Travel Guides: Italy Travel Guide: Overview
In Southern Europe—right in the heart of the Mediterranean—lies a boot-shaped country stuffed to the brim with culture, history and fine cuisine.
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Biking
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Italy's Puglia to Basilicata Family Bike Tour - 20s & Beyond
Culture & Cuisine from Matera to il Mare
Puglia is genuine. Untouched. And there's no better way to experience it with your family than by bike. Cycle past olive trees and seaside towns. Ride through a sunny paradise between the blue waves of the Adriatic and the flawless green of Basilicata. Share a table with the kindest people on the Italian peninsula. Welcome to Italy less traveled. Welcome to Puglia.
THIS ITINERARY: 6 days, 5 nights
ACCOMMODATIONS: Premiere Hotels
FROM:
$5,099 pp dbl occ
($950 for sgl occ)
Italy Puglia Biking
Italy
Start/End Bari
Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Highlights
- Ride up to unbeatable views of ancient olive groves, whitewashed villages and age-old farmhouses
- Join in a fun and informative sommelier-led tasting of full-bodied Primitivo and other notable vini Pugliesi
- Discover the World Heritage sites of Alberobello, known as the Trulli District, and Matera, with its prehistoric caves
- Dine on mouthwatering and organic homemade Pugliese dishes with a perfect wine pairing at each course
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Itinerary
Accommodations may vary based on departure date.
6 Days Premiere Hotels
Accommodations may vary based on departure.
Day 1
Journey on our family bike tour in Puglia to the World Heritage site of Matera | Humans inhabited the canyon’s caves 9,000 years ago in what UNESCO calls "the most outstanding example of a troglodyte settlement in the Mediterranean" | Soak up the otherworldly feel of this ancient town, with its fascinating history and sublime views | Take the afternoon to ride or a walk through Matera with a local expert.
Sextantio le Grotte della Civita
Matera
| Premiere Hotel A truly unique experience awaits at this elegantly distinctive property, which claims to be the world's only hotel set within prehistoric caves—indeed, the luxury rooms are literally caves with unfinished stone surroundings and little natural light.
Days 2-3
Bike along Italy's Adriatic Coast past tiny fishing villages and the lost-in-time city of Egnazia | Turn your wheels inland and ride among fields of fennel and a sea of shimmery olive trees | Wander the sun-bleached fishing town of Polignano a Mare, with winding streets and limestone cliffs | Celebrate the region's flavors with a family dinner at a traditional farmhouse | Discover charming Monopoli while you stroll its seafront promenade and maze of narrow lanes.
Il Melograno
Monopoli
| Premiere Hotel A tastefully restored 17th-century masseria (fortified farmhouse) surrounded by orchards of olive trees. (pool, spa)
Days 4-6
Explore Alberobello, a World Heritage site with 1,500 cone-roofed trulli, on a walking tour with a local guide and learn about these intriguing and unique structures | Ride rolling country roads through the fertile Valle d'Itria | A mozzarella master in a typical trullo shows us how this cheese is made | A peaceful cycling route along country roads leads to Ostuni, a historic settlement crowned by a Gothic cathedral | Enjoy a refreshing post-ride espressino freddo with your family in Cisternino, a captivating 7th-century town.
Masseria San Domenico
Savelletri di Fasano
| Premiere Hotel An Andrew Harper Grand Award recipient with "a winning combination of international comfort and refined rusticity," overlooking the Adriatic Sea. (pool, spa)
Dates & Prices
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy.
- 2022
- Oct
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Activity Level: 1-4
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Several routes and a range of levels are offered each day so you can choose how much or how little activity you want to do. Learn more about how we determine activity levels.
Daily Route Options
What's Included
Available Bike Options
The key to a stellar day's ride is a bike that's perfectly in tune with your cycling style… Backroads has you covered with the best bike fleet in the world! Read on for your available bike options for this trip.
Backroads Performance Road Bike
Performance Road Bike
This custom-designed titanium bike is lightweight and responsive, featuring Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic shifting, 11-speed compact gearing, a premium Mavic Ksyrium Pro wheelset and a full carbon fork.
Backroads Touring Bike
Touring Bike
A proven classic, our most popular custom-designed titanium bike is suited for a wide range of cyclists. It features a comfortable ergonomic seat and a long wheel base that add to the bike’s control and stability.
Backroads Electric-Assist Bike
NEW! Electric-Assist Bike
Our newly redesigned titanium e-bike is a lightweight yet powerful machine unique in the world of e-bikes. It provides plenty of power to flatten the hills and more than enough battery range to cover the distance.
Cannondale Synapse Pro Carbon Bike
Carbon Bike
Ride like a pro with the top-of-the-line carbon Cannondale Synapse Hi-Mod Red ETAP AXS. Delivering phenomenal acceleration and handling in a light and powerful package—it’s built for hard-core riders.
$400 rental fee
Co-Motion Torpedo Tandem Bike
Tandem Bike
This hand-built frame features Co-Motion's custom-designed cro-moly steel tubeset, powerful Avid disc brakes, Shimano Ultegra drive train, and a custom, upgraded wheelset. For experienced tandem riders.
$400 rental fee
Also Included
- All breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
- Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
- Snacks and beverages between meals
- Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
- Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
- Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
- On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
- Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
- Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
- Park and other entry fees
- Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
- Select coach transfers
- Baggage transfers and porterage
Straight talk
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Biking in Puglia
Roads in Puglia and most of southern Italy are not always as well maintained as those found up north. Although our routes are quiet and picturesque, you can expect some rough patches of road along the way. Also, litter can occasionally be part of the landscape, especially when approaching small villages. For most, these challenges are offset by the beauty of Puglia's countryside and its warm hospitality.
Service Standards
The slower pace and relaxed approach to life in Puglia is one of the highlights of this spectacular region and is reflected in the hotels and restaurants on this trip. This said, service can lack a sense of urgency when compared with the service found in other parts of Europe.
Accommodations
We stay one night at Sextantio le Grotte della Civita, an elegantly simple hotel set within prehistoric caves in the World Heritage cave dwelling site of Matera. Although the hotel offers all the modern amenities and comforts you can expect from a Premiere Hotel, the luxury rooms are quite literally caves with little natural light and unfinished stone surroundings. Rest assured that this hotel offers a truly unique experience and is well worth the stay.
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