Italy / Apulia Short Break

Lecce and the deepest Salento

Apulia is a region in south-eastern Italy that includes the heel part of Italy’s boot, suspended between the Ionian and Adriatic Sea. The region is characterised by endless olive groves, long fields of grain and vineyards. You will start and end the tour in Lecce, also known as “Florence of the South” because of its magnificent baroque architecture. This bike tour will lead you into a region of scenic beauty, which is, by today’s standards, still unspoiled by the unattractive aspects of tourism and still retains testimony of its great and ancient culture.

Apulia Short Break

Photos (18)

8 Client reviews

Day by Day
Route profile
How to get there
Accommodation and meals
Bikes and accessories
Accompanying material
By your side
Client reviews

Day by Day

map
1. Lecce
Individual arrival. Thanks to its Baroque style, it has earned the nickname of Florence of the South.

2. Lecce – Gallipoli (50 km)
After a few kilometers through the town of Lecce, you go deep into the “salentinian countryside”, before approaching the Ionian coast and your daily destination, Gallipoli.

3. Gallipoli – Santa Maria di Leuca (50 km)
Cycling further along the coast you will reach Santa Maria di Leuca. Its name was given by the ancient Greek sailors who came from the East. They saw this place lightened by the sun and therefore called it “leukos”, meaning white. The town is today a famous seaside resort.

4. Santa Maria di Leuca – Otranto (50 km)
Today you will cycle northwards along the Adriatic coast to Otranto, the most eastern point of Italy where you can visit the beautiful Cathedral and the great Aragonese Castle.

5. Otranto – Lecce (55 km)
Riding along the Alimini Lakes and their unique Mediterranean bush you will enter Lecce.

6. Lecce
Departure after breakfast.

Due to organisational reasons, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during your holiday. For example, along the way you may find temporary deviations caused by roadworks, which cannot be foreseen; in this case please follow the indications you will find on site.
Route profile
- Total length: 205 km
- Total vertical up: 690 m
- Terrain: 99% tarmac, 1% unpaved
- Train connection among the overnight stays: NO
- Possibility to shorten the itinerary by taking the train: NO
Mostly in the lowlands, sometimes hilly. Traffic is almost non existent in Apulia except during the high holiday season. The route includes very beautiful stretches on the coast.

Some days the itinerary will be flat, others it will present some hills. Suitable for everyone in good physical condition and with some cycling experience.
How to get there

Lecce is connected with the following airports:
Brindisi: 40 Km, Bari: 150 Km.

Trains
For further information on timetables and prices you can consult the following website: www.trenitalia.com.
Accommodation and meals
We personally choose all the hotels mindful of your comfort as well as the proximity to cycling paths and any relevant local sites.

You will be accommodated in 3/4* hotels.

All rooms have en suite facilities and air conditioning.

When you book the tour please specify the type of room requested:
- double room is a room with one double bed
- twin room is a room with two single beds
- triple room is usually a room with one double bed and a single bed or a sofa bed
Bikes and accessories
Girolibero bikes are available in different sizes and frames:
- Touring bike 27-gear Shimano Deore
- E-bike 9-gear Shimano
Features:
- aluminium frame
- mudguard
- rear rack
- comfort gel saddle www.selleroyal.com
- anti-puncture Schwalbe tyres
- ergonomic bicycle grips
- Speed Lifter system
Accessories
All rented adult bikes are equipped with:
- 1 cycle computer
- 1 Ortlieb one-sided saddlebag
- 1 front bar bag
- 1 water bottle (0.75 l)
- 1 repair kit per room: 1 spare inner tube, glue, patch, a pump, 2 allen keys and tyre levers
- 1 combination bike lock
At the moment of booking you can also rent helmets suitable for head circumferences from 54 to 61 cm. All our helmets have a certification mark according to the DIN EN 1078 (CE) European norm.
Accompanying material
Before your arrival, you will receive an email from us with the digital information material. It contains:

1. Link to download the App including maps, points of interest and GPS tracks (you can use the App offline, too)

2. Link to download the tour information material in Pdf:
- Tour notes
- Final tour details
- Travel guide with valuable information about the history, artistic heritage, landscapes and places of interest of the areas you pass through during your tour. Plus: local events, fun facts, suggestions on how to make the best of an extended break along the route, and tips on local wining and dining.
3. Digital travel documents:
- Final hotel list: due to overbooking or organizational needs your hotel list may be changed just before your arrival
- Hotel vouchers to show to the hotel reception upon arrival
- Luggage labels
Apulia Cycling Guide - Girolibero Greens
By your side

Staff support
In the Final Tour Details you will find the contact phone numbers you can call during the tour in case of emergency.
The Girolibero team is always available for you at the office number during office hours.
8 Client reviews
- Alberto
  
  Departure 23-28 August 2020
  
  Online from 04 September 2020
  
  Tappe facili con possibilità di più di una sosta bagno.
  L'unica mediamente impegnativa è quella da S.Maria di Leuca a Otranto (ma la più bella paesaggisticamente).
  Anche ad agosto, col solleone non si suda, (ma si beve tantissimo).
- Alessandra
  
  Departure 20-25 July 2020
  
  Online from 30 July 2020
  
  L'itinerario merita la fatica, da evitare l'estate per chi soffre parecchio il caldo. Munirsi di pantaloni da ciclista o coprisella in gel per le strade dissestate in alcuni punti, dal momento che le bici non sono ammortizzate.
  Per il resto tutto abbastanza bene
- Maurizio
  
  Departure 13-18 July 2020
  
  Online from 28 July 2020
  
  Giro molto bello dal punto di vista paesaggistico, in particolare la tappa da Santa Maria di Leuca a Otranto.
  Mare cristallino, con spiagge spettacolari che meritano l'appellativo di Maldive del Salento.
  A Santa Maria di Leuca non perdetevi un giro in barca (Colaci nautica) per visitare le grotte con annesso bagno al largo.
  Vacanza effettuata a metà luglio e resa gradevole dalla presenza costante di una fresca brezza di tramontana che ha accompagnato le nostre tappe.
  Non dimenticatevi una deviazione alla cava di Bauxite alle porte di Otranto!!
- Pierangelo
  
  Departure 23-28 September 2019
  
  Online from 09 October 2019
  
  escursione meritevole da fare
- Raffaella
  
  Departure 02-07 September 2019
  
  Online from 12 September 2019
  
  Una vacanza che mette d'accordo chi ama la cultura e chi ama il mare e la natura
- Francesco
  
  Departure 17-22 June 2019
  
  Online from 27 June 2019
  
  Il giro è splendido, l'assistenza è molto buona alla portata di tutti con bici con pedalata assistita. Lo consiglio vivamente, ottimi spunti di relax paesaggistici e culturali enogastronomici in questa nostra Italia.
- Shauna
  
  Departure 13-18 May 2019
  
  Online from 28 May 2019
  
  We had an amazing time on this bike trip - the route takes you through numerous landscapes - from arid Mediterranean surrounded by cactus to lush poppy fields in bloom and coastal mountains.
  It's truly stunning.
  From mid to late May, the summer season had not yet started in Puglia, so many of the towns and villages we rode through were quite sleepy, but this made the trip that much more peaceful and enjoyable, particularly after going to Amalfi afterward, which is a total circus of tourists and at least twice the price, if not quadruple.
  I would absolutely recommend this trip and this company to anyone who is a moderate cyclist and enjoys stunning coastlines, landscapes and historic towns that are quiet and authentic ... also great, simply prepared seafood.
- Ann
  
  Departure 13-18 May 2019
  
  Online from 23 May 2019
  
  Great holiday love Girolibero. Would love a cycling trip in Greece.