Cycling Puglia & Matera
8 Days Starting in Matera and ending in Lecce
Visiting: Italy
Tour operator:
Tour code:
MWV
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 16
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishActivities:
Tour Overview
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
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start Matera
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 Belvedere (or similar)
Day 2 : Ride Past The Historic Sassi Houses Of Matera Before Heading To Alberobello
Meals Included: Breakfast
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 Unesco World Heritage site. Overnight in Alberobello.
Day 3 : Cycle Through The Lush Valle D'itria, Past The Fairytale Trulli Houses To The Hilltop Town Of Ostuni
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. Overnight in Ostuni.
Day 4 : Ride Through Quaint Villages And Country Lanes To A Typical Masseria (Renovated Farmhouse) Where We Spend The Night
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. Overnight in Avetrana.
Day 5 : Cycle To The Coast And Swim In The Crystal-Clear Sea Before Continuing Towards Gallipoli With Its Old Town On A Rocky Island
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). Overnight in Gallipoli.
Day 6 : Head Towards The Adriatic Sea And The Ancient Town Of Otranto
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. Overnight in Otranto.
Day 7 : Continue Along The Shoreline To The Beautiful Baroque City Of Lecce
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. Overnight in Lecce.
Day 8 : End Lecce
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.
What's Included
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All breakfasts
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All accommodation
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All transport and listed activities
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Tour leader throughout
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Local bike hire
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Group arrival and departure transfers available
What's Not Included
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Travel insurance
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Single accommodation (available on request)
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Visas or vaccinations
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Local city taxes (approximately €10)
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E-bike hire
Food
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.
Accommodation
Throughout this town-to-town cycling trip, we use three- and four-star hotels and renovated traditional buildings, which have been selected for their location, comfort and character.
Below are the hotels we typically use.
Matera: Hotel Belvedere, Residence Casalnuovo, Matera in Vacanza, or Hotel San Domenico al Piano (night 1)
Alberobello: Traditional trulli houses, Grand Hotel Olimpo or Colle del Sole (night 2)
Ostuni: Relais Sant’Eligio (night 3)
Avetrana: Masseria Bosco (night 4)
Gallipoli: Hotel 33 Baroni (night 5)
Otranto: Hotel Albània or Vittoria Resort (night 6)
Lecce: Hotel Eos or Hotel delle Palme (night 7)
For many, our standout stay is Masseria Bosco (above), a bucolic farm estate with original stone buildings. Our groups often head straight for the swimming pool (perhaps picking up a wine or beer en route), where there’s an inviting set of sun loungers. Alternatively, you may want to wander around the working farm, enjoying a peaceful moment among the olive groves. Dinner is held where the animals were once kept. It’s a celebration of Pulian produce with much of the ingredients grown on the farm – make sure to sample their delicious range of olive oils and homemade wines.
Worth knowing
Due to the limited capacity of hotels in Matera we are not able to confirm the definite start hotel for each departure far in advance, and the group may occasionally be split across different accommodations of similar standards.
You can contact your sales representative two weeks before departure if you wish to receive the up-to-date hotels list for your trip.
Check out our Q&As
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
There are no specific health risks.
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Are flights included in this tour?
International flights are not included with this tour.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes.
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
If you would like to be paired with a tour member of the same gender, there is no additional charge. A single supplement can be requested if you would like your own room.
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What is the maximum group size?
16
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Do you require a visa for this holiday?
No visa required for British passport holders.
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Minimum 16 years old people can go on this tour
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
We are happy to assist with pre and post tour accommodation. Please enquire for detailed information.
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Who is Exodus Travels?
At Exodus Travels, we've been exploring the world for nearly 50 years. From Walking and Trekking, Cultural and Cycling, Responsible Wildlife, to Polar and our new Premium Adventures, we are proud to offer award-winning small group and self-guided tours to 100+ countries worldwide.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.