Cycling the Heel of Italy – Matera to Lecce

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Cycling the Heel of Italy - Matera to Lecce

Name: Cycling the Heel of Italy - Matera to Lecce
Brand: Exodus
SKU: C11PI
Availability: LimitedAvailability
Rating: 5 (2 reviews)

2 reviews

Overview

Starting in Matera, the city of ‘Sassi’ and a UNESCO world heritage site, and through the local canyons, the ‘gravine’, you will enter Puglia, a unique landscape sandwiched between the Adriatic and Ionian seas.

We explore the very best of this captivating region from Murgia to Salento.

Your daily cycle routes allow you to explore a series of architectural and natural wonders, sites of immense historical and cultural interest, and of course, to be tempted by local culinary specialties! Cycle through the Murghe plateau, the Salento plain and along the coast through a landscape of ancient olive groves and vineyards and past traditional masserie, coastal watchtowers and splendid Baroque towns .
This holiday is offered with a choice of mainly 3 Star, or mainly 4 Star accommodation. The 3 Star accommodation is listed on the hotels page. Stays are in the UNESCO listed towns of Matera and Alberobello; Putignano, known for its ancient carnival; white-washed Ostuni; Galipolli, where the historic centre is on an island; Santa Maria de Leuca, where the Ionian and Adriatic seas meet; Otranto, known as the gateway to the Orient and Lecce, known as the ‘Florence of the South’. Stay also in Castellaneta and Avetrana where evening meals are included.

Key Information

Activity: Cycling
Activity Level: Moderate
See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you
Trip Code: C11PI
Ways to Travel: Self-Guided Holidays
Countries: Italy
Terrain: Low altitude; 90% tarmac, 10% easy gravel roads

What's Included

11 nights in a mix of HHH, 3 and 4-star hotels
All breakfasts and 2 evening meals
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent, plus the Headwater navigation app
High-quality bikes
Luggage transfers between hotels

Positive Impact

We donate to our Foundation and rewild 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller. Find out more about how our adventures support nature and people to thrive.

Don't Forget To

Request a single room or e-bike if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations. On this trip, you may also need to pay a solo traveller supplement (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)

Highlights

Matera - UNESCO World Heritage Site; visit the cave houses
Alberobello's fairy-tale trulli houses
Olive groves, towering limestone cliffs and Roman amphitheatres
The white city of Ostuni, the majestic castle of Otranto and Baroque Lecce
Based on our popular 7 night, Cycling the Heel of Italy - Alberobello to Lecce

Itinerary

First Destination: Alberobello
Next Destination: Lecce

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Distance:60 km / 37.3 miles
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Distance:55 km / 34.2 miles
Meals included:Breakfast

Distance:35 km / 21.7 miles
Meals included:Breakfast

Distance:49 km / 30.4 miles
Meals included:Breakfast

Distance:55 km / 34.2 miles
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Distance:60 km / 37.3 miles
Meals included:Breakfast

Distance:50 km / 31.1 miles
Meals included:Breakfast

Distance:53 km / 32.9 miles
Meals included:Breakfast

Distance:55 km / 34.2 miles
Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Alberobello
Next Destination: Lecce

Make your way to Matera, one of the oldest inhabited human settlements in the world.

Meals included:Breakfast

Explore the UNESCO-listed Sassi of Matera; a complex of houses built into the natural caves of the Murgia.

Meals included:Breakfast

Your first cycling day takes you through a landscape of wheat fields and wide panoramas. Visit the town of Laterza, famous for its tasty bakery products and majolica pottery. Continue to Castellaneta, a small city perched on the edge of a ravine.

Distance:60 km / 37.3 miles
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Today you will cycle in the Terra delle Gravine Natural Park, amongst deep canyons, carved by rivers over millions of years. Leaving the ravines you will soon discover the iconic Puglia scenery: dry stone walls, old masserie (fortified stansteads) and trulli, rural houses with a conic roof typical to the area, built without any cement or mortar. Reach Putignano, known for its ancient carnival.

Distance:55 km / 34.2 miles
Meals included:Breakfast

Leaving the medieval centre of Putignano, cycle in the lush countryside to reach Castellana Caves. It is the main karst site in the South of Italy and a visit is recommended.After the caves, continue along the rolling lanes of the countryside where olive, almond, apricot and cherry trees grow. Continue to the UNESCO heritage site of Alberobello, the world capital of Trulli.

Distance:35 km / 21.7 miles
Meals included:Breakfast

Cycle through the lush Valle d’Itria, passing more white-tipped trulli houses on the way. Boasting beautiful coastal views, the route takes you through the famous wine town of Locorotondo, regarded as one of Italy’s most stunning villages. After sampling some of the local sparkling white wine, continue to the white city of Ostuni – so called for the dazzling effect of its whitewashed houses.

Distance:49 km / 30.4 miles
Meals included:Breakfast

Cycle through the colourful Salentinian countryside, characterized by olive groves and red soil towards the medieval towns of Oria and Manduria with their authentic historic centres.

Distance:55 km / 34.2 miles
Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Head to Torre Colimena on the Ionian Sea, then follow the coast alongside a series of beaches and the old coastal towers of Salento. Reach Gallipoli, known as the ‘Ionian Pearl’ with its Old Town situated on a rocky island. Take time to wander the narrow lanes of the historic centre to discover its baroque cathedral, elegant palazzi and enticing restaurants.

Distance:60 km / 37.3 miles
Meals included:Breakfast

Cycle towards the most southerly point of Salento at Santa Maria di Leuca, where the crystal waters of the Ionian and Adriatic Sea meet. This village is home to one of the most important lighthouses in Italy, as well as numerous villas built at the turn of the century.

Distance:50 km / 31.1 miles
Meals included:Breakfast

Pedal along the south coast of the Adriatic Sea, stopping off at the famous Grotta Zinzulusa and the thermal baths of Santa Cesarea Terme. Your final destination is Otranto, the most eastern point of Italy with a stunning cathedral and Aragonese castle.

Distance:53 km / 32.9 miles
Meals included:Breakfast

Follow the shoreline through olive groves to the Baroque metropolis of Lecce. Known as the ‘Florence of the South’, Lecce is home to over 30 churches, an amphitheatre and a Roman theatre dating back to Emperor Augustus.

Distance:55 km / 34.2 miles
Meals included:Breakfast

Make your own way back to the airport for your flight home.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Need flights or extra nights? Book through us and fly with confidence

Call us: 020 3733 5948

Your Group, Your Adventure

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Accommodation

Hotels

You will spend 11 nights in comfortable en suite hotels, in Matera, your hotel is just a few steps from the Sassi di Matera UNESCO site and when available we use traditional accommodation in Alberobello. Hotels are mainly 3 star, there is also the option to upgrade to mostly 4 star accommodation for a supplement.

All prices are based on 2 persons sharing, so if there is an odd number of people travelling in your party or you are travelling alone, there will be a compulsory supplement for a single room for the tour duration. For a solo traveller there is an additional charge to cover transfer costs.

Essential Information

Cycling conditions
This is a self-guided cycling trip for those who like to cycle independently, but with back up to take out the hard work and planning. We arrange your accommodation, provide you with a map and route notes so that you can cycle at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next.
Activity Level: 2 (Leisurely/Moderate)
Please see the introductory pages of the cycling holidays brochure or our website for more important information on classification and grading.
Av. daily ride: 51km (32 miles).
No. of days cycling: 6.
Terrain & route: The suggested cycling is along quiet, tarmac roads (mainly traffic-free). There are a few ascents and descents along the way.
Vehicle Support: A representative will be there to meet you, make sure the bikes are all set up and will be on call throughout the trip should you need.

It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked. Where possible we stick to cycle tracks and quiet roads to make the journeys as pleasant as possible, however, on occasion we have to use busier routes.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There maybe others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The route notes contain an emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the local representative is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

Families
Self-guided cycling holidays are a perfect option for families as they offer the freedom for you to take your holiday at your own pace. You can stop as and when you want and need, at the cafes and restaurants that suit your family and the sites that interest you. As a guide we have suggested that 14 years is the minimum age for this trip, but as it is self-guided and you will be leading your own family we will ultimately leave this decision up to you. The daily distances are all published in the trip notes along with a description of each days cycling so you have a good idea of what to expect. Please do be aware that on some occasions on this trip the cycling can be along busier roads so any children must be comfortable cycling alongside traffic. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact one of our experts. The principle idea is that these holidays can be as flexible as you like, with logistical support but no group or leader to dictate the daily activities.

Travelling land only: 8 days starting in Matera and ending in Lecce

Your trip normally starts at our hotel in Matera on the afternoon of Day 1 of the itinerary. Details of how to reach the start hotel are given in the Final Joining Instructions.

Full joining instructions including route notes, hotel list, map and local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.

Flights from London
We do not offer any package flights on this trip. We can recommend booking low cost airline Easyjet to Bari. British Airways also fly from London Gatwick to Bari (3 times a week), whilst Alitalia fly to both Bari and Brindisi (indirect).
Low cost airline Ryanair flies from London Stansted to Brindisi and Bari. This may be a convenient and good value option for some clients.

Italy

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Italy. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/italy
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/italy
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Italy.html

Please note: it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times in Italy.

Breakfasts are included and consist of a continental-style buffet. However, please note that the typical Italian breakfast are generally light; usually a cup of coffee and a cream-filled or jam-filled croissant.

In Puglia you will find genuine regional cooking that has strong links to the land and the sea. To give you just a small list of the types of food on offer in Puglia: Bread from the Murge, durum wheat pasta, olives, the pasta delicacy Orecchiette served with a sauce of turnip-tops or fresh tomato and sheep’s ricotta-cheese, Cavatelli with pulses, aubergine and parmesan bake, grilled fish and seafood, burrata (soft mozzarella and cream cheese), plus excellent wines. This region is a food lovers paradise and the abundance of delicious vegetables makes it a perfect destination for vegetarians! On this trip there will be many opportunities to taste the best local specialities.
Suggestions of what to do for lunch and dinner are given in the cycling route notes.

Puglia enjoys a wonderful Mediterranean climate with all year round sunshine and just enough rainfall to ensure that the green is never too far off. Although Puglia covers a large area it is long and narrow – not more than 30km across. This means that you’re never far from the sea which has a moderating effect on the weather. Please note that Puglia can be very hot, reaching high 30s in the summer.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

Reviews

Add new review

John Hornby

Added October 2025

Exodus Guides Rock!

What made this cycling trip special was our guide. The safety emphasis, local knowledge, and connections the guide has make this trip a wonder. This trip involves cycling every day from Matera, down along the Ionian coast, and ending by the Adriatic coast to the city of Lecce. This my fourth cycling trip with Exodus, and I have to say that every guide on this trips has been fantastic. Cycling is, in my opinion, one of the best ways to be part of the landscape at just the right speed.

Most Inspirational Moment

The city of Matera with its cave architecture

Thoughts on Group Leader

Alessando was inspiring, attentive and a friend

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring your own pedals and/or bike seat. Prepare for unexpected weather.

Ralph Scott

Added November 2023

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Excellent trip. Fabrizio was a brilliant guide. Great route. Easy cycling. Good accommodation. Happy to recommend to like minded friends.

Most Inspirational Moment

Breakfast on the hotel terrace overlooking Matera. Staying in a Trulli house. Staying in a Massera. Swimming in the Ionian and Adriatic Seas.

Thoughts on Group Leader

I have enjoyed several guided trips in various destinations around the world. Fabrizio was the best leader I have had the pleasure to meet. Boundless energy, great sense of humour, fluent in English, excellent knowledge of the local area.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Have a reasonable level of fitness and expertise on a bike. Arrive a day (or 2) early to enjoy Matera. Extend your holiday for 4 or 5 days at the end and hire a car.