Tour at a Glance.
D
uration: 8 days/7 nights
Departures 2012: May 5, Sept 29. Private departures also possible.
Departing from: Bari-Hotel Boston at 9:00 a.m. on Day 2 (Sunday)
Tour finishes: Bari train station, Saturday morning, Day 8
Price 2012: €2,200 per person based on double occupancy and minimum 6 people. Single supplement €230. Click on the Currency Converter to see the price in your local currency.
All dates are Guaranteed departures. You can create your own date for a small group. Click on any picture to enlarge. (CD 011211)
Come explore the rich history and beautiful scenery of Southern Italy on our Puglia and Basilicata bike tour. The “heel” of the Italian boot, Puglia has been home to ancient Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Normans, Saracens and the royal Spanish court of the 1600’s. Today it is asserting itself as home to some of Italy’s best food, most innovative wines, and most interesting landscapes. We also visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Matera, a dramatic city carved into the cliffs and gorges that cut through the town. The landscape and architecture is completely different from that of northern Italy. Vast olive groves stretch to the Mediterranean, white-washed baroque villages perch on hillsides overlooking the sea. Traditional ”Trulli,” houses dot the landscape, their charming forms make for a fairytale landscape.
The biking is more moderate than our Tuscany bike tour, but there are plenty of optional extension rides for those who want something a bit more strenuous! The hotels have been chosen to let you to experience Puglia’s countryside and village life. Our first night is in Bari, the capital of Puglia, where you can explore the city’s beautiful medieval center as well as the broad 19th century boulevards lined with majestic date palms. Our next two nights are at a wonderful boutique hotel in a converted 16th century convent in the charming baroque village of Conversano. Then we spend two nights in a lovely resort near the sea, and we finish at a 4-star hotel in the heart of Matera. (Luggage is transferred by van. 1 night Bari, 2 nights Conversano, 2 nights near Fasano, 2 nights Matera.)
Day 1 – Saturday: Transfer to the Hotel Boston in Bari. Formerly the domain of smugglers and brigands, Bari‘s quaint and atmospheric historic center has been revitalized during the past ten years. Cafés, wine bars, and trattorias are found around every corner of the labyrinthine medieval streets, all of which eventually lead to the remarkable Romanesque architecture of the 12th-century Basilica di San Nicola. Depending on your arrival time, you may have time for sightseeing or just relaxing after your journey. Dine independently tonight in one of the many local restaurants. All meals and transfer to Bari on your own. Hotel included.
Day 2 – Sunday: Meet your guide(s) in the hotel lobby this morning for introductions before transferring by van to the village of Conversano for our first ride. Upon arrival, our guides conduct a safety talk and oversee the bike fitting before we set out on our warm-up ride amongst the ancient olive groves and whitewashed “trulli” houses that fill the Pugliese countryside. After returning from our ride this afternoon, we’ll enjoy an aperitivo in town before heading off to dinner tonight in a colorful local pizzeria. Overnight at the beautifully restored Corte Altavilla. (Mileage: 55 km/35 mi) Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 3 - Monday: Today begins with a gentle ride to the stunning cliff-side town of Polignano a Mare. Here, the vertical cliffs surmounted by 16th-century palazzi plunge dramatically into the Adriatic. We stop for lunch at a beach-side taverna in the shadow of the 17th century monastery of San Vito. The afternoon ride takes us back up to Conversano past whitewashed “masseria,” the imposing fortified manor houses that are the legacy of dangerous medieval times when corsairs raided the Pugliese coast. You have free time this afternoon to wander through Conversano’s maze of alleyways and cobbled streets and shop or simply enjoy a chilled glass of wine in the piazza before a special dinner at a family-run farm in the countryside just outside of Conversano. (Mileage: 50 km/30 mi). Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 4 – Tuesday: After breakfast we ride to the village of Alberobello, recently awarded UNESCO World Heritage status and famous for its trulli houses (almost 1,500 of them!), the squat stone buildings with conical roofs for which Puglia is renowned. We have lunch in town and then take time to explore the streets and architecture of this amazing town. We then bike to our next hotel, the Torre del Diamante, a beautifully restored and luxurious masseria with swimming pool. (Mileage: 30 km/19 mi). Hotel and breakfast and dinner included.
Day 5 – Wednesday: Today we ride down to the seaside and visit the beautiful whitewashed town of Monopoli. It lies on a quiet harbor and has elegant Renaissance palazzi tucked here and there amidst the medieval streets. An imposing castle built by Charles V to protect the town in the days of piracy and Turkish corsairs still quietly guards the port. Return to the hotel to enjoy a dip in the pool before dinner at the elegant restaurant. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 6 – Thursday: Today we have a morning loop ride to the hilltop village of Locorotondo, which has a lovely baroque town center and the quintessential cafe serving up wonderful fresh canoli and other delicacies. In the afternoon we say goodbye to the bikes and transfer by van to Matera. Another UNESCO World Heritage site, Matera is one of the most visually stunning towns in Italy. Its inhabitants carved their homes, shops and churches right into the cliffside of a dramatic gorge. Abandoned in the 1950′s, the old town has been reborn as artists, restaurants, and local citizens have rejuvenated and restored the area. Matera is one of our favorite towns in Italy, both for its unique architecture and aesthetic, but also for the fantastic food! We also love the hotel, much of which is carved directly into the rock supporting the city. The Hotel San Martino has an amazing setting, just click here to see what we mean. Tonight is a free night dinner so you can choose to have pizza and beer, or refined dining, or something be between. Your guides will have lots of suggestions. Overnight in Matera. Hotel, breakfast included. Dinner not included
Friday 7 – Friday: We have a morning guided visit of Matera’s fascinating ‘Sassi’, then you have the choice between an optional bike ride around the Parco delle Chiese to the west of town (Mileage: 30 km) or an adventurous walk down into the gorge where we discover ancient rock-hewn churches. You can also stay at the hotel and enjoy the spa and swimming pool built into the rock! We have one final epic dinner to conclude a great week. Overnight in Matera. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 8 – Saturday: Transfer to the Bari train station for the morning trains to Rome. Transfers to the Bari airport can also be arranged for an additional cost. Hotel, breakfast and transfer included.
The Biking in Puglia is mostly rolling, with gentle hills, long stretches of flat, and a few very short-but-steep climbs. We normally ride between 40 – 65 km a day, with optional extensions as well as van support, which allows you to ride as much (or as little!) as you like. We have designed the trip to allow for free time in the late afternoon so you can relax or explore the towns we stay in. Breakfast is included every day, and dinners reflect the excellent traditional food of the region.
Useful Links -
Puglia tourism: general introductory site on the region of “Apulia,” including links to weather forecast, train schedules, and local events
Trullo houses: short site on these traditional houses
Bari: basic information and history on the city by Wikipedia
Locorotondo wine: a short article on the local white wine
UNESCO World Heritage Site: check out all the wonderful places in Italy!
Comments – “Peter and I … had the most amazing and happy time with Luca and Claire. The knowledge that they shared with us was remarkable… They were the best people, making us laugh all the time, and helpful with any problems… I hope you realize what great people you have working for you… The accommodation, food, tour, people were fantastic.” (Peter and Lyndal — May 17, 2008)
General Information
| Qualifications: This trip is rated easy to moderate with some challengingoptional rides. This trip is perfect for anyone who is physically fit and likes to cycle; the presence of a support van and relatively flat terrain means that cyclists of all abilities may join. The daily distances are between 50-60 kms (31-38 miles) a day, or 3-5 hours of riding more or less equally divided between morning and afternoon.Trip Cost Includes:7 nights accommodations (1 night Bari, 2 nights in Conversano, Fasano, and Matera in 3-4-star hotels); 7 breakfasts and 5 dinners, bilingual Customwalks guide or guides for the duration of the tour; support vehicle; guided tours as noted in the itinerary; pick up from Bari, transfer to Bari train station at the end of the trip; and bikes (quality 27-speed hybrid-style touring bikes with map readers, front handlebar bags and rear racks).Getting there(this will redirect you to our “Getting to the Trip” page)Booking: e-mail us to receive a booking contract (or use the “Reservation” page).
Insurance: We highly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance. We recommend “Travel Guard” to our American clients, just click on the logo below, while Canadian residents can click here. Australian, New Zealander, and British travelers, please consult your insurance brokers.  We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! |
