Southern Italy Coast to Coast - BellaItalia Bike Tours

Art & Culture

BikeBasilicata

Southern Italy Coast to Coast

From the east to west, this tour is perfect for advanced cyclists looking for a journey through a variety of scenic landscapes in Southern Italy.

South

April to October

8 days / 7 nights

Difficult: 4.0

ABSTRACT

An epic 8-day tour from the sandy beaches of Ionian Sea along the eastern coast to the rocky coast of Maratea in the west. Starting off through the Murgia Plateau of Puglia, you will reach Basilicata and cross its valleys filled with orchards of oranges and peaches. Then climb the Apennines to reach Pollino National Park and cycle through gorgeous wooded forests. The trip culiminates in a “wow” arrival in Maratea, an amazing seaside village overlooking the Policastro Bay and the Tyrrhenian Sea.

BikeBasilicata is a brand of Ferula Viaggi, a tour operator specialized in excursions and bike tours in Basilicata and Puglia since 2002. Our routes range from one to fourteen days, and we have a bike shop with…

Tour Start

Trani

Tour End

Maratea

Best start day

Any day

Tot. distance

460 km / 286 mi

DETAILS

DAILY PROGRAM

Day 1: Trani

Arrival and get settled in at your hotel in Trani, an old town facing the Adriatic Sea. There is a lovely historical centre, Romanesque Cathedral, castle, gardens and old port where we suggest you to have dinner, choosing from the fish menu at one of the small restaurants. Dinner on your own and overnight stay.
Day 2: The Alta Murgia National Park

Move inland to the Unesco Heritage site of Castel del Monte, an outstanding example of Medieval architecture. Cycling the Alta Murgia and through Gravina you’ll reach Matera, known for its “Sassi”. The Sassi are houses dug into the tuff rock itself, which is characteristic of Basilicata and Puglia. Many of these “houses” are really only caverns, and the streets in some parts of the Sassi are often located on the rooftops of other houses. Dinner on your own and overnight at your Hotel in the Sassi district.

• Distance: 71 mi / 115 km
• Accommodations: Hotel in Matera
• Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: The Apennines

You will pass along the Lake of San Giuliano, cycling through the rolling hills of Valle del Basento you reach the mountains in the Park of Piccole Dolomiti Lucane.

• Distance: 56 mi / 90 km
• Accommodations: Hotel in Pietrapertosa
• Meals: Breakfast
Day 4: The Calanchi Valley

Enter the Agri River valley and from the woods you’ll suddenly find yourself in the middle of the astonishing landscape of the Calanchi, which are deforested, sandy soiled hills. Stop in Tursi for dinner (on your own) and overnight stay.

• Distance: 50 mi / 80 km
• Accommodations: Hotel in Tursi
• Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: The Pollino National Park

After visiting Santuario di Anglona, rich of medieval frescoes, cross the Sinni river and start climbing to the Pollino National Park: one of the prettiest and biggest in Italy. Dinner on your own and overnight stay at Terranova del Pollino.

• Distance: 50 mi / 80 km
• Accommodations: Hotel in Terranova del Pollino
• Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: On the Peaks of the Massifs

This is the hardest stage of the tour. Through forests, long climbs, wide valleys and pretty villages like San Severino Lucano and Viggianello. Dinner on your own and overnight stay.

• Distance: 29 mi / 45 km
• Accommodations: Hotel near Viggianello
• Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Maratea

Through the Valle del Noce you reach the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. A beautiful coastal road leads you to Maratea. Dinner on your own and overnight stay.

• Distance: 50 mi / 80 km
• Accommodations: Hotel in Maratea
• Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: End of tour, transfer to Bari

After breakfast and check out of your hotel, private transfer will take you to Bari for your departure flight or to continue on to your travels in Southern Italy.