Italy–Exploring the Heel of Italy, The Hidden world of Puglia, less hard.

This Holiday is classed as Moderate to Energetic, a little less hard than the other tour as it will not be riding through the mountaineous interior of the Gragano Peninsular, rather it stays at Manfredonia where you can visit the beaches and historic town. Optional shorter routes into the interior will be provided.

We will be travelling through the areas of Puglia in South East Italy; the 'heel'. The terrain varies between rolling to mountainous in the Gargano Peninsular, though this tour will not be riding through it. Of particular interest, we will visit The historic towns of Lecce, Gallipoli, Matera and Manfredonia. The extreme south of Italy has been underdeveloped for centuries, this shows in the agricultural areas, 1000-year-old olive groves, and the ancient pastoral societies. The architecture is unique to Puglia too, from the conical Trulli, shaped similarly to Kentish Oast Houses, to whitewashed hill villages and baroque town centres. Ostuni and Polignano su Mare are incredibly picturesque.

Puglia is low lying, it is east of the Apennine spine of Italy, plenty of hills inland, but not many long climbs. It stretches from the Gargano Peninsula to the bottom of the heel at Santa Maria di Leuca. Next stop Malta! We touch the edge of Basilicata, the mountainous central region with Matera then head northeast to the Gargano peninsula. The Gargano is a regional park, mountains dropping down to a coast set with coves and rocky inlets. you will find wooded areas with lush pine forests, mountainous landscapes, forests, a spectacular coast full of white limestone cliffs, sea caves, long beaches sandy beaches and villages overlooking the sea. The variety of the landscape is amazing.

Matera is possibly the oldest continuously inhabited town in Europe, it is built as a series of cave dwellings in the cliffs, ‘I Sassi’. There are rock-hewn churches, habitations and pathways underground. Matera is not all underground though, plenty of baroque buildings above ground. Pre-war Matera was malarial and poverty stricken, but now it is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the south of Italy. We also visit another ‘underground’ town, Gravina in Puglia.

The tour starts and finishes in Giovinazzo near Bari. It is 14 kms from Bari airport. Bari has planes from the UK. The nearest rail station is at Giovinazzo which has trains from Bari Airport, though you will need to change at Bari.

Travel to the start and from the finish is not included in this holiday. Thus, it is very important that you note that neither your Tour Leader nor Bikexplore are responsible for you in any way until the appointed time at the designated meeting point. Should you fail to arrive at the appointed time for whatever reason, we will not be responsible for any additional expenses you may incur in order to meet up with the tour group. Before finalising travel arrangements, you should ensure that the tour is definitely going ahead.

Should there be insufficient bookings or pandemic travel restrictions are re-imposed, we reserve the right to cancel the tour at any time. It is therefore recommended that you book fully flexible and refundable transport and accommodation or wait until you have been told the tour will go ahead. In the event of the tour being cancelled we will not be responsible for any losses incurred outside what you pay us.

Transfer to and from the train station or airport is not included in this holiday nor is transfer of your bicycle.

We will use WhatsApp to communicate details like café stops, meal arrangements, places of interest and any emergencies on route. Ideally everyone will bring a smart phone and be happy to be included in the group.

If you are unable to join the WhatsApp group I can only communicate with you in an emergency.

The maximum number of participants will be 18 plus the tour Managers and driver.

We will stay in 15 good mid-range hotels or agriturismi. All rooms have en-suite facilities. Prices are based on two people sharing a room. When booking with a partner to share please specify twin or double beds.

If you book a single room, please note that they can be of a lower standard than twin or double rooms even though single rooms may incur a supplement.

Meals - We will be catering for ourselves throughout the holiday. We will source and pay for meals ourselves.

On all days breakfast and dinner will be provided for us at or near our accommodation, however, you will need to source and pay for lunch yourselves.

We will frequently be travelling through rural areas and will stop at cafes during the rides whenever possible but you should buy and carry sufficient food and drink for lunch in case of emergencies.

Check which meals are provided in the Payment Schedule and ensure you have access to sufficient monies to cover any meals you will need to buy. Most places in Italy accept card payments, but some more rural shops and cafe still do not.

Check that you have informed the Tour Leader of any dietary requirements, especially any allergies, in your Booking Form. Please remember to pack any medications that you need to take regularly.

Meals, often there will choice but sometimes the menu will be set. Vegetarians, vegans and special diets or requests can be catered for, but we need to know in advance. Please put this down as a ‘special request’ on your booking form.

Italian meals tend to follow a set format. Anti Pasto, pre-meal, cheeses, cured meats, Primo, first course, usually pasta, followed by Secondo, meat or fish. Sometimes the meat or fish will have vegetables or salad as an accompaniment. After that there is usually ‘Dessert’. Please note that in a set menu you may not get all of that, Please note that drinks are usually down to you.

A touring cycle, hybrid, tandem, recumbent or lightweight road bike would all be suitable for this holiday, since we will endeavour to avoid tracks if possible. You should ensure your cycle is well maintained, paying particular attention to wheels, tyres and brakes.

A low bottom gear (eg. small chainring the same size or smaller than the largest cog on your rear wheel) is recommended; if unsure about gears, please talk to the Bikeplore Leader about them.

Lights are recommended in the very unlikely event of arriving back late and useful if walking outdoors at night. A bell is advised and bring a bike lock for security. Water bottles are required to ensure you are hydrated at all times.

You will be expected to carry sufficient spares and tools to deal with punctures and minor repairs, including two inner tubes, a spare gear cable, split link and spare brake pads. There may not be many bike shops on route and they are never when you need them. You are advised to use 28mm tyres, or larger, to suit the variable terrain.

You will not need to carry luggage, but a rack-top pack or bar bag will be useful for carrying wet weather gear, spare clothing needed for the day, camera, emergency rations and a map. If you need advice please contact the Bikexplore Tour Organiser.

The holiday is for 15 days and has 1 rest day and 2 days with optional rides. It is a moving on holiday staying in a different location most nights.

However, we do spend 3 nights at one location where we plan to have optional unaccompanied rides unencumbered by luggage. So, if anybody needs a rest and repair day, they can sit out on one of those. No-one is obliged to ride those days.

Most of the roads are minor and used by rural will be hilly in parts. Though we may need to use some busier roads at times, especially when entering and leaving the bigger towns however, we do avoid them as much as possible. There may be some gravel tracks to avoid some of these roads.

Most of each cycling day may be spent cycling. People will be expected to ride at their own pace and often in loose groups, at around 10-15 mph on the flat, slower up hills, usually meeting up at cafes for lunch and refreshment breaks. You will be notified of the two or three available or recommended refreshment stops each day.

It is expected that you may want to stop for photographs, look at the view or explore some local object and this is okay. You are on holiday.

Inevitably, you might consider parts of the route hilly so you need to be fit to get the most out of this tour. It is essential to get out on your bike and do some longer rides before the tour starts. There may be steep descents too, so you should be able to negotiate these safely.

Please note it may not always be possible to follow the itinerary exactly due to road works or weather etc, as things do not always go as planned. In these circumstances, you will be advised of alternative arrangements.

As per my Biography, I will usually not ride at the front of the group but generally towards the back so I can support the slower riders, so you will need to be aware of the route and likely stopping places each day.

Lightweight clothing, suitable for a range of temperatures, is needed and possibly smarter, warmer clothing for the evenings.

Lightweight waterproofs and windproofs will be needed, please ensure you bring good, breathable waterproofs as we are riding in early spring. Sun cream, lip balm and sun glasses are recommended along with insect repellant and bite cream. My packing list is available on request - advisable if this is your first tour.

Mediterranean climate

Temperatures in April are likely to be between 18 and 25 degrees on average some rainfall can be expected though. When I reconnoitred the route, in April 2024, we have dry weather of up to 28 degrees. The weather is slightly more predictable than the UK but still variable and with increased temperature and possibility of severe storms.

Culture. In Italy it is frowned upon to visit churches with short shorts and or sleeveless tops. Please bring a lightweight garment to cover up with. Modern cycling shorts that are not too short are usually OK. Ladies who wear short shorts usually bring knee or full-length trousers for wearing off the bike or buy a cheap, lightweight wrap-around skirt.

A gpx of each day’s route and detailed route notes, will be provided before the tour.

Recommended paper maps are the TCI regional maps. More detailed Eurocart maps can often be found in local bookshops.

For UK nationals traveling abroad travel insurance is essential. Please check if your insurer has requirements for cyclists eg wearing a helmet or cycle touring.

Currently, Covid and Influenza vaccinations are recommended for participants of 75 years of age and over and those deemed medically vulnerable.

There are no recommended vaccinations or anti-malarial drugs recommended for Italy. However, it is useful,if your hepatitis and tetanus jabs are up to date.

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

UK citizens must hold a passport that is still valid for at least six months at the end of the tour.

Holders of non-UK passports are advised to check whether they require a visa.

Europe is moving to the ETIAS scheme where all UK citizens will need to apply for this. It is essentially a VISA waiver scheme. These will need to be applied for 30 days before travelling. https://travel-europe.europa.eu/index_en

Currently the scheme is not in operation, it is envisaged that it will be rolled out during the first half pf 2025. Keep an eye on the news.

The local currency is the Euros, most shops and cafes in Italy take cards, but some in the more rural areas may not. Please ensure you have sufficient cash.

Travel to the start and from the finish is not included in this holiday. Thus, it is very important that you note that neither your Tour Manager nor Bikexplore are responsible for you in any way until the appointed time at the designated meeting point. Should you fail to arrive at the appointed time for whatever reason, we will not be responsible for any additional expenses you may incur in order to meet up with the tour group. Before finalising travel arrangements, you should ensure that the tour is definitely going ahead. Should there be insufficient bookings or pandemic travel restrictions are re-imposed, we reserve the right to cancel the tour at any time. It is therefore recommended that you book fully flexible and refundable transport and accommodation or wait until you have been told the tour will go ahead. In the event of the tour being cancelled we will not be responsible for any losses incurred outside what you pay us.

There are a few airports in Puglia, Bari, which is the closest, there are also airports in Brindisi and Ancona. There are some trains along the coast, but it is in no way as accessible by public transport as other more developed areas of Europe. The start town is very easily accessible from Bari airport.

It may be possible to take your bike down at a cost, please talk to the tour manager.

Health – please check the current Foreign Office advice for Italy:

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

Italy is in Europe, but Britain is no longer in the EU. Your EHIC card is valid until its expiry date, but it cannot be renewed. Instead a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) has been introduced (see https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic/). However, at present Britain no longer has a reciprocal health agreement with Italy, though this might change before the start of the tour. Appropriate travel insurance is therefore mandatory; please check with your provider to ensure that they cover the revised conditions in Europe, and cover cycle touring. Although most travel insurance policies do not cover cancellation due to pandemic restrictions, the money you pay to us for the holiday is fully protected until we depart.

I am a keen cyclist, trained cycle instructor, ride leader and mechanic, able to support members of the group who require it. I have managed a number of tours for CTC Holidays and Tours and Bikexplore, and I have toured extensively in Europe and further afield. I speak Italian and have lived in Italy for a number of years. I reconnoitered the area in April 2024. For more information about my style of managing cycling holidays, please see my Bio.

Greg Woodford

Lyndale, Basingstoke Rd, Three Mile Cross, Reading RG7 1AS

07508 028457 gregorywoodford@gmail.com