La Bella Puglia

Discover the charms of Italy’s rustic southern region

Ancient landscapes, whitewashed villages and sensory delights abound on this Italian bicycle tour

Destination

Italy, Basilicata and Calabria, Puglia

Activity

Biking

Level

Athletic Beginner

Duration

9 days / 8 nights

Bike bucket list! The perfect tour for entry level and avid cyclists who want to experience Italy's perfectly picturesque south.

From $5,395 PP

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Bike bucket list! The perfect tour for entry level and avid cyclists who want to experience Italy's perfectly picturesque south.

Discover the charms of Italy’s rustic Southern region on this unforgettable bike trip. Named one of the “20 Places to See Now” by National Geographic Traveler, this bike tour takes you through the heart of fascinating Puglia in Italy’s southern region, with its landscapes steeped in Greek, Norman, and Arab history.

Start in Otranto, a picturesque town whose complicated yet intriguing history make it one of Puglia’s most sought-after places to be. We then pedal to the UNESCO World Heritage Site and Baroque capital of Salento area, Lecce. Heading north, we ride through one of the enological gems of the south of Italy: the Salice Salentino. In Alberobello, the trulli region, spin by clusters of fantastic conical dwellings surrounded by enormous, gnarled olive trees. We end our journey in Matera, a city in the Basilicata region that’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and world-renowned for its sassi (cave dwellings). Along the way, we’ll be fortified by outstanding local specialties like homemade orecchiette, and grilled calamari pulled fresh from the sea.

Tour Essence

One-night stay and a walking tour of Matera, “The City of Stone”
Captivating clusters of conical trulli structures
Discover the whitewashed town of Ostuni
Savory cuisine: grilled vegetables, handmade pasta and dense bread
Three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Lecce, Alberobello and Matera

What to Expect

Terrain

Gently rolling

Start Location

Otranto, Italy

End Location

Matera, Italy

Mileage

Average Daily: 30 miles Total: 238 miles

Elevation

Average Daily: 1,734 ft Total: 13,875 ft

Once you have a trip confirmed, we will feed you a steady diet of additional pre-departure information that includes: How to train, prepare, pack and all the wonderful, inspirational and practical things you want and need to know before you go! Our Travel Advisors will be available to help plan your pre- and post-tour travel.

What’s Included

Van support
Expert, bilingual guides
Unforgettable event featuring local music
Guided walking tours of Matera and Lecce
1 wine tasting and 1 olive oil tasting
Shuttle from Alberobello to Matera on Day 8
Group shuttles at the beginning and end of the tour

What’s Included

Use of a carbon road bike equipped with Garmin Edge GPS
Ciclismo Classico water bottle
Ciclismo jersey
Two water bottle holders
Map holder on handlebars and a Garmin Edge GPS
Handlebar bag
Tire pump
Combination bike lock
Gel-padded saddle
Choice of pedals
Card with your tour leaders’ mobile phone numbers

Pedal Options

Flat pedals
Half-toe pedals (without straps)
Toe cage pedals

What’s Not Included

Helmet
Optional: clipless pedals with shoes
Optional: your own saddle

All accommodations
All breakfasts
2 lunches and 1 picnic lunch
6 dinners

The gently undulating route of this bicycle trip is an ideal introduction to the irresistible Basilicata and Puglia regions. Destinations on our journey of discovery include the Città Bianca (white city), Ostuni, the beaches of Savelletri, and Matera, the “City of Stone.” Here, medieval monks “dug in” to the hills to create individual cells, tiny chapels, and even spacious churches, and today Matera’s 155 cave churches range from primitive to exquisite. We’ll stay in the magical Sassi – an entire area carved into the rock and located in one of the most panoramic and charming areas of this ancient settlement. The circular town of Locorotondo, known for its white wine, and Serra, with its fascinating panorama of the valley of the Itria, are also on our cycling tour’s itinerary. Join us and experience the haunting landscapes, welcoming people and exquisite cycling on this incomparable bicycling adventure.

Dates

2019

Apr 26-May 4

May 25-Jun 2

Jun 7-15

Sep 6-14

Sep 20-28

Oct 4-12

Nov 2-10

From $5,395 PP

$800 Optional Single Supplement

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Any of our tours can be made private. Contact us to learn more.

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Itinerary

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Start Location

Otranto, Italy

Fly Into

Rome, Italy

End Location

Matera, Italy

Fly Out Of

Rome, Italy

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STYLED MAP

Day1

Otranto

Welcome to Italy! We meet at Brindisi Airport at 11 am to shuttle you to the first hotel. We then meet in the hotel lobby at 1 pm, have a light lunch, bike fitting and a warm-up ride through the countryside of Otranto. On this bike tour, our guides will help you uncover all the charm and beauty that this town and region have to offer. You can just relax and have fun and they will take care of all the rest. Andiamo, andiamo!

Meals Provided

Lunch, Dinner

Average Mileage

14 miles

Elevation Gain

600 ft

Riding Terrain

Gently rolling

Meals Provided

Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations

Palazzo Papaleo

In the historic center of Otranto, the 5-star Hotel Palazzo Papaleo is the charming hotel that you’ve dreamed of for your vacation in Salento, a historic residence near the sea, carefully renovated with splendid rooms with every comfort.

Luxury Level5 stars

Day2

Otranto

Today we embark on one of the most panoramic coastal roads in Italy. Albania is to the east of our route as we cycle south towards the heel of Italy and the marvelous Grotta Zinzulusa. This cave is divided into three sections and is home to crustacea and other ancient fossils that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world!

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Average Mileage

33 miles; extra loop: 14 miles

Elevation Gain

1,958 ft; extra loop: 623 ft

Riding Terrain

Rolling with climbs

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations

Palazzo Papaleo

Luxury Level5 stars

Day3

Lecce

Meals Provided

Breakfast

Average Mileage

34 miles extra loop: 9 miles

Elevation Gain

1,020 ft; extra loop: 328 ft

Riding Terrain

Flat

Meals Provided

Breakfast

Accommodations

Hotel Risorgimento

The 5-star Risorgimento Resort has 47 rooms and suites and has been in existence since 1400. It’s the perfect welcome to your stay in Puglia.

Luxury Level5 stars

Day4

Mesagne

Today we cycle through olive groves and small villages of the Salice Salentino wine production area. Puglia is Italy’s main olive oil producer, making almost 50% of the country’s olive oil each year. Before we reach our hotel in Mesagne, we’ll have the opportunity to ride among Negramaro vineyards—the grapes that Salentino wine is made from—for miles!

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Average Mileage

44 miles

Elevation Gain

994 ft

Riding Terrain

Flat

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations

Tenuta Moreno

Each room in the Tenuta Moreno is equipped for comfort. Here, you can appreciate the beauty of Apulia and its rich history. You can also enjoy the swimming pool and exclusive solarium.

Luxury Level

Day5

Ostuni

Our ride today is to Ostuni, an area that has been inhabited since the Stone Age. Perched elegantly on top of a natural plateau with its whitewashed buildings, Ostuni is a unique town whose architecture and characteristic colorful window frames will, at times, make you feel like you’re in Greece. We’ll witness fantastic views of the Mediterranean as the ancient olive groves run until the sea.

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Average Mileage

32 miles; extra loop: 12 miles

Elevation Gain

1,118 ft; extra loop: 393 ft

Riding Terrain

Gently rolling

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations

La Sommità Relais

La Sommità Relais, a 5-star boutique hotel within a 16th-century residence, is right in the historic center of Ostuni. All rooms have their own history and peculiarities that make it the ideal relay for those seeking tranquility, breathtaking views and exquisite service.

Luxury Level5 stars

Day6

Ostuni

Today is an optional rest day to relax or discover and wander around the small streets of Ostuni. If you opt to ride, the route descends from Ostuni down to Savelletri and the coast. The brightness of Savelletri’s whitewashed houses, set against a sea of olive trees, provides a spectacular perspective of this rich seaside farmland. We’ll enjoy a relaxing ride along the coast before a gradual climb back to town.

Meals Provided

Breakfast

Average Mileage

23 mi

Elevation Gain

875 ft

Riding Terrain

Descent and gradual climb

Meals Provided

Breakfast

Accommodations

La Sommità Relais

Luxury Level5 stars

Day7

Alberobello

We enter Itria Valley with its lush fertile land, which produces fresh fruit and vegetables in abundance and elegant, crisp white wines, like Il Fiano and Locorotondo Bianco. The ride will be continuously rolling through the valley. Alberobello is known for its cone-shaped, whitewashed trulli houses and takes its name from the forests that once covered the area.

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Average Mileage

32 miles; extra loop: 13 miles

Elevation Gain

2,421 ft; extra loop: 853 ft

Riding Terrain

Rolling with short easy climbs

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations

La Corte Dell’Astore Luxury Resort and Falconry

Peacefully positioned on a hillside, but still within a short walking distance of downtown Alberobello, La Corte Dell’Astore is a magic combination of Past and Present, Competence and Passion, Dream and Reality that you will experience in the Trulli.

Luxury Level

Day8

Matera Loop

This morning we take a 1.5-hour shuttle to Matera. We then hop on our bikes for a ride into the countryside. We pedal downhill from Matera and we immerse ourselves in the rolling, golden wheat fields and the agricultural plains of the Basilicata region. We have a steady climb back to the sassi, followed by a guided walking tour through the old part of Matera with a local guide.

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Average Mileage

26 miles; extra loop: 7 miles

Elevation Gain

1,820 ft; extra loop: 872 ft

Riding Terrain

Gently rolling

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations

Hotel Palazzo Viceconte

Welcome to the Hotel Palazzo Viceconte, an early 17th-century historic Palazzo in the heart of the ancient city of Matera, Italy. Recently renovated and with the best panoramic views over Sassi and its surroundings, sleeping in Hotel Palazzo Viceconte means splendid hospitality in the captivating charm of a historic Palazzo.

Luxury Level

Day9