Tour of Salento, Puglia
Salento, Italy is thevmost Southern area of Puglia, in the heel of Italy. This cycling tour is designedvto show you the architectural beauty of the region, from Lecce to Santa Maria di Leuca via Otranto and Gallipoli. Salento is also known for its magnificent beaches so you can enjoy a swim in both the Adriatic and Ionian seas!
The very tip of Puglia, or Apulia, is completely flat so you don’t need to worry about the level of difficulty.
BIKE INCLUDED
Region : Puglia
Duration : 6 Days / 5 Nights
Level :
Type : On the way
Category : Bike
Trip : Self-guided
Activity : Hybrid
Dates : Starts any day
Click below to see hotels versions.
Day 1 : Arrival in Lecce
Arrive at the hotel on your own schedule. Use the time at your disposal for a walk in the beautiful historical center of Lecce, losing yourself among its baroque palaces. Be sure to visit the Lecce Cathedral and its square as well as the Basilica di Santa Croce and the Roman Amphitheater. Overnight stay.
Accommodation : Palazzo dei Dondoli - "Lecce"
Accommodation : Risorgimento Resort - "Lecce"
Day 2 : Lecce to Gallipoli
Distance 1 : 37 Miles - 60 Km
Orientation in the morning: bike delivery and briefing of the route. Leaving Lecce, you will cycle across the beautiful countryside of Salento. After approximately 25 km you will be in Galantina. Here you can visit the Chiesa Madre, represented in the Baroque style, and the Basilica of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria with its frescoes dating from 15th century. After lunch, perhaps with a typical ‘rustico Leccese’, stay on the country road headed towards Gallipoli. Enjoy the evening taking a walk in the typical streets of the old town. Overnight stay.
Accommodation : Al Pescatore Hotel - "Gallipoli"
Accommodation : Palazzo Del Corso - "Gallipoli"
Day 3 : Gallipoli to Leuca
Option 1 : 37 Miles - 60 Km
Option 2 : 44 Miles - 70 Km
After a bicycle ride in the old town, you will leave Gallipoli and cycle along the beautiful Ionian Sea. Cycling beside the Ugento Coast you will pass through Torre San Giovanni and other quaint little beach towns.
Option 2: A short detour inland brings you to Specchia, one of the most beautiful 'borghi' in all of Italy.
In the afternoon you will continue for another 35 km towards Santa Maria di Leuca, the most southern part of the heel in the boot of Italy. Overnight stay.
Accommodation : Hotel L'Approdo - "Santa maria di Leuca"
Accommodation : Hotel Montiro - "Santa maria di Leuca"
Day 4 : Leuca to Otranto
Distance 1 : 39 Miles - 62 Km
From the southern part of Puglia you will head north to Otranto with the Adriatic Sea on your right. Passing through Ticase Porto and Castro Marina you will arrive in Otranto. In the evening you will have the chance to walk in the old town of Otranto, the most eastern city of Italy. Overnight stay.
Accommodation : Relais Valle dell'Idro - "Otranto"
Accommodation : Hotel Palazzo Papaleo - "Otranto"
Day 5 : Otranto to Lecce
Distance 1 : 35 Miles - 56 Km
In the morning you will have a bicycle tour of the town to visit the beautiful Cathedral with its rose window and mosaic interior, and the Aragonese castle and its defensive walls. Coasting along Laghi Alimini, after about 20 km you will reach the seaside town of Torre Dell’Orso. Visiting the beach for a swim in the fantastic blue sea is a must! Before your arrival in Lecce you will pass through Acaya, where you may want to stop for an espresso as you take in the view of the castle. Overnight stay.
Accommodation : Palazzo dei Dondoli - "Lecce"
Accommodation : Risorgimento Resort - "Lecce"
Day 6 : Departure from Lecce
Today is your departure day. You can take your time getting started in the morning, have breakfast and depart at your leisure.
Click below to see hotels versions.
Day : 1, 5
Palazzo Dei Dondoli is just 200 m from Porta Rudiae and a 5-minute walk from the city center. Featuring a sun terrace and bar, this property also provides free newspapers. With elegant furnishings, rooms and apartments in this b&b include a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a hairdryer and free toiletries. Apartments are complete with a kitchenette. Breakfast is served buffet style. It consists of both sweet and savory food. Palazzo Dei Dondoli is a 15-minute walk from Lecce Train Station. The beaches along the Puglia coastline are 9.3 mi away.
Day : 2
Al Pescatore**** Hotel & Restaurant, housed in a 17th ancient building, is shining again in its everlasting beauty after a long period of renovation. The building enjoys a strategic position in the historical centre of Gallipoli giving everybody the opportunity to satisfy all kind of requirements and to fully appreciate the so-called “Ionian Pearl”. The Hotel is located along the Riviera Cristoforo Colombo, which is interested in the ZTL ( Limited traffic Zone). That means that You are only allowed for check-in and check out for delivering Your lugguages, than all autos have to be parked in the harbour area which is below the structure and is about 70 meters away.
Day : 3
Approdo Boutique Hotel Leuca is located in sunny Leuca, where the Adriatic and the Ionian seas meet. The hotel is decorated in a characteristic Mediterranean style, and offers panoramic views. The rooms have a balcony. All air-conditioned, the rooms feature an LCD TV, mini-bar, and safe. Their private bathrooms are equipped with shower and hairdryer. The restaurant is popular with many prestigious gourmet guides. It offers tasty fish dishes and Mediterranean cuisine, made with fresh organic produce.
Day : 4
Relais Valle dell'Idro, your brand-new luxury dwelling in Otranto. For a stay marked by luxury and exclusivity, which will make your journey in Puglia unforgettable. Rooms are sober and refined in minimal chic style, functional and all comforts included, with two typologies available, standard and luxury. Beds with headboards in midollino and leather, doors in crystal and embroidered linen, curtains detailed by stylized corals which recall the logo of the hotel, and again lamps in parchment carved in decapato wood.
Day : 1, 5
Featuring a roof-top restaurant with panoramic views, the Risorgimento Resort is located in Lecce’s Baroque historic centre. It offers free WiFi throughout, large modern rooms, and a relaxing spa. The attentive staff provide a continental buffet breakfast. The 3 restaurants offer both Salento flavours and classic Italian cooking. Drinks and snacks are available all day at the Janet Ross Bar.
Day : 2
Developed from the renovation of two ancient XIX century buildings, the Hotel reflects the love of luxury and attention to detail. It boasts a panoramic terrace with a hydro massage-pool where you can spend relaxing moments, such as sunbathing, having breakfast or brunch, or enjoying a drink at sunset surrounded by the breathtaking view of the sea and the harbor. A visit to the “DolceVita” Restaurant and to the “Wine Time Salento” wine house, which specializes in wines and local products, is a necessary stop-over for our guests. The attentive hospitality and willingness of all our staff will make your stay in Salento’s famous "Città Bella" unforgettable.
Day : 3
Montirò hotel, your resort in the heart of Salento, nearby the seaside. “When we built up the Montirò Hotel we had a vision: a traveler who flees the chaos of contemporary life and comes back to the origins, to the earth, to nature to seek peace and relax. For this reason, we have decided to give voice to the stone and to theSalento’s countryside!“ With a panoramic view on a flourishing Mediterranean garden, the Montirò Hotel is the only estate in over 5 hectares of uncontaminated nature, to the extreme south of Apulia. A path surrounded by verdant olive trees gives access to a small “village” with small stone houses that they recall the shape and charm of the ancient “pajare”, the typical Salento buildings that once gave shelter to the farmers.
Day : 4
In the historic center of Otranto, Hotel Palazzo Papaleo is the charming hotel that you've dreamed of for your vacation in Salento, a historic residence near the sea, carefully renovated with splendid rooms with every comfort. With an intimate and welcoming wellness center, Hotel Palazzo Papaleo 5 stars in Otranto is in a perfect position between the ancient basilica and the sea, right in the historic center, and has a teamthat will make your stay in Puglia charming, romantic and unforgettable.
Bikes available for your tour |
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To enable our guests to go on our tours with a peace of mind all our bicycles are equipped with: a cycle-computer, signal lamps, rear pack frame with side bags and an emergency pack (universal tools for small repairs — spare tube). The bicycles we provide come in different sizes so as to satisfy our clients’demands.
Hybrid bike - Standard
VELO DE VILLE - ( or equivalent) INCLUDED 
We have a wide range of e-bike. Most of them have a Bosch engine with 400W and 500W battery. We also have Shimano and Yamaha engine bikes, all equipped with disc brakes, Schwalbe tires and comfortable saddles. Using the right assistance you can ride up to 150 km a day.
Electric assist bike - Standard
VELO DE VILLE - ( or equivalent) with supplement (60€) 
The BH fusion has a reactive and comfortable carbon frame thanks in part to short bases and a top steering sleeve. Lightweight and reliable thanks to BH components and an 11-speed Shimano 105 transmission that gives it a smooth and durable gear shift.
Road bike - Standard
BH FUSION DISC - ( or equivalent) with supplement (60€) 
You're looking for a bike with a comfortable geometry that allows you to ride long distances over a variety of terrains. Suitable for different types of ground: gravel, asphalt, earth, paths and wide tracks
Gravel bike - Standard
BH GRAVEL ROAD BIKE - ( or equivalent) with supplement (60€) 
To enable our guests to go on our tours with a peace of mind our tandem is equipped with: a cycle-computer, signal lamps, rear pack frame with side bags and an emergency pack (universal tools for small repairs — spare tube).
Tandem bike - Standard
CHIORDA CREW - ( or equivalent) with supplement |
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The characteristics of this bike are presented as an example and are not guaranteed Please note that any bike changes during the trip may incur an extra fee. |
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Hybrid bike - Standard
VELO DE VILLE - ( or equivalent)
INCLUDED
To enable our guests to go on our tours with a peace of mind all our bicycles are equipped with: a cycle-computer, signal lamps, rear pack frame with side bags and an emergency pack (universal tools for small repairs — spare tube). The bicycles we provide come in different sizes so as to satisfy our clients’demands.
- Gears Shimano 27 speed Deore
- Wheels/Tube 28” Schwalbe
- Weight 13,6 Kg
- Brakes V-Brakes (or disc)
- Frame Aluminium
- Fork Rigid (or suspension forks on demand)
- Saddle Royal gel – Comfortable
- Handlebar Comfortable adjustable v-zoom
- Light LED (front/rear)
- Mud Guard Plastic
- Rear pack frame Aluminium until 20 kgs
- 1 new bottle
- Helmet
- Odometer
- Lock
- Pump frame
- 1 Handlebar bag with rain cover containing : Tire levers / 2 Spare tubes / Toolkit
- Pedals are included, flat by default or toe straps on request. If you want to use your bike shoes, you should bring your own pedals + pedal wrench : we will be happy to install them on your bike.
Accessories
INCLUDED
Roadbook for Discovery allows you to travel freely with all the information you need for your trip: Stages, points of interest, itineraries with interactive guidance, travel documents.
All in offline mode, you download your file before leaving, then you have all the information necessary for your trip. (Phone not provided).
INCLUDED
Our roadbooks are complete packages of information that will help you to guide yourself through the itinerary that we have planned and laid out. We have invested significant time and incorporated the feedback of our customers over many years (since 1997!) to make our roadbooks even better. Our roadbooks include: color maps, highlighted routes, touristic information, orientation points to reach hotels, and easy to follow step by step directions (cue-sheets). Please note that for custom itineraries you will not have cue sheets. Only maps and GPS routes.
INCLUDED
Our Travelbooks are complete packages of information that will help you to guide yourself through the itinerary that we have planned and laid out. You will find information about the hotels, itinerary, regional informations...
Included
- 5 nights of accommodation in superior hotels of charm with private shower and/or bath
- Daily breakfast at each hotel
- Orientation in person with our local guide
- Hybrid bike rental included
- Guidance Application (phone not provided)
- All luggage transfers
- Comprehensive trip literature
- Technical and emergency support available at all times
What's not included
- Airfare to and from the trip
- Lodging before and after the trip
- Drinks
- Hotel city taxes
- Some meals are not included in each destination, which gives you the opportunity to explore regional cuisine on your own. You will find all information needed with our team support in your roadbook.
Informations & Recommendations
Arrive to the Bari or Brindisi Airports.
- Take a train from the Bari Airport to the Bari Central Station (about 20 min) and then a train to Lecce (about 2 hrs). Or take a bus from the Bari Airport to Lecce in about 2h10m.
- From the Brindisi Airport you can take the train (from central station to Lecce - about 30m) or a bus from the airport directly to Lecce (about 40m)
Tour rates
Contact our tour consultants for more information and an exact rate based upon your travel dates.
| Price from* & per person | Double occupancy | Single supplement (traveling with a group) |
| Standard | 1240 € | 230 € |
| Upgraded | 1590 € | 400 € |
Accessories
| Accessories | |
| Guidance Application | Included |
| Biking Roadbook | Included |
| Travelbook | Included |
Bikes available
| Bikes available | Options per person |
| Road Bike Rental | |
| Standard | 60 € |
| Electric assist bike | |
| Standard | 60 € |
| Gravel Bike Rental | |
| Standard | 60 € |
Please note that any bike changes during the trip may incur an extra fee.
Services available
| Services available | |
| Cancelation insurance | 6% |
Casual : Beginners and occasional cyclists. Easiest tours we provide. Typically flatter terrain, no notable hills or anything of a steep gradient.
Hobby : Weekend riders. People with some cycling experience, rolling countryside, possible short climbs.
Active : Cyclists with experience on longer rides. Hilly terrain with reasonable amount of climbs and difficulty
Pro : Avid cyclists, ride every week and love long and challenging rides. Dream on riding the Tour de France cols.
Comparison chart : (15km/hrs)
| Average dist (miles) | Average dist (km) | Elevation max/day (m) | Average hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casual |
< 28 | < 45 | < 300m | 3-4 |
| Hobby |
18 - 35 | 30 - 55 | 300-550m | 3-5 |
| Active |
30 - 60 | 50 - 100 | 550-1000m | 4-6 |
| Pro |
> 60 | > 100 | > 1000m | > 5 |
Some of our tours can be in 2 different level, we have itinerary for both versions
Casual : Beginners and occasional hikers. Typically flatter terrain with just rolling hills.
Hobby : Weekend hikers. People with some experience hiking around trails.
Active : Hikers with experience on longer hikes. Hilly terrain with some steep gradients.
Pro : Randonneurs avides, randonnée chaque semaine et adore les longues et difficiles randonnées.
Comparison chart : (4km/hrs)
| Average dist (miles) | Average dist (km) | Elevation max/day (m) | Average hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casual |
< 6 | < 10 | < 150m | 2.5 |
| Hobby |
6 - 9 | 10 - 15 | 150-300m | 25-375 |
| Active |
9 - 11 | 11 - 18 | 300-450m | 3.75 - 4.5 |
| Pro |
> 11 | > 18 | > 450m | 4.5-6 |
Some of our tours can be in 2 different level, we have itinerary for both versions