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Pedalling through Puglia to Alberobello

Salento, the heel of Italy
 
Cycle self-guided along leisurely routes on quiet roads, including spectacular coastal sections, while your luggage is transported. Experience the fascinating culture and cuisine – discover Lecce’s Baroque architecture, Alberobello’s famous trulli  houses and stay in traditional farmsteads.
Pedalling through Puglia to Alberobello. 10 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Pedalling through Puglia to Alberobello. 10 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A cycling holiday in southern Italy

The gently rolling plains of Salento form the heel of Italy, a bucolic landscape of ancient olive groves, drystone walls and traditional masserie – ancient villa estates that have survived the turmoil of centuries, and which still maintain the countryside in time-honoured fashion. There are reminders of other eras, too, in the form of the ancient ‘Grika’ language still spoken in some parts (the Greeks were the first to settle the region), Norman watchtowers, splendid Baroque towns such as Poggiardo and Lecce – known as the ‘Florence of the South’ – and the astonishing trulli  houses of Alberobello, built in the 15th century of white stone and topped with conical stone roofs.
 

Book with confidence

What we’re doing so you can book and travel with confidence >
Our flexible booking policies >
Check the destination entry requirements >
 
Gallery
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on almost any day of the week, and are free to add extra nights.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 13 13 15 18 23 27 30 30 27 22 17 14
    mm 81 65 73 43 32 22 16 31 57 87 90 82
  • Arrival in Vernole
    Night 1: at Masseria Copertini (where you spend one night).
    As your first night's accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of cycling.
  • Vernole to Porto Badisco: 54km
    Begin by following quiet lanes to the walled village of Acaya (whose castle is worth a visit), then cycle through Le Cesine, an important wetland habitat for birds, to reach the sea. Roca Vecchia provides a good opportunity to get off your bikes briefly for a wander along the low cliffs to admire caves and some spectacular seascapes. Passing abandoned watchtowers and freshwater lakes, you continue south along the jagged coastline to reach the historic port of Otranto, where you can stop for a wander and refreshments. Then, pedal along a panoramic road above the coast to reach the wonderfully secluded Masseria Panareo near Porto Badisco, where you stay for two nights.
    Vernole to Porto Badisco: 54km
    Otranto
  • Circular route from Porto Badisco: 35km
    If you can tear yourself away from the pool, we recommend an easy and delightful circuit exploring a number of villages and sights of the interior, including the Baroque town of Poggiardo and the botanical gardens of La Cutura. You cycle mainly along quiet country lanes among the extensive olive groves and simple but colourful farming country that characterises this corner of Puglia.
    Circular route from Porto Badisco: 35km
    Traditional trulli
  • Porto Badisco to Gagliano del Capo: 42km
    Today you continue south along the wild coastline, which is honeycombed with caves, rock arches and grottoes. Stop off for morning coffee at the elegant spa town of Santa Cesarea Terme, characterised by Art Nouveau and Moorish style buildings, then take our recommended short detour to visit the spectacular Zinzulusa Cave, where there is also a panoramic restaurant for lunch. Later on, pause to admire Castro Marina, a harbour which still has a castle, a 12th-century cathedral and most of its 16th-century ramparts intact; and the small harbour and natural inlet at Tricase Porto, with its tiny beach. Continue along to the coast, eventually turning off to reach Masseria Alcorico, a short distance inland just outside Gagliano del Capo, with its palm-shaded pool.
    Porto Badisco to Gagliano del Capo: 42km
    Santa Cesarea Terme
  • Circular route from Gagliano del Capo: 31km
    Today’s circuit is a varied and very enjoyable one. First you cross the bottom of Italy’s ‘heel’ along country lanes through olive groves via the interesting town of Patù (whose narrow streets you can explore in seeking out the fascinating Centopietre – a tomb of a ‘hundred stones’), en route to the beaches of Torre Vado on the Ionian coast. We recommend stopping for a delicious seafood lunch here, or perhaps delaying until you reach the port of Marina di Leuca close to De Finibus Terrae (Italy’s ‘Land’s End’). Here you can visit the iconic lighthouse and remarkable basilica, located on the very tip of Puglia where the Ionian and Adriatic seas meet. From here, it’s just a short ride – again inland across colourful agricultural land characterised by deep-red earth and dry-stone walls – back to your hotel.
    Circular route from Gagliano del Capo: 31km
    Torre Vado beach
  • Gagliano del Capo to Gallipoli: 58km; shorter option: 19km 
    Although lengthy, today’s route around the coast to Gallipoli could scarcely be any simpler (or flatter), and makes for a very enjoyable ride. Pause at inviting beaches and interesting coastal towns before reaching the wide arc of Baia Verde (‘Green Bay’), where we recommend a dip in the sea from the extensive golden sands before continuing to Gallipoli for an overnight stay at Al Pescatore Hotel & Restaurant. Alternatively, you can start with a transfer, leaving you with just a short distance to cover to reach your destination. Whichever route you choose, it’s a joy to explore the Old Town (where your hotel is situated), connected to the mainland via an arched bridge and perched on a limestone islet. Known as Kallipolis (‘beautiful city’) in Greek, Gallipoli’s walls, ramparts and towers once defended the city from foreign raiders, and now shelter it from rough seas, as well as lending it a very special allure.
    Gallipoli
    Gagliano del Capo to Gallipoli: 58km
    Gagliano del Capo to Gallipoli shorter option: 19km
  • Gallipoli to Sternatia: 39km
    Today, you head north-east via the 'Grecia Salentina', a group of sleepy towns and villages where traces of the Greek-Byzantine civilisation linger on and Griko, the idiom or dialect that is close to modern Greek, still survives. Eventually you pass through the small town of Sternatia to reach the elegant and stylish Masseria Chicco Rizzo, located amid its own olive groves.
    Gallipoli to Sternatia: 39km
    Elegant architecture
  • Explore Lecce
    You may wish to do no more than relax by the pool or pootle around locally on your bike. However, our suggestion is to take the train (Monday to Saturday only) to Lecce, the ‘Florence of the South’. It is the most complete Baroque town in southern Europe, whose sumptuous architecture, enhanced by the pale honey-coloured local stone and featuring elaborately sculpted gargoyles and animals, lends it great charm. We provide detailed notes for a city walk taking in the Roman amphitheatre, parts of the old walls, and several of its wonderful churches.
    Lecce
  • Sternatia to Noci: 33km
    You are transferred with your bikes to the hill-top town of Cisternino, from where you cycle westwards through the Itria Valley to another hill-top town, Locorotondo, famed for the five ‘o’s in its name. Continuing your westerly course, the next stop is Alberobello, to see for yourself the remarkable 15th-century trulli – white dry-stone houses with conical roofs made of stone that have earned the town UNESCO World Heritage Site status. After taking time to explore on foot, perhaps visiting the museum housed in the tallest of the trulli, you get back in the saddle for the final leg to the Abate Masseria in Noci, where you spend your last two nights.
    Sternatia/Cisternino to Noci: 33km
    Iconic 'trulli' houses
  • Circular route from Noci: 41km
    For your final day, we suggest a circular route to the north of Noci, passing the Grotte di Castellana, which are well worth a visit. Guided tours (in English) reveal an astonishing wealth of fossils, stalagmites and stalactites, in an array of beautiful colours.
    Circular route from Noci: 41km
    Stop for a hearty lunch en route
 

Accommodation

You mostly stay in a delightful selection of traditional working masserie or agriturismi – as well as an elegant hotel in Gallipoli.

Occasionally, due to availability, we may offer an alternative hotel, as shown below. You will be informed of any change to the usual hotel (along with any price implication) prior to us confirming your holiday to you.
 

Options to extend or shorten your stay

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
Currency converter
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NB: this should be used as a guide only. Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in significant variation by the time you come to pay.

  • 10 nights: 01 April 2022 - 30 June 2022 & 01 September 2022 - 31 October 2022

    Start any day except Sunday | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 24 Apr 2022 £1720 £325
    25 Apr - 21 May 2022 £1765 £325
    22 May - 22 Jun 2022 £1880 £380
    1 - 20 Sep 2022 £1930 £430
    21 - 30 Sep 2022 £1815 £375
    1 - 22 Oct 2022 £1765 £330
    3rd & 4th person discount -£100
    Single traveller supplement £190

    Includes accommodation, meals, bike hire, luggage transfers and any other services integral to the holiday as described, plus cycling notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Electric bikes available: add £110 per person

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Masseria Alcorico, Gagliano del Capo
    Sea view with terrace: 01 Apr - 30 Jun 2022 £10
    Sea view with terrace: 01 Sep - 12 Sep 2022 £6
    Sea view with terrace: 13 Sep - 31 Oct 2022 £10
    Al Pescatore Hotel & Restaurant, Gallipoli
    Sea front view: 01 Apr - 27 May 2022 £14
    Sea front view: 28 May - 24 Sep 2022 £20
    Sea front view: 25 Sep - 31 Oct 2022 £14
    Abate Masseria, Noci
    'Trullo' junior suite: 01 Apr - 30 Jun 2022 £16
    'Trullo' junior suite: 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2022 £16

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Prices include an extra day’s bike hire (there is no additional charge for extending the rental of an e-bike).
    Masseria Copertini, Vernole (with dinner) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 30 Jun 2022 £136 £170
    01 Sep - 31 Oct 2022 £136 £170
    Masseria Panareo, near Porto Badisco (with dinner) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 31 May 2022 £118 £152
    01 Jun - 30 Jun 2022 £136 £178
    01 Sep - 11 Sep 2022 £136 £178
    12 Sep - 31 Oct 2022 £118 £152
    Al Pescatore Hotel & Restaurant, Gallipoli (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 27 May 2022 £55 £85
    28 May - 24 Jun 2022 £70 £115
    25 Jun - 30 Jun 2022 £80 £135
    01 Sep - 03 Sep 2022 £110 £220
    04 Sep - 24 Sep 2022 £80 £160
    25 Sep - 08 Oct 2022 £65 £125
    09 Oct - 31 Oct 2022 £55 £90
    Masseria Chicco Rizzo, Sternatia (with dinner) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 14 Apr 2022 £125 £161
    15 Apr - 18 Apr 2022 £140 £176
    19 Apr - 30 Apr 2022 £125 £161
    01 May - 30 Jun 2022 £125 £161
    01 Sep - 29 Sep 2022 £140 £176
    30 Sep - 31 Oct 2022 £125 £161
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Brindisi or Bari
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Rome.  To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Bari (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Edinburgh - Brindisi (via Milan Bergamo) Ryanair 
    Edingburgh - Bari (via Munich) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Bari (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Glasgow - Bari (via Munich) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Liverpool - Bari Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    London City - Brindisi (via Zurich) Swiss 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Bari British Airways,  easyJet,  Wizz Air 
    Gatwick - Brindisi easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Bari (via Rome Fiumicino) Alitalia 
    Heathrow - Brindisi British Airways 
    Heathrow - Brindisi (via Milan Linate) Alitalia 
    Heathrow - Brindisi (via Rome Fiumicino) Alitalia 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Bari Ryanair 
    Stansted - Brindisi Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Bari (via Brussels) Brussels Airlines 
    Manchester - Brindisi Ryanair 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Rome.  To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above except those operated by Ryanair. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Unless otherwise stated, connecting travel by rail or bus tends to be from the city centre station, rather than from its airport, and connections between the two should be paid for locally.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Brindisi

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    direct taxi Brindisi airport to hotel (1h) £42 flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    direct taxi hotel to Brindisi airport (1h30) £60 flexible

    Connecting travel options - flying via Bari

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    direct taxi Bari airport to hotel (2h) £120 flexible
    rail Bari Centrale to Lecce (1h20-1h55), taxi Lecce to hotel (0h45) £48 1600
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    direct taxi hotel to Bari airport (1h20) £44 flexible
What is included
  • 10 nights
  • 7 dinners
    10 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • high-quality bicycle
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 4 reviews
  • Mrs R Davies
    Tonbridge
    11 May 2022

    The flexibility which allowed us to add extra nights in some places was much appreciated and allowed us to walk and explore rather than just cycle. The coastal scenery was beautiful. We loved Otranto and Gallipoli. Inland routes included very pretty villages.  

  • Mr D Eaton
    Heaton Norris
    22 September 2020

    Great coastal cycling in perfect temperatures. Just out of season so a bit quiet at the more remote Masserias. Felt very safe in the current COVID crisis and thankful to get a holiday!

  • Annie
    26 September 2019

    We took our own helmets, gel saddle covers and padded shorts and didn't suffer any saddle soreness.     I recommend carrying plasters and dressings.  I had a couple of falls and grazes which really needed dressing.    The bike company were very responsive when we had a problem with one of our bikes.     We also had a puncture on day 2.   There was no repair kit so we used the inner tube and then needed to find a replacement in case it happened again.     We had not downloaded the routes onto an app or GPS like other inntravel clients that we met.  I don't remember seeing this in any of the advance information but wish we had as a fallback;  we were lost a couple of times in the towns.    As it was the end of season we really had problems finding picnic food on at least two days.  Everything had shut down by 1 pm and that was it.   We couldn't even get a snack in the hotel.   So suggest you advise people to carry nuts and snacks in case of emergency.  Maybe you did this in the advance information that we didn't receive...

    Inntravel
    response

    We're pleased you enjoyed the holiday, but sorry you missed the 'Preparing for your Cycling Holiday' information and also didn't spot the GPX files which were both provided via the personal 'My Innntravel' link prior to the holiday. We will also discuss the need for additional spare inner tubes with our cycle provider.

  • anon
    25 September 2019

    We thought the trip was fantastic. We really enjoyed staying in the Masserias because they all offered their own personal touch (some grander than others but all lovely). Swimming in the sea along the way was a bonus as was the swimming pools at the end of the day. Visiting all the traditional towns was interesting; we particularly enjoyed Locorotondo. The traffic is a bit busier than we thought but it didn't detract from the enjoyment. There is a lot of litter at the side of the road but again this didn't spoil anything. Take some midge protection as you will definitely need it.
 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • If your holiday plans go awry because of Coronavirus, rest assured that we’ll do right by you. Since the start of the pandemic, our flexible booking policy and prompt issuing of refunds to customers who prefer not to defer their holiday have earned us high praise in the national press.
  • We sincerely hope that your holiday experience will be as enjoyable as it would have been before the pandemic – cycling holidays are ideal in these times of social distancing, and we’re not operating holidays if the key highlights can no longer be delivered – but, naturally, there will be some changes to ensure your and other people’s safety, not least proving your vaccination status or taking a test in order to travel.
    Your holiday experience: what to expect >
    Safety measures being taken by hoteliers & others >
    Entry requirements for non-UK destinations & for re-entering the UK >
  • Our cycle supplier will provide you with a hybrid bike with 27 gears; a waterproof map case on handlebars; panniers/saddlebags; pump; puncture repair kit; and a lock. Electric bikes are available as an upgrade (see price panel), subject to availability, and must be requested at the time of booking. The bike shop also has a limited number of tandems.
  • While we would always recommend that you take your own well-fitting helmet, they can be hired locally for a small fee. Please let us know at the time of booking if you would like to hire a helmet.
  • Yes, we will provide GPX tracks for this holiday prior to departure so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. (We also provide maps and our tried-and-tested route notes, which remain the principal means of navigation).
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from hotel to hotel, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. On mornings when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation so that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.
  • You are responsible for damage to or loss of the rental bike while it is hired to you. Always be careful to lock it up, ideally to an immovable object, and remove all easy-to-steal accessories whenever you leave it unattended.
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines (but not, currently, with Ryanair). As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
  • Absolutely! We are experts in tailored rail travel. Making use of sleeper trains or stopovers in cities along the route, we can get you from London to virtually anywhere in mainland Europe. We can even make arrangements to Mallorca, Sicily and Norway with a combination of ferries and rail. Please contact Abi and Lizzie to discuss your plans.
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to take out a policy with our recommended provider (if you live outside the UK you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    We'll ask you for the details of your policy (insurer, policy number and medical emergency phone number) so that we can help out if the worst happens while you are on holiday. It's up to you, though, to check that your policy covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs; we don't check alternative policies.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Italy, but not a visa. If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • The principal official language is Italian, though some regions have a second official language, such as South Tyrol, where German is widely spoken. The currency is the Euro. Italian time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.

    At Inntravel we work in close partnership with our hoteliers, taxi drivers and other local suppliers to provide our self-guided holidays directly to you. We are entirely confident that you will continue to receive the usual warm welcome from them, regardless of what is happening in the European political sphere.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.

    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
Last fetch time is : 6/27/2022 3:57:02 AM