We have listed this as being Day 3, but in fact it would be very hard to tear yourself away from the Dorgali area after having had only 1 full day (Day 2) to enjoy its many possibilities. So if you can afford the time then you might decide to stay at least another day or two.
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Genna Silana |
Select an early morning bus from Cala Gonone to Dorgali to ensure that you make the ongoing departure from Dorgali for Lanusei a little after 10am. You may find that there is no direct connection between one of the busses from Cala Gonone and this ongoing bus. As a result you may have a little time to kill in Dorgali (unless you have already spent the previous night in Dorgali). Have a wander around the town, or choose a bar in which to relax and read a book.
The bus trip south from Dorgali follows one of the more scenic routes in Sardinia, passing through the wildly rugged Supramonte of Dorgali and Baunei. As the road climbs up towards to the Pass of Genna Silana (1017m) there are ever improving views west towards the Supramonte of Oliena and over the Gorroppu Gorge. After the pass there are views over the deep valley of the Codula di Luna (which finishes at the back of the beach of Cala Luna) and finally spectacular views over the bay of Arbatax and Tortoli as the road descends again passing through the town of Baunei.
After passing across the plains behind Tortolì the route then climbs again to reach the town of Lanusei, where you arrive in the very early afternoon leaving a few hours before the Trenino Verde departs in the mid afternoon. Unfortunately Lanusei will be mostly closed for lunch when you arrive, however you should be able to find a couple of bars open as you wander through town in the direction of the Train Station.
The train ride on the Trenino Verde tourist train between here a Cagliari is very scenic, especially for the first half as the train slowly winds its way around and through some of the
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Trenino Verde Route (Ussassai) |
more remote and beautiful areas of the central Barbagia region of the Island. When the train arrives in Mandas, it may be necessary to change trains or even change to a bus for certain of the final sections of the journey to Cagliari however the connections should all be easy to make, especially as this train service is designed for tourists. The journey ends in Piazza Republica near the centre of Cagliari sometime after 9pm.
This is a very long travel day, however, and you may decide instead to break it into 2 days by following the Itinerary idea presented in Day 3 of Alghero based Itinerary A3 to travel from Dorgali to Arbatax where you spend the night, boarding the early morning Trenino Verde departure from there the following morning, with this train arriving in Cagliari in the early afternoon.
