Puglia to Basilicata Family Bike Tour
6 days
5 nights
Activity Levels 2-4
We rate our trips based on a range of activity levels from 1-5.
See this trip's Activity Options & Terrain for more details.
Premiere & Casual Hotels
Puglia to Basilicata Family Bike Tour
6 days
5 nights
Activity Levels 2-4
We rate our trips based on a range of activity levels from 1-5.
See this trip's Activity Options & Terrain for more details.
Premiere & Casual Hotels
2026: May-Jun, Sep
From Ancient Matera to Salento
A rugged coastline and the blue-green Adriatic. Welcoming, down-to-earth people. Rustic and satisfying cuisine. Our Puglia bike tour is the perfect escape.
Highlights
- Visit the World Heritage Sites of Alberobello with its 1,500 trulli and Matera with its 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
- Stay at boutique hotels—from elegant palazzi to seaside resorts and countryside masserie—each rich in southern Italian character
Start Bari
End Lecce
* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Itinerary
Day 1
Bike through a remarkable scene of 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.
Night 1
Set within a restored 18th-century palace in the historic center of Matera, Palazzo Viceconte overlooks the city's famous Sassi districts. Antique furnishings and frescoed ceilings reflect the building's noble past. And a panoramic rooftop terrace offers views across the ancient cave dwellings that define this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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 irresistible 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).
Nights 2-3
Set in the countryside outside Ostuni, Masseria Le Carrube is a restored white-stone farm estate surrounded by olive groves and Mediterranean gardens. Open courtyards framed by bougainvillea and citrus trees reflect the simple elegance of traditional Puglian architecture. A pool set among the gardens offers a tranquil place to relax. (pool)
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 • 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.
Nights 4-5
Set in the countryside outside Otranto, Tenuta Centoporte is designed like a traditional Salento borgo (village), with white-stone buildings inspired by historic rural farmsteads and surrounded by olive groves and Mediterranean gardens. Simple, elegant rooms reflect the understated style of Puglia's countryside estates. (pool, spa)
This trip has an activity level range of 2-4
- Activity
- Activity Level
- Mileage
- Elevation
What's Included
See moreStraight Talk
We want to make sure you're on the trip that's right for you. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Roads in Puglia and most of southern Italy are not always as well-maintained as those found in other parts of Italy. Although our routes are quiet, 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 Puglia’s beautiful countryside and warm hospitality.
Dates & Prices
Dates & Prices
Click on dates to see pricing, hotel or itinerary variations and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy, in USD.
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