Apulia is a region in south-eastern Italy, often referred to as the heel of Italy’s boot, surrounded by the Ionian and Adriatic Seas. The region is known for its olive groves, grain fields and vineyards.
This cycling tour starts in Matera, home to the UNESCO world heritage site of Sassi di Matera, a collection of cave dwellings that are among the oldest human settlements in Italy. The tour finishes in Lecce, known as the “Florence of the South” because of its magnificent baroque architecture.
This bike tour will lead you into a region of scenic beauty, most of which remains relatively unspoiled, with constant remindeers of the area's ancient culture.
Day 1: Matera
Please arrange to arrive in Matera today. We reccomend arriving early enough to allow time to explore the ancient cave dwellings, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Day 2: Matera – Alberobello (70 km)
Today you will visit another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Trulli of Alberobello. Trulli are traditional stone huts with a conical roof, often build as store houses as well as homes. Alberobello consists of two hills, with the new town on the Eastern hill, and the old town on the Western hill.
Day 3: Alberobello – Ostuni (45 km)
Today the route takes you through the countryside to Ostuni. The town is renowned for its architecture, and often referred to as “the White Town” because of its white walls and its white-painted architecture.
Day 4: Ostuni – Lecce – Gallipoli (70 km by train + 50 km by bike)
Today starts with a train journey to the city of Lecce. From Lecce, you're back on your bike for a ride through the Salentinian countryside, before arriving in Gallipoli, on the Ionian coast. The old town of Gallipoli is actually located on an island, connected to the mainland by the 17th Century bridge, the Ponte Seicentesco.
Day 5: Gallipoli – Santa Maria di Leuca (50 km)
The route today continues further along the coast to Santa Maria di Leuca, at the Southern tip of the peninsula. The name Leuca derives from the Greek word for white, so named by the Greek sailors who came from the East and saw the sun lighting this place. The town is now a famous seaside resort.
Day 6: Santa Maria di Leuca – Otranto (50 km)
Today you will follow the Adriatic coast to Otranto, the most eastern point of Italy. Highlights of Otranto include the beautiful Cathedral and the great Aragonese Castle.
Day 7: Otranto – Lecce (55 km)
Leaving Otranto, you will ride along the shores of the Alimini Lakes and their unique Mediterranean flora. Lecce is known as the Florence of the South, thanks to its Baroque architecture.
Day 8: Lecce
Breakfast is included this morning, before you leave Lecce.
Easy to Moderate.
Mostly in the lowlands with a few hills. Traffic is almost non existent in Apulia except during the high holiday season. The route includes many very beautiful and relatively easygoing stretches on the coast.
Total distance cycled: 320 km
Route Map (For guidance only)
Routes maybe subject to change or alteration. All route notes, maps and day-by-day information will be given to you upon arrival at the first hotel or at the welcome meeting. GPS/GPX Files are available for most our the cycling holidays we offer. Please ask us for details.
Starting point of the cycling holiday: Matera
Route Overview (For guidance only):
Brief itinerary: | Route Profile |
Day 2: Matera-Alberobello (70 km, vertical up 400 m) | This is the first stage of the tour but it is also the most challenging. The first 35 km do not present particular altitude difference and the route is mainly flat. The last part from Gioia del Colle is lightly more difficult because of some long but not steep climb. |
Day 3: Alberobello-Ostuni (45 km, vertical up 260 m) | You leave Alberobello and the Trulli city crossing the last part of Murge and going through the towns of Martina Franca, Locorotondo and Cisternino before arriving to the white city of Ostuni. The most challenging part is between Locorotondo and Cisternino. |
Day 4: Ostuni-Lecce-Gallipoli (70 km by train + 50 km by bike, vertical up 70 m) | The route winds through country roads and not binding and unpaved trails, almost completely flat. Transfer: about 60 minutes by train from Ostuni to Lecce. The train ticket from Ostuni to Lecce is included in the package tour price. It is the easiest stage, all on asphalted road, flat with some short ups and downs in the final part. |
Day 5: Gallipoli-S.M.di Leuca (50 km, vertical up 50 m) | It is the easiest stage, all on asphalted road, flat with some short ups and downs in the final part. |
Day 6: S.M. di Leuca-Otranto (50 km, vertical up 460 m) | The most challenging stretches are 1km climb out from S.M. di Leuca and 3km of continuous but regular slope after Santa Cesaria Terme. Today you will cycle along the coast road 358: one of the most scenic roads in the world. |
Day 7: Otranto-Lecce (55 km, vertical up 100m) | This is an easy stage. We leave the lovely town of Otranto behind us to discover the Alimini Lakes nature reserve, the old hunting ground of the Swabians and the Aragonese. |
We recommend flying to Bari or Brindisi airport to reach the starting point of this cycling holiday.
Matera is connected with the following airports:
Bari: 70 Km, Brindisi: 130 Km.
BARI WOJTYLA (BRI) - www.seap-puglia.it
Connection by train + train:
- from airport to Bari Centrale train station: about every 30 minutes the local train connects the
airport to the central train station (transfer about 15 minutes);
- from Bari to Matera train station: the transfer takes approx. 90 min, price about 6 € (www.falsrl.it).
Connection shuttle bus + train:
- from airport to Bari Centrale train station: every hour the shuttle bus Tempesta (www.
autoservizitempesta.it) departs from the airport to the train station (transfer: approx. 30 min,
ticket about 4 €);
- from Bari to Matera train station: the transfer takes approx. 90 min, price about 6 € (www.falsrl.it).
Direct bus connection:
- from airport to Matera: the bus Pugliairbus leaves for the city of Matera every day, about 3-4
connections per day; transfer approx. 75 min, price 7 € (www.aeroportidipuglia.it).
Flights are available with a number of airlines to your required airport or you can travel to the start using alternative methods such as rail or road.
We recommend using Skyscanner to find the best flight prices by date or Rail Europe for European rail travel. There is customer car parking available at most hotels for a supplement. Please contact us for more details.
Please use local transport to arrive at the starting point or call us on 0161 703 8161 for more specific travel advice.
You do not need to go back to the starting point of the cycling holiday as all hire bikes are left at the final hotel.
Important: Please book your flights only after the cycling holiday has been confirmed by invoice or email. Flights and transfers are not included in the advertised holiday price.
The Apulia and Lecce cycling holiday includes the daily transfer of luggage to the next hotel and local support if required.
Included Services (Subject to confirmation)
Not Included
About the bikes
Tough, stable and reliable, specially designed for you to saddle up for several days on the trot. Girolibero bikes are citybikes with an aluminium frame and kitted with responsive brakes and gears. Plus: mudguards, trip computers, comfort gel saddles, flat-palmed grips, Schwalbe Marathon anti-puncture tyres.
27-gear Unisex Citybike
A low entry unisex frame, ideal for an upright but relaxed riding position. The number of gears varies by destination. In Italy, for instance, standard bikes have 27 gears, while in northern Europe they are generally fitted with 7 gears and a pedal brake (although bikes with more gears and conventional breaks can sometimes be requested).
27-gear Men's Citybike
Citybike with men's frame. The design and number of gears varies from country to country. As with unisex bikes, for example, bikes for our Italian tours have 21/24 gears, while in northern Europe they are usually fitted with 7 gears and a pedal brake (although bikes with more gears and conventional breaks can sometimes be requested).
Electric Bike Upgrades
Why not upgrade your cycling experience to an E-Bike (Electric Bike)? Using a power assisted bike is a great way to go on a cycling holiday and will help you smooth out inclines or longer days in the saddle. Each E-Bike features an LCD display, removable batteries for easy charging and assistance up to 25 km/h with a range of around 120 km for each full charge depending on usage.
E-Bike upgrade prices vary per tour, but if you require any more information about bike hire and electric bikes, please get in-touch with us on +44 (0) 800 703 8161.
Bosch Active Line
Low-entry frame
Bosch batteries Power Packs of top safety and long life (36 V - 13,4 Ah Capacity - 500 Wh available power).
Bosch motor Active Line, located centrally (250 Watt, engine torque 50 Nm).
Gears: Shimano Deore 9-speed.
Range: approx 90 km (flat terrain, average speed).
When you make a booking with us, we take your height(s) and the appropriate bike size is matched up accordingly. Helmets are not provided and you will need to bring your own to use. We always recommend wearing a helmet when on your cycling holiday.
This cycling holiday stays in good quality hotels with private facilities carefully selected for their proximity to your cycle route and comfort. If you wish to know specific information about the hotel facilities, Wi-Fi and upgrades used on the holidays, please contact us on 0161 703 8161 for more information.
The hotel options are subject to change and should be used as a guide. We will confirm the exact hotels prior to arrival.
Category A consists of mostly 4* hotels, with some 3* hotels.
Category B consists mainly of 3* hotels.
For both Category A & B, in Alberobello you will stay in a traditional "trulli".
You will receive your final hotel list approximately 4 weeks prior to your arrival date detailing the hotels used on your cycling holiday. If you wish to know more about the hotels prior to completing a booking form, please contact our Customer Services team via email or by phone.
You can find out more about this cycling holiday by completing a Contact Form or call 0161 703 8161 to speak to one of the team.
You can now book this cycling holiday online using our secure booking engine. Book online here >>
Season | Date Band | Arrival Day |
Season 1: | 20.03. – 02.04.2021 | 16.10. – 30.10.2021 | Saturdays |
Season 2: | 03.04. – 29.04.2021 | 24.09. – 15.10.2021 | Fridays or Saturdays |
Season 3: | 30.04. – 24.06.2021 | 05.09. – 23.09.2021 | Fridays or Saturdays |
Season 4: | 25.06. – 17.07.2021 | 20.08. – 04.09.2021 | Fridays or Saturdays |
Season | Price per person | Single Supplement |
Season 1: | £680 | £315 |
Season 2: | £775 | £315 |
Season 3: | £820 | £315 |
Season 4: | £920 | £310 |
Season | Price per person | Single Supplement |
Season 1: | £585 | £170 |
Season 2: | £680 | £170 |
Season 3: | £725 | £175 |
Season 4: | £820 | £175 |
Extra | Price |
Bike Rental: | £80 |
Electric Bike Supplement: | £105 |
Transfer Bari > Matera Hotel: | £50 |
Transfer Brindisi > Matera Hotel: | On Request |
Transfer Lecce Hotel > Brindisi: | On Request |
Transfer Lecce Hotel > Bari: | On Request |
Category Type | Accommodation Overview |
Category A: | 3* and 4* hotels |
Category B: | 3* hotels |
Location | Double Room (B&B) | Single Room Supplement (B&B) |
Matera: | £70 | £100 |
Lecce: | £55 | £85 |
Date From | Date To |
---|---|
20 March 2021 | 17 July 2021 |
20 August 2021 | 30 October 2021 |