It’s been 1 year since the first week of June, 2025 when my wife and I did the 1-week cycling of the Puglia region beginning in the city/town of Matera (which is in the Basilicata region, right on the border of the Puglia region). We had such an amazing time exploring the back country roads and many small quaint towns the Puglia region offers.
So many memorable stops along the way including caffe, gelato, walks in town squares (piazza).
The group of 15 riders plus Emanuele (local tour guide) and Leonardo (driver/assistant) were all great people to spend a vacation with.
Puglia Tours & Trips
Puglia Trips
Located in the heel of Italy’s boot, Puglia will surprise you with its picturesque landscape, ancient hilltop towns, emerald waters, and lush farmlands dotted by ancient olive trees and distinctive conical shepherd huts known as ‘trulli’. After a day of walking, sightseeing or cycling, enjoy the legendary regional cuisine that includes outstanding seafood and melt-in-the-mouth burrata cheese.
Highlights of Puglia tours include Matera, an area famous for its cave-and-stone Sassi houses, and Alberobello, where white cone-roofed trulli houses still stand after 500 years – on some of our Puglia holidays you can even stay in them. Strolling through the old narrow streets of Ostuni and Locorotondo will transport you back in time, allowing you to discover Puglia’s distinct identity. The whole region is a food lovers’ paradise and local produce includes durum wheat pasta, vegetables grown just a few steps from the sea, and olives, broad beans and chicory – all used to prepare simple, tasty dishes such as orecchiette pasta served with a sauce of turnip-tops or fresh tomato and sheep’s-milk ricotta cheese.
Highlights of our Puglia Trips
Puglia Adventure Holidays
Franco Dichio Cycling Puglia & Matera
Eilidh Gunn Cycling Puglia & MateraGuides were fantastic- knowledgeable, clearly very experienced, fun, kind, relaxed and paid a lot of attention to detail – we were unlucky with the weather but they were so supportive and helped us make the best of it.
Great group – I know this is a bit of a lottery but everyone was good fun and it made a huge impact on my trip.
Locations and stops on the trip – ie, the routes were spectacular and felt like a real taste of the area geographically, culturally and historically. Hotels were of a high standard and massieras were beautiful. Great food and restaurants.
Bruce Zapor Cycling Puglia & MateraExodus is well organized. I can depend on accommodations to be good quality. I can count on head guide to be knowledgeable. This was my second trip with Exodus. So I know from experience Exodus trips are well designed. I am planning a third trip with Exodus for next year.
Planning your trip to Puglia?
Our experts have provided advice and tips to answer the most common questions about small-group guided adventures in Puglia. Get in touch if you need any more information.
With decades of experience in Puglia – and trusted relationships with local families, farm owners and artisans – we offer access to places and moments you’d struggle to find alone. You might sample olive oil pressed just metres from where it’s grown, meet the makers behind full-bodied primitivo, or watch pasta taking shape in a sunlit kitchen. Our routes are carefully chosen to reveal the best of Italy’s heel – local approved.
Yes. Our small group cycling tours in Puglia typically include 6 to 16 participants. With routes designed for both road and e-bikes, and support vans along the way, these trips offer the best in camaraderie and comfort on two wheels. Browse our Puglia cycling holidays to find your perfect fit.
Activity levels vary from easy-moderate to moderate depending on the itinerary – and your choice of exercise. You’ll enjoy a moderate activity level on the Cycling Puglia and Matera and Italy Coast to Coast by e-bike: Puglia to Amalfi Coast tour. Opt for an e-bike if you fancy a bit of a boost.
Yes, and you’ll be in good company. Many of our travellers join solo. Small group sizes and welcoming leaders create a sociable and inclusive atmosphere. You’ll have your own space but plenty of opportunities to make new friends.
From the otherworldly trulli houses in Alberobello to cycling through coastal olive groves, our tours showcase Puglia’s natural and cultural richness – well beyond the usual postcard stops. You’ll visit Matera, Ostuni, Gallipoli and Lecce, with routes offering countryside calm and seaside charm in equal measure. There’s room for the unexpected too, from a refreshing dip along the Ionian Coast to a night in Castelmezzano, a cliffside village that looks dreamt up by a painter with a penchant for heights.
Absolutely – culture and cuisine go hand in hand in Puglia. Stay in converted farmhouses like Masseria Bosco, take the scenic, slow route to coastal towns and medieval villages, and enjoy meals showcasing Pulian produce: think fresh pasta, homemade cheeses, local wines and lashings of olive oil. Historic gems like the baroque streets of Lecce and ancient sassi of Matera bring stories to life off the bike. Our local leaders know the hidden backroads, best viewpoints, and even the bakeries where locals’ queue.
Highlights include Matera with its cave dwellings, Alberobello’s UNESCO-listed trulli, Ostuni’s whitewashed lanes, Gallipoli on the Ionian Sea, and the baroque splendour of Lecce. Some itineraries may also visit Conversano, Monopoli, and Castelmezzano (we think it’s the prettiest village of all).
What type of accommodation is included in your Puglia cycling tours?
We use a range of hand-picked hotels, including a stay in a heritage building in Alberobello and time at Masseria Bosco – a beautifully restored farmhouse with a pool and restaurant serving food grown on site. It’s an absolute highlight for many travellers.
Yes, e-bikes are available on our Puglia tours including our special Italy Coast to Coast by E-bike: Puglia to Amalfi Coast. You can also request an e-bike on our other trips if you need a bit of a helping hand. E-bikes offer a great option for riders looking for extra support on hilly or longer sections.
Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) offer ideal cycling conditions in Puglia – warm but not too hot, with quieter roads and lush countryside.
Expert Blog Entries
Become an Exodus insider
Get insider tips, travel inspiration, and exclusive offers you won’t find anywhere else – sign up now!