About fifty kilometres from Cagliari, at Villasimius, The 5-star Almar Timi Ama resort unfolds between a wild lagoon, a Mediterranean pine forest, and the translucent waters of the private beach at Porto Giunco, one of the most beautiful in southern Sardinia.
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You must follow the curves of south-east Sardinia, crossing golden hills scorched by light to suddenly see a turquoise sea appear, as peaceful as a tropical lagoon, bordered by dazzling white sand.
On arrival, the gaze hesitates between the lagoon Notteri, where flamingos add their touches of pink to the landscape, the protected marine area that surrounds it, and the crystalline waters of the bay.
Porto Giunco, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean
It only takes a few minutes on foot or by using the small electric train provided for guests to reach the resort's private beach. And there, the visual impact is immediate. Porto Giunco indeed unfolds a dazzling white sand facing almost transparent water. Here, no one seeks to turn the beach into a noisy trendy club. The luxury lies precisely in this feeling of space and tranquillity. Delicious!
Rooms open to Sardinian light
The 238 rooms and suites, completely renovated since 2023, elegantly celebrate Sardinian craftsmanship. The superb ceramics by Giuliana Collu and Walter Usai converse with the jacquard fabrics and cushions by Mariantonia Urru,inspired by island traditions, while the light wood bathes the spaces in a gentle luminosity. Every detail evokes an elegant, sunny Mediterranean deeply rooted in its territory.
Some suites take the experience even further. Coralia Suite, a spacious 95m² refuge opens its panoramic terrace onto the bay and conceals a private spa with a sauna and massage table.
The Turris Suite, inspired by the ancient watchtowers of Porto Giunco, seems suspended between sky and sea, with its immense sun-terrace facing the horizon.
The Lunaria Suiterecalls the charm of traditional Mediterranean homes where you live more outside than inside, with its own vast terrace. Here, everything invites you to slow down.
A buffet celebrating Sardinia
The hotel's main restaurant could have just offered a classic buffet typical of a large seaside resort. However, The Veranda manages to transform this often predictable exercise into a true gastronomic experience.
It all begins with breakfast. Abundance is present, elegant, never excessive. Sun-drenched fruits, freshly baked Italian pastries, still-warm breads, and local products make up a gourmet awakening with Mediterranean accents.
However, it is at dinner that the magic truly happens. Every evening, the open kitchens bring a different themed buffet to life, blending Italian traditions with influences from around the world. Once a week, Sardinia takes centre stage with a grand buffet dedicated to the island's flavours. Malloreddus alla campidanese, these small iconic gnocchi, arrive coated in a tomato sauce, with Sardinian sausage and pecorino. The Fregula with clams, topped with bottarga de Cabras, meanwhile, recalls the deep connection that unites this land with the sea. Through these generous and authentic recipes, the entire culinary identity of Sardinia is revealed, between pastoral traditions and maritime heritage.
Then come the more earthy dishes: grilled lamb, beef ghisadu slow-cooked in a rich tomato sauce, with pork piglet roasted to a crisp on the outside and meltingly tender on the inside. A true delight! Sardinia reveals its dual identity here: an island of shepherds and fishermen.
Not forgetting the desserts. The Seada (made with semolina, cheese and honey) served warm with their slightly bitter arbutus honey. Or the mimosa cake with saffron and Pompeii, an ancient, typical citrus fruit.
A gourmet interlude and Italian dolce vita
After a few hours on the beach, lunch is taken at the Ginepri Beach Bistrot. This relaxed restaurant, set amidst juniper trees overlooking the turquoise sea, invites you to savour Sardinia with your feet almost in the sand.
Among the must-sees, the Culurgiones, the island's iconic ravioli, stuffed with potato, pecorino cheese and mint, reveal the full richness of local tradition. Under the direction of chef Giuseppe Candela, Sardinian recipes gain finesse without ever losing their authenticity.
Change of scenery at Solar. Between the illuminated swimming pool and the aromas of risen dough escaping from the oven, the atmosphere evokes the lively squares of southern Italy, where evenings stretch late into the night. Before the guests, the pizzaiolo skilfully stretches the dough, garnishes each pizza with precision, and then bakes it in a perfectly honed ballet. Here, cooking becomes a spectacle and conviviality a second nature. A warm establishment where the Italian art of living can be found in every detail.
Almablu, the marine sanctuary of Almar Timi
If there is one place where the spirit of Almar Timi Ama Villasimius is fully revealed, it is undoubtedly the spa. Much more than a space for relaxation, it extends the permanent dialogue that the hotel maintains with the sea and the surrounding landscape.
The Almablu Thalasso & Spa offers 1,000 m² dedicated entirely to marine well-being. From the moment you step inside, natural materials, soft lighting, and colours inspired by the bay – light sand, lagoon blue, mineral hues, and pale wood – create a soothing atmosphere, like an indoor extension of the nearby beach.
Heated seawater pool, hammam, bio-sauna, salt room where you can be enveloped by soft light while saline microparticles permeate the air, aromatic showers or even an ice fountain: each space invites you to slow down and reconnect with your senses. Here, well-being is experienced as an immersive experience where water, heat, scents and light are in constant dialogue.
Protocol 4 R
This philosophy is reflected in the exclusive protocol developed by the establishment, named «4R»: Relax, Recharge, Rebalance, Revitalise. Four steps that outline a true regeneration journey. Releasing tension, restoring energy, finding a harmonious balance between body and mind, then reconnecting with a feeling of vitality and inner clarity: a simple promise, but one that perfectly aligns with the Mediterranean art of living that the hotel cultivates.
Signature experiences
Among the spa's signature experiences, the Sublime Escape Ritual sums up the entire philosophy of the place in itself. The name might seem ambitious. Yet, from the very first minutes, the protocol imposes an immediate disconnection.
Inspired by the landscapes and scents of the Italian coastline, the ritual lasts over 110 minutes! As soon as you enter the cabin, the atmosphere sets the tone. Dim lighting, gentle warmth, subtle aromatic scents. The body sinks into absolute slowness, with an exfoliation of sea salts and coconut flakes, a warm shower, followed by a 37-degree hydromassage bath enriched with essential oils.
The experience continues with the Sea Flow Massage, ...a full body massage with soothing warm oil. Tensions slowly dissolve, as if carried away by the undertow, while the mind floats in this delicate in-between state where the spirit drifts in a sweet torpor.
Some treatments are forgotten by the very next day. And then there are those that leave a lasting sensation, several hours after you've left. At Almablu Thalasso and Spa, the Sublime Escape Ritual and the Sea Flow Massage clearly belong to this second category.
A certain idea of Mediterranean luxury
What ultimately makes Almar Timi Ama Villasimius so endearing is its perfectly pitched embodiment of contemporary Mediterranean luxury.
A luxury that is less demonstrative than before. More emotional. As its director Luca Rombi summarises: « A 5-star experience that welcomes you with heart. » All is said.
Getting there :
with EasyJet
• From Paris Orly (ORY) to Cagliari (CAG) up to 4 times per week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, from May to October, starting from 40 euros
• From Bordeaux (BOD) to Cagliari (CAG) twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays from June to the end of August, from €45
• From Lyon (LYS) to Cagliari (CAG) twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Saturdays from June to the end of August, starting from 20 euros
• From Nice (NCE) to Cagliari (CAG) twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays from June to the end of August, starting from €35
Text : Laurence Grémy-Flamand
Photos : Hôtel Almar Timi Ama Villasimius and Laurence Grémy-Flamand
