GENOVA
Car rental
From Genoa follow Milano Serravale NOT Milano Alessandria (that will add an hour to your journey).
Take the exit Vignole/Arquata Scrivia then turn right and follow signs for Cabella. Do not exit the motorway before Arquata if your navigator suggests it, this will take you through the mountains and add time to your journey
Public transport
There are buses every hour (or half an hour depending on the time of day) from the airport to Genoa, they stop near the Station Piazza Principe. You might need to ask as it’s not obvious when you arrive there. From Piazza Principe, there are regular trains going up to Arquata Scrivia. Coincidence with buses for Cabella is much better for Genoa trains than for Milan ones.
For the train schedule please visit: www.trenitalia.it
MILANO LINATE
Car rental
Follow signs first for Milan and then, when you reach the Tangenziale, take the exit going towards Genova. Stay on the A7 (Serravalle) until Arquata Scrivia then turn right and follow signs for Cabella.
Public transport
There are regular buses to Milano Centrale, however an alternative, if you think you will miss your train, is to take a taxi to the station of Rogoredo. It’s not far from Linate and is the first stop on the line going down to Arquata Scrivia. Trains reach there about ten minutes after leaving Centrale and normally stop at platform 6, check that the train is going to stop at Arquata Scrivia!
For the train schedule please visit: www.trenitalia.it
BERGAMO (ORIO AL SERIO)
Car rental
From Bergamo follow Milano then Linate then Genova (Serravalle). Stay on the A7 until Arquata Scrivia then turn right and follow signs for Cabella.
Public transport
There are buses to Milano Central Station, they take about an hour and go regularly until quite late. Trains from Milano Centrale to Arquata Scrivia leave every two hours from 12.25 to 20.25 (the last train from Milano to Arquata leaves Centrale station at 20.25).
The trains at 12.25 and 16.25 connect with a bus but there is a small window so you would do well to call transport as soon as you are on the train; they may be able to ask the Cabella bus driver to wait 5 minutes. Alternatively, there is a train which leaves Milano Porta Garibaldi (a couple of metro stops from Centrale on the green line) at 17.17 and arrives in Arquata at 18.55, the bus for Cabella usually leaves at 19.05.
There are a couple of things that can help if you arrive at Milan Centrale at the last minute:
- Buy your ticket from the automatic machines on the platform, you can choose instructions in English and it’s quicker than going downstairs and queuing at the ticket office.
- Jump on the train without a ticket and immediately look for the guard (controllore) tell him you didn’t have time to buy a ticket; he might sell you one at the normal price or he may make you pay a small fine but you’ll be on the train and it’s cheaper than spending the night in a hotel.
When booking your return please remember that the first train to Milan in the morning leaves Arquata at 06.16 and arrives in Milano Centrale at 07.38. It is unlikely that you will catch a flight that leaves before 10.30.
MILANO MALPENSA
Car rental
From Malpensa follow Milano then Genova (Serravalle). Stay on the A7 until Arquata Scrivia then turn right and follow signs for Cabella.
Public transport
There are buses (and trains) to Milano Central Station, they take about an hour and go regularly until quite late, trains from Milano Centrale to Arquata Scrivia leave every two hours from 12.25 to 20.25 (the last train from Milano to Arquata leaves Centrale station at 20.25).
The trains at 12.25 and 16.25 connect with a bus but there is a small window so you would do well to call transport as soon as you are on the train; they may be able to ask the Cabella bus driver to wait 5 minutes. Alternatively, there is a train which leaves Milano Porta Garibaldi (a couple of metro stops from Centrale on the green line) at 17.17 and arrives in Arquata at 18.55, the bus for Cabella usually leaves at 19.05.
There are a couple of things that can help if you arrive at Milan Centrale at the last minute:
- Buy your ticket from the automatic machines on the platform, you can choose instructions in English and it’s quicker than going downstairs and queuing at the ticket office.
- Jump on the train without a ticket and immediately look for the guard (controllore) tell him you didn’t have time to buy a ticket; he might sell you one at the normal price or he may make you pay a small fine but you’ll be on the train and it’s cheaper than spending the night in a hotel.
When booking your return please remember that the first train to Milan in the morning leaves Arquata at 06.16 and arrives in Milano Centrale at 07.38. It is unlikely that you will catch a flight that leaves before 10.30.
ARQUATA SCRIVIA
From Arquata Scrivia to Cabella
Buses from Arquata Scrivia are more likely to coincide with trains coming from Genova than Milano. Sometimes there is only a five minute window between the train arriving and the bus leaving, in this case, it’s worth telling the organizers that you are on such a train as the local bus company will wait a few minutes if we alert them that a train is late.
Taxis to Cabella can cost anything up to 70 euros.
Pros and Cons of car rental vs public transport.
Pros:
- You will arrive quicker and be more relaxed about the return
- You will be able to go to Cabella from the camp easily
- You can stay in a b&b nearby
- You may be able to help other yogis to and from the airport
- You have more flexibility about your times of flight.
Cons:
- Car hire is increasingly expensive
- You have to deal with Italian traffic
- Especially at big pujas parking near the hangar can get complicated
- Everything you need is at the camp and it’s not difficult to get to Cabella.
