The Land of Trulli
We were introduced to this corner of Italy by one of our Italian guides who lives in the region and has long boasted of its stunning scenery, ancient traditions and some of the best food in Italy. With the Adriatic as a back-drop, quiet roads to cycle, and fascinating sites including the enigmatic trulli in Alberobello we were easily convinced to create a trip. Beginning in Monopoli and finishing 7 days later in Otranto you’ll see the best of this region, all the while enjoying distinctive lodging and exquisite meals. Buon appetito!
Only Great Explorations:
- Small groups, extraordinary guides, and authentic experiences
- A ride you will never forget: from Otranto south along the coast to Santa Cesaria Terme
- Cooking course with an italian chef at a local trattoria
- Order off the menu at restaurants you won’t find in guidebooks
- Distinctive, charming hotels too small for larger groups
- Wine included at first and final night receptions and at sommeliere tasting in Otranto
- We design and operate our own trips so there are only good surprises
“Puglia is natural and wild, authentic in the true sense, rustic and traditional, friendly and safe. It is totally enchanting if these are the qualities you are searching for in a place” Written by a traveler who fell in love with Puglia, and stayed.
Trip Reviews
“Repeat trippers with GE! They scout out really interesting and scenic routes for cycling; accommodations are top notch as are their dining locations. The guides were great, friendly and had our safety and concerns at their forefront. They were able to adjust as circumstances presented and ensured that everyone’s expectations were met or exceeded. Full marks to them. We will ride again with GE!”
“I was very happy with the trip. We had some interesting and enjoyable side tours such as a museum, olive oil refinery and wine tasting event. The guides were flexible to the needs of all riders which makes cycling with Great Explorations an enjoyable experience. I like not having to worry about travel logistics because you can trust your guides to take care of your needs and ensure you have an enjoyable experience.”
“I loved the last day and the day in the upland nature reserve. Loved the historical hotels, with beautiful common rooms and courtyards. Loved breakfasts in Monopoli. Daily distances and level of difficulty were as expected. Van was available when I needed it.”
“This trip certainly met my expectations since I had not done a bike trip previously. Before embarking, I felt confident I would be impressed with the tour and I was not disappointed in the least. Lovely hotels. I enjoyed them all and appreciated the special features of each. Having at least one close or in a town was appreciated (La Terra in Ostuni), and the peace and quiet of the ones in the country side was also good. Il Palmeto (with the trullis) was especially unique. All meals were delicious but I especially enjoyed the final dinner at Masseria Bandino. All trip events were excellent and exceeded my expectations mostly due to Pietro’s knowledge and fabulous presentation. I very much enjoyed learning about local culture, history and farming practices. I downloaded the maps and the app easily but did not use either for route finding as Nicolas led our group of riders each day. Route was very good and I enjoyed the different terrain experienced each day. The ride was about right for me. I found it challenging enough but was able to keep up for the most part and appreciated the options given along the way. Excellent and very attentive van support by Bianca. I particularly appreciated that there were a few crowded areas which made it difficult for her to find us but she was always there with fresh water etc. Bike was great. We chose GE because we enjoyed and were attracted by Robbin’s presentation in Canmore last winter.”
“I loved riding my bike!!! And the variety of the terrains we rode through. Loved the Masserias. The two events I particularly enjoyed were the trullis and the archeological museum with the guide Pietro. I was fortunate that you allowed us to have a boat tour to visit the caves. All 4 of us had previously visited several caves in Europe, so this was new and enjoyable. The riding level and distances were just right for me. The van was always in the right place at the right time. Our guides tech support was excellent!”
“It was amazing, loved the whole trip. Puglia is beautiful and our route was fantastic. Bianca and Nico were the best, they worked well together, they were always up beat. My favourite was the first- Hotel Masseria Garrappa. I loved the setting, the style of hotel, my room, the beautiful garden eating area. Best meal at Masseria Garrappa. Pietro was amazing with the two tours, the museum and Trulli houses. We had a special trip the last day, we did a boat trip to look at Grotto rather than go in the caves. Maps were good. The riding options were great as were our guides who were so accommodating. Van & mechanical support were all excellent. We could not have asked for better.”
“Puglia was a beautiful place to cycle for this time of the year. Gabiele and Davide were outstanding- encouraging, supportive, and they made the entire trip simply amazing!. All accommodations were great. Loved the coffee stops along the way – it made the cycling more enjoyable.”
“Italian food was fabulous. Guides were great. Hotels were very nice. We loved the scenery.”
The tour guides provided a good mix of biking, interesting sites and good food.
It was just fabulous. I had a wonderful time. I had never been on a bike trip before but now I want to go on many more.
Great trip. Nice quiet roads and lots of riding and side trip.
Puglia was beautiful, as expected. Dinners, wine tasting, tour of Trullis, and cooking class were wonderful.
The guides were great and gave it their all!!! Their choices of locations to visit as well as restaurants were awesome. Fabulous way to experience a country!!
This was probably the best vacation I have ever had. Well planned with interesting activities besides the biking. Well done.
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