Meander through a magical place.
We are currently upgrading our Apulia tour. Itinerary changes will appear soon. Contact us for more details.
Bike Apulia, Italy with Siciclando. This bike tour explores the “Heel of the Boot,” an area less traveled by most. Enjoy this easy bike tour with shorter routes that take you along picturesque fields, through ancient olive groves, and beside the sea. Here you will discover a variety of unique towns beginning with the spectacular Sassi cave dwellings of Matera, the charming fairy-like homes of Alberobello, the beautiful baroque architecture of Lecce, and the seaside villages of Ostuni and Otranto. Each day is a new biking adventure as you immerse yourself in the sweetness of Italy.
This Italian bike tour will begin in the neighboring region of Basilicata in the town of Matera where you will discover the Sassi and the Park of Rupestrian Churches. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Sassi are dwellings – both residential and religious – carved out of the rocky cliffs over centuries. They were inhabited until the 1950’s and then abandoned. They are now being renovated and occupied again. See the rugged beauty of this place. You will never forget it.
Cycle through the Murge Plateau, a territory that includes an astonishing variety of landscapes including caves, defensive strongholds, churches, and rock settlements. You will stay in the Itria Valley, characterized by groves of flourishing olive trees surrounded by stone walls typical of this area.
You will fall in love with the fairy-like trullo; round, conical shaped houses made completely of stone without mortar. They are centuries old and are lovely whether they appear solo in the fields or grouped together in the villages.
Our bike routes will also take us by the Apulian Coast, laced with long, sandy beaches, dunes and protected natural reserves. There are several traces of old Messapi civilizations where you will see rock settlements, watch towers, and castles.
You will head south to Salento and experience the sun and sea. The natural setting is striking with the land balanced between two seas. The cities and inland towns are charming expressions of the baroque style. The language, songs and feasts of this area still show the culture of Magna Graecia. Discover Grotta Zinzulusa, “the pearl of caves” with its name rooted in the word zinzuli (rags), used by fishermen referring to its beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.
- Cost
- € 2190 – € 2530 ($) see PRICING details below
- Duration
- 8 days/7 nights
- Start/End
- Matera/Otranto
- 2012 Start Dates
- May 3, May 13, June 3, September 15, September 22, October 4
Highlights of this Apulia bike tour
- Discover the Sassi of Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with centuries-old cave dwellings carved out of the steep rock cliffs and beautifully rugged rock churches with frescoes dating back to the 9th through 17th centuries.
- Visit the San Giuliano Lake, a peaceful natural oasis that has become the destination of many migratory birds from Africa. We suggest you take some time to enjoy bird watching — grey herons, cormorants, storks and fish hawks.
- Encounter the Crypt of Original Sin (with the oldest frescoes in the area). This is also called the “Sistine Chapel” of Rock Churches.
- Experience the magic of the Itria Valley and the round stone fairy-like trullo buildings in the fields as you reach the capital of trulli architecture, Alberobello.
- Bike Apulia along the breathtaking Adriatic Coast, through medieval hill towns, and among centuries-old olive groves.
- Explore Ostuni, the White town, and Lecce, the capitol of Baroque style in Apulia.
- Enjoy the charming town Otranto and the medieval mosaic in the Cathedral.
- Taste the local wines from Murgia and Salento.
- Enjoy local cuisine including fresh seafood, wonderful bread of Matera, Apulian olive oil, buttery local cheeses, and incredible pastries. Our picnics on this tour capture the food of this region.
- Watch some video highlights from this Apulia bike tour.
Day 1 – Welcome to the Apulia Tour!
Arrival to Matera is on your own. Once in Matera, you will take an afternoon tour of the UNESCO Sassi districts with one of our guides. For dinner you might look for one of the several restaurants carved out of the rock in the Sassi. Enjoy the flavors of regional cuisine in a unique setting. Overnight stay in Matera.
Day 2 – San Giuliano Lake and the Matera hills (22 miles/35 km)
This route will take you along a wonderful, peaceful road around the San Giuliano Lake. Stop at the Crypt of Original Sin with the oldest frescoes in the area. Back to Matera (pedalling or by van) and a free afternoon. Dinner on your own and another night in Matera.
Day 3 – Matera to Noci (39 miles/64 km)
We will leave Matera and head east towards the coast. Enjoy the beautiful pastures along the way. Accommodations will be in Noci at a beautiful trulli hotel – an old farm converted into a lovely, comfortable hotel with a relaxing pool. Enjoy!
Day 4 – On to Alberobello and Ostuni “the White Town” (28 miles/45 km)
Our route today will take us through the charming town of Alberobello, the capital town of trullo architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage site. After a self-tour of the town, we will continue through the Selva (forest) near Fasano, then along the Adriatic Coast to Ostuni. This town is an architectural jewel commonly referred to as “the White Town” because of its white-painted walls and buildings. We will stay overnight here to allow time to explore.
Day 5 – Transfer to Lecce (relaxing day/no biking)
Today, a little bit of pampering as we transfer to the beautiful Baroque town of Lecce. Enjoy a guided walking tour where we will taste puccia (local bread filled with salami or vegetables) or a pasticciotto (delicious pastry). Take time, at your own pace, to continue exploring the charm of this town – with many lovely buildings and churches. Relax with a massage at our five-star hotel.
Day 6 – Bike to Otranto (26 miles/42 km)
Bike along the coast towards our final destination of Otranto. This is a charming city surrounded by walls that protected the people and a castle. Be sure to visit the cathedral, a Romanesque-style building with mysterious mosaics. Overnight stay in Otranto.
Day 7 – Loop ride: Otranto – Porto Badisco –S. Cesarea – Otranto (22 miles/35 km)
Our sunny bike route will take you to the wild, eastern rocky coast of Southern Italy. It is a unique place where Turks and Greeks landed centuries ago. We will visit the Caves of Zinzulusa, stunning caves that face the clear waters of the Ionian Sea. The caves are known for unusual, twisted, limestone formations that hang from the ceiling. Back to Otranto for our final night and a farewell dinner together.
Day 8 – Departure Day
End of the tour.
Ciao!
Actual tour itinerary may vary slightly due to unforeseen circumstances.
Siciclando carefully chooses every aspect of a tour, including the accommodations.
Our choices are based on comfort and quality. We often choose hotels that are family-owned and operated because they provide a richer experience and because it is important to us to support the efforts of these individuals. We have developed relationships with many wonderful hotel operators. Here is a sample of the hotels on this tour.
Tour accommodations will be based on availability and the time of year. Once you have made your final payment for the tour, we will send you a confirmation letter that includes daily accommodations and contact information.
- Level of difficulty: Easy
- Apulia is flat. The only ascents you will find are getting in Matera, but just for few km. The roads are not busy (sometimes just near every village). These are old roads only used by local people and peasant. You will find some traffic around Lecce and Matera only.
- Why this tour
- The tour is an opportunity to enjoy the UNESCO heritage sites of Matera, with its Sassi district, and Alberobello, with the trulli houses. History and architecture are unique in every village, and landscape is typical of Southern Italy, with fortified farmhouses, olive groves, golden fields and the gorgeous coast around Otranto.
- Travel notes
- The reference airport for the tour is Bari. Low-cost airlines are offering good deals to Bari.
- Group tour price
-
- 4-5 people € 2530 per person
- 6-7 people € 2310 per person
- 8+ people € 2190 per person
- Additional options and fees
-
- High season surcharge – € 100 (effective July 1– August 31)
- Private room – € 265
- Hybrid Bike rental – € 100 (€ 15 each additional day), which includes 1 bike pannier per bike, helmets and a cycle computer.
- GPS rental – € 35 Garmin E-Trex Venture HC
- Visit the Crypt of Original Sin – € 8 per person
- Transfer rates per person (2 person minimum)
- Solo traveller (referred to Self guided option) – € 120,00
- Bari airport-Matera: € 45 (min. 2 people)
- Otranto-Bari airport: € 200 (up to 6 people)
- All extra transfer (between the hotels) requested: € 30
- Included
-
- One English-speaking trip leader
- Seven nights in double rooms, six nights in a 3 star hotel and one night in a 4 star hotel
- Seven breakfasts and one dinner
- Guided tour of Matera
- Guided tour of Lecce
- Baggage transportation between hotels
- Detailed route information and maps
- Van support
- Not included
-
- Admission to museums and archaeological sites
- Tickets for trains or any public transportation
- Wine or beverages
- Airfare
- Transfers to the starting point or from the finishing point unless specified; we can assist you in planning and arranging for any necessary shuttles
- Transport of bike case (for guests who bring their own bike)
- Personal expenses (laundry, personal supplies, phone calls, etc.)
- Gratuity
- Self-guided option
- This tour is also available as a self-guided option at a cost of € 1375 per person. This option includes:
- Seven nights in double rooms, six nights in a 3 star hotel and one night in a 4 star hotel
- Seven breakfasts and one dinner
- Welcome meeting (tour explanation)
- Baggage transportation between hotels
- Detailed route information and maps
- Telephone assistance
- Tour code
- AP
