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Something New Magazine, October 2019
A new look at some of our favourite destinations
  • Taste something new: from delicious street food to little-known wines
  • Try something new: test out dog-sledding or cross-country skiing
  • Experience something new: introducing the e-bike
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Vineyards, Castles & Trulli

Puglia & Basilicata, Italy's Deep South
 
Cycle self-guided through idyllic countryside, past wonderful vineyards and fascinating medieval fortifications, while your luggage is transported. Explore three UNESCO-protected sites, and even stay in spectacular Matera – famous for its unique sassi houses built into the rocks.
Vineyards, Castles & Trulli. 9 nights
+44 (0)1653 617003 Call now
Vineyards, Castles & Trulli. 9 nights
+44 (0)1653 617003 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A cycling holiday in southern Italy

Just above Italy’s ‘heel’, the rolling countryside of Puglia rises towards the hills of Basilicata. In these timeless, little-known regions, centuries-old customs and traditions are continued in ancient hill-top towns, and the landscape is peppered with an array of cultural and historic treasures – the legacy of countless invaders.

Such is the significance of the architecture here, that three of the places you pass have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the imposing, octagonal Castel del Monte; Matera, a unique town that has literally been hewn from the rock and consists of hundreds of sassi cave houses; and Alberobello, whose equally astonishing, but very different, trulli houses are built of white stone and topped with conical stone roofs. 
Between these fascinating places – which you have plenty of time to explore – lies a landscape of vineyards and wheat fields whose peaceful trails beckon you to explore.
 
Gallery
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, 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 12 13 15 18 23 26 29 29 26 21 17 13
    mm 54 59 55 40 38 32 27 34 56 64 60 65
  • Arrival in Trani
    Night 1: at Hotel San Paolo al Convento (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.
  • Trani to Montegrosso: 54km
    Leaving historic Trani, you head through countryside planted with grapes, figs, cereals, olive and almond trees. It is worth pausing in Andria, a busy market town famous for its wine, olive oil and almonds, to take in the ducal palace and cathedral, complete with a 7th-century crypt. Back in the saddle, you continue uphill to Castel del Monte, which is visible for miles around. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the most important medieval castles in Italy, famed for its octagonal towers. Take time to visit before cycling the last leg to the Masseria Lama di Luna, Montegrosso, in the La Murgia National Park.
  • Montegrosso to Venosa: 51.5km
    The highlight of today’s cycle ride is reaching the historic town of Minervino, which perches on an escarpment, earning it the name the ‘balcony of Puglia’. The views are remarkable, and there are several other sights worth seeking out, namely the Norman cathedral, the castle and, just outside the town, St Michael’s Cave. From here, you head south-west, ascending into the higher Basilicata region, where you find your hotel for the next two nights, Hotel Orazio, in the centre of Venosa.
    Venosa
  • Choice of routes from Venosa: 29.5km or 51km
    You could spend today exploring the many archaeological remains in Venosa, a Roman hill-town famed as the birthplace of Horace. Alternatively, we provide notes for two circular cycling routes:

    Circular route from Venosa via Maschito: 29.5km
    For some cycling, we suggest a leisurely circular ride which offers an opportunity for wine tasting (you will need to pre-book), before continuing via the intriguing town of Maschito back to your hotel. 

    Circular route from Venosa via Melfi: 51km
    A second, much hillier option takes you through rolling countryside to the historic town of Melfi, complete with a castle, lying in the shadow of Mount Vulture.
    Melfi on the circular route around Venosa
  • Venosa to Grottole: 87.5km; shorter option: 35.5km
    After an initial descent from Venosa, you rise through rolling countryside and past a lake to the town of Genzano, from where it's downhill nearly all the way to the Agriturismo Bufalara, near Grottole. For a shorter day, you can choose to be transferred with your bikes from Genzano to the agriturismo.
  • Grottole to Matera: 40.5km
    You cycle alongside tranquil Lake San Giuliano, a protected oasis that is home to great white egrets, purple herons, cormorants and storks, among other species. From here, you make a gentle ascent into amazing Matera, where alleys, houses and churches all blend into the hillside. Among them you will find your fascinating hotel, the Locanda di San Martino, where you stay for two nights.
    Matera
  • Circular route from Matera: 43km; longer option: 54km
    If you can tear yourself away from Matera and its iconic sassi  district, we suggest a peaceful circular ride into the surrounding countryside. You could choose to detour uphill to the hill-top town of Montescaglioso, dominated by its enchanting 11th-century Benedictine abbey, before returning to Matera.
  • Matera to Noci: 59km
    From Matera you head east on a pleasant ride through vineyards and small villages, including pretty Gioia del Colle, on your way to Noci and the Abate Masseria, your hotel for your final two nights.
  • Choice of routes from Noci: 56km or 59km
    The focus of your last day are the Valle d'Itria's unique trulli  houses. Both our suggested circuits lead via Alberobello, where you can see for yourself the remarkable 15th-century white dry-stone houses with conical roofs made of stone that have earned the town UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

    Circular route via Castellana: 56km
    This first route combines Alberobello with the remarkable caves of Castellana, filled with stalactites and stalagmites. 

    Circular route via Locorotondo: 59km
    After visiting Alberobello, our second route continues to the hill-top town of Locorotondo (famed for the five ‘o’s in its name).
 

Accommodation

Your accommodation ranges from stylish hotels to comfortable agriturismi.

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. Wherever you stay in Matera, we recommended adding extra nights, as there is much to see and explore.
 

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.

  • 9 nights: 09 April 2020 - 30 June 2020 & 22 August 2020 - 17 October 2020

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

    Starting Price Single room
    9 - 30 Apr 2020 £1290 £375
    1 - 21 May 2020 £1330 £395
    22 May - 23 Jun 2020 £1395 £485
    22 Aug - 30 Sep 2020 £1395 £485
    1 - 10 Oct 2020 £1330 £395
    3rd & 4th person discount -£215
    Single traveller supplement £215

    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 £100 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)

    Hotel San Paolo al Convento, Trani
    Deluxe with harbour view: 09 Apr - 30 Jun 2020 £7
    Deluxe with harbour view: 22 Aug - 17 Oct 2020 £7
    Masseria Lama di Luna, Montegrosso
    Superior Murgia: 10 Apr - 30 Jun 2020 £12
    Superior Murgia: 22 Aug - 17 Oct 2020 £12
    Locanda di San Martino, Matera
    Junior suite: 09 Apr - 30 Jun 2020 £25
    Junior suite: 22 Aug - 17 Oct 2020 £25
    Abate Masseria, Noci
    'Trullo' junior suite: 10 Apr - 30 Jun 2020 £15
    'Trullo' junior suite: 22 Aug - 17 Oct 2020 £15

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

    Prices include an extra day’s hire of a standard bike and of an e-bike.
    Hotel San Paolo al Convento, Trani (B&B) Double room Single room
    09 Apr - 30 Jun 2020 £84 £136
    22 Aug - 17 Oct 2020 £84 £136
    Locanda di San Martino, Matera (B&B) Double room Single room
    09 Apr - 30 Jun 2020 £98 £142
    22 Aug - 17 Oct 2020 £98 £142
    Abate Masseria, Noci (with dinner) Double room Single room
    10 Apr - 12 Apr 2020 £135 £205
    13 Apr - 23 Apr 2020 £115 £145
    24 Apr - 02 May 2020 £125 £160
    03 May - 09 May 2020 £115 £145
    10 May - 31 May 2020 £125 £160
    01 Jun - 30 Jun 2020 £135 £205
    22 Aug - 12 Sep 2020 £145 £225
    13 Sep - 03 Oct 2020 £135 £205
    04 Oct - 17 Oct 2020 £115 £145
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Bari, Brindisi

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  you may need to fly to an airport not listed. 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
    Gatwick - Bari British Airways,  easyJet 
    Gatwick - Brindisi easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Brindisi British Airways 
    Heathrow - Brindisi (via Milan Linate) Alitalia 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Bari Wizz Air 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Bari Ryanair 
    Stansted - Brindisi Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Bari easyJet 
    Manchester - Brindisi Ryanair 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  you may need to fly to an airport not listed. 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. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service (£60 for India and Nepal). 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 Bari

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    direct taxi Bari airport to hotel (0h45) £36 flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    direct taxi hotel to Bari airport (1h20) £45 flexible

    Connecting travel options - flying via Brindisi

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    rail Brindisi to Trani (1h50-2h30), own taxi Trani to hotel (0h10, pay locally) or walk (0h20) £32 1700
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    hotel transfer hotel to Brindisi airport (1h15) £62 flexible
What is included
  • 9 nights
  • 3 dinners
    9 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • route notes and maps
  • high-quality bicycle
 
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 8 reviews
  • Mr D Smith
    Cheltenham
    08 October 2019

    The e-bikes made travelling and exploring much easier and allowed us to see and do more. Matera was a definite highlight. We thought that Puglia with its smaller, walled fields was prettier than Basilicata. Visiting Basilicata after all the wheat fields had been harvested and ploughed meant that we spent a lot of time cycling through large, empty expanses of soil. That's not a criticism but we suspect that it would be much more attractive in spring and summer.

  • Older lady cyclist
    03 October 2019

    A self-guided tour for cycle tourers with some navigation experience as much of the distance was on little used backroads, which made for delightful cycling being able to look around as I went along, rather than worrying about other traffic. The other traffic throughout was very courteous though. Several days with long steady climbs and up to700m of climbing on relatively heavy bikes takes effort. It's all doable though and the low gearing of the bike really helped. There were wonderful views from the hill tops. I'm glad I took my own saddle and SPD pedals.

    Dinner at 7.30 to 8pm proved tricky in several places, especially the agritourismos, as there was nothing else around. Carrying snacks/food just in case hunger strikes at 5pm is a good idea.

  • Mr G Penny
    Bristol
    09 September 2019

    It was a pleasure being in Italy, never having been before. Service in the hotels restaurants and cafes was so friendly and brilliant, we were never ignored or had trouble attracting the waiter's attention.

    Matera is an obvious highlight and deservedly so. It was an added bonus to be there when the Bond movie was being filmed. But each of the agri tourismo places were wonderful to be in and in some ways it was a wrench to get on your bike to leave.  We are going to miss having cake, fruit  and chocolate for breakfast.

    The roads are mainly very quiet even when it says ' busy road' but expect to get tooted at by drivers. We learnt that this isn't an agressive 'get out of the way' toot you often get now in England but a letting you know 'i'm here' toot!

    Our French/ European plug adaptor was a tight fit always and sometimes we had to borrow another convertor to make ours work from the hotel. The sockets do seem slightly smaller than those weve experienced in France for example.

  • Anon
    01 September 2019

    This was another very enjoyable Inntravel trip. The description provided on the website was perfect and the accommodation was excellent. We were made to feel very welcome everywhere we stayed. The area is hilly so a reasonable degree of fitness is helpful and makes the experience very pleasurable (unless you take the option of using an e-bike!)

  • Mr I Cummings
    Newport
    09 June 2019

    I would recommend using Inntravel, their preperation for your experience is first class and you couldnt ask more of the support they have in the area you are travelling in. We have organised cycle rides in Europe on many occasions and could not fault this trip, it was great for someone else to have that responsibility and they did us proud.

  • Mr A Robinson
    York
    05 June 2018

    Really well organised trip; happy to answer questions from interested customers. Make the most of the accommodation by taking days at pool hotels, unless you want to ride every day! Suggest share the climb info before booking! Maybe review the monthly weather info as climate changes...

  • Anon
    18 April 2018

    Book the 'Church of the Original Sin' on-line if planning to do the detour on the day riding to Matera. It is worth seeing apparently but we were not let in because we had not booked. Tickets are free.

     

  • Ms J Atkinson
    Retford
    15 April 2018

    Really, really enjoyed this holiday  - countryside looks wonderful in April with almond trees in blossom and lots of wild flowers. Already hot in April ( we were in shorts and t-shirts, locals were in jackets, scarves and hats!)

    Had an extra day in Trani at the start and would recommend having extra time in Matera if you can .... much too much to see in one day!
 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help.
  • 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.)
  • 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 do need to make sure you’re covered, because it’s you who is responsible for any damage to or loss of the bike during the holiday. You should always lock it (preferably to an immovable object) and remove any easy-to-steal accessories when leaving it unattended. The travel insurance policy that we offer covers you for loss and damage (provided you’ve locked or stored it appropriately). If you are arranging your own insurance, but it doesn’t cover bikes, we can provide bike-only cover. See the FAQs section of the main cycling holidays page for more details.
  • We can book a wide range of airlines and routes from the UK. 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. For Europe and Morocco, there’s a £35 booking fee per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). For India and Nepal, the booking fee is £60 per person. 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 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 buy our travel insurance policy (if you live outside Europe you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK and EU residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies 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 alternative 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 www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/before-you-travel and the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC). You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). UK citizens should also obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) by applying at a Post Office or at www.ehic.org.uk. The EHIC allows reciprocal health care but should not be seen as a substitute for travel insurance.
  • 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.
  • 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 when the UK withdraws from the European Union (EU).

    It currently seems highly likely the UK’s withdrawal from the EU will take place on 31 January 2020, at which point the UK will enter a minimum 11-month transition period through to the end of December 2020. During this transition period there will be absolutely no changes to current arrangements for UK citizens travelling to an EU destination, so you can book your 2020 holiday certain that there will be no disruptions or complications caused by Brexit.
  • The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) 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 : 1/21/2020 7:52:56 PM