Cala Gonone is located on the eastern
coast of Sardinia, near the small city of Dorgali,
in the province of Nuoro.
Here are some informations about how to reach it. For road maps, see
the maps and pictures gallery.
By Air:
There are several flights a day from each of Rome and Milano
to the airport of Olbia - Costa Smeralda in North-East Sardinia.
These are operated, among others, by the airlines Alitalia,
Air
One, Meridiana, and Volare. In the summer there are also
direct flights to Olbia operated from other european airports. Note a number
of low cost companies also operates flights to Olbia (or other airports
in Sardinia) from Italy and other european countries, particularly in summer.
We are able to arrange taxi/minibus for partecipants arriving
at different times; we need to know in advance (1/5 at the latest) your
arrival time, and we will arrange things so to minimize costs.
If you arrive at a different airport, or if you are however
not wishing to have us arranging your transfer, you can use public transport
or taxi; see the transfer page. In particular,
a number of low cost flights are also operated to Alghero; in this case
take the convenient public bus to Nuoro, from where you reach Cala Gonone
either with another bus or with a taxi.
By Sea (no car):
There are several companies operating daily ferries between
the continent and Olbia. From here you can either reach Olbia airport
and join the Palmassera bus (see above), or if several of you choose the
sea option, we can arrange for the bus to collect you directly at the port,
or you can use the connecting bus by sardinian
regional bus company.
If your ferry arrives at Golfo Aranci, you will have to reach
Olbia by public bus (20 km). Please note that the port of Arbatax is nearer
to Dorgali, but the connection is much more difficult than from Olbia.
For detail of ferry schedule and prices, see the web site http://www.informare.it
By car:
In this case you will have to arrive by ferry preferably in Olbia or Golfo Aranci; other options are to land in Porto Torres (North-West) or in the small port of Arbatax (East, south of Cala Gonone). There are also ferries operating to Cagliari, but probably these are of interest only if you come from southern Italy (or if you have some reason to pass through Cagliari) due to the distances involved. For detail of ferry schedule and prices, see the web site http://www.informare.it
Driving to Cala Gonone:
If you come from Olbia or Golfo Aranci, the
standard way to reach Cala Gonone is to follow the national road SS125
"Orientale Sarda" going South along the coast; you should then pass on
to the four-lanes national road SS131 d.c.n. "Carlo Felice", direction
of Nuoro (this runs parallel to the SS125 between San Teodoro and Siniscola).
You will find then an exit, about 25 km from Siniscola, to Lula and Dorgali.
Drive South to Dorgali and from Dorgali (you will find directions
to Cala Gonone) again south on the SS125. The branch to Cala Gonone
is 2 km from the center of Dorgali. You will probably need something
like one and half hours, plus the stops to admire the landscape.
Here you find a map of the region between Olbia
and Cala Gonone, and here a local one for the Dorgali/Cala
Gonone area.
You can also just follow the SS125 from Olbia to Dorgali, but should be warned that the part between Siniscola and Dorgali is quite slow and relatively hard driving (obviously you get some nice views in exchange for this). As for scenic driving, you can also pass through the interior, e.g. branching off from Siniscola to Lula and from here again down to Dorgali. As for dramatic scenic driving, on some maps you will find a road connecting Ispinigoli (north of Dorgali) directly with Cala Gonone; this road is in good conditions (it is made of plates of concrete) but it is very narrow and extremely steep.
If you come from Porto Torres, the fastest way to reach Cala Gonone is via Sassari and the SS131 down to Macomer, then up to Nuoro on the SS129 and then again going on on the SS131d.c.n. to the branch to Dorgali and Lula. Follow the directions to Dorgali and then to Cala Gonone From Nuoro you cal also reach Dorgali via Oliena.
If you come from Cagliari, drive on the four-lanes SS131 to Nuoro, then as above; this is a fast driving. Notice that following instead all of the SS125 from Cagliari to Cala Gonone is a very beautiful drive, but extremely long and quite slow.
If you arrive by ferry in Arbatax (notice ferries to Arbatax are typically operated two or three times a week) then you just have to drive north about 50 km along the SS125 "Orientale Sarda"; 2 km before Dorgali you will find the branch to Cala Gonone. This is a good but relatively narrow and windy road going through a most beautiful landscape; it will take quite longer than the drive from Olbia, i.e. probably acouple of hours. Despite the small distance, don't choose this option if you are looking for the most confortable one.
Once in Cala Gonone:
Arriving from Dorgali to Cala Gonone, shortly before the center of the village you will find the Camping on your left and directions to Cala Fuilli on the right. Follow these (i.e. turn right); after a few hundred meters along the road you will find the Hotel Villaggio Palmassera on your left.
