At a glance
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Our group trips are a great chance to travel with others. We also recommend adding in a few extra nights tailor-made to ensure you build the perfect itinerary.
Embark on an unparalleled eight-day luxury cycling tour in the heart of Puglia, Italy, specially curated for the LGBTQ+ community.
This journey is a perfect fusion of exhilarating bike rides through breathtaking landscapes and deep cultural immersion. You’ll navigate through historic towns, lush vineyards, and along the mesmerizing coastline, all while savoring the finest Italian cuisine. You’ll be working up a sweat on your bike – so you can eat as much guilt-free Italian food as you like.
On the way, you’ll cycle along Roman roads, explore the vineyards, and visit a gay-owned and run agriturismo (farm-stay). Nights are spent in a beautifully restored medieval villa, offering a serene retreat after days filled with adventure.
You’ll visit Molfetta, Trani, and the increasingly popular city of Matera. It’s one of the most romantic destinations in Italy, and also one of the oldest cities in the world – people lived here well before recorded history began.
This trip is an ideal getaway for those passionate about cycling, cultural exploration, and gourmet experiences in a welcoming, inclusive environment. For a truly unforgettable experience that blends active travel with luxury and camaraderie, this meticulously planned itinerary awaits you.
More Information
The legal picture in Italy is more mixed than elsewhere in Western Europe. Civil unions have been legal since 2016 and provide most of the practical rights associated with marriage, including inheritance and hospital visitation, though Italy is one of the few Western European countries that hasn’t yet legalized full same-sex marriage. Anti-discrimination laws cover sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, education and services.
In practice, LGBTQ+ travelers will find the destinations on most luxury itineraries entirely comfortable. The cities, the lake regions, the coastlines and the major islands all welcome same-sex couples as standard. Italian luxury hospitality is unbothered, and the staff at the kind of hotels we book have been welcoming same-sex couples for decades.
Italy also has one of the most interesting LGBTQ+ cultural histories in the world. Michelangelo’s love poetry, Leonardo da Vinci’s biography, the writing of Pier Paolo Pasolini and the films of Luchino Visconti are part of how the country has thought about sexuality for centuries. The legal framework may lag behind the rest of Western Europe, but the cultural ease that comes from that history is real, and it’s what travelers notice on the ground.
Please ask us about dates
- Accommodation for seven nights in double occupancy at Villa Cappelli (limited single rooms upon request if available)
- All breakfasts, two lunches, and five dinners, including local wine or soft drinks for group dinners at the villa or in Terlizzi
- Local bicycling guide from Puglia
- Van support to get luggage (and tired riders) to destination
- Use of a bike (hybrids if available)
- Regional map and detailed route instructions for primary routes on biking days
- Transfer from designated flight into Bari on the first tour day and back to Bari on departure day
- Regional map and detailed route instructions for primary routes on biking days
- International Flights
- Travel insurance
- Transportation to and from Bari
- Two dinners and four lunches
- Gratuities for guides and host
In detail
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Don't forget that most of our itineraries can be totally customized. Our expert team will be able to talk you through all the options.
Day 1: Arrival
When you arrive at Bari airport a driver will meet you and transfer you to Villa Cappelli. It’s located on the Appian Way close to the Adriatic Sea.
Lunch will be served when you’ve checked into your room. You’ll be free to explore the area in the afternoon. A welcome meal will be served in the evening and you’ll get to know your fellow cyclists.
Day 2: Ruvo di Puglia Necropolis & Molfetta
Your cycling adventure begins. You’ll cycle through the countryside and visit the Jatta Museum and the necropolis of Ruvo di Puglia. At Molfetta, you can have a dip in the sea, if you so wish.
You’ll head to Giovinazzo after lunch and explore the seaport. Dinner at Terlizzi restaurant.
Day 3: Gravina
This morning you’ll visit the largely unvisited town, Gravina. It has a Roman bridge and a ravine with stunning views. This will be one of your longer rides so you’ll have to fortify yourself sufficiently at breakfast.
Day 4: The Holy Grail?
You’ll be cycling the UNESCO-World Heritage site, Castel del Monte. You may recognise it as it features on the back of the Euro penny. It was built in the 13th-century by Frederick II, the Swabian Emperor. The myth of the Holy Grail is one of the many legends associated with this castle.
Day 5: Polignano a Mare & Bari
Today you’ll have a break from cycling and head to Polignano a Mare, a seaside town. Explore its ancient streets and then you’ll be heading to Bari, the capital of Puglia. After lunch, you’ll head back to the villa.
For dinner, you’ll be having pizza from a wood-burning oven.
Day 6: Matera
This morning you’ll transfer to Matera, a mysterious city perched on an outcrop. Living conditions were so atrocious here in the middle of the last century the city was abandoned. It’s made quite a comeback. Now it’s very popular with hipsters and trendy people in general.
Day 7: Trani
On our last full day, you’ll visit the coastal city of Trani – yes, that’s its actual name! You’ll pass olive trees along the way and visit the city’s huge cathedral. You’ll have lunch in Trani and then a farewell dinner at the villa.
Day 8: Departure
Today you’ll bid farewell to your new friends and farewell to Puglia – until next time. You can extend your trip if you’d like a day of sightseeing in Rome before your departure.
More Information
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Don't forget that most of our itineraries can be totally customized. Our expert team will be able to talk you through all the options.
Tour Highlights
- Stay in a Medieval villa on the Appian Way
- Cycle through historic towns on the Adriatic
- Relax in the clothing optional villa and enjoy nightly cocktails
- Explore the Italian countryside
- Dine on classic Italian cuisine
Why book with us?
Personal Service
We want to ensure you have the best experience with us so we’ll keep working on your itinerary until perfect. You will have your own personal dedicated member of our team who will help build a trip that is bespoke to you.
Call our travel experts on +44 (0)20 7157 1570
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