Spend 8 days cycling from Bari to Polignano on this fabulous self-guided bike tour
Enjoy this spectacular 8-day self-guided cycling tour in Southern Italy's Basilicata and Puglia regions on an adventure-packed route that connects three of Italy's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Enjoy cycling daily through areas of immense historical importance, taking in the magical relics of Italy's past while experiencing them by bike in the present.
This immersive route, beginning in Bari and ending in Polignano, will introduce you to phenomenal natural landscapes, ancient wonders, and the robust flavours of Southern Italy's food and drink. You'll experience the revered UNESCO sites of Castel del Monte, Matera, and Alberobello, exploring them by bike and revelling in their wonders.
Cycle from Bari to Ruvo di Puglia, surrounded by dramatic expanses of almond trees, fine vineyards and age-old oak forests. Explore the Alta Murgia National Park, enjoying its collection of rich biodiversity, as you navigate its covert trails. Discover the Castellana Caves' karst stone rock formations, one of this region's most fascinating natural phenomena.
Overnight stays in Bari, Castel del Monte, Matera, Alberobello and more, will provide endless opportunities to experience the rich and authentic culture and traditions of the Basilicata and Puglia regions.
You'll leave this cycling adventure with a storehouse of magical memories and a firsthand understanding of Southern Italy's rich and captivating history and culture.
Highlights of the Puglia and Basilicata UNESCO Cycling Tour
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Puglia and Basilicata UNESCO Cycling Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive
Welcome to Puglia's capital city, Bari! Set on the beautiful Adriatic Sea, this important port city is an excellent introduction to Puglian history and culture.
If your arrival time permits, set out on an adventure in "Bari Vecchia," the city's charming old town.
Picturesque piazzas and ancient palaces, rich in historical folklore, make the old town a perfect place to begin this adventure. From the ladies making orecchiette pasta in the streets to the spectacular chaos of the bustling fish market, Bari will welcome you into the very fabric of its culture and traditions, leaving you pleasantly charmed.
Make sure to visit the Basilica of San Nicola, one of the most remarkable sites in the city and a popular medieval pilgrimage destination.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Bari
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Cycle Olive Groves and Vineyards to Bitonto and Ruvo di Puglia
Leaving the bustle of the city behind, your route today is steeped in the natural beauty of the Puglia region. Pedalling along roads lined with centuries-old olive trees and stunning vineyards, you’ll cycle to the lively town of Bitetto, home to a spectacular Romanesque Cathedral.
Continuing the route, you’ll cycle to Ruvo di Puglia, an agricultural town brimming with history. Dominated first by the Romans, the city was later overtaken by the Normans, who enriched it with many significant monuments, including the elegant Ruvo Cathedral.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Ruvo di Puglia
Distance: 25 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Cycle the Alta Murgia National Park to Castel del Monte
Today’s route will immerse you in the natural beauty of the Alta Murgia National Park. Cycle this mesmerizing landscape, taking in its rich biodiversity as you pedal its hidden trails.
Reaching Castel del Monte, prepare to experience your first UNESCO site of the tour. Castel del Monte is a spectacular example of medieval architecture, known worldwide for its intriguing octagonal shape. The 13th-century citadel and castle is a sight to behold. Built by Emperor Frederick II, the hilltop fortress overlooks the Murgia region and is revered for its mathematical precision.
Check into your accommodations, conveniently located near the fortress, and return for an in-depth exploration of the UNESCO site, discovering the ancient legends and mysteries that it beholds.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Castel del Monte
Distance: 30 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 Visit San Magno and Cycle to Gravina
Today’s route proceeds through extensive pastures that transform into outcropping rocks in an almost desert-like landscape.
Reaching the prehistoric church of San Magno, take some time to discover the fascinating tombs here, dating back to the bronze age.
Continue the road to Gravina, where you’ll experience more of Puglia’s authentic cultural, heritage and natural beauty.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Gravina
Distance: 50 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Delight in the Pan di Matera
Before departing Gravina, embark on a pleasant stroll between Piaggio and Fondovico, the two stunning districts of the city's historic heart.
Back on the route, you'll make your way from Gravina to Matera by way of Altamura. Famous for its bread, Altamura is the perfect place to stop for refreshments. The "pane di Altamura" (country-style sourdough) is not only a symbol of this city but is also an example of ancient culture and tradition, still very much alive and thriving here today.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Matera
Distance: 40 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 UNESCO sites of Matera and Alberobello
Today you’ll discover the second UNESCO site of the tour, Matera, designated in 1991. Spend your morning exploring the “city of rocks,” uncovering the magic of the historical center and the surrounding extraordinary landscapes.
The Sassi district of Matera and the Park of the Rupestrian Churches is known as one of the most well-preserved examples of a rock-cut settlement in the whole of the Mediterranean region. The caves, dating back to the Paleolithic period, were once inhabited by local peasants and artisans. Explore the district complex of ancient dwellings, monasteries, and churches and come to know this fascinating UNESCO site from the inside out.
After a morning of exploring Matera, you'll be transferred to Gioia del Colle. Known for its high-quality dairy products, a cheesy lunch in Gioia del Colle is a must! Enjoy a wine tasting before heading towards Alberobello.
The route continues finally leads you to the land of Trulli huts, Alberobello—your final UNESCO site of the tour. Spend your evening exploring the rows of one-of-a-kind drystone huts and conical roofs. Discover the history behind these mysterious structures and learn about the architecture that makes this one of southern Italy’s most famous towns.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Alberobello
Distance: 70 km
Meals: Breakfast, wine tasting
Day 7 Discover the Castellana Grotte
The last stage is dedicated to the largest karst caves in Italy and the sea of Polignano, the beautiful village birthplace of the great Domenico Modugno, and excellent fish soups!
With Alberobello behind you will cycle gently downhill up to the Castellana caves, hollows that run underground for just over 3 kilometers in an atmosphere suspended between evocative power and magic, surrounded with stalagmites and stalactites grown with ancestral rhythms. They are the result of the erosive action of surface water that for millennia have continued to dig into the rock opening a passage to the sea.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Polignano
Distance: 40 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 Depart Polignano
This morning following breakfast, your cycling adventure comes to an end. Check out of your accommodations and make your way to the airport to depart.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
This self-guided tour is always run as a private tour for your group only, where the pricing depends on your travelling dates, as well as the types of rooms that you need.
2024 Departures:
The departures are available daily, from February 1st to November 30th.
- Single room: from $1,425 USD*
- Sharing a double room: from $1,025 USD*
*-Pricing for this tour depends on the dates of your trip. Please click the booking button below to get the exact pricing for your trip dates. The prices listed are per person.
Book NowAccommodation on the Cycling the best of Southern Italy Tour
This tour is based in 4-star hotels, B&Bs, and a charming trulli stay in Alberobello. Accommodations are excellently located, offering modern amenities with pleasant rooms and ensuite bathrooms.
Rooms are double occupancy and single travellers will pay a supplement.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay for a supplement to have a private room in a hotel.
Hotels on Standard Tour
Hotels, B&B’s and trulli ★★★★
These charming accommodations offer private rooms with ensuite bathrooms, basic amenities, and a comfortable stay in an excellent location. Enjoy breakfast served daily.
What’s Included in the Puglia and Basilicata UNESCO Cycling Tour?
Meals
7 breakfasts and one tasting are included in this tour.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 7 nights are included.
Transportation during the Tour
Scheduled private transfer on Day 2 is included. Luggage transportation from accommodations to accommodations is also included on this tour.
Also Included
- Travel App (maps, tracks, route notes)
- Welcome briefing and bike fitting
- Phone assistance between 8am and 9pm
- Tasting on day 6
Not included
- Bike rental (see ‘Optional Extras’)
- Flights to and from Italy
- Airport transfers
- Visas if required
- Travel insurance
- Tourist taxes if applicable
- Guide
- Entrance fees
Optional Extras
- Bike rental:
- Trek bike
- All road bike
- E-bike
- Activities and excursions unless otherwise mentioned as included
- Single room supplements
- Solo traveller supplements
- Any additional nights before or after the tour
- Airport transfers (minimum 2 persons):
- Bari Airport to Bari
- Polignano to Bari Airport
Frequently Asked Questions about Puglia and Basilicata UNESCO Cycling Tour
Slow Active Tours is a tour operator specializing in "slow pace" outdoor activities, which mainly concern cycling, trekking and snorkeling in beautiful Italy. Based in Puglia, the wonderful heel of Italy, Slow Active Tours was born from a long experience in responsible and sustainable tourism, combined with a love for culture and a strong passion for traditions, history and respect for nature.
Dynamic holidays "at a slow pace", because in this way it is possible to savor every moment of a great journey, full of adventure, hearty breakfasts, moments of peaceful well-being, food and wine tastings, fresh dips in the most beautiful seas of Italy, smiles and chat with the locals.
Each trip includes everything you need to make the experience comfortable and to be free to travel safely.
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