Included: 8-day self-guided Puglia bike tour Accommodation for 7 nights in 3 and 4-star hotels, B&Bs, and guesthouses (in shared twin or double ensuite rooms) All breakfasts Local representative with a welcome meeting (either in person or via video call) Access to an app for information and navigation Luggage transfers Round-trip airport transfers to/from Bari Airport (BRI) on designated arrival and departure day Add-ons: Bike rental — $310 for hybrid bike, $505 for e-bike Single supplement — $545 Hotel upgrade (based on double occupancy) — $410 Single supplement for the hotel upgrade — $710 Not included: Transportation to Italy Meals not listed in the itinerary Personal clothing and equipment Personal expenditure (souvenirs, bar bills, hotel facilities, etc.) Entrance fees to museums and other attractions enroute Train tickets from Ostuni to Lecce on Day 6 (€10 approximately) Possible city tax to be paid locally in cash (€15 approximately) Guide gratuities — optional Travel and medical insurance — optional *Please note that accommodations are subject to availability and it may not be possible to book the exact accommodations listed day-by-day in the itinerary (in case there is a detailed list).

How fit do I need to be and what’s the terrain like?

Fitness and experience This self-guided Puglia bike tour is beginner-friendly ! If you can cover daily distances between 15-30 miles (24-48 km) , you’re good to go. More day-by-day information is found in the itinerary. In general, there will be no high altitude ascents or steep climbs. If you’re a semi-regular rider (maybe commuting to work or doing some leisure rides on the weekends), look no further. Terrain and roads You’ll ride on a mixture of flat and rolling countryside, mainly on quiet country roads . Some roads will have local traffic leading into the towns, but generally the roads in Puglia are quiet. Please be aware that some roads in this area are not in a great condition. While the majority of the route is gentle, Day 2 sees some short, steep climbs, and Day 3 will be the toughest, with the longest distance and some cheeky climbs. This might be challenging, but still very doable for semi-regular riders! Hybrid bikes are recommended for this tour. Road, gravel, and e-bikes are also suitable . E-bikes will make the cheeky climbs a bit more manageable! It’s also a good option when it comes to the warm summer months. E-bikes also come in handy if you want to spend more time exploring the towns and villages along the way.

What do I need to bring?

Here’s what you’ll need: Bike — available to rent Helmet — available to rent Comfortable, season-appropriate riding or athletic clothing, preferably moisture wicking or synthetic material Padded shorts Peaked helmet Sneakers or sport shoes Breathable outside layer or jacket Sunglasses Plenty of water, water bottle or hydration bladder Daypack with snacks Biking gloves are optional but recommended Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.) Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

What are the rental bikes like?

If you don’t own a suitable bike or would prefer to avoid bringing your own, your guides have bikes available to rent. These bikes are typically Specialized Crosstrail Sport hybrid bikes (or equivalent) for $310. E-bikes are also available, these will typically be Atala B Tour E-Bikes (or equivalent) for $505. Rental bikes will be provided with a pannier rack and 1 bag, a tool kit, a spare inner tube, a bike lock, a bike pump, and a phone mount . If you choose to bring your own e-bike, on any of departures, please contact us so we can discuss the bike specification and ensure it is suitable for the tour. Helmets can be provided locally on request. If you would like us to organise this please request a helmet at the time of booking.

What is a self-guided tour?

A self-guided tour is an independent exploration without a formal guide leading the way. Instead of being part of a group with a tour leader, you will navigate the tour yourself, using resources provided by the operator, such as maps, guidebooks, audio guides, or digital apps. By going on this self-guided Puglia bike tour, you’ll have lots of things arranged for you, making your cycling experience a lot less stressful and a lot more enjoyable: accommodation at 3 and 4-star hotels , B&Bs, and guesthouses all breakfasts airport transfers app for information and navigation luggage transfers local representative for a welcome meeting After you get transferred to Gravina and once you’ve talked to a local representative, the self-guided tour starts! Keep in mind that your guides offer support along the way should you need anything.

Group sizes and age requirements

Group sizes and pricing For this self-guided Puglia bike tour, the maximum group size is generally set to 15 participants. It takes a minimum of 2 people for this self-guided tour to operate. Please note that your chosen dates for the tour are not guaranteed until confirmed by the guide. If the guide is unable to secure your preferred dates/accommodation, you’ll get a full refund! Puglia bike tours can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements. Min. age requirements If you are older than 18, you’re good to go. Children as young as 10 are able to go on trips with a legal guardian. They may be able to participate on a case-by-case basis. If your group has riders under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

Getting there and meeting location

To get to the Puglia region of Italy, fly into Bari Airport (BRI) . Airport transfers on designated arrival and departure days are included in the cost of your tour. Please note that if you make travel arrangements outside the scheduled transfer windows, there may be an additional charge for individual transfers.

Safety measures in Italy

Medical and travel protection are mandatory on this adventure. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible , simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner ! Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered. Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!

PUGLIA | ITALY

Self-Guided Cycling Tour of the Heel of Italy: Discover Puglia

5.00

Olives with Alberobello in the background

Intro
Brochure
Reviews
Things to know

Duration

8 days

Season

April through October

Accommodation

Three-star hotels, B&Bs, and guesthouses

Self-guided tour

Accommodation, breakfasts, app with navigation and information, luggage and airport transfers arranged for you

Having orecchiette pasta for lunch, riding through sun-soaked olive groves, sipping on Aperol Spritz, exploring towns that you thought existed only in paintings… Sounds like a dream? It doesn’t have to be. This is just a tiny portion of what you can expect if you go on this 8-day self-guided bike tour of Italy’s southeast—the fairytale Puglia region. Not to mention it’s far less crowded than Rome, Florence, Tuscany… In Puglia you’ll find beauty all around you, whether it’s the purple bougainvilleas in the trulli (smurfs-like huts) capital of Alberobello or the caves of ravine-carved Matera. This trip will stay with you for life and you’ll want to come back to the heel of Italy again and again.

Adventure highlights

Food is a good enough reason to come here

Try orecchiette pasta, burrata cheese, focaccias, pasticciotto dessert, frisella bread… And many other tasty Italian dishes
Feel the salty breeze while basking in the sun

We’ll pedal through both the pastoral and lush countryside as well as discover the coast
Discover Puglia’s best-ofs by bike

Visit Polignano a Mare, Alberobello, Matera, Lecce, Gravina, Ostuni… Incredibly unique and spectacular places

Highlighted reviews from other travellers

Linda

We have never done anything like this before . What an experience and what a great company to do it with. So supportive. The bikes were excellent. We have very limited cycling experience but they were good quality bikes , well maintained with excellent panniers and front boxes. We had a really thorough briefing from the man who delivered the bikes. Nothing was left unanswered. We had a puncture on day 2 and had to ring the office for a replacement inner tube. Lady on the phone was English so language wasn’t a problem and she arranged a replacement to be delivered . Comforting to know the system for help worked.

Michael

A well planned route to see all the most attractive areas and old towns in Southern Puglia. We expected a lot and were not disappointed. We will always remember the historic centres, the Trulli House and abundance of wild flowers – more than we have ever seen in Spring anywhere. All the hotels were located close to historical town village centres where there was always a good choice of restaurants for evening dinner. Breakfasts were always good and staff always helpful. The bikes arrived on time and everything was fully explained. We did not have any troubles with bikes or luggage or anything.

Lara

Very well organised and support provided excellent. The final day along the coast was my favourite!

Show all reviews

Self-Guided Cycling Tour of the Heel of Italy: Discover Puglia

Adventure Brochure

Brochure sent, check your inbox

If you have questions or need help with planning a trip, schedule a call with one of our adventure experts.

Meet your guide

5.00

Saddle Skedaddle

Saddle Skedaddle was founded by a couple of MTB pros (Paul and Andrew) while trapped in a snowstorm during their year-long biking adventure in Chile. They believe travel should move you and that there’s no better way to see a place properly—its people, culture, and natural wonders—than by bike. Saddle Skedaddle currently runs tours in 36 destinations, offering adventure junkies incredible places to tour on two wheels.

5.00(3 reviews)

Linda

Michael

Lara

Very well organised and support provided excellent. The final day along the coast was my favourite!

Show all reviews

Linda

Michael

Lara

Very well organised and support provided excellent. The final day along the coast was my favourite!

Things to know

Included:
- - 8-day self-guided Puglia bike tour
  - Accommodation for 7 nights in 3 and 4-star hotels, B&Bs, and guesthouses (in shared twin or double ensuite rooms)
  - All breakfasts
  - Local representative with a welcome meeting (either in person or via video call)
  - Access to an app for information and navigation
  - Luggage transfers
  - Round-trip airport transfers to/from Bari Airport (BRI) on designated arrival and departure day
Add-ons:
- - Bike rental — $310 for hybrid bike, $505 for e-bike
  - Single supplement — $545
  - Hotel upgrade (based on double occupancy) — $410
  - Single supplement for the hotel upgrade — $710
Not included:
- - Transportation to Italy
  - Meals not listed in the itinerary
  - Personal clothing and equipment
  - Personal expenditure (souvenirs, bar bills, hotel facilities, etc.)
  - Entrance fees to museums and other attractions enroute
  - Train tickets from Ostuni to Lecce on Day 6 (€10 approximately)
  - Possible city tax to be paid locally in cash (€15 approximately)
  - Guide gratuities — optional
  - Travel and medical insurance — optional
*Please note that accommodations are subject to availability and it may not be possible to book the exact accommodations listed day-by-day in the itinerary (in case there is a detailed list).
Fitness and experience

This self-guided Puglia bike tour is beginner-friendly! If you can cover daily distances between 15-30 miles (24-48 km), you’re good to go. More day-by-day information is found in the itinerary. In general, there will be no high altitude ascents or steep climbs. If you’re a semi-regular rider (maybe commuting to work or doing some leisure rides on the weekends), look no further.

Terrain and roads
- - You’ll ride on a mixture of flat and rolling countryside, mainly on quiet country roads. Some roads will have local traffic leading into the towns, but generally the roads in Puglia are quiet. Please be aware that some roads in this area are not in a great condition.
  - While the majority of the route is gentle, Day 2 sees some short, steep climbs, and Day 3 will be the toughest, with the longest distance and some cheeky climbs. This might be challenging, but still very doable for semi-regular riders!
  - Hybrid bikes are recommended for this tour. Road, gravel, and e-bikes are also suitable. E-bikes will make the cheeky climbs a bit more manageable! It’s also a good option when it comes to the warm summer months. E-bikes also come in handy if you want to spend more time exploring the towns and villages along the way.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- - Bike — available to rent
  - Helmet — available to rent
  - Comfortable, season-appropriate riding or athletic clothing, preferably moisture wicking or synthetic material
  - Padded shorts
  - Peaked helmet
  - Sneakers or sport shoes
  - Breathable outside layer or jacket
  - Sunglasses
  - Plenty of water, water bottle or hydration bladder
  - Daypack with snacks
  - Biking gloves are optional but recommended
  - Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
If you don’t own a suitable bike or would prefer to avoid bringing your own, your guides have bikes available to rent. These bikes are typically Specialized Crosstrail Sport hybrid bikes (or equivalent) for $310. E-bikes are also available, these will typically be Atala B Tour E-Bikes (or equivalent) for $505.

Rental bikes will be provided with a pannier rack and 1 bag, a tool kit, a spare inner tube, a bike lock, a bike pump, and a phone mount.

If you choose to bring your own e-bike, on any of departures, please contact us so we can discuss the bike specification and ensure it is suitable for the tour.

Helmets can be provided locally on request. If you would like us to organise this please request a helmet at the time of booking.
A self-guided tour is an independent exploration without a formal guide leading the way. Instead of being part of a group with a tour leader, you will navigate the tour yourself, using resources provided by the operator, such as maps, guidebooks, audio guides, or digital apps.

By going on this self-guided Puglia bike tour, you’ll have lots of things arranged for you, making your cycling experience a lot less stressful and a lot more enjoyable:
- - accommodation at 3 and 4-star hotels , B&Bs, and guesthouses
  - all breakfasts
  - airport transfers
  - app for information and navigation
  - luggage transfers
  - local representative for a welcome meeting
After you get transferred to Gravina and once you’ve talked to a local representative, the self-guided tour starts! Keep in mind that your guides offer support along the way should you need anything.
Group sizes and pricing
- - For this self-guided Puglia bike tour, the maximum group size is generally set to 15 participants.
  - It takes a minimum of 2 people for this self-guided tour to operate.
  - Please note that your chosen dates for the tour are not guaranteed until confirmed by the guide. If the guide is unable to secure your preferred dates/accommodation, you’ll get a full refund!
Puglia bike tours can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements
- - If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  - Children as young as 10 are able to go on trips with a legal guardian. They may be able to participate on a case-by-case basis.
If your group has riders under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to the Puglia region of Italy, fly into Bari Airport (BRI). Airport transfers on designated arrival and departure days are included in the cost of your tour. Please note that if you make travel arrangements outside the scheduled transfer windows, there may be an additional charge for individual transfers.
Medical and travel protection are mandatory on this adventure. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!

Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
A non-refundable $250 deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 2 months (60 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.
- - If the Client cancels the Booking anytime prior to sixty (60) calendar days in advance of the trip contemplated by the booking, the Client will forfeit the deposit.
  - For cancellations thirty (30) to sixty (60) calendar days in advance, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of fifty percent (50%) of the trip price.
  - If you cancel your booking less than thirty (30) calendar days prior to the departure date, Client is not entitled to any refund.
If you need to cancel the trip, please contact us in writing. If you wish to transfer a booking to another person, please write to us at least seven (7) days before your trip. Administration charges may arise.