Cycling the Heel of Italy - Matera to Lecce
Cycling the Heel of Italy - Matera to Lecce
12 Days Starting in Alberobello and ending in Lecce
Visiting: Matera, Castellaneta, Putignano, Alberobello, Ostuni, Oria, Gallipoli, Santa Maria di Leuca, Otranto, Lecce
Tour operator:
Tour code:
C11PI
Group Type:
Independent
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Age range:
14-99
Activities:
Tour Overview
We explore the very best of this captivating region from Murgia to Salento.
Your daily cycle routes allow you to explore a series of architectural and natural wonders, sites of immense historical and cultural interest, and of course, to be tempted by local culinary specialties! Cycle through the Murghe plateau, the Salento plain and along the coast through a landscape of ancient olive groves and vineyards and past traditional masserie, coastal watchtowers and splendid Baroque towns .
This holiday is offered with a choice of mainly 3 Star, or mainly 4 Star accommodation. The 3 Star accommodation is listed on the hotels page. Stays are in the UNESCO listed towns of Matera and Alberobello; Putignano, known for its ancient carnival; white-washed Ostuni; Galipolli, where the historic centre is on an island; Santa Maria de Leuca, where the Ionian and Adriatic seas meet; Otranto, known as the gateway to the Orient and Lecce, known as the 'Florence of the South'. Stay also in Castellaneta and Avetrana where evening meals are included.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive In Matera
Location: Matera
Meals Included: Breakfast
Make your way to Matera, one of the oldest inhabited human settlements in the world.
Day 2 : Free Day In Matera
Location: Matera
Meals Included: Breakfast
Explore the UNESCO-listed Sassi of Matera; a complex of houses built into the natural caves of the Murgia.
Day 3 : Matera To Castellaneta
Location: Castellaneta
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Your first cycling day takes you through a landscape of wheat fields and wide panoramas. Visit the town of Laterza, famous for its tasty bakery products and majolica pottery. Continue to Castellaneta, a small city perched on the edge of a ravine.
Day 4 : Castellaneta To Putignano
Location: Putignano
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today you will cycle in the Terra delle Gravine Natural Park, amongst deep canyons, carved by rivers over millions of years. Leaving the ravines you will soon discover the iconic Puglia scenery: dry stone walls, old masserie (fortified stansteads) and trulli, rural houses with a conic roof typical to the area, built without any cement or mortar. Reach Putignano, known for its ancient carnival.
Day 5 : Putignano To Alberobello
Location: Alberobello
Meals Included: Breakfast
Leaving the medieval centre of Putignano, cycle in the lush countryside to reach Castellana Caves. It is the main karst site in the South of Italy and a visit is recommended.After the caves, continue along the rolling lanes of the countryside where olive, almond, apricot and cherry trees grow. Continue to the UNESCO heritage site of Alberobello, the world capital of Trulli.
Day 6 : Alberobello To Ostuni
Location: Ostuni
Meals Included: Breakfast
Cycle through the lush Valle d'Itria, passing more white-tipped trulli houses on the way. Boasting beautiful coastal views, the route takes you through the famous wine town of Locorotondo, regarded as one of Italy's most stunning villages. After sampling some of the local sparkling white wine, continue to the white city of Ostuni - so called for the dazzling effect of its whitewashed houses.
Day 7 : Ostuni To Avetrana
Location: Oria
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Cycle through the colourful Salentinian countryside, characterized by olive groves and red soil towards the medieval towns of Oria and Manduria with their authentic historic centres.
Day 8 : Avetrana To Gallipoli
Location: Gallipoli
Meals Included: Breakfast
Head to Torre Colimena on the Ionian Sea, then follow the coast alongside a series of beaches and the old coastal towers of Salento. Reach Gallipoli, known as the 'Ionian Pearl' with its Old Town situated on a rocky island. Take time to wander the narrow lanes of the historic centre to discover its baroque cathedral, elegant palazzi and enticing restaurants.
Day 9 : Gallipoli To Santa Maria Di Leuca
Location: Santa Maria di Leuca
Meals Included: Breakfast
Cycle towards the most southerly point of Salento at Santa Maria di Leuca, where the crystal waters of the Ionian and Adriatic Sea meet. This village is home to one of the most important lighthouses in Italy, as well as numerous villas built at the turn of the century.
Day 10 : Santa Maria Di Leuca To Otranto
Location: Otranto
Meals Included: Breakfast
Pedal along the south coast of the Adriatic Sea, stopping off at the famous Grotta Zinzulusa and the thermal baths of Santa Cesarea Terme. Your final destination is Otranto, the most eastern point of Italy with a stunning cathedral and Aragonese castle.
Day 11 : Otranto To Lecce
Location: Lecce
Meals Included: Breakfast
Follow the shoreline through olive groves to the Baroque metropolis of Lecce. Known as the 'Florence of the South', Lecce is home to over 30 churches, an amphitheatre and a Roman theatre dating back to Emperor Augustus.
Day 12 : Leave Lecce
Location: Lecce
Meals Included: Breakfast
Make your own way back to the airport for your flight home.
What's Included
-
All breakfasts and 2 evening meals
-
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
-
GPS Route directions and maps
-
Headwater 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)
-
Visas or vaccinations
-
Arrival & departure transfers
-
Hotel Upgrades
Food
Breakfasts are included and consist of a continental-style buffet. However, please note that the typical Italian breakfast are generally light; usually a cup of coffee and a cream-filled or jam-filled croissant.
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.
Suggestions of what to do for lunch and dinner are given in the cycling route notes.
Accommodation
You will spend 11 nights in comfortable en suite hotels, in Matera, your hotel is just a few steps from the Sassi di Matera UNESCO site and when available we use traditional accommodation in Alberobello. Hotels are mainly 3 star, there is also the option to upgrade to mostly 4 star accommodation for a supplement.
All prices are based on 2 persons sharing, so if there is an odd number of people travelling in your party or you are travelling alone, there will be a compulsory supplement for a single room for the tour duration. For a solo traveller there is an additional charge to cover transfer costs.
Mode of Transport
The tour includes high-quality bikes and luggage transfers between hotels. Arrival and departure transfers are not included, and participants are responsible for making their own way to and from the starting and ending locations.
Check out our Q&As
-
What type of accommodation is provided during the tour?
You will stay in comfortable en suite hotels, mainly 3-star, with an option to upgrade to mostly 4-star accommodation for a supplement. In Matera, the hotel is just a few steps from the Sassi di Matera UNESCO site, and traditional accommodation is used in Alberobello when available.
-
Are meals included in the tour package?
All breakfasts and 2 evening meals are included in the tour package. Breakfasts are typically a continental-style buffet, and the tour provides suggestions for lunch and dinner in the cycling route notes.
-
What kind of support is available during the cycling tour?
The tour is managed by a local Headwater-appointed agent, and you will have access to GPS route directions, maps, and the Headwater navigation app. High-quality bikes are provided, and luggage transfers between hotels are included.
-
Is there a single supplement for solo travelers?
Yes, there is a compulsory supplement for a single room if you are traveling alone or if there is an odd number of people in your party. Additionally, there is an extra charge for solo travelers to cover transfer costs.
-
What are some of the key attractions visited during the tour?
The tour includes visits to Matera's UNESCO-listed Sassi, the Castellana Caves, the trulli houses of Alberobello, the white city of Ostuni, and the Baroque city of Lecce. You will also explore the Terra delle Gravine Natural Park, the coastal towers of Salento, and the historic centers of towns like Gallipoli and Otranto.
-
What is the cycling terrain like on this tour?
The cycling terrain includes a variety of landscapes such as wheat fields, deep canyons in the Terra delle Gravine Natural Park, lush countryside with olive groves, and coastal routes with beautiful views. The tour also features rolling lanes through the countryside and scenic coastal paths.
-
What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
-
How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
-
What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
-
Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
-
Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
Reviews from travellers on this tour
1 Select your preferred date
Monday - Friday
Mar 10, 2025 - Mar 21, 2025Thursday - Monday
Mar 13, 2025 - Mar 24, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
Mar 15, 2025 - Mar 26, 2025Monday - Friday
Mar 17, 2025 - Mar 28, 2025Thursday - Monday
Mar 20, 2025 - Mar 31, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
Mar 22, 2025 - Apr 02, 2025Monday - Friday
Mar 24, 2025 - Apr 04, 2025Thursday - Monday
Mar 27, 2025 - Apr 07, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
Mar 29, 2025 - Apr 09, 2025Monday - Friday
Mar 31, 2025 - Apr 11, 2025Thursday - Monday
Apr 03, 2025 - Apr 14, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
Apr 05, 2025 - Apr 16, 2025Monday - Friday
Apr 07, 2025 - Apr 18, 2025Thursday - Monday
Apr 10, 2025 - Apr 21, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
Apr 12, 2025 - Apr 23, 2025Monday - Friday
Apr 14, 2025 - Apr 25, 2025Thursday - Monday
Apr 17, 2025 - Apr 28, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
Apr 19, 2025 - Apr 30, 2025Monday - Friday
Apr 21, 2025 - May 02, 2025Thursday - Monday
Apr 24, 2025 - May 05, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
Apr 26, 2025 - May 07, 2025Monday - Friday
Apr 28, 2025 - May 09, 2025Thursday - Monday
May 01, 2025 - May 12, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
May 03, 2025 - May 14, 2025Monday - Friday
May 05, 2025 - May 16, 2025Thursday - Monday
May 08, 2025 - May 19, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
May 10, 2025 - May 21, 2025Monday - Friday
May 12, 2025 - May 23, 2025Thursday - Monday
May 15, 2025 - May 26, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
May 17, 2025 - May 28, 2025Monday - Friday
May 19, 2025 - May 30, 2025Thursday - Monday
May 22, 2025 - Jun 02, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
May 24, 2025 - Jun 04, 2025Monday - Friday
May 26, 2025 - Jun 06, 2025Thursday - Monday
May 29, 2025 - Jun 09, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
May 31, 2025 - Jun 11, 2025Monday - Friday
Jun 02, 2025 - Jun 13, 2025Thursday - Monday
Jun 05, 2025 - Jun 16, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
Jun 07, 2025 - Jun 18, 2025Monday - Friday
Jun 09, 2025 - Jun 20, 2025Thursday - Monday
Jun 12, 2025 - Jun 23, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
Jun 14, 2025 - Jun 25, 2025Monday - Friday
Jun 16, 2025 - Jun 27, 2025Thursday - Monday
Jun 19, 2025 - Jun 30, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
Jun 21, 2025 - Jul 02, 2025Monday - Friday
Jun 23, 2025 - Jul 04, 2025Thursday - Monday
Aug 21, 2025 - Sep 01, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
Aug 23, 2025 - Sep 03, 2025Monday - Friday
Aug 25, 2025 - Sep 05, 2025Thursday - Monday
Aug 28, 2025 - Sep 08, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
Aug 30, 2025 - Sep 10, 2025Monday - Friday
Sep 01, 2025 - Sep 12, 2025Thursday - Monday
Sep 04, 2025 - Sep 15, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
Sep 06, 2025 - Sep 17, 2025Monday - Friday
Sep 08, 2025 - Sep 19, 2025Thursday - Monday
Sep 11, 2025 - Sep 22, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
Sep 13, 2025 - Sep 24, 2025Monday - Friday
Sep 15, 2025 - Sep 26, 2025Thursday - Monday
Sep 18, 2025 - Sep 29, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
Sep 20, 2025 - Oct 01, 2025Monday - Friday
Sep 22, 2025 - Oct 03, 2025Thursday - Monday
Sep 25, 2025 - Oct 06, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
Sep 27, 2025 - Oct 08, 2025Monday - Friday
Sep 29, 2025 - Oct 10, 2025Thursday - Monday
Oct 02, 2025 - Oct 13, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
Oct 04, 2025 - Oct 15, 2025Monday - Friday
Oct 06, 2025 - Oct 17, 2025Thursday - Monday
Oct 09, 2025 - Oct 20, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
Oct 11, 2025 - Oct 22, 2025Monday - Friday
Oct 13, 2025 - Oct 24, 2025Thursday - Monday
Oct 16, 2025 - Oct 27, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
Oct 18, 2025 - Oct 29, 2025Monday - Friday
Oct 20, 2025 - Oct 31, 2025Thursday - Monday
Oct 23, 2025 - Nov 03, 2025Saturday - Wednesday
Oct 25, 2025 - Nov 05, 2025Monday - Friday
Oct 27, 2025 - Nov 07, 2025Thursday - Monday
Oct 30, 2025 - Nov 10, 2025Book with Confidence
-
Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
-
Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
Enquire for huge savings
Rated 5* on Trust Pilot & ABTA Protected.