Contrasts of Puglia Cycling

Cycling

Activity Level

Easy & Moderate

Ways to Travel :

Self-Guided Holidays

Activity :

Cycling

Ages :

12+

Trip Code :

C07PU

An outright winner from the start, this self-guided seven night cycling holiday explores a sun-soaked region of empty beaches, unspoilt villages and low fertile hills rolling down into the clear emerald seas of the Adriatic.

Tucked away ‘on the heel of Italy’s boot’, Puglia offers extraordinary variety and beauty with a dramatically rugged coast, providing a total contrast to the lush green interior. Your holiday starts in Conversano and ends in the historic town of Monopoli. You will be intoxicated by the rich colours of the landscape, olive groves, fruit orchards, vineyards and ruby-red fields, all intensified by the wonderful limpid light of the Adriatic. Highlights include staying in unique Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visiting the postcard-pretty white village of Ostuni as you wind your way back towards the sea.

Highlights

Beautifully unspoilt region, full of contrasts and interest-packed cycling
Historic wine towns, colourful fishing villages, white sandy beaches, ancient olive orchards, tiny farming hamlets unchanged over the years
Hand-picked hotels including two nights in a unique trullo house in UNESCO Alberobello
Traditional Mediterranean cuisine and excellent wines

Key Information

7 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
E-bike hire available on request (supplement applies)
Luggage transfers between hotels

Countries visited: Italy

What's Included

All continental breakfasts and 2 evening meals
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
GPS route directions and maps
RideWithGPS navigation app
High Quality Bikes
Luggage transfers between hotels

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request - compulsory supplement)
Solo traveller supplement (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)
Local tourist tax (pay hotel locally)
Visas or vaccinations
Arrival & departure transfers

Terrain:

The cycle routes mainly follow tarmac country roads.

Day 2

39 km / 24.2 miles

Day 4

49 km / 30.4 miles

Day 6

37 km / 23 miles

Sustainability and Impact

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.

TRIP

C07PU - Contrasts of Puglia Cycling

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Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

Itinerary

Conversano Monopoli London London

Arrive at the Relais Corte Altavilla. There’s time to explore the historic town before choosing one of the many restaurants for dinner (payable locally)

Today’s pedalling takes you through the rolling hills of the Valle d’Itria where the air is perfumed with wild mint and herbs. Stop off in the little towns of Putignano and Noci, and view their characteristic whitewashed houses and narrow alleyways. It’s then off to unique Alberobello and its plethora of trulli houses, the architectural symbol of the region. On arrival you’ll be met by one of the staff, who will show you to your own private trullo house.

Distance covered: 24mi (39km)

Meals included: Breakfast

Explore the narrow streets and kitsch souvenir shops, or visit the Museo del Territorio. Alternatively, cycle into the Itria Valley to visit stunning Locorotondo, with its panoramic views across the valley. Continue on to Martina Franca, with its beautiful Baroque architechture and stunning palazzi.

Meals included: Breakfast

You’ll spend this morning cycling along beautiful undulating country lanes lined with weathered stone walls, before enjoying a long downhill run with panoramic views of the Adriatic coastline and the lower fertile plains. This incredible descent will bring you down towards Capitolo and finishes through a patchwork of almond orchards, olive groves, vineyards and gloriously coloured fields of fresh tomatoes and peppers.

Distance covered: 30mi (49km)

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Relax by the hotel’s pool, or cycle to the nearby beach. For the more energetic, ride to charming Ostuni whose whitewashed houses are neatly piled on hills rich in olive groves and vineyards.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning you leave the masseria and head back to the Adriatic coast on a gentle flat route. You will cycle past the colourful fishing village of Savelletri, a perfect stop for an authentic Italian espresso or to indulge in a delicious seafood lunch. Your ride will continue past the archaeological site of Egnazia, once the location of a Greco-Roman town, dating as far back as 4 B.C.. You then return to the picturesque coastal town of Monopoli and the Albergo Diffuso in time for a stroll before choosing your evening restaurant from one of the many eateries in the heart of the old town.

Distance covered: 23mi (37km)

Meals included: Breakfast

Today’s route takes you along the stunning coastline all the way to the beautiful Polignano a Mare. Take the time to explore this vibrant fishing village before continuing to the picturesque village of San Vito with its multi-coloured boats. Head back to Monpoli and enjoy an aperitivo in the old town’s square watching the world walk past.

Meals included: Breakfast

The tour ends after breakfast in Monopoli.

Meals included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Is this trip for you?

Cycling Conditions

Please note: This tour has been given a Level 2 rating based on ascents/descents and distance; the cycling may feel harder over the hotter months.
Classification: Self–Guided
Terrain and route: The cycle routes mainly follow tarmac country roads.
Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to cycle independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics 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.

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.

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 routes notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the hotels are normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

Joining Instructions

Alternative Air Travel
Alternative flights, onward rail to your holiday area, and connecting private transfers can be arranged from most UK airports. If you would like to use one of the many ‘low cost’ airlines, we can book these on your behalf (£30 admin fee per person). We can also book UK shuttles to connect with your onward flight, please call for details and prices.

Alternative transfers
If you require alternative transfers, then we can usually arrange these for you (there may be an additional charge).

Full joining instructions including 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.

Location start: Conversano
Location end: Monopoli

Transfer Details

Air prices include our standard flights/transfers
British Airways Gatwick to Bari 08:20/12:15 Saturdays, 07:40/11:30 Mondays & 07:25/11:20 Wednesdays then transfer to hotel 55 minutes Return: Transfer to airport 50 minutes then British Airways 13:00/15:00 Saturdays, 12:15/14:15 Mondays & 12:10/14:10 Wednesdays

Business/club/first class seats are available on request.

Standard transfers
Standard return transfers are only included for flight inclusive bookings from Bari airport at 12:15 Sat, 11:30 Mon & 11:20 Wed departures and back to Bari airport at 10:00 Sat, 09:00 Mon & Wed departures. Customers booking a land only trip will be able to add arrival/departure transfers at a supplement payable in advance.

Vaccinations and Health

Italy

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Visa

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.

Food & Drink

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.

Weather

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.

TRIP

C07PU - Contrasts of Puglia Cycling

Departure Date

Number Of Passengers*

Message*

To enquire about an existing booking click here

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone *

Keep me up to date with news and offers from Exodus by email.

Thank you for contacting Exodus Travels.

Find out more about how we use your data

Request a Brochure

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

Hotels

Your accommodation is as varied as the landscape, with each place specially chosen for its unique charm and character. In Conversano, your beautiful 12th century former court house, with barrel-vaulted ceilings, is just a stone’s throw from the elegant Romanesque cathedral; in Alberobello, you cannot fail to be seduced by the authentic trullo houses (limestone dwellings with conical roofs that are the architectural symbol of Puglia); in Pezze di Greco, you spend two nights in a beautifully restored 17th century masseria (fortified farmhouse) with lovely pool and in Monopoli, you stay in characterful rooms set in various locations just 3 minutes from the beach.