| Itinerary M3 MAINLAND BASED |
Startin from: Mainland STUNNING SCENERY IN REMOTE CORNERS PLUS FINE DINING IN THE REGIONAL CAPITAL
COD: M3
DAYS:5 plus
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| Itinerary: M3 - Mainland Based - STUNNING SCENERY IN REMOTE CORNERS PLUS FINE DINING IN THE REGIONAL CAPITAL - Days: 5 plus |
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Ulassai | Traversing the Island from North to South this Itinerary provides all the best of Itinerary M2 plus a bus trip taking in the magnificent views on the Dorgali to Baunei road and an overnight stop in Ulassai surrounded by mountain scenery, lesser known climbing and walking opportunities, fine red wines, and the culture and hospitality traditional to the remote and beautiful Ogliastra area of Sardinia. The itinerary continues with a bus trip taking in the remote scenery of the inland Ogliastra to arrive eventually at the Regional Capital of Cagliari in the South of the Island where an overnight stay leaves enough time to enjoy the cities eating, shopping and relaxing opportunities before boarding the following evening’s ferry back to the mainland
Travel whilst on the Island is all by bus.
Whilst we have called this a 5 day Itinerary, we have allowed only one full day (Day 2) in the Dorgali area. You may instead decide to extend the itinerary by staying longer in this area overflowing with things to see and do.
If you are really pushed for time then the last day of the Itinerary can be left out boarding the Ferry from Cagliari in the evening of Day 4. See Day 4 for details.
Total transport cost for the Itinerary was around Euro 25 per person (Jan 2005), not including the ferry from and to the mainland.
The only travel days as presented which would be possible on Sundays are Days 1 and 5.
The following provides a day by day description of the itinerary idea, including also tables indicating the various stages of travel for each day. These tables do not contain the actual departure and arrival times of each leg of the journey which must be accessed directly from the web sites of the individual transport providers. Links are provided to the front pages of the relevant sites, and some notes are provided here which explain how we accessed the relevant timetable information from the sites which do not have English translations.
You can make a print of this itinerary description and fill in the relevant arrival and departure times for each leg in the spaces provided.
Before deciding to follow any one of the Itineraries or suggestions in this site we strongly recommend that you read also the sections contained herein on Suggestions and Hints, News, and General Disclaimer.
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1- STUNNING SCENERY IN REMOTE CORNERS PLUS FINE DINING IN THE REGIONAL CAPITAL |
The stages of the journey for this day are shown in the table below. To obtain the actual departure and arrival times for each stage, use the links and the information included in accessing timetables. Note that some of the ferry connections do not operate every day whilst (especially in the summer months) there may be several more options than those shown here.
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Depart Olbia (I.B. Porto) |
Bus ARST |
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Arrive Dorgali |
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Depart Dorgali |
Bus ARST |
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Arrive Cala Gonone |
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This Itinerary presents the fastest way to get by public transport from Olbia port to the Dorgali and Cala Gonone area on the Island’s central East coast so that you can have as much time as possible to spend in and around this wonderful area jam packed with potential wilderness activities and indescribable beaches.
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Cala Gonone |
By selecting an early morning bus from the Olbia Port you can be sitting (or lying) in the sun on the beach beside the port of Cala Gonone before midday gazing south towards the rugged coastline and wilderness planning your program of activities for the next few days.
Note that this Itinerary is also possible on Sundays however you will probably have a wait of several hours or so in Dorgali for the bus to Cala Gonone which departs
in the mid afternoon. Remember also that on Sundays you can expect virtually everything in Dorgali to be shut up tight so there wont be much to do. You could decide to base yourself instead in Dorgali and hence check straight into your accommodation, or you could decide to do it on your own heading off towards Cala Gonone and the coast on foot (assuming you are adequately prepared of course!).
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2- STUNNING SCENERY IN REMOTE CORNERS PLUS FINE DINING IN THE REGIONAL CAPITAL |
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Remain in Dorgali / Cala Gonone area. |
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Day 2 is spent taking in a little of what this wonderful area jam packed with potential wilderness activities and indescribable beaches has to offer.
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Gola di Gorroppu (Near Dorgali) |
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Cala di Luna (Cala Gonone) | |
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3- STUNNING SCENERY IN REMOTE CORNERS PLUS FINE DINING IN THE REGIONAL CAPITAL |
The stages of the journey for this day are shown in the table below. To obtain the actual departure and arrival times for each stage, use the links and the information included in accessing timetables.
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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
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Genna Silana | can afford the time then you might decide to stay at least another day or two.
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 which should leave sufficient time for a leisurely walk between the two Bus stations and to grab a bite to eat before the journey continues.
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Ulassai | The Bus trip from Lanusei to Ulassai (the bus may be signed to Tertenia) is only an hour but quite scenic affording views back towards Baunei and the mountainous region of the Supramonte (from where you have arrived earlier) then, following the pass, there are views of the very distinctive form of the Perda Liana mountain whilst in winter there are also views to the snow capped Gennargentu Range. After the pass the route winds through the towns of Gairo (and old Gairo), and Osini (and old Osini) before arriving at Ulassai mid afternoon. |
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4- STUNNING SCENERY IN REMOTE CORNERS PLUS FINE DINING IN THE REGIONAL CAPITAL |
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The stages of the journey for this day are shown in the table below. To obtain the actual departure and arrival times for each stage, use the links and the information included in accessing timetables.
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Cagliari |
This long bus trip commencing in the early afternoon follows the remote road from Ulassai through Perdesdefogu then onto
Escalaplano and Ballao before arriving eventually in Cagliari just in time to check into your accommodation before the shops open and the city comes to life for the evening.
How you spend the rest of this evening and the following day (Day 5) is of course up to you, with no shortage of things from which to choose, but whatever you choose we suggest you allow ample time for a long leisurely meal, a stroll through the shop lined streets in the early evening, and a gelato in one of the Piazzas watching life go by. Cagliari is a city to be enjoyed, not just “seen”.
If on the other hand you are short of time you could finish the Itinerary at this point by heading straight for the Port upon your arrival in Cagliari and boarding the Ferry for the mainland. We think that it would be a shame, however, after having worked so hard to experience a portion of the remote interior of Sardinia, to miss out on tasting also the more sophisticated lifestyle of the Region’s Capital.
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5- STUNNING SCENERY IN REMOTE CORNERS PLUS FINE DINING IN THE REGIONAL CAPITAL |
The stages of the journey for this day are shown in the table below. To obtain the actual departure and arrival times for each stage, use the links and the information included in accessing timetables. Note that some of the ferry connections do not operate every day whilst (especially in the summer months) there may be several more options than those shown here.
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The last day is spent enjoying the city of Cagliari before heading for the Port in time to board the evening Ferry for the Mainland.
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Cagliari |
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Cagliari |
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