Self guided Cycling

Salento bike tour

Salento - PugliaDifficulty path:
Easy
Self guided · CyclingDuration: 6 daysCode: bs010
from 580 €per person
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Highlights

The best way to discover the South of Puglia? It's by bike!
A bike tour in Salento on the borders of the Mediterranean peninsula, along the heel of Italy from the Ionian Sea to the Adriatic Sea. A short break to be pampered by the warm light of the sun and to relax pedaling along picturesque corners of coastline and nature reserves, through historic port towns and Baroque art centres.

 

  • Lecce, its Churches and the Roman Amphitheatre

  • Gallipoli and Underground Oil Mills

  • Discover the Cape of Leuca

  • Bays and Cliffs from Castro to Santa Cesarea Terme

  • Otranto and its Pirate stories

  • Cycling along the coast of Salento

Program

Day1

Lecce

Welcome to Salento, a land between two seas.
You will stay in a lovely B&B inside the old town of Lecce, capital of Baroque art in Salento. The city, first Messapian and then Roman, contains within its walls proper historical and architectural jewels: a clear example is the great and well-preserved Roman amphitheatre.
Tomorrow you will start your Salento bike tour! Below you will find Travel tips ↓↓

Day2

From Lecce to Gallipoli

50km

After breakfast you will cycle on country roads reaching Copertino, an area famous for its wine, and then Nardó, which preserves the most beautiful Baroque square of southern Italy.
Afterwards you will reach the coast where is the Park of Porto Selvaggio, authentic green lung of this part of the Ionian coast. Finally, following the coast you will get to Gallipoli, final destination of this beautiful day.
A suggestion: enjoy the sunset on the small beach of “Purità”, located in town.
Overnight in Gallipoli.

Day3

From Gallipoli to Leuca

50km

Time to leave the “Kale Polis” - beautiful city. Before that, you should visit a small, but really interesting Museum in the underground oil mill at Palazzo Granafei: ancient rooms dedicated to lamp oil production.
From Gallipoli you will cycle along the road parallel to the coastline until you reach Punta Ristola, the extreme edge of Salento peninsula, the heel of Italy.
From the promontory, where the Devil’s Cave is, you can enjoy a wonderful view of the harbour of Leuca and, even further, of the cape of Punta Melisso.
To end the day we recommend a boat trip to discover the many sea caves: ask the kiosks near the harbour.
Overnight in Santa Maria di Leuca.

Day4

From Leuca to Otranto

55km

An old local legend recommends to visit the Sanctuary of Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae. Hence sometimes the horizon mingles with the various shades of blue from sky and sea.
Leave Leuca, and today you will proceed on a scenic stretch of road overlooking the sea. Among gentle ups and downs you will arrive at the Ciolo canyon, then at the small Bay of Acquaviva, at the Castro narrated by Virgilio, at the thermal baths of Santa Cesarea, always looking at the endless beauty glimpses of sky and sea.
Finally you will reach Otranto, the most eastern city of Italy. Here you can get lost in the little old town looking for the architectural connection points between this small town and the great Byzantium, today Istanbul.

Day5

From Otranto to Lecce

55km

You can not get away from Otranto without visiting the Norman Cathedral, which preserves the largest and most complex paved mosaic in southern Italy. This work contains so many ancient mysteries: you can see King Arthur, the Puss in Boots, the Calendar, the Board, the three-headed Dragon, and many others.
After riding along the coast, you will reach the Natural WWF Reserve “Le Cesine”: last piece of coastal marsh that once stretched up over the city of Brindisi.
Before returning to Lecce you will cross Acaya, the most important Renaissance fortified town in southern Italy, built by Giangiacomo of Acaya in defense of the city of Lecce and commissioned by Emperor Charles V.
Last overnight in Lecce.

Day6

Lecce

After breakfast end of services.
And if you still have some time to spend in this beautiful town, you should visit the archaeological Faggiano Museum in the historic centre.
If you want to explore Salento with a group of friends, colleagues or family,, take a look at the tour Lecce, Bacchus and Baroque.

 

Tour programme variations
Due to organizational reasons, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during the holiday.
Along the way you may find temporary deviations (for example road works) which cannot be foreseen; in this case each biker can decide autonomously how to deal with these stretches.

What's included

Our offer includes

  • 5 nights with breakfast in double room
  • Welcome briefing and bike fitting
  • Travel App (maps, tracks, route notes)
  • Luggage transportation hotel to hotel
  • Phone assistance 08:00-20:00

Not included

  • Transfer IN and Transfer OUT
  • Bike rental
  • Meals and drinks
  • Entrance fees and tips
  • Hotel tourist taxes
  • Insurance and what's not listed as Included

Departures and prices

Mid Season02/09/2024 => 26/10/2024
Standard660 € /pSuperior820 € /p
Low Season27/10/2024 => 30/11/2024
Standard580 € /pSuperior730 € /p
Low Season01/03/2025 => 23/03/2025
Standard600 € /pSuperior740 € /p
Mid Season24/03/2025 => 21/06/2025
Standard670 € /pSuperior840 € /p
High Season 22/06/2025 => 19/07/2025
Standard800 € /pSuperior980 € /p
Peak Season - ON REQUEST20/07/2025 => 01/09/2025
Mid Season02/09/2025 => 26/10/2025
Standard670 € /pSuperior840 € /p
Low Season27/10/2025 => 20/11/2025
Standard600 € /pSuperior740 € /p

Supplements per person

4 days Trek bike rental
Standard80 € /pSuperior80 € /p
4 days Gravel bike rental
Standard120 € /pSuperior120 € /p
4 days E-bike rental
Standard150 € /pSuperior150 € /p
Transfer Brindisi Apt-Lecce (min 2 pax)
Standard48 € /pSuperior48 € /p
Transfer Bari Apt-Lecce (min 2 pax)
Standard110 € /pSuperior110 € /p
Single room | Low Season
Standard180 € /pSuperior260 € /p
Single room | Mid Season
Standard190 € /pSuperior300 € /p
Single room | High Season
Standard230 € /pSuperior330 € /p
Extra night in double room | Low Season
Standard62 € /pSuperior80 € /p
Extra night in double room | Mid Season
Standard69 € /pSuperior90 € /p
Extra night in double room | High Season
Standard79 € /pSuperior100 € /p
Extra night in single room | Low Season
Standard90 € /pSuperior120 € /p
Extra night in single room | Mid Season
Standard95 € /pSuperior140 € /p
Extra night in single room | High Season
Standard110 € /pSuperior160 € /p
Solo traveller
Standard190 € /pSuperior190 € /p

Other Information

Grade

Mostly flat with wavy lines.
This Puglia bike tour is suitable to anyone with a minimum of training to the bicycle. The daily mileage ranges from 50 to 55 kilometers per day, and you can stop at your leisure, or according to our advice, for visits and refreshments.
The bike will be a way to work off the good food and enjoy the many landscapes offered by this land. There will also be strictly cultural moments and the possibility of a refreshing swim in the clear sea of Puglia.

Accomodations & Meals

The Standard tour offers accommodation in simple B&B and selected 3* hotel.
The Superior tour offers accommodation in charming B&B and 4* hotel.
All rooms are ensuite.

  • 1+1 nights in Lecce
  • 1 night in Gallipoli
  • 1 night in Leuca
  • 1 night in Otranto

5 breakfasts included. All other meals are not included.

Support

The morning of the second day, after breakfast, you will have a Welcome briefing with Bike fitting.

→ We will take care of your luggage while you are cycling.
For the whole duration of the tour, you can contact our assistance numbers.

Travel documents

A few days before departure you will receive by email the Service List with instructions for using the Travel App.

During your Welcome briefing you will receive:

  • updated Service List;
  • luggage Labels;
  • requested rental bikes.
Arrival and Departure

Getting there
Lecce is easily reachable by car, train, bus and by air.

BY TRAIN. Trenitalia connects the main Italian cities with the capital of Salento. On www.viaggiatreno.it you can find update informations about train routes.

BY AIR. The closest airports are Bari and Brindisi, both connected with the most important Italian and foreign cities.
The Salento airport of Brindisi is about 40 km from Lecce, and the airport of Bari-Palese is about 160 km from Lecce. From Bari and Brindisi there are several public transport solutions to reach Lecce. More info on the website Aeroporti di Puglia.

BY BUS. Lecce is also accessible by bus. Here some of the major operating companies: Marinobus, Baltour & Flixbus, Busmiccolis, Sais autolinee, Buscenter.

BY CAR. The main highways are the A14 Bologna-Taranto and the A16 Napoli-Canosa. We recommend you exit the motorway in Bari and continue along the highway to Brindisi, then take the SS613 towards Lecce. maps.google.com can help you with the directions.

→ If you prefer to travel in total comfort, you can book a private transfer on the days of arrival and departure.

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Travel tips

When do you fancy leaving?

You can cycle this tour in Salento practically all year round!
In spring the days get longer and the sea water is fresh and regenerating.
In April, you might choose to spend a different Easter: gastronomic specialities abound and folklore lovers will be intrigued by the itinerant religious celebrations, such as the very long and spectacular night and day processions in the beautiful city of Gallipoli.
Thinking of taking a holiday in May or June could be ideal for sea lovers... the sun goes out late, the beaches start to come alive and the crystal clear waters will attack your desire to cycle... try to resist!
In autumn everything quiets down: the coasts are depopulated but the sea water is still warm.

 

Why choose this tour for your holidays in 2024?

You can cycle through the most beautiful places of Salento! And be amazed by the possibility to achieve in such a short time charming art towns, popular seaside localities and picturesque natural and historical sites, like the unexpected Castle of Acaya, one of the best examples of Renaissance defensive architecture in Terra d'Otranto.

Are you looking for cosy and cheap holidays?

Luggage transported from hotel to hotel, routes designed with accuracy and directions constantly updated: ongoing support for a Salento bike tour in complete safety.

Local specialties

Cycling in Salento has a completely different taste!
We are sure that you will wait impatiently for the right time to have a snack or a nice typical dinner: seafood restaurants and local grocery stores will invoke you as sirens along the way … from Otranto to Lecce, for example, stop in Torre dell'Orso for a good (and cheap!!) stuffed sandwich from the little shop on the corner under the arcades (in front the big Bar Dentoni) and go to enjoy it down the beautiful Bay. The best way to make a healthy and cheap holiday is to live like locals!
And to bring some Salento flavors with you, here are some easy and typical recipes of the area ;)

At your choice

In our packages generally only breakfast are included, but if you want we can make this tour considering dinners and lunches, for an all inclusive holiday flavour. The choice is yours!

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Contacts

Slow Active Tours

Via Corrado Alvaro, 17a

73100 - Lecce, LE - Italia

VAT no. IT05328000756

Tel: +39 0832 1826868

info@slowactivetours.com