Italy: Puglia & Basilicata Bike Tour
Nine days; eight nights of southern Italian bicycle touring through varied countryside, beginning in the cave town of Matera and descending through the Itria Valley to the Adriatic coast.
“I just wanted to thank you for the absolutely wonderful trip… You have me hooked; I would really love to do one of your trips again maybe even with the kids…” – Anna P.
WHY THIS TRIP?
- UNESCO-recognized cave district of Matera with ancient rock-hewn dwellings and remarkable history.
- Trulli houses of the Valle d’Itria, surrounded by vineyards and centuries-old olive groves.
- Adriatic coastline views around Polignano a Mare, where limestone cliffs meet turquoise water.
- Grecia Salentina region with olive-lined rural roads, Griko-speaking villages, and the golden baroque architecture of Lecce.
- Coastal ride from the Adriatic to the Ionian Sea, ending where the two meet at Santa Maria di Leuca.
- Ancient olive groves, traditional masseria farmhouses, and peaceful country lanes steeped in history.
- Mediterranean cuisine, regional wines, and warm southern hospitality at day’s end.
ROUTE EXPECTATIONS:
Click here to learn about our difficulty rating system.
The route follows mostly paved rural roads, with occasional short stretches of packed gravel. Surfaces are generally good, though some backroads may be patched or uneven. Terrain is gently rolling, with steady climbs and descents rather than steep grades. Traffic is light on most country lanes, though coastal stretches and village approaches can be livelier in summer. Distances can be long on some days, though shorter route options are available.
Daily Distance:
- 1: Introductions.
- 2: Matera Caves Excursion and Cooking Class.
- 3: Matera to Locrotondo, ~33km (+400m / -400m).
- 4: Polignano a Mare Loop Ride ~55km (+200m / -550m), or ~98km (+900m / -900m).
- 5: Grecia Salentina Loop Ride, ~69km (+350m / -350m).
- 6: Lecce to Otranto, ~48km (+200m, -300m).
- 7: Otranto to Santa Maria di Leuca, ~54km (+700m / -700m), or ~95km (+1000m / -900m).
- 8: Santa Cesarea Terme to Gallipoli, ~65km (+400m / -400m).
- 9: Gallipoli to Sant’Isidoro, 26km (+200m / -200m), then transfer to Lecce.
(Click image to enlarge)
Activity Levels
The easiest routes we offer, these are generally flat and cover relatively relaxed distances. You will be comfortable riding a hybrid bike, walking in sneakers, or paddling a light kayak, and will normally have time to take many photos and enjoy extended lunches.
This is primarily an easy route, but some days may fall into the moderate category. You can expect time to stop and smell the roses, but some of the rides may be on more hilly terrain.
Requiring moderate fitness levels, these cover terrain with hills and valleys, and tend to include distances of 50-80km (30-50mi.)/day cycling, or 3-6 hours of walking per day. Most Freewheeling Adventures fall into this category, and are suitable for most ability levels.
This is primarily a moderate route, suitable for most ability levels, but some days may be a little more challenging. You can expect some long distances, and/or some big climbs/descents.
The most challenging trips, these include longer distances, bigger hills, long hikes, exposed paddling, and full days of activity. We recommend a higher degree of fitness and training to make the most of the experience.
There is also a rare double black diamond, reserved for only the most difficult adventures.
Start: Bari, B&B dei Meravigli, 15:00, day one.
Finish: Lecce, 13:00, or Brindisi/Salento Airport, 14:00, day nine.
Meal inclusions: Listed for guided trips only, please see dates & pricing section for accurate inclusions per support level.
Please contact us to arrange alternate meeting and departure plans, if necessary.
DAY 1:
Introductions.
You will be collected in Bari and transferred about 60 minutes to Matera where you’ll spend the following two nights in the UNESCO recognized Sassi district; one of the oldest inhabited human settlements in the world.
Meal Inclusions: Dinner.
Locanda di San Martino, Matera.DAY 2:
Matera Caves Excursion and Cooking Class.
Today starts with a unique tour of the Sassi district and surrounding caves of Matera. You’ll spend 3-4 hours walking the maze-like collection of stairs cases, zigzagging alleyways, cave dwellings and tiny courtyards. Following lunch, you’ll be transferred to an agriturismo on nearby Lago di San Giuliano where you can enjoy the pool as you prepare for a cooking class during which you prepare your own dinner. Return to Matera early in the evening.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Same lodging.DAY 3:
Matera to Locrotondo, ~33km (+400m / -400m).
A transfer brings you away from the busy and congested roads surrounding Matera into the fertile Valley of Itria. This area is famous for its Trulli, the ancient circular stone houses and barns with conical rooftops built of stacked limestone. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, most have been adapted to beautiful homes, shops, and restaurants. Continue along quiet roads to Locorotondo, a small town recognized as one of Italy’s most beautiful villages, and your resting place for the next two nights.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Leonardo Trulli Resort, or Ottolire Resort, LocorotondoDAY 4:
Polignano a Mare Loop Ride ~55km (+200m / -550m), or ~98km (+900m / -900m).
A day filled with delights! Your first destination is the sunny seaside town of Polignano a Mare, where you will immediately understand why it has been inhabited since early Greek fishermen pulled their boats ashore in tiny coves between the limestone cliffs. The tiny old town, reached through the Porta Vecchia, combines charming, white-washed streets with beautiful old churches such as the Chiesa Matrice. You may become lost in the winding streets, but won’t mind at all. Before long, you will reach one of three panoramic terraces offering clear views of the beautiful Adriatic Sea and coastline. Transfer or cycle back to your lodging on quiet roads, try keeping count of the trulli you pass!
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Dinner.
Same lodging.DAY 5:
Grecia Salentina Loop Ride, ~69km (+350m / -350m).
Start with a 90-minute transfer south toward Lecce, the cultural capital of Puglia. From here you will cycle the Grecia Salentina, an area of eleven communities where the influence of ancient Greece is evident by the Griko dialect still spoken today. Enjoy pleasant cycling along winding sideroads through olive groves lined with ancient stone walls, Mediterranean Oak, traditional farm buildings and quaint villages with many architectural and artistic gems. Finish in Lecce, whose baroque architecture and warm sandstone buildings appear golden in the afternoon sun.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch.
Palazzo de Noha, Lecce.DAY 6:
Lecce to Otranto, ~48km (+200m, -300m).
Ride through San Foca to Otranto on the Adriatic coast, whose castle was the setting for a book by Horace Walpole, The Castle of Otranto. It is considered the first gothic novel, and inspired Shelley’s more famous Frankenstein. Your route today follows the Adriatic Coast south with the dramatic sea-sculpted white cliffs and transparent waters leading you through small seaside towns, past beaches and bays, including the turquoise waters at Gotta della Poesia.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch.
Hote Corte di Nettuno, OtrantoDAY 7:
Otranto to Santa Maria di Leuca, ~54km (+700m / -700m), or ~95km (+1000m / -900m).
Ride the fantastic coast between Otranto and Santa Maria di Leuca, overlooking the Adriatic Sea. This remote promontory is where the Adriatic and Ionian Seas meet – the true heel of Italy’s boot, where serpentine clifftop roads lead to pretty seaports and astounding views. Your destination is an archaeological treasure and Italy’s most important lighthouse at Marina di Leuca. This coastal route is so beautiful, you may opt to return by bike toward Otranto, but transfers are provided for those who wish to linger.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Massaria Panareo Hotel, Santa Cesarea Terme.DAY 8:
Santa Cesarea Terme to Gallipoli, ~65km (+400m / -400m).
Leaving the Adriatic coast this morning you will bike inland following quiet roads and laneways alongside ancient olive groves bordered with craggy stone walls. The picturesque countryside leads you to the clear waters of the Ionian Sea at Punta della Suina Ionian. Finish with a short ride north along the coast to the charming old town of Gallipoli. Arrive with time to explore the town and enjoy its seaside ambiance before an evening of dining highlighted by local delicacies of the sea.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Dinner.
Palazzo Presta, or Al Pescatore, Gallipoli.DAY 9:
Gallipoli to Sant’Isidoro, 26km (+200m / -200m), then transfer to Lecce.
Depart Gallipoli early by bike riding north along the coast. Take a short break to wander the pine forest to the beach at Porto Selvaggio then finish mid-morning at Sant’Isidoro. Your tour of Salento concludes with a transfer to the train station at Lecce arriving by 13:00 or further onto the airport at Brindisi by 14:00.
Meal Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch.
All details and pricing are subject to change without notice.
SELECT A DATE BELOW TO RESERVE, OR START A NEW DATE
2026 DATES:
2027 DATES:
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(Inclusions & pricing are listed below)
PRICING
Our tour costs are ALL IN, including fees & taxes.
Guided: C 5995 (per person, double occupancy)
Includes 9 days, 8 nights, 8 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners, cooking class on day two, guide and van support, maps, route instructions, luggage handling, hybrid bicycle rental, taxes.
Small groups or private tours, fully supported with drivers/guides and vehicles, all lodging and most meals included. Choose from existing dates or request new departures. Read more on our “What to Expect” page.
Self-Guided: C 5495 (per person, double occupancy)
Includes 9 days, 8 nights, 8 breakfasts, cooking class and dinner on day two, welcome briefing, inn to inn luggage transfers and essential transfers, maps, route instructions, hybrid bicycle rental, taxes.
Semi-supported, independent tours including welcome briefing, lodging, luggage transfers and necessary vehicle transfers. Choose from existing dates or request new departures. Read more on our “What to Expect” page.
Single Occupancy: Add C 1845
Tour cost excludes airfare and travel to and from the starting point, costs for activities listed as optional, bar and beverage bills, meals not shown as included, gratuities for your driver and/or guides.
Bike Rentals:
Hybrid-Fitness: Included
Change to Gravel: C 175
Change to E-bike: C 300
All details and pricing are subject to change without notice.
Please see above for accurate pricing and inclusions, unless we have proposed a customized trip for you and those details are provided in your custom proposal.
1. Choose an advertised date to join a small group, or see our Join a Group page to see where groups are already forming.
2. Pick your own dates. We will confirm quickly and are happy to talk with you as you make your choice. If you would like a private guided departure, this usually involves a surcharge depending on the details. Those who prefer to travel self-guided typically need only two participants to initiate a new date at the advertised price, and we can sometimes offer reduced rates for larger groups. Please get in touch for more information.
BEST TIMES
The best time to enjoy this tour is May to October.
- Spring, April and May, averages high temperatures range from 10 to 19 °C (50 to 66.2 °F).
- Summer, June to August, can be quite hot, typically peaking around 25 °C (77 °F) but sometimes reaching over 30 °C (86 °F). Beaches and towns are very crowded during tourist season.
- Autumn, is still quite mild, with September temperatures averaging 20 °C (68 °F).
GET TO THE START
It’s most convenient to fly into Bari International Airport (BRI), or arrive to Bari by train from Naples or Rome. Visit www.trenitalia.com for scheduling and details. Brindisi International Airport (BDS) is regional airport 1 ½ hours south of Bari which often has low-cost flights from destinations throughout Italy and Europe.
AFTER THE FINISH
At mid-day on day nine you will be transferred to Lecce by 13:00 or the Brindisi Airport by 14:00. Alternate arrangements, such as private transfer to Bari or other destinations can be arranged by request.
BEFORE AND AFTER
If you have one day:
Spend some time in Bari. The labyrinthine ‘old town’ provides a wonderful display of historical architecture, sculptures, and mosaics, while Murat or ‘new town’ hosts a number of museums and shops.
At the end, we recommend extra time in Lecce. You’ll get a taste of this city for one night during your tour, and will appreciate an extra night or two afterwards to get a true feel for this historic city.
If you have several days:
Spend a week before or after you tour exploring other parts of Italy, with a Freewheeling tour of Tuscany (hilly), Innsbruck to Venice (easier).
The cuisine of Puglia and Basilicata may inspire you to join a cooking class or two; Stile Mediterraneo in Lecce is exceptionally well reviewed.
In Bari, past participants have also suggested:
- Metaresort
- Palace Hotel Bari
In Naples, we recommend:
Please let us know if you would like assistance with pre or post-tour reservations, and we will be happy to help.
MORE READING
This quiet and peaceful region remains seemingly untouched by mass tourism, and is an insight into ways of life that have been maintained in Southern Italy for centuries. The terrain is bicycle-friendly, and the climate is perfect for spring and autumn visits. The inns are welcoming, and the dining divine! The adventure takes you first to Matera where you’ll have the opportunity to explore the Sassi – century old caves, carved from rock cliffs and lived in up until the 1950’s. From there you will ride into the lush Val d’Itria to stay among olive groves at a converted farm, then to Otranto, whose castle inspired the first Gothic novel. The last ride is along a gorgeous coast road overlooking the Adriatic Sea. As you ride your bike through this calm and mysterious region, and sample its exquisite cuisine, you will often feel as if you are traveling back in time, experiencing an Italy that is very different from the well developed and busier tourist routes found in the northern parts of the country.