Sustainable tourism with Apulia Bike Tours

Why are bike and walking holidays sustainable?

Sustainable tourism reduces environmental, social and economic impacts while protecting natural and cultural resources. Travelling by bike or on foot produces no greenhouse gases on the road, cuts pollution and fossil fuel use, and spreads visitors into rural areas and quieter months, easing overtourism.

It is also slow: you stop in village bars, sleep in family-run B&Bs, eat in local trattorias, and the money you spend stays in the communities you ride through.

Travelife: where we stand

Travelife is a certification programme for tour operators and travel agents based on international sustainable tourism standards and fair business practices. It has three stages: Travelife Engaged, Travelife Partner and Travelife Certified. We joined in 2023 and are currently working towards Travelife Partner.

We track our performance on the Travelife platform and publish a progress report every two years. Our Sustainability Coordinator, Isangela Giancola, oversees the programme, and our full sustainability policy and mission statement explain every commitment in detail.

What we do in the office and on tour

Sustainability starts at our own desk in San Vito dei Normanni and follows you on the road.

• Solar panels, inverter air conditioning and LED lighting in the office
• Maps and roadbooks in our app instead of printed guides; hotel vouchers and documents sent digitally
• Separate waste collection, no single-use cups or cutlery, eco-labelled cleaning products
• Remote working days to cut commuting
• Trains suggested to guests for transfers between cities and airports

Local partners and fair work

We work closely with local farms, producers, hotels, restaurants and small operators offering olive oil and wine tastings or mozzarella making, so that every partnership supports the local economy and respects local traditions. We prefer accommodation with sustainability certifications or practices, and restaurants and bakeries using zero-kilometre products.

We hire local guides, assistants and staff with fair wages and safe working conditions, apply the national collective agreement for tourism, and have zero tolerance for corruption, forced labour and discrimination.

Olivami: new olive trees for Salento

Olive groves are the landscape of Puglia. As part of our environmental commitment we actively support the replanting of olive trees in Salento together with Olivami, helping to restore the region's agricultural and cultural heritage.

You can take part too: adopt an olive tree, give it a name and receive a personalised adoption certificate by e-mail. The trees stand in our company garden, along our cycling routes, and you can visit yours during a tour.

How you can travel more lightly

A few simple choices make a real difference on a bike holiday in Puglia.

• Bring your own helmet and a refillable water bottle (both available on request)
• Reach Puglia and your starting point by train or bus where you can
• Travel in spring or autumn rather than August
• Buy local products and avoid illegal or prohibited souvenirs
• Use the app instead of printing documents