Puglia Bike Tour – Italy’s Untouched Coast
Tour Overview
Bike Tour in Puglia: Bari to Otranto and Lecce
Welcome to Italy’s Puglia- the heel of the boot, along the sun-drenched Adriatic Sea. This luxurious six-day bike trip travels through an agricultural region acclaimed for its exceptional cuisine, stellar landscape, and super-friendly locals. Spend a week biking through the rolling fields of the Itria Valley, perfumed by the Macchia Mediterranea—rosemary, oregano, juniper, through the unspoiled hilltop Medieval towns, ancient archeological sites and along the glittering Adriatic coast. Soak in the hospitality of 5-star resorts and properties, and enjoy state-of-the-art Sojourn support with our team of local leaders. Ride through fishing villages, country lanes, ancient olive groves, vineyards, hidden coves, golden beaches, and the unparalleled Itria Valley. Take a walking tour of Alberobello, a UNESCO world heritage site and one of Italy’s most photogenic neighborhoods with the distinctive Trulli homes. Join a hands-on cooking class at a local farmhouse. From Bari, where we pick you up, to Lecce train station, where we drop you off at the end of the trip, discover Puglia in style.

Lodging Information
Distinctive lodging, carefully selected to complement your tour.

Borgobianco Resort & Spa
Borgobianco Resort & Spa is a typical Apulian masseria with swimming pool and SPA, a white gem set on the high cliff top of Polignano a Mare. The 5-star resort, surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, overlooks the wonderful Adriatic Sea and is ready to rediscover all the charm of the local traditions with luxury and elegance. A fairytale setting surrounded by the blue sea of Polignano a Mare (2 nights)

Patria Palace, Lecce
Born as a noble residence of the Petrarolo D’Anna family, the eighteenth-century palace that houses the Patria Palace Hotel stands majestic and elegant in the heart of Lecce. The uniqueness of the Palace, already privileged by the exceptional location, is dressed in an elegant and welcoming atmosphere in which classic and modern merge, in a harmony of style where precious architectural details in Lecce stone dialogue with unique pieces of contemporary design. (1 night)

Furnirussi Tenuta
Furnirussi Tenuta is a Resort in Puglia, in Serrano, in the heart of Grecìa Salentina, surrounded by the largest organic fig tree in Europe: 4500 trees on 20 hectares of land. A 5-star hotel in Puglia flooded by the scents of Salento, 12 km from Otranto. (2 nights)
Date and Pricing
- 2025
- Make it Private
What's Included
- Pick up in Bari
- Support of experienced local tour leaders from start to finish
- Full van support for a variety of route options
- Custom Sojourn jersey and water bottles – both yours to keep
- Five nights luxury hotel accommodation
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Baggage transfers and porterage
- 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches & 3 dinners of which 1 cooking class (including wine)
- Complimentary use of Sojourn’s equipment and bikes
- Limited E-bikes available on a first come-first serve basis
- Daily route directions, notes, maps, and a downloadable GPS
- 5% Past Traveler Discount to use on your next Sojourn Tour
FAQs
- Arrival and Departure: Puglia has 2 international airports-Bari and Brindisi. If you are starting your trip in the northern/central part of Puglia and finishing in the south, consider arriving into Bari Airport and departing from Brindisi. Alitalia offers several connecting flights per day from Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa or Linate. The very early flight departures back to Rome normally allow for connection with the mid-morning departure of transatlantic flights. Other scheduled carriers: Swiss Air from Zurich to Bari, British Airways from London to Bari, Lufthansa from Munich to Bari Easyjet, Ryanair, Volotea, Vueling & German Wings from numerous European hubs.If flights to Naples are more convenient, the driving time from Naples to Bari is 3 hours. Please note: this route is not well serviced by public transport. Puglia by train. The trip from Rome Termini to Bari Centrale only takes 4 hours and to Lecce the journey takes 1/2 hours. For more information visit www.trenitalia.com. On-line reservations can be made by credit card, but only within 3 months in advance of your travel date.
- Start & End: We will pick you up from Bari at the start of the trip and drop you off at the Lecce Station or Brindisi airport at the end.
- Language and currency: The local currency is Euro and all our local guides are fluent in both Italian and English.
- Visa: Italy is a Schengen area country. US & Canadian citizens do not need a visa for travel to countries within the Schengen area. However, visa-free travel only applies to stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Stays are cumulative and include visits to any Schengen area country. For citizens of other nations please check with your country’s embassy for entry/exit requirement to Italy.
- Meals: All breakfasts, as well as most dinners and lunches are covered. We leave a few evenings and afternoons open for you to explore the variety of restaurants in the area. We strongly recommend a reservation for the restaurants you pick.
- Accommodations: All accommodations on this trip are premier properties with a 4 or 5-star rating.
- E-Bike: Limited number of E-bikes are offered on a first come first serve basis.
- Van support: There are a few longer ride days and you can choose to ride as much or as little as you want. Our vans are always there to offer you a break.
- Flexibility: Our trips are designed to be flexible, giving you the freedom to experience it the way YOU want. So if you want some downtime or to do things on your own, our leaders will work to find you the best days to do it.
- Level of Riding: This is rated as an intermediate trip, with most of that rating being based on the duration of the trip. In terms of elevation,
- Routing and Scheduling: The itinerary we provide can change on a certain day in terms of restaurant time, road closures, and weather conditions. Our leaders are fully trained at offering alternate plans and solutions. We seek your cooperation and promise to deliver the best vacation experience regardless.
Guest Reviews
I can’t speak highly enough of our Sojourn experiences. Great biking, high quality bikes, extremely personable leaders, great food. I could go on and on!
- Fred Miller
The trip turned out perfect for me. It was a last minute decision to pursue and all at Sojourn made it happen. Our leaders went all out to accommodate my needs and requests enthusiastically. The biking was just right in intensity/distance/time. The scenery and routes were spot on. This was just the bike trip I had hoped for after a 6 year hiatus from my previous tour. Top notch!
- Alice Yeh
DAY BY DAY
Puglia Bike Tour – Italy’s Untouched Coast
We will meet in Bari and shuttle to the striking cliff-top town of Polignano a Mare for your custom bike fit and a first ride along the beautiful coastline to the tiny bay of San Vito. Bike to Conversano, the city of artists, and Polignano for a delicious seafood lunch. Later in the day, we check into Borgo Bianco Resort & Spa, our stunning five-star home, for the next two nights. Join us for a welcome dinner tonight at the hotel’s elegant restaurant.
Today’s ride will take us into the northern reaches of the Itria Valley, with ancient olive groves and distinctive Trulli houses hidden among nut and cherry trees. We descend to the coastal town of Monopoli with its seawalls, castle, and picturesque cobbled streets. Lunch is on your own at one of the town’s many local eateries. Early in the evening, we transfer you to the countryside farmhouse of talented local chefs Mara & Marina for a hands-on lesson in traditional Pugliese cooking, followed by dinner and local wine tasting.
After breakfast and check out, we head inland to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Alberobello, the postcard capital of the region. Here, we meet with our local expert, who will walk us through the region’s history, culture, and artisanal products. Post lunch, soak in the sweeping views of the Itria Valley as we ride past olive groves and rock-strewn fields to the stunning “città bianca” or “white city” of Ostuni, a remarkable citadel perched on the hill with spectacular views of the plains and the Adriatic sea. Here we go for a walking tour of the town before transferring to Lecce, “the Florence of the South.” Once you check in at your next hotel, the Patria Palace, you can enjoy an evening in Lecce and choose one of the many restaurants in town for dinner on your own.
Check out of Lecce this morning for a short shuttle to the beautiful Masseria Melcarne to start our ride to the Salento area, home to Puglia’s best wines! Along the way, you can stop for a swim at one of the acclaimed beaches of the Adriatic sea. We will stop at the 16th-century castle city of Acaya for a walking tour and lunch. Our destination today is Otranto on the Adriatic coastline of Salento in southern Apulia- one of Italy’s most beautiful coastal towns. After checking into your hotel, we will head to town for a stroll by the sea and dinner on your own. (B, L)
After breakfast, we will ride down to Santa Maria di Leuca. Breathtaking sea views, natural hot springs, hills, and pine forests make this one of the most memorable rides on this trip. You can stand at the southernmost point of Puglia and gaze out to the inviting Adriatic sea. On our way back, we will stop for an exciting cave tour. Wine tastings and beach visits are also options for today. The serious rider who wants a challenge can cycle back to Otranto and bask in the glory of a century ride (100 KM)! Tonight at the farewell dinner, we will toast to a week-long of life-list-worthy experiences!
On our last bike ride of the trip, we head to the capital of Salento, Lecce, known as the Florence of the South. The terrain here is mostly flat, passing among endless olive orchards. So, be sure to stop and smell the olives! Alternatively, take our shuttle to Lecce. Along the way, make sure you explore the artisan boutiques and stop for a coffee and the favorite local pastry, “Pasticciotto Leccese” (filled with custard cream). The trip ends at Lecce train station, or we can offer a shuttle to Brindisi airport. We hope your time in Puglia will have improved your life, as it has all of ours! Ci vediamo presto!