E-bike Adventures Around Orosei: Discover Sardinia

When was your first experience with an e-bike, if you’ve ever had one? Leave a comment or let me know on Instagram or via email about your adventures!

As I mentioned in the previous part, that bike rental shop wasn’t the only place in Orosei where you could rent an e-bike. Of course, we had to try the other one too – actually, the first one!

Renting an E-bike

I’ll tell you how easy it can be and what you might need for it. For me, this episode was actually my very first experience with an e-bike. And let me tell you, once you get on one, you won’t want to get off!

On our day off, when we wanted to rent bikes, Sardovagando (if you read the previous part, you’ll know who I’m talking about—Here is the link) was closed because he was out cycling with a group or something like that. He had mentioned that he organizes cycling tours where a group of people gathers, he rents them bikes, and they complete a route together.

So we started looking for other options. While always going home “home,” along we noticed a shop with bikes and scooters parked in front. We asked if they rented them out, and the answer was yes.

We began checking the rental conditions, but we ran into a lot of bureaucracy. That day, we started quite late, but we still managed to do a lot. However, there was a catch…

Since this company (intentionally not revealing the name yet) wasn’t just a rental service but also sold various products—from chainsaws to scooters and mopeds—we started filling out the paperwork. And not just any paperwork, but documents filled with the company’s code of conduct and all those funny bureaucratic requirements you never want to deal with but somehow always end up facing.

Where we were Renting E-bikes?

So, we rented mountain e-bikes from Motomania di Patteri Antonello for 24 hours. [Link HERE]. And as I mentioned, bureaucracy was part of the deal—they took copies of our ID, noted our temporary Sardinian address, collected signatures, and required a deposit. Everything went into a folder so that when we returned the bikes, they could verify our identity and refund the deposit.

We finally got the bikes after 4 PM, but since we had them for 24 hours, it wasn’t a big deal. That meant we could still ride the next day—and we definitely did, but more on that later. That evening, we planned a loop that included beaches, countryside trails, and, of course, some serious fun. Google Maps showed about 42 km, which is a breeze for an e-bike.

What can you accomplish in a few hours?

The goal was to visit four beaches, some of which were interesting, while others were a bit harder to reach. And all of this was due to our own foolishness, but at least it resulted in an amazing experience that won’t happen again anytime soon. So, we set off for our first destination – Spiaggia di Cartoe.

The asphalt road, as you can see in the videos below, is a slightly hilly route, but that’s exactly the charm that you truly enjoy on an e-bike. And the reward? When you reach the beach, you’ll tell yourself it was all worth it.

From Orosei, it’s about 23 km, which isn’t too little or too much. On a bike, especially an electric one, it’s a total breeze. And just in case you didn’t know, the e-bike “bikes for you” in the sense that when you pedal more, the motor helps you more. The biggest difference is when you’re going uphill – that’s when it feels like it’s going on its own, even though you’re still pedaling just as you would on flat terrain. The speed is the same as on flat ground, even when you’re climbing, thanks to the motor helping you, making it all much more fun.

We reached our first stop around 6 pm. The water was pleasantly warmed from the entire day, and I was there alone while my friend Šimon (shoutout to him!) with whom together we checked out that mysterious hole in the hill back then. If you remember it, Here is the link to that episode.

Šimon decided to bike around the area, and we agreed to meet on the beach in about an hour to continue our journey. We didn’t swim at the other beaches. We didn’t have enough time, but there was still plenty of daylight, so we had a good ride on the e-bikes, exploring the local beaches and spots.

Next stop

After an hour of soaking in the water and a bit of rock climbing, from which I took some scenic photos, we headed to our next destination – Spiaggia di Osala.

Although on the map the beaches seem to be right next to each other (and in reality, they are), on the bike, we had to take a detour of about 10 km to get there. However, along the way, we were treated to breathtaking views of the valley where Spiaggia di Osala was located. Remember this valley, I’ll come back to it later.

When we finally arrived at the beach, we stopped for a moment and pondered where to go next. It was already 7:40 PM – quite late, but that didn’t stop us from continuing our exploration.

If you ever decide to visit Osala Beach or take a walk along the canal flowing there from Spiaggia di Osala, maps will surely show you the same route as the one in the photo below. It looks like a shorter path, but here’s where we get to the valley. There’s no regular road through this valley – just a narrow forest trail, tall grass, and occasional mud.

Why? It’s a valley, so when it rains, all the water gradually flows here, and a river or another water source forms in the middle of the valley. And, of course, you have to cross it. Fortunately, there were stones we could step on, and the water level at that point was only a few centimeters.

You might have noticed the worn path on the second hill in the photos from this valley, leading upwards. Yes, that was a road for cars, but at the top, we found a closed gate. Luckily, it didn’t have a lock, so we were able to open it with a lever, and of course, we closed it again afterward.

On the side where the entrance would be, there was a sign saying it was private property and so on. After a few meters, we met a couple, and they asked us if it was possible to pass through here. That was the only thing we understood in Italian. We told them yes, but added that it was like a “jungle.” They just smiled and turned back.

Stagno di Avalè – Su Pedrosu

After a few minutes, we got back on the road and arrived at the previously mentioned canal, or rather a wetland area, which is under the supervision of ecologists. It’s called Stagno di Avalè – Su Pedrosu. Local fishermen catch various types of fish here, such as bream and sea bass. By this time, it was already past eight in the evening.

A bit of off-roading along the beach and wetland led us to the sand, where we occasionally slipped a bit, but that was actually the best part – fun and an unforgettable experience. As we approached Orosei, we went along the sea and stopped at Osala Beach and Spiaggia Su Barone. These two beaches are separated along the long coastline only by the beach bar In Riva Al Bar, which sits exactly in between them.

Almost end of the day 1

We arrived at the last beach of the day, Spiaggia Su Barone, only after nine in the evening. After a short stop, we headed straight home. We had the bikes for 24 hours, remember? And of course, we made sure to use them the next day as well.

Where did we go afterward? Since we had limited time during our afternoon siesta, we decided to visit two places and a different area, which was completely in the opposite direction – north. Up until then, we had always traveled south, so a new route and new adventure awaited us.

The first destination the following day

The first destination was Spiaggia di Foghe Pizzina. This lesser-known, almost untouched beach by tourists, is located outside of the city or a proper access road, so the infrastructure here isn’t exactly ideal. At the spot, we met only a few people and one fisherman with a tent – and this was right at noon, when you’d expect more activity. The beach itself was less maintained, with grass and hay almost everywhere around.

However, we didn’t plan to swim here. We came to enjoy the e-bike ride, drain our batteries, and have fun. The road to this beach was truly an experience for cyclists. The more rocky and unpaved trail was perfect for mountain e-bikes, and exactly what we needed for a proper dose of adrenaline and fun.

And then where?

Our journey along the local dirt paths continued further north, this time to Caletta di Su Zega. This place looks like a small peninsula made of black rocks, which are jagged and holey like Swiss cheese. It was truly interesting – hard to say if it was outright beautiful, but definitely mysterious. But the crystal-clear water was a real miracle.

After this stop, we had to head back to return the bikes, collect our deposit, and start looking forward to the next adventure. And what will that be? I’ll reveal just this much: it was in a protected nature park near Orosei and, of course, again on bikes, but this time on company bikes also for private purposes.

If you want to know exactly where we were and what interesting formations you can see there, make sure to follow me on Instagram, where you’ll get all the information firsthand. And don’t forget to subscribe to the newsletter so you don’t miss anything!

Flying Easterner

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