Cycle the Highlights of Puglia

This cycling tour is suitable for most regular cyclists. You’ll spend much of the day in the saddle and you should be experienced with this to enjoy your holiday.

Before your tour, we recommend cycling a couple of consecutive days, so you get used to riding back-to-back days and incorporating some hilly terrain into your routine. Be sure to take into account the daily distances and elevation changes outlined in your itinerary.

The cycling route follows a combination of quiet country and coastal roads together with busier routes when approaching and departing towns and cities. On some days there maybe the option to have an easier or hard route.

Please always be mindful of other roads users at all times, especially when cycling on routes shared with traffic.

This tour is graded easy to moderate. Within the tour, individual days may vary in difficulty, as some might be a bit tougher or easier than the overall rating suggests.

You'll stay in a mix of 3 and 4-star hotels and B&Bs, along with a traditional, stylish trulli house, depending on which itinerary you choose. We regularly use a set list of properties, but if any of these are unavailable, we'll accommodate you in a hotel of an equal standard instead. Each stay is based on a standard room.

Yes, solo travelers are very welcome on this tour. There will be a supplement because some costs, like transfers, aren't shared. Or if you'd like to book a single room, just ask. These are available for a supplement, subject to availability.

Breakfast is included each morning, usually a spread of fresh pastries, breads, fruit, yogurts, cheeses, meats and granola, plus freshly baked cakes in the Italian tradition. Let us know about any special dietary requirements when you book.

Lunch and dinner aren't included, but you'll find suggestions for local places to eat in your route notes. Puglia's cuisine, like the rest of Italy's, is fresh, simple and delicious, with signature dishes including orecchiette pasta, creamy burrata cheese and crunchy, dry frisella bread well worth trying along the way.

This tour runs from March to June, and again from September to October. If you're considering May, June or September, we'd recommend booking as soon as possible, since these peak-season months can be busy and accommodation availability can be limited.

Spring offers warm sunshine, fewer crowds and pleasant cycling conditions, with wildflowers coming into bloom around May. Autumn is also a great time to travel, with cooler weather and striking autumn colors, though the later in the year you go, the higher the chance of rain, and some local shops and restaurants may have reduced hours or be closed for the winter from late October. July can also work, though it's often very hot for cycling, so you'd need to start early and carry extra water to beat the midday heat.

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg/44lbs per person.

It’s vital that you adhere to these limits. Heavier bags, or additional items might not be transferred, and you may be charged locally. Airlines may have different allowances, but our luggage handlers do not have the same capacity or equipment, and their health and safety is our priority.​

Most of the time you'll be cycling on small roads or cycle paths, making the route relatively easy to find your way along, with a mix of paved roads and some sections of off-road dirt track.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

Alberobello doesn't have its own airport but is well connected with Bari - fly into Bari, take a bus from the airport to Bari Central Train Station, then a train on to Alberobello (around 2 hours 30 minutes). Private transfers from Bari or Brindisi airports can also be arranged at the time of booking.

At the end of your tour, Lecce is well connected with both Bari and Brindisi, both of which have airports with international services across Europe. By rail, change at Bari Central for airport services (around 2 hours 30 minutes in total). By bus, a direct service connects Lecce with Brindisi airport in just under an hour. Private transfers from Lecce can also be arranged.

You'll need your standard cycling gear. Bike hire comes with a pannier rack and bag, a pump, lock, a basic repair kit, and handlebar phone. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

Since you'll have your bike with you, shortening or skipping sections may not be easy. For the best local advice on transport options for cyclists, please consult your accommodation provider or reach out to our local bike partner, where applicable.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation

We hire bikes suited to the terrain, including e-bikes for a bit of extra assist, in a range of sizes - just let us know your height when booking so we can get your frame right. If you would like to bring your own bike then, in the majority of cases, this is not a problem – please contact us to talk it through. We encourage all cyclists to wear a helmet, and it is law in many countries across Europe. We recommend bringing your own helmet for hygiene and safety reasons, however on most tours you can hire one.

The following bikes are available for hire:

Hybrid Bike: step-over available in sizes 50/55/60, and step-through available in sizes 45/50. Aluminum frame, Shimano Deore derailleurs, a speedlifter twist handlebar stem for easy height adjustment, Shimano V-brakes and a Royal Freeway saddle or similar.
Ebike: step-through available in sizes 45/50/55. Bosch system (36V/13.4Ah, 500Wh), aluminum frame, Shimano Deore derailleur and gear levers, speedlifter twist handlebar stem, Shimano V-brake or disc brakes, and a Royal Freeway saddle or similar.
Gravel Bike: Bianchi, steel CrMo frame, Shimano Sora 9-speed derailleurs, Tektro 992AG cantilever brakes. Gravel bikes are only recommended for experienced cyclists who understand the riding position and have the fitness needed for this style of biking.

Tandem bikes aren't available on this tour. Brand and model may vary depending on availability, and the minimum age for e-bike hire is 16.

Please provide the following when booking:
- Your height, for bike sizing
- Your head circumference, if you'd like to hire a helmet (only sizes 58-62 available, and helmets are included only for travelers in 2026 - we recommend bringing your own)

Bike hire includes a repair kit and pump, a pannier bag (not on the gravel bike), a lock, a phone mount, and a battery charger for e-bikes. Many people choose an e-bike for the extra battery-powered assistance, though e-bikes are heavier than standard bicycles.