beach combing in Sardinia Sea Kayaking to the Simpler Side of Paradise

Gazing out across the impossibly blue Mediterranean, spring flowers scattered across the tussocky scrub of the island, the raucous gulls circling overhead, I felt that timeless sense of satisfaction that comes from exploring in a sea kayak. Our little band of paddlers could have been some of the early settlers of Sardinia, reputed to be part of the legendary “Sea People” who traded and invaded across the eastern Mediterranean and northern Africa… or we could be a 21st century family of four, paddling in plastic kayaks and sleeping in tents. Who would have thought that escaping everyday life in ‘civilized’ Europe would be so easy and accessible?

Sardinia is Europe's second-largest island after Sicily, and home to the Costa Smeralda – the playground of the rich and famous, complete with superyachts, marinas and sprawling holiday estates that are probably inhabited for only a couple of months a year. We were here to explore a lesser-known facet of this island – the beaches and islands off the coastline north of Olbia. We