Italy Coast to Coast by E-bike: Puglia to Amalfi Coast (Self-Launched)
8 days · Italy
Exodus charges £2,450
No-markup version: ~£1,290 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Exodus's 8-day e-bike crossing of southern Italy, from Monopoli on the Adriatic to Sorrento on the Tyrrhenian. You'll ride roughly 455km through Puglia, Basilicata and Campania at your own pace, staying in guesthouses, B&Bs and one agriturismo, and hire your own e-bike locally. Highlights include Matera's cave-dwelling Sassi, the mountain village of Castelmezzano, the Greek temples of Paestum and the Amalfi Coast ride via Amalfi and Positano. Costs are approximate backpacker/mid-range estimates in GBP per person.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Monopoli
Monopoli
Fly into Bari (BRI) and take the Ferrovie Sud-Est or Trenitalia regional train to Monopoli (~45-60 min, £4-6). Check into a B&B or guesthouse in the old town, then spend the afternoon wandering the narrow whitewashed alleys and the harbour along the Adriatic. Pick up your pre-booked e-bike this evening or first thing tomorrow from a local hire shop. Optional day trip tomorrow if you arrive early: Alberobello's trulli or Ostuni the White City (both reachable by train, ~£4). Eat a long dinner of orecchiette and grilled fish.
🚌Bari airport to Monopoli regional train, £4-6
🛏Budget B&B/guesthouse in Monopoli old town (e.g. family-run bed & breakfast, £50-70 double)
- →Old town and harbour stroll
- →Collect rented e-bike or confirm collection
- →Optional: Alberobello trulli day trip by train
Ride Monopoli to Matera
Matera
Roll out of the coast and inland onto the rolling Apulian plateau, past fennel fields and ancient olive groves, following quiet lanes and a stretch of the old Appian Way. Stop in one of the villages (e.g. Gioia del Colle area) for coffee and a panino. Arrive in Matera mid-afternoon and check into a guesthouse. Spend the late afternoon in the UNESCO Sassi district exploring the cave dwellings, then grab an aperitivo in Piazza Vittorio Veneto. ~85km. If you'd rather not ride, trains run Bari-Matera via the Ferrovie Appulo Lucane (~£5).
🚌E-bike (self-ride)
🛏Guesthouse/B&B in Matera (Sassi or nearby, £55-80 double)
- →Self-navigated 85km ride
- →Matera Sassi cave district walk
- →Aperitivo in the main square
Matera to Castelmezzano
Castelmezzano
The longest day: head out through fields toward the Lake of San Giuliano, then follow an old ridge road past historic villages including Tricarico. Approach the Lucan Dolomites and take the final steep, spectacular climb up to Castelmezzano, a village clinging to a sandstone pinnacle. Use the e-bike assist (or push) for the last ascent; a taxi can be arranged from the valley if needed. Walk up to the Norman steps for sunset views before dinner at your hotel restaurant. ~97km.
🚌E-bike (self-ride)
🛏Small hotel/guesthouse in Castelmezzano (£60-85 double)
- →97km ride through Basilicata
- →Castelmezzano village and Norman steps walk
- →Sunset viewpoint
Castelmezzano to Padula
Padula
Head west, crossing the Basilicata Apennines National Park through sparsely populated mountain scenery and historic villages. A final climb takes you over the ridge into Campania, then a long descent into the fertile Vallo di Diano high plain. Settle into Padula, a handsome medieval village. ~82km. Resupply with water and snacks in the villages as services are sparse.
🚌E-bike (self-ride)
🛏Guesthouse/B&B in Padula (£50-75 double)
- →82km ride into Campania
- →Apennine mountain scenery
- →Evening wander in Padula
Padula to Cilento (Corleto Sant'Angelo)
Corleto Sant'Angelo / Cilento
Start the day with a morning visit to the Certosa di Padula, Italy's largest monastery (UNESCO). Then a shorter ride of ~61km: mostly flat through the Vallo di Diano, up and over the Sentinella pass (932m) and down into Cilento National Park. Stay at a farmhouse agriturismo with a pool. Optional late-afternoon pedal to the abandoned ghost village of Roscigno. Dinner of local produce at the agriturismo.
🚌E-bike (self-ride)
🛏Agriturismo in Cilento, pool and home-cooked dinner (£70-95 double, half-board)
- →Certosa di Padula monastery visit (~£6)
- →61km ride over Sentinella pass
- →Optional Roscigno ghost town ride
- →Pool time at agriturismo
Cilento to Paestum
Paestum
Ride beneath the Alburni Mountains, descending toward the Tyrrhenian Sea. Arrive at Paestum early afternoon and check into a hotel by the archaeological site. Visit the superbly preserved Greek temples of Hera and Athena (tickets ~£10-12). Late-afternoon swim in the sea, just a few minutes by bike, or relax by the pool.
🚌E-bike (self-ride)
🛏Hotel near Paestum (e.g. simple seaside hotel, £65-90 double)
- →70km ride to the coast
- →Paestum Greek temples archaeological site (~£10-12)
- →Beach swim
Train to Salerno, ride the Amalfi Coast to Sorrento
Amalfi Coast / Sorrento
Take an early regional train from Paestum to Salerno (~40 min, ~£5). From Salerno, ride the legendary Amalfi Coast road: climb briefly to Vietri, follow the undulating coast to Cetara, up to the Capo d'Orso viewpoint, then into Amalfi for a stroll. Continue past Positano, cross the ridge and descend to Sorrento. ~60km. Note the coast road is busy in high season — start early, ride single file and take the buses' pace into account. End with a swim off Sorrento and a celebratory dinner.
🚌Regional train Paestum-Salerno ~£5; e-bike (self-ride)
🛏B&B/guesthouse in Sorrento (£70-100 double)
- →Train Paestum to Salerno
- →60km Amalfi Coast ride via Amalfi and Positano
- →Swim in the Bay of Naples
- →Evening in Sorrento historic centre
Depart Sorrento
Sorrento
Trip ends after breakfast. Return your e-bike if not already done. From Sorrento, take the Circumvesuviana train to Naples (~£4-5, ~1h) for flights, or extend your stay to explore Capri, Pompeii or the Path of the Gods. Optional extra nights easily booked independently.
🚌Circumvesuviana train Sorrento-Naples ~£4-5
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →Circumvesuviana train to Naples
- →Optional Pompeii/Capri extension
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,290 | £2,450 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,160 per person (47%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,290
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Italy Coast to Coast by E-bike: Puglia to Amalfi Coast (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,290 per person for 8 days in Italy. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £2,450 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,290 — a saving of roughly £1,160 (47%) per person.
How long is the Italy trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Italy.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, foodie trip through Italy, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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