A wide range of bike tours to offer you the best way to explore Salento and appreciate its colours, scents and landscapes.

Tours leave from Lecce, Gallipoli, Otranto and Santa Maria di Leuca. Each tour shows you spots of historical, natural and gastronomic interest. They run mostly through secondary roads and bike paths, away from traffic. The itineraries are safe and scenic.

Lecce & its East | Lecce & its masserie | Gallipoli | Otranto | Santa Maria di Leuca

Lecce and its East

• Distance: about 50 km
• Level: medium / easy
• Duration: full day

We start out from the old town of Lecce to reach the village of Acaya, the medieval fortified town, where we’ll admire the impressive castle, the boundary walls and the urban plan of the old town that has been left unchanged over time. Then we head to the Cesine Natural Reserve, a wetland that is home to many species of plants and aquatic birds and today is a WWF protected area. Break on the beach for a refreshing swim, weather permitting. On the way back through Strudà, we will visit an olive grove where some trees are a thousand years old. On our return we will stop for a tasting of products typical of Lecce.

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Lecce and its masserie 

• Distance: about 40 km
• Level: medium / easy
• Duration: full day

Riding on unpaved roads among hundreds-of-years-old olive trees, we cross several fortified farms of the 16th/18th century, which were once both places of agricultural production and important defense points against Turkish attacks. We will also visit important sites of worship such as the Church of St. Mary of Aurio, dating from the 12th century, and the beautiful Abbey of St. Mary in Cerrate, dating back to the Byzantine era, where there is also an interesting museum of folk traditions. Sun permitting, we won’t miss the chance to take a break on the beach. On the way back we’ll cycle through the Rauccio Natural Park. On our return we will stop for a tasting of traditional products.

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Gallipoli

• Distance: about 35 km
• Level: medium
• Duration: full day

First stop is Alezio to visit the Messapian Museum, then we’ll go on to Tuglie for the stunning Radio Museum (all the items, including telegraphs, are still working!) or for the Museum of Rural Life. Heading back toward the coast, in the Porto Selvaggio Natural Park we’ll have a picnic lunch in the shade of the pine forest and, for those who feel like it, a refreshing swim in the cool spring waters. We’ll return to Gallipoli by sunset. There, if requested, there is the possibility of arranging an aperitif with local wines or craft beers.

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Otranto

• Distance: about 35 km
• Level: medium
• Duration: full day

The inland of Otranto is probably the best preserved area of Salento. Going up the Idro Valley, we will visit an ancient Byzantine crypt, and then stop at the Constantine Foundation where they practise the art of traditional weaving. We will then cross the ‘megalithic garden’ of Giurdignano, dotted with dolmen and menhir. For lunch, a tasting at one of the best bakeries of the province in Specchia Gallone. In the early afternoon we will reach Porto Badisco, with its calm, sheltered beach. Then we’ll return to Otranto around sunset, along one of the most beautiful stretches of the coast, visiting the lighthouse of Punta Palascìa and the stunning Bauxite Lake.

Alternative itinerary with mountain bike

We take you out along dirt tracks to discover the beautiful landscapes of the Adriatic coast. Going by mountain bike will allow us to discover little-known places and find the best observation points for breathtaking views. We start from Otranto to reach the Alimini Lakes, cycling along the west side of both lakes. Then we’ll return to the coast, heading south. We’ll pass through the pine forest and dune areas of the Alimini Bay, and by the white beaches of the Turks Bay and then continue along the rugged cliffs that lead us back to Otranto.

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Santa Maria di Leuca

• Distance: about 15 km
• Level: easy
• Duration: half day

The Cape of Leuca, once considered ‘Finibus Terrae’ (the end of the world), is an area made up of tiny and evocative hamlets and farms. Cycling through the countryside roads that link these villages full of history and charm, we will discover some of the hidden treasures, like the Defense Tower of Salignano, the enigmatic Centopietre in Patù, the Medieval Castle in Giuliano and the Sanctuary of Leuca Piccola in Barbarano. We’ll complete the excursion with a great tasting of local products.

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What´s included:

• Bike rental, Bottecchia 765 and 766 model
• Safety equipment
• Didactic material and maps
• A professional guide
• Entrance fees (where applicable)
• A food & wine tasting (where applicable)
• Liability insurance

Distances are suitable for everyone, even if you are not trained and especially for families: children from 8/10 years old up will have their own bike, younger children will avail of a seat placed on the back of their parents or the guide´s bike. The pace will be slow and relaxing and, in any case, suitable to the group´s requirements.