Highlights of Puglia

BM-36105

5.0Based on

8 days

“

We thoroughly enjoyed our Puglia tour. Fabio was a wonderful guide. He was very knowledgeable, humorous, and kind. Matera was an unexpected highlight for me. The hotels in Matera and Alberobello were outstanding- a great mix of historic charm and quiet elegance. The hotel in Lecce could use some updating. Our first room was extremely dark and dingy. We requested a room change- even offering to pay a little more- but no need as Fabio and the hotel staff were very gracious to accommodate our request. The itinerary was a perfect blend of guided tours and individual time to explore independently. We appreciated contributing to a group kitty from the start and not having to worry about daily trips for the city guides and drivers. I highly recommend joining the group dinners as Fabio chose amazing local restaurants that we would not have found on our own. This tour was a great value for the experience we received!

Julie | Traveled in October

5 - Excellent

Carbon neutral

8 daysDuration

Small Group TourUsually 8-12 participants

16 peopleMaximum group size

16 - 99 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Easy

Light physical activity suitable for most people with average fitness levels.

Starts

Ends

Bari, Italy

Lecce, Italy

Select Date

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Highlights

Matera - Discover the fascinating UNESCO-listed ancient troglodyte Sassi quarter in Basilicata. Alberobello - Explore the beehive-shaped trulli houses unique to Puglia and sample local wine. Lecce - Visit the 'Florence of the South' to see the Baroque and the magnificent cathedral square.

Itinerary

With more olive trees than people, the 'heel' of Italy is as relaxed as it is sun-drenched. Spend a week exploring the highlights of Puglia, from the cave dwellings of Matera to the Baroque architecture of Lecce. Our itinerary combines the perfect balance of culture, food and the Adriatic coast.

day 1Join trip in Bari

Our tour starts today in the Adriatic port city of Bari. The old town area of Bari Vecchia is located next to the harbour and is a tangled maze of old streets. One of the main highlights is the Basilica of San Nicola, which legend has it, contains some of the bones of jolly old Saint Nick. For those arriving on time, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for a welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Bari at any time. Should you miss the welcome meeting, our tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. Airport transfers aren't included in this tour but it's easy to reach our hotel in Bari. From the airport, there's a regular train service every 20-30 minutes to Bari Central Station with a journey time of around 20 minutes. Our hotel in Bari is located just five minutes walk from the station. Tickets cost €5. If you'd prefer to take a taxi, there's a rank outside the terminal building - a taxi should cost around €25-30. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might like to take a walk along the Lungomare seaside promenade. In Puglia, the food revolves around local produce, so the dishes on offer will vary depending on what's in season. A lot of the cuisine is vegetable or cheese based and of course, they make good use of the oil produced from the 60 million olive trees in the region. Over the next week, you can try a range of delicious dishes like fried polenta, tubs of ricotta, mozzarella balls stuffed with cream, orecchiette pasta (known as small ear pasta due to its shape), which is normally served with a sauce made from turnip tops, meat and rice-stuffed peppers or a large array of seafood dishes. The wine is also delicious, with Primitivo red wine being a popular choice.

Accommodation

Hotel Excelsior Bari

day 2Food tasting in Altamura and visit to the medieval Castel del Monte

day 3Guided tour of the caves and rock carved churches of Matera

day 4Cheese and wine tasting; walk through the Trullis of Alberobello

day 5Free day in Alberobello; chance to visit Monopoli on the coast or the Castellana Caves

day 6Visit an ancient olive oil press; continue to Otranto

day 7Walking tour of Lecce; free afternoon to visit the Museo Faggiano

day 8Trip ends in Lecce

What's Included

Accommodation

Hotel Excelsior Bari (1 night)Hotel Sassi (2 nights)Hotel Trullidea (2 nights)Hotel Eos (2 nights)

Meals

7 Breakfasts

Transport

Driver(s)BusTrain

Guide

Explore Tour LeaderLocal Guide(s)

What's Excluded

Customer Reviews

4.7

based on 19 reviews

Availability

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Monthly Price Comparison

Good to Know

Travel Insurance

Visa

Other Practical Information

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