Heel of Italy
Italy Bike Tours
Bike Italy in breathtaking Apulia!
-
Tour Type
-
Skill Level
-
Length6–8 days
-
Prices from€565 Rates
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
-
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: $ 1146 £ 607 $ 1,105 € 690 Ft 275948 kr 101624 ₪ 2540 ¥ 129116 Mex$ 14465 NZ$ 1385 kr 7864 zł 3005 S$ 1037 kr 7581 CHF 637 $ 811 Season 2: $ 1312 £ 695 $ 1,266 € 790 Ft 315941 kr 116352 ₪ 2908 ¥ 147829 Mex$ 16561 NZ$ 1586 kr 9004 zł 3440 S$ 1187 kr 8679 CHF 729 $ 928 Season 3: $ 1412 £ 748 $ 1,362 € 850 Ft 339936 kr 125189 ₪ 3129 ¥ 159057 Mex$ 17819 NZ$ 1707 kr 9688 zł 3702 S$ 1277 kr 9339 CHF 785 $ 999 Single supplement: $ 332 £ 176 $ 320 € 200 Ft 79985 kr 29456 ₪ 736 ¥ 37425 Mex$ 4193 NZ$ 402 kr 2280 zł 871 S$ 301 kr 2197 CHF 185 $ 235 6 Day Tour
Season 1: $ 938 £ 497 $ 905 € 565 Ft 225958 kr 83214 ₪ 2080 ¥ 105726 Mex$ 11844 NZ$ 1134 kr 6440 zł 2461 S$ 849 kr 6207 CHF 522 $ 664 Season 2: $ 1071 £ 568 $ 1,033 € 645 Ft 257952 kr 94996 ₪ 2375 ¥ 120696 Mex$ 13521 NZ$ 1295 kr 7352 zł 2809 S$ 969 kr 7086 CHF 595 $ 758 Season 3: $ 1154 £ 612 $ 1,113 € 695 Ft 277948 kr 102360 ₪ 2559 ¥ 130052 Mex$ 14569 NZ$ 1395 kr 7921 zł 3027 S$ 1044 kr 7636 CHF 641 $ 817 Single supplement: $ 249 £ 132 $ 240 € 150 Ft 59989 kr 22092 ₪ 552 ¥ 28069 Mex$ 3144 NZ$ 301 kr 1710 zł 653 S$ 225 kr 1648 CHF 138 $ 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 $ 24 € 15 Ft 5999 kr 2209 ₪ 55 ¥ 2807 Mex$ 314 NZ$ 30 kr 171 zł 65 S$ 23 kr 165 CHF 14 $ 18 Electric bike 8-Day Tour: $ 186 £ 99 $ 179 € 112 Ft 44792 kr 16495 ₪ 412 ¥ 20958 Mex$ 2348 NZ$ 225 kr 1277 zł 488 S$ 168 kr 1231 CHF 103 $ 132 Electric bike 6-Day Tour: $ 158 £ 84 $ 152 € 95 Ft 37993 kr 13992 ₪ 350 ¥ 17777 Mex$ 1991 NZ$ 191 kr 1083 zł 414 S$ 143 kr 1044 CHF 88 $ 112 Discounts
3rd person in triple room (8 day tour): $ 166 £ 88 $ 160 € 100 Ft 39992 kr 14728 ₪ 368 ¥ 18713 Mex$ 2096 NZ$ 201 kr 1140 zł 436 S$ 150 kr 1099 CHF 92 $ 118 3rd person in triple room (6 day tour): $ 116 £ 62 $ 112 € 70 Ft 27995 kr 10310 ₪ 258 ¥ 13099 Mex$ 1467 NZ$ 141 kr 798 zł 305 S$ 105 kr 769 CHF 65 $ 82 Extra Nights
Matera (per person/night): $ 125 £ 66 $ 120 € 75 Ft 29994 kr 11046 ₪ 276 ¥ 14034 Mex$ 1572 NZ$ 151 kr 855 zł 327 S$ 113 kr 824 CHF 69 $ 88 Single room: $ 174 £ 92 $ 168 € 105 Ft 41992 kr 15464 ₪ 387 ¥ 19648 Mex$ 2201 NZ$ 211 kr 1197 zł 457 S$ 158 kr 1154 CHF 97 $ 123 Lecce (per person/night): $ 100 £ 53 $ 96 € 60 Ft 23995 kr 8837 ₪ 221 ¥ 11228 Mex$ 1258 NZ$ 120 kr 684 zł 261 S$ 90 kr 659 CHF 55 $ 71 Single room: $ 149 £ 79 $ 144 € 90 Ft 35993 kr 13255 ₪ 331 ¥ 16841 Mex$ 1887 NZ$ 181 kr 1026 zł 392 S$ 135 kr 989 CHF 83 $ 106 Transfers (minimum of 2 people required):
Bari to Matera (min. 2 persons): $ 75 £ 40 $ 72 € 45 Ft 17997 kr 6628 ₪ 166 ¥ 8421 Mex$ 943 NZ$ 90 kr 513 zł 196 S$ 68 kr 494 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?
-
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]()
-
Reviews
Reviews
Dara W.
July 26, 2019Verified Reviewer
Ida A.
April 26, 2018Verified Reviewer
Shelia P.
October 30, 2017Verified Reviewer
Jan H.
October 23, 2017Verified Reviewer
Monika M.
June 27, 2017Verified Reviewer
Jacqueline A.
November 9, 2016Verified Reviewer
J Murphy
April 23, 2016Verified Reviewer
Ruyter Aquino
October 7, 2014Verified Reviewer
Caroline Thompson
June 15, 2011Verified Reviewer
Tripsite Customer Reviews
Dara W.
7 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Shelia P.
8 years ago
Verified Reviewer
Related Tours
Moderate–Difficult Bike Tour in Italy
This self-guided bike tour in Italy offers the chance to discover a different side of the Bel Paese (beautiful country) - one that is quieter, more authentic, and almost mystical. As you pedal…
