Heel of Italy
Italy Bike & Hotel Tours
Bike Italy in breathtaking Apulia!
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Tour Type
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Skill Level
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Length6–8 days
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Prices from€565 Rates
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Overview
This bike tour in Apulia is the best way to see this land full of history and tradition with natural and architectural wonders, friendly hospitality, a magical atmosphere complete with a warm sun, blue sky, clear blue seas and a dreamlike coast. The region is also characterized by endless olive groves, long fields of grain, and vineyards.
You start cycling in Matera, UNESCO world heritage site with its "sassi" and European capital of culture 2019, and arrive in Lecce, also known as "Florence of the South" because of its magnificent baroque architecture. This region still retains testimony of its great and ancient culture.
Check out all our bike tours in Italy.
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Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Matera
Day 2: Matera – Alberobello, 44 mi. (70 km)
Day 3: Alberobello – Ostuni, 34 mi. (55 km)
Day 4: Ostuni – transfer to Lecce - Gallipoli, 31 mi. (50 km) (+ 44mi./70km train transfer)
Day 5: Gallipoli - Santa Maria di Leuca, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 6: Santa Maria di Leuca - Otranto, 35 mi. (50 km)
Day 7: Otranto – Lecce, 34 mi. (55 km)
Day 8: Departure from Lecce.DAY 1: Arrival in Matera.
Arrival in Matera. Visiting Matera is a unique experience. For millennia, inhabitants of this region have carved dwellings directly into ravines and gullies made of tuff (or tufa), a characteristic honey-colored soft stone. Most of the houses are excavated on two ravines and are called "Sassi", which is a World Heritage Site. The rock-hewn churches are very ancient, often Byzantine.DAY 2: Matera – Alberobello, 44 mi. (70 km)
We cycle to the famous trulli of Alberobello and Locorotondo. Trulli were generally constructed as dwellings or storehouses. Alberobello is situated upon two hills, once separated by a riverbed. On the eastern hill is the new town, with modern architectural features. On the western hill, the trulli are lined up in an urban conglomeration, subdivided into two districts: Monti and Aia Piccola, both National Monuments from 1930, and today World Heritage Sites.DAY 3: Alberobello – Ostuni, 35 mi. (55 km)
We cycle through the countryside to Ostuni, which is a reputed architectural gem, and is commonly referred to as the “White City” due to its white walls and its typically white-painted architecture. Today’s stretch is through hilly terrain.DAY 4: Ostuni – transfer to Lecce - Gallipoli, 31 mi. (50 km) (+ 44mi./70km train transfer)
A train transfer (not included) will bring you to Lecce. The ride is about 1 hour, costing approximately €10 per person. After a few kilometers through this amazing baroque town, you go deep into "Salentinian countryside" before approaching the Ionian coast and your destination, Gallipoli.DAY 5: Gallipoli - Santa Maria di Leuca, 31 mi. (50 km)
Cycling Apulia further along the Ionian coast, you will reach Santa Maria di Leuca. The name Santa Maria di Leuca was given by the ancient Greek sailors who came from the East. They saw this place lightened by the sun and therefore called it "leukos", meaning white. The small town is a famous seaside resort and fishing area located on a part of the coast alternated by cliffs and small sandy coves.DAY 6: Santa Maria di Leuca – Otranto, 35 mi. (50 km)
Today you will cycle northwards along the Adriatic coast to Otranto, the most eastern point of Italy where you can visit the beautiful Cathedral and the great Aragonese Castle.DAY 7: Otranto – Lecce, 34 mi. (55 km)
Today you will cover the coastal region of the Adriatic, riding along the Alimini Lakes and their unique Mediterranean bush. At the end of the day, you'll enter into Lecce. Thanks to its Baroque style, it has deserved the nickname of Florence of the South. You'll come to appreciate the rich sculpted motives done in the 17th-century with the tender stone from Lecce. The old town enclosed by what is left of the ancient walls bears the impression of that exuberant period. In Lecce, the presence of several religious orders gave rise to a procession of churches of which the façades are magnificent, like open-air altars, real windows into the society of that period.DAY 8: Departure from Lecce.
Your Puglia bike tour will end following breakfast. Lecce is well connected by train with the airports in Bari and Brindisi.Shorter 6 day version possible, round tour from Lecce.
Day 1: Arrival in Lecce
Day 2: Lecce - Gallipoli, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 3: Gallipoli - Santa Maria di Leuca, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 4: Santa Maria di Leuca - Otranto, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 5: Otranto - Lecce, 34 mi. (55 km)
Day 6: Departure from LecceLooking for more? View all our featured bicycle tours, specials, and news or look at our full list of bike tours in Europe.
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Accommodation
Great 3 star to 4 star hotels, B&B’s, and in a typical trullo or residence in Alberobello, mostly within city centers. Very comfortable rooms with private facilities, and mostly in city centers. In the trullo accommodations there is no air conditioning.
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Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodations for 5 or 7 nights
- Breakfast buffets
- Luggage transfer
- Welcome briefing in English
- Route descriptions & maps (one set per booked room)
- 27-speed hybrid bicycle
- 7 day service hotline
What’s Not Included
- Local hotel taxes, approximately €10 - €15 per person (for the entire tour)
- Remaining meals
- Train transfer Ostuni - Lecce, ± €10/person
- Bicycle protection
- Travel Insurance
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Dates & Pricing
Dates
2019
8 Day Tour
Saturdays, August 24 to October 19, 2019
Fridays, September 6 to September 27, 2019
Season 1: March 23 and October 19, 2019
Season 2: September 29 to October 18, 2019
Season 3: August 24 to September 28, 2019
*Special departure dates can be arranged for groups of at least 5
6 Day Tour
Monday, October 21, 2019
Season 1: October 21, 2019
Season 2: October 1 to October 20, 2019
Season 3: August 26 to September 30, 2019
*Special departure dates can be arranged for groups of at least 52020
Note: this specific itinerary is not being offered in 2020. We are excited to offer this alternative: Puglia - Heel of Italy Check it out!
Please Note
- Rates are per person, based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
2019 Prices
8 day tour
Season 1: $ 1153 £ 609 $ 1,132 € 690 Ft 250518 kr 100921 ₪ 2376 ¥ 129961 Mex$ 14174 NZ$ 1398 kr 7687 zł 2986 S$ 1046 kr 7663 CHF 648 $ 811 Season 2: $ 1320 £ 697 $ 1,297 € 790 Ft 286825 kr 115547 ₪ 2721 ¥ 148796 Mex$ 16229 NZ$ 1601 kr 8801 zł 3418 S$ 1197 kr 8773 CHF 741 $ 929 Season 3: $ 1420 £ 750 $ 1,395 € 850 Ft 308609 kr 124323 ₪ 2927 ¥ 160097 Mex$ 17461 NZ$ 1722 kr 9469 zł 3678 S$ 1288 kr 9439 CHF 798 $ 999 Single supplement: $ 334 £ 176 $ 328 € 200 Ft 72614 kr 29252 ₪ 689 ¥ 37670 Mex$ 4109 NZ$ 405 kr 2228 zł 865 S$ 303 kr 2221 CHF 188 $ 235 6 Day Tour
Season 1: $ 944 £ 498 $ 927 € 565 Ft 205134 kr 82638 ₪ 1946 ¥ 106418 Mex$ 11607 NZ$ 1145 kr 6294 zł 2445 S$ 856 kr 6274 CHF 530 $ 664 Season 2: $ 1077 £ 569 $ 1,059 € 645 Ft 234180 kr 94339 ₪ 2221 ¥ 121486 Mex$ 13250 NZ$ 1307 kr 7186 zł 2791 S$ 978 kr 7163 CHF 605 $ 758 Season 3: $ 1161 £ 613 $ 1,141 € 695 Ft 252333 kr 101652 ₪ 2394 ¥ 130903 Mex$ 14277 NZ$ 1408 kr 7743 zł 3007 S$ 1053 kr 7718 CHF 652 $ 817 Single supplement: $ 251 £ 132 $ 246 € 150 Ft 54460 kr 21939 ₪ 517 ¥ 28252 Mex$ 3081 NZ$ 304 kr 1671 zł 649 S$ 227 kr 1666 CHF 141 $ 1768 Day Tour
Season 1: March 23 and October 19, 2019
Season 2: March 24 to April 28 and September 29 to October 18, 2019
Season 3: April 29 and June 15 and August 24 to September 28, 2019
6 Day Tour
Season 1: March 25 and October 21, 2019
Season 2: March 26 to April 29 and October 1 to October 20, 2019
Season 3: April 30 and June 17 and August 26 to September 30, 2019Extra Options
2019:
Bike helmet: $ 25 £ 13 $ 25 € 15 Ft 5446 kr 2194 ₪ 52 ¥ 2825 Mex$ 308 NZ$ 30 kr 167 zł 65 S$ 23 kr 167 CHF 14 $ 18 Electric bike 8-Day Tour: $ 187 £ 99 $ 184 € 112 Ft 40664 kr 16381 ₪ 386 ¥ 21095 Mex$ 2301 NZ$ 227 kr 1248 zł 485 S$ 170 kr 1244 CHF 105 $ 132 Electric bike 6-Day Tour: $ 159 £ 84 $ 156 € 95 Ft 34492 kr 13895 ₪ 327 ¥ 17893 Mex$ 1952 NZ$ 193 kr 1058 zł 411 S$ 144 kr 1055 CHF 89 $ 112 Discounts
3rd person in triple room (8 day tour): $ 167 £ 88 $ 164 € 100 Ft 36307 kr 14626 ₪ 344 ¥ 18835 Mex$ 2054 NZ$ 203 kr 1114 zł 433 S$ 152 kr 1111 CHF 94 $ 118 3rd person in triple room (6 day tour): $ 117 £ 62 $ 115 € 70 Ft 25415 kr 10238 ₪ 241 ¥ 13184 Mex$ 1438 NZ$ 142 kr 780 zł 303 S$ 106 kr 777 CHF 66 $ 82 Extra Nights
Matera (per person/night): $ 125 £ 66 $ 123 € 75 Ft 27230 kr 10970 ₪ 258 ¥ 14126 Mex$ 1541 NZ$ 152 kr 836 zł 325 S$ 114 kr 833 CHF 70 $ 88 Single room: $ 175 £ 93 $ 172 € 105 Ft 38122 kr 15358 ₪ 362 ¥ 19777 Mex$ 2157 NZ$ 213 kr 1170 zł 454 S$ 159 kr 1166 CHF 99 $ 123 Lecce (per person/night): $ 100 £ 53 $ 98 € 60 Ft 21784 kr 8776 ₪ 207 ¥ 11301 Mex$ 1233 NZ$ 122 kr 668 zł 260 S$ 91 kr 666 CHF 56 $ 71 Single room: $ 150 £ 79 $ 148 € 90 Ft 32676 kr 13164 ₪ 310 ¥ 16951 Mex$ 1849 NZ$ 182 kr 1003 zł 389 S$ 136 kr 999 CHF 84 $ 106 Transfers (minimum of 2 people required):
Bari to Matera (min. 2 persons): $ 75 £ 40 $ 74 € 45 Ft 16338 kr 6582 ₪ 155 ¥ 8476 Mex$ 924 NZ$ 91 kr 501 zł 195 S$ 68 kr 500 CHF 42 $ 53 Brindisi to Matera, Lecce to Bari, Lecce to Brindisi: on request -
Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy–Moderate
This Puglia bike tour in Italy is considered easy to moderate. Cycling is mostly on flat terrain in the lowlands, but sometimes the path is hilly. The itinerary is almost always on asphalt roads and bike paths. Traffic is almost non-existent in Apulia except during the high holiday season. The route includes very beautiful stretches along the coast, and a train transfer from Ostuni to Lecce. Total vertical distance is 450 m.
Airport Info
Fly to Bari, and train to Matera takes about 1½ hr. Train travel in Italy is very economical.
Local Travel
A short taxi ride from the Matera train station to your hotel.
Climate
The average high/low temperatures in °F for the area are: March, 58º/44º; April, 63º/48º; May,71º/58º; June, 78º/62º; July, 83º/67º; August, 82º/66º; September, 77º/61º ; and October, 70º/55º
Extra Stay
Extra nights in Matera and Lecce available by request.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Girolibero.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
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Photos
![Enchanting Matera, a UNESCO Site, in region Basilicata, Italy. Flickr:Francesca Cappa]()
![Harbor in Santa Maria di Leuca, Puglia, Italy. Wikimedia Commons]()
![The famous <i>trulli</i> in Alberobello, Puglia, Italy. Flickr:Guldem Ustun]()
![<i>Pane e Pomodori</i> in Puglia, Italy. Flickr:Caspar Diederik]()
![Inglesia in Ostuni, Puglia, Italy. Flickr:andresumida]()
![From bike to beach in Otranto, Italy. Flickr:Andrea D'Alba]()
![Shopping in Ostuni, Puglia, Italy. Flickr:Gianfranco Vitolo]()
![Trulli shops in Alberobello, Puglia, Italy. Flickr:Michele Vangelista]()
![Baroque architecture in Lecce, Puglia, Italy. Flickr:pululante]()
![Locals in Ostuni, Puglia, Italy. Flickr:David Talens]()
![Blue waters of Otranto, Puglia, Italy. Flickr:Giuseppe Milo]()
![Gea cycling along the coast in Puglia, Italy.]()
![<i>Doppio Zero</i> in Lecce, Puglia, Italy. Flickr:karsalfrink]()
![Locorotondo exemplifies Puglia's characteristic white architecture. Flickr:Biggs]()
![More shopping in Ostuni, Puglia, Italy. Flickr:Gianfranco Vitolo]()
![Gelato in Apulia or Puglia, Italy. Flickr:Pug Girl]()
![Hilltop white village of Ostuni, Brindisi, Puglia, Italy. Flickr:Michele Vangelista]()
![<i>Saltata di Cozze</i> in Puglia, Italy. Flickr:Caspar Diederik]()
![Trulli shops in Alberobello, Apulia, Italy. Flickr:Laurent]()
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Reviews
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July 26, 2019Verified Reviewer
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Tripsite Customer Reviews
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