Canyon Gorropu

Elevation: 750m / Lenght: 8km / Time: 6h
Visit rate: 5/5 / Rating: 5/5

Our last long track in Sardinia took us to the famous Gorropu Canyon. This is a half-kilometre deep canyon that is one of the deepest in Europe and the deepest in all of Italy. The narrowest point of the canyon is only four metres, and going through it is certainly not easy at all. In fact, it's not even possible to walk through whole canyon (or rather, it shouldn't be without climbing equipment and climbing experience). Finding information on how and when to get to the canyon, which way to go, and in what cases it is possible to walk the entire canyon was not easy, so here is our story.

From the unpaid parking lot by the road next to the Gorropu Hotel, we started our a two-hour hike, during which we had to descend down about 700 meters of elevation. The hike is very pleasant though, most of the time you walk in the shade of trees and bushes. If you're lucky, you may come across sea eagles or even mouflons - an endemic species that lives only in Sardinia and Corsica. April is absolutely perfect for this tour, it's not too hot, the weather is good and you won't get too sweaty. In summer I might have changed my mind about hiking back up.

The trail is very ''walkable'', even in better sneakers you can walk down without much trouble. Some may dont like the entrance fee of 6 euros per person, but personally I don't see a problem with it. You will get some basic information about the canyon in english, and you can also book a Jeep ride back to the parking lot and avoid the climbing back up. Plus, you're assured of first aid from the locals if you get injured. In the spring, only a few dozen people visit the canyon during the day even on weekends, but in the summer it can easily be hundreds - which we naturally wanted to avoid.

The canyon is divided into three sections according to difficulty, green, yellow and red. A normal visitor can go through the green and yellow sections. Colored circles and arrows on the rocks in the gorge guide you through the easiest way over the huge boulders. Personally, we didn't feel much difference between the green and yellow sections. There were a few more challenging spots in the green section and the yellow section is so short we barely noticed it. The red section is considerably more challenging and should not be entered by the average hiker.

The guide will tell you at the entrance that the red section is not passable, but no one will stop you if you decide to continue - but this is at your own risk. Most people look at least a few metres past the end of the yellow section, but very few dare to walk to the end of the red section, which is the longest. If I were on my own and had the equipment with me, I certainly wouldn't be afraid to walk the entire canyon and get into the heart of Sardinia at my own risk.

Unfortunately, Jana's old knee injury flared up, so we decided to go back up in the Jeep. You have to book a ride when you enter the canyon (about 18 euros/person). After exploring the canyon, you report to the guide who will call the driver and direct you to where the Jeep will pick you up. The walk to the pick-up point takes approximately 45 minutes, and except for the beginning and end of the trail, you mostly walk on flat ground in the shade. The views here aren't as impressive as when you descend from the hotel, but the experience afterwards is definitely worth it.

The Jeep will take you first to the ''Campo Base Gorropu'' and then to the Gorropu Hotel at no extra charge, you'll probably just have to wait a while. In spring this is usually not a problem, in summer it can be more difficult. In fact, if there is more demand, only the driver of your car will be taken to hotel. The driver must get back after that for the other passangers wating at Campo Base.

The map shows the route from the Gorropu Hotel parking lot to the canyon and then to the Jeep pick up point.

Week in Sardinia for 2 (6 nights)                                                                                                Flights (Wizz Air, easyJet): 240,-                                                                                                        Car rental (Felirent): 240,-                                                                                            Accommodation (Booking): 400,-                                                                                              Spending: 400,-                                                                                                                                Total: 1 280,- EUR