#GarganoBike 
@garganobikehubTransgargano Hike.
Walking the Sun Mountain
Transgargano is the walking experience for discovering the Gargano promontory in Puglia, a national park surrounded by deep blue sea, and its secret hinterland.
HIGHLIGHTS
The mild weather on the Adriatic coast
Like the Amalfi Coast or the Garda Lake, but not so busy …
Sea and Mountain = relax and adventure
How does it work?
Transgargano is not a holiday, it’s a trekking through a wild paradise.
There are three versions. A short-break one (6 days), a longer one (1 week) and the grand traverse from 10 days to 2 weeks. The itinerary is a round tour (from A to B, from B to C), which means: every day you will arrive in a different village, and the day after you’ll leave your accommodation and set for a new destination.
Transgargano is available in three styles: A guided tour, in a group with a guide, or a self-guided one, with luggage transport, GPS routing + roadbook, phone assistance and – of course – a welcome meeting with our staff. Also, we offer an unsupported version, in which you will be completely autonomous, GPS route + roadbook with the English description of all the attractions along the route, discount vouchers on affiliated shops, entrance tickets or accommodations and restaurants.
Programme
1. DAY: ARRIVAL
Check-in at the accommodation, welcome meeting with our staff.
2. DAY: FROM MATTINATA TO VALICO DEL LUPO (20 km, 800 meters ascent)
Possibility of free transfer at the beginning, to shorten the daily section’s length.
Scients of Mediterranean maquis, breathtaking panoramas on the Adriatic Sea and challenging ups and downs. Mattinata will pack you with its dramatic coast and views where the green of the Aleppo pines and oaks woods merges into the deep blue sea. But today it’s also the time to discover the inland of Gargano. From the coast, you go all uphill and finally reach the high pastures of the Gargano, where the podolic cow is bred, This animal is a landmark of Gargano, it’s a typical nomad cow producing the local cheese of Puglia and all of southern Italy, caciocavallo podolico.
Accommodation in a masseria Agriturismo (typical farmhouse).
3. DAY: FROM VALICO DEL LUPO TO VIESTE (12 km, mostly downhill)
After an energizing breakfast, you will enter the realm the realm of the olive groves. The Olive tree is the symbol of Apulia region, and Vieste is a “città dell’olio”. You will ride past sandy beaches, cliffs and bays, and finally reach the gorgeous city center of Vieste located at the point of a long cliff diving into the sea.
Your accommodation will be in Vieste.
4. DAY: VIESTE TO FORESTA UMBRA (15 km, 800 meter ascent)
Possibility of free transfer at the beginning, to shorten the daily section’s length.
Now, you’re ready to understand why the Gargano National Park in Puglia is famous as the Sun Mountain. Today you will trek through the green heart of the Gargano National Park, the Foresta Umbra (800 meters asl), whose beechwood was declared a few years ago UNESCO site for its unique Alpine environment in a Mediterranean location. Umbra means shade, this forest is an absolutely refreshing place and you won’t want to leave anymore.
Accommodation in the middle of the forest.
5. DAY: FORESTA UMBRA TO MONTE SANT’ANGELO (200 km, 400 meter ascent)
Possibility of free transfer at the beginning, to shorten the daily section’s length.
Today you’ll ride on the way of the Two Unesco sites of Monte Sant’Angelo: from the Man and Biosphere reserve Foresta Umbra to the Holy Cave of Saint Michael: from the wildest Gargano to the Sacred shrine, from pagan legends to the triumph of spirituality.
Accommodation in Monte Sant’Angelo (843 meters asl)
6. DAY: DEPARTURE
End of services after breakfast and departure
This extensions starts with first day off, usually in Vieste the 4th day (but you can do it the day after in the forest by slightly mosdiying the following programme))
The first 3 days are the same as the basis programme.
4. FREE
Today you have a free day in Vieste. You can relax at the beach or go for a boat excursions to the Isole Tremiti.
5. VIESTE TO FORESTA UMBRA
6. FORESTA UMBRA TO MONTE
7. MONTE TO MATTINATA
8. DEPARTURE
PESCHICI
Possibility of free transfer at the beginning, to shorten the daily section’s lenght.
Today you’re gonna hit the trail dei Trabucchi. Don’t you know what a Trabucco is? We’ll tell you the story and let you meet a living trabucco-master.
Accommodation in Peschici.
6. PESCHICI TO FORESTA UMBRA (15 km, 800 meter ascent)
The day we’ll begin with a transfer by coach to the city of Rodi Garganico, but you will enjoy the landscape even by the windows of the bus.
Now, you’re ready to understand why the Gargano National Park in Puglia is famous as the Sun Mountain. Today you will trek through the green heart of the Gargano National Park, the Foresta Umbra, whose beechwood was declared a few years ago UNESCO site for its unique Alpine environment in a Mediterranean location. Umbra means shade, this forest is an absolutely refreshing place and you won’t want to leave anymore.
Possibility of free transfer at the beginning, to shorten the daily section’s length.
Accommodation in the middle of the forest.
7. DAY: FORESTA UMBRA TO MONTE SANT’ANGELO (20 km)
Transfer possible.
8. DEPARTURE
End of services after breakfast and departure
-
1. DAY: ARRIVAL
Check-in at the accommodation, welcome meeting with our staff.
2. DAY: FROM MATTINATA TO VALICO DEL LUPO (20 km, 800 meters ascent)
Possibility of free transfer at the beginning, to shorten the daily section’s length.
Scients of Mediterranean maquis, breathtaking panoramas on the Adriatic Sea and challenging ups and downs. Mattinata will pack you with its dramatic coast and views where the green of the Aleppo pines and oaks woods merges into the deep blue sea. But today it’s also the time to discover the inland of Gargano. From the coast, you go all uphill and finally reach the high pastures of the Gargano, where the podolic cow is bred, This animal is a landmark of Gargano, it’s a typical nomad cow producing the local cheese of Puglia and all of southern Italy, caciocavallo podolico.
Accommodation in a masseria Agriturismo (typical farmhouse).
3. DAY: FROM VALICO DEL LUPO TO VIESTE (12 km, mostly downhill)
After an energizing breakfast, you will enter the realm the realm of the olive groves. The Olive tree is the symbol of Apulia region, and Vieste is a “città dell’olio”. You will ride past sandy beaches, cliffs and bays, and finally reach the gorgeous city center of Vieste located at the point of a long cliff diving into the sea.
Your accommodation will be in Vieste.
4. VIESTE TO PESCHICI
- 5.RODI- TO VICO
-
6. VICO TO FORESTA UMBRA
7. UMBRA TO MONTE
8. DEPARTURE
Accommodation
We selected a full range of accommodation structures. 4-star hotels, agriturismi, residence or family-led b&b. By the sea, in the countryside, in the historical center or in the heart of the forest. Here just some examples:
Agriturismo Fara del Falco
A residence deep in the countryside of Vieste, a stone’s throw from both the beach and the Foresta Umbra.
VILLA SIMONE
A modern villa with swimming pool ideal for small groups, surrounded by the quietness of an olive grove and the sea always in sight just few step away.
LE CASETTE NEL RIONE
Lovely typical traditional flats with kitchen and panoramic position in the historical center of the UNESCO town of Monte Sant’Angelo, ideally for 2, 3 or 4 persons.
ELDA HOTEL
4-star hotel with classy restaurant in the middle of the Foresta Umbra, perfect for a full retreat in the nature.
Price
Self-guided
Transgargano Hike 6 days
SHORT VERSIONTransgargano Hike 8 Days
LONG VERSIONTransgargano Hike 10 days
GRAND TOURAll self-guided solutions include phone assistance and the briefing meeting with the staff.
- tourist tax (about € 10-15)
- everything else not expressly mentioned in “Included”
Seasonal supplements > middle season (July): + %33, high season (August): + %50
or/
Single room supplement > low season: +%33, middle season (July): + %50, high season (August): + %66
For families with children. Or for fellow teammates and groups (>5).
Unsupported
Transgargano UNSUPPORTED
6 to 10 daysThe unsupported version include phone assistance. Our van stays at your disposal if you have any problem at a reduced price.
Photogallery
More info
The main airport in the north of Puglia is Foggia (FOG), but this serves almost only national destinations, except the flight from Munich (MUC, Germany) operated by Lumiwings from the end of May to the beginning of September.
The main airport in Puglia is Bari (120 km south of Foggia). Once you land in Bari, to continue towards the north of the Region you can choose the train or – during the tourist season – the bus, which is by far the best option. You will spend about € 30/40 per person in total for the two return trips.
>>> As we were saying, from the beginning of May to mid-October, Puglia Airbus (Puglia East to Reach) is operational: a fast bus that directly connects Gargano and the Bar Airport with four round trips per day (morning, midday, afternoon and night): for example, the bus that leaves from Bari airport stops at Manfredonia-Monte Sant’Angelo (Leclerc) after 1 hour and 40 minutes of travel, at Mattinata in 2 hours, at Vieste in 2 hours and 50 minutes, at Peschici-Vico del Gargano (Calenelle) in 3 and a half hours. Not bad? You won’t waste any more time taking the shuttle from Bari airport to Bari station and, above all, without changing from one means of transport to another.
>>> Bari Centrale train station is connected to Bari Airport by a Ferrotramviaria train (www.ferrovienordbarese.it) or by AMTAB bus (line 16): the latter costs €1 and takes about 45 minutes and passes every half hour. Afterwards, you will have to continue with a regional or Intercity train from Bari to Foggia (www.trenitalia.com). From Foggia you will continue by bus with Ferrovie del Gargano or SITA to Manfredonia, Monte Sant’Angelo or Vieste (www.cotrap.it).
Bike transport is permitted on most trains, unlike buses.
Don’t worry: if you have booked a bike rental or a tour with us, we will little by little provide you with all the information via WhatsApp.
Remember, however, that we can organize a private transfer for you: ask us for a quote!
If outdoor activities are your passion, then you’re in the right place. You can climb the cliffs, you can surf or you can dive into the sea, you can attend yoga lessons in the nature o practice trail running or orienteering. Take a look at this post.
Our area offers a rich program of cultural, artistic and historical events.
Mattinata organizes Fextra, the fest of extra virgin olive oil during the harvest (by the end of October) and the Orchidays festival during the blooming of wild orchids by the end of April (Gargano National Park has a real record for the number of different spontaneous orchids species).
Important cultural festivals also take place in Monte Sant’Angelo: such as the traditional and folk music event called Raduno dei Suonatori di Tarantella (July). Michael is a festival dedicated to heritage and spirituality (May) while Monde is a Cinema Festival (September).
As mentioned, we suggest you take it easy and enjoy at least a free day to deepen the knowledge of the place: for instance, you can visit the National Museum in Manfredonia, go for a boat excursion to the Tremiti Islands or simply go to the beach.
Still have blank days to spend in Apulia?
Our tip is to keep a couple of days free, as soon as you land in our region or before departing. The old city Bari is a wonderful medieval town, and Bari is as well easily connected by train to Matera (the Unesco site ‘I Sassi di Matera’ is stunning) and to Valle d’Itria, the valley with the city of Alberobello and the trulli. Both Matera and Alberobello are ideally destination of a one day excursion.
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