La Puglia bike tour, from Matera to Lecce

May 23rd, September 3rd

Departure day

Italy

Destination

Intermediate, Advanced

Difficulty level

The Puglia Bike Tour

The Puglia Bike Tour takes place in southeastern Italy, a region renowned for its diverse and picturesque landscapes. The scenery changes beautifully along the route, ranging from sprawling ancient olive groves and fertile vineyards to stunning cliffs and crystal-clear beaches on both the Adriatic and Ionian Seas.

In the heart of Puglia, extensive plains provide ideal conditions for agriculture—especially the production of olive oil, which is an integral part of the region’s economy, heritage, and daily life. In fact, the olive groves here are some of the oldest and most productive in all of Italy!

Towards the coast, Puglia offers an array of breathtaking maritime views, from white-sand beaches to dramatic rocky cliffs and fascinating sea caves. Iconic destinations such as Ostuni and Gallipoli stand out as popular stops noted for their striking natural beauty and historical heritage.

A Journey Steeped in Deep History

The region of Puglia boasts a rich history dating back to antiquity. Known as Apulia in ancient times, it was inhabited by diverse civilizations—including the Greeks, Romans, and Normans—each leaving an indelible mark. During the Greek period, colonies such as Taranto and Brindisi flourished as vital commercial and cultural hubs on the Adriatic Sea. Today, this profound heritage remains beautifully visible in the architecture, sculptures, gastronomy, agriculture, art, and local character.

You can discover the magic of “La Città Bianca” (The White City) through this helpful guide to Ostuni.

A Scenic Route from Matera to Lecce

This tour takes you mainly through the southeastern edge of Italy—the “heel of the boot.” Today, Puglia is celebrated worldwide for its stunning coastal vistas, rich culinary traditions, world-famous olive oil, and robust regional wines. This incredible mixture of landscapes and cultural heritage makes it a dream destination that attracts cyclists from all over the globe. Come join us on the Puglia Bike Tour for the ultimate Italian cycling adventure!

DEPARTURE/ARRIVAL	Bari, Italy
DEPARTING TIME	10 a.m. in Bari
SERVICES INCLUDED	GPS tracks to load into your device. (The GPS must be mounted on your bike’s handlebars and is not provided by the organization). Bilingual bike guide (Spanish/Italian/English/French) throughout the tour + local guide. Eight nights in 3 & 4-star hotels, double or triple occupancy, breakfast included. One night in a charming B&B, double or triple occupancy, breakfast included. Mechanical assistance (in case your bike breaks down). Travel medical insurance. Van transfer from Bari to Matera. Daily transportation of your luggage between accommodations. Official cycling jersey of the tour.
NOT INCLUDED	Meals not detailed in the program, drinks, and alcoholic beverages. Air tickets and transfers not detailed in the tour program. Bike parts, phone calls, laundry expenses, and personal expenses. Bike rental (hybrid, gravel, or e-bike options are available upon request).

Additional information

Location	Italy
Duration	10 days
Dates	May

Spectacular bike tour in the southeast of Italy, visiting Matera, Alberobello, Ostuni, Otranto, Manduria, Santa María di Leuca and Lecce.

Day 1: Meet & great at the chosen hotel in Bari

I recommend arriving early, so you can walk and explore the historic center of Bari. Bari Vecchia has been inhabited since ancient times and has passed through the hands of various empires and civilizations, including the Romans, Byzantines, Normans and Saracens. You cannot miss the opportunity to visit the Basilica of Saint Nicholas, which, built in the 11th century, houses the relics of Saint Nicholas, which were transferred here from Myra in Turkey. The historic center of Bari is famous for its vibrant local life. It is common to see older women making “orecchiette”, the region’s typical pasta, at the doors of their homes. At night, Bari Vecchia transforms into a place full of life, with numerous bars, restaurants and cafes offering a variety of options to enjoy. Getting lost in the maze of streets is a great plan!

Day 2: On our way to Matera!

La Puglia bike tour begins with a one and a half hour transfer from Bari to Matera. Matera, a city located in the Basilicata region, is known for its extraordinary history, architecture and unique landscapes that will take your breath away! Matera is surrounded by a stunning landscape of canyons and hills. The Murgia Materana Park offers opportunities for hiking and exploring more rock churches and prehistoric settlements. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Its origins date back to the Paleolithic era, and it has been inhabited for at least 9,000 years. The city is famous for its “Sassi”, ancient troglodyte settlements that were excavated in the limestone rock of the region. It has several viewpoints from which you can take true postcards. This day we will take the opportunity to condition the bicycles, leave them ready for the next day and receive an explanatory briefing about the journey

Day 3: Matera - Gioia del Colle - Alberobello

Today our ride begins! The departure from Matera is simply incredible, since as we ascend we will have the opportunity to take countless photographs or film videos. Once on the way, the route takes us along secondary asphalt routes with little traffic. After a few kilometers we leave Basilicata to enter La Puglia, where we will stay throughout the week. Today’s route is one of the most undulating of the journey…

Day 4: Alberobello - Ostuni

Once inside the Itria Valley, we set out on the way to Locorotondo through secondary routes with little use. The landscape that surrounds us alternates olive groves with vineyards! Locorotondo has a long history dating back to medieval times. Its name, which means “round place”, refers to the circular layout of its historic center. It offers impressive panoramic views of the Itria Valley. There are several viewpoints in the town where you can enjoy these views. From there we continue towards Martina Franca. Martina Franca has a history that dates back to medieval times…

Day 5: Ostuni - Manduria

La Puglia bike tour will start today in Ostuni, with its narrow, cobbled streets that wind between whitewashed houses with colorful doors and pots overflowing with geraniums. As you move away from the town, the landscape transforms into a sea of ancient olive trees, whose silver leaves shine in the sun. The path winds gently through the trees, giving you panoramic views of rolling hills dotted with vineyards and trulli. The air is filled with the aroma of Mediterranean herbs and the sweet smell of the fig trees that line the path…

Day 6: Manduria - Gallipolli

Departure to Gallipolli in one of the longest stages of the journey. After sixteen kilometers, we reach the Ionian Sea and for the rest of the day we will pedal along the sea. Twenty-one kilometers later, we will make a stop to hydrate ourselves in Porto Cesareo, famous for its long beaches of fine white sand and crystal clear waters. From Porto Cesareo to Gallipolli we have thirty-five kilometers left and along the way we will find imposing watchtowers from the 16th century, created to protect ourselves from Byzantine attacks…

Day 7: Gallipolli – Santa Maria di Leuca

Santa María di Leuca was “Finibus terrae” in ancient times, a bridge between east and west, since it is on its coasts that the Ionian Sea joins the Adriatic Sea. In the first twenty-one kilometers, we pedal along the sea. On today’s tour, we will pass through the historic and baroque centers of Ugento, Acquarica del Capo, Specchia and Alessano. Walking through the labyrinthine cobblestone streets of Alesano, you can admire the 15th-century Doge’s Palace, the Lègari Palace, the 17th-century Pyrrego Palace, and the Renaissance San Giovanni Palace. The last kilometers towards Santa María di Leuca are fantastic, as we are accompanied by terraced crops, ancient pircas and historical ruins…

Day 8: Santa Maria di Leuca - Otranto

This spectacular stage will take us through the beautiful Adriatic route. The beginning begins with an ascent of one hundred meters of elevation in less than two kilometers through internal streets and after eight kilometers, we see the Adriatic Sea in its entire splendor and we descend to route SP358 where we will ride for the rest of the day. The Adriatic coast of Puglia is made up of spectacular coves and rocks, always covered with a lot of vegetation such as fig trees and prickly pears, and where from time to time, spectacular caves appear. After twenty kilometers, we pass the Ponte Ciolo, from where we have a spectacular panorama of the cove and the sea. The route, always parallel to the sea, with ascents and descents, is very similar to the famous Amalfi Coast. There are many options to stop to refresh and recharge your batteries…

Day 9: Otranto - Lecce

We leave from Otranto and immediately pedal inland, momentarily moving away from the Adriatic Sea. Today we will take a short trip on a stone path. The tour takes us between “masserias” which are farms and fortified country houses from the 16th and 17th centuries that originally served as self-sufficient agricultural centers. After twenty-one kilometers we approach the sea again to see the Torre Sant’ Andrea, a paradisiacal place, with crystal clear water, where the sea and the wind have eroded and left cliffs, limestone pillars and arches that rise from the sea…

Day 10: Arrivederci Puglia!

The journey officially ends at 10am in Lecce. We recommend staying in the city for at least one more day to explore it and learn about its heritage. From Lecce you can travel from its train station to different places in Italy or to Brindisi’sAirport (the nearest airporto Lecce) to travel to other European cities.

Tour Reviews

5.00 based on 2 reviews

Robert

June 19, 2025

Greatly appreciate Mariano, Fermin, and the group for a fantastic Puglia experience. MTB on point again.

Catarina

June 19, 2025

Let’s be clear: I’m not a biker. I’m a spa robe, room service, sailing catamaran kind of woman. And yet—there I was, riding through Puglia, helmet on, cheeks flushed, chasing a man who thinks vacations should come with cramps.

Why?
Love, of course (for Martin),
and because of Mariano—the only man alive who can make a five-star hotel girl genuinely enjoy a weeklong picnic on wheels.

I rented an electric-assist bike because, well, sanity. Martin wanted to fight his war alone, and I had no interest in making it mine. But I was there every kilometer, every scenic little town that looked like it belonged in a Fellini film.

And I’ll say this: La Puglia is magic.
The ride was hard ),but the scenery was stunning, and the organization? Flawless. Mariano doesn’t just plot routes—he curates experiences. Hidden piazzas, wineries, cafes that didn’t even know they were expecting 20 soaked cyclists but somehow were. He weaves history into the ride like a professor in padded shorts. I don’t know many bike guides who can adjust your brakes and give you a mini-lecture on Normandia conquests. He can.
And then, his secret weapon: Fermin—former pro cyclist, Spanish cop.
, a professional peacekeeper that when Martin mouths off, Fermin steps in—calm.
Even on the last day—soaked, wind-whipped, borderline ridiculous—I felt lucky. Because I wasn’t just riding across Italy. I was storing images I’ll carry forever. Cat5-on-a-bike may not be a common sight, but La Puglia made it worth every mile.
Would I do it again?
If Martin asks nicely… and if Mariano is leading (with Fermin shadowing quietly behind him)?
Yes.
But I’m still keeping the e-bike.