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Grand Tour of Puglia
The Grand Tour of Puglia is a 15-day, 14-night self-guided cycling tour that crosses the whole region from north to south, from Bari to Polignano a Mare – a challenging journey of 13 riding days. You ride past the Romanesque cathedrals of Trani, Castel del Monte and the Alta Murgia to Matera, then through the Itria Valley and down the Ionian coast of Salento to Gallipoli and Santa Maria di Leuca. The return leg takes in Otranto, Lecce, the white towns of the Itria Valley and the trulli of Alberobello.
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day 1
Bari
Arrive at your own pace in Bari, the regional capital and a crossroads of cultures since ancient times. Explore the walled old town and its maze of lanes, the Swabian castle and the Basilica of San Nicola, a masterpiece of Apulian Romanesque, then stroll along the seafront promenade. Overnight in Bari.
- Day 2
Bari – Trani
64 km · +384 mElevation profile
After the bike handover and route briefing you ride through Bitonto, Terlizzi and Ruvo di Puglia, towns of fine Romanesque cathedrals. Your destination is Trani, whose cathedral – called by some the queen of Puglia's cathedrals – has a bronze door by Barisano da Trani with 32 panels of biblical figures. Overnight in Trani.
- Day 3
Trani – Castel del Monte
38 km · +546 mElevation profile
Heading inland, your first stop is Andria, where you can taste the famous burrata, a pouch of mozzarella filled with creamy stracciatella. About 10 km further you enter the Alta Murgia National Park and, among pastures, olive groves and vineyards, reach Castel del Monte, the finest example of Swabian architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Overnight in the Castel del Monte area (Minervino Murge).
- Day 4
Castel del Monte – Gravina in Puglia
51 km · +444 mElevation profile
Another day on the Murgia plateau: grassland broken by white rocks, woods that change colour with the seasons and old stream beds now lined with cultivated fields. You reach Gravina in Puglia, a land of natural galleries, caves and ravines carved by an underground river and inhabited for centuries. Overnight in Gravina in Puglia.
- Day 5
Gravina in Puglia – Matera
39 km · +454 mElevation profile
You ride up to Altamura, whose cathedral towers stand out on a spur above the plateau – a good place to taste the famous Altamura bread and focaccia. The stage ends in Matera, on the border between Puglia and Basilicata, famous for its Sassi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Overnight in Matera.
- Day 6
Matera – Martina Franca
88 km · +660 mElevation profile
The longest stage of the tour heads towards San Basilio and the nature park of the Gravine, karst gorges carved by streams flowing from the Murgia to the sea. Rock villages, crypts and churches hide Byzantine-style icons, and the deep ravines shelter a remarkably varied flora and fauna. Your destination is Martina Franca, in the Itria Valley. Overnight in Martina Franca.
- Day 7
Martina Franca – Manduria
63 km · +372 mElevation profile
Today you ride down to Grottaglie, famous for its ceramics quarter and its potters' workshops. You continue to Manduria, the home of Primitivo red wine, at the gateway to Salento. Overnight in Manduria.
- Day 8
Manduria – Gallipoli
69 km · +250 mElevation profile
This stage follows the Ionian coast of Salento past Campo Marino and Porto Cesareo to Gallipoli. Its island old town is full of Baroque churches and aristocratic palazzi from its days as a wealthy trading port, and its narrow lanes all lead to the seafront promenade. Overnight in Gallipoli.
- Day 9
Gallipoli – Santa Maria di Leuca
Main route via Ugento and Specchia 71 km · +490 mShorter option 51 km · +225 mElevation profile Main route via Ugento and SpecchiaElevation profile Shorter option
You leave Gallipoli along the Ionian coast towards Torre San Giovanni, where the clear water is hard to resist. The main route then turns inland to Ugento and Specchia, one of Italy's most beautiful villages, before reaching Santa Maria di Leuca at the southern tip of Salento, where the Ionian meets the Adriatic; a shorter option of 51 km (+225 m) is also available. Overnight in Santa Maria di Leuca.
- Day 10
Santa Maria di Leuca – Otranto
57 km · +494 mElevation profile
Heading north along the Adriatic coast of Salento, one of the hilliest stages of the tour, you pass the small harbours of Tricase Porto and Castro Marina. In Otranto, with its Aragonese castle and cathedral, treat yourself to a seafood dinner and an evening stroll through the historic centre. Overnight in Otranto.
- Day 11
Otranto – Lecce
64 km · +283 mElevation profile
In the morning, visit Otranto's cathedral, with its medieval mosaic floor and the relics of the 813 martyrs. Along the Alimini Lakes you reach Torre dell'Orso and the Grotta della Poesia, perfect for a swim, then Acaya and its castle before arriving in Lecce, the capital of Baroque – well worth an extra night. Overnight in Lecce.
- Day 12
Lecce – San Vito dei Normanni
75 km · +218 mElevation profile
Leaving Salento, you ride north towards Squinzano, with a stop at the Romanesque Abbey of Santa Maria di Cerrate, and on to the castle of Mesagne. The flat route ends in San Vito dei Normanni, among the olive groves of the Brindisi countryside. Overnight in San Vito dei Normanni.
- Day 13
San Vito dei Normanni – Alberobello
57 km · +673 mElevation profile
Today you climb onto the hills of the Itria Valley, where trulli, vineyards and olive groves stretch as far as the eye can see, passing the white towns of Ostuni, Cisternino and Locorotondo. You arrive in Alberobello, where about 1,500 trulli fill the Monti and Aia Piccola districts, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. Overnight in Alberobello.
- Day 14
Alberobello – Polignano a Mare
32 km · +166 mElevation profile
The last stage passes Castellana Grotte, famous for its underground caves of stalactites and stalagmites, then runs downhill towards the sea. You finish in Polignano a Mare, perched on a 20-metre limestone cliff above the Adriatic and birthplace of Domenico Modugno, the singer of “Volare”. Overnight in Polignano a Mare.
- Day 15
Polignano a Mare
Breakfast and end of services. Two weeks and the whole of Puglia, from north to south, are behind you. Arrivederci Puglia!
Tour details
- Duration
- 15 days / 14 nights
- Tour type
- Self-guided bike tour, with navigation app
- Area
- Puglia and Basilicata
- Distance
- 769 km
- Level
- Challenging
- Departures
- Flexible dates: you choose your arrival day
- Participants
- Minimum 2
- Accommodation
- 14 nights in B&Bs or 3* hotels (Economy category) or in 4*/5* hotels (Deluxe category).
- Meals
- Breakfast every day. Lunches and dinners are not included.
- 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&B / 3* hotel | € 1,975 | € 2,425 | € 2,825 |
| Deluxe4*/5* hotel | € 2,825 | € 3,625 | € 4,275 |
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
- 14 nights' accommodation
- 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 transfers from one accommodation to the next
- Access to our navigation app with preloaded GPS tracks, roadbook and practical and tourist information
- Telephone assistance
- *Reduce waste: we encourage you to bring your own helmet and refillable water bottle. If you need them, just let us know in advance.
- Travel insurance (medical and luggage) – see the insurance information
Not included
- Lunches and dinners
- Airport transfers (available on request)
- Minivan support
- Tourist taxes
- Anything not listed under “What's included”
Supplements
| Single room | +30% on the base price |
| Single traveller (bookings for 1 participant only, to cover per-person logistics costs) | € 780 |
| E-bike rental | € 300 per bike |
| Road bike rental | € 150 per bike |
Prices are per person in a double room and based on a minimum of 2 participants. Travelling solo? You are welcome: the single traveller supplement applies.
Bikes available for this tour
Touring bike
E-bike
Road bike
Gravel bikeRoute map
Questions about this tour
How long is the tour and how much does it cost?
15 days and 14 nights, from €1,975 per person in the Economy category (B&Bs and 3* hotels, low season, double room). The Deluxe category with 4*/5* hotels starts at €2,825.
Where does the tour start and end, and how do I get there?
It starts in Bari and ends in Polignano a Mare, about half an hour's drive from Bari, so Bari airport works for both arrival and departure. Airport transfers are not included but can be arranged on request.
How difficult is it and how many kilometres will I ride?
Challenging: 769 km over 13 riding days of 32–88 km, with up to 810 m of climbing a day. The difficulty lies in riding day after day for two weeks; an e-bike makes it much easier.
When is the best time to go?
Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October) are ideal, and the tour can be booked all year with low, mid and high season prices. There is no separate August supplement on this tour: high season prices apply from 14 July to 24 August.
Which bikes are available? Can I ride an e-bike?
Yes. A touring or gravel bike is included, and you can switch to an e-bike for €300 or to a road bike for €150.
What is included in the price?
14 nights with breakfast, bike with pannier, lock and repair kit, luggage transfers between accommodations, our navigation app with GPS tracks and roadbook, luggage and medical insurance and telephone assistance.
