How to Make the Most of Your Stay in La Ciaccia, Sardinia: The Best Day Trips and Experiences
Nestled on Sardinia's northern coast, La Ciaccia is a peaceful seaside village that offers the perfect balance between relaxation and adventure. While its beaches and sunsets are reason enough to visit, one of the biggest advantages of staying here is its strategic location. Within a one to two-hour drive, you can reach some of Sardinia's most spectacular coastlines, islands, and boat excursions.
During my own stay in La Ciaccia, I found that combining beach days with carefully chosen day trips made the holiday far more memorable. I booked several excursions through GetYourGuide, which made planning simple thanks to instant confirmations, verified reviews, and flexible cancellation options. Below you will find my handpicked tips for your unforgettable trips.
1. Explore Tavolara on a Boat Trip from Olbia
One of the highlights of northern Sardinia is the protected marine area around Tavolara Island, just outside Olbia.
Boat tours typically include:
Swimming in crystal-clear turquoise water
Snorkelling in marine protected areas
Visiting hidden coves only accessible by boat
Relaxing with an aperitif onboard
The scenery around Tavolara is unlike anywhere else on the island, with dramatic limestone cliffs rising directly from the sea. Small-group tours are especially enjoyable if you prefer a quieter atmosphere. GetYourGuide offers several highly rated options departing from Olbia, including catamaran and small-boat excursions.
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2. Sail to Asinara National Park from Stintino
If there's one excursion I would recommend without hesitation, it's a catamaran trip from Stintino to Asinara National Park.
Although Stintino is about an hour's drive from La Ciaccia, the journey is well worth it.
These tours usually include:
Sailing through the Gulf of Asinara
Multiple swimming and snorkelling stops
Fresh lunch served onboard
Small group experience
Plenty of time to enjoy Sardinia's famous turquoise waters
Asinara is a protected national park known for its untouched beaches, transparent sea, and unique wildlife, including the famous white donkeys that roam the island. The combination of sailing, swimming, and incredible scenery makes it one of the best day trips in northern Sardinia. The excursion consistently receives excellent reviews from travellers.
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3. Visit the La Maddalena Archipelago
Another unforgettable experience is a boat tour through the La Maddalena Archipelago.
Departing mainly from Palau, these cruises visit some of Sardinia's most famous islands, including:
Spargi
Budelli
Santa Maria
La Maddalena
The famous Spiaggia Rosa (Pink Beach) can often be admired from the boat while protected areas remain preserved.
Many tours include:
Multiple swimming stops
Lunch onboard
Snorkelling equipment
Small-group catamaran experience
The water here is often compared to the Caribbean, making it one of Sardinia's signature experiences.
Book your La Maddalena experience now:
4. Discover Alghero from the Sea and from a plate
Only around an hour from La Ciaccia, Alghero offers another fantastic range of excursions.
Popular experiences include:
Catamaran cruises
Sunset sailing trips
Snorkelling adventures
Discover Grotta di Nettuno
Boat & kayak tours to Porto Conte Natural Park
Pasta making
Wine tasting
Combining a morning exploring Alghero's charming old town with an afternoon sailing trip is one of the best ways to spend a day.
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5. Experience the Gulf of Orosei
If you're willing to drive a little further, the Gulf of Orosei rewards visitors with some of Sardinia's most spectacular beaches.
Boat tours visit famous locations such as:
Cala Luna
Cala Mariolu
Cala Goloritzé
Grotta del Bue Marino
These beaches are difficult—or even impossible—to reach by car, making a boat excursion the ideal way to experience them.
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6.Dolphin-Watching Tour from Olbia
One of the most memorable experiences was a dolphin-watching and snorkelling boat tour from Olbia. If you are staying in La Ciaccia, this excursion is absolutely worth adding to your itinerary — especially if you love wildlife, crystal-clear water, and smaller, more intimate boat experiences.
The tour departs from the harbour in Olbia, which is roughly a 1 hour 15 minute drive from La Ciaccia. From there, you sail towards the beautiful Figarolo Island and Capo Figari, an area famous for its resident pod of bottlenose dolphins.
What makes this tour so special is that the dolphins are spotted in their natural habitat, swimming freely in the waters around Figarolo. According to the GetYourGuide tour description, the excursion has a very high chance of dolphin sightings thanks to the long-established dolphin population in this protected area.
What to expect on the tour
Dolphin spotting near Figarolo Island — watch bottlenose dolphins swimming and playing close to the boat.
Snorkelling stops in crystal-clear waters at places such as Cala Moresca and Cala Greca.
Small-group experience with a local guide who explains the dolphins’ behaviour and the marine ecosystem.
Stunning coastal scenery around Capo Figari and the Gulf of Olbia.
A relaxed 2.5–3.5 hour excursion, making it easy to combine with lunch or dinner in Olbia afterwards.
The tour is suitable for both couples and families, and it is one of those rare experiences where you feel truly connected to Sardinia’s wild marine environment. Seeing dolphins leap beside the boat while surrounded by the turquoise waters of northern Sardinia was, without question, one of the highlights of my trip.
Book your unforgettable dolphin watching tour now
A perfect addition to your La Ciaccia itinerary
If you are planning a week in La Ciaccia, I would combine this Olbia dolphin-watching tour with a catamaran trip from Stintino to Asinara and a boat excursion to La Maddalena. Together, these experiences showcase the very best of northern Sardinia: pristine beaches, protected marine parks, spectacular islands, and unforgettable encounters with wildlife.
From my personal experience, the dolphin-watching tour was not just another boat trip — it was a genuinely magical moment that made my stay in La Ciaccia feel truly unforgettable.
Final Thoughts
La Ciaccia is much more than a quiet beach destination—it's an excellent base for discovering northern Sardinia. Whether you're sailing around the wild landscapes of Asinara National Park, swimming beneath the towering cliffs of Tavolara, or exploring the breathtaking islands of La Maddalena, these experiences transform a relaxing beach holiday into an unforgettable adventure.
If you're planning your own trip, I'd recommend mixing lazy days on La Ciaccia's beach with two or three well-chosen boat excursions. From my personal experience, they were easily the highlight of the holiday and offered a completely different perspective on Sardinia's extraordinary coastline.
