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From Sassi of Matera to Salento – 9 Days
From Sassi of Matera to Salento (9 days) is a 9-day, 8-night self-guided bike tour from Matera in Basilicata to Lecce in Puglia: a challenging one-way route of seven cycling stages (464 km) that rides all the way, with no train transfer. From the Sassi of Matera you cycle to the trulli of Alberobello, across the Itria Valley to Ostuni, through Primitivo wine country at Manduria and on to Gallipoli, Santa Maria di Leuca, Otranto and Lecce. It covers the whole heel of Italy, from the Murgia plateau to the tip of Salento where two seas meet.
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day 1
Matera
Arrive in Matera, on the border between Basilicata and Puglia, famous for the Sassi, its ancient cave districts listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. Explore the rock-cut churches, visit a traditional cave house and dine, or sleep, in a restored cave. Arriving late? Consider adding an extra night to enjoy the city. Overnight in Matera.
- Day 2
Matera – Alberobello
76 km · +553 mElevation profile
After bike delivery and fitting, you ride across the southern Murgia plateau on quiet rural roads between olive groves, passing Gioia del Colle and Noci. It is the longest stage of the tour. Your goal is Alberobello, the capital of the trulli: about 1,500 of these conical dry-stone houses fill the Monti and Aia Piccola districts, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. Overnight in Alberobello.
- Day 3
Alberobello – Ostuni
50 km · +570 mElevation profile
Today you cross the rolling hills of the Itria Valley, a patchwork of red soil, olive groves, vineyards and white trulli. Stop in Locorotondo for an aperitivo with the local white wine, in Martina Franca for its elegant baroque centre and in Cisternino for lunch at a traditional butcher's grill, where they cook the meat you choose, including the local bombette. The day ends in Ostuni, the White City, spread over three hills around its cathedral. Overnight in Ostuni.
- Day 4
Ostuni – Manduria
71 km · +273 mElevation profile
Leaving Ostuni, you ride through open countryside to San Vito dei Normanni, Mesagne and Oria, small towns watched over by their castles. The route then heads to Manduria, birthplace of Primitivo di Manduria DOC, where you pedal between rows of vines. Taste a glass of Primitivo and, if you have time, visit the Museum of Primitivo Wine Civilisation. Overnight in Manduria.
- Day 5
Manduria – Gallipoli
69 km · +250 mElevation profile
This stage is dedicated to the Ionian coast of Salento: you ride to Campomarino and Porto Cesareo, with their clear water and sandy beaches, and on to Gallipoli. The old town on its island is full of baroque churches and aristocratic palazzi, a legacy of its past as a wealthy trading port. Its maze of narrow streets leads to the seafront promenade and its wide views. Overnight in Gallipoli.
- Day 6
Gallipoli – Santa Maria di Leuca
Via Ugento and Specchia 75 km · +520 mShorter option via Torre San Giovanni 52 km · +230 mElevation profile Via Ugento and SpecchiaElevation profile Shorter option via Torre San Giovanni
Leaving Gallipoli, you follow the Ionian coast to Torre San Giovanni, where the clear sea is hard to resist. The main route then heads inland to Ugento and Specchia, one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in Italy”, before a final 35 km to Santa Maria di Leuca; a shorter option (52 km) stays closer to the coast. Leuca is the southern tip of Salento, where the Ionian meets the Adriatic, with its lighthouse and the Sanctuary of Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae. Overnight in Santa Maria di Leuca.
- Day 7
Santa Maria di Leuca – Otranto
57 km · +494 mElevation profile
Today you ride north along the Adriatic coast, one of the most scenic roads in Salento, with cliffs dropping into the sea. You pass the small harbours of Tricase Porto and Castro Marina before reaching Otranto. Enjoy a seafood dinner in the old town, browse the little shops and see the cathedral and the Aragonese castle. Overnight in Otranto.
- Day 8
Otranto – Lecce
64 km · +283 mElevation profile
In the morning, visit Otranto Cathedral, where the bones of the 813 martyrs are displayed behind the altar and a medieval mosaic floor, comparable to the famous mosaics of Ravenna, covers the nave. Then ride along the Alimini lakes to Torre dell'Orso and swim in the Grotta della Poesia, a natural pool carved into the rock. Before Lecce, stop in Acaya for an espresso or a sunset drink in front of its castle. Overnight in Lecce.
- Day 9
Lecce
After breakfast, services end. Before you leave, stock up on pasticciotti, Lecce's custard-filled shortcrust pastries. Arrivederci, Puglia!
Tour details
- Duration
- 9 days / 8 nights
- Tour type
- Self-guided bike tour, with navigation app
- Area
- Puglia and Basilicata
- Distance
- 464 km
- Level
- Challenging
- Departures
- Flexible dates: you choose your arrival day
- Participants
- Minimum 2
- Accommodation
- 8 nights in B&Bs and 3-star hotels (Economy) or 4- and 5-star hotels (Deluxe), with breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast daily. Lunches and dinners are not included, so you are free to try local trattorias along the way.
- Bikes
- Touring bike, E-bike, Road bike, Gravel bike
Prices and services
Prices per person in a double room
| Category | Low season | Mid season | High season |
|---|---|---|---|
| EconomyB&Bs and 3-star hotels | € 1,400 | € 1,510 | € 1,675 |
| Deluxe4- and 5-star hotels | € 1,800 | € 2,125 | € 2,575 |
Seasons
| Season | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Low season | 7 Jan – 31 Mar · 7 Apr – 31 May · 21 Sep – 21 Dec | 7 Jan – 21 Mar · 5 Apr – 18 Apr · 3 May – 31 May · 21 Sep – 21 Dec |
| Mid season | 1 Jun – 13 Jul · 25 Aug – 20 Sep | 22 Mar – 4 Apr · 19 Apr – 2 May · 1 Jun – 12 Jul · 25 Aug – 20 Sep |
| High season | 28 Mar – 6 Apr · 14 Jul – 24 Aug · 22 Dec – 6 Jan | 13 Jul – 24 Aug · 22 Dec – 6 Jan |
Included in the price
- 8 nights' accommodation with daily breakfast
- Touring or gravel bike rental
- Bike equipment: rear pannier and lock (helmet and water bottle on request)
- Repair kit: spare inner tube, pump, tyre lever
- Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel
- Navigation app with preloaded GPS tracks, digital roadbook and practical and tourist information
- Telephone assistance (7 days a week, 8:30–19:00)
- Travel insurance (medical and luggage) – see the insurance information
Not included
- Lunches and dinners
- Drinks
- Airport transfers (available on request)
- Support vehicle (minivan) on the road
- Tourist taxes
- Anything not listed under “What's included”
Supplements
| Single room | +30% on the base price |
| Single traveller (bookings for 1 person only) | +€420 |
| August supplement, 1–24 Aug – Economy | +€255 per person |
| August supplement, 1–24 Aug – Deluxe | +€505 per person |
| E-bike rental | +€180 per bike |
| Road bike rental | +€85 per bike |
Prices are per person in a double room, based on a minimum of 2 participants. Travelling solo? You can book with the single traveller supplement.
Bikes available for this tour
Touring bike
E-bike
Road bike
Gravel bikeQuestions about this tour
How long is the 9-day Matera to Salento tour and how much does it cost?
9 days and 8 nights, with seven cycling stages. Prices start at €1,400 per person in a double room (Economy, low season); with Deluxe 4- and 5-star hotels from €1,800.
Where does the tour start and end, and how do I get there?
It is one-way: it starts in Matera and ends in Lecce. Bari is the most convenient airport for Matera and Brindisi the closest to Lecce, so many guests fly into Bari and home from Brindisi; airport transfers can be arranged on request.
How difficult is it and how many kilometres do I ride?
Challenging: 464 km in seven stages of 52–78 km, four of them 70 km or longer. The toughest days are Matera – Alberobello (78 km, +650 m) and Santa Maria di Leuca – Otranto (63 km, +650 m); Gallipoli – Leuca has a shorter 52 km option.
When is the best time to go, and are there seasonal supplements?
Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October) offer the best temperatures, and low-season prices apply for much of the spring and from 21 September to 21 December. From 1 to 24 August there is a supplement of €255 (Economy) or €505 (Deluxe) per person.
Which bikes are available? Can I rent an e-bike?
Yes. A touring or gravel bike is included; an e-bike costs €180 extra and a road bike €85 extra per bike.
What is included in the price?
Eight nights with breakfast, bike rental with pannier and lock, luggage transfer from hotel to hotel, the navigation app with GPS tracks and roadbook, medical and luggage insurance and telephone assistance. Lunches, dinners, drinks and tourist taxes are not included.
