Beautifully situated on the Adriatic Coast between the spur and heel of Italy's "boot" lies Puglia. Nestled against the brilliant blue of the Mediterranean ancient Greek and Italian cultures mingle among hillside vineyards, olive groves, and whitewashed villages. Join us as we begin our bicycling journey in Matera, a world renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site, where dwellings carved into limestone caves create an enchanted and ancient stone city. We’ll pedal east toward Alberobello, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, through a landscape filled with unique conical shaped dwellings known as trulli. Continue to the striking “Città Bianca” or “White City” of Ostuni before heading south to Grottaglie, famed for its ceramics, and the important coastal towns of Gallipoli and Otranto where you'll revel in impromptu stops at some of the beautiful beaches that attract visitors from all over Italy. Our final stop brings us back inland to Lecce, the baroque Florence of Southern Italy where palatial streets welcome us. Along the way you'll enjoy meals prepared with Italian, Greek, and Middle Eastern influences and discover the warmth and hospitality of Southern Italy's friendliest people.
* We are happy to match solo travelers who would like to share a room with someone of the same gender. If no match exists, due to hotel pricing, we will charge 50% of the private room charge. This charge will be collected at the time of the final payment. If a roommate assignment is available it will be refunded at the conclusion of the tour.
** For information about what your tour status means please see our FAQ page.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Sassi of Matera and trulli of Alberobello, White city of Ostuni, Cheese tasting, Locorotondo, Ancient olive mill visit, Via Traiana, Otranto, Lecce - the baroque Florence of Southern Italy, The tip of the heel of Italy's boot, Grottaglie and its ceramics
Keep in Mind: We work hard to maintain consistency across all of our tours, but some trips have unique differences. Here are some things to keep in mind about this tour.
There is a van shuttle on Day 3 and 7.
Includes
11 days, 10 nights' accommodation; meals as noted in itinerary; guided visit of Matera; guided visit of Alberobello; 1 cheese tasting; and olive mill visit; and the usual (see below).
Learn more about what is included and what to expect on your Classic tour at the Classic Tour Style page.
Arrive / Depart
Bari (BRI), Naples (NAP) or Brindisi Airport (BDS)
Highlights: Welcome drink, bike fitting, dinner in the “Sassi” of Matera
Arrive in Matera, unique in all of Italy for the cave dwellings that ring the central city. Inhabited by refugee clerics and monks from Greece and the Balkans during the 8th and 9th centuries, the cave churches and domestic dwellings carved into the town's calcarenite or semi-sandstone cliffs at one time housed as many as 25,000 people. Today, the churches and caves are preserved as a World Heritage Site as being the “most outstanding, intact example of a cave-dwelling settlement in the Mediterranean.” Settle into our hotel and enjoy our welcome dinner after fitting bikes.
Highlights: Guided walk of the Matera's “sassi”, Appian Way
We’ll start the morning with a loop ride exploring Matera’s surroundings. Sights along the way include the fortified Massaria Jesce, which was an ancient Roman “post office” on the Appian Way - one of the most important Roman Roads. We’ll also visit the cave crypt of San Michele Arcangelo with frescoes dating to the 14th century. This afternoon features a guided walk exploring Matera’s history including a typical sassi, a cave dwelling house. Fodor’s has described the sassi as “one of the most unique landscapes in Europe,” on this tour we’ll gain a better understanding for the living conditions of what is believed to be one of the first human settlements in Italy.
Enjoy this ride through olive groves and vineyards on the way to the “Valle d’Itria” which is the heart of Puglia's trulli region. Trulli are conical shaped dwellings unique to this part of Italy. Originally used as storage sheds for farmers, they quickly became popular as temporary shelters. Our destination is the small but vibrant town of Locorotondo which we’ll call home for the next two nights. This afternoon get lost in the whitewashed maze of lanes and historic buildings towering over them.
Highlights: Guided tour of Alberobello and trulli, cheese tasting
We’ll pedal to the iconic "trulli" town of Alberobello where we'll have a guided tour to learn more about these conical shaped buildings and the people who built them. Take time to explore this unique town and have lunch on your own before getting back on the bike and heading back to Locorotondo. Before dinner together, we'll learn more about and sample the fresh mozzarella, burrata and stracciatella for which Puglia is renowned.
Our ride today will take you first through vineyards and olive groves to the whitewashed town of Ostuni. Our hotel is located in the center of this amazing village which spans three hilltops and is crowned by a Gothic cathedral. Destroyed by Hannibal during the Punic Wars in 1st and 2nd Centuries BC, Ostuni was rebuilt by the Greeks and takes its name from them as “Astu néon or "new town". Rebuilt by the Normans in the 10th Century, Ostuni then flourished during the Italian Renaissance under Duchess Isabella of Bari. This is an imposing and beautiful city from afar and within.
Highlights: Ancient olive mill, the beach, Carovigno
We'll take a loop ride from our hotel today through the Valle d'Itria. The first stop will be to visit an underground olive press dating to pre-Roman times and used until the 19th C. Our ride continues on the Via Appia Traiana just before reaching the Adriatic Coast. Built by order of the Roman Emperor Traiano in the 2nd century A.D., the Via Traiana connected Rome to Brindisi, one of the most important ports for commerce with the Middle East. We’ll parallel the coast today with a possible dip at a local beach before continuing to the medieval town of Carovigno and back to our hotel.
Highlights: Ceramics of Grottaglie, Ionian Coast, ancient Gallipoli
It's a relaxing and pleasant ride this morning to Grottaglie, Puglia's most famous pottery town. Be sure to visit one of the many local studios and learn about their painting and firing techniques. The abundant clay in this area, has long been an economic driver for the town. During the 18th century, there were over 42 ceramic related companies in Grottaglie which employed more than 5,000 people. Once your pottery curiosity has been satisfied, we’ll have lunch together in a typical Masseria before shuttling to the coastal town of Gallipoli. Our hotel is located near the heart of old Gallipoli, a small island connected to the mainland by a bridge.
We’ll leave the small island city of Gallipoli to pedal along the Gulf of Taranto, the largest gulf in the Ionian Sea. Our ride today explores the Salento, home to a wide variety of beautiful beaches including the “Salento Maldives” which resembles the tropical islands so much they’ve been named after them. We encourage you to stop and take a swim along the way! Our lodging tonight is in Santa Maria di Leuca, the town at the very bottom of the "heel" of Italy.
Highlights: Riding along the Adriatic Coast, and between ancient fortresses and guard towers, Otranto
Upon leaving the small town of Leuca, you can continue south to land's end and the sanctuary Santa Maria di Leuca, or start your journey north. Our route to Otranto is along the jagged coast, dotted with karstic caves and ancient defense towers or castles. Arrive in Otranto, historically one of the most important trading cities in Puglia. Enjoy the seafront promenade and the city perched on the waterfront.
Continue pedaling north along the coast in between defense towers and scenic cliffs. Our route also includes a car-free section through a nature reserve before turning inland to reach our final destination, arguably Puglia's most beautiful city - Lecce. Also known as the baroque Florence of Southern Italy, Lecce's pink sandstone buildings and pedestrian city center make for an inviting afternoon of exploration. This evening, we'll celebrate the end of our journey with a farewell dinner.
We'll say good-bye after breakfast today. Spend an extra day exploring Lecce, or just enjoy some R&R back on the coast. Whatever you decide, thanks for cycling Puglia with us.
Meeting time 2 p.m. - on Day 1, meet your fellow cyclists and Tour Leaders at the Day 1 Hotel specified on the itinerary.
Note:
As you are planning, remember that the hotels listed in our itineraries are our primary hotels and are - in rare cases - subject to change. Before you make arrangements, check with us if your tour departure is guaranteed. If your tour departure is out further than 6 months, please also check with us as there might be slight changes to the itinerary.
The below information will help you plan your arrival. For more tips or other routes, you might like Rome2Rio. The fare and timing information listed below is approximate.
We suggest flying into the Bari’s Karol Wojtyla Airport, also called Bari Palese (BRI).
Bus from Bari airport to Matera (view PugliAirbus schedules here). The result list will show "Bari Aeroporto" as the departure station and "Matera Piazzale Matteotti" as the arrival station (1 hour 15 min/EUR 3-6)
*Taxi from Matera Bus Station to Day 1 Hotel (10 min/EUR 10-15).
or private transfer from the Bari airport to the Day 1 Hotel - contact us (1 hour 15 min/EUR 70-100)
*Note: There is a taxi operator on the square where the bus drops off but the office might not be attended on weekends. If you have a reliable arrival time, we will gladly have the hotel send you a taxi to pick you up.
Day 11: Departure Information
Lecce
Your trip ends on the final day after breakfast.
The below information will help you plan your departure. For more tips or other routes, you might like Rome2Rio.
Flying out of the Brindisi-Salento Airport (BDS):
Taxi from the ending hotel to the Brindisi Airport (40 min/EUR 90); hotel can help arrange this.
Or public transportation
Taxi to the bus terminal (10 min/EUR 10)
Airport Bus to the Brindisi-Salento Airport (45 min/EUR 7.50)
Flying out of the Bari Airport (BRI):
Taxi from the ending hotel to the Bari Airport (2 hours/EUR 160/2 persons); hotel can help arrange this.
Keep in Mind
We work hard to maintain consistency across all of our tours, but some trips have unique differences. Here are some things to keep in mind about this tour.
There is a van shuttle on Day 3 and 7.
Pre-Trip Planning Checklist
To Do Today!
Read through your Reservation Confirmation Email, it has important information to help you plan your trip!
Check the date on your passport. The expiration date should extend three months past your date of return to your home country
Reserve your flights after you know you have a confirmed tour departure. Please check with our office if you do not know if your trip is confirmed. As you make your plans refer to the Getting To and Away sent to you in your booking confirmation email it provides meeting times and the starting and ending hotels and shuttle information when applicable.
Book your pre and post-tour hotel nights. Please refer to the Getting To and Away sheet you received in your Reservation Confirmation Email.
Final payment is due 90 days prior to the tour start. Please refer to your Deposit Payment Invoice and the Final Payment Reminder e-mail you have received for detailed instructions.
6 Weeks–2 Weeks Prior to Departure
Start reading one of the books or watching one of the movies from our Suggested Reading and Movie List which you'll find on the country page linked from the www.experienceplus.com/travelinfo page.
The location was amazing, the leaders were wonderful. The food was great!!! This was my first trip so I didn't know what to expect. I used the training program you had on the web page to prepare. I really worked well. I didn't have any problem riding the terrain.
Nancy S., Colorado Springs, CO - Sept 2019
Started in the majestic city of Matera and treated to walking tour of city by a guide who lived through the city’s transformation. Cycling routes were all fantastic with breathtaking views throughout
Norm H., Hammonton, NJ - Sept 2019
A great way to explore Puglia. The tour takes you on quiet roads with beautiful scenery around almost every corner. You also experience some very interesting cultural experiences every day of the tour.
Barbara and Jim B., Longmont, CO - Sept 2019
Good introduction to bike touring because the pleasure-pain ratio is very high: beautiful country, fascinating history, interesting towns, good, varied food and lodging, benign weather, in a terrain and involving distances that were not too physically challenging.
Dirk S., San Francisco, CA - Sept 2019
A beautiful and educational tour with gorgeous routes to follow and wonderful food experiences as well. The entire trip was one of our favorites!
Martha A., Charlotte, NC - May 2019
The days along the coasts were spectacular. Your leaders are multi dimensional with so many other interests that it makes for a great experience
Marty S., Princeton, NJ - May 2019
Amazing. I absolutely love cycling holidays with you.
Valerie M., Paris, France - September 2018
Beautiful scenery, delicious food, interesting history and culture.
Linda Z., Sherborn, MA - September 2018
Outstanding.
Douglas B., Wellesley, MA - September 2018
Great! Highly recommended. Plenty of really interesting sites and beautiful country. Routes were almost all not on trafficked roads.
Gentle terrain includes mostly undulating/flat sections and a rare longer climb (less than 3 km - 2 miles) with an average grade less than 3%.
Rolling Hills
Rolling hills featuring multiple gentle slopes (average grade of 3-4%) usually less than 3 km (2 miles). There may also be an occasional shorter (less than 2 km -1 mile) but steeper climb. Or a longer climb where the average grade is less than 3%.
Hilly
Hilly terrain has climbs up to 3 km (2 miles) with an average grade between 4% and 6%. There may also be climbs longer than 3 km (2 miles), but with an average grade less than 4%.
Very Hilly
Very hilly terrain includes one or more climbs, some of which maintain an average grade (meaning you will have short sections both steeper and less steep in the same climb) of 7% and 8% for no more than 3 km (2 miles). There will also be some longer climbs, but with a lower average grade.
Mountainous
Mountainous terrain includes one or more climbs with an average grade over 8%. Mountainous rides can also include longer climbs (more than 5 km - 3 miles) with an average grade up to 6%.
Level 1 - 1.5
For those desiring gentle rides with a limited amount of climbing.
Level 5, also known as our Expeditions, are multi-week tours designed for strong riders looking for the challenge of riding across countries or continents.
Gentle terrain includes mostly undulating/flat sections and a rare longer climb (less than 3 km - 2 miles) with an average grade less than 3%.
Hilly
Hilly terrain has climbs up to 3 km (2 miles) with an average grade between 4% and 6%. There may also be climbs longer than 3 km (2 miles), but with an average grade less than 4%.
Very Hilly
Very hilly terrain includes one or more climbs, some of which maintain an average grade (meaning you will have short sections both steeper and less steep in the same climb) of 7% and 8% for no more than 3 km (2 miles). There will also be some longer climbs, but with a lower average grade.
Mountainous
Mountainous terrain includes one or more climbs with an average grade over 8%. Mountainous rides can also include longer climbs (more than 5 km - 3 miles) with an average grade up to 6%.
Tour Levels
Level 1 - 1.5
For those desiring gentle rides with a limited amount of climbing.
Level 5, also known as our Expeditions, are multi-week tours designed for strong riders looking for the challenge of riding across countries or continents.
Very hilly
Mountainous
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