The Mediterranean island of Sardinia is well known for its beautiful sandy coastlines, but venture into the inland areas and a different world awaits. Largely mountainous, you'll find small unspoilt villages surrounded by rugged limestone peaks, including the Punta La Marmora in the Gennargentu range with a height of 1,834m. On a clear day, the summit of this highest mountain in Sardinia offers stunning views across the whole island, with most of the coast clearly visible.
The Gennargentu National Park is criss-crossed with hiking trails for all abilities, where trekkers can explore the valleys and peaks surrounded by abundant wildlife and wild plants, many unique to the island. In winter the landscape of the higher interior is transformed, and skiers are well catered for in four resorts with ski lifts reaching slopes up to 1,820m high.
For a truly spectacular sight, try a visit to the Su Gorropu, the deepest canyon in Europe. Approximately 5km long, this gorge has walls towering up to 450m vertically beside a path that at times is no wider than 5m. Popular with walkers, Su Gorropu also attracts brave souls scaling the sheer canyon walls for an unmatched climbing experience.