Salento by bike Coast to Coast
Self guided – 7 days
From the Adriatic coast to the Ionian coast in seven days, passing through the most extreme tip of Italy. Let yourself be enchanted by the stone of the churches and palaces of Lecce, the crystal clear sea and the goodness of the local specialties between one ride and another, in total freedom and safety.
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Itinerary
DAY 1: LECCE
Arrival at Lecce and check in.
Welcome briefing and bike fit with a member of Puglia Cycle Tours crew.
DAY 2: LECCE - OTRANTO
+/- 55 km
This route contains the best that the Salento area has to offer: sea and olive groves, history and baroque architecture, small villages, bright colors and intense flavors. Moving away from Lecce you will reach Acaya, a wonderful fortified village between Lecce and Otranto, once an outpost against Saracen pirate raids. You will cycle towards the coast surrounded by centenary olive trees, until you reach the “Grotta della Poesia“, recognized by National Geographic as one of the 10 most beautiful natural pools in the world. A few meters further on, you will also find the archaeological park of Roca Vecchia, an important settlement from medieval times. From here on, the path winds along the sea and the cliffs between Torre dell’Orso and Sant’Andrea.
Hidden in nature, you will also find the wonderful Alimini Lakes. The last stop is Otranto, the “pearl of the Mediterranean”, included in the UNESCO cultural heritage sites.
meters of climbing +/- 350
DAY 3: OTRANTO LOOP
+/- 53 km
A counter-clockwise tour that will introduce you to the most authentic Salento hinterland. You will start from Grecìa Salentina, a linguistic island in the heart of Salento, where the locals still speak a dialect derived from medieval Greek. You will pass through the villages of Melpignano and Corigliano, which will surprise you with palaces and castles of great beauty. Then have a stop in Maglie: strolling through the old town, you can admire its churches and palaces but also do some shopping or enjoy a great pasticciotto! Before returning to Otranto, you will take the way back to the countryside to explore the area of dolmens and menhirs, megalithic evidence of prehistoric times.
meters of climbing +/- 350
DAY 4: OTRANTO - LEUCA
+/- 54 km
The daily itinerary will take you along the southern coast of Otranto, to the extreme tip of Puglia, where you will enjoy an incredible spectacle! Your destination is Santa Maria di Leuca, also known as ‘De Finibus Terrae’ because, according to some, here the currents of the Adriatic and Ionian seas mix. In fact, geographers claim that it is more precisely at Capo d’Otranto that they meet. What is the truth? Once you get to the bottom of the heel of Italy, the choice will be up to you!
meters of climbing +/- 650
DAY 5: LEUCA - GALLIPOLI
+/- 60 km
This stage is as easy as it is enchanting: just get on your bike and enjoy one of the most breathtaking stretches of the Ionian Coast of South Salento, characterised by watchtowers and sandy beaches with crystal clear water. You can take a break on the beach before arriving in Gallipoli, the “beautiful city” (this is the meaning of its name in Salento-Greek dialect), also known as the “pearl of the Mediterranean”. Do we need to add anything else?
meters of climbing +/- 300
DAY 6: GALLIPOLI - LECCE
+/- 53 km
In the final stage you will say goodbye to the Salento hinterland: its bright colors and intense flavors will be the multisensory postcard you will take home. You will pass through ancient villages of Messapian origin such as Alezio and Tuglie. You can also stop in Galatina to admire the frescoes of the Romanesque Basilica dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria. In the end, you will return to Lecce, surrounded by olive groves, fields and other small villages: the elegant capital of Baroque art awaits you.
meters of climbing +/- 350
DAY 7: LECCE
After breakfast, end of services.
Higlights: Lecce and Baroque art, crystalline sea, Gallipoli, Otranto
April, October: € 770,00
May, June, September: € 860,00
July, August: on request
- 6 overnight stays in 4* hotels or typical houses, with breakfast
- Luggage transport
- GPS rental with tracks
- Accident/luggage insurance
- FULL assistance
Local city tax to be paid on site, where required.
Here are some additional services that you can add to your trip. If you are interested, please contact us.
- Hybrid bike rental: € 70,00
- E-bike rental: € 180,00
- Smartphone with data connection and GPS navigation application: € 20,00
- Pannier rental : 25,00
- Helmet rental: 10,00
- Single room upplement : € 30.00 per night
- Half-board supplement (dinner): on request
- Private transfers: on request
We have selected for you the best typical guest houses or 4-star hotels (depending on availability), bike-friendly accommodations in Puglia, equipped with all the comforts a bicycle traveller may need.
On request and upon availability we can offer 5-star accommodation options, too.
This is a self-guided tour, i.e. you are free to ride at your own pace. We book your hotels, we provide assistance and the Garmin GPS navigators with which you will be able to follow the path that we have planned for you.
During the tour, you will probably meet other guests lodging in the same accommodations for the same tour or similar. Aside from the pleasure of getting to know other bicycle lovers, you will always be free in departure and arrival times.
Lecce is well connected to the main cities of Puglia via Trenitalia, from Bari or Brindisi. The same applies if you arrive by plane in Bari or Brindisi: a transfer service will take you to the railway stations of the respective cities, and from there you can take a train to Lecce.
On request we can arrange a transfer service directly to your hotel.
FULL assistance
Customers have one of our assistants at their disposal 24 hours a day, in case of any problem or need.
In the event of a bicycle failure, he/she will sort the problem out or suggest how to.
On the day of arrival, the guests meet our assistant for a welcome briefing and bike fit, during which he supplies them with the equipment (maps, GPS device, etc.), giving useful information about the route and the working of the GPS.
