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Trip Itinerary
Cycle in Salento and Matera along quiet roads, dramatic coasts, and ancient towns on Southern Italy’s most unforgettable bike tour.
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Where to Arrive
Airport:
Bari Airport (BRI) or Brindisi Airport(BDS)
Pick-up location:
Lecce Train Station
Pick-up time:
11:00 AM
Where to Depart
Airport:
Bari Airport (BRI) or Brindisi Airport(BDS)
Drop-off location:
Bari Centrale Train Station
Drop-off time:
12:15 PM
Additional Arrival Information
We suggest that you arrive at least one day prior to the start of your Puglia's Salento and Matera bike tour, which will enable you to adjust to the time zone and minimize the risk of missing the trip start due to flight-related delays. We recommend that you fly into Bari Airport (BRI) or Brindisi Airport (BDS) and then take the train to Lecce center. You can also fly into Rome (FCO).
The nearest airport to Lecce is Brindisi Airport (BDS). A shuttle bus runs to Lecce in about 40 minutes for approximately $10. Taxis are also available and take around 30–45 minutes, with fares starting at about $50. Visit www.salentotaxiservice.com for details.
Another option is to fly into Bari’s Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI), located about 100 miles from Lecce. From the airport, you can take a direct train to Lecce, which takes around two hours. Taxis are also available and also take roughly two hours, with fares starting around 200€. A convenient shuttle service from Bari Airport to Lecce is also offered by www.salentotaxiservice.com
If you plan to fly into Rome and take the train, there are five daily departures from Roma Termini station to Bari. The trip takes 4-5 hours on the Eurostar Italia. Tickets start around 40€ and can be purchased on www.trenitalia.com.
Your Trek Travel guides will meet you in front of the main entrance of the Lecce Train Station (Piazzale Oronzo Massari, 73100 Lecce LE, Italy) at 11:00 AM on the first day of your trip. We’ll then shuttle 45 minutes to our scenic start in Torre dell'Orso. Please have your first day cycling clothes and riding gear easily accessible, packed separate from your main luggage. We’ll enjoy an Italian style bistro lunch together before being fit to your Trek bicycle. After, we will set off on our first ride together.
If you will be late for the pick-up or are going to miss it altogether, please inform your guides. If you cannot reach them, please call your first hotel, Le Capase Resort (+39 0836 954194) and leave a message with your expected arrival time and contact details. Taxis from the train station in Lecce are often available but arranging a transfer would be easiest. The ride to our trip start will take approximately 45 minutes and will cost between 80€ and 120€.
Additional Departure Information
You will say farewell to your guides at 10:45 AM at Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita. You’ll then take a private shuttle to the train station in Bari (Piazza Aldo Moro 51, Bari, Italy), arriving by 12:15 PM. Please do not book flights before 3:00 PM allowing adequate connection time for any ongoing travel or possible traffic delays.
Welcome to Puglia! Ride along the sparkling Adriatic coast
Overview
Welcome to your Salento and Matera bike tour! Your Trek Travel guides will meet you at the Lecce Train Station at 11:00 AM. After a 45-minute private shuttle to Ristorante Oriente in Torre dell'Orso, enjoy a gourmet lunch with sweeping views of the turquoise Adriatic. Afterward, your guides will fit you to your Trek bike before your first ride—an inspiring coastal route that winds south along quiet roads to the clifftop retreat of Le Capase Resort. Take time to explore the serene property before gathering for a sunset aperitivo on the terrace. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel’s renowned Terrazzo Paradiso, where fresh, local seafood showcases the rich culinary heritage of Puglia.
Hotel
Le Capase Resort
Meals included
Lunch | Social Hour | Dinner
Highlight of the Day
Turquoise waters and limestone cliffs of Torre Sant'Andrea
Enjoy endless views of the Adriatic and striking coastal cliffs, including the photogenic rock formations of Torre Sant'Andrea.
Ride Options
Ride Option 1
TODAY'S RIDE:
Torre Dell'Orso to Le Capase Resort - Approximately 21 mi | 33 km and 984 ft | 300 m
Step into Salento’s past at Masseria Le Stanzie and learn the spirited Pizzica dance
Overview
Wake to the sunrise shimmering over the Adriatic and enjoy a cappuccino and fresh breakfast on the terrace. Today’s ride ventures inland through quiet country lanes and groves of centuries-old olive trees to Masseria Le Stanzie. Nestled in a fertile valley beneath the Serra di Supersano, this working farmhouse—dating back to the 1500s—is one of the oldest in the region. You’ll enjoy a memorable lunch of traditional Pugliese dishes, rich with local history and flavor, before riding or shuttling back to Le Capase for a relaxing afternoon. This evening, join a lively Pizzica dance lesson—a tradition of Salento—followed by a casual group dinner featuring regional favorites.
Hotel
Le Capase Resort
Meals included
Breakfast I Lunch I Dinner
Highlight of the Day
Featured Meal | Masseria Le Stanzie
Step into Masseria Le Stanzie, where hanging tomatoes, hand-rolled pasta, and wood-fired breads create a rustic, unforgettable experience.
Ride Options
Ride Option 1
TODAY'S RIDE:
Le Capase to Le Stanzie and Return - Approximately 36 mi | 58 km and 1,220 ft | 372 m
Ride Option 2
SHORT OPTION:
Le Capase to Masseria Le Stanzie - Approximately 17 mi | 28 km and 623 ft | 190 m
Ride Option 3
AVID OPTION:
Le Capse to Le Stanzie with Lago di Bauxite Out-and-Back - Approximately 52 mi | 83 km and 2,080 ft | 634 m
Activities
Activity 1
TODAY'S ACTIVITY:
Learn to dance the traditional Pizzica
Cycle Puglia’s stunning coastline all the way to the southernmost point of Italy
Overview
Today, the sea is your constant companion as you follow one of the most breathtaking stretches of coastline in all of Italy. To your right, dry-stone walls and windswept fields; to your left, the glittering expanse of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. Ride south toward Ciolo, near the southernmost point of Salento, where dramatic cliffs enclose a striking, fjord-like cove. Take a refreshing swim and enjoy lunch overlooking the water before choosing to continue the ride or shuttle back to the hotel. This evening, we’ll venture to the seaside town of Otranto, where you’re free to explore its historic lanes and dine at one of many inviting local restaurants.
Hotel
Le Capase Resort
Meals included
Breakfast | Lunch
Highlight of the Day
Swim in the crystal clear water of Ciolo
Trade out your cycling kit for a swimsuit and explore this wildly beautiful inlet, filled with turquoise water and limestone caves.
Ride Options
Ride Option 1
TODAY'S RIDE:
Le Capase to Santa Maria de Leuca to Ciolo - Approximately 30 mi | 48 km and 2,139 ft | 652 m
Ride Option 2
SHORT OPTION:
Le Capase to Ciolo - Approximately 20 mi | 33 km and 1,207 ft | 368 m
Ride Option 3
AVID OPTION:
Le Capase to Ciolo Return - Approximately 48 mi | 78 km and 3,297 ft | 1,005 m
Activities
Activity 1
TODAY'S ACTIVITY:
Visit Otranto
Wander through Alberobello’s iconic trulli, a UNESCO World Heritage treasure
Overview
This morning, we head north, away from Salento to one of Puglia’s most iconic towns: Alberobello. A private shuttle brings us to this UNESCO World Heritage site, famed for its conical trulli homes. You’ll get some time to enjoy this fairytale town before heading to one of our favorite restaurants in all of Puglia: Trattoria Terra Madre. This Trattoria is known for its farm-to-table lunch featuring produce from the garden just steps from your table. After lunch, we continue on to Matera, one of the world’s longest continuously inhabited cities, where ancient cave dwellings and stone churches reveal layers of human history. Settle into your hotel uniquely carved into the rock and enjoy the evening at your leisure—perfect for exploring the atmospheric alleys of Matera’s ancient Sassi district.
Hotel
Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita
Meals included
Breakfast | Lunch
Highlight of the Day
The charming Trulli of Alberobello
Wander through the whimsical trulli of Alberobello —mortarless limestone homes that have stood the test of time.
Activities
Activity 1
TODAY’S ACTIVITY:
Explore Alberobello followed by a Farm-to-Table Lunch
Venture into Basilicata and take in the striking landscapes surrounding ancient Matera
Overview
Surrounded by the ancient Sassi di Matera—cave dwellings inhabited since the Paleolithic era—you’ll begin your day with a memorable breakfast inside a rock-hewn church. Then set out on a scenic loop ride through the rolling countryside. Our destination is Montescaglioso, a picturesque hilltop village known for some of the most stunning views of the Basilicata landscape. After your ride, enjoy free time to explore Matera and have lunch at your leisure. This afternoon, delve deeper into the city’s rich history on a guided walking tour through its storied cave neighborhoods. Tonight, we’ll gather for a special farewell dinner in one of Sextantio’s most atmospheric spaces—an ancient cave church that beautifully blends history, ambiance, and celebration.
Hotel
Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita
Meals included
Breakfast | Social Hour | Dinner
Highlight of the Day
Walking Tour of Matera
Uncover the secrets of this ancient city on a guided walking tour through Matera’s winding stone streets and storied cave dwellings
Ride Options
Ride Option 1
TODAY'S RIDE:
Montescaglioso Loop - Approximately 27 mi | 44 km and 2,526 ft | 770 m
Activities
Activity 1
TODAY'S ACTIVITY:
Guided Walking Tour of Matera
Bid Farewell to Basilicata
Overview
Spend your final morning soaking in Matera’s timeless beauty. Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and one last cappuccino, or browse for souvenirs in the city’s artisan shops. If you're up for one more adventure, join your guides on a short hike across the ravine to Belvedere di Murgia Timone. This rugged path winds past ancient caves and offers sweeping views of Matera’s iconic skyline. At 10:45 AM, we’ll reconvene for goodbyes before your private shuttle to Bari, arriving by 12:15 PM.
Hotel
Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita
Meals included
Breakfast
Highlight of the Day
Panoramic views of Matera
Hike into the Parco della Murgia Materana for the best views of Matera
Activities
Activity 1
TODAY'S ACTIVITY:
Optional early morning hike to the Belvedere di Murgia
If a date is marked as Private, it is reserved for a private group.
Don’t see exactly what you are looking for or looking for a custom date?
Call our trip consultants at 866-464-8735
Trek Travel offers three hotel levels to match your style. Luxury hotels provide elegant, thoughtful touches with exceptional hospitality. Explorer hotels blend modern amenities with local charm in unique settings. Comfort hotels are casual and conveniently located near Trek Travel activities.
Road: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 25 mi (40 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Gravel: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 20 mi (35 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Hiking: 1-3 hours of hiking. Up to 5 mi (8 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Road: 2-4 hours of riding. 20-35 mi (35-60 km). Up to 2,500 ft (750 m).
Gravel: 2-4 hours of riding. 15-30 mi (25-45 km). Up to 2,000 ft (300 m).
Hiking: 2-4 hours of hiking. 4-8 mi (6-12 km). Up to 1,500 ft (450 m).
Road: 3-5 hours of riding. 25-55 mi (40-85 km). Up to 4,500 ft (1,500 m).
Gravel: 3-5 hours of riding. 20-40 mi (35-60 km). Up to 3,000 ft (900 m).
Hiking: 3-5 hours of hiking. 6-10 mi (9-16 km). Up to 2,000 ft (600 m).
Road: 4+ hours of riding. 40-70 mi (60-110 km). Up to 8,000 ft (2,400 m).
Gravel: 4+ hours of riding. 30-50 mi (45-80 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).
Hiking: 4+ hours of hiking. 7-15 mi (11-24 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).
Explore beautiful destinations with a curated blend of guided activities, local cuisine, handpicked accommodations, and itineraries to suit every traveler, from laid-back adventures to luxurious escapes.
Venture off the beaten path to unforgettable places, with fully-supported routes that combine gravel and paved roads in classic Trek Travel style.
Tackle an epic adventure that takes you point-to-point across mountains, countryside, and more.
See the pros in action at the biggest cycling events of the year.
Step into adventure with carefully designed routes, unparalleled hospitality, and deep-routed local connections.
Train like the pros in some of their favorite riding destinations.
Enjoy a bike tour on your schedule with just your chosen travel companions.
Sometimes it’s more convenient and comfortable to have your own room while on vacation. We understand and that’s why we offer a Single Occupancy option. The additional price guarantees a private room all to yourself