Hiking the Giara di Gesturi – Basalt Plateau, Wild Horses & Nuragic Sites, Sardinia

A circular hike across the Giara di Gesturi, one of Sardinia's most extraordinary natural plateaux — a vast basalt tableland of volcanic origin rising above the Marmilla region, home to the last wild horses of Europe, prehistoric nuraghi, ancient Domus de Janas rock tombs, and seasonal freshwater pools known as paulis.

The trail follows well-marked paths through dense cork oak woodland and open Mediterranean scrub, crossing a landscape largely unchanged for millennia. The Cavallini della Giara — small, sturdy wild horses that have roamed this plateau since the Middle Ages — graze freely alongside the path, making encounters almost certain.

The plateau also shelters the protonuraghe Bruncu Madugui, one of the oldest and most important nuragic structures in Sardinia, and offers sweeping views over the surrounding Campidano plain.

📍 Start/End: Giara di Gesturi, Gesturi (VS) – Sardinia, Italy

📏 Distance: ~7.7 km | 🧭 Type: Loop

⛰ Elevation: ~580 m a.s.l. | Terrain: flat basalt plateau, dirt tracks, cork oak woodland

🎯 Difficulty: Easy–Moderate | Suitable for families and all fitness levels

📅 Best season: October to May (spring ideal for foals and wildflowers)

🌐 Guided hiking tours in Sardinia are offered by Best Sardinia Trips – expert local guides with deep knowledge of the island's landscapes, history and wildlife.

Info and bookings: www.bestsardiniatrips.com