Heel of Italy
Italy Bike 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: $ 1209 £ 611 $ 1,146 € 690 Ft 268582 kr 102338 ₪ 2604 ¥ 129017 Mex$ 14507 NZ$ 1400 kr 8171 zł 2960 S$ 1062 kr 7474 CHF 650 $ 836 Season 2: $ 1384 £ 700 $ 1,312 € 790 Ft 307507 kr 117170 ₪ 2982 ¥ 147715 Mex$ 16610 NZ$ 1603 kr 9356 zł 3389 S$ 1216 kr 8557 CHF 744 $ 957 Season 3: $ 1489 £ 753 $ 1,412 € 850 Ft 330862 kr 126069 ₪ 3208 ¥ 158934 Mex$ 17871 NZ$ 1724 kr 10066 zł 3647 S$ 1308 kr 9207 CHF 800 $ 1,029 Single supplement: $ 350 £ 177 $ 332 € 200 Ft 77850 kr 29663 ₪ 755 ¥ 37396 Mex$ 4205 NZ$ 406 kr 2369 zł 858 S$ 308 kr 2166 CHF 188 $ 242 6 Day Tour
Season 1: $ 990 £ 500 $ 938 € 565 Ft 219926 kr 83799 ₪ 2132 ¥ 105644 Mex$ 11879 NZ$ 1146 kr 6691 zł 2424 S$ 870 kr 6120 CHF 532 $ 684 Season 2: $ 1130 £ 571 $ 1,071 € 645 Ft 251066 kr 95664 ₪ 2434 ¥ 120603 Mex$ 13561 NZ$ 1308 kr 7639 zł 2767 S$ 993 kr 6986 CHF 607 $ 781 Season 3: $ 1218 £ 616 $ 1,154 € 695 Ft 270529 kr 103080 ₪ 2623 ¥ 129952 Mex$ 14612 NZ$ 1410 kr 8231 zł 2982 S$ 1070 kr 7528 CHF 654 $ 842 Single supplement: $ 263 £ 133 $ 249 € 150 Ft 58387 kr 22247 ₪ 566 ¥ 28047 Mex$ 3154 NZ$ 304 kr 1776 zł 644 S$ 231 kr 1625 CHF 141 $ 1828 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: $ 26 £ 13 $ 25 € 15 Ft 5839 kr 2225 ₪ 57 ¥ 2805 Mex$ 315 NZ$ 30 kr 178 zł 64 S$ 23 kr 162 CHF 14 $ 18 Electric bike 8-Day Tour: $ 196 £ 99 $ 186 € 112 Ft 43596 kr 16611 ₪ 423 ¥ 20942 Mex$ 2355 NZ$ 227 kr 1326 zł 481 S$ 172 kr 1213 CHF 105 $ 136 Electric bike 6-Day Tour: $ 166 £ 84 $ 158 € 95 Ft 36979 kr 14090 ₪ 359 ¥ 17763 Mex$ 1997 NZ$ 193 kr 1125 zł 408 S$ 146 kr 1029 CHF 89 $ 115 Discounts
3rd person in triple room (8 day tour): $ 175 £ 89 $ 166 € 100 Ft 38925 kr 14832 ₪ 377 ¥ 18698 Mex$ 2102 NZ$ 203 kr 1184 zł 429 S$ 154 kr 1083 CHF 94 $ 121 3rd person in triple room (6 day tour): $ 123 £ 62 $ 116 € 70 Ft 27247 kr 10382 ₪ 264 ¥ 13089 Mex$ 1472 NZ$ 142 kr 829 zł 300 S$ 108 kr 758 CHF 66 $ 85 Extra Nights
Matera (per person/night): $ 131 £ 66 $ 125 € 75 Ft 29194 kr 11124 ₪ 283 ¥ 14024 Mex$ 1577 NZ$ 152 kr 888 zł 322 S$ 115 kr 812 CHF 71 $ 91 Single room: $ 184 £ 93 $ 174 € 105 Ft 40871 kr 15573 ₪ 396 ¥ 19633 Mex$ 2208 NZ$ 213 kr 1243 zł 450 S$ 162 kr 1137 CHF 99 $ 127 Lecce (per person/night): $ 105 £ 53 $ 100 € 60 Ft 23355 kr 8899 ₪ 226 ¥ 11219 Mex$ 1261 NZ$ 122 kr 711 zł 257 S$ 92 kr 650 CHF 56 $ 73 Single room: $ 158 £ 80 $ 149 € 90 Ft 35032 kr 13348 ₪ 340 ¥ 16828 Mex$ 1892 NZ$ 183 kr 1066 zł 386 S$ 139 kr 975 CHF 85 $ 109 Transfers (minimum of 2 people required):
Bari to Matera (min. 2 persons): $ 79 £ 40 $ 75 € 45 Ft 17516 kr 6674 ₪ 170 ¥ 8414 Mex$ 946 NZ$ 91 kr 533 zł 193 S$ 69 kr 487 CHF 42 $ 55 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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April 26, 2018Verified Reviewer
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October 30, 2017Verified Reviewer
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June 15, 2011Verified Reviewer
Tripsite Customer Reviews
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