Cycling Puglia & Matera

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8 Days Excluding Flights From

8 Days from

~~£ 2299~~ £ 1839

Cycling

Activity Level

Moderate

Comfort Level

Classic

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group

Activity :

Cycling

Group Size :

6 - 16

Ages :

16+

Trip Code :

MWV2

Carbon Footprint :

29.3kg CO2e per person per day

Discover the heel of Italy by bike, taking a country-and-coast route from the cave town of Matera to baroque Lecce

Cycle the captivating region of Puglia, riding through olive groves and along the winding coast to stay in some of the most spectacular cities and towns in Italy. The adventure begins in the cave town of Matera, officially in the Basilicata region and beloved by film directors for its ancient beauty, before progressing to the fairytale trulli houses of Alberobello, the White City of Ostuni, and seaside Gallipoli. It ends in Lecce, known as the Florence of the South for its extraordinary collection of baroque landmarks.

Highlights

Discover the best of Puglia and Matera by bike, riding through the Italian countryside
Begin in the extraordinary cave town of Matera – a spectacular opening to the adventure
Ride to Alberobello and wander among fairytale trulli houses
Cycle along the Ionian Coast with a chance for a refreshing dip
Finish in Lecce, known as the Florence of the South for its magnificent baroque buildings
Stay at Masseria Bosco, a converted farmhouse with home-grown produce

Key Information

Accommodation: 7 Classic nights (5 hotel, 2 agriturismo/farmhouse)
Six days cycling with partial vehicle support (limited seats)
Group normally 6 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16

Countries visited: Italy

What's Included

All breakfasts
All accommodation
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Group arrival and departure transfers available
Local bike hire

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request)
Visas or vaccinations
Local city taxes (approx. €10)
E-bike hire (available for an additional cost)

6 Days of Cycling

Pace:

Moderate: 8mi-10mi (13km-16km) an hour

Terrain:

Low altitude; 99 percent paved, 1 percent short sections of gravel.
Quiet, rural, rolling roads

Day 2

69 km / 42.9 miles

Day 3

39 km / 24.2 miles

Day 4

61 km / 37.9 miles

Day 5

58 km / 36 miles

Day 6

71 km / 44.1 miles

Day 7

54 km / 33.6 miles

Sustainability and Impact

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

TRIP

MWV2 - Cycling Puglia & Matera

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Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

For flights call us on 0203 733 5948 or enquire when booking online

Regional flights available

Competitive flight prices

Specialist Flight Support

ATOL protected

Itinerary

Matera Lecce

The town of Matera is a real jewel of southern Italy, and our hotel is just a short walk from the historic centre. There is usually time in the afternoon to wander through the narrow alleys of the town’s Unesco-listed cave-dwelling district and enjoy the unique atmosphere of this enchanting city.

For millennia, inhabitants of this region have carved dwellings directly into ravines and gullies made of tuff (or tufa), a characteristic honey-coloured soft stone. These houses are called Sassi and are a Unesco World Heritage site. Matera is the only place in the world where people still live in the same houses as their ancestors did 9,000 years ago.

We’ll also enjoy a welcome briefing today – the perfect chance to meet the group and your expert tour leader.

Accommodation: Hotel Il Belvedere (or similar)

On leaving Matera, we pedal through the area that makes this town so special. Today’s ride is mostly hilly with gentle ascents throughout, as we cycle on quiet rural roads among the picturesque Apulian countryside towards Alberobello. We’ll pass the lovely towns of Noci and Gioia del Colle plus fairytale trulli houses that have made the historic centre of Alberobello another World Heritage site.

Accommodation: Traditional trulli houses or Colle del Sole (or similar)

Distance covered: 43mi (69km)

Ascent: 2,005ft (611m); Descent: 1,949ft (594m)

Meals included: Breakfast

Today we cycle through the lush Valle d’Itria, one of the prettiest cultural and natural landscapes in southern Italy, to the hilltop town of Ostuni. The route is rolling throughout but much shorter than yesterday’s ride. This allows us to enjoy the views at a more leisurely pace with plenty of opportunities for rest stops. Along the way we pass the wine town of Locorotondo and Cisternino, both known for their historic centres filled with whitewashed houses, narrow streets, churches and elegant piazzas. In the afternoon, we reach Ostuni, known as the White City thanks to the dazzling effect of its white buildings.

Accommodation: Masseria Valente (or similar)

Distance covered: 24mi (39km)

Ascent: 1,339ft (408m); Descent: 2,005ft (611m)

Meals included: Breakfast

We continue pedalling through tranquil country lanes to the town of Francavilla Fontana and on to Oria. A popular destination among Apulians, Oria is famous for its 13th-century castle and delightful historic centre of cobbled streets, whitewashed walls and beautiful architecture. We continue through the countryside to a masseria, a typical Apulian converted farmhouse and our accommodation for the night. The masseria is still a working farm and most of the produce grown here, from vegetables to olives and wheat, is used daily for the preparation of local dishes. Before dinner we will have the opportunity to taste some organic olive oil produced by the family that runs the farm and accommodation.

Accommodation: Masseria Bosco/Masseria Strazzati (or similar)
Upgrade to a junior-suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Distance covered: 38mi (61km)

Ascent: 807ft (246m); Descent: 1,276ft (389m)

Meals included: Breakfast

From the masseria we cycle towards the Ionian Coast and the beautiful town of Gallipoli, known as the Ionian Pearl with its old town on a rocky island offering fantastic views both to north and south. The town itself has many churches and narrow alleys and was the largest exporter of lamp oil made from olives in the 17th and 18th centuries. There are plenty of opportunities for swimming in the Ionian sea near the popular seaside resort of Porto Cesareo (weather permitting).

Accommodation: 33Baroni/Palazzo Piro/Hotel Fly (or similar)
Upgrade to a suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Distance covered: 36mi (58km)

Ascent: 899ft (274m); Descent: 1,096ft (334m)

Meals included: Breakfast

Leaving the Ionian Sea behind, we head across the peninsula to the Adriatic sea and the ancient Messapian town of Otranto, the easternmost point in Italy. Before dinner there will be time at leisure to explore the medieval town centre. Here the interesting architecture, views, sea-front restaurants and white sandy beaches make it one of the most picturesque towns in Puglia.

Accommodation: Vittoria Resort (or similar)
Upgrade to a superior or deluxe room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Distance covered: 44mi (71km)

Ascent: 1,824ft (556m); Descent: 1,775ft (541m)

Meals included: Breakfast

Today we follow the shoreline through innumerable olive groves to Lecce, the baroque masterpiece of southern Italy, in the heart of Puglia. Sometimes described as the Florence of the South, the city is an architectural gem, with sumptuous palazzi and churches. Today’s ride is relatively short and easy, giving us time to stop for a last swim (seasonal) in Torre dell’Orso, a lovely bay surrounded by limestone cliffs with many ancient caves to discover. In Lecce, there will be free time to explore the historic centre before an optional farewell dinner.

Accommodation: Hotel delle Palme/Hotel Eos (or similar)

Distance covered: 34mi (54km)

Ascent: 955ft (291m); Descent: 804ft (245m)

Meals included: Breakfast

We enjoy our final breakfast of the adventure this morning. But if you’d like an extra day in Lecce to soak up the atmosphere of this elegant baroque city, contact your sales representative to arrange post-tour accommodation.

Meals included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Is this trip for you?

This trip is classified Road and Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

Six days of cycling
Average 37mi (60km) per day
Terrain and route: 99 percent paved road, with a couple of very short sections of gravel

Most of the cycling is along flat to hilly paved roads with a few steady ascents and descents along the way, so a reasonably good fitness level is required. Road conditions are generally good, but the roads may be pot-holed in places. A support vehicle (with only two passenger seats) is available throughout the trip, it can’t follow the group at all times but it will meet you at the end of cycle paths and at junctions to give route directions and allow access to any items you don’t wish to carry on the bike.

Some roads on the trip will be busy, particularly in June to September when Italians traditionally take their holidays and drive to the seaside. The most challenging cycling is on Day 2, when we cover approximately 43mi (69km) and there is an ascent of 2,162ft (659m). Be prepared for high temperatures during the summer months, when 30C (86F) in the daytime can be expected.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Joining Instructions

Key information

Start hotel: Hotel Il Belvedere, Via Casalnuovo, 133, 75100 Matera MT
Phone: +39 0835 311702
Recommended arrival time: There will be a welcome briefing around 5.30pm at the start hotel; if you arrive later, the tour leader can give you a shortened version the following morning
Airport: Bari (BRI)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately a one-hour drive from the airport. Your options for this journey are:

Take a group transfer

We provide one group transfer from the airport to the hotel, which you can join at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.

Make your own way

You can reach the start hotel relatively easily on public transport. From Bari Aiport, catch the Pugliairbus bus service to the stop in Matera. The journey takes 1hr 15min and tickets cost €6 from www.aeroportidipuglia.it/en/bus-pugliairbus-/. The hotel is then a 20-minute walk or 10-minute cab away.

Catching your return flight

There’s one group transfer to the airport, which you can join at no extra cost. Please speak to your sales representative for the time of the transfer. If the group transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative.

Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.

Location start: Matera
Location end: Lecce

Vaccinations and Health

Italy

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Passport

Remember to check the expiration date of your passport if travelling internationally. Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after the date of your scheduled return.

Visa

Italy

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Italy. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/italy
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/italy
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Italy.html

Please note: it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times in Italy.

Food & Drink

Seven breakfasts are included and usually consist of a continental-style buffet. A typical hotel breakfast consists of toast/bread with jam, cereal, cheese and ham (occasionally), served with coffee, tea, milk, orange juice, fruit, cake and yoghurt.

Lunches are normally arranged as picnics or taken in small cafes along the route. You may opt in to a lunch kitty (€50-€80, depending on the weather/season) to cover the cost of these lunches. The tour leader will collect cash at the welcome meeting and the kitty also covers local city taxes. If you choose not to opt in, the local city taxes should be paid directly to each hotel on check-in.

Vegetarians and people with special dietary requirements can be catered for but please inform us of your requests prior to travel.

In Puglia, you will find authentic regional cooking with strong links to the land and sea – think orecchiette pasta served with a turnip-tops sauce or fresh tomato and sheep’s ricotta cheese, cavatelli with pulses, grilled fish and seafood, burrata, and excellent wines. This region is a paradise for food lovers.

Weather

Puglia enjoys a wonderful Mediterranean climate with year-round sunshine and just enough rainfall to ensure a lush landscape. Although Puglia covers a large area it is long and narrow, never more than 19mi (30km) across, which allows the sea breeze to have a moderating effect on the weather.

TRIP

MWV2 - Cycling Puglia & Matera

Departure Date

Number Of Passengers*

Message*

To enquire about an existing booking click here

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone *

Keep me up to date with news and offers from Exodus by email.

Thank you for contacting Exodus Travels.

Find out more about how we use your data

Request a Brochure

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

Hotels and masserias

We aim to secure locally owned accommodation that is well located, offers good value for money, and plenty of comfort. To help you find your ideal adventure, each trip is given a Comfort Level rating, which indicates the overall standard of accommodation. For more on our ratings, see our Comfort Level guidelines.

Worth knowing

Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.
Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we room solo passengers together. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.
Room upgrades: Upgrade your room on Day 4, 5, and 6 this itinerary – speak to your sales representative for more details.