What's included
- All accommodations as described
- Meals according to the Meal Plan
- Bicycle rental
- Bicycle theft insurance
- A self-guided information pack containing your map and route notes
- Baggage transfer
Which is not included
- Travel insurance
- A trip to Monopoly
- Travel from Lecce
- Municipal taxes (approx. 2-5 euros per night)
- Public buses and taxis
- Visas (if applicable)
- Certain meals as described in the Meal Plan
- Personal equipment
- All additional activities/excursions are marked as optional
Your self-guided package and route notes
Each self-guided holiday comes with detailed route notes and a map or pocket guide of the area you're exploring. Route notes contain information about places to visit, local transport you may need, along with detailed route notes for your daily walks or bike rides. We even include some tips on the best places to stop for lunch.
You can expect to receive your self-catering package containing your route notes, map or guide and all relevant documents no later than 3 weeks before your holiday start date. We'll send your documents using Signed for Courier so you can track your package and know it's on its way to you safely. For bookings of more than 4 people, we will send an additional self-referral package. If you do not need this add-on package, please let our sales team know. Your package will be sent to the main customer, so please remind him to pack it before you leave.
If your solo trip is part of a larger adventure that requires you to leave home more than three weeks before your holiday start date, please let our sales team know so we can arrange alternative delivery.
Independent families
Our independent holidays are ideal for your next family holiday and are suitable for children of all ages.
Partner hotels and accommodations can provide cots, and some offer family rooms. We can also arrange hire of children's bikes and marked bikes for our self-guided bike tours, and with tours such as Lake Constance and Danube offering routes on marked bike paths, you can be sure your family will be safe.
As a parent we trust you know your child's capabilities, please read the route details to ensure the distances covered each day are suitable for your family. If it's your family's first walking holiday, a trip to the center is a fantastic option as it allows you to easily forgo the day's walking if you have a day building sandcastles, swimming in the pool or visiting museums .
Discuss this further with our sales team who will be happy to help you choose the best trip for your family.
Participations in arrangements and transfers
The journey begins in Monopoly. All of our independent holidays are sold onshore only, giving you the flexibility to choose the mode of travel that suits you best. The nearest airport for this trip is Barry Airport with many departures from regional UK airports.
If you are flying into Bari Airport, you can take the metro to Bari Train Station from where you can take the train directly to Monopoli. The trip takes about 1 hour.
The journey ends in Lecce. From Lecce you can take the train directly to Bari Centrale, from where you can take the metro to the airport. The trip takes about 2 and a half hours.
Meal plan
This trip is on a bed and breakfast basis to allow you maximum flexibility during your vacation.
Food and water
Italy has long been a foodie's dream, but discovering Puglia is a real treat for the palate. With its endless coastline offering an endless supply of delicious seafood waiting to be dined on with the locally famous Pane de Altamura bread (perfect to mop up any meal). But the real treat is the sheer amount of vegetarian dishes on offer in the area. The southern region has traditionally been a poor region built on agriculture, and this shows through the fantastic hearty cuisine where vegetables and pasta are the main ingredients. You can eagerly nibble on the Taralli, small rings of shortbread dough served with oil for dipping. picnic on focaccia and Apulian panzerotti, a fried piece of dough filled with mozzarella and tomato. and Orecchiette pasta dish served with broccoli or Parmigiana di Melanzane (eggplant) or Parmigiana di Carciofi (artichoke). For those with a sweet tooth (like us here at KE) then you can enjoy the incredibly delicious Pasticciotta, mainly found near Lecce, these small fried dough cookies are served with sugar and almond. mmm!
For this holiday, water is drinkable from taps. Fill your personal bottles in the morning for your day. We do not encourage the purchase of single-use plastic bottles.
Special diets
While we can cater for vegetarians, albeit sometimes with a more limited selection, we cannot always cater for special diets. Due to the nature of some of the travel we do and the countries we operate in, it can be very difficult (and sometimes impossible) to cover a wide range of food options and you may need to supplement your diet with food/snacks from Home. If you have specific dietary requirements, please contact our sales team and they will be able to advise you on whether we will be able to offer your particular option. Please note that we cannot provide separate menus and cannot accept responsibility for any problems arising from special dietary requirements or intolerances.
Accommodation
On this trip, we've selected a fantastic selection of 3 and 4 star family hotels for you, as well as an overnight stay in a traditional Trullo apartment, so you can truly experience Puglia life. All hotels have been selected for their warm hospitality and facilities. All hotels offer an excellent breakfast buffet to enjoy, and some also have a swimming pool or terrace, perfect for relaxing after a day in the saddle.
It is possible to arrange accommodation for extra nights in Monopoli before your trip or in Lecce at the end of your trip if you want to explore this fantastic area a little more. For more details, please see our dates and prices card or speak to one of our sales team.
Allowed baggage
Your main luggage will be transferred between each of your hotels while you are out on the road. Please ensure that your luggage is less than 20kg and that your luggage is ready for collection each morning. You will also need a backpack to carry your daily essentials.
Equipment list
- Cycling pants
- Bike helmet
- Functional base layer
- short sleeve shirts
- A joke
- Hat
- Windbreaker
- Fleece / additional layer
- Rain protection
- Ruksak (about 20 liters)
- A small first aid kit for your backpack
- Sun lotion
- Water bottle or hydration pack
- Camera (batteries/memory card)
- Mobile phone (check your data plan covers your destination)
- A strong bank
- Sunglasses
- Accessories for individual washing
- Reusable cloth shopping bag to avoid using plastic bags
- Pupper picnic utensils
Featured Outdoor Retailers
Many of the above types of equipment are available withCotswold outdoors - Ours"Official Recommended Retailer". When you book a holiday with KE, you'll receive a 12.5% discount voucher from Cotswold Outdoor and other retailers.
>> Learn more
Travel insurance
It is essential to take part in a holiday with KE Adventure Travel that you have a valid travel insurance policy to cover medical expenses and protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation. When taking out insurance, make sure the policy you choose covers the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.
We recommend Campbell Irvine Direct for suitable insurance. Please go to oursTravel insurancepage for more information and to receive a quote.
Passport and visa
The information we provide is intended for UK passport holders. A passport valid for 6 months at the end of your stay is generally required,and you should have at least 2 blank pages for each country you visit.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday.Make sure you check the latest advice before you travel. For the latest information on registration requirements, visitUK Government website.
Europe
Your passport must meet 2 conditions. It must be:
- under 10 years of age on date of entry (check 'date of issue')
- valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check "expiration date")
For the latest details on visiting countries within the EU or European Economic Area (EEA), checkUK Government website
Health and vaccination
Vaccinations
You should check with your doctor or travel clinic to check if you need any special vaccinations.
GHIC / Medical coverage
UK residents should carry a free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). This gives you the right to declare the medical treatment provided when you visit an EU country or Switzerland. This is not a substitute for medical travel insurance which is essential when traveling abroad.
Severe allergies
Please inform the KE sales and support team of any severe allergies you may have before travelling. We will always do our best to help, but we cannot guarantee an allergy free environment on our KE trips. We advise you to always carry your own allergy medication, such as an "adrenaline auto-injector", if necessary. We also recommend that you discuss this with your accommodation upon arrival so that they can better assist you.
Preparations for your vacation
The advantage of independent cycling holidays is that you decide the pace yourself. With that in mind, it's always smart to get some extra exercise before going on an active vacation. After all, the better shape you are in, the more comfortable your cycling will be. You should be comfortable cycling 40 to 50km and up to 500m of climbing per day on quiet country lanes and roads. We advise you to dust off your bike and go for a few rides before your holiday to make your holiday more enjoyable. We also offer e-bike upgrades for those who want to make the journey more relaxed.
Climate
Apulia has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers when temperatures reach 30 degrees and mild winters. The most pleasant time for cycling in the area is in the spring and autumn months when the temperatures are a little cooler (between 10-25 degrees).
Aware of the journey
As a well-known tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office"Travel consciously'campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their trips abroad. The Travel Aware website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all types of travelers and we recommend that before traveling all KE customers visit the official UK Government website attravelaware.campaign.gov.ukand read FCDO's travel advice for your destination. North Americans can also check the US State Department website:www.travel.state.govfor essential travel tips and advice.
KE considers the safety and protection of all customers the most important aspect of every trip we organize. We would not embark on any journey that we did not consider reasonably safe. If FCDO advises against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates directly from the FCDO and are in constant contact with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about the state's travel advisories, please call our office.
Disposable plastic
KE does not encourage the use of single-use plastic items. We ensure that our agents around the world work together to contain the problem and educate those around them. We lead by example in our KE office by reducing the use of plastic.
books
Off the top of my head: Seduced by Southern Italy - Chris Harrison
Finding Yourself in Puglia: A Journey of Self-Discovery Under the Warm Southern Italian Sun - Laine B Brown
Puglia i Basilicata – Lonely Planet