Self-guided Cycling / Original tour
Web code IT035
Italy / Apulia Short Break
Lecce and the deepest Salento
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Day by Day
1. Lecce
Individual arrival and overnight. 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
- Terrain: 100% tarmac, 0% 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.
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How to get there
Lecce is connected with the following airports:
Brindisi: 50 km, Bari: 170 km.Trains
For 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
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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 per room
- 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 58 to 61. All helmets have a certification mark according to the DIN EN 1078 (CE) European norm.Important notes:
We recommend that you bring your own reusable water bottle with you.
In order to cycle smoothly following our App, we suggest that you bring with you a holder for your mobile phone to be fixed on the handlebar, as well as a power bank (even if the App can be used offline, too). -
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, roadbook, 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
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
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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.
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Catherine Sarah
Departure 2023
Online from 13 September 2023
Great -
Julie
Departure 2023
Online from 06 June 2023
Wonderful, cannot wait to do it all again -
Teresa
Departure 2022
Online from 07 October 2022
We loved having our luggage delivered and being able to self pace through the towns. Breaks for coffee, lunch, swimming or sightseeing made the days full.
Gorgeous towns and mostly scenic roads (lots of trash on roadsides ☹️) -
Christine
Departure 2022
Online from 23 September 2022
We absolutely loved our cycle along the coast of Puglia. Can't wait until our next holiday.... -
maria augusta
Departure 2022
Online from 07 July 2022
Il percorso è molto bello ma si deve essere preparati al gran caldo. Il mare ripaga di tutta la fatica. -
elisa
Departure 2022
Online from 16 June 2022
Percorso straordinario per la varietà e ricchezza dei paesaggi naturali e di paesi e cittadine attraversate. Accoglienza cordiale ovunque. Da fare preferibilmente prima o dopo la stagione turistica. -
Martin
Departure 2022
Online from 12 May 2022
Exploring the Salento region on bike is the best! The route is easy to follow, lots a things to see and enjoy. Italian hospitality is warm en welcoming. All well organised, flawless.
Note: Shame to the Italians who throw tons of carbage on the roadside. Severe pollution and a very bad habit! -
Silvia
Departure 2021
Online from 17 June 2021
Vacanza spumeggiante e inebriante !
paesaggi mozzafiato da godere a pieni polmoni e con gli occhi colmi di meraviglia -
Bruna
Departure 2020
Online from 01 October 2020
consiglio questa vacanza agli amanti della bici e della natura. oltre ad assaporare la bellezza del paesaggio, si visita una bella parte di questa regione. -
Giuseppe
Departure 2020
Online from 23 September 2020
Vacanza splendida in luoghi incantevoli.Noi ci siamo trovati benissimo con le e-bike ma con un po' di allenamento le poche salite sono certamente abbordabili. A metà settembre kilometri e kilometri senza incontrare nessuno,solo la compagnia di scorci mozzafiato sul mare. -
Alberto
Departure 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 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 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 2019
Online from 09 October 2019
escursione meritevole da fare -
Raffaella
Departure 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 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 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 2019
Online from 23 May 2019
Great holiday love Girolibero. Would love a cycling trip in Greece.
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