Puglia Scooter Tour

TOUR AT A GLANCE – Puglia by Scooter Itinerary

Duration: 6 Days/5 Nights
Departures 2012: Sept 15 & Private departures. Contact us for details.
Departing from: Bari at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, Day 2
Tour finishes: Monopoli train station at noon on Day 6
Trip price for 5-Night itinerary : €1,800 per person based on double occupancy and minimum 4 people. (€2,000  2 – 3 pax).   Single supplement: €200. 

Click on the Currency Converter to see the price in your local currency. CD 290212

Hit the open road on your own scooter on this guided tour of Puglia (“Apulia” for the Brits), southern Italy’s hottest new tourist destination.  Your guide will lead you along quiet back roads amongst olive groves and vineyards to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Alberobello, where we spend two nights. Alberobello is famous for its conically shaped trullo houses, which are unique to the region and impart a fairytale feeling to the landscape. Our last two days are in the fantastic city of Matera, also a UNESCO World Heritage site.  Matera is cut in two by a spectacular ravine, creating cliffs that have been inhabited since prehistoric times. During the last thousand years the locals excavated their houses, chapels, and shops from the soft tufa rock. The result is fascinating and unique honeycomb of troglodyte  buildings.

And of course it wouldn’t be Italy without great food and wine. Puglia is home to some of Italy’s most interesting cuisine, from fresh seafood to the opulent array of antipasti prepared from local produce: such as roasted artichokes, fresh figs and almonds, savory vegetable pies, and the deliciously creamy burrata cheese.  What’s more, the hot southern sun and little-known indigenous grapes are being transformed by state of the art wine-making techniques into opulent and powerful, many now considered to be among some of the best in Italy.

NOTE: You must arrive at the start of the tour already a safe, competent rider. We are not a motorbike school. A motorcycle license is NOT required to drive a scooter up to 125cc in Italy. A valid car license is required.

Day 1 – Saturday: Independent arrival in Bari and check into the Hotel Boston. Formerly the domain of smugglers and brigands, Bari’s quaint and atmospheric historic center has been revitalized during the past ten years. Cafés, wine bars, and trattorias line the labyrinthine medieval streets, all of which eventually lead to the remarkable Romanesque architecture of the 12th-century Basilica di San Nicola. Depending on your arrival time, the afternoon and evening are open for sightseeing or just relaxing after your journey. Dine independently tonight in one of the many local restaurants. All meals and transfer to Bari on your own.
Hotel included. Dinner not included.

Day 2 – Sunday: Meet your guide this morning at 9:00 in the hotel lobby and then transfer by van to the countryside just outside of Monopoli where our scooters will be waiting. After a safety talk you will have time to get used to the scooter in a parking lot before heading out onto a very quiet road for more practice. When you feel comfortable on the scooter – and once we have assessed your ability to safely drive the scooter – we will head out to explore the beautiful countryside of Puglia. Our ride takes us through ancient olive groves and past whitewashed cottages to the charming village of Locorotondo for lunch. Afterwards a short ride takes us to neighboring Martina Franca. Here you have free time to search out some gelato and admire the Baroque architecture of this quaint town. Then we have a short ride to Alberobello where we check into the  Hotel Rampendula, located amongst the town’s trulli houses. Your bags will have already been delivered by van. After checking in you have some free time before reconvening for an aperitivo and then dinner at the Michelin-starred “Il Poeta Contadino.” This world famous restaurant was once named the best restaurant in Italy by Gault et Millau, and has received the Wine Spectator’s “Grand Award” for it wine cellar. Overnight Alberobello.
Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.

Day 3 – Monday: Today begins with a gently sloping downhill ride to Monopoli. We stop along the way to admire the view over a sea of olive trees that seem to wash up against the Adriatic. We take an ingenious side road to avoid traffic and ride right up to Monopoli’s imposing 16th century fortifications. We explore Monopoli by foot, but only after a mid-morning cappuccino! We hop back on our scooters to drop in on our friend Ettore, who welcomes us into his masseria (fortified farm), which has been in his family for centuries. Ettore will show us around his lovingly maintained property and take us on a visit of his olive mill. The mill’s huge, 19th-century olive presses stand as silent testament to the former function of this once important estate. We will then have lunch in the cobbled courtyard. Let your belt out a notch as Zia Victoria spoils us with wonderful home cooking. Our afternoon ride follows the coast road for about 12 kilometers before climbing back up to Alberobello. On our way we pass many whitewashed “masseria,” imposing fortified manor houses that are the legacy of centuries of danger when corsairs raided the Pugliese coast. Free time this afternoon to wander through Alberobello’s maze of trulli houses and cobbled streets and shop or simply enjoy a chilled glass of wine in the piazza. Speaking of wine, we will have an introductory wine tasting of the excellent regional wines of Puglia followed by dinner in a local trattoria. Overnight Alberobello. Hotel, breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 4 – Tuesday: After breakfast, we head southwest through vineyards and orchards to the village of Mottola where we will stop to enjoy a coffee and some local pastries. Then we have another hour’s ride to stunning Matera, where you will have free time in the afternoon to explore the ancient village and/or the new town’s shops. Matera is another UNESCO World Heritage site and is truly an unforgettable place. Up until the late 1950’s, many of Matera’s inhabitants lived in stone dwellings partially excavated from the rock face of the two steep ravines that slice through the city. The “Sassi” fell into ruin in the 1960’s when the city moved these “cave dwellers” into new government housing. Fortunately for us, however, the people from Matera began restoring the ancient village a decade ago and it is now a truly unique sight. Our hotel for the next two nights, the Hotel Basiliani, is a chic and modern re-interpretation on Matera’s traditional “Sassi” houses.  Indeed, the hotel has lovingly restored a complex of buildings to provide its guests with a unique experience. We’ll enjoy an aperitivo on the hotel terrace and watch the last rays of the sun play on the opposite wall of the gorge before walking to dinner. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.

Day 5 -Wednesday:This morning we have a guided visit of Matera, giving us a fascinating glimpse into the ancient peasant and Christian/pagan culture of the area. We can visit centuries’ old frescoed rock chapels and monasteries, as well as some of the previously inhabited cave-houses. We then set out for a ride that takes into the heart of the province of Basilicata, one of Italy’s most beautiful and least populated regions. Our route takes as across wide open plains to perched hilltop villages. You will get a glimpse of authentic Italy as we explore the rustic villages of Montescaglioso and Miglionico before returning to Matera. A fantastic dinner awaits us at the end of the day. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.

Day 6 – Thursday: We have a final morning of scooting as we return to the coast and the Monopoli train station to catch the 11:53 a.m. train to Bari, connecting to Rome (arriving at 17:20). Breakfast and transfer to train station included.

The Hotels:
The  Hotel Boston in Bari is a convenient three star business style hotel with a great location in the heart of the city. It is close to the train station, the main shopping street, and the old port. We are there for one night. The Hotel Rampendula, is a comfortable hotel with swimming pool located amongst Alberobello’s historic trulli zone.  The Hotel Basiliani in Matera is a unique hotel situated amongst the historic “Sassi” district with memorable rooms and unforgettable views.

IMPORTANT | QUALIFICATIONS
You must be over 18 years of age, have a valid driver’s license and an INTERNATIONAL driver’s license to drive a scooter. Of course anyone can be a passenger. Previous experience on a scooter or motorbike is advantageous and highly advised. If you have not ridden one before then you should do so before you do this trip.  Rent a scooter locally, and learn how to ride it before coming on the trip. U.K. residents can try Vroom by the Sea, a scooter rental in Brighton

WE ARE NOT HERE TO TEACH YOU HOW TO DRIVE A SCOOTER. YOU MUST ARRIVE AT THE START OF THE TRIP ALREADY A COMPETENT RIDER. In the past we have been amazed by people who arrive to drive a scooter on public roads who have never ridden a scooter before and who are uncoordinated, un-athletic, and who will clearly never be able to drive a scooter safely. Please do not be one of these people. Our scooters are easy to ride, but a good sense of balance and coordination is required. The scooters have a 125cc engine and an all-steel frame. They are lighter and easier to drive than a larger motorbike but they are also heavier than a moped and other smaller 50cc scooters (they weigh about 110 kg, or about 235 lbs).

You will be driving a motor vehicle on public roads. You are responsible for your safety but also for the safety of other motorists, bikers and pedestrians. You must be able to control the scooter and drive it competently. If we feel your driving skills put you and others at risk we reserve the right to take the scooter away from you. In the event that you cannot ride as a passenger on the back of someone else, then we will help to arrange an alternative mode of transport, either taxi, or rental car, but at your expense.

Finally, age may be a factor. We have found that most people who are over 50 and who have never ridden a scooter or motorbike have problems riding the scooter. If you have not used the “motorbike” part of your brain before the age of 50, then it may be too late to learn. We don’t know why this is, but such are the mysteries of Life, Zen, and the Art of Scooter maintenance. So if in doubt, please take the time to try a scooter at home. Find a big vacant parking lot, put on a helmet, read our accompanying document about motorcycle safety, and give it a whirl. If you are happy with your abilities and you feel safe, then you are ready to ride one of our scooters.

The bottom line is that we just want everyone to have a safe and happy holiday!

See all of our tours by DESTINATION & ACTIVITY
See all of our tours by date: TOUR CALENDAR 2012

Note: Everyone who drives one of our scooters needs to have an international driver’s license (or EU driver’s license). This is very easy to get! Please click here for more information.

Useful Links -
Puglia tourism: general introductory site on the region of “Apulia,” including links to weather forecast, train schedules, and local events
Bari: basic information and history on the city by Wikipedia
Trulli houses: short site on these traditional houses
Matera tourism: basic Wikipedia site on this amazing city
Basilicata Province: website for the province of Matera, lots of information
UNESCO World Heritage Site: check out all the wonderful places in Italy!
Vroom with a View: check out Peter Moore’s lively account of his solo trip from Milan to Rome on a vintage Vespa™ scooter. Cool website with lots of pictures & info.
Vroom by the Sea: hone your two-wheeling skills in the U.K. and get yourself some cool new gear at this scooter rental company in Brighton.

General Information

Trip cost includes: all accommodations (1 night Bari, 2 nights Alberobello, 2 nights Matera Locanda San Martino or similar); 5 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 4 dinners; *one 125 CC scooter; related third party liability insurance as required by Italian law (but not insurance covering damage to the scooter caused by you, which is available for €15 per day); petrol/gas; bilingual guide; all van transfers and luggage transfers from pick-up in Bari to drop-off at Monopoli train station as per itinerary. Getting there (this will redirect you to our “Getting to the Trip” page) Booking: e-mail us to receive a booking contract (or use the “Reservation” page). Insurance: We highly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance. We recommend “Travel Guard” to our American clients, just click on the logo below, while Canadian residents can click here. Australian, New Zealander, and British travelers, please consult your insurance brokers. We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime!