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Apulia is a region in south-eastern Italy that includes the heel part of Italy's boot. It is bordered by the sea on two sides (the Adriatic Sea in the east and the Ionian Sea to the southeast). The region is characterized by endless olive groves, long fields of grain and vineyards. The charm of this tour is that it leads you into a region of scenic beauty, which is, by today's standards, still unspoiled by the unattractive aspects of tourism and still retains testimony of its great and ancient culture.
You will start cycling in Alberobello, UNESCO world heritage site with its "trulli" and arrive in Lecce, also known as "Florence of the South" because of its magnificient baroque architecture. This bike tour will lead you into a region of scenic beauty, which is, by today's standards, still unspoiled by the unattractive aspects of tourism and still retains testimony of its great and ancient culture.
The tour is mostly in lowlands, sometimes hilly. Traffic is almost non-existent in Apulia ( except in the high holiday season ). The route includes some very beautiful stretches along the coast.
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Itineraries
Day 1

Arrival to Alberobello
Individual arrival. Alberobello is a unique and inimitable city as it is the only urban settlement of the so called trulli (cone buildings) in the whole world. It has ben a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.
Day 2

Alberello - Ostuni (55 km, 460m elevation)
You will cycle through the countryside to Ostuni, which is reputed as an architectural jewel, and is commonly referred to as "the Whtie Town" for its white walls and its typically white-painted architecture.
Day 3

Ostuni - Manduria area (60 km, 270m elevation)
Today you will leave Ostuni and the Murge hills behind you and will start cycling on the Salento plain, characterized by green and red colours, given by its olive trees and its red soil. Along the way you will have the chance to visit Oria, with its beautiful historical centre and the castle built by emperor Federico II. Today's destination is the Manduria area, the capital of the Primitivo grapes.
Day 4

Manduria area - Gallipoli (70 km, 360m elevation)
Fron now on you will head towards the seaside, which will accompany your bike tour between ancient coastal towers and fine sand. You will now reach Porto Cesareo, where we suggest to enjoy a good fish based lunch. Rolling south, our destination will be the Greek Kale Polis, today's Gallipoli, with one of the most beautiful historic centres of Salento. Enjoy a stroll in its streets and the views of the sea that surrounds it.
Day 5

Gallipoli - Santa Maria di Leuca (50km, 50m elevation)
Cycling further along the coast you will reach Santa Maria di Leuca. Its name 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 town is today a famous seaside resort.
Day 6

Santa Maria di Leuca - Otranto (50km, 460m elevation)
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 (55km, elevation 100m)
Riding along the Alimini Lakes and their unique Mediterranean bush you will enter Lecce. Thanks to its Baroque style, it has earned the nickname of Florence of the South. You will 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.
- 7 nights hotel accommodation ( mixture of 3* & 4*hotels )
- Breakfast buffet
- Welcome briefing in English
- Luggage transportation
- Route descriptions & maps
- App including maps, roadbook, points of interest and GPS tracks
- 7-days Hotline service
- Local hotel taxes are not included ( approx €10 - €15 )
Note that for 2023 bike hire is separated out / not included in the tour price
€100 21 speed touring bike with water bottle cage, lock and a small pannier bag, repair kit
€250 Electric - bike with water bottle cage, lock and a small pannier bag, repair kit
€15 Helmet
Bike rental is not included in the basic tour price
On this tour you can rent a 27-gear unisex Citybike A unisex frame, ideal for an upright but relaxed riding position.
This is the bike automatically given to ladies and gents unless otherwise specified.
Citybike with men's frame with 21/24 gears are available to rent but are on a request basis only.
It is also possible to rent an e-bike ( Kalkhoff, Agattu model )
Range: approx. 90 km (flat terrain, average speed).
Low-entry frame Panasonic or Bosch batteries of top safety and long life.
Gears: Nexus 7-speed.
Features:
- aluminium frame
- mudguard
- rear rack
- comfort gel saddle
- anti-punture Schwalbe tyres
- ergonomic bicycle grips
- speed lifter system
Accessoires:
All rented adult bikes are equipped with
1 cycle computer
1 Ortlieb one-sided saddlebag
1 front bar bag per room
1 repair kit per room (1 spare inner tube, glue, patch, a pump, allen keys, tyre levers)
1 combination bike lock
Bike Rental
Back up Service on a Self Guided tour
All details are organised for the tour for you. All your accommodation is booked, your luggage is transported from hotel to hotel. You are given a map with a fully researched route. You will also have a hotline number should you need any assistance in any way.
We had a great tour! I was very impressed with the accommodations and the breakfasts were superlative. I especially loved Trullidea Resort. The bikes were great; just what we needed on those bumpy Italian roads.
Michelle (Apulia Sept 2018)
The Apulia trip was a great success. The food was spectacular, reasonably priced and of a high quality, the best food I have tasted to date in Italy.
Alex B. (Apulia 2014)
I highly recommend this trip through historic sites, olive orchards galore, vineyards, and the beautiful Mediterranean!
Barbara B. (Apulia self led 2014)
It was a wonderful adventure. The World Heritage sites of Matera, where our hotel room was a former caver, and Alberobello, where our room was a truly, were fascinating. The four day coast road cycle fronting first the Ionian, then the Adriatic sea, was both beautiful and full of a sense of history going back millennia!
Barbara B. (Apulia self led 2014)
We had a great time. I thought all the hotels were very unique to the area and staff incredibly welcoming.
Would recommend your cycling safaris to anyone!
Amy Phillips (Apulia 2015)
Category A (mainly 4* hotels with some 3* hotels):
Season 1 - €830 per person sharing / €1140 single room / €650 third person in triple room
Season 2 - €930 per person sharing / €1240 single room / €750 third person in triple room
Season 3 - €990 per person sharing / €1300 single room / €810 third person in triple room
Season 4 - €1030 per person sharing / €1340 single room / €850 third person in triple room
Category B (3* hotels):
Season 1 - €730 per person sharing / €1040 single room / €580 third person in triple room
Season 2 - €830 per person sharing / €1140 single room / €680 third person in triple room
Season 3 - €890 per person sharing / €1200 single room / €740 third person in triple room
Season 4 - €930 per person sharing / €1240 single room / €780 third person in triple room
Season 1: 1 April to 7 April & 21 October
Season 2: 15 April to 12 May & 14 October to 20 October
Season 3: 8 April to 14 April, 13 May to 23 June & 9 September to 13 October
Season 4: 24 June to 22 July & 2 September to 8 September 2023
Self Guided Tour Information
Every Saturday from April 1 - July 22 and September 2 - October 21
Special departure dates can be organized for at least 6 people.
How to get to the start point in Alberobello:
The closest major airport to Alberobello, Italy is Brindisis Airport or Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI / LIBD). This airport
is in Bari, Italy and is 64 km from the center of Matera, Italy. If you're looking for international or domestic flights to BRI, check the airlines that fly to BRI on SkyScanner.
Option to book transfers (based on 1-3 people)
Bari / Brindisi Airport - Alberobello: €180
Lecce - Bari Airport: €310
Lecce - Brindisi Airport: €150
For more details please have a look at the tour dossier.
As always please contact us in the office for more information (info@cyclingsafaris.com).
ALBEROBELLO
Day 1: Trullidea Resort
OSTUNI
Day 2: Hotel La Terra
LECCE
Day 7: EOS Hotel
GALLIPOLI
Day 4: Hotel 33 Baroni
SANTA MARIA DI LEUCA
Day 5: Hotel L'Approdo
OTRANTO
Day 6: Hotel San Giuseppe