Cycling Puglia & Matera

Name: Cycling Puglia & Matera
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.4 (9 reviews)

9 reviews

Activity

Cycling

Overview

Discover the heel of Italy by bike, taking a country-and-coast route from the cave town of Matera to baroque Lecce

Cycle the captivating region of Puglia, riding through olive groves and along the winding coast to stay in some of the most spectacular cities and towns in Italy. The adventure begins in the cave town of Matera, officially in the Basilicata region and beloved by film directors for its ancient beauty, before progressing to the fairytale trulli houses of Alberobello, the White City of Ostuni, and seaside Gallipoli. It ends in Lecce, known as the Florence of the South for its extraordinary collection of baroque landmarks.

Key Information

Trip Code: MWV2
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Italy
Carbon Footprint: 29.3kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All accommodation: 7 Classic nights (5 hotel, 2 agriturismo/farmhouse)
All breakfasts, one dinner
Immersive itinerary with all transport and listed activities
Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure
Group arrival and departure transfers available
Local bike hire of a fully serviced Velo Ville L 200 (touring/hybrid) bike

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations. On this trip, local taxes (approximately €10) are not included. If you want to upgrade to an e-bike, these are available for an additional cost.

6 days of Cycling

Pace:

Moderate: 8mi-10mi (13km-16km) an hour

Terrain:

Low altitude; 99 percent paved, 1 percent short sections of gravel.
Quiet, rural, rolling roads

Day 2: 69 km / 42.9 miles
Day 3: 39 km / 24.2 miles
Day 4: 61 km / 37.9 miles
Day 5: 58 km / 36 miles
Day 6: 71 km / 44.1 miles
Day 7: 54 km / 33.6 miles

Highlights

Discover the best of Puglia and Matera by bike, riding through the Italian countryside
Begin in the extraordinary cave town of Matera – a spectacular opening to the adventure
Ride to Alberobello and wander among fairytale trulli houses
Cycle along the Ionian Coast with a chance for a refreshing dip
Finish in Lecce, known as the Florence of the South for its magnificent baroque buildings
Stay at Masseria Bosco, a converted farmhouse with home-grown produce

Itinerary

First Destination: Matera
Next Destination: Lecce

Accommodation:Hotel Il Belvedere (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Accommodation:Traditional trulli houses or Colle del Sole (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Masseria Valente (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Masseria Bosco/Masseria Strazzati (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:33Baroni/Palazzo Piro/Hotel Fly (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Vittoria Resort (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Hotel delle Palme/Hotel Eos (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Matera
Next Destination: Lecce

The town of Matera is a real jewel of southern Italy, and our hotel is just a short walk from the historic centre. There is usually time in the afternoon to wander through the narrow alleys of the town’s Unesco-listed cave-dwelling district and enjoy the unique atmosphere of this enchanting city.

For millennia, inhabitants of this region have carved dwellings directly into ravines and gullies made of tuff (or tufa), a characteristic honey-coloured soft stone. These houses are called Sassi and are a Unesco World Heritage site. Matera is the only place in the world where people still live in the same houses as their ancestors did 9,000 years ago.

Around 6pm, say ciao to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big welcome over a group dinner.

Want more time in Matera? Speak to your sales representative about adding extra nights.

Accommodation:Hotel Il Belvedere (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

On leaving Matera, we pedal through the area that makes this town so special. Today’s ride is mostly hilly with gentle ascents throughout, as we cycle on quiet rural roads among the picturesque Apulian countryside towards Alberobello. We’ll pass the lovely towns of Noci and Gioia del Colle plus fairytale trulli houses that have made the historic centre of Alberobello another World Heritage site.

Accommodation:Traditional trulli houses or Colle del Sole (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Today we cycle through the lush Valle d’Itria, one of the prettiest cultural and natural landscapes in southern Italy, to the hilltop town of Ostuni. The route is rolling throughout but much shorter than yesterday’s ride. This allows us to enjoy the views at a more leisurely pace with plenty of opportunities for rest stops. Along the way we pass the wine town of Locorotondo and Cisternino, both known for their historic centres filled with whitewashed houses, narrow streets, churches and elegant piazzas. In the afternoon, we reach Ostuni, known as the White City thanks to the dazzling effect of its white buildings.

Accommodation:Masseria Valente (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

We continue pedalling through tranquil country lanes to the town of Francavilla Fontana and on to Oria. A popular destination among Apulians, Oria is famous for its 13th-century castle and delightful historic centre of cobbled streets, whitewashed walls and beautiful architecture. We continue through the countryside to a masseria, a typical Apulian converted farmhouse and our accommodation for the night. The masseria is still a working farm and most of the produce grown here, from vegetables to olives and wheat, is used daily for the preparation of local dishes. Before dinner we will have the opportunity to taste some organic olive oil produced by the family that runs the farm and accommodation.

Upgrade to a junior-suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Masseria Bosco/Masseria Strazzati (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

From the masseria we cycle towards the Ionian Coast and the beautiful town of Gallipoli, known as the Ionian Pearl with its old town on a rocky island offering fantastic views both to north and south. The town itself has many churches and narrow alleys and was the largest exporter of lamp oil made from olives in the 17th and 18th centuries. There are plenty of opportunities for swimming in the Ionian sea near the popular seaside resort of Porto Cesareo (weather permitting).

Upgrade to a suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:33Baroni/Palazzo Piro/Hotel Fly (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Leaving the Ionian Sea behind, we head across the peninsula to the Adriatic sea and the ancient Messapian town of Otranto, the easternmost point in Italy. Before dinner there will be time at leisure to explore the medieval town centre. Here the interesting architecture, views, sea-front restaurants and white sandy beaches make it one of the most picturesque towns in Puglia.

Upgrade to a superior or deluxe room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Vittoria Resort (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Today we follow the shoreline through innumerable olive groves to Lecce, the baroque masterpiece of southern Italy, in the heart of Puglia. Sometimes described as the Florence of the South, the city is an architectural gem, with sumptuous palazzi and churches. Today’s ride is relatively short and easy, giving us time to stop for a last swim (seasonal) in Torre dell’Orso, a lovely bay surrounded by limestone cliffs with many ancient caves to discover. In Lecce, there will be free time to explore the historic centre before an optional farewell dinner.

Accommodation:Hotel delle Palme/Hotel Eos (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

We enjoy our final breakfast of the adventure this morning. But if you’d like an extra day in Lecce to soak up the atmosphere of this elegant baroque city, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, dates that suit you, 24-hour support, loyalty discounts, and peace of mind for delays or disruption.

Call us on 1 844 462 4317

Your Group, Your Adventure

Want to choose your travel companions? Gather your family and friends and let us create a Private Adventure just for you.

View Details

Accommodation

Hotels and masserias

We aim to secure locally owned accommodation that is well located, offers good value for money, and plenty of comfort. To help you find your ideal adventure, each trip is given a Comfort Level rating, which indicates the overall standard of accommodation. For more on our ratings, see our Comfort Level guidelines.

Worth knowing

Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.
Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we room solo passengers together. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.
Room upgrades: Upgrade your room on Day 4, 5, and 6 this itinerary – speak to your sales representative for more details.

Essential Information

This trip is classified Road and Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

Six days of cycling
Average 37mi (60km) per day
Terrain and route: 99 percent paved road, with a couple of very short sections of gravel

Most of the cycling is along flat to hilly paved roads with a few steady ascents and descents along the way, so a reasonably good fitness level is required. Road conditions are generally good, but the roads may be pot-holed in places. A support vehicle (with only two passenger seats) is available throughout the trip, it can’t follow the group at all times but it will meet you at the end of cycle paths and at junctions to give route directions and allow access to any items you don’t wish to carry on the bike.

Some roads on the trip will be busy, particularly in June to September when Italians traditionally take their holidays and drive to the seaside. The most challenging cycling is on Day 2, when we cover approximately 43mi (69km) and there is an ascent of 2,162ft (659m). Be prepared for high temperatures during the summer months, when 30C (86F) in the daytime can be expected.

Key information

Start hotel: Hotel Il Belvedere, Via Casalnuovo, 133, 75100 Matera MT
Phone: +39 0835 311702
Recommended arrival time: There will be a welcome briefing around 6pm at the start hotel.
Airport: Bari (BRI)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately a one-hour drive from the airport. Your options for this journey are:

Take a group transfer

We provide one group transfer from the airport to the hotel, which you can join at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.

Make your own way

You can reach the start hotel relatively easily on public transport. From Bari Aiport, catch the Pugliairbus bus service to the stop in Matera. The journey takes 1hr 15min and tickets cost €6 from www.aeroportidipuglia.it/en/bus-pugliairbus-/. The hotel is then a 20-minute walk or 10-minute cab away.

Catching your return flight

There’s one group transfer to the airport, which you can join at no extra cost. Please speak to your sales representative for the time of the transfer. If the group transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative.

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.

The included breakfasts usually consist of a continental-style buffet. A typical hotel breakfast consists of toast/bread with jam, cereal, cheese and ham (occasionally), served with coffee, tea, milk, orange juice, fruit, cake and yoghurt.

Lunches are normally arranged as picnics or taken in small cafes along the route. You may opt in to a lunch kitty (€50-€80, depending on the weather/season) to cover the cost of these lunches. The tour leader will collect cash at the welcome meeting and the kitty also covers local city taxes. If you choose not to opt in, the local city taxes should be paid directly to each hotel on check-in.

Vegetarians and people with special dietary requirements can be catered for but please inform us of your requests prior to travel.

In Puglia, you will find authentic regional cooking with strong links to the land and sea – think orecchiette pasta served with a turnip-tops sauce or fresh tomato and sheep’s ricotta cheese, cavatelli with pulses, grilled fish and seafood, burrata, and excellent wines. This region is a paradise for food lovers.

Puglia enjoys a wonderful Mediterranean climate with year-round sunshine and just enough rainfall to ensure a lush landscape. Although Puglia covers a large area it is long and narrow, never more than 19mi (30km) across, which allows the sea breeze to have a moderating effect on the weather.

The night in Matera, at night it's a magical place. I only wish there were more moments than this one.

Thoughts on Group Leader

My previous experience of leaders has been excellent, but on this trip I felt the team could have done more to allow us to experience this part of Italy. It wasn't terrible, but just felt a bit adequate.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do we warned it can get pretty windy in this part of Italy, can make the cycling a bit of a slog some days.

Reply from Exodus

We’re sorry to hear that Steven came away from this trip feeling underwhelmed, especially after having enjoyed several previous cycling adventures with us. While we’re glad he found Matera beautiful and appreciated the opportunity to cycle each day, we regret that other elements didn’t meet the expectations set by his past experiences.

Steven’s feedback about the farmhouse stay is noted. For many of our travellers, this is an accommodation highlight, with peaceful countryside surroundings, authentic hospitality, and a chance to unwind. However, we recognise that its remote location and set menu might not suit every preference, particularly for those who enjoy more independent exploring or variety in dining. We’ll continue to monitor feedback closely to ensure we strike the right balance between rural charm and variety of experience.

We also take seriously Steven’s comments on the route and choice of lunch stops. While some sections of the itinerary necessarily include time on busier roads, we’ll review this with our local team to see where adjustments might be possible. Similarly, his suggestion about offering more information or short walking tours in key towns is a helpful one.

We’re grateful for Steven’s honest reflections, and we hope to welcome him back on another that lives up to his past experiences with Exodus.

- The Exodus Travels Team

Tiffany Cooper

Added October 2024

Not up to Exodus standards

This was my 5th trip with Exodus and the first time I left feeling unsatisfied. The cost of the trip seemed excessive for what we received. The hotels were not great and food was uninspiring - we passed through lots of lovely little towns and villages and yet on 2...

Most Inspirational Moment

The ride along the coast was beautiful. The Adriatic Sea was absolutely gorgeous. Matera was fascinating and beautiful, especially at night.

Thoughts on Group Leader

In my past tours with Exodus, the leaders have been amazing, going above and beyond. At each town we stayed at, there would be a planned meeting time after the ride where the leader would take us into town, show us the sights and then do a group dinner at a lovely restaurant. The guide on this tour did not do that. Other than the first night and the last night, where all he did was offer to walk people to the chosen restaurant, we were left to our own devices and never saw our guide until the next morning. He made very little effort to mingle or be part of the group. When we ended in Lecce, we were told there was a train strike. Apparently this has been announced in the media a few days prior but never communicated to us. Everyone in the group had to travel away from Lecce and most had planned to take the train. Very little assistance was offered by our guide, and his advice to me was to go sit at the train station and see what happens. Not helpful. One woman had pre-booked a transfer through exodus but we were told by our guide that it was a small car and there was no room for us to join. We were later advised by the woman that it was in fact a 7 seater van and that her and the guide were the only occupants. We ended up having to pay €350 for a private transfer to insure we made our flight.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It was VERY windy during our rides which made them far more difficult than they should have been. Be prepared for that if you go in October as apparently this is normal. When you ride on the coast, bring your swim suit and swim at the beautiful spots on the breaks as the towns you stay in do not have nearly as beautiful swim spots, despite what you may be told.

Reply from Exodus

We’re sorry to hear that Tiffany’s fifth trip with Exodus didn’t meet the high standards she’s come to expect from travelling with us. We fully appreciate how disappointing that must have been, especially after such consistently positive experiences in the past.

While it’s great to hear she enjoyed the stunning coastal rides and the beauty of Matera by night, we regret that other aspects of the trip, such as the accommodation, meal stops, and afternoon downtime, fell short of expectations. We also understand how frustrating the situation in Lecce must have been, particularly given the lack of clear communication about the train strike and the missed opportunity for shared transport. This is not the level of support we aim to provide.

Tiffany’s feedback regarding the group leader has been shared with our local team, and we’ve followed up to ensure the leader receives further training before guiding with us again. We expect all our leaders to offer not only logistical support but also meaningful engagement and insight throughout the trip, and we’re sorry that this was lacking here.

We also appreciate the note on wind conditions in October and tips about the best swim spots—this is helpful advice for future travellers and something we’ll look to communicate more clearly in our trip materials.

We thank Tiffany for her honesty and for highlighting where we can do better; we hope to be able to welcome her back on another trip soon.

- The Exodus Travels Team

Robert Pratt

Added October 2023

A fabulous cycling trip with lots of culture

What a fantastic trip. Great group, felt like I was laughing all the time. The leader, Michele, was full of energy and organised little extras that really made the trip memorable. The hotels were good too, particularly the masseria, and the cycling was great fun.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many. Seeing Matera for the first time, watching a local artist perform songs for us in his shop, and jumping into the sea from high up.

Read all reviews

Cycling Puglia & Matera

Activity Level

Comfort Level

Activity

Overview

Discover the heel of Italy by bike, taking a country-and-coast route from the cave town of Matera to baroque Lecce

Key Information

What's Included

Don't Forget To

6 days of Cycling

Highlights

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, dates that suit you, 24-hour support, loyalty discounts, and peace of mind for delays or disruption.

Your Group, Your Adventure

Accommodation

Hotels and masserias

Essential Information

Key information

Getting to the start hotel

Catching your return flight

Italy

Reviews

Our great Italian cycling adventure

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

The perfect trip

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Left me a little flat......

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Reply from Exodus

Not up to Exodus standards

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Reply from Exodus

Fantastic Trip

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Cycle Puglia and Matera

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Suggestions

Cycling Puglia and Matera

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Enchanting Puglia

Most Inspirational Moment

Thoughts on Group Leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Suggestions

A fabulous cycling trip with lots of culture

Most Inspirational Moment

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