The Three Seas

7 Stages
Total distance: 600 km Total climb 8300 mts
85 km/day
1185 mts/day

This nine-day guided cycling tour traces a route across Southern Italy, travelling from Apulia’s inland plateaus to Calabria’s Tyrrhenian coast, thus touching the three main Italian seas: the Adriatic, the Ionian and the Tyrrhenian. The itinerary covers about 600 kilometres and 8,300 metres of total ascent, divided into seven cycling stages designed for riders with a medium level of experience.

The tour begins in Castellana Grotte, in the heart of Apulia, and concludes in Praia a Mare, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. Along the way, it traverses the regions of Apulia, Basilicata, and Calabria, linking together a series of landscapes that range from rural farmland to mountain passes and coastal plains.

The first part of the journey explores Apulia’s distinctive countryside, with its network of dry-stone walls, olive groves, and the conical trulli of the Itria Valley. Riders start with a loop from Castellana Grotte that includes Alberobello before heading west toward Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its cave dwellings, the Sassi.

From here, a circular route leads to the San Giuliano Lake Nature Reserve, a quiet area of open fields and low hills, before continuing toward the Ionian coast. At Metaponto, an ancient Greek colony, the archaeological remains of temples and theatres mark the transition from inland Apulia to coastal Basilicata.

The following stages lead inland once more, passing through Policoro, Rocca Imperiale, and Oriolo — a sequence of small towns that combine medieval architecture, agricultural traditions, and distinctive local products such as Altamura bread and Rocca Imperiale lemons.

The route then enters the southernmost portion of Basilicata and climbs into Pollino National Park, one of Italy’s largest protected areas. Here the scenery changes again, with forested slopes, deep valleys, and views across the Calabrian mountains. Stops in Civita and Morano Calabro allow time to explore historic centres that preserve both Arbëreshë and medieval heritage.

The final stage descends from Pollino toward the Tyrrhenian Sea, reaching Arcomagno Beach and ending at Praia a Mare. This closing section combines inland climbs with long downhill stretches and coastal views, providing a natural conclusion to the tour.

After a week on the road, cyclists can relax by the sea and reflect on the diversity of the route — a journey that connects three regions, many layers of history, and a cross-section of southern Italian landscapes. Transfers are arranged from Bari or Brindisi at the start and from Naples or Lamezia Terme at the end, completing a route that offers both challenge and cultural depth.

VyviGo, our International Tour Operator

Our friends at VyviGo will take care of all the operational aspects of the tour. They are members of Protected Trust Services, which means that your deposit is safe.

Guided tour, from €2400