Classic tour in Salento
- Length 8 Days
- Difficulty level Easy
- Tour length 315 Km
- Price from 650 Per person
Tour description
Salento is in the south-eastern most region of Italy lying in the so-called "heel of the boot". Situated in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, this region is filled with memories of the different civilizations that inhabited it, from the Messapi, to the Greeks, followed by the Romans and then the Normans. Crossing Salento with a bicycle is like cycling through an open-air museum. Prehistoric Dolmen, Byzantine shrines hidden in the caves, Baroque cathedrals, secluded corners of the coast... are all but a few of the things you can see when visiting this area. Salento is also internationally renowned for its characteristic cuisine which combines flavors from the sea and the earth and the fantastic rhythm of its folk music: most notably the Pizzica Pizzica.
Salento is a region that is almost completely flat, making the ride a pleasant journey for any level of rider. We will be cycling approximately 30 km a day (about 3 hours of leisurely cycling), mainly crossing secondary roads, with sea-breaks, guided visits and Italian lessons. “Salento bici tour” follows the philosophy of “slow-moving” to fully enjoy the surrounding landscape and culture with all its different aspects. GPS maps will guide you through the most suggestive and less busy roads, as if some of our expert guides you by hands.
DEPARTURES: every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 01/01/2027 until 03/07/2027 (last departure) and from 27/08/2027 until 31/12/27 (last departure).
On other days on request, paying a 100€ supplement (per person).
Itinerary
Arrive i nLecce
Show dayMeeting in Lecce. Bicycle delivery, with GPS navigator. Briefing about the route
Flat route today, with many interesting cultural and naturalistic sights. first you will visit Acaya – a fortified city with a huge castle -and then you plunge down to “le Cesine” – a wwf protected area, crossing point for many species of migratory birds. from there we head towards the coast, along the ruins of Roca Vecchia – an ancient bronze age city – and ‘alimini’ lakes. some more kilometers and you are in Otranto, where narrow streets reveal wonders at every corner: The Saint Peter church byzantine frescoes, a walk along the ramparts overlooking the sea and finally the cathedral with its paved mosaic, a sort of figurative middle age encyclopedia.
Exploring Otranto's surroundings day. Riding along the little river “Idro” (“water”), which gave the name to the city, you arrive in Casamassela, where old looms are still being used in “LE COSTANTINE” foundation. After a guided tour, you move toward Giurdignano, crossing a Bronze age megalithic park containing huge stones (“Dolmen” and “Menhir”). In the late morning you’ll enjoy a LOCAL FOOD TASTING in a family - owened bakery. Optional horse riding in the morning or in the afternoon.
Today you cycle along the wildest Salento coastal stretch. You visit ‘PALACÌA’ LIGHTHOUSE (eastern most point of Italy) and a little red lake surfaced in a disused bauxite quarry. Then you carry on riding along the coast: nestled among the cliffs above the sea, this road is a huge balcony that looks onto Otranto Strait. With a little bit of luck, you will able to see the mountains of Albania and Greece. You could visit ‘ZINZULUSA’ CAVE, going down nearly 200 feet into the earth bowels. On the way we admire some terraces and dry walls, the ingenious devices of peasants to get arable land in barren and impervious areas. After crossing the bridge over the “ciolo” (a small and rich in rare flora canyon carved by the waters), you reach Santa Maria di Leuca where you visit the sanctuary, following the ancient pilgrims’ footsteps.
Today you will discover Leuca Cape, the southern part of Apulia. After an astonishing defense tower situated in the centre of a small village - it is time to visit an ancient mill, dug into the rock, and then an enigmatic funerary monument made by big stones (its name “centopietre”, means “hundred stones”), coming from Vereto, an ancient pre-romanic town situated nearby. Finally, you visit Leuca piccola ('little Leuca'), an important pilgrimage station which still maintains a vast underground area. Through olive groves and dry stone walls you'll reach Ugento, maybe to visit its archaeological museum. In the afternoon you’ll reach again the ionic coast until the St. Andrew’s island and PUNTA PIZZO" NATURAL PARK. In Gallipoli you could enjoy an aperitif on a terrace overlooking the sea. located on an island, this small fisherman village is striking by its light, its alleys and its fish market.
Distance: 61 km / Optional cooking class (42km) / Optional sailing excursion
This a day dedicated to discovering Gallipoli’s inland.
The first stop is Galatone, where you can see examples of Leccese baroque architecture.
Next stop is in the town of Galatina, where we suggest to dedicate some times to visit the ‘Santa Caterina d’Alessandria Basilica’, which is a splendid example of the Romanic style in Puglia with Gothic influence.
On the way back, you pass by the cheese farm of our friends Mariangela and Antonio.
You will pass through Alezio, where you can visit the Messapian Civilization Museum, and learn more about the people living here before the Greek and Roman conquests.
Last day of your trip. You’ll pass by many 19th century fortified farmhouse and villas on our way back to lecce. you stop in nardò to visit its decadent baroque style historical center. next stop in copertino to discover its impressive norman castle and listen to stories about 'the hopi of flights'. some km before Lecce a last stop at a handcraft traditional pottery, at the Martina brothers, skillful keepers of this ancient art.
Late afternoon arrival in Lecce and bikes drop off.
Departure from Lecce
Show dayIn the morning you can walk around the historic center of this fishing town, among whose narrow streets you can still breathe life as it would have been lived decades ago. Do not miss the wine served at the underground mill, where olives used to be processed when Gallipoli was the world capital for the export of olive oil.
Transfer to Lecce / Brindisi / Bari.
Services and prices
Base price (April-October / November-March)
| Per person | 785 / 650 € |
Supplements
| Single supplement (DUS) | 210 € |
| Mid season supplement (from 07/05 to 10/6) and from 10/09 to 30/09) | 140 € |
| High supplement (from 11/06 to 03/07) and from 27/08 to 09/09) | 210 € |
| 4****Supplement | 210 € |
| 5*****Supplement | 700 € |
Extras
| Rental bike (21 gears) with accessories – helmet, tool kit, lock, 1 pannier | 90 € |
| Gravel bike (14 gears) with accessories – helmet, tool kit, lock, 1 pannier | 205 € |
| Rental e-bike with accessories – helmet, tool kit, lock, 1 pannier | 205 € |
| Cooking class with lunch included | 75 € |
| Sailing boat tour half day with lunch included | 100 € |
| Guided Tour Around Otranto | 75 € |
| Booking fee | 30 € / group |
| Booking fee for tailormade tour or last minute booking | 100 € / group |
Extra nights
| Lecce in SGL room (4* / 4-5*) | 110 / 195 € |
| Lecce in DBL room (4* / 4-5*) | 80 / 135 € |
Transfers
| from Brindisi airport to Lecce hotel (1 pax / 2 pax / 3 pax />4 pax) | 80 / 40 / 35 / 30 € |
| from Bari airport to Lecce hotel (1 pax / 2 pax / 3,4 pax / >5 pax) | 200 / 100 / 75 / 60 € |
Tour datesAny scheduled tour can be made private. Your group, your dates. Go Private
No fully guided tours scheduled right now
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE:
· 7 overnights stay in farmhouse, 3*** hotels or B&B in family room, triple rooms, quadruple room (according to availability)
· 7 breakfasts;
· Briefing about the itinerary and bike fitting;
· Baggage transportation;
· Tracks of the route, navigation app, phone holder (1 for each booking)
· Road book with cultural information and tips about the route;
· Assistance h24 based on local company with English speaker;
· CO2 emissions flat-rate compensation to the value of €20*.
For more information, please ask.
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Full-guided trip
We at Europe Bike Tour do know, that a good bike is the most important part of a nice vacation. So we let all our bikes serviced regulary so they stay in perfect condition. Under "Bike Equipment" you can find other aditional equipment that is either in the bike fee included or you can rent/buy it for adittional funds.
We offer male and female bikes with different sizes, E-bikes, Tandembikes, Bikes for kids and on request the Recumbent bike as well. Should you have a special wish/need, do not hesitate to ask us, we will make our best to fullfill your wish!
Why with us?
With a rich 12-year history, Europe Bike Tours offers more than just cycling trips; we provide immersive "Culture Biking" experiences across the Czech Republic and Central Europe. Our tours blend the thrill of biking with cultural exploration, taking you from charming local eateries to ancient, hidden castles. We handpick the most captivating locations, ensuring each bike, family, or wine holiday is an adventure in itself. Catering to diverse preferences, our tours come in various formats, from self-guided to fully guided, with options for luggage transfer and different accommodation levels. For those seeking something unique, we're always ready to craft a tailor-made tour that perfectly fits your vision of a cycling holiday.
- Self guided, fully guided or supported tours
- City standard or premium accommodation
- Tailor made maps
- More biking options for each day
- 24/7 Hotline with personal approach
- Quality bikes e-Bikes
Who we are
Lukáš SvárovskýManager
Languages spoken Czech, English, German
Guide since 2008
Lukas was born and raised in the Czech capital of Prague. His keen interest in history and sports influenced his determination to study both subjects at university in Germany. His passion for travel also led to Lukas adding a tourism degree to his studies. Biking, exploring, and discovering interesting places was one of the determining moments when in 2010 he decided to start Europe Bike Tours. Since than Lukas is keen on developing new products, improve services and above all, share his passion for traveling while guiding one of the tours!
Lukáš Svárovský
Manager
Languages spoken Czech, English, German
Guide since 2008
Lukas was born and raised in the Czech capital of Prague. His keen interest in history and sports influenced his determination to study both subjects at university in Germany. His passion for travel also led to Lukas adding a tourism degree to his studies. Biking, exploring, and discovering interesting places was one of the determining moments when in 2010 he decided to start Europe Bike Tours. Since than Lukas is keen on developing new products, improve services and above all, share his passion for traveling while guiding one of the tours!
Vitek ProchazkaManager
Languages spoken Czech, English, French, German, Slovak, Spanish
Guide since 2012
Vitek was born in Prague, Czech Republic and has remained there most of his life. During his travel and tourism studies he began guiding mostly bike and rafting trips all around Europe. Through his years in the office of a travel agency, guiding remained an important part of his life. Eventually went of for year in New Zealand and after returning started guiding and preparing programs in and around his homeland
Vitek Prochazka
Manager
Languages spoken Czech, English, French, German, Slovak, Spanish
Guide since 2012
Vitek was born in Prague, Czech Republic and has remained there most of his life. During his travel and tourism studies he began guiding mostly bike and rafting trips all around Europe. Through his years in the office of a travel agency, guiding remained an important part of his life. Eventually went of for year in New Zealand and after returning started guiding and preparing programs in and around his homeland
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Accommodation is one of the most important parts of each trip that strongly influences the final look of it. We make our best to offer you the best possible accommodation in the prefered category. The hotels we offer are either comfortable small hotels or quite guesthouses both in 3* quality, all of it rather small and with personality than big chain. All the tours have accommodation in or near the town/village centres so you can spend the afternoon and evening after biking exploring the town itself or simply enjoy the peace of the place.
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Completed an 8-day tour from Prague to Krakow. This was a guided tour with two excellent tour guides Jan and Michaela. The ride included snacks along the way as well as historical information . Luggage was transported everyday to the next hotel as well as having a support vehicle during the ride. We had specialized electric bikes which were fabulous to ride, especially at the end of the day...25 Oct
Susan Vogt
Tour Prague-Krakow All Way biking
Europe Bike Tours was wonderful on our bike trip from Prague to Kraków. Due to health reasons, we had to switch to a premium electric bike at the last minute, and they accommodated us. The electric bikes made the trip a dream and gave us more time to see sites. When we had a couple of issues on the road they sent somebody on a taxi to deliver parts. The accommodations were wonderful, the direct...
Susan Vogt
Tour Prague-Krakow All Way biking
Europe Bike Tours was wonderful on our bike trip from Prague to Kraków. Due to health reasons, we had to switch to a premium electric bike at the last minute, and they accommodated us. The electric bikes made the trip a dream and gave us more time to see sites. When we had a couple of issues on the road they sent somebody on a taxi to deliver parts. The accommodations were wonderful, the directions in Ride with GPS were clear and we appreciated the extra tour options to stop and see other sites. We will use them again.
22 Oct
Nicolas T
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Excellent experience. I traveled alone from Colombia. I took the Prague to Passau tour. Communication was excellent, as was the bike (I requested a gravel bike). The hotels were good, all bike-friendly (they had a designated bike storage area). Highly recommended.
Nicolas T
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Excellent experience. I traveled alone from Colombia. I took the Prague to Passau tour. Communication was excellent, as was the bike (I requested a gravel bike). The hotels were good, all bike-friendly (they had a designated bike storage area). Highly recommended.
20 Oct
Wright Alcorn
Tour Prague-Dresden Tour reverse
Our party of four enjoyed ourselves immensely riding the standard Prague-to-Dresden route in reverse, found the hotels to be a nice balance of convenience and comfort, and had zero issues with the bikes. We have used the RidewithGPS app before and found it to be a great asset on this ride too. We highly recommend bike tours.com and their in-country affiliates. William A.
Wright Alcorn
Tour Prague-Dresden Tour reverse
Our party of four enjoyed ourselves immensely riding the standard Prague-to-Dresden route in reverse, found the hotels to be a nice balance of convenience and comfort, and had zero issues with the bikes. We have used the RidewithGPS app before and found it to be a great asset on this ride too. We highly recommend bike tours.com and their in-country affiliates. William A.
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Malcolm Falconer
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There is nothing I can say but a big thank you for the Prague / Dresden trip. The organisation of the whole trip was easy and flawless and you guys are very clearly on top of your game. The overnight hotel accommodation was excellent and the scrambled eggs in Decin were legendary!We really enjoyed seeing places and things we would not ordinarily have seen had we not been cycling and the Rid...12 Oct
Rob Doerksen
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My wife and I recently completed a guided 8-day cycling trip from Prague to Krakow. We enjoyed it thoroughly. The scenery was beautiful. The back roads we cycled on were generally quiet with very few motorized vehicles, although cycling through a few towns was a little sketchier. The cycling itself was easy to moderate, averaging just over 60km/day with an average elevation of just over 300...08 Oct
Silvia Kurth
Tour Spa Tour
The tour was well organized and the daily routes were interesting. The hotels were also good. Only the hotel in Karlovy Vary was difficult to reach by bike, as the road is very steep and there was very limited parking.07 Oct
Mary Walsh
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We had a great week cycling with Europe Bike Tours. Prague to Dresden is a lovely route, peaceful and flat, away from traffic. It was our first time visiting the Czech/German countryside and there was loads of cultural interests to see along the route. Our hotels were very central with helpful staff. We especially liked that Europe Bikes checked in with us every evening to see that we arriv...
Mary Walsh
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We had a great week cycling with Europe Bike Tours. Prague to Dresden is a lovely route, peaceful and flat, away from traffic. It was our first time visiting the Czech/German countryside and there was loads of cultural interests to see along the route. Our hotels were very central with helpful staff. We especially liked that Europe Bikes checked in with us every evening to see that we arrived safely. Would highly recommend 👌
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Rebecca Heylen
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Ever since I returned to the U.S. five days ago, from our incredible 12 day biking trip from Prague to Budapest, (a little over 400 miles), I keep telling all my friends and family that it was “the trip of a lifetime!”. Yet, in the back of my mind, I’m thinking, “I want to do this again!” The beauty of that part of the world is mind blowing and so fulfilling! Being able to ride bikes (e-bik...
Rebecca Heylen
Tour Prague -Budapešt - short
Ever since I returned to the U.S. five days ago, from our incredible 12 day biking trip from Prague to Budapest, (a little over 400 miles), I keep telling all my friends and family that it was “the trip of a lifetime!”. Yet, in the back of my mind, I’m thinking, “I want to do this again!” The beauty of that part of the world is mind blowing and so fulfilling! Being able to ride bikes (e-bikes for us 60-somethings) through mountains and valleys, quaint little villages, pedaling along the Danube, and visiting historical (4th century castle!) sites was just breathtaking. Europe Bike Tours made everything possible, seamless and easy to manage. Lukas and his VERY adept team were helpful at every turn. We had complete confidence in them, and are super appreciative of all the help we received during our trip.Thank you for an incredible experience!
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Liz Martin
Tour Prague-Dresden Tour
The Prague to Dresden 7 day self guided bike tour with Europe bike tours was absolutely excellent. The organisation was efficient, timely and well arranged. The bikes were very comfortable. The route was mostly flat, along dedicated cycle paths. The scenery was beautiful, mostly alongside the river and picturesque valleys. The hotels were excellent and right in the centre of each town. I wo...
Liz Martin
Tour Prague-Dresden Tour
The Prague to Dresden 7 day self guided bike tour with Europe bike tours was absolutely excellent. The organisation was efficient, timely and well arranged. The bikes were very comfortable. The route was mostly flat, along dedicated cycle paths. The scenery was beautiful, mostly alongside the river and picturesque valleys. The hotels were excellent and right in the centre of each town. I would unreservedly recommend Europe Bike Tours for the Prague to Dresden tour
