Eila Wilkinson
Holyhead, United Kingdom
“If you're looking for something to do outside - look no further”
Claudio is a true master and is an encyclopaedia of history & local knowledge. A wonderful guide.
Be it kayaking, hiking, biking, exploring then this is your stop.
The area allows kayaking in all weathers and is so beautiful. We saw a whole pod of dolphins crossing to one of the islands.
If you're looking for outdoor adventure - look no further. Would Highly recommend.

estesman - New York City, New York
Are you considering a guide for hiking or kayaking in Sardinia? Look no further. Claudio is simply the best. We had a 5 day hiking excursion with Claudio that exceeded all expectations.
Sardinia is beautiful. So any guide can show you beautiful places. What makes Claudio so special?
Local Knowledge: Claudio grew up here and has been hiking, with his father who worked outdoors, since his was a child. This means he knows the island inside out and can take you places others won't find. It also means he can tell you the history and stories behind what you are seeing. Like the history of the army baracks we visited on a hike that besides graffiti had both fascist and communist remnants. He also has tremendous knowledge of flowers, animals, geology and the history and culture of Sardinia. This makes the whole experience complete.
Personal. Claudio sees every member of the group. We were 4. And makes sure that everyone gets an experience that works for them.
Flexible. You are outdoors. This means things can happen. Weather can change. Paths can be washed out. Because Claudio knows the country like the back of his hand he can improvise and make changes when something unexpected happens.
Excellent English. You will understand everything Claudio says.
Detailed information before your trip. You will have no problem preparing for your trip with all the info Claudio provides. Of course you will also get info during the trip, for example suggestions where you can dine or shop.
Friendly: Claudio is just one helluva a nice person. He'll feel like your friend after an hour or two. He'll go out of his way to help or assist with anything. A member of our group had trouble paying at one of there hotel and Claudio used his personal phone (his cost) to call overseas and sort everything out.
Thanks again Claudio for giving us a trip we will remember for the rest of our lives.

DaniAvni
“Amazing visit to Olbia”
We did a 4x4 trip with Claudio in the hills around Olbia with our two daughters (12.5 & 8.5) . The trip was really fun, with lots of information and insights from Claudio about life in the area, the surrounding and history. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Would definitly do it again

Cecilia S
“San Pantaleo hike magic”
We went with our 2 girls, both 9 year old and we had an amazing hike. the views are stunning both as you ascend and from the highest peak. the hike is perfectly doable with two agile kids and our guide was great and really made sure that we could do it with the kids. he was great in talking about what we saw on the way up. I would however not recommend it for younger kids or kids who are not used to walking for 4 hours and climbing.

Charles & Debbie
Thank you so much for being our kayak guide + showing us the wonderful sights in your area. We are very appreciative that you are an excellent kayaker but also keep safety as priority and made our trip not only enjoyable but safe.

The Woodlands, Texas
“A lovely day in Sardinia!”
Our ship docked in Olbia, and it was great to meet Claudio of Sardinia Discovery and see part of the beautiful island of Sardinia through the eyes of someone who clearly loves his native place. We hiked up a small mountain and were rewarded with breathtaking views over the island and across the sea, had a nice lunch at a casual beachside restaurant, enjoyed seeing the yachts and browsing the windows of designer shops in the resort community of Porto Cervo along Costa Smeralda, and saw cork trees for the first time. We probably could have done a half-day tour here, but Claudio made for very pleasant company.
We didn't know what to expect from Sardinia (our ship itinerary shifted here from Tunis after the recent attack there) but we are happy to have visited and appreciated having Claudio as our guide. He was very helpful on short notice and we loved his attention to detail (he sent us a map guiding us from the pier to where he would be waiting for us, along with photos of him and his vehicle to make sure we would spot him easily). If we ever go again, we plan to book one of his kayak tours. We feel we have a good friend and very reliable tour guide in Sardinia!

Araic09 - Dublin, Ireland
Guided Hike with Sardinian Discovery
I was delighted to find the Sardinian Discovery site. Claudio was really flexible and once I gave dates and times, he was able to suggest a half day hiking trip through a nearby national park. We met in Fertilia the village outside Alghero and even driving to the start of the hiking trail, I learned a lot! Claudio really knows this territory and spoke knowledgeably about local grapes, indigenous plants and the history of Sardinia. The trail was through a National Park taking in spectacular views of Cappo Caccia cliffs, old World War II viewing posts, barracks buildings, beaches and signs of the odd wild boar having passed through...I'd heartily recommend any trips with Sardiniandiscovery, the local guide and spectacular sights made this on of the highlights of my holiday.

CarolandDerek2015
Birmingham, United Kingdom
We found Claudio on Sardinian Discovery, and booked him for half day sea kayaking near Portisco, and can honestly say we had an excellent time on both trips with Claudio as our guide. As a novice kayaker I was initially nervous, however he explained everything in detail, keeping with me to talk through techniques, equipment and if necessary assisted, I felt reassured, safe and absolutely loved it! Claudio has a wealth of knowledge of the island, and clearly loves where he lives, which makes him an excellent guide, telling us about Sardinia’s varied history, the surrounding area, the nature, how people live, giving us so many of interesting and useful information, while taking in the stunning scenery . We strongly recommend Sardinian Discovery.

Tessa0115
“Claudio helped us explore and understand this beautiful island. He's a must for Sardinia!”
We had a wonderful, relaxing day with Claudio exploring Sardinia. He took us on a tailor made journey to ruins, villages and beaches. Our favorite part was when he showed us his village. It was also our favorite place on the island. He made our day on Sardinia so enjoyable we want to return to explore more with him. If you are going to Sardinia, go with Claudio!

hdeveer1
New Preston, Connecticut
“Sardinian Discovery hiking with Claudio Desiati”
My husband John and I spent 12 days throughout Sardinia but wanted to spend several days hiking. We are avid hikers and have done many treks and hikes around the world, both day as well as multi-week. We are both recovering from hip-replacement surgery, I most recently, and decided on doing several day hikes in the northern part of Sardinia. I was attracted to the descriptions of the day hikes available through Sardinian Discovery and the quality of the reviews. So, we did two day hikes with Claudio, one around Capo Testa and the other summiting Punta Cugnana. Both hikes were terrific and worthwhile. Claudio is a consummate professional and highly knowledgeable about Sardinia, its history, flora and fauna, geology, etc. He is also very congenial and excellent company. He was also patient that I was slower than normal given it was my first "real" hiking after surgery. And I did it! So, we would recommend him highly as a guide and simply as a great person to get to know.

Linda Rusk
Placerville, California
just returned from a week of kayaking with Claudio in Sardinia! What an experience. The pride and knowledge that Claudio has for his island made all the difference for this trip. The food and accommodations were excellent as well. This is a must do trip that any kayaker at any level could do. It will definitely be a trip I will not soon forget. Thank you Claudio and Valentina for being such great hosts!

KiwiShiraz
Auckland
“Great Day Tour”
We had one day in Sardinia on a cruise and Claudio organised a wonderful day tour for our party of 4. Booking was very easy and Claudio provided great instructions for our pick up. He listened to the things we did and didn't want to see and took us on a great journey around the island. We stopped for lots of photos, great coffee, a market visit and a wonderful lunch in a little hidden restaurant that we would never have found ourselves. We never felt rushed and still made it back to the ship exactly at the time we had agreed. I would really recommend a day tour with Claudio.

christine b
New Castle, Nevis
“Hiring kayaks for 4 day trip”
We have done kayak trips independently as a couple in Croatia and Scotland and this is the first time we have hired kayaks in Sardinia. Claudio was very helpful, very professional and helped us to plan our trip and contacted us daily to check we were OK. The kayaks and equipment were in excellent condition, in fact it was only the second time the kayaks had been used.
The coastline and islands were beautiful and paddled for 4 days and camped on beaches for 3 nights. There was sometimes strong winds but there is the opportunity to plan a trip which is sheltered a lot of the time. If you have done independent kayak trips before then I can strongly recommend 'Sardinian Discovery' for rental of kayaks and equipment and help planning a trip.

MrsRowdy
Perth, Australia
Alghero Jeep Safari
Claudio met us on the quayside from a cruise ship, we had explained that we wanted to get away from the usual tourist spots and see the "real Sardinia" and have a bit of a walk. He was very knowledgable and took us to some lovely out of the way places. We had lunch at a nice beachside restaurant and visited some beautiful countryside before returning to Alghero for a walk round the old town. Highly recommended.

DLeach85 - London, United Kingdom
Sea kayaking
We were staying in Alghero for three days and contacted Claudio online asking to arrange a 2-hour sea kayaking trip for the following day. He was very quick to get in touch and confirm arrangements. We met on the gorgeous Lazzaretto beach. Claudio provided all the equipment and offered us different trip options. We decided to explore some quiet coves and beaches - the coastline was beautiful and we were able to stop a few times to have a swim in the bays. Claudio was very friendly and informative about everything from Sardinia's history, food, culture and geography. He even suggested some places for us to explore further along the coast. I can highly recommend a kayaking trip with Claudio and I look forward to returning one day to explore more of the beaches and coastline in the Alghero area.

Couple from UK
“…..one of the best ways of seeing what the island has to offer is to hire a car, walk or to take an "off road" tour. A local young man, named Claudio Desiati, has started a business here in Alghero, offering walking, trekking and nature trail trips, or guided, off road LandRover tours of the Sardinian interior; many of these focus on the flora and fauna. In addition, Claudio is flexible enough to be happy you somewhere that you would like to go, provided that you give him sufficient notice.”

Fran Sticha
Northern Portugal, Porto
“Sardinian Sea Kayaking Extravaganza!!”
This 8 day trip (3-11 June 2015) coordinated and executed by Claudia Desiati and Valentina M. was outstanding. Their knowledge of their home island was enhanced by their attention to every detail (scheduling, transportation, boats, gear, great hotels in Alghero and San Pantaleo), and dinner arrangements (fab !!!) to name a few. Land based tours of Surrau Winery and a Nuragic archeology site were great. The Sardinian waters and beaches (and Neptune's Grotto cave) are wonderful; not to be missed. The attention to safety on the water was exemplary without being stiffling. Want to go back.

globeadventurer777 from Florida
“The day Jeep Safari Tour offered by Sardinian Discovery, and its experienced owner and tour guide, Claudio Desiati, is definitely a great option. You will travel as far up the mountains as possible to get fantastic views ….. Claudio gives you a chance to get off the jeep to take pictures at each point. ……. All along the way, Claudio provides interesting information on the history of the reserve, and the animals and wide variety of plants and trees found there. A short part of that leg of the trip is on foot so that you can see the animals from a closer distance. …. Overall, this tour of Alghero and surrounding areas is highly recommended, since it allows you to visit places that might be difficult to access on your own, including driving up and down mountains, provides a wide variety of sites and activities, and gives you access to the experience and knowledge of a friendly tour guide. It is a lot of fun... keep it in mind next time you are there !”

CoventryDent - coventry
Sea kayaking
We contacted Sardinian Discovery before leaving and Claudio was back in touch very quickly to organise all the arrangements for our two hour sea kayaking trip.
Lazzaretto is a lovely beach - busy like all in Sardinia in August - but we were talked through the basics before heading out to sea.
We paddled around some interesting coves and stopped for swim and a snorkel. Claudio was helpful and threw in just enough history of the area to make it informative as well as fun.
Great weather, great fun and a splendid guide.

Millie Ball from US
“I met Claudio Desiati over the Internet. And, lest you think my vacations are spicier than they really are, I hasten to add that he is the owner of Sardinian Discovery, which specializes in Jeep tours across the unspoiled forests and beaches that make Sardinia a go-to destination for the glitterati. We spent the afternoon chasing wild albino donkeys that roam the island's national parks, chugging through sandy off-roads to explore isolated beaches, climbing trails up a cliff or two to catch a breathless view from the base of a crumbling 14th-century tower. It was all about the scenery, and, though I'm sure Claudio wasn't quite sure what to do with a three-generation family ranging from a recent high school graduate to a 76-year-old grandmother with an artificial knee, he plunged gamely into a jaunt that took us from the porch of a government fire tower perched on a mountain to a rustic beachside bar where locals dance in the moonlight on Saturday nights. Such is the world of the people who offer excursions over the Internet”

Marijke from Holland
Aangezien Sardinië toch nog redelijk onontdekt is, is het lastig om de mooiste plekjes te vinden. Een hele goede oplossing daarvoor is door met een jeepsafari mee te gaan. Sardinian Discovery, www.sardiniandiscovery.com, biedt tochten aan door heel Sardinië, waarbij ze met hun 4 wheel drive de meest moeilijk te bereiken plekjes kunnen laten zien. Eigenaar en tourguide Claudio Desiati zorgt gegarandeerd voor een onvergetelijke ervaring.

andy47 from London
This was a 4wheel drive excursion that I can really recommend. Claudio the owner can alter the itinerary to suit your wishes. We could really feel the pride he has for his island and the countryside. You reach places you would never know of and learn a lot from him. He is very obliging and will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel. An excellent day out.”

tropicalkerry2002
“I had planned for this to be an R&R day, but then did some research and thought Costa Smeralda should be seen. Booked a tour with Claudio from sardiniandiscovery.com, and it was fabulous! Claudio has spent his whole life on the island, and his love for and knowledge of it is obvious. We were in a Land Rover, and went inland and up a mountain for great views, stopping to learn about, and taste the fruit of Sardinian flora. Then we headed for the coast and saw Porto Cervo, and the beaches. It was a great tour, and I highly recommend Claudio!”

Friscorays
"SARDINIA: I had planned for this to be an R&R day, but then did some research and thought Costa Smeralda should be seen. Booked a tour with Claudio from sardiniandiscovery.com , and it was fabulous! Claudio has spent his whole life on the island, and his love for and knowledge of it is obvious. We were in a Land Rover, and went inland and up a mountain for great views, stopping to learn about, and taste the fruit of Sardinian flora. Then we headed for the coast and saw Porto Cervo, and the beaches. It was a great tour, and I highly recommend Claudio!"

lisemare
“We had a great time overall. He arrived right on time and met us right near the gangway. It started off slow-driving around looking at the area. He answered all of our questions and was very passionate about his homeland. We visited the ritzy side of the coast and a beautiful white sand beach. Then we went off to see the 2500 yr old olive trees which were very impressive. Lunch was wonderful. We had a private lunch of local dishes. Appetizers,pasta, and dessert. The dessert was really good-a fried cheese calzone shaped pastry drizzled with honey. Ummm! Then it off for the off-road portion of the trip. It was alot of fun. Bouncing around the back of. We all had a great time and made some fun memories together and some great friends. I would recommend Claudio to others.”

HIKING

Marielleandco
Belgium
“Hiking on Capo Figari”
My daughter and I made a beautiful walk on Capo Figari and were excellently guided by Claudio from Sardinian Discovery. The main purpose of this walk was looking for he local mufflons but unfortunately, probably because of the springseason, we didn't see any. Of course, that's nature, and we DID enjoy the beautiful landscapes, the blooming flowers, the nice weather, the surprising cultural spots and all the information that Claudio could tell us about the island, its customs and its history. I wouldn't doubt to contact SD again for another trip if one day we'ld go to Sardinia again.

Anders B
Holte, Denmark
Half day hike San Pantaleo
We had an excellent half day hike with Claudio as our guide. The treck was interesting- not to challinging - with nice views..Claudio is an excellent guide and we got a lot of interesting and useful informations (Sardinian in general, history, nature, living ect). We warmly recommend Sardinian Discovery. Best Regards Heidi and Anders Bruun-Schmidt, Denmark