Puglia is a region that stretches along the coast for about 860 km, with sandy and rocky shores. This stunning corner of Southern Italy is renowned not only for its sea but also for its Inland Areas, especially its two National Parks: the Alta Murgia National Park and the Gargano National Park.
These protected areas are perfect for exploration, whether on foot or, especially, on a bicycle.
The best way to immerse yourself in nature, far from asphalt and cars, is by using a mountain bike, either muscular if you want to challenge your leg strength, or E-Bike if you prefer to forget about uphill climbs and simply enjoy the moving beauty of the landscape.
So, if you’ve decided to spend your vacation in Puglia, and you’re an active individual who loves to explore your travel destination, we suggest the 9 most beautiful mountain bike routes in Puglia.
1. Mountain Biking Around Castel del Monte, the Most Visited UNESCO Site in Puglia (Alta Murgia National Park)
A circular route of about 20 km that revolves around the hill on which Emperor Frederick II built one of Italy’s most beautiful and enigmatic castles. Since 1996, Castel del Monte has been a UNESCO World Heritage site and the most visited monumental site in Puglia. By choosing to cycle this route, you can discover the vast natural biodiversity of the Park and visit the famous octagonal-shaped castle.
Route Length: Approximately 20 km Difficulty Level: EASY (if using an E-Bike); MODERATE (if using a regular bike)
Difficulty Level: EASY (if using an E-Bike), MODERATE (if using a regular bike) Route Length: Approximately 20 km Travel Time: 3 hours (including breaks)
Travel Time: 3 hours (including breaks)
Discover our guided bike tour on this route by clicking here: [TOUR LINK]
2. Mountain Biking from Gravina to Pulicchio di Gravina, at the Border between Puglia and Basilicata (Alta Murgia National Park)
In the southern area of the National Park lies the beautiful city of Gravina in Puglia, right on the edge of a gorge where the river of the same name flows. Starting and ending here, this fabulous circular route of about 40 km allows you to discover the second largest karst sinkhole in the National Park: Pulicchio. Half of the route runs along the edge of the high plateau of Murge, offering breathtaking views that allow your gaze to stretch far without obstacles, all the way to the Lucanian Apennines. To descend back towards Gravina, you’ll cycle downhill through a wooded canyon, and we assure you that you’ll dream of doing it all over again!
Route Length: Approximately 40 km
Difficulty Level: MODERATE (if using an E-Bike), HIGH (if using a regular bike)
Travel Time: 4 hours (including breaks)
Discover our guided bike tour on this route by clicking here: [TOUR LINK]
3. Riding to Castello del Garagnone or the Bauxite Mines, the Hidden Puglia You Didn’t Expect (Alta Murgia National Park)
Between the territories of the small villages of Poggiorsini and Spinazzola, you have the opportunity to ride along two very beautiful scenic routes suitable for cyclists of all levels, including the youngest ones.
3-1) The first route winds at the base of the Costone Murgiano (Murgia Cliff), this enormous rock step marking the transition from the High Plateau of Murge to the Bradano Valley that you’ll be cycling through.
The main point of interest on this route is Castello del Garagnone, also known as the “Invisible Castle” because its ruins blend perfectly with the surrounding rocky landscape. It’s ideal to reach the foot of the hill where the castle stands, leave the bikes, and ascend on foot along the short and clearly marked trail (15 minutes) to enjoy the breathtaking panorama.
Route Length: Approximately 15 km Travel Time: 2 and a half hours (including breaks)
Difficulty Level: EASY (both if using an E-Bike or a regular bike)
Route Length: Approximately 15 km Difficulty Level: EASY (both if using an E-Bike or a regular bike) Travel Time: 3 hours (including the climb on foot to the Castle)
Discover our guided bike tour on this route by clicking here: [TOUR LINK]
3-2) The second route will instead lead you to discover the stunning Bauxite Mines, abandoned and left to nature since the 1970s, now completely restored to their natural state. In Spring, the red of the bauxite blends with the green and the dozens of shades of the Park’s blossoms, while in summer, the yellow of the dry steppe vegetation predominates, and at sunset, this place becomes a daydream come true.
Route Length: Approximately 15 km Travel Time: 2 and a half hours (including breaks)
Difficulty Level: EASY (both if using an E-Bike or a regular bike)
Travel Time: 2 and a half hours (including breaks)
Discover our guided bike tour on this route by clicking here: [TOUR LINK]
4. Mountain Biking to Pulo di Altamura, the Largest Sinkhole in Puglia (Alta Murgia National Park)
A ride to discover the largest sinkhole in the National Park and one of the largest in Southern Italy. It resembles a huge crater caused by a meteorite impact, but it’s not that at all; rather, it’s water that, over thousands of years, has carved the rock, creating this spectacular surface karstic phenomenon. A circular route of about 20 km with a slight elevation change, nothing too demanding; you just need to be a bit athletic or choose to cycle with an e-bike.
Not far from Pulo, you can also decide to visit:
- Lamalunga where the Visitor Center “Man of Altamura” is located, because in a speleological cave in this area, the complete skeleton of one of the oldest men in the world was found, affectionately called “Ciccillo” by the locals. It’s a Homo neanderthalensis that lived between 180,000 and 130,000 years ago.
- La Fattoria della Mandorla (the Almond Farm), is a beautiful place immersed in nature and simultaneously a world-class production center for “almond products”. Many products have been invented by this company, such as the unique and inimitable vegan cheeses made from almonds… try it to believe it!
Route Length: Approximately 20 km Difficulty Level: EASY (if using an E-Bike); MODERATE (if using a regular bike) Travel Time: 3 hours (including breaks)
Difficulty Level: EASY (if using an E-Bike); MODERATE (if using a regular bike)
Travel Time: 3 hours (including breaks)
Discover our guided bike tours at Pulo di Altamura by clicking here: [TOUR LINK]
5. Riding in the Scoparella Forest (Alta Murgia National Park)
A circular route of approximately 20 km immersed in the most beautiful oak forest of Alta Murgia.
Another enchanting landscape that this Park offers, with ancient sheep farms (the famous “Jazzi”) hidden among centuries-old trees. You will cross part of the famous “Tratturello Regio,” one of the “long green roads” used by shepherds from neighboring mountainous regions to bring their flocks to the warmer Puglia for the winter season.
Route Length: Approximately 20 km Difficulty Level: EASY (if using an E-Bike); MODERATE (if using a regular bike)
Difficulty Level: EASY (if using an E-Bike); MODERATE (if using a regular bike) Route Length: Approximately 20 km
Travel Time: 3 hours (including breaks)
Request a guided tour on this route by clicking here: [TOUR LINK]
6. Mountain Biking in the Foresta Umbra (Gargano National Park)
This circular route of about 20 km is entirely immersed in the unique, vast beech forest of Puglia. Here, it’s cool even in the height of summer. So, for those spending their holidays in one of the sunny small towns along the Gargano coast (Vieste, Peschici, Rodi, Mattinata), a visit to this dense, shady forest is a must!
Route Length: Approximately 20 km Difficulty Level: EASY (if using an E-Bike); MODERATE (if using a regular bike)
Difficulty Level: EASY (if using an E-Bike); MODERATE (if using a regular bike)
Travel Time: 3 hours (including breaks)
Ask a guided bike tour on this route by clicking here: [CONTACT]
7. Mountain Biking to the Canyon of Romandato (Gargano National Park)
The starting point for this circular route is always from the center of the Foresta Umbra. However, in this case, the path descends steeply into a spectacular canyon carved by the now dry Torrente Romandato. You can therefore ride along the bed of the now vanished watercourse, with enormous vertical walls of staggering beauty.
It should be noted, however, that this is a technical route, not suitable for everyone. However, if you’re a mountain biking enthusiast, you couldn’t ask for anything better! For half of the route, you’ll be cycling downhill on dirt trails, and for the other half, uphill on asphalt with stops in the small towns of Ischitella and Vico del Gargano.
Route Length: Approximately 30 km Travel Time: 5 hours (including breaks)
Difficulty Level: MODERATE (if using an E-Bike); HIGH (if using a regular bike) Route Length: Approximately 30 km Travel Time: 5 hours (including breaks)
Travel Time: 5 hours (including breaks)
Request a guided tour by clicking here: [CONTACT]
8. Ride from Vieste to Foresta Umbra and Back in a Thrilling Descent! (Gargano National Park)
A loop itinerary starting and ending in the coastal village of Vieste.
The outbound leg is entirely on asphalt, followed by a thrilling descent on dirt trails, allowing you to explore corners of the Park that are otherwise inaccessible. In this case as well, we’re talking about a route suitable only for those highly skilled in using a mountain bike. Of course, the initial ascent can be tackled by everyone using an E-Bike. However, the return on dirt trails features a terrain that demands skill and experience.
Route Length: Approximately 30 km Travel Time: 5 hours (including breaks)
Difficulty Level: MODERATE (if using an E-Bike); HIGH (if using a regular bike)
Travel Time: 5 hours (including breaks)
Request a guided tour on this route by clicking here: [CONTACT]
9. Ring Route on Mountain Bike from Alberobello to Locorotondo along the Via dell’Acqua (Valle d’Itria)
If during your stay in Puglia, you are far from Gargano and Alta Murgia, we suggest a route of about 30 km, half on dirt trails and half on asphalt, straddling Valle d’Itria and the Canale di Pirro.
In the first part, you will ride on the Canale dell’Acquedotto Pugliese (The route of the Apulian Aqueduct), an unpaved service road that runs directly above the tunnel where the water flows from the taps of Puglia’s houses. In the near future, this road will become a long cycle path that, starting from the Campania Region, will cross the Basilicata Region, and then the entire Region’s interior, until reaching the sea at Santa Maria di Leuca, the southernmost city in our Region.
For now, the stretch of Canale dell’Acquedotto that we suggest you ride is still wild, with Mediterranean scrub vegetation occasionally encroaching on the road, narrowing it down to a single track. At the halfway point, before returning to Alberobello along an asphalted cycle path, you will stop in the beautiful circular village of Locorotondo, famous for its “Cummerse,” typical houses with sloping roofs…
Difficulty Level: EASY (if using an E-Bike); MODERATE (if using a regular bike)
Travel Time: 5 hours (including breaks)
Request a guided tour on this route by clicking here: [CONTACT]
