Selvaggio Blu (Wild Blue)

The Selvaggio Blu is a roughly 45-kilometre, multi-day wilderness traverse along the limestone cliffs of the Gulf of Orosei in eastern Sardinia, widely considered the hardest waymarked trek in Italy. The route begins at the rock pinnacle of Pedra Longa near Baunei, reached by car from the Baunei plateau or the SS125 coast road, and finishes after about five to seven days at Cala Sisine or Cala Luna, from where boats run back to Cala Gonone. There is no road access, no signage to speak of, no refuge huts and no reliable water along the way, so the route is committing in a way few European trails are. Cumulative ascent reaches around 3,500 metres across short, brutal climbs over ridges, gullies and ancient charcoal-burners' paths. The terrain is sharp karst limestone, loose scree, exposed ledges and slabs; several sections require Grade II-III scrambling, two or three abseils of up to 45 metres, and short stretches of via-ferrata-style climbing on fixed ropes that hikers must arrange and place themselves. Landmarks include the Pedra Longa monolith, the juniper woods above Cala Goloritze, the dramatic bivouac sites near Cala Biriola, and the white-sand coves of Cala Sisine and Cala Luna at the end. Shade is limited to patches of juniper and holm oak, and exposure to sun and sea cliffs is constant. Walkers carry several days of food and all water, refilling only where guides cache supplies in advance. Because of the navigation difficulty, the rope work and the total absence of escape routes once committed to a cliff section, the route is realistically only for expert mountain trekkers travelling with an experienced local guide from Baunei or Cala Gonone. Most parties bivouac under the stars at established coastal camps rather than carrying tents. The reward is some of the most remote and spectacular coastline in the Mediterranean, walked almost entirely out of sight of any settlement.