Costa Smeralda is more than just a tourist enclave filled with shops and restaurants and this comprehensive tour does an excellent job of showing you all of the facets that make it a truly special destination.
Starting off from the pier, you'll first enjoy a mostly panoramic tour of Costa Smeralda and Porto Cervo. The story of the Costa Smeralda began back in March, 1962, when headed by Prince Karim Aga Khan, a small group of venture capitalists from various parts of the world managed to acquire a large piece of land within the confines of the city of Arzachena. Thus was founded the 'Consortium of the Emerald Coast'. Everything that the most demanding form of tourism could imagine was created from scratch on what was then, an untouched area of Sardinia. The city of Porto Cervo has long been considered the gem of 'The Coast' and host to high-end international tourists. Today, it truly reigns as one of the best holiday locations in the Mediterranean.
From Porto Cervo, you'll completely change focus and make your way to the fascinating Nuraghe La Prisgiona. The ancient nuraghi of Sardinia have come to be the symbol of the island and Nuraghe La Prisgiona is one the first evidences of advanced prehistoric construction techniques. It has been estimated that over 7,000 nuraghi exist in Sardinia and they are the great protagonist of the island's landscape. Their shape and strategic locations seem to support the most common belief that nuraghi were towers built for military and defensive purposes and likely date back to 1900-730 BC.
Continuing on, you'll travel to the Surrau Caves and Vineyards where local wines are cultivated and produced. A visit here gives you the opportunity to tour the cellars and then enjoy a tasting of some excellent local red and white wines, accompanied by a typical Sardinian snack. Afterwards, you'll re-board your coach and travel back to the ship, en route passing through the village of San Pantaleo which is majestically framed by unique granite peaks and represents a typical Sardinian town, just a few miles away from the glamorous setting of Costa Smeralda.
Please note: This tour includes approximately 2 hours of moderate walking/standing and includes natural and uneven surfaces, especially at Nuraghe La Prisgiona. There will be a significant number of steps to negotiate. The tour is available to wheelchair guests who have a collapsible wheelchair, are able to make their own way on and off the coach and have an able-bodied companion to assist them; however, some areas are inaccessible by wheelchair. Those with mobility concerns are cautioned to carefully evaluate their personal level of stamina and ability. Weather appropriate clothing, hats, sunglasses and comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Guests must be at least 21 years of age to participate in the wine tasting.