Self-Guided Cycling the Heel of Italy - Alberobello to Lecce

Experience Overview

Trip For You
This self-guided cycling holiday is ideal for independent travellers who enjoy exploring at their own pace, with the reassurance of pre-arranged accommodation, route guidance and local support. Previous cycling experience is recommended, but no technical cycling skills are required. Cycling at a Glance Trip Style: Self-guided Cycling Days: 6 Average Daily Distance: 51km (32 miles) Terrain & Route: The suggested cycling is along quiet, tarmac roads (mainly traffic-free). There are a few ascents and descents along the way. Activity Level: 2 (Easy & Moderate) For more information on our trip gradings please visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us. Navigation: Headwater Navigation App How Your Self-Guided Holiday Works This self-guided trip is operated by our sister company, Headwater. You’ll travel independently and at your own pace using the Headwater Navigation App, which provides expertly curated routes and directions, along with a 24-hour emergency assistance number should you need support. As there is no tour leader or organised group, you’ll enjoy the flexibility to travel at your own pace while following the planned itinerary. Headwater are specialists in self-guided active holidays with more than 40 years of experience. Families Self-guided cycling holidays are a perfect option for families as they offer the freedom for you to take your holiday at your own pace. You can stop as and when you want and need, at the cafes and restaurants that suit your family and the sites that interest you. As a guide we have suggested that 14 years is the minimum age for this trip, but as it is self-guided and you will be leading your own family we will ultimately leave this decision up to you. The daily distances are all published in the trip notes along with a description of each days cycling so you have a good idea of what to expect. Please do be aware that on some occasions on this trip the cycling can be along busier roads so any children must be comfortable cycling alongside traffic. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact one of our experts. The principle idea is that these holidays can be as flexible as you like, with logistical support but no group or leader to dictate the daily activities.
Group Description
As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. Your luggage is transferred and route notes and maps are provided. The route notes contain an emergency assistance telephone number (operating between 0830 and 2000hrs). In emergency, the local representative is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.
Eating Drinking
Breakfasts are included and consist of a continental-style buffet. However, please note that the typical Italian breakfast are generally light; usually a cup of coffee and a cream-filled or jam-filled croissant. In Puglia you will find genuine regional cooking that has strong links to the land and the sea. To give you just a small list of the types of food on offer in Puglia: Bread from the Murge, durum wheat pasta, olives, the pasta delicacy Orecchiette served with a sauce of turnip-tops or fresh tomato and sheep's ricotta-cheese, Cavatelli with pulses, aubergine and parmesan bake, grilled fish and seafood, burrata (soft mozzarella and cream cheese), plus excellent wines. This region is a food lovers paradise and the abundance of delicious vegetables makes it a perfect destination for vegetarians! On this trip there will be many opportunities to taste the best local specialities. Suggestions of what to do for lunch and dinner are given in the cycling route notes.
Transportation
Your luggage is transported from hotel to hotel for you.
Joining Instructions
Travelling land only: 8 days starting in Alberobello and ending in Lecce Your trip normally starts at our hotel in Alberobello on the afternoon of Day 1 of the itinerary. Details of how to reach the start hotel are given in the Final Joining Instructions.
Transfer Details
It is possible to add arrival and departure airport transfers tailored to your flight times at a supplement, payable in advance.
Weather Information
Puglia enjoys a wonderful Mediterranean climate with all year round sunshine and just enough rainfall to ensure that the green is never too far off. Although Puglia covers a large area it is long and narrow - not more than 30km across. This means that you're never far from the sea which has a moderating effect on the weather. Please note that Puglia can be very hot, reaching high 30s in the summer.
Spending Money
— The train ticket from Ostuni to Lecce is included in the package price and whilst the Puglian authorities currently don’t charge for carrying bikes on the train, this is subject to change, at which point a charge of 3.50€ per bike would be payable locally.For lunches and dinners allow about €170 depending on the standard of restaurant chosen.LOCAL TAXES: many Italian cities have recently introduced a tourist tax for non-residents. The local administration is in charge of the tax, which will be collected by the accommodation provider at check-in or check-out. This fee varies depending on the hotel category, the season and number of days of stay and during the season some variations may occur:Matera: 3* hotel €2, 4* hotel €4;Alberobello: 3* hotel €0.80;Ostuni: 4* hotel €2;Gallipoli: 3/4/5* hotel €1.50 - €2;Santa Maria di Leuca: 4* hotel €1 - €2;Otranto: 3* hotel €1.50 - €2.50, 4* hotel €2 - €3;Lecce: 3/4* hotel €1 - €2

Highlights