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Tour of Salento
The Tour of Salento is a 6-day, 5-night self-guided bike tour in southern Puglia, an easy loop from Lecce back to Lecce across the Salento peninsula (243 km in four stages). You cycle through Galatina to Gallipoli on the Ionian Sea, down to Santa Maria di Leuca where the two seas meet, north along the Adriatic cliffs to Otranto and back to Lecce via Torre dell'Orso and Acaya. It is the classic first cycling holiday in Puglia: short stages, quiet roads and plenty of swim stops.
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day 1
Lecce
Arrive independently in Lecce, the cultural capital of Salento, often called the “Florence of the South” for its 17th-century Baroque architecture. Don't miss Piazza Duomo, framed by the cathedral, the bishop's palace and the seminary, and Piazza Sant'Oronzo with its partly excavated Roman amphitheatre. End the day with an aperitivo in one of the elegant cafés of the old town. Overnight in Lecce.
- Day 2
Lecce – Gallipoli
61 km · +247 mElevation profile
After bike delivery and a briefing, you ride through olive groves and quiet country lanes to Galatina, home of the Basilica of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria and its 15th-century frescoes; try a rustico leccese, the local savoury pastry, for lunch. You continue via Galatone to Gallipoli on the Ionian Sea. In the evening, stroll through the old town, set on an island and linked to the mainland by a 17th-century bridge. Overnight in Gallipoli.
- Day 3
Gallipoli – Santa Maria di Leuca
Via Ugento and Specchia 62 km · +230 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 ride south along the Ionian coast to Torre San Giovanni, where the clear water is hard to resist. The main route then turns inland to Ugento, rich in archaeological heritage, and Specchia, one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in Italy”; a shorter option stays closer to the coast. You finish at Santa Maria di Leuca, the southern tip of the peninsula where the Ionian and Adriatic meet, with its lighthouse, cliffs and the Sanctuary of Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae. Overnight in Santa Maria di Leuca.
- Day 4
Santa Maria di Leuca – Otranto
57 km · +494 mElevation profile
Today you ride north along one of the most spectacular stretches of the Adriatic coast, where the cliffs drop into deep blue water. You pass the little harbour of Tricase Porto and Castro Marina, known for its sea caves, with plenty of chances for photos and short breaks. In Otranto, explore the old town, the Aragonese castle and the seafront, and treat yourself to a seafood dinner. Overnight in Otranto.
- Day 5
Otranto – Lecce
64 km · +283 mElevation profile
Start with a visit to Otranto Cathedral, where the bones of the 813 martyrs are kept behind the altar and a vast medieval mosaic floor covers the nave. Then ride past the Alimini lakes to Torre dell'Orso and the Grotta della Poesia, a natural pool carved into the rock that is perfect for a swim. Before Lecce, stop in Acaya, a small fortified village with a Renaissance castle, for an espresso or a sunset aperitivo. Overnight in Lecce.
- Day 6
Lecce
After breakfast, services end. Before you leave, pick up a few pasticciotti, Lecce's custard-filled shortcrust pastries, as a sweet souvenir. Arrivederci, Puglia!
Tour details
- Duration
- 6 days / 5 nights
- Tour type
- Self-guided bike tour, with navigation app
- Area
- Salento
- Distance
- 243 km
- Level
- Easy
- Departures
- Flexible dates: you choose your arrival day
- Participants
- Minimum 2
- Accommodation
- 5 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 | € 800 | € 900 | € 1,075 |
| Deluxe4- and 5-star hotels | € 1,095 | € 1,375 | € 1,675 |
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
- 5 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) | +€240 |
| August supplement, 1–24 Aug – Economy | +€185 per person |
| August supplement, 1–24 Aug – Deluxe | +€360 per person |
| E-bike rental | +€115 per bike |
| Road bike rental | +€55 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 Tour of Salento and how much does it cost?
6 days and 5 nights, with four cycling stages. Prices start at €800 per person in a double room (Economy, low season); with Deluxe 4- and 5-star hotels from €1,095.
Where does the tour start and end, and how do I get there?
It is a loop that starts and ends in Lecce. The nearest airport is Brindisi, and Bari airport is a longer alternative; Lecce is also well connected by train. Airport transfers can be arranged on request.
How difficult is it and how many kilometres do I ride?
Easy: 243 km in four stages of 56–63 km, mostly flat on quiet roads. The hilliest day is Santa Maria di Leuca – Otranto (63 km, +650 m), and there is a shorter 52 km option on the Gallipoli – Leuca day.
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 €185 (Economy) or €360 (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 €115 extra and a road bike €55 extra per bike.
What is included in the price?
Five 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.
