Porto Torres, Carbonia & Orosei, 9 Days

It starts at the Pratteln rest stop near Basel. The group rides through Switzerland to Genoa ferry port, where boarding begins around 5 pm. The overnight ferry carries you in 2-berth interior cabins to Porto Torres in Sardinia.

After docking in Porto Torres at around 9 am the island circuit begins in earnest: via Iglesias the way heads south to the first base hotel near Carbonia on the Costa Verde, where three nights are spent.

Winding roads define today's loop through the interior: from Carbonia via Iglesias and superb mountain roads to Arbus, returning in the afternoon via Siliqua and Acquacedda to the base hotel on the coast.

The day stage leads via San Giovanni Suergiu to the Costa Verde and on to Sant'Antioco and Calasetta. Minor roads circle the peninsula and, with a detour to the Gulf of Gonnesa, carry the group back to Carbonia.

Time to move on: the way runs via Siliqua into a paradise of bends in the interior, continues east toward the coast at Arbatax and follows the coastal road to the new base hotel at the Gulf of Orosei.

Mountain roads take centre stage today: the day stage runs over Fonni, Tonara and Aritzo, along the Serra sa Costa to Lago di Gusana and via Oniferi back to the base hotel on the east coast of the island.

Distinctly Sardinian, the way continues through the interior: via Nuoro and Mamoiada to Lago di Cucchinadorza and on to Tiana, then along Lago di Gusana to Gavoi and back to the base hotel on small roads.

A rest day for anyone who wants to draw breath: a beach day at the hotel on the Gulf of Orosei, or time for a loop of your own at your own pace, before the last big stage comes round the next morning.

Today's programme is the Costa Smeralda: via Bitti and Monti, past Olbia, all the way to Porto Cervo in the north-east. Late in the afternoon the way returns to Porto Torres harbour for the overnight ferry to Genoa.

After disembarking in Genoa early in the morning, the shared days come to an end with the ride home through Ticino toward Basel and on into Germany, with a whole island of bends behind you and in the memory.