Overview

Welcome to your Puglia bike tour! Your Trek Travel guides will give you a warm welcome at the Bari train station at 11:00 AM. After a 45-minute private shuttle, you'll arrive at Masseria Garrappa, an ancient masseria close to the Adriatic Sea, to enjoy a homemade gourmet lunch prepared by the owner’s mother. Afterward, your guides will ensure a comfortable fit on your Trek bike before we wind our way through quiet roads surrounded by olive trees to our hotel. Take some time to wander its beautiful grounds before gathering for an aperitivo on the hotel terrace. This evening you‘ll enjoy dinner at the hotel’s acclaimed farm-to-table bistro that highlights the best of Puglia’s deeply rooted cucina povera.

Overview

After a hearty breakfast, you’ll head out into the countryside surrounded by vineyards, olive trees, and the ubiquitous trulli. Take a moment to get an up-close look at some of these ancient stone structures. Back on the bike, you will cycle through the charming Cisternino to Alberobello, home to over a thousand trulli and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a delicious lunch while watching pasta being prepared right in front of you and afterward our friend Francesco, a knowledgeable local guide, will walk you through the narrow streets of Alberobello and immerse you in history and culture. Not only will you learn why this village is so special, he’ll also be sure to make you laugh along the way. You can then choose to shuttle back to the hotel to enjoy the pool or the spa, or enjoy a scenic ride back. Tonight, enjoy dinner on your own at one of the many exceptional restaurants tucked throughout the beautiful white-washed streets of Ostuni.

Overview

Today you’ll cycle your way along the Adriatic coast to the small sea-side village of Torre Cane where we will enjoy a café by the sea before continuing our ride through the ancient olive groves. We’ll make our way to see our dear friend, Corrado, a seventh-generation olive oil maker. We will tour his grounds filled with olive trees that have been producing for over 3,000 years. Afterward, we’ll enjoy a tasting of his distinctive olive oils and perhaps pick up a tin or two for a memorable souvenir before riding back to our hotel in la Città Bianca. This afternoon is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Have lunch on your own in the old town, browse the charming shops, or wander the narrow, winding streets. Later, relax by the pool or indulge in the spa. This evening, roll up your sleeves for a hands-on culinary experience. Our chef will guide you in the art of making orecchiette, a handmade pasta that is a beloved specialty of Puglia. Then we’ll sit down together to enjoy the fruits of our labor for dinner, paired with a tasting of regional Apulian wines.

Overview

This morning, after the perfect cappuccino and warm cornetto, we’ll leave the tranquil surroundings of the val d'itria and take a 1.5 hour shuttle to Torre Sant'Andrea, where you will ride along the coastline of the Adriatic, enjoying views of rocky beaches and brilliant blue waters and if you choose, a dip in these warm waters. Your lunch destination is the farm of Torre Sant'Emiliano, our favorite cheese artisan. Here, you’ll learn about the traditions of cheese making and aging from the master cheese maker, followed by a delicious cheese tasting lunch. This afternoon, choose to ride or shuttle back to the hotel a historic 16th-century palazzo: the 5-star Palazzo Ducale Venturi. This afternoon relax and unwind by the pool, or enjoy the spa. Tonight, we’ll board a private shuttle to Otranto where we’ll dine at a favorite bistro that specializes in fresh local seafood and ribbons of homemade pasta paired with the region’s best wines.

Overview

The sea is never out of sight today, as we make our way along with some of the most breathtaking coastline in all of Italy. To your right, stone fences crafted centuries ago from local limestone adorn windswept fields, while the shimmering clear waters of the Ionian Sea beckon from your left. You‘ll ride to Ciolo, almost at the southernmost tip of Puglia, where you'll stop to enjoy a seaside lunch of your choice. Afterward, jump back on your bike and continue your seaside explorations. You may also choose to shuttle back to the hotel, where you can enjoy a relaxing afternoon by the pool or visit the spa. This evening, we’ll toast to our exquisite Puglia bike tour as we enjoy a poolside aperitivo and gourmet dinner at the hotel.

Overview

On the final day of your Puglia trip, linger over a hot cappuccino and soak in the gorgeous views from the breakfast terrace. Your Trek Travel guides will say farewell at the hotel at 9:30 AM before you board a private shuttle to Lecce Train Station to arrive around 10:30 AM.