Starting From
1190 €
Sku:
isy0072
Availability on Request
Group
Itinerant
Bike Gravel
7 days
340 Km
Medium
Operated by BikeLife
Departure calendar
What You’ll See on Your Trip
Trip Itinerary
More information regarding the time and meeting point for the first/last day will be provided after the booking.
Morning arrival. Departure from Ruvo di Puglia train station joining the official Alta Murgia Cycleway 01 (C01AM route). Ride on a steady, gentle incline along dirt paths and tracks, passing the ancient pastoral settlement of Jazzo Rosso and the meadows of San Magno to arrive at Frederick II's famous castle.
Activity & Terrain: Gravel Cycling | Dirt tracks, unpaved roads, and rural asphalt | Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Gourmet Stop (NOT INCLUDED / EXTRA): Murgia tasting featuring Andria Burrata PGI, Altamura PDO Bread, podolico caciocavallo cheese, and a glass of Nero di Troia DOCG wine.
Km Stage: 45
Height difference: 550 m
A wild and scenic stage intercepting the Apulian Aqueduct Cycleway. Ride along the unpaved fine-gravel service track passing the water ventilation chimneys, crossing oak forests near Quasano before reaching Cassano.
Activity & Terrain: Gravel Cycling | Fine-gravel unpaved service track and country lanes | Difficulty: Moderate
Gourmet Stop (NOT INCLUDED / EXTRA): Reenergizing stop in Cassano with warm Bari focaccia, sweet Murgia olives, and Gioia del Colle mozzarella.
Km Stage: 60
Height difference: 480 m
Ride through the shade of the majestic Mercadante Forest heading southeast. The rugged Murgia landscape yields to the lower Trulli Murgia: cycling on country lanes bordered by thick dry-stone walls, reach the iconic town of Alberobello.
Activity & Terrain: Gravel Cycling | Country lanes with dry-stone walls and secondary asphalt | Difficulty: Moderate
Gourmet Stop (INCLUDED): Tasting stop among the trulli with Martina Franca Capocollo PGI, handmade Apulian taralli, and a glass of Locorotondo DOC wine.
Km Stage: 55
Height difference: 520 m
A historic and famous section of the Aqueduct Cycleway: from Figazzano (near Locorotondo) to Ceglie Messapica, ride on a protected cyclepath completely closed to motorized traffic, crossing spectacular suspended canal bridges over the Itria Valley.
Activity & Terrain: Gravel Cycling | Protected cycleway and fine gravel | Difficulty: Easy
Gourmet Stop (NOT INCLUDED / EXTRA): Gourmet snack in the capital of Messapian gastronomy with traditional Ceglie Biscuits (almond and cherry base), fried meatballs, and Primitivo wine.
Km Stage: 40
Height difference: 350 m
Past Villa Castelli, where the main aqueduct canal ends, the route drops steadily from the hills. The terrain becomes flat on hard-packed red earth and rural asphalt, passing through the renowned Primitivo di Manduria vineyards.
Activity & Terrain: Gravel Cycling | Hard-packed red earth, farm roads, and rural asphalt | Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Gourmet Stop (INCLUDED): Winery tasting among the vineyards featuring Primitivo di Manduria DOCG, Salento pecorino cheese, and crostini with sun-dried tomato paté.
Km Stage: 55
Height difference: 220 m
A long but fast-rolling final stage linking to the Ionian Salento coast. The route alternates between compact sandy singletracks along beaches and dunes (near Porto Cesareo and Gallipoli) and secondary coastal roads, finishing at the Aqueduct's Monumental Waterfall in Leuca.
Activity & Terrain: Gravel Cycling | Compact sandy singletracks, coastal dirt roads, and secondary asphalt | Difficulty: Challenging (due to distance)
Gourmet Stop (NOT INCLUDED / EXTRA): Final seaside toast in Leuca with hot pasticciotto pastry, Salento pittule fritters, and a glass of rosé Negroamaro wine.
Km Stage: 85
Height difference: 310 m
Breakfast at hotel, check-out, and end of services.
Travel Tour Overview
West Apulia Bike Tour: Across Murgia and Salento
To cycle from the hills of Alta Murgia down to the extreme south of Puglia, the ideal route hooks onto the spectacular Apulian Aqueduct Cycleway (BI11). This massive historic infrastructure connects the Alta Murgia Cycleway 01 (Ruvo-Castel del Monte) to the unpaved paths of the Itria Valley, before spilling into the red-soil plains of Salento.
The itinerary covers 6 stages totaling around 340 km, starting from the heart of the Murgia park and ending where the land finishes: the Monumental Waterfall of Santa Maria di Leuca. A perfect trip for wider tires that alternates dirt service tracks, dry-stone walled country lanes, and stretches of dedicated cycleways completely closed to traffic.
Suitable for Gravel, E-Gravel, and MTB.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
- Apulian Aqueduct Cycleway: Exclusive riding along inspection tracks and suspended canal bridges over the Itria Valley.
- Castel del Monte & Murgia: Rugged natural beauty of Alta Murgia National Park and Frederick II's octagonal castle.
- The Valley of Trulli: Enchanted ride through Mercadante Forest to the iconic trulli houses of Alberobello.
- The Lands of Primitivo: Steady descent from the hills into Salento's red soil and vineyard expanses.
- Seaside Arrival: Reaching Santa Maria di Leuca where the historic aqueduct empties into the sea.
- Authentic Gastronomy: Andria Burrata, Martina Franca Capocollo, Ceglie biscuits, Primitivo di Manduria wine, pasticciotto pastries, and Bari focaccia.
- Full Support & Assistance: Guided group tour with Guide, assistant, and support van, or self-guided freedom with GPX tracks and included luggage transfer (individual upon request).
EXCLUSIVE NEW FEATURE – EXPERIENCE THE EXOSKELETON (NOT INCLUDED):
During booking, you can choose to add the rental of our innovative wearable exoskeleton: cutting-edge technology designed to empower, support, and protect your physical strength, allowing you to handle longer distances with far less fatigue. Technical equipment and exoskeleton rentals are not included in the base tour price and can be selected at checkout.
What’s Included in Your Trip
- 2 tastings
- 6 Dinners (drinks not included)
- Phone assistance
- Breakfast
- Travel document
- Tour Operator Guarantees
- Guide
- Minivan transport
- Overnight stay in a Double Room
- Stay in a 3-star establishment or similar
- Please read the Terms and conditions before making your booking
Must-Know Details
By Car: Ruvo di Puglia exit on the A14
By Train: Ruvo di Puglia railway station
By Plane: Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport or Brindisi Airport
Open to travelers of all ages. You can travel independently or in a group, with full support from the agency. On a group vacation, you may meet international participants with different habits from your own. On a cycling tour, you might ride alongside people with e-bikes or traditional bikes: respect everyone’s space and enjoy the experience. The tour is organized by local guides and operators, carefully selected to offer you a safe and unforgettable experience.
Remember to bring a valid passport or ID card, with an expiration date at least 6 months after the departure date. The itinerary may be subject to changes before and/or during the trip. On group tours and in certain villages, it may be necessary to stay in small, distributed accommodations due to the lack of large structures. Please inform us of any food intolerances at the time of booking: we will do our best to accommodate them, but cannot guarantee it. Local tourist taxes are to be paid on site.
Euro
No
ID Card or Passport
112
220v
Grand Tour of Puglia by Gravel
Upon request
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