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, Borgo Egnazia. Take some time to wander its beautiful grounds before gathering for an aperitivo on the hotel terrace. This evening you‘ll enjoy a wine-paired 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 to Alberobello, home to over a thousand trulli and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After a delightful lunch in town, 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 a dinner of your choosing at one of your hotels on-site restaurants.

Overview

Today you’ll cycle your way to a seventh generation olive oil makers grounds and mill, filled with olive trees that have been producing for over 3,000 years. Afterward, try the different olive oils and grab some tins for a memorable souvenir before riding to the destination of Ostuni, la Città Bianca, a whitewashed village high on a hill with astonishing views of the Adriatic Sea. There are great shops in the old town and narrow, winding streets that are enticing to explore. Enjoy lunch at the trattoria of your choice and afterward take a private shuttle to our 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, roll up your sleeves as we are joined by our own chef, who will lead us on a culinary journey and teach us the art of making focaccia bread and Minchiareddhri, a handmade pasta of Salento. We’ll enjoy the fruits of our labor for dinner all while tasting the wines of Apulia.

Overview

This morning, after the perfect cappuccino and warm cornetto, we’ll leave the tranquil surroundings of your hotel and take a short 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 to relax and refresh. 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.