that can be said with certainty today is that the style of the tower-shaped buildings and adjacent circular structures suggests some kind of urban community structure.
Moreover, the skill of the builders is astonishing – structures up to 4 stories high are built and remain stable, obeying only the force of gravity: stone blocks and small stones are laid into the walls with such precision that they have stood for several millennia without any fastenings or mortar.
The port city of Tharros — another historical mystery shrouded in much speculation. It existed for over 800 years, survived many eras and flourishes, but fell to pirate raids. Today, it is the site of active archaeological excavations, open to the public. This ghost town will be of interest to both young and old tourists.
What else is a must-see? Wine in Sardinia isn't just a cult—it's the lifeblood of the Sardinians. If you don't like white wine, you haven't had it in Sardinia. Island winemaking is an important sector of the region's economy. You can't visit the island without attending a tasting of local wines made from iconic varietals. "Vermentino" and "Cannonau" would be a big omission.
And send your tourists too on a tour of Cagliari! It's a true "metropolitan gem," with its own charm and lively character. The city's streets have retained the architectural influences of all the conquerors who visited. Upper Cagliari resembles an impregnable fortress, while lower Cagliari is a vibrant Mediterranean port with numerous shopping streets.
On a sightseeing tour of the city, you'll learn a fascinating fact about "modern" history: Cagliari is adorned by a mountain range with a distinctive indentation in the center—the "devil's saddle." Legend has it that it was here, over Sardinia, that Lucifer, rebelling against God, was defeated. He was defeated by the Archangel Michael and cast from heaven into the island's swamps along with his horse. The horse sank into the quagmire, leaving only the saddle above, which still towers over the city today.
And of course, The main value of the south of Sardinia is its beachesIt's easy to become an expert here. Special trips are organized for the best, most unique, and most secret ones. A must-see is the "rice" island of Is Arutas.
And finally: 70% tourists on the flight are flying to Cagliari for the second or third time. This only goes to show that it's hard to trade Sardinia for other destinations.
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Source: trn-news.ru