Find out before you go

The best way to organize your exploration of Sardinia is to gather information on attractions, facilities and vehicles. In this way you can plan your itinerary, define the stages and divide up the time available.

Spend time on the cuisine and traditions, which are two essential aspects of getting to know the island. A culinary journey and the discovery of traditions are the basis of a sustainable holiday. Find out what the main dishes are and where you can eat them, and see if there are any events taking place during your stay that will allow you to attend shows and festivals with local customs and traditions.

Choose sustainable transport

If you want to have a green holiday, you have to give up the idea of driving your diesel or petrol car.

Depending on your itinerary, choose a hybrid or electric car. Moving independently on the island's roads will allow you to reach different destinations quickly and easily, without having to follow public transport timetables. Respect the environment and choose non-polluting or low-emission vehicles.

In some areas it is better to move around on foot or on two wheels, preferring a bicycle or e-bike to explore the natural and artistic attractions.

--> Find out where to find charging points for electric vehicles in Sardinia

Stay in an eco-friendly accommodation

Sardinia is rich in small accommodations surrounded by nature and managed in harmony with the environment. The owners and their staff will welcome you in characteristic, environmentally friendly buildings.

Your eco-friendly holiday should take into account aspects such as water and energy saving and the use of seasonal, organic and zero-kilometer food.

Information about accommodation is available online, so all you have to do is look at what the hotel or B&B has to offer to find out about its green soul. In most cases, these facilities will allow you to get in touch with the locals.

Authentic local experiences

Are you looking for an eco-friendly holiday? That means you want to get to know and respect the area, so you should have authentic experiences.

Your accommodation will certainly help you to do this. In fact, by staying in a small and well-integrated environment, you can get advice and suggestions on how to taste typical products in local farms, go for a mule ride to discover the beauty of the hinterland and the coast, take part in traditional events and much more. Talking to the people who live in Sardinia is also an opportunity to discover places that are little visited by the classic tourist routes.

Respect the local customs and traditions

Getting in touch with the people and living authentic experiences through various activities is the ideal way to really get to know Sardinia. The island has very ancient traditions and, as in any place, there are particular customs and traditions that deserve to be explored and, above all, respected.

Explore the area by following the customs of the people and be careful not to break the rules or even good manners. Sustainability is not limited to nature, but concerns the environment as a whole, including the people who live there and everything that characterizes the place.

Supporting local crafts

One of the most important traditions of Sardinia, at least in the economic field, is the local handicraft. There are very skilled people who work the raw materials of the area to create objects of great beauty and sublime food.

The purchase of sculptures, food and other items allows the artisans to continue their business and preserve the tradition itself.

It should also be remembered that this type of business respects the environment and uses raw materials carefully so as not to pollute or even destroy natural resources.

Your trip can be unforgettable, especially if you choose to explore the area at the right speed, or more slowly.

Here are some tips to help you create a unique experience.

A truly sustainable holiday

The whole island offers you the opportunity to visit spectacular places while respecting the environment and its inhabitants. In Sardinia you can hire an electric car to get around and a bicycle to explore the villages and natural areas.

Take a bottle of water with you to avoid the unnecessary use of plastic and dispose of your rubbish in the litter bins along your route.

Try the local cuisine, prepared with local ingredients; fishing, breeding and agriculture are Sardinian excellences and the products are precious and very tasty.

Stay in environmentally friendly establishments.

Slow travel

True sustainability goes hand in hand with 'slowness'. Carefully avoid the hustle and bustle of the many tourists who want to visit a large number of attractions.

Time is precious and the beauty of Sardinia needs to be known and explored. Linger to contemplate the views, study the art and architecture of the works and buildings, experience the emotions that nature is able to convey. Relax and immerse yourself in the culture and traditions of the place.

Then you can say that you have explored the island, if only part of it. There is time and opportunity to return and visit the unseen areas.

Excursions in nature

Nature, often unspoilt, is the thread that links many places in Sardinia.

The coasts and inland areas are beautiful and dotted with parks. There are so many places to visit that you will have to make a choice, but you will have the opportunity to walk through woods with indigenous species while admiring splendid views of the blue sea, or to relax on the sand surrounded by fabulous landscapes. Some of the most interesting places are the beaches of Mugoni and Maria Pia, Capo Caccia, the Neptune Caves, to name but a few.

Visit areas with low anthropic impact (even in high season)

Sardinia is beautiful all year round. In summer there are many tourists, but you can still visit areas with low anthropic impact.

The Faro dell'Isola della Maddalenetta is an enchanting place from where you can admire a splendid view of Alghero and its surroundings.

Other places of interest are the Spiaggetta del Rosso, the Baratz lake, the only natural lake in the area, the Calich lagoons with the Capo Caccia caves, inhabited by various species of birds, and the Grotta Verde.

There are countless areas to explore without having to worry about finding a “sellout”

Sustainable routes along the north-west coast

The scent of the north-western coast of Sardinia is unique and unmistakable, representing the meeting of sea and rock, mixed with myrtle, arbutus and cistus, whose pleasant scents are blown by the wind towards the water. The colours are also special, from the blue of the sea to the white sand and the shimmer and colours of the fish swimming off the coast.

Your sustainable holiday can start from the medieval stronghold of Castelsardo, with its Doria Castle and a thousand years of history. Follow the road to Punta La Capra for a swim in the natural seawater pool and stop on the beaches to relax and enjoy the surroundings and views.

Beaches for a green holiday

Among the most popular destinations, there are a number of beaches that are ideal for those looking for an enchanting natural setting. La Pelosa will enchant you with its crystal-clear waters, while Porto Palmas and Porto Ferro will captivate you with their vibrant colours.

Letting yourself be pampered by the waves and the sun is a must for anyone who comes to Sardinia, and is also a good idea if you want to go on an eco-friendly trip. In fact, between visits to attractions and authentic experiences, a little rest by the sea will allow you to regain your energy to get back on the road and follow the various itineraries along the coast and inland.

Places not to be missed

Slow travel does not require many stops, but it is nice to be able to choose with expert advice.

Stintino, in the last stretch of Sardinian territory towards the island of Asinara, is a pearl. It offers many wonders and a maritime cuisine with a great impact on the palate. Not far away is Capo Falcone, a promontory with a splendid view of Isola Piana and the surrounding area. The area is wild, as nature created it. The Monte d'Accoddi complex offers an excursion among the nuraghi, a perfect place for history lovers.

The Riviera del Corallo is another enchanting destination for those who want to see the coast and the sea, away from the crowded beaches and in unspoilt nature.

Sardinia is the perfect place for a sustainable holiday, not least because it is full of small, eco-friendly establishments ready to welcome travellers with personalised hospitality and services that respect the environment. Alghero is the best starting point to visit the main attractions and Bonsai B&B is the accommodation for you.

Here are the main features.

1. Organic food

The owners have decided to offer their guests organic food. For this reason, they have started the agricultural production of a large part of the raw materials.

The other ingredients are sourced from the local area, i.e. from small farmers, breeders and fishermen in the area, thus supporting the local economy.

On the table you will find food at zero kilometers, genuine and tasty. Seasonality is always respected in order to offer customers dishes rich in flavour and all the organoleptic properties of the different foods.

2. Ecological cleaning

The cleanliness of the rooms and common areas is a priority for the B&B staff, but only environmentally friendly products have been chosen. Their daily use guarantees maximum hygiene without polluting the environment.

In fact, the products have been created without chemicals in order to respect nature and human health. All the ingredients are natural.

3. Energy saving

Energy saving light bulbs have been installed in the accommodation to provide the necessary lighting in the rooms and common areas while limiting the use of electricity.

This aspect shows how much B&B Bonsai cares about the correct use of resources. Great attention is paid to the management of the building and its activities.

4. Waste separation

The staff separates waste in order to contribute to a correct recycling. Special bins have been placed in the rooms to allow customers to dispose of waste according to the type of material.

Glass and cans, paper, plastic, organic waste and undifferentiated waste have their proper destination so that they can be returned to the production chain after proper disposal.

5. Renewable energy

The Bonsai B&B uses a photovoltaic system to cover the energy needs of the establishment. In this way, 100% of the energy is obtained from renewable sources, with full respect for the environment and the need to save resources.

The production of what is needed for lighting, hot water and other uses is thus managed directly within the hotel.

6. Hot water production

When you return from exploring the area and wake up, you can take a shower with hot water produced by the hotel itself.

Solar panels are used to collect the necessary energy from the sun, which is transformed and used to heat water for sanitary use. Energy from renewable sources reaches the rooms in true ecological style.

7. Reduce waste

The hotel has adopted a clear philosophy in favour of the environment, managing the hotel in such a way that resources are used correctly.

It is not only a question of producing the energy to be used, but also of paying attention to waste. For this reason, disposable bottles have been eliminated.

Guests are asked to help reduce waste. This mainly concerns bathroom items such as soap, shampoo and shower gel.

Thanks to the system in place, the use of plastic is largely eliminated, which significantly reduces pollution.

8. Reduction of CO2 emissions

The various measures adopted by the hotel have allowed it to reduce consumption and waste, as well as to make the best use of renewable energy sources, thus reducing exponentially the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the air.

In addition, the company, which is also involved in agriculture, has planted and tended hundreds of trees on its grounds to compensate for the emissions that have not yet been eliminated. Nature is an integral part of the b&b, allowing you to stay in a beautiful and healthy environment, in perfect ecological style.