Puglia Cycle

Puglia Cycle Itinerary:

• Day 1

  Your trip begins today in the town of Bari, Italy.  Arrive in Italy, and transfer to Bari and our hotel. Trip members may opt to fly into Rome and transfer to Bari by rail (approx. five hours) or choose to fly directly to Bari via a connecting flight from Rome. Formerly the domain of smugglers and brigands, Bari’s quaint and atmospheric historic center has been revitalized during the past ten years. Cafes, 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, the afternoon and evening are at leisure for sightseeing or just relaxing after your international flight.  Dine independently tonight in one of the many local restaurants. All meals and transfer to Bari on your own. Hotel included.

• Day 2

  Our group and guides gather in the hotel lobby this morning for introductions before transferring by van to the village of Conversano and our hotel for the next two nights, an elegant palazzo that once housed the Spanish and French courts. 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 cottages that dot the Pugliese countryside. After returning from our ride this afternoon, we’ll enjoy an apertivo in the vaulted lobby of our hotel while our trip leader conducts a more formal orientation and description of what to expect during the week ahead. Dinner tonight in a trattoria tucked into the walls of the Norman castle. Cycling: 35 miles.  Breakfast and dinner included.

• Day 3

  Today begins with a gently sloping downhill ride to the fantastic cliffside town of Polignano a Mare. Here, the vertical cliffs surmounted by 16th-century palazzo plunge dramatically into the Adriatic. Our 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 regularly raided the Pugliese coast. 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. Cycling: 30 miles with option for an additional 10 miles. Breakfast and dinner included.

• Day 4

  After breakfast, we begin our ride towards the enchanting village of Alberobello. Alberobello, recently awarded UNESCO world heritage status, is famous for its trulli houses (almost 1500 of them), the squat stone buildings with conical stone roofs for which Puglia is renowned. We have lunch at one of our favorite local spots, and then spend time exploring the village with our guides and walking amongst the trullis. Later this afternoon, we’ll jump back on our bikes for a ride through an undulating jumble of farmland and vineyards before an exhilarating downhill to the Adriatic Sea.   Our hotel for the next two nights is located on the seashore in the village of Savelletri with clear views out over the blue water. For dinner, we’ll walk past the village fishing port to the Ristorante da Renzina for a seafood feast. Cycling: 37 miles. Breakfast and dinner included.

• Day 5

  This morning we ride along the coast passing the Roman ruins of Egnazia. The road takes us through the ancient olive groves of Cristo delle Zolle en route to Monopoli where we can participate in an optional guided visit of this fascinating walled medieval port. The afternoon ride follows the coast road as it meanders along the shoreline of rocky coves and small sandy beaches. Tonight, we are the guests of Ettore and his family at their 15th-century Masseria. Ettore, whose family has owned the Masseria for generations, will welcome us into his lovingly maintained property and take us for a guided visit through his olive mill. The mill's huge, 19th-century olive presses stand as silent testament to the former function of this once important estate. Dinner in the vaulted dining room of the Masseria, or if weather permits, in the torch-lit courtyard. Cycling: 25 miles. Breakfast and dinner included.

• Day 6

  The stunning hilltop village of Ostuni is the destination of today’s ride.  Our approach is along a quiet valley lined with orchards, vineyards and stone trullis. As we round a bend in the road, the whitewashed walls and tiled roofs of Ostuni greet our eyes as they radiate light in the afternoon sun.  Our lodging for the next two nights is in a lovely four-star hotel located in the center of this baroque town. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to explore the village’s narrow streets and gothic cathedral. Dinner is on our own tonight providing an opportunity to choose from a variety of authentic restaurants and cafes. Cycling: 35 miles. Breakfast included. 

• Day 7

  Our final day of cycling brings us to the charming village of Locorotondo.  The region around Locorotondo has developed a reputation for producing some of southern Italy’s finest wines and we may have the opportunity to participate in a tasting at the town’s cooperative winery. We enjoy lunch in one of the many small trattoria in the village before descending back to the coast for the final unforgettable ride back to Ostuni. As we approach the village from below, Ostuni sits like a crown on the hill, its medieval walls forming the band atop which sits the jewels of numerous churches and palazzo. A final feast of Puglia’s superb cuisine is planned tonight to celebrate the end of a great week of cycling. Cycling: 38 miles with option for an additional 9 miles. Breakfast and dinner included.

• Day 8

  After breakfast, we transfer to the Ostuni train station for rail connections to Rome, Florence or Milan (transfers to the Bari airport are also possible).  From these gateway cities, we can catch our flights back to the U.S. or opt to extend our Italian holiday. Breakfast included.

Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.

If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement noted on the trip itinerary. If you wish to share accommodations, we will assign you a roommate if one is available. If a roommate cannot be found, you will be asked to pay a reduced single fee, which is half of the full single supplement. Please be advised that there are a limited number of single rooms available on most departures.

All accommodations; 7 breakfasts and 5 dinners beginning with breakfast on Day 2 through breakfast on Day 8; bilingual guide; support vehicle; sightseeing as noted in the itinerary; bikes (21-speed hybrid-style with front handlebar bags or pannier and rear racks).

Round-trip airfare; airport/hotel transfers; all lunches and two dinners; travel insurance; excess baggage charges; gratuities; alcoholic beverages and items of a personal nature. Please bring your own bike helmet, as you will be required to wear one.

This trip is rated Moderate [3]. The terrain in Puglia is relatively flat, however we will encounter some gradually rolling hills and relatively long uphill stretches on two days of the itinerary. A regular conditioning program consisting of cycling, walking/running and a daily stretching regimen is recommended, beginning at least 3 months prior to departure. Ensuring you are comfortable in the saddle for daily rides of 22-38 miles will greatly enhance your ability to fully enjoy all this adventure has to offer. A support vehicle will be available during the rides for participants wishing to take an occasional break from cycling.

We have scheduled our departures to avoid mid-summer heat and crowds while still traveling during periods that typically offer an ample amount of sunshine. Temperatures during our visits generally range from 70° to 80° F during the day, dropping approx. 10 degrees at night. Some rainfall is possible on any of the departures requiring participants to arrive equipped with appropriate raingear (see Gear List).

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased within 21 days of your initial trip deposit, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

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