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.
Biking
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Italy's Puglia to Basilicata Bike Tour
From Ancient Matera to the Adriatic Sea
The map says Italy. The "heel of the boot." Though you may feel you've strayed into Greece. And that's part of Puglia's appeal. Endless olive groves. A rugged coastline and the blue-green Adriatic. The people are welcoming and down-to-earth. The cuisine rustic and satisfying. Our Puglia bike tour is the perfect escape.
THIS ITINERARY: 6 days, 5 nights
ACCOMMODATIONS: Casual & Premiere Hotels*
FROM:
$3,999 - $4,299 pp dbl occ
($500 - $800 for sgl occ)
Puglia Italy Biking Map
Italy
Start Bari / End Lecce
Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Highlights
- Visit the World Heritage sites of Alberobello and its 1,500 trulli, and Matera, with a mesmerizing maze of prehistoric caves
- Taste exceptional regional wines, learn to make fresh pasta and enjoy delicious home-cooked Pugliese specialties
- Bike from coast to coast, from the Ionian to the Adriatic, with opportunities to relax en route over coffee and gelato
- Relish breathtaking coastal vistas and views of ancient olive groves, enchanting villages and traditional farmhouses
Videos
Itinerary
Accommodations may vary based on departure date.
6 Days Casual & Premiere Hotels*
Accommodations may vary based on departure.
Day 1
Bike tour through a remarkable scene of whitewashed villages, olive trees and age-old farmhouses | Journey to the World Heritage site of Matera, one of Italy's most fascinating towns | Some 9,000 years ago, humans inhabited the canyon’s caves, creating what UNESCO calls "the most outstanding example of a troglodyte settlement in the Mediterranean" | Soak up the authentic feel and intriguing history of this lost-in-time town.
Palazzo Viceconte
Matera
| Casual Plus Hotel This beautifully renovated 18th-century palace offers unsurpassed views of Matera's sassi from its rooftop terrace.
Days 2-3
Ever wondered how mozzarella is made? It's your chance to learn | Explore the World Heritage site of Alberobello with 1,500 trulli, unusual round stone buildings topped with conical gray slate roofs | Bike into the surrounding landscape, an artist’s dream, with its vibrant palette of reddish brown soil, green grass and blue skies | Start the day off with an espressino freddo, Puglia's irresistable cold sweet coffee | Take in unbeatable views of ancient olive groves as you ride to historic Ostuni, known as the White City, which spans three hilltops and is crowned by a Gothic cathedral | Learn to make pasta and enjoy home-cooked Pugliese specialties at a local masseria (fortified farmhouse).
Masseria Torre Coccaro
Savelletri di Fasano
| *Premiere Hotel Set just a short distance from the sea, this onetime refuge for pilgrims and the Knights of Malta offers unique guest rooms, each with its own private garden. (pool, spa)
Days 4-6
Enjoy bike rides through peaceful farmland and along scenic roads down the Adriatic coast | Along the way, admire the azure Adriatic and its picturesque white-sand beaches | Savor local produce, fresh seafood and regional wines | Get ready for superb coastal vistas, extraordinary grottoes and opportunities to swim in the blue sea | Bike to the "heel of the boot" on a spectacular seaside ride to the tiny village of Santa Maria di Leuca | Take a final ride over undulating terrain toward Otranto | Delight in an evening of lively traditional music and folk dancing | The trip ends in historic Lecce, a city famed for its beautiful baroque architecture.
Le Capase Resort
Villaggio Paradiso
| Casual Hotel Perched on a bluff overlooking the Adriatic, this resort features a stunning infinity pool and walking path to the sea below. (pool)
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
SMALL GROUP? TRY RENDEZVOUS
An extra leader and van for even more flexibility | +$2,400 for Europe and +$2,900 for North America | Call us to book your Rendezvous
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy.
Available to book
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Activity Level: 2-4
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. And believe it or not, 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.
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