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A Week In... Puglia

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Uniquely Tauck

Puglia Italy Escorted Tour

EXPERIENCE WITH TAUCK

ALL SMALL GROUP DEPARTURES averaging 24 Tauck guests – A small group size means a more personal travel experience highlighted by stays at chic smaller hotels in fabulous locations

A two-night stay in Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Basilicata, with sightseeing by tuk-tuk and guided exploration of the Sassi cave-dwelling settlement

TAUCK VALUE INCLUDES

Two nights in the Baroque city of Lecce, known as the "Florence of the South"

Lunch at a winery known for Puglian Primitivo wine A visit to Alberobello's famous limestone  trulli  houses

SEE WHAT YOUR JOURNEY INCLUDES

Active components such as hiking, bicycling and walking longer distances may be included, and hills and/or uneven terrain may be encountered on several days. Guests should be able to walk two to three miles and stand for long periods of time with no difficulty.

Often robust – may include long days, active sightseeing, early starts, evening activities, significant travel times.

Along Europe's Scenic "Yellow Roads"

Explore the long heel of Italy's boot to discover sights, tastes, and gorgeous seascapes you'll find nowhere else... like Matera, where the Sassi houses are caverns and the streets are sometimes the roofs of other houses... Trulli houses, tiny fairy castles made of limestone slabs, built without mortar...

Baccanti ristorani, matera, explore polignano a mare, discover the cliffside grottoes and seaside charms of polignano a mare on the adriatic.

If you're of "a certain age," you might remember an Italian pop song from the late 1950s that crossed the Atlantic and became an international hit. Its actual title is "Nel blu dipinto di blu", but it's better known around the world as "Volare" ("To Fly"). It was co-written and performed by Italian singer, songwriter, actor (and, later in life, politician) Domenico Modugno, and is closely identified with his hometown, Polignano a Mare, perched on the Adriatic Sea near Bari in Puglia. Spend some time exploring this seaside town known for its cliff diving and the deep blue grottoes that inspired the song.

The "Sassi" cave dwellings of Matera

Ride a tuk-tuk amidst the "sassi" cave dwellings of matera, a unesco world heritage site.

Hop aboard a tuk-tuk for a ride through the winding streets of Matera in Basilicata, where you'll see a series of rock or cave dwellings that date back to Paleolithic times. Known as Sassi (for "stone"), these dwellings, piled atop one another across a steep ravine, were once natural caves and grottoes that over the centuries were adapted by human settlers as homes. Devoid of residents since the 1960s, the Sassi of Matera are now preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which you'll explore with a local guide who will share insights on the site, which served as a location in the Mel Gibson film "The Passion of the Christ."

Masseria Torre Coccaro

An authentic taste of appulian life at masseria torre coccaro.

Long prized for the green gold (olive oil) they produce, Puglia's masserias, historic fortified farmhouses converted into boutique hotels, offer an authentic taste of daily life during your stay. 16th-century Torre Coccaro, a working farm nestled amidst antique olive trees, specializes in freshly harvested farm-to-table cuisine and invites guests to cook like the locals at their on-site culinary school. Guests enjoy beach club privileges, impeccable hospitality and beautiful scenic settings.

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Where you stay is an important part of your journey – with Tauck, accommodations have been handpicked and carefully selected for their location and ambiance, enhancing the destinations you explore. Download accommodation details and your travel plans begin!

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Overnight Accommodations

Extend your stay

Arrive Early

Palazzo gattini.

Matera, Italy

Risorgimento Resort

Lecce, Italy

Borgo Egnazia

Savalletri di Fasano, Italy

Your Journey

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About Booking This Tour

Travel Documents

If you are a U.S. citizen traveling internationally, you will need a passport valid for six months beyond the completion of your Tauck journey for entry into Italy; however, you do not need a visa for the short duration of this tour.

If you are a citizen of another country traveling internationally, you should contact an embassy or consulate of Italy to determine what travel documentation is required.

Please note that longer stays abroad for any purpose may require additional travel documentation.

We recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration and your citizenship. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.

To facilitate Travel Requirements, destinations are increasingly utilizing online forms that require digital proof that you've successfully completed your submission (via an email, QR code, etc.) To ensure smooth travels and peace of mind, we strongly recommend all guests carry a personal smart phone and sign up for international data plans before traveling overseas.

TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN AS A GUARDIAN: If you are traveling as the guardian of a child/children, we strongly suggest that you carry a letter from both parents of the child authorizing emergency treatment in the event of illness or accident. For travel abroad, many foreign countries have specific entry requirements for children under 21 who are traveling internationally without BOTH parents. (These requirements are in response to the increased incidence of children being abducted and taken abroad.) PLEASE NOTE THAT TAUCK IS NOT RESPONSIBLE for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for children traveling without both parents.

How to Book a Tour

See your travel advisor, or call Tauck at 800-468-2825 to make a reservation.

At the time of booking, please have the following information ready for all members of your party:

  • Tour Name and Departure Date
  • Traveler's Name: First and last names as they appear on your passport or driver's license
  • Traveler's Address(es)
  • Email Address*
  • Traveler's Phone Number(s)*
  • Emergency Contact Information: Please provide the name and phone number  of a relative or friend (not travelling with you) whom we could contact during the tour in the unlikely event of an emergency
  • Interest in purchasing a travel protection plan (US and Canada)
  • Interest in extending your trip by staying in a Tauck recommended hotel before your trip begins or after it ends
  • Interest in our specially negotiated airfares

* Required Fields

Deposits & Final Payment

Deposits and fees for the optional Protection Plan or Cancel Fee Waiver [CFW] coverage are due at time of booking.

The deposit amount is $600 per person

Final Payments:

Final Payment is due to Tauck  60  days before departure for lands trips, and  120  days before departure for cruises and rail journeys. If your deposit was made by credit card, final payment will be automatic unless you opted out at time of booking. Bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice. Failure to make payment will be a considered a cancellation by the guest and all applicable cancellation fees will apply.

Travel Protection Plan

Effective for plans purchased as of July 1, 2021:

Tauck's Guest Protection

Tauck's Guest Protection provides you with cancellation protection before your journey begins as well as insurance benefits while you are traveling. Guest Protection includes the following:

Cancellation Waiver – Provided by Tauck:

Under Tauck's Cancellation Fee Waiver you can cancel your tour for ANY REASON up to the day before departure and receive a money-back refund (except in Extreme Circumstances*) on the land tour cost, based on your original method of payment.

*Extreme Circumstances:  In the event of an act of God, war (whether declared or undeclared), terrorism, accident, natural disaster, outbreak of disease, or other event or circumstance beyond our control that contributes to or results in cancellation rates above our historical cancellation rates in the absence of such event or occurrence, Tauck reserves the right to issue a credit to you in lieu of a money-back refund, applicable to a future Tauck journey.

Travel Insurance Benefits – Underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company.

  • Trip Cancellation –  If you must cancel your tour due to a covered reason, the plan provides coverage for the amount you paid for your travel arrangements. Since the non-insurance cancellation waiver takes care of the land package cancellation fees already, this benefit reimburses the airfare cancellation charges up to the value of your original airfare purchase.
  • Trip Interruption –  If you have to interrupt your tour for covered reasons, the plan provides reimbursement to catch up to your tour or return home.
  • Travel Delay –  Provides reimbursement for missed, prepaid travel arrangements if you are delayed by a common carrier, natural disaster, unannounced strike, or other reasons as cited in the plan.
  • Medical Expense –  Reimburses covered medical expenses incurred in the event you become injured or sick during your trip. 
  • Baggage / Personal Effects Protection –  Provides reimbursement in the event your luggage or personal effects are, lost, stolen, damaged or delayed during your trip.
  • Worldwide Emergency Assistance Services –  Provided by Carefree Travel Assistance; 24-hour emergency telephone assistance hotline for medical and travel related problems.

The cost of Tauck's Guest Protection is: $449  per person

This protection provides insurance coverage that applies only during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home and automobile policies. If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer, insurance agent or broker.

This optional Guest Protection must be requested at time of booking and fee must be included with initial payment. Fees are based on costs as of July 1, 2021, and are subject to change. Details will be provided with written confirmation of your tour reservation. Guest Protection does not protect travel agent commissions. Reimbursements will be made according to original method of payment. The amount of any refund shall be reduced by any recoveries obtained by you from any third parties.

The Guest Protection plan waives cancellation fees outlined below, provided we are notified of cancellation before your tour departs. Tour cancellation fees are waived regardless of reason, without written notice, and Tauck will refund land tour cost.

To obtain your state-specific Certificate of Insurance that contains the complete terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the certificate, visit  affinitytravelcert.com/docs/TACGPPINTL .

If You Have To Cancel

If you cancel within 10 days of initial deposit Within the first 10 days after you place your initial deposit, you may cancel your reservation for any reason with no cancellation fees. If you cancel more than 10 days after initial deposit Regardless of reason, cancellations result in costly charges from our travel and hotel providers covering penalties and fees incurred by canceling confirmed bookings. These fees vary from tour to tour. Therefore, the following fees apply.

Cancellation Fees with Tauck's Guest Protection Plan:

Loss of Guest Protection fee, per person 

Cancellation Fees without Tauck's Guest Protection Plan :

60 days or more before departure = $600 per person

59-8 days before departure = $900 per person

7-1 days before departure = $1500 per person

Time of cancellation will be when notice is received in our Wilton Woods, CT office.

In the event of an unforeseen circumstance beyond our control, Tauck reserves the right to amend the cancellation terms outlined herein.

Note:  All Guests, regardless of residency, who book a Tauck journey have the option of purchasing the Cancellation Waiver provided by Tauck in the event they need to cancel their trip after making their reservations. Tauck's Guest Protection, which includes both the Cancellation Fee Waiver and the Travel Insurance Benefits and Assistance Services described above, is not available to residents of Puerto Rico.

Travel Terms and Conditions

Click here  to find Tauck's Travel Terms & Conditions.

Travel Requirements For This Tour

Air Information and Luggage Restrictions

AIRFARE: Airfare to and from this destination is not included in the journey cost. If purchasing your air elsewhere, it is very important to provide us with your confirmed arriving and departing flight information no later than 3 weeks before your arrival date. Flight information can be submitted to Tauck (or verified, if you've already provided it) in the My Account section of Tauck.com.

TAUCK AIRPORT TRANSFERS are included at the start and end of the journey between the airport and the Tauck hotel. Airport transfers are available for any pre tour or post tour hotel stays immediately consecutive to the tour, providing flight information is received in the Tauck office no later than three weeks in advance. Details on locating your transfer upon arrival to the tour start city will be included in your final documents.

AIRLINES and CHECKED LUGGAGE: Due to space limitations during your Tauck journey, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one average-size suitcase per person. Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and are free to revise luggage policies without notice. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies. PLEASE NOTE that if you are booked on a tour that includes on-tour flights, the checked luggage weight restrictions for these flights may be lower than the weight restrictions for your international flights.

Checked Luggage – General

While it is common for airlines to allow passengers to check more than one piece of luggage per person, space constraints during your Tauck journey make it difficult to accommodate extra luggage. We ask that you limit your checked luggage to one average size suitcase per person.

Recently, airlines have adopted policies enforcing strict number, size and weight limits. Luggage exceeding maximum restrictions may require expensive overage fees, frustrating and hurried re-packing at the ticket counter, or even risk being left behind.

Many carriers require that checked luggage not exceed a weight of 50 lbs (22.7 kg) per piece. Airlines revise luggage policies frequently and often without notice; therefore, we cannot be held liable for the accuracy of the weight limit listed above. We urge you to check with your airline before traveling to determine current number, weight and size restrictions. It is also important to note that restrictions for luggage number, weight and size may vary with the same airline based on the class of service you select. First and Business Class ticket holders may have different restrictions than Coach Class travelers. You may wish to consult the website, luggagelimits.com , by clicking here .

We cannot be held liable for additional fees or inconveniences imposed by the airline due to luggage number, weight and size policies.

Tauck luggage tags will be provided by your Tauck Director on Day 1 of your itinerary. Please do not attach a Tauck luggage tag to any carry-on items, as the Tauck tags designate luggage that is to be handled and transferred by ground operators and hotel staff during your journey.

Although oversize bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and that you bring only those items you need handy during the day such as make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or on the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may be inaccessible during daytime travel.

Health, Safety and Mobility

HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS

Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling. If you will not be covered under your current policy, we strongly suggest that you arrange for adequate coverage while on tour.

If you have a medical condition which might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify us as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly. 

VACCINATIONS  

If you are a resident of the U.S. traveling internationally, no vaccinations are currently required for travel to Italy. For complete vaccination and inoculation information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. The Travelers' Health Section of the CDC operates a 24-hour "Travelers' Health Hotline" at 800-232-4636 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also log on to the CDC website by clicking here .

If you are a resident of another country traveling internationally, please contact an embassy or consulate of Italy to determine what vaccination(s) may be required for your travel.

SPECIAL DIETARY REQUESTS

The restaurants, hotels, caterers and numerous other partners we work with all do their best to accommodate special dietary requests from Tauck guests. However, given the diverse nature of those food providers (from small wineries to grand hotels to world-famous restaurants in more than 70 countries worldwide), some of our partners are better able than others to accommodate such requests. We therefore cannot guarantee that all dietary requests can be accommodated at every meal. Also, please note that where dietary requests can be accommodated, choices will frequently be limited.

To enjoy this tour, you should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances, often over unpaved and uneven surfaces. Some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. Italy is home to innumerable historic buildings and sites, some dating from antiquity. Therefore, roads, walkways and architecture will present difficulties for some guests with physical disabilities. You will encounter cobblestone streets, narrow passageways, and some steep and winding staircases. For the most part, however, the amount of walking you do at the various sites and towns is at your discretion.

In addition, coach travel along the many "Yellow Roads" on this tour are very windy and may cause you some discomfort if you are prone to motion sickness. If you are, we advise bringing motion sickness remedies or medication with you.

PLEASE NOTE: We regret that this Tauck itinerary cannot accommodate wheelchairs or motorized scooters.  Likewise, we regret that we're unable to provide individual assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal needs.  The responsibility of the Tauck Director who accompanies your trip is to ensure that the larger group enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing individual assistance to any one guest.  Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it.While drinking water is generally safe at all our hotels, bottled water will be available wherever the local water is not fit to drink. We also provide bottled water on the motor coaches.

Reading List

We have compiled a reading list of recommended books to give you more information about the destinations you will be traveling to on your upcoming journey!

You can view the reading list  here.

Puglia enjoys a comfortable Mediterranean climate with hot sunny summers and mild winters. Summer lasts from June until September, and is hot and sunny with rainfall increasing after July, to a peak in September and October. The average summer temperature is not too hot and ranges between 26°C (79°F) and 30°C (85°F), and remains warm through September with an average of 26°C (79°F). The beaches along the Adriatic coast benefit from being sheltered and the average water temperature of between 20°C (68°F) and 26°C (79°F) makes it comfortable for bathers for the whole summer season. Because of Puglia's southern position on the Italian peninsula, it has long summer days with as many as 14 hours of sunshine per day at the height of summer.

To read about current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website by clicking here.

What To Pack

Bringing the right clothing for your trip is important – we've partnered with Necessary Gear who provide an "easy-to-use, one-stop shop" for your Tauck travel needs, specifically selected for this trip. Click here to visit their site .

When packing for your trip to Italy, it is important to keep in mind the time of year you are traveling and the current weather conditions for that time. The weather in Italy is temperate and unpredictable. Your journey is designed with leisure in mind. Dress for comfort and convenience with a wardrobe that is adaptable and allows for layering. Generally, during the day, casual, comfortable, cotton clothing is recommended. Cool weather at higher elevations or at night will require warmer, layered clothing.

In Europe, especially in finer restaurants, it is customary to dress somewhat formally. Slacks or a dress for women and a jacket for men are acceptable dining attire. It is advisable to avoid wearing jeans, sneakers or shorts for dinner. You may also wish to dress up a bit for the welcome reception and the farewell dinner, but certainly be comfortable.

Most Catholic churches in Italy require that your knees and shoulders be covered when you enter, even during the hot days of summer. This is particularly important when you visit St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, where shorts and tank tops are not allowed.

You will find a hair dryer located in your hotel guest room. By law in Italy, irons and ironing boards are not made available to guests at the hotels. Valet laundry and dry cleaning services are available for a fee.

We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor's prescription or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you, a list of the generic names of your medication, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.

Following is a list of recommended items to pack for your trip to Italy:

  • Casual daytime wear – shorts, slacks, long and short-sleeved shirts
  • An optional jacket and tie for men
  • Casually elegant evening wear for ladies
  • Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat
  • A light sweater or jacket for higher elevations or a breezy night
  • Binoculars (7x50 preferably)
  • Insect repellent
  • Camera, lenses, batteries, memory cards and chargers
  • Lightweight, comfortable, sturdy walking shoes that have already been broken-in
  • Travel alarm clock/cell phone with alarm function (many hotels do not have clocks in the rooms)
  • Rain poncho and collapsible umbrella
  • Reusable zipper-lock bags or other waterproof bags
  • Daypack for camera equipment
  • Sundries and toiletries that may be difficult to find en route
  • Copies of your travel documents that should be secured in the safe in your hotel room while traveling

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Puglia Tours & Trips

Find the right tour package for you through Puglia. We've got 119 trips going to Puglia, starting from just 3 days in length, and the longest tour is 15 days. The most popular month to go is September, which has the most tour departures.

119 Puglia tour packages with 434 reviews

Taste of Salento-Authentic Culinary Experience Tour

  • Food & Culinary

Taste of Salento-Authentic Culinary Experience

We had an incredible week in Puglia. Emilio and Clara were amazing hosts – they went out of their way to ensure we had a great time and saw all the local sights. They served us superb food and lovely wine and took us each day to a new town or beach nearby. Emilio cooked local dishes, explaining and demonstrating - it was all perfect. It was such a wonderful week and we saw so much. Brilliant being part of their family for a little while and only four other guests. Because it was such a small group it was really friendly and we had lots of fun together. Emilio’s father Antonio and brother Michael also looked after us, driving us from the airport and to various villages and towns. We stayed in a white washed farmhouse surrounded by olive trees -all very comfortable. Such a great week. Highly recommend the trip for travellers who want to meet locals and explore a beautiful part of Italy.

Discover Matera and Taste of Salento Tour Tour

  • Christmas & New Year

Discover Matera and Taste of Salento Tour

SOLETO TRAVEL: First of all, Omar at Soleto Travel was great, from my first inquiry to the last day of the trip. He returned emails promptly, answered questions clearly, made suggestions and generally made the whole experience very easy. I highly recommend Soleto travel and would not hesitate to book any of their tours. The trip I took was Discover Matera and a Taste of Salento. I was a solo female traveler on this tour and just took a leap of faith - it was well worth it. TASTE OF SALENTO: Pretend that someone told you that you had long lost relatives who owned an olive oil farm in Salento and wanted you to come visit for six days? That is exactly what this felt like. From the moment Antonio (the father) picked me up at the train station to the moment Emilio dropped me off in Matera, I could not have been treated more warmly. This did not feel like a “tour”, it felt like a “stay”. Don’t get caught up in the printed itinerary and stated activities. Emilio adjusts the schedule based on the season, the weather and other circumstances. You might not get every single thing listed, but you will get a lot more that are not. Emilio fixes a light breakfast every morning and explains where we’re going and what we’re doing that day. Because this experience is capped at four people (we had two), Emilio drives you in the family car to all the cool places (many that would be inaccessible by a tour bus). You walk around while he explains the history of the place or his experiences there. You get free time to walk around, grab a bite, shop or just sit and appreciate the experience. The highlight of every day was dinner. Emilio is a fabulous chef and prides himself on cooking fresh, organic, local food paired with local wine (all served with his family’s organic olive oil of course). His passion is evident and every meal was excellent. Two of the days we had Carlo as a guide, who was fun and knowledgeable. One day Emilio’s wife Clara took us wine tasting and sightseeing. And of course Antonio, who was a character, popped by to say hi and stir up trouble! I could go on and on but I will stop and just say this: If you want a 4-star hotel with a “farm” theme in a big city, this is not for you. This is an actual farm in a very small town with very comfortable accommodations run by a sweet and generous couple (plus four kids and a dog) who want nothing more than for you to learn about, experience, and hopefully appreciate, the land they love. No tour buses, no guides with hankies tied to poles, no one-size-fits-all restaurants or cookie-cutter tours. Live like a local, with locals, for a one-of-a-kind experience. I highly recommend it. DISCOVER MATERA: I knew nothing about Matera so I was excited to arrive and see this beautiful city. The only thing I would mention is the whole city is practically stairs, including up to the room, so it might be a difficult city for some people with mobility issues so keep that in mind when booking. That said it is such a beautiful and unique city and I loved just wandering around and getting lost in all the little streets and passages. The accommodations were fabulous and so unique (a room built into a cave!) My guide was Cosimo, who took me one day on a city tour and the next on a tour of Murgia Materana, the park across the ravine. He was so knowledgable, friendly and patient with all my questions. Even though I was the only one, our tour went beyond the allotted time and he did not complain or try to rush me. I also got a private food and wine tasting with Lucca who was also wonderful, knowledgeable and generous. The place I stayed had a restaurant, but because I was the only one there, I would have my breakfast on site and then they would book dinner for me at a nice local restaurant. I loved Matera and wish I had a couple more days there. All in all this was the perfect vacation. The people were wonderful, the food and wine delicious, the history fascinating, the scenery breathtaking and the experience unique. I highly recommend this tour and Soleto Travel to anyone!

Premium Puglia Tour

  • In-depth Cultural

Premium Puglia

Best of Apulia region - 9 days (Small Group) Tour

Best of Apulia region - 9 days (Small Group)

The destinations and hotel accomodations were excellent. We did this trip during the late May and early June timeframe. Our tour was promoted as a 14 person max tour which was not exactly true. There were 2 groups of people split by English Speaking and Spanish Speaking. There were 2 seperate groups but touring the same places, hotels and restuarants. More people then to deal with and figure out logistics and wait time. Overall fairly smooth but room for improvement by decreasing wait time staying on schedule. The tour left a little late each morning so we had less time to see the sights and our free time to explore on our own. Our guides English comprehension was limited and difficult to understand the English with her heavy Italy accent. The tour would be much better just having a group of 20 or less and a better guide that could explain the sights better.

Cycling Puglia & Matera Tour

Cycling Puglia & Matera

Highly recommend. Unique tour of Puglia, we really enjoyed all aspects of the tour. Region is spectacular and full of surprises. Christina was an excellent skilled cyclist and knowledgeable guide. She was very generous with her time, considerate and friendly. Support driver provided excellent back-up, organising our luggage, snacks etc.

Explore Southern Italy (from Amalfi to Bari) Tour

  • Sightseeing

Explore Southern Italy (from Amalfi to Bari)

Seductive Southern Italy Tour

Seductive Southern Italy

TourRadar trip was fabulous from start to finish. Every hotel was excellent. Any meal which was included in tour was great. Every guide along the way was extremely informative and friendly. Our tour leader Francesco was absolutely amazing from the first moment we met him in Naples until our departures in Lecce. Francesco was genuinely caring, considerate towards every person in our group, highly amusing and entertaining... the perfect tour leader!
  • €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Puglia: Discover the Heel of Italy Tour

Puglia: Discover the Heel of Italy

This was my first organized week long tour, so I had a lot of questions.The website is very easy to use and when we called with specific questions we got a very polite and knowledgeable person. She handled our needs and I will use tour radar again for searching and booking a tour and have recommended it to friends I know. Thanks for a great holiday.

Magical Apulia region - 6 Days (Small Group) Tour

Magical Apulia region - 6 Days (Small Group)

Angela shared many great places with us and was very flexible with changing needs. Alberobello hotel was maybe 3 star, not 4 star like Bari and Lecce hotels. Salvatore was a great driver.

Puglia and Matera tour 5 days from Bari: special price Tour

Puglia and Matera tour 5 days from Bari: special price

Highlights of Puglia Tour

  • Wine tasting

Highlights of Puglia

Our tour of Puglia was made all the better by our wonderful tour guide Sonia who took care of our every need and want. Sonia was organized, yet spontaneous and fun and made sure that each and every member of the tour was acknowledged and made to feel important. It was obvious that Sonia had researched each destination, allowing us a good start on arrival. As this was our first organized tour we were interested in seeing whether we could be ‘tour people’ and the answer was a resounding YES. We plan to look for more Tour Radar experiences in the future. Ciao!
  • 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Complete Greece with Puglia and Campania Tour

Complete Greece with Puglia and Campania

Private 6 days tour Unesco Wonders of Puglia and Matera Tour

Private 6 days tour Unesco Wonders of Puglia and Matera

We had a great tour guide, through GoInItaly and visited all the places we were told and more. HIstory knowledge was good, and accommodation and dining was excellent. Recommend Gaetano.

Puglia Tour - the perfect combination of lifestyle, culture, history and cuisine Tour

  • Coach / Bus

Puglia Tour - the perfect combination of lifestyle, culture, history and cuisine

Malcolm and Antonella from Italy with Pleasure organised and hosted an amazing tour of Puglia. The locations they brought us too were fantastic and our meals were superb. Both of their knowledge with regard to this region is incredible. I cannot recommend this tour and them highly enough. Ricardo who they brought on the trip to help host us was very helpful too. My wife and I will be availing of their other tours in Italy in the coming years.

Puglia\'s Grand Tapestry: Small Group & 5-stars Accommodation Tour

Puglia's Grand Tapestry: Small Group & 5-stars Accommodation

  • €50 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Reviews of Puglia Tours

Emilio, Clara, Michael and Antonio were fantastic hosts. The food and the sights visited were fantastic. However, a more protein driven menu would have been appreciated. The Casa Clarita was nice, but needed little attentions such as water in the fridge upon our arrival without asking and napkins. The mattresses would need updating and extra blankets. Being North Americans, it would help paying attention to safe driving. These are only constructive criticism, as we truly enjoyed our week on the farm and highly recommend this tour.
This was an outstanding experience from start to finish. I would highly recommend it. With Emilio and Clara and their family in Salento, I got to experience authentic Italian life as well as sightseeing some incredible towns. I felt like I was staying with good friends who had so much knowledge and desire to showcase the typical foods from the region. Emilio runs a restaurant at the olive oil farm and each meal was delicious. Understanding the production of olive oil was fascinating. And they give flexibility on the time you wish to spend at each place. Each day was different and they change the schedule to suit the weather so you get the best out of the places you visit. My time in Matera was just as outstanding. Mr Cosimo, my guide was very kind and shared so much history of the town with me. He looked after me like a good friend. It was amazing. He gave me great suggestions about restaurants for my free time. The hotel was stunning and had a Roman bath where I could relax. Omar from Soleto Travel was always very helpful in answering any questions and prompt. I am so happy I found this tour.

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Tours of Puglia - Welcome to the Heel of the Italian Boot: Guided Tours and Shore Excursions of Puglia and the Mediterranean

  • Puglia & Basilicata
  • Alberobello Trulli
  • Castel del Monte
  • Brindisi Express
  • Matera & Sassi
  • Otranto & Salento
  • Customize It
  • Mediterranean
  • Best of Puglia
  • Southern Italy
  • Italy in One Week
  • Venice to Athens
  • Puglia in 4 Days
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  • Italy & Swiss Alps
  • Shore Excursions
  • Reviews/Photos

TOURS OF PUGLIA - WELCOME TO ITALY'S HEEL: whitewashed buildings, secret castles, genuine food, baroque architecture, crystalline Mediterranean sea...

Whether you want to enjoy a several days trip or just be guided for a few hours to get the best of Puglia and Basilicata regions, you have just chosen the right website. With our experienced and licensed English, German, Spanish and French speaking Local Guides and Tour Managers, you will receive superior personalized service. Let us show you the seldom traveled sites of our area in the comfort and privacy of a luxury vehicle, with a driver and a guide at your service. Let us tell you authentic, yet almost forgotten, stories of the heel of Italy's boot. Let us lead you through the whole Italian peninsula and the most popular European regions, such as Greece, France, Spain and so on. Never have these Mediterranean areas been so close! Our expert team works individually with each guest to provide informed, personalised recommendations and ensure that every experience is personal, authentic, and extraordinary from start to finish.

...create your own shore excursion experience...

We regularly offer personalized shore excursions to accommodate cruise passengers and private yacht travellers who are visiting the ports of Bari, Brindisi, Gallipoli, Monopoli, Otranto and others Apulian harbors for only a few hours and want to maximize their time to take back home the best memories from Puglia. In cooperation with our partners we are able to offer shore excursions from the major ports of Italy and the Mediterranean. Your experience will be personal and interactive, you won't sit on a bus filled with strangers and listen to annoying announcements. NEW!!! We can tailor combined tours, your cruise company can't! See more in less time! Choose 2 Shore Excursions from Our Tours

"and you will decide When, Where and How"

Our services are suitable for families with children of every age, small and big groups, couples and solo travellers... We will focus all our attention, effort, and passion to provide you the best experience of touring historical sites, hearing local legends, tasting food and wine, enjoying countryside adventures... Stop being a tourist and become our guest. That's our philosophy! We are your friends in Europe to take you under our wing and show you what only the insiders know. We will unlock the secrets of our history and culture.

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  • ALBEROBELLO TRULLI
  • BRINDISI EXPRESS
  • OTRANTO & SALENTO
  • BEST OF PUGLIA
  • SOUTHERN ITALY
  • BEST OF SICILY
  • VENICE TO ATHENS
  • PUGLIA IN 4 DAYS

see the complete list...

"Why should I take a tour and not exploring on my own?" - You don't waste your time at each site standing in line to enter a monument or museum. - You don't wait for ages the public transport or get lost following road signs or your GPS. - You get the insider tips from our up-to-date knowledgeable local guides. - You receive personalised service - means "only you". Our tours are not open to strangers!!! - You are inspired the way we love our regions & cultures and want to share this love with you. - You maximize your experience, see more in less time. - No more queues! Skip the line! Not enough? Read the reviews provided by our previous guests.

Come and experience our personalized service for the best possible vacation! Contact us and tell us about your travel wishes, we will do our best to please you.

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All of our arrangements have been specially designed to incorporate a reason to travel and, for ease of choice, these have been categorised under the titles shown below.

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  • Puglia Tours

Cattedrale Beata Maria Vergine Assunta, Puglia Basilica, Italy

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Visit Puglia in Italy

The south-east region of Puglia is the sun-bleached heel of Italy’s unique boot-shaped geography. And on our escorted tours to Puglia, Italy you’ll find plenty to explore on foot. Spend days meandering through handsome Baroque towns, inspecting extravagant ancient architecture, and passing extraordinary settlements with mysterious origins.

Each of our Puglia tours in Italy is enriched by the knowledge of our expert local guides. Between moments of relaxation and indulgence in some of the best food Italy has to offer, they’ll help you unpick the region’s varied history and influences, as you retrace the footsteps of Puglia’s many conquerors and cultures. Discover more information on our magnificent tours of Puglia, Italy below.

Where you'll visit on our esocrted tours to Puglia, Italy

On our escorted tours of Puglia in Italy you’ll join likeminded travellers lucky enough to uncover a region of great historical diversity together. The first port of call is Puglia’s capital, Bari, with its Romanesque cathedral and the Basilica of St. Nicholas – two landmarks first crafted by the Normans almost one thousand years ago.

The next stop on our guided tours of Puglia is Lecce, affectionately known as the ‘Florence of the South’. Staying in a luxury 5-star hotel, here you’ll admire gorgeous Baroque architecture that is highly likely to be bathed in the warm rays of golden sunlight the area so consistently enjoys.

Returning north, the dramatic city of Matera in Basilicata is perhaps best known for its unusual ‘Sassi’ – the ancient cave dwellings that make up one of the most unique landscapes in Europe. The Sassi are split into two districts, with the city’s stunning cathedral perched in the middle.

Offering further intrigue on our small group tours of Puglia, Italy are the traditional Trulli huts of Alberobello – the origins and purpose of which remain hotly contested. You’re unlikely to feel too much at a loss, however, as you enjoy a spot of wine tasting at a local cellar and museum. What are you waiting for?

When is the best time of year for tours of Puglia in Italy?

How do you prefer your weather? Our week-long guided tours of Puglia in Italy are available each month from May through to October. The climate here is hotter and drier than you may find in northern Italy, so there’s a good chance you’ll be able to enjoy the sunshine whenever you choose to depart.

Crowds can be more manageable in Puglia than in other Italian hotspots. Due to warmer temperatures in the peak summer months, you may find you have the cities and towns to yourself as locals flock to the coast.

Why go on escorted tours of Puglia, Italy with Jules Verne?

Benefitting from our 40-plus years of experience in helping travellers enjoy unforgettable trips, our escorted tours of Puglia in Italy offer a chance to immerse yourself in one of Italy’s most fascinating regions. You’ll join a small group of travellers as you move from destination to destination, each one enhanced by the insider knowledge of our local guides.

On top of our expert planning and organisation, we offer a 100% price guarantee to ensure that the total cost of your trip won’t change from the moment you book. Discover more about our Puglia tours in Italy today and connect with one of our personal travel experts who can help shape the Italian holiday of your dreams.

Matera Sassi Di Matera, Italy

Trulli & Sassi

From Bari’s historic Adriatic port to a sublimely different enclave of Italy, this enchanting tour takes you to Lecce’s lavishly adorned baroque buildings, to mystical Matera’s ancient ‘sassi’ cave dwellings, and to the unique cone-topped ‘trulli’ houses of Alberobello

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Alberobello Southern Italy

Best of Puglia

Southern italy tour | small group tour.

Puglia is a region in Southern Italy with so much to offer even seasoned travellers. Puglia offers unique sights, such as the trulli conical stone houses, and the nearby cave town of Matera. Stunning landscapes, such as the very photogenic town of Polignano A Mare which is poised on the rocks high above the turquoise sea. Amazing food – the creamy burrata cheese, the ripe figs. Each day includes organised activities, visits to all the key sights and a progressive discovery of the local Puglia cuisine. We enjoy long lunches, taking time over the multiple courses to enjoy the atmosphere and to relax.   Check out our Southern Italy Tour reviews on Tripadvisor.

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  • Accommodation
  • Dates/Price

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • The UNESCO World Heritage sites of Alberobello (with its conical trulli houses) and Matera (with its cave houses)
  • Key locations such as Ostuni, Polignano A Mare, Lecce, Trani, Monopoli, Egnazia and Locorotondo
  • Discover how the range of civilisations that have settled in Puglia have all left their mark. For example, within walking distance you can find a Spanish palazzo, a Byzantine church and a Roman amphitheatre
  • A culinary focus - we try recipes handed down through the generations and allow you to connect with this ancient wisdom. Match this with Puglia’s wonderful burrata cheese, and with wines found only in this part of Italy – this is a food-lovers’ dream. Later in a masseria (a 16th century farmhouse), a chef helps us cook a fantastic final meal together
  • Experience ‘living traditions’, such as visiting a 4th generation olive oil producer, and a convent where the nuns make biscotti in a centuries' old manner (which we sample of course)

Day 5 Southern Italy tour experience

BEST OF PUGLIA TOUR

  • Our tours are a balance between being informative (historical details, examples of the culture and lifestyle) as well as having everything that makes for an enjoyable trip (long lunches in good restaurants, a relaxed pace, free time in places we visit)
  • We stay for the week in one place, the town of Polignano A Mare. Here people have the time to share a smile or a chat in the piazza – and by the end of the week you’ll be greeting the locals too!
  • Our Small Group Tour has a maximum of 14 people
  • You have our tour manager with you throughout the week, available to provide support and assistance when you need it. Many people appreciate having someone to turn to who is familiar with the local area, whether it be for help getting something from a pharmacy / drugstore, or simply where to find the best gelato!
  • This is the trip that you’d design for yourself. We are Italy... with pleasure
  • Our 7-day tour starts and finishes in Bari

Southern Italy tour experience

What our customers say about Italy With Pleasure

Southern Italy tour experience

Distinctive character, unique locations

In Puglia we stay in either the town of Ostuni or Polignano A Mare.

Ostuni is a hilltop town, with evocative lanes amongst the whitewashed buildings, and piazzas with the traditional ‘passeggiata’ in full swing each evening. Here we stay at the Hotel Monte Sarago.

Polignano A Mare has a charming historic centre is lined with elegant old buildings, and plenty of opportunities for a coffee or a meal close to the hotel. Here we stay at the hotel Giovi Relais. Both hotels are 4 star.

We find that people very much appreciate that the tour is based in one place for the week, meaning that there is no need to pack/unpack, and you really get to know the town where you are staying.

Southern Italy Best of Puglia tour accommodation

Some reviews of our tours:

“The best of Puglia tour exceeded all expectations. Small groups lend themselves to a more meaningful and personal experience. Our tour guide was excellent as were the local guides. The accommodation was great and the meals provided were delicious. The highlights were the Trulli houses and the caves in Matera. We really did see the best of Puglia and would thoroughly recommend Italy with Pleasure. We also completed the Sicily tour, and again had a wonderful time and had many interesting experiences. The cooking schools on both trips were great fun.”

“I’ve been to Italy many times..never to Puglia…thanks to Italy With pleasure it is my new favorite place!!! loved the history, food and amazing wine...small groups, one wonderful hotel, great day trips and the best guide (Mark) I have ever had”

“You must use these guys if you are doing tours in the regions of Italy they operate in. We toured with them in Puglia, they do small group tours and are simply the best we have experienced throughout Europe.”

“Malcolm and Antonella from Italy with Pleasure organised and hosted an amazing tour of Puglia. The locations they brought us too were fantastic and our meals were superb. Both of their knowledge with regard to this region is incredible. I cannot recommend this tour and them highly enough. Riccardo who they brought on the trip to help host us was very helpful too. My wife and I will be availing of their other tours in Italy in the coming years.”

“I can't thank the small tour group, Italy With Pleasure, enough for a fantastic trip to Puglia. The group size was perfect and our guide, Anita, was amazing, knowledgeable and so caring of everyone. This area of Italy for non-Italian speaking guests was the absolute best way to visit. I was amazed at the beautiful cultural sites in all the towns AND the fabulous late luncheons featuring the local specialties. Spectacular! I have never had such great food on a tour or anywhere. Thanks again and I have already shared our great experience with a number of my friends and family.”

See these and other reviews on Google Reviews, TripAdvisor and other review sites.

Day 1 - BUONGIORNO PUGLIA!

We meet in Bari, the main city of Puglia, and from here we start our discovery of the region. Our first stop is Monopoli, a vibrant town on the coast. Here we get our first chance to experience the lifestyle of small town Puglia. Monopoli is centred around a fishing port, with small wooden fishing boats heading out each day, and then selling their catch on the pier.

Towards evening we reach the town of Polignano A Mare, where we stay in for the next six nights. We stay in the historic centre of town, where the piazzas have the traditional ‘passeggiata’ in full swing each evening. Over the next few days you'll have plenty of time to explore the town at your own pace.

Polignano a Mare is situated on the coast, an impressive town clinging to a promontory suspended above the Adriatic’s turquoise waters. With a history spanning back to the 4th century BC as a Greek settlement, Polignano a Mare is a charming town centred around the Piazza Vittorio Emanuele. The town was on the ancient Roman Trajan’s Way, and you can still see the remains of this route. Polignano a Mare encircles a pebble beach, nestled in a cove between rocky cliffs. The beach is suitable for swimming.

Tonight we dine together, having our first introduction to the cuisine of Puglia. Throughout the week meals are in restaurants designed to showcase the region’s cuisine, with the specific venues all carefully selected by us. This is in order to provide a variety of food styles over the duration of the tour.

Meals: Dinner (4 courses including wine)

Southern Italy Tour Ostuni

Day 2 - INTO THE FAIRYTALE

We depart for our first stop, Alberobello.

The picturesque Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a unique town with streets lined with 'trulli'. In fact it is known in Italy as the “Capital of trulli”.

Trulli are small stone houses with a distinctive conical roof, built 300-400 years ago.

By walking along its narrow streets, you will be fascinated by the magical and fairytale atmosphere of this place. We explore this town together, and learn about why and how these dwellings were built, and about the cryptic symbols painted on the roof-cones.

Before lunch you have some free time to browse the shops of Alberobello and to wander around.

We then move on to the town of Ostuni, known as “la città bianca” (the white town). Ostuni is a cluster of whitewashed buildings perched on a hilltop overlooking the coast. Walking through the narrow streets of Ostuni is like being in a forgotten time, evocative and ancient, looking out over an expanse of olive trees. We advise keeping your camera at the ready!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (3 courses including wine)

Southern Italy Tour Alberobello

Day 3 - THE MARVELS OF ELEGANT BAROQUE

Today we travel to Lecce, a city that flourished in the 17th century when extravagant and elegant baroque buildings were built by the ruling classes. The baroque style features ornate decorations covering the facades of churches and palaces.

We take a private tour around Lecce with a local expert guide to have the key sights explained to us. The baroque style here is distinct from that in other parts of Italy, both stylistically and in the use of the beige coloured local stone. As well as the architectural and historical features, we make a point of interacting with locals - artisans in their studio creating the local papier mache figures, nuns baking in their convent in the way they have since medieval times. Lecce is an elegant town in which to indulge in more modern pleasures. There are many interesting boutiques and cafes, and the piazzas are full of life in this important southern Italian centre. After some free time in central Lecce we have lunch in a local restaurant, where we dine on the food specific to this part of Puglia, called 'the Salento'.

Southern Italy Lecce

Day 4 - A STEP BACK IN TIME

This morning we travel to the town of Matera in the neighbouring Basilicata region. Visiting Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is like a step back in time. In fact this is one of the oldest continually inhabited settlements in the world. The oldest cave dwellings go back to the Bronze Age. The town consists of houses carved out of the rock face along the side of a steep ravine. We meet with a local guide here who gives us an interesting insight into life in Matera, both now and in the past. In fact his grandparents lived in these caves. We visit the 'sassi' cave area, and enter one of the typical houses built into the rock, showing the difficult existence in these conditions. We also visit a cave church hewn out of the rock, featuring Byzantine frescoes and with interesting histories as their usage has evolved and adapted to the conditions over the years. Matera was used for the filming of Mel Gibson's “The Passion of the Christ” - you'll see why it is so easy to imagine Matera as being completely removed from the modern age. Since we are in the Basilicata region, our lunch here focuses on the specialties from this inland region.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (4 courses including wine)

Southern Italy Tour Matera

Day 5 - Egnazia - Trani

Today we have a day of two parts - history in the morning, followed by relaxing in a lovely coastal town in the afternoon.

Our first visit is to the ancient Roman site of Egnazia. This was a key stop on the Roman road Trajan's Way, well used in ancient times as a route to the Near East. Egnazia was a significant town, and today we can see many reminders of its past importance - wandering through the town we see where bakeries, gymnasiums and temples were located. The Roman road runs through the town, the rut marks left by the carriage wheels provide a direct connection to the past. Looking out to the coast we see where the local boats docked, having loaded up with olive oil and grain.

Continuing on we reach the town of Trani, a key summer destination for Italians and it is invariably one of the most loved visits for people on our tour. We start outside the stunning Romanesque cathedral perched right on the waterfront, and go on firstly to one of the key locations for the Knights Templar. We see the site where this fascinating order based themselves, originally the final point for their missions to leave these shores to head to the near east. Moving through the old Jewish quarter of town reveals much about how the way life in Trani was conducted, in particular seeing how the synagogues have evolved through the eras.

Today the harbour in Trani is a fishing port ringed by waterfront restaurants. Each morning the fishermen sell their fresh fish from the pier where they dock. Lunch is in a seaside restaurant making the most of this fresh catch.

Southern Italy Tour Trani

Day 6 - MARKETS - LOCOROTONDO - WINERY - COOKING

This morning is the weekly market day in Locorotondo, we get to see how the locals do their shopping – rows and rows of stalls with cheese, seasonal fruit, vegetables, and other fresh produce. We take the time to look around Locorotondo, an absolutely gorgeous town, in fact voted as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy ("Borghi piu belli d'Italia").

After browsing the market we depart to visit a family run winery, focussed on making quality wines from the traditional varieties that are grown in this area such as fiano minutolo and susumaniello. The winemaker takes us through the vineyard, and we taste a range of wines. Some of these wine varieties were so rare that they were not made commercially up until a few years ago.

Today we take the opportunity to show you a local folk dance called the ‘pizzica’. This is a fascinating experience, as it reveals much about the culture and traditions of Puglia. The pizzica dance is specific to this area, and many people who visit Puglia do not get the chance to see it. You’ll love this private performance, while relaxing with a glass of prosecco.

In the evening we have a special touch for our final evening, taking a cooking lesson from a local chef. Since you’ve been with us for a week now you will all be Puglia food experts. The focus will be on cooking typical Puglia dishes, first taking you through the types of ingredients used and their provenance. The cuisine of Puglia is based on the produce at a very local level, so is different to the food from other Italian regions.

Seasonal vegetables, as well as focaccia and other breads, dominate this cuisine. All these are based on the abundant fresh ingredients as well as the ever-present extra virgin olive oil - a simple and effective cuisine. Recipes have been handed down through the generations and are truly expressive of the Mediterranean diet. The session is hands on and we are all involved in making a series of dishes, and we finish off the session by dining on the meal we’ve prepared.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner (4 courses including wine)

Note: pizzica dance performance is based on availability/group size.

Southern Italy Tour Locorotondo

Day 7 - ARRIVEDERCI PUGLIA!

By now you know the local barista by name and he knows which coffee you order - but we must say 'arrivederci'.

We organise transport for you to your departure point in Bari and bid you “buon viaggio”.

The tour finishes in Bari at 11 a.m.

Meals: Breakfast

Southern Italy Tour Food Preparation

Best of Puglia Tour Dates 2024:

5 - 11 May 12 - 18 May 19 - 25 May 26 - May - 1 June 2 - 8 June 9 - 15 June 16 - 22 June 14 - 20 July 1 - 7 September 8 - 14 September 15 - 21 September 22 - 28 September 29 Sep - 5 October 6 - 12 October 13 - 19 October

Tour Price: €2500

* Price listed is based on twin share * Single supplement of €300 for solo travellers

Tour Price Includes:

  • All Accommodation is included
  • Meals as listed in the itinerary: breakfast every morning, plus a main meal each day of 3-4 courses including wine
  • All costs/entry fees for activities listed in the itinerary are included
  • All transport during the tour is included. Travel is in our van/minibus with a professional driver
  • 'Italy With Pleasure' provides a tour manager for the duration of the trip on hand to provide any support that you need

“The tour was first class, excellent in every way. An amazing way to see & learn about Puglia. The accommodation, sightseeing, superb food & mini van with great driver and Anita leading the group was sensational. We highly recommend this is the best way to see and learn about Puglia”

“We travelled to Puglia with friends in 2019 and loved the experiences arranged for us by Italy With Pleasure. The tour group was only 7 people, so the spectacular tour manager could easily cater to each of our needs and wants. The visits to the various towns and monuments coincided with some of the best and most regional meals we have ever had. Food and wine were plentiful and the selected venue's proprietors were very committed to ensuring that we all enjoyed our multi course meals and learned as much as we wanted about the unique cuisines that changed from town to town. Italy With Pleasure selected wisely on all counts and we thoroughly enjoyed our travels with them.”

“The Puglia tour, September 2022, exceeded our expectations. We have travelled a bit but have never participated in an organized tour group. Our tour participants were inclusive and a joy to get to know. Andy was an excellent guide/facilitator. He is so knowledgeable and filled with interesting factoids. He guided our group of 16 with humor and patience. He even made sure the restaurants we were scheduled to eat at knew our dietary restrictions. (Italians are so very accommodating) Each restaurant was carefully chosen, the food/wine excellent and we were treated as honored guests.”

“Our hotel in Polignano a Mare was very comfortable and the breakfast had a wide selection of lovely food. I cannot choose a single place I "loved the most". Each town was unique and the history varied and rich. A highlight was our "cooking class" and "learning" a folk dance on Friday evening. The whole experience was such fun.”

“Italy's history is vast and ancient. Malcolm and Antonella selected outstanding "subject matter experts" to guide us in the World Heritage Sites we visited. My favorite subject matter expert was Tiziana. She possesses a depth of knowledge and is able to tie the vast, varied history of this region together in a clear, concise way. The pandemic delayed our trip by 2.5 years. During that time, Malcolm and Antonella were readily available for all of our questions. This is the first time were we not ready to come home. A truly lovely adventure.”

Southern Italy Puglia map

THE 10 BEST Puglia Tours & Excursions

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puglia italy escorted tours

1. Full Day Tour by Car and Walking among the Apulian Beauties

puglia italy escorted tours

2. Small Group Boat Excursion to Polignano a Mare

puglia italy escorted tours

3. Charming Exclusive Customized tours with your real Apulian friend

puglia italy escorted tours

4. Alberobello, Monopoli, Polignano Small-Group Day Trip from Bari

puglia italy escorted tours

5. UNESCO's Alberobello and Matera from Bari

puglia italy escorted tours

6. Street Food Tour in Bari old town - Do Eat Better Experience

puglia italy escorted tours

7. Cooking class, dinner and wine tasting in Lecce (Corigliano)

puglia italy escorted tours

8. 2 Hours Horseback Riding in Montalbano Di Fasano

puglia italy escorted tours

9. Guided Tour by Catamaran with Aperitif from Polignano a Mare

puglia italy escorted tours

10. Lecce History and Street Food Tasting Small Group Tour

puglia italy escorted tours

11. Wine Experience: vineyard, wines and food

puglia italy escorted tours

12. Unesco Tour from Polignano: Guided tour of Alberobello and Matera

puglia italy escorted tours

13. From Brindisi: Alberobello Locorotondo Ostuni 7 hour guided tour

puglia italy escorted tours

14. Ostuni, Alberobello and Polignano a Mare. Departing from Lecce

puglia italy escorted tours

15. Day tour by car and on foot among the Apulian beauties of Matera

puglia italy escorted tours

16. Full Day Tour of Otranto City and its Amazing Seacoast from Lecce

puglia italy escorted tours

17. Boat tour of the Polignano a Mare caves with aperitif

puglia italy escorted tours

18. Tour to 4 Towns of Salento: Otranto, Leuca, Gallipoli, Galatina

puglia italy escorted tours

19. Unesco Tour from Bari Guided visit to Alberobello and Matera

puglia italy escorted tours

20. Puglia Cooking class "Le orecchiette, che pasta!"

puglia italy escorted tours

21. Private Wine Tour from Ostuni with Lunch including Alberobello and Locorotondo

puglia italy escorted tours

22. Bari Walking City Tour

puglia italy escorted tours

23. Orecchiette Cooking Class and Wine Tasting in Lecce

puglia italy escorted tours

24. E-bike Tour in Ostuni, the centuries-old olive trees and the rock village

puglia italy escorted tours

25. Locorotondo, Alberobello, Martina Franca departing from Taranto

puglia italy escorted tours

26. Mozzarella Experience - Cheese Tour and tastings to Masseria Fragnite

puglia italy escorted tours

27. Bari Street Food Bike Tour

puglia italy escorted tours

28. Bari Walking Tour with Pasta Experience

puglia italy escorted tours

29. Traditional Home Cooking Experience in Lecce

puglia italy escorted tours

30. Bari - Semi Private Street Food & City Sightseeing Tour with Local Guide

What travelers are saying.

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  • Small Group Boat Excursion to Polignano a Mare
  • Full Day Tour by Car and Walking among the Apulian Beauties
  • Street Food Tour in Bari old town - Do Eat Better Experience
  • Puglia Cooking class "Le orecchiette, che pasta!"
  • UNESCO's Alberobello and Matera from Bari
  • Leucos Escursioni
  • Leuca Explorer
  • Minerva Noleggio
  • Poseidon Escursioni
  • Capitan Morgan Castro
  • In barca nel Salento
  • Escursioni Nemo
  • Biagio Tour
  • Sea Tour Gallipoli

Espressino Travel stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement and against racism. Read our full statement here.

puglia italy escorted tours

Discover this spectacular corner of Italy on our award-winning culinary tours

Discover Puglia on our Culinary Tour

Based in the beautiful baroque town of Lecce, our Puglia tours explore the places, people and flavours of this wonderful Southern Italian region.

Puglia tours

After the sun sets in Lecce, the city comes alive. Join us as we discover Lecce by Night, encountering local culture and street food in the Florence of the South.

espressino travel puglia tours

Unique, boutique culinary holidays in italy.

Join us for incredible, unforgettable tours in Puglia, the fascinating heel of the Italian boot. Espressino Travel will be your personal guides on weeklong Puglia culinary tours and day tours from our home in the stunning city of Lecce.

As we travel the region, you will partake in hands-on cooking classes, interact with locals, dine at amazing restaurants and explore the cuisine and culture of Southern Italy's last great undiscovered destination. With our team's insider local knowledge of Puglia, we provide authentic, exciting and engaging vacations that independent travellers simply can't find on their own. Visit for a week; be changed for life. Andiamo in Italia!

puglia italy escorted tours

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puglia italy escorted tours

Awards and Accolades:

puglia italy escorted tours

puglia italy escorted tours

Our award-winning Puglia tours visit the region's best sights while immersing you in the incredible local cuisine, wine and culture. Everything is included in the cost of our weeklong Puglia tour: luxury accommodation, all meals including wine, cooking lessons, excursions, guided tours, transfers, culinary experiences and entry fees. All you need to do is book your travel to Puglia; we will do the rest for you.

puglia italy escorted tours

Espressino Travel was founded on a passion for Puglia. After countless vacations, and an unforgettable summer in Lecce, we became part of an amazing community of friends, teachers, chefs and hosts. Inspired by our experiences, we realized that the region, its people and its culture were too good not to share with the world. Join us on our Puglia tour and we believe you'll fall in love just like we did!

our inspiration

puglia italy escorted tours

Guidebooks call Lecce the Florence of the South. The reality is even better. A city of baroque treasures and culinary delights, Lecce has somehow remained unspoilt by tourism. Lecce may be the jewel in Puglia's crown, but the region is bursting with undiscovered gems full of amazing food and wine. But above all, it is the warmth and kindness of the locals that makes the region the perfect place for our Puglia tours.

Benvenuti Tutti : Everyone is Welcome

Inclusion and diversity are fundamental to our core values at Espressino Travel. We believe that no one should be discriminated against because of their differences: whether it’s age, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, religion or sexual orientation. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all our guests; where everyone can comfortably be themselves and experience the beauty of Italy.  

To give thanks to our wonderful host country and the communities in which we work, we support worthy local causes including post-Earthquake rehabilitation work in Central Italy and life-saving support work for immigrant families and refugees in Southern Italy. For more information please contact us. 

puglia italy escorted tours

Experience Puglia Tours | Private and small group tours Puglia

Puglia 3 day tour

Best tours of puglia – italy | escorted tour & itinerary .

A 3 day itinerary, a escorted tour with a professional guide offering local food & wine and best places to visit: Alberobello and its trulli, Matera and its cave houeses, Monopoli and its coastline and much more! You’ll love our tours of Puglia – Italy

See below a detailed itinerary and activities for a 3 day tour (3 days, 4 nights). To customize your tour, ask a question or for any further information please contact us or send an e-mail to [email protected]

  • Meet at the hall of the hotel.
  • Visit of Matera and its Unesco’s site “the Sassi” (cave houses, rocky churches where time seems to stop).
  • Focaccia tasting in an ancient bakery with a wood burning oven in Altamura , town famous for its bread.
  • Lunch in a selected restaurant
  • Guided tour of Gioia del Colle : the castle and its museum, the churches, the historical center.
  • Return to Gioia: rest and free evening.
  • Visit of Polignano a mare and its wonderful sea.
  • Guided tour of Monopoli , sea side town featuring waterfront, cathedral and whitewashed houses
  • Lunch in a “slow food” restaurant.
  • Guided tour of Alberobello : walk among the trulli and the historical quarter.
  • Return to Gioia and free evening.
  • Meet at the hall of the hotel
  • Visit of Trani : the little fishing port, the Templar Knights’ church, the historical center
  • Guided tour of Barletta featuring Frederik II’s castle, Norman Cathedral and Medieval historical center.
  • Lunch in a typical restaurant in the countryside selected by “Michelin’s guide”
  • Return to Gioia
  • Arrival to Bari airport and goodbye

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3 DAY TOUR at € 1200 euros per person

Monopoli - exeperiencepuglia

The price includes

  • Collection and transfer from/to Bari airport
  • 4 nights accommodation in a delightful B&B in the historical center
  • Daily breakfasts
  • Guided Tour
  • Visit of the towns as indicated on the itinerary
  • Entry ticket to the castle in Gioia del Colle
  • Ticket to the castle in Barletta
  • Entry ticket to the museum in Gioia del Colle
  • Ticket to the museum in Barletta
  • Entry to a cave house in Matera
  • 3 lunches in selected restaurants
  • Focaccia tasting
  • Transport to each location by private vehicle
  • Opportunity to buy wines and extra virgin olive oil at vineyard/oil-mill prices
  • Bottles of water for the tour
  • Hotel taxes and departure taxes
  • Any extra help or advice to make your stay as pleasant as possible

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A Week In... Puglia

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  • 2024 Small Group
  • 2025 Small Group

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  • Important Info

Uniquely Tauck

Puglia Italy Escorted Tour

EXPERIENCE WITH TAUCK

ALL SMALL GROUP DEPARTURES averaging 24 Tauck guests – A small group size means a more personal travel experience highlighted by stays at chic smaller hotels in fabulous locations

A two-night stay in Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Basilicata, with sightseeing by tuk-tuk and guided exploration of the Sassi cave-dwelling settlement

TAUCK VALUE INCLUDES

Two nights in the Baroque city of Lecce, known as the "Florence of the South"

Lunch at a winery known for Puglian Primitivo wine A visit to Alberobello's famous limestone  trulli  houses

SEE WHAT YOUR TAUCK VALUE INCLUDES

Active components such as hiking, bicycling and walking longer distances may be included, and hills and/or uneven terrain may be encountered on several days. Guests should be able to walk two to three miles and stand for long periods of time with no difficulty.

Often robust – may include long days, active sightseeing, early starts, evening activities, significant travel times.

Along Europe's Scenic "Yellow Roads"

Explore the long heel of Italy's boot to discover sights, tastes, and gorgeous seascapes you'll find nowhere else... like Matera, where the Sassi houses are caverns and the streets are sometimes the roofs of other houses... Trulli houses, tiny fairy castles made of limestone slabs, built without mortar...

Baccanti ristorani, matera, explore polignano a mare, discover the cliffside grottoes and seaside charms of polignano a mare on the adriatic.

If you're of "a certain age," you might remember an Italian pop song from the late 1950s that crossed the Atlantic and became an international hit. Its actual title is "Nel blu dipinto di blu", but it's better known around the world as "Volare" ("To Fly"). It was co-written and performed by Italian singer, songwriter, actor (and, later in life, politician) Domenico Modugno, and is closely identified with his hometown, Polignano a Mare, perched on the Adriatic Sea near Bari in Puglia. Spend some time exploring this seaside town known for its cliff diving and the deep blue grottoes that inspired the song.

The "Sassi" cave dwellings of Matera

Ride a tuk-tuk amidst the "sassi" cave dwellings of matera, a unesco world heritage site.

Hop aboard a tuk-tuk for a ride through the winding streets of Matera in Basilicata, where you'll see a series of rock or cave dwellings that date back to Paleolithic times. Known as Sassi (for "stone"), these dwellings, piled atop one another across a steep ravine, were once natural caves and grottoes that over the centuries were adapted by human settlers as homes. Devoid of residents since the 1960s, the Sassi of Matera are now preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which you'll explore with a local guide who will share insights on the site, which served as a location in the Mel Gibson film "The Passion of the Christ."

Masseria Torre Coccaro

An authentic taste of appulian life at masseria torre coccaro.

Long prized for the green gold (olive oil) they produce, Puglia's masserias, historic fortified farmhouses converted into boutique hotels, offer an authentic taste of daily life during your stay. 16th-century Torre Coccaro, a working farm nestled amidst antique olive trees, specializes in freshly harvested farm-to-table cuisine and invites guests to cook like the locals at their on-site culinary school. Guests enjoy beach club privileges, impeccable hospitality and beautiful scenic settings.

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All the information you need for this journey at your fingertips – day-by-day details, map, hotel descriptions, key highlights and more.

Where you stay is an important part of your journey – with Tauck, accommodations have been handpicked and carefully selected for their location and ambiance, enhancing the destinations you explore. Download accommodation details and your travel plans begin!

Tour Planner

Download the details to make planning your trip easier - including an itinerary overview, pricing based on your selected departure date and accommodations, plus protection plan costs.

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Overnight Accommodations

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Palazzo gattini.

Matera, Italy

Risorgimento Resort

Lecce, Italy

Borgo Egnazia

Savalletri di Fasano, Italy

Your Journey

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About Booking This Tour

Travel Documents

If you are a U.S. citizen traveling internationally, you will need a passport valid for six months beyond the completion of your Tauck journey for entry into Italy; however, you do not need a visa for the short duration of this tour.

If you are a citizen of another country traveling internationally, you should contact an embassy or consulate of Italy to determine what travel documentation is required.

Please note that longer stays abroad for any purpose may require additional travel documentation.

We recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration and your citizenship. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.

To facilitate Travel Requirements, destinations are increasingly utilizing online forms that require digital proof that you've successfully completed your submission (via an email, QR code, etc.) To ensure smooth travels and peace of mind, we strongly recommend all guests carry a personal smart phone and sign up for international data plans before traveling overseas.

TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN AS A GUARDIAN: If you are traveling as the guardian of a child/children, we strongly suggest that you carry a letter from both parents of the child authorizing emergency treatment in the event of illness or accident. For travel abroad, many foreign countries have specific entry requirements for children under 21 who are traveling internationally without BOTH parents. (These requirements are in response to the increased incidence of children being abducted and taken abroad.) PLEASE NOTE THAT TAUCK IS NOT RESPONSIBLE for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for children traveling without both parents.

How to Book a Tour

See your travel advisor, or call Tauck at 800-468-2825 to make a reservation.

At the time of booking, please have the following information ready for all members of your party:

  • Tour Name and Departure Date
  • Traveler's Name: First and last names as they appear on your passport or driver's license
  • Traveler's Address(es)
  • Email Address*
  • Traveler's Phone Number(s)*
  • Emergency Contact Information: Please provide the name and phone number  of a relative or friend (not travelling with you) whom we could contact during the tour in the unlikely event of an emergency
  • Interest in purchasing a travel protection plan (US and Canada)
  • Interest in extending your trip by staying in a Tauck recommended hotel before your trip begins or after it ends
  • Interest in our specially negotiated airfares

* Required Fields

Deposits & Final Payment

Deposits and fees for the optional Protection Plan or Cancel Fee Waiver [CFW] coverage are due at time of booking.

The deposit amount is $600 per person

Final Payments:

Final Payment is due to Tauck  60  days before departure for lands trips, and  120  days before departure for cruises and rail journeys. If your deposit was made by credit card, final payment will be automatic unless you opted out at time of booking. Bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice. Failure to make payment will be a considered a cancellation by the guest and all applicable cancellation fees will apply.

Travel Protection Plan

Effective for plans purchased as of July 1, 2021:

Tauck's Guest Protection

Tauck's Guest Protection provides you with cancellation protection before your journey begins as well as insurance benefits while you are traveling. Guest Protection includes the following:

Cancellation Waiver – Provided by Tauck:

Under Tauck's Cancellation Fee Waiver you can cancel your tour for ANY REASON up to the day before departure and receive a money-back refund (except in Extreme Circumstances*) on the land tour cost, based on your original method of payment.

*Extreme Circumstances:  In the event of an act of God, war (whether declared or undeclared), terrorism, accident, natural disaster, outbreak of disease, or other event or circumstance beyond our control that contributes to or results in cancellation rates above our historical cancellation rates in the absence of such event or occurrence, Tauck reserves the right to issue a credit to you in lieu of a money-back refund, applicable to a future Tauck journey.

Travel Insurance Benefits – Underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company.

  • Trip Cancellation –  If you must cancel your tour due to a covered reason, the plan provides coverage for the amount you paid for your travel arrangements. Since the non-insurance cancellation waiver takes care of the land package cancellation fees already, this benefit reimburses the airfare cancellation charges up to the value of your original airfare purchase.
  • Trip Interruption –  If you have to interrupt your tour for covered reasons, the plan provides reimbursement to catch up to your tour or return home.
  • Travel Delay –  Provides reimbursement for missed, prepaid travel arrangements if you are delayed by a common carrier, natural disaster, unannounced strike, or other reasons as cited in the plan.
  • Medical Expense –  Reimburses covered medical expenses incurred in the event you become injured or sick during your trip. 
  • Baggage / Personal Effects Protection –  Provides reimbursement in the event your luggage or personal effects are, lost, stolen, damaged or delayed during your trip.
  • Worldwide Emergency Assistance Services –  Provided by Carefree Travel Assistance; 24-hour emergency telephone assistance hotline for medical and travel related problems.

The cost of Tauck's Guest Protection is: $449  per person

This protection provides insurance coverage that applies only during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home and automobile policies. If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer, insurance agent or broker.

This optional Guest Protection must be requested at time of booking and fee must be included with initial payment. Fees are based on costs as of July 1, 2021, and are subject to change. Details will be provided with written confirmation of your tour reservation. Guest Protection does not protect travel agent commissions. Reimbursements will be made according to original method of payment. The amount of any refund shall be reduced by any recoveries obtained by you from any third parties.

The Guest Protection plan waives cancellation fees outlined below, provided we are notified of cancellation before your tour departs. Tour cancellation fees are waived regardless of reason, without written notice, and Tauck will refund land tour cost.

To obtain your state-specific Certificate of Insurance that contains the complete terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the certificate, visit  affinitytravelcert.com/docs/TACGPPINTL .

If You Have To Cancel

If you cancel within 10 days of initial deposit Within the first 10 days after you place your initial deposit, you may cancel your reservation for any reason with no cancellation fees. If you cancel more than 10 days after initial deposit Regardless of reason, cancellations result in costly charges from our travel and hotel providers covering penalties and fees incurred by canceling confirmed bookings. These fees vary from tour to tour. Therefore, the following fees apply.

Cancellation Fees with Tauck's Guest Protection Plan:

Loss of Guest Protection fee, per person 

Cancellation Fees without Tauck's Guest Protection Plan :

60 days or more before departure = $600 per person

59-8 days before departure = $900 per person

7-1 days before departure = $1500 per person

Time of cancellation will be when notice is received in our Wilton Woods, CT office.

In the event of an unforeseen circumstance beyond our control, Tauck reserves the right to amend the cancellation terms outlined herein.

Note:  All Guests, regardless of residency, who book a Tauck journey have the option of purchasing the Cancellation Waiver provided by Tauck in the event they need to cancel their trip after making their reservations. Tauck's Guest Protection, which includes both the Cancellation Fee Waiver and the Travel Insurance Benefits and Assistance Services described above, is not available to residents of Puerto Rico.

Travel Terms and Conditions

Click here  to find Tauck's Travel Terms & Conditions.

Travel Requirements For This Tour

Air Information and Luggage Restrictions

AIRFARE: Airfare to and from this destination is not included in the journey cost. If purchasing your air elsewhere, it is very important to provide us with your confirmed arriving and departing flight information no later than 3 weeks before your arrival date. Flight information can be submitted to Tauck (or verified, if you've already provided it) in the My Account section of Tauck.com.

TAUCK AIRPORT TRANSFERS are included at the start and end of the journey between the airport and the Tauck hotel. Airport transfers are available for any pre tour or post tour hotel stays immediately consecutive to the tour, providing flight information is received in the Tauck office no later than three weeks in advance. Details on locating your transfer upon arrival to the tour start city will be included in your final documents.

AIRLINES and CHECKED LUGGAGE: Due to space limitations during your Tauck journey, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one average-size suitcase per person. Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and are free to revise luggage policies without notice. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies. PLEASE NOTE that if you are booked on a tour that includes on-tour flights, the checked luggage weight restrictions for these flights may be lower than the weight restrictions for your international flights.

Checked Luggage – General

While it is common for airlines to allow passengers to check more than one piece of luggage per person, space constraints during your Tauck journey make it difficult to accommodate extra luggage. We ask that you limit your checked luggage to one average size suitcase per person.

Recently, airlines have adopted policies enforcing strict number, size and weight limits. Luggage exceeding maximum restrictions may require expensive overage fees, frustrating and hurried re-packing at the ticket counter, or even risk being left behind.

Many carriers require that checked luggage not exceed a weight of 50 lbs (22.7 kg) per piece. Airlines revise luggage policies frequently and often without notice; therefore, we cannot be held liable for the accuracy of the weight limit listed above. We urge you to check with your airline before traveling to determine current number, weight and size restrictions. It is also important to note that restrictions for luggage number, weight and size may vary with the same airline based on the class of service you select. First and Business Class ticket holders may have different restrictions than Coach Class travelers. You may wish to consult the website, luggagelimits.com , by clicking here .

We cannot be held liable for additional fees or inconveniences imposed by the airline due to luggage number, weight and size policies.

Tauck luggage tags will be provided by your Tauck Director on Day 1 of your itinerary. Please do not attach a Tauck luggage tag to any carry-on items, as the Tauck tags designate luggage that is to be handled and transferred by ground operators and hotel staff during your journey.

Although oversize bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and that you bring only those items you need handy during the day such as make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or on the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may be inaccessible during daytime travel.

Health, Safety and Mobility

HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS

Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling. If you will not be covered under your current policy, we strongly suggest that you arrange for adequate coverage while on tour.

If you have a medical condition which might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify us as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly. 

VACCINATIONS  

If you are a resident of the U.S. traveling internationally, no vaccinations are currently required for travel to Italy. For complete vaccination and inoculation information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. The Travelers' Health Section of the CDC operates a 24-hour "Travelers' Health Hotline" at 800-232-4636 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also log on to the CDC website by clicking here .

If you are a resident of another country traveling internationally, please contact an embassy or consulate of Italy to determine what vaccination(s) may be required for your travel.

SPECIAL DIETARY REQUESTS

The restaurants, hotels, caterers and numerous other partners we work with all do their best to accommodate special dietary requests from Tauck guests. However, given the diverse nature of those food providers (from small wineries to grand hotels to world-famous restaurants in more than 70 countries worldwide), some of our partners are better able than others to accommodate such requests. We therefore cannot guarantee that all dietary requests can be accommodated at every meal. Also, please note that where dietary requests can be accommodated, choices will frequently be limited.

To enjoy this tour, you should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances, often over unpaved and uneven surfaces. Some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. Italy is home to innumerable historic buildings and sites, some dating from antiquity. Therefore, roads, walkways and architecture will present difficulties for some guests with physical disabilities. You will encounter cobblestone streets, narrow passageways, and some steep and winding staircases. For the most part, however, the amount of walking you do at the various sites and towns is at your discretion.

In addition, coach travel along the many "Yellow Roads" on this tour are very windy and may cause you some discomfort if you are prone to motion sickness. If you are, we advise bringing motion sickness remedies or medication with you.

PLEASE NOTE: We regret that this Tauck itinerary cannot accommodate wheelchairs or motorized scooters.  Likewise, we regret that we're unable to provide individual assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal needs.  The responsibility of the Tauck Director who accompanies your trip is to ensure that the larger group enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing individual assistance to any one guest.  Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it.While drinking water is generally safe at all our hotels, bottled water will be available wherever the local water is not fit to drink. We also provide bottled water on the motor coaches.

Reading List

We have compiled a reading list of recommended books to give you more information about the destinations you will be traveling to on your upcoming journey!

You can view the reading list  here.

Puglia enjoys a comfortable Mediterranean climate with hot sunny summers and mild winters. Summer lasts from June until September, and is hot and sunny with rainfall increasing after July, to a peak in September and October. The average summer temperature is not too hot and ranges between 26°C (79°F) and 30°C (85°F), and remains warm through September with an average of 26°C (79°F). The beaches along the Adriatic coast benefit from being sheltered and the average water temperature of between 20°C (68°F) and 26°C (79°F) makes it comfortable for bathers for the whole summer season. Because of Puglia's southern position on the Italian peninsula, it has long summer days with as many as 14 hours of sunshine per day at the height of summer.

To read about current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website by clicking here.

What To Pack

Bringing the right clothing for your trip is important – we've partnered with Necessary Gear who provide an "easy-to-use, one-stop shop" for your Tauck travel needs, specifically selected for this trip. Click here to visit their site .

When packing for your trip to Italy, it is important to keep in mind the time of year you are traveling and the current weather conditions for that time. The weather in Italy is temperate and unpredictable. Your journey is designed with leisure in mind. Dress for comfort and convenience with a wardrobe that is adaptable and allows for layering. Generally, during the day, casual, comfortable, cotton clothing is recommended. Cool weather at higher elevations or at night will require warmer, layered clothing.

In Europe, especially in finer restaurants, it is customary to dress somewhat formally. Slacks or a dress for women and a jacket for men are acceptable dining attire. It is advisable to avoid wearing jeans, sneakers or shorts for dinner. You may also wish to dress up a bit for the welcome reception and the farewell dinner, but certainly be comfortable.

Most Catholic churches in Italy require that your knees and shoulders be covered when you enter, even during the hot days of summer. This is particularly important when you visit St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, where shorts and tank tops are not allowed.

You will find a hair dryer located in your hotel guest room. By law in Italy, irons and ironing boards are not made available to guests at the hotels. Valet laundry and dry cleaning services are available for a fee.

We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor's prescription or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you, a list of the generic names of your medication, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.

Following is a list of recommended items to pack for your trip to Italy:

  • Casual daytime wear – shorts, slacks, long and short-sleeved shirts
  • An optional jacket and tie for men
  • Casually elegant evening wear for ladies
  • Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat
  • A light sweater or jacket for higher elevations or a breezy night
  • Binoculars (7x50 preferably)
  • Insect repellent
  • Camera, lenses, batteries, memory cards and chargers
  • Lightweight, comfortable, sturdy walking shoes that have already been broken-in
  • Travel alarm clock/cell phone with alarm function (many hotels do not have clocks in the rooms)
  • Rain poncho and collapsible umbrella
  • Reusable zipper-lock bags or other waterproof bags
  • Daypack for camera equipment
  • Sundries and toiletries that may be difficult to find en route
  • Copies of your travel documents that should be secured in the safe in your hotel room while traveling

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  • Authentic Puglia Small Group Escorted Tour - Masseria Caselli
  • Holiday Types
  • Italy Escorted Tours

Discover the stunning region of Puglia with our 8-day itinerary! From exploring the unique trulli houses in Alberobello to olive oil tasting in Ostuni and baroque architecture in Lecce, this tour is perfect for travellers who want to experience the best of southern Italy. You’ll even learn how to make Puglia’s typical pasta, orecchiette , and enjoy an olive oil tasting. Your base for the week will be at the Masseria Caselli in the heart of Puglia, the perfect place to relax after your day.

Please note: Our small group escorted tours require a minimum number of customers to participate in order to operate successfully. The minimum number on this tour is 10 customers. Due to the amount of walking and steps involved with this tour, it is not suitable for people with walking difficulties. 

  2024 Tour Departure Dates

  • 15 May 2024 -Last remaining rooms
  • 12 June 2024 - Last remaining rooms
  • 11 September 2024
  • 25 September 2024

At a glance

  • Enjoy a guided trip of Matera
  • Explore Alberobello
  • Learn how to make pasta
  • Visit Ostuni, Bari and Lecce
  • Visit the caves of Castellana
  • Maximum group size: 18
  • Exclusive to Citalia

puglia italy escorted tours

For more information, call our Italy Experts on:

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Trip Itinerary

Upon arrival, you'll be greeted by a private transfer to your hotel. After settling in, you'll have a welcome meeting with your guide before enjoying dinner and an overnight stay at your hotel.

Meals included:

Start your day with a visit to Alberobello, the capital of trulli houses, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996. Explore the Aia Piccola and Rione Monti areas, which are filled with charming trulli houses, and visit the Sant'Antonio church, also built in trullo style. Afterward, you'll head to Ostuni, known as the White City for its dazzling white buildings. Overlooking the coast and its monumental olive trees, you'll stop at an oil mill in Cisternino for an olive oil tasting before enjoying dinner and an overnight stay at your hotel.

Today, you'll visit Lecce, known as the Florence of the South for its stunning baroque architecture. From the Porta Napoli to the Duomo and the Roman Amphitheatre to Piazza Sant'Oronzo, this city will impress you with its beauty.

After lunch in a typical restaurant, you'll visit Otranto, the southernmost city in Italy, which boasts a picturesque coast and medieval buildings. Explore the narrow alleys and the stunning cathedral with its famous tree mosaic. Dinner will be served at your hotel.

Take a day to explore the area on your own or relax at the hotel.

On this day, you'll start with a visit to the capital city of Bari, where you can see the Basilica of Saint Nicholas of Myra, which houses the saint's bones. You'll also explore the city's medieval centre, passing by the Norman castle, cathedral, and Piazza del Ferrarese. In the afternoon, you'll visit the picturesque seaside town of Polignano a Mare,  perched atop a 20 metre-high limestone cliff above the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic. Take a stroll through the charming old town and enjoy the stunning coastal views. This evening, head back to your hotel for dinner.

This day begins with a visit to Martina Franca, where you can enjoy the well-preserved baroque cityscape. Then, experience a fun and interactive pasta cooking class in the Putignano area, followed by a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, explore the impressive caves of Castellana Grotte and marvel at the stunning stalagmites and stalactites. In the evening you will enjoy dinner at the hotel.

Travel through a beautiful landscape to Altamura, where you'll have the chance to taste the region's famous Focaccia bread in a local bakery.  Take a leisurely stroll through the charming old town before heading to the picturesque rock town of Matera. Discover the stunning views and unique cave houses known as the Sassi, which have made Matera a popular UNESCO World Heritage site. On your last evening, you’ll enjoy a farewell dinner with the group at a local restaurant in Ostuni.

Say goodbye to the group as you leave ‘Italy’s heel’ and head home.

  • Breakfast 

8 days from £2,099 per person

What's included:

  • 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 7 dinners including a special farewell dinner in a local restaurant
  • English speaking guide
  • Orecchiette cooking demonstration
  • Focaccia and bread tasting in a local bakery
  • Entrance fees to Castellana Grotte, Matera Church and the Duomo and Basilica in Lecce
  • Welcome drink

What's not included:

  • Tourist tax (approx €10 - €12 per person for 7 nights)
  • Drinks and any extras
  • Private transfers to and from hotel

Practical Information

Flight information, visa information.

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What our customers think

  We have been helping our customers discover the real Italy for 95 years now. Our experience and expertise, together with our attention to detail and personal touch, really does make us the leading Italian holiday specialist.

8 DAYS PUGLIA SMALL GROUP GUIDED TOUR

Cultural and culinary tour in southern italy.

Southern Italy tours

This tour is ideal for those who want to make an unforgettable vacation living the Italian lifestyle! Visiting Puglia with us you will discover the real Made in Italy in all its aspects: art, history, ancient traditions, events, delicious food and excellent wine. We will personally accompany you through this wonderful experience!
  • WHAT'S INCLUDED
  • PRICES & DATES

Day 1  Arrival in Puglia – Ostuni Benvenuti in Puglia! To get to Puglia, we suggest flying to Bari Palese airport or traveling to Bari Centrale train station. Upon request, we will arrange for you a transfer from airport/train station to the hotel. Tour begins in the afternoon at 5:30 pm at the Hotel in Ostuni city. After check-in, meeting with your local tour guide and welcome drink with a short tour presentation. Guided walking tour of Ostuni , best known as “la città Bianca” (the white city) for its historical downtown houses completely white painted, a tradition the inhabitants still keep on for centuries. Ostuni is perched atop a hill, offering a breathtaking view of ancient olive groves and the coastline of the Adriatic Sea on the horizon. Evening at your disposal and free time for your relaxation. Accommodation: 4-star Hotel in Ostuni  

Day 2  Bari - Polignano a Mare Today we will travel along the Adriatic Coast until to reach Bari , Puglia's capital city. Guided tour through the old town and visit of the quarter known as Bari Vecchia; we will see where local ladies still make orecchiette pasta by hand sitting outside their houses. Their speed and precision will amaze you! Then you'll get your first taste of Puglia's delicious cuisine with a lunch based on traditional Apulian seafood and wine. Our trip continues with the visit of Polignano a Mare , a characteristic Mediterranean fishing village that stands on a rocky cliff. Guided walking tour through the historical downtown with its houses and terraces directly overlooking the sea and gelato tasting in a local gelateria, where you can enjoy an authentic hand-made gelato . Polignano is famous for its hand-crafted gelato! Return to the Hotel. Meals: B / L / - Accommodation: 4-star Hotel in Ostuni  

Day 3  Matera UNESCO site After breakfast, meet your driver and tour guide. We will travel to the Basilicata region to visit Matera city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site best known for the Sassi di Matera, an ancient city with houses that have been excavated into the rocks and inhabited since the Stone Age. Rupestrian churches, houses, caves, and ancient streets create a unique and suggestive landscape, where Mel Gibson chose to shoot the movie, The Passion of the Christ. You will enjoy a fascinating walking tour through the unique and ancient Sassi di Matera and visit of a Casa Grotta museum (ancient cave house museum) fully furnished as it was in the past. Lunch at your leisure. Your guide will suggest you local restaurants where to eat typical dishes. Return to the Hotel. Meals: B / - / - Accommodation: 4-star Hotel in Ostuni  

Day 4  Locorotondo – Mozzarella and “farm to table” lunch experience – Alberobello UNESCO site   Today we will discover the beautiful Itria Valley, located between the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea. It is characterized by charming villages located on the top of different hills, wooded slopes, vineyards, mile after mile of olive groves, and the fascinating Trulli houses. Visit of Locorotondo , the old town layout follows a circular plan, with narrow and concentric arranged streets lined with whitewashed houses called Cummerse . Then we will visit a local farm famous for the production of Apulian organic cheese. You can taste freshly organic mozzarella , burrata, and other Apulian cheeses! Mariangela, the owner of the farm, will cook for us a traditional family lunch and she will show you how to make fresh Mozzarella, hand-made of course! In the afternoon, enjoy sightseeing Alberobello “the capital of Trulli houses”, a UNESCO Site. Trulli are ancient 14th-century stone houses with a round shape and a conical roof; they are an icon of the region! Guided walking tour along the picturesque Trulli district and the Aia Piccola area where some local people still live in these fairytale houses. Free time for your relaxation and shopping. Return to the Hotel.  Meals: B / L / - Accommodation: 4-star Hotel in Ostuni

Day 5  Extra virgin olive oil experience - Monopoli Today, your drive will take you through the peaceful countryside of this part of Southern Italy. Visit of a local farmhouse with extra virgin olive oil tasting. During this exciting tour you will you will admire centuries old olive trees considered real "sculptures of nature"! Then visit of Monopoli . This town is a typical Mediterranean fishing village located on the Adriatic Sea, and it was a thriving seaport in Byzantine and Norman times, although its strategic position made it the object of regular attacks by pirates. Free time for your relaxation and lunch at your leisure. Return to the hotel. Meals: B / - / - Accommodation: 4-star Hotel in Ostuni

Day 6  Apulian wine experience – Otranto In the morning, after breakfast and Hotel check-out, we will move to Salento area, the South part of Puglia region. Visit a local winery. Your wine expert guide will show you the vineyards and the cellar where you will learn about grape varieties and wine production in this part of Italy. Finally enjoy your lunch with the tasting of different Apulian wines: white, rosè and red paired with Apulian typical food. In the afternoon we will visit Otranto , the eastern point of Italy, called also “the door to the East”. Walking tour through the historical downtown and visit of the ancient cathedral famous for its grandiose mosaic floor. Get lost in the narrow streets of Otranto old town and admire the impressive panorama of the blue-green Adriatic Sea. Transfer to Lecce city and check-in at the Hotel. Meals: B / L / - Accommodation: 4-star Hotel in Lecce  

Day 7  Lecce “the Florence of the Southern Italy” Today we will visit Lecce , the main city of the Salento area. The superb beauty of its churches and elegant noble buildings attracts a great number of visitors, because this city is the capital of the Baroque art in the South. For this reason, Lecce is called “the Florence of the Southern Italy”. Guided walking tour through the historical center with the Duomo of Lecce, the Roman amphitheater and the beautiful Basilica of Santa Croce. You’ll enjoy an Arrivederci - farewell lunch with the group at a local restaurant in Lecce. Afternoon at your disposal for shopping, relaxation or visit more of the Baroque beauties of Lecce. Meals: B / L / - Accommodation: 4-star Hotel in Lecce  

Day 8  Departure Breakfast and Hotel check-out. Say goodbye to the group as you leave ‘Italy’s heel’! Upon request, we can arrange for you, private transfers to the airport/train station. Meals: B / - / -  

Alberobello guided tour

INCLUDED •     4-star Hotel in Ostuni : 5 nights in double room occupancy •     4-star Hotel in Lecce : 2 nights in double room occupancy •     7 breakfasts  •    4 lunches in selected restaurants based on authentic Apulian dishes and wine •     Visit of a local farm with organic Mozzarella and Apulian cheeses tasting •     Visit of a local winery with tasting of a selection of Apulian wines paired with local food •     Visit of a local oil mill with extra virgin olive oil tasting •     Hand-made gelato tasting in typical Italian Gelateria •     English speaking local guide at your disposal during all the tour •     Private guided walking tours of Ostuni, Bari, Polignano a Mare, Matera Unesco site, Locorotondo, Alberobello Unesco site, Otranto and Lecce. •     Transfers during the excursion as per itinerary with Van or small Bus •    Admission tickets in Matera, Lecce and for all visiting sites as per itinerary •    Services of a friendly experienced English speaking Travel Director who will remain at your disposal during the all tour. •    VAT Tax

NOT INCLUDED •    Airfare •    Transfers between the arrival/departure airports. Upon request, we will arrange private transfers for you. •    Meals and beverages not mentioned in the itinerary •    Hotel city tax •    All that is not mentioned in the program and into "included".  

Customize and make this trip Private

You can make this tour your own private travel experience to share with your family or a group of friends! Keep the trip exclusive to your group and customize it according to your wishes, dates, and budget. You can make your tour private with a minimum of 4 adults. Please,  contact us   to get your personalized quote. Extend your stay Round off your holiday in Puglia by visiting a different area of the region, staying in a hand-picked hotel, and adding more visits and activities. Personalized experiences to add upon request: •   Guided walking tours with expert local guide •   Visit of local farm with organic Mozzarella and Apulian cheeses tasting •   Visit of local oil mill with Extra Virgin Olive Oil tasting •   Visit of local wineries with Apulian wines tasting •   Apulian cooking class •   Boat tours •   Bike tours •   Lunches and dinners in selected restaurants

*The tour is guaranteed to depart when there is a minimum of 3 travelers confirmed.  

Customize and make this trip private You can turn this tour into your own personalized travel experience to share with your family or a group of friends.  Keep the trip exclusive to your group and customize it according to your desired dates, budget, and preferences.

Extend your holiday Extend your stay in Puglia by exploring a different region of the area, adding more activities and visits, or simply relaxing at a charming Apulian Masseria farmhouse hotel in the countryside, or another hand-picked hotel.

Please let us know your request and we will create a tailor-made proposal for you!

Tour highlights

  • 7 nights in carefully selected 4-star Hotels
  • Sample typical regional specialties during select meals at featured local restaurants - away from mass tourism.
  • A selection of unique excursions and experiences with English speaking local guide.
  • Wine tasting; Extra-virgin Olive Oil tasting; Mozzarella tasting and handcrafted ice-cream tasting directly to the places where these products are made by local people.
  • Transfers with private driver and car.

Southern Italy small group tours

For a more private experience and better quality of services, our small groups are limited to 12 travelers.

Best Experience! We wanted to see the Puglia region and booked this 8 day, seven night tour at the recommendation of one of our friends. We usually travel on our own and book private tours of certain cities that interest us. This tour was just outstanding and we are glad that we used them to visit Puglia. They are very easy to work with and can and will customize your experience. They are very knowledgeable of the area and gave us some very unique experiences that we just wouldn't have been able to do without them. They handled all of the transportation, accomodations and actually location tours. All 1st class!

Beautiful Puglia....an Italian treasure! We are leaving Puglia with an understanding of the history and an appreciation for the beauty and culture of this part of Italy. Our trip was busy but with a pace so we never felt rushed. The care taken to be sure each lunch experience was true to the region visiting was appreciated by the 5 of us. We loved this trip and encourage anyone visiting Puglia to use Arrivederci Puglia Travel. They are a joy to spend time with and become family. Our enthusiasm for this part of Italy was so strong, we returned for a second visit with Arrivederci Puglia.

DIANNE & LOU Boston, USA

We spent a wonderful week with Antonella and Sandro, exploring their delightful home province.  They shared with us their in depth knowledge and love of Puglia, they were always professional, thoughtful and courteous. Can’t recommend Arrivederci Puglia highly enough. It’s a wonderful part of Italy, previously unknown to us, we are so happy to have visited!

FEDERICO & KAY Sydney, AUS

Nothing but the BEST!! We had an absolutely wonderful time in the Puglia region with our wonderful tour guides Sandro and Antonella. They have put together a great balance of places to see and learn about. Sandro and Antonella are highly educated and knowledgeable about their country. The professionalism and attention to detail was fantastic. We would highly recommend them to anyone who wants to learn, taste and explore the Puglia region!

SUZY Oregon, USA

Welcome to our Tour Operator

Arrivederci Puglia Travel was born from our love for our Region, a land rich in family values and traditions. We want to put our passion and experience at the service of our guests, to offer them an unforgettable vacation in Italy, while experiencing the fantastic Italian Mediterranean lifestyle.

Arrivederci Puglia services

For us, our clients are not simply customers. We like to consider them special friends or a part of our family. We are pleased to facilitate your experience living as a true Italian! Take advantage of our knowledge of Puglia, the land where we live, to gain preferred entrance to most famous sites.

Puglia Italy map

Puglia, the heel of Italy…is located in the Southern Italy and it is fast becoming Italy’s new hot destination. Nature, art, history, ancient traditions, beautiful beaches, excellent food and wine, as well as the proverbial hospitality of its people, are the qualities of Puglia!

  • Escorted Holidays
  • +353 66 401 1150

puglia italy escorted tours

  • Escorted Holiday Undiscovered Italy – Puglia

Undiscovered Italy - Puglia

Departure Date

Uncover one of Italy’s best kept secrets on our escorted holiday to Puglia. This charming corner in the south of Italy is full of beautiful towns and villages, stunning coastline and, of course, it is overflowing with tantalizing local food and wine.

You will experience the very best of this unspoiled region on our 7 night escorted holiday of puglia. .

Departure Dates  

Tour Overview

Arrival in Bari

puglia italy escorted tours

Excursion to Alberobello

puglia italy escorted tours

Full Day at Leisure

Guided Tour of Matera

Day At Leisure

Guided Tour of Lecce

Explore Bari

Return Flight

Price includes:

•      return flights with ryanair from dublin :  depart dublin on friday 8:05.  arrive bari 12:30, with a carry-on bag, •      meet & greet at bari airport with our representative, •      airport transfers on private coach with english speaking assistant, •      7 nights b&b in a 4* hotel grand hotel d’aragona, •      4 dinners at the hotel (wine and water included with dinner) on day 1, 4, 6 and 7, •      guided excursions with private coach and professional tour leader as follows:, •      guided tour of alberobello, the unesco capital of the trulli + traditional lunch in a masseria (wine and water included), •      guided tour of lecce, the baroque florence of the south + private cellar and wine museum tour followed by food & wine tasting, •      guided tour of matera, the unesco city of sassi and 2019 european capital of culture., •      depart bari on friday at 12:55 / arrive dublin 15:25, call us now on 066 401 1150, booking information, customer information, you will also like.

Santa with girl

Puglia - Discover the Heel of Italy

Otranto, Puglia, Italy

Escorted Group Tours

With countryside that’s blanketed with olive groves, a collection of historic cities and fairytale towns, and a coastline stretching for 800-odd kilometres, Puglia is a rich region filled with simple pleasures. On our Puglia tours, we’ll spend eight days winding through quiet landscapes, discovering baroque Lecce (the ‘Florence of the South’) and the traditional trulli houses of Alberobello. We’ll even stretch into the neighbouring region of Basilicata to visit Matera and explore its ancient cave dwellings.

Included with every escorted tour

  • VIP door-to-door travel service
  • Knowledgeable tour managers
  • Included excursions
  • Selected meals and international flights
  • 7 breakfasts

Accommodation

7 nights in hotels

Travel in destination by coach

Excursions and visits

  • Guided tours of Lecce (including entrance to the cathedral and Basilica di Santa Croce), Matera, and Monte Sant'Angelo
  • Visits to Otranto, Ostuni (with olive oil tasting), Cisternino, Alberobello (with wine tasting), Castellana Caves, Martina Franca, Bari, and Castel del Monte
  • Tasting at a local bakery in Lecce

London Gatwick Airport

Escorted tour moderate

From £ 1,935 per person

Including optional travel insurance or a price reduction if not required

Duration: 8 days

Puglia - Discover the Heel of Italy

Please note

  • In many cities in Italy, a room tax of between €1-5 per person per night (subject to change), is payable directly to the hotel on check-out.

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Your Puglia trip 5 days guided tour small groups, slow pace

trullo and tourist bus in Puglia sketch

AWESOME SMALL GROUP TOURS OF PUGLIA 2024-2025 - 1090 € pp

Are you a solo traveller, a couple or a small group of friends who want to experience the best of Puglia but you've never been to the region yet? Then our small group tours Puglia are perfect for you. We run escorted tours of Puglia region in small groups at slow pace to give you a more intimate experience of our wonderful region. Everything is already figured out for you, from airport pick-up, to guided tours and transportation. All you need to do is get in touch with us. As for the booking, a deposit won't be required and you can cancel at any time and free of charge.

But who are we?

My name is Pietro, tour company owner and local guide. I was born and raised in Puglia. Myself and my team are local and passionate tour guides with much experience escorting private tours around the beautiful towns and villages of Puglia. By touring with us, you’ll get the feeling of travelling with a friend.

I've designed for you a tour that covers most of the must-see places of the region combined with a few food experiences! Myself and my team don't like rushing, and are always willing to hear what you want from your trip and to make recommendations on how to make your trip perfect. During one of our small group tours of southern Italy, you’ll get insider views from ourselves on how to spend your leisure time on your trip.

Please feel free to get in touch with me. I'll be more than happy to assist!

puglia italy escorted tours

Tour price and dates

Our small group tour of Puglia is available on different dates for 1.090 € per person (details at the bottom of the page):

private driver service

WHAT OUR GUESTS ARE SAYING...

tour guide

ARRIVAL DAY IN OSTUNI

Ostuni old town

  Day itinerary:

  Pick up at the airport

  Transfer to your accommodation

The first day will see your arrival to the heel of the boot of Italy, Puglia. You’ll arrive at either Bari or Brindisi Airport or at one of the train stations in the Puglia area. Our friendly private driver will pick you up wherever you arrive and take you to your accommodation in Ostuni* for the week. For the rest of your day you can relax and enjoy some leisure time in Ostuni. If you like, we can give you some recommendations on where to have a delicious dinner in the evening.

Ostuni will be your base for the week and there is no better place in the whole of Puglia to give you that perfect introduction to the region. Known as the White City, Ostuni is considered to be one of the prettiest and most vibrant towns in Puglia and there is certainly much here for you to discover and explore. The city gets its name from the myriad whitewashed buildings which fill its many winding streets and alleyways, and they provide a beautiful contrast to the surrounding green landscape.

If you are arriving in Puglia in the days before the start of the tour, we can arrange other transfer services for you as well as advise you on accommodation options and how you can spend your time. If you are arriving from other regions within the country such as the Amalfi Coast or Naples, private transfers can be arranged through us as an additional service. If you need help arranging your transportation to Puglia from other destinations in Italy, please do not hesitate to contact us; we are more than happy to assist you with any transport queries you have.

*We ask you to base yourself in Ostuni for the duration of the trip. Please contact us if you’d like some recommendations on hotels in the town.

DAY 1: WALKING TOUR OF OSTUNI AND A VISIT TO AN OLIVE OIL FARM WITH OLIVE OIL TASTING

hands collecting olives

  Meet your guide at your accommodation

  Walking tour of Ostuni

  Visit of an olive oil farm and oil tasting

On our very first day of the tour we will take a walking tour of the town you’ll be based in – Ostuni. With its quaint medieval centre and surrounded by ancient olive trees and the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic Sea, Ostuni is the perfect introduction to the Puglia region. We will visit the old town, a labyrinth of alleyways, arches and stairwells, where you will see the late Gothic 15th century cathedral sitting atop the town’s highest point.

While strolling around Ostuni and just enjoying the city’s ambience, there are many things to see which will be included in our itinerary of day one of your trip. Highlights include: the late 15th century Gothic cathedral with its intricately carved rose window and impressive doorway; the 16th century Bishop’s Palace, which is connected to the cloisters of the cathedral by a bridge; and the Church of San Vito Martire, one of the most ornate churches you will see in Puglia.

On this day, we will also get to visit one of the regions many olive oil farms. Extra virgin olive oil is one of Puglia’s biggest exports; the region produces almost half of the Italian production of the country’s ‘green gold’, and you’ll get the chance to taste this wonderful product. You probably use olive oil regularly in your daily cooking, but do you know much about how it is made? Olive oil is a product which is incredibly important to Puglia, so it is definitely one of the best places to find out more about how green gold is produced.

On your visit to the olive oil farm, you will get to meet a small local producer who will introduce the farm’s centuries-old traditions and answer all of your questions regarding how olive oil is made in Puglia. You will get to learn how to taste olive oil in a professional way and how to distinguish a good olive oil from a bad one – it is certainly one of the most interesting things to do in Puglia as you will get to discover many things which you would not have the opportunity to if you were travelling by yourself.

DAY 2: MATERA

view of a small street in Matera

  Drive to Matera

  Walking tour of Matera UNESCO

  Leisure time in Matera

  Drive back to Ostuni

The second day of our tour gives you the chance to explore one of the oldest continuously inhabited towns in the whole world as well as another region of Italy in addition to Puglia. The city of Matera lies within the neighbouring region of Basilicata, so you get two regions of Italy for the price of one! Designated European Capital of Culture 2019, the stunning city of Matera is one of the must-see places in Puglia. Evidence of this can be seen in the sassi, cave houses dug into the limestone rock which are dotted all around the city. They create one of the most unique landscapes in the world and we will spend this day discovering these amazing structures. You’ll also get to enjoy some leisure time in this great city.

With a history dating back 9,000 years, Matera is predominantly famous for its Sassi, cave dwellings caved into the rock, which give the city its unusual appearance. The Sassi are now a popular tourist attraction and it is possible to visit some of these houses which have been kept in their original state and turned into museums; as part of our tour of the city, we will visit one of these houses so you can see how people lived in millennia gone by as well as a rock church. Matera is also famous for its many Rupestrian churches. There are around 150 in the city, the oldest ones dating back to the Middle Ages, and they blend perfectly with the surrounding Sassi. Matera’s churches are well-known for their beautiful frescoes in the Byzantine style, which we will also get the opportunity to see during our trip.

Due to its importance as a historical and cultural monument, Matera was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1993, the first town in southern Italy to have the honour. As such an unusual place, Matera has captured the attention of many film directors over the years, and the town’s unique landscape has been the location of many movies, including Ben Hur (2016), Mary Magdalene (2018), The Passion of the Christ (2004), and Wonder Woman (2017).

DAY 3: CHEESE TASTING, STREET FOOD MARKET IN LOCOROTONDO AND ALBEROBELLO

trullo and flowers in Alberobello

  Drive to Locorotondo

  Walking tour of Locorotondo , visit of a street food market

  cheese tasting

  Guided tour of Alberobello UNESCO site

You probably already know that cheese forms a huge part of Italian cuisine, so what better way to spend part of your time in Puglia than to visit a local cheese farm. The cheesemaker that we visit is not a big business owner or industrial-sized firm; this is a typical, family-run, small business where you can see the old traditions of cheesemaking at work. Here you will get to sample some of the freshest mozzarella and burrata you will taste in your life as well as finding out how these iconic cheeses are made.

Next on our itinerary is the charming town of Locorotondo, famous for its wine and circular historical centre. In fact, the name Locorotondo itself is derived from this very feature of the town; translated into English, the name means ‘round place’. As you stroll the town’s streets, you will see more of the typical whitewashed houses Puglia is so well-known for and, as the town is perched upon a hill, it is possible to view the surrounding olive groves and countryside. As part of our visit, we will also head to the local food market, where you can see the wonderful array of locally-grown fruit and vegetables which are available here. You’ll get to experience one of the most authentic Italian experiences you could ask for. The produce of the land is very important to the local Puglian people and there’s no better place to see all the fantastic fruit and vegetables that are grown in the region than the markets where they are sold.

Finally, we will visit Alberobello, the iconic town of trulli. Trulli are characteristic conical-roofed houses typical of the region, built from local limestone, and many people comment on how a visit to Alberobello is like walking into a fairy tale. Because the trulli are of such cultural importance to the region, the town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. We will spend our time here strolling the streets and discovering all its hidden corners.

Pros of joining a shared small group tour with Puglialy

You might be wondering what benefits there are by joining a small group tour over travelling independently. The answer is very simple: plenty.

During your week’s trip with us, you’ll be based in the beautiful, gleaming white town of Ostuni, giving you the chance to get truly acquainted with this typical southern Italian town.

Unlike some other tours on the market where guests switch hotels every couple of days, at the end of each day of your tour, you’ll get to relax in the same place and experience the true Puglian lifestyle, meeting the local people and possibly making friends.

Another great thing about joining a small group tour is that you’ll get to meet like-minded travellers like yourself. Travelling on your own can get lonely, but on one of our tours you’ll automatically have new friends to share your Puglian experience with. You’ll visit the sights together, explore together and then, if you like, head out in the evening to sample some of the area’s delicious wine.

Puglia is a fantastic area to visit but if you really want to get off the beaten track and see some of its delightful villages and rural areas, it can be quite difficult on public transport. By joining one of our small group tours, you’ll have your own private driver who can take you to all the hidden corners of Puglia that you may not get to see otherwise.

Best of all, our tour guides are highly experienced and have a vast amount of knowledge about the Puglian region. So not only will you get to see all the great places Puglia has to offer but you’ll also learn a lot about our history and culture.

DAY 4: LECCE

Lecce Porta Napoli gate

  Drive to Lecce

  Guided tour of Lecce historic centre

  Leisure time in Lecce

Nicknamed the ‘Florence of the South’, Lecce is located in Southern Puglia and is considered to be one of the must-visit destinations in the region, if not the whole country. Lecce is primarily famous for its stunning Baroque architecture, mostly made from local Lecce stone, a form of limestone, which gives the buildings their characteristic colour. The city has an abundance of sights to see, and on our tour here we will visit plenty of them. Highlights include: the Basilica di Santa Croce, one of the most beautiful churches in the city with an awe-inspiring facade; the Cattedrale dell’Assunzione della Virgine with its highly decorative northern facade and impressive bell tower; and the Roman amphitheatre dating back to the second century AD.

After our sightseeing tour, you will get the chance to spend some free time exploring Lecce. In addition to all the beautiful sights there are to see, Lecce also has numerous museums for you to visit, including the Jewish Museum - Museo Ebraico which details Lecce’s Jewish history, and the Castello of Lecce, once the main defensive fortification in the city. For those of you who prefer to have a break from history and sightseeing, Lecce has a fantastic choice of shops and boutiques, so you can stock up on souvenirs or treat yourself to something special.

In the afternoon we will head back to Ostuni where you will be free to enjoy Ostuni and all its delights.

DAY 5: BARI AND POLIGNANO A MARE

Lama Monachile bay in Polignano a Mare

  Drive to Bari

  Walking tour of Bari historic centre

  Walking tour of Polignano

Another splendid Pugliese city, Bari is the capital of the region and is known for its gorgeous Romanesque architecture. The perfect mix of city and coast, Bari’s long history makes it one of the most interesting places to visit in Puglia. During our tour here, we will visit the Basilica of San Nicola with its majestic gold ceiling and intricate facade as well as the tomb of Saint Nicolas himself, and the medieval district surrounding the church. We will also take a stroll through the old town, which is incredibly well-preserved despite its age, and the modern Murat quarter with its Liberty-style palazzi.

In the afternoon we will make our way to the seaside town of Polignano a Mare, one of Puglia’s hidden gems. Perched upon a cliff edge, Polignano has a wonderfully preserved old town and we will spend some time exploring its whitewashed streets and visiting sights such as the Porta Vecchia gate and Chiesa Matrice, one of the many beautiful churches you can find here. Afterwards, we will take a walk towards the coast so you can admire the magnificent views across the pristine Adriatic Sea. When in Polignano, you should also take the time to try some of the local gelato, definitely some of the best the region has to offer.

DAY 6: FREE DAY OR EXTRA DAY TOUR

Ostuni old town piazza

  Leisure time

  You can add an extra day tour

Day six of our trip is a free day, giving you the chance to relax and unwind or see something new – there are lots of options available to you. You could decide to spend the day in our base town of Ostuni, exploring the parts of the city we may have missed on day two of the tour or catching up on some shopping. As we mentioned previously, Ostuni has plenty of cafes, restaurants and bars to enjoy, so you may choose to spend your time just relaxing and making the most of the glorious weather.

Alternatively, there are many tours you can take which can add that little extra special something to your Puglia trip. If you are interested in the culinary traditions of Puglia, why not take a cooking class and learn how to make some of the region’s most popular dishes? Or perhaps you want to visit some of the local wineries and learn all about Puglia’s wine-making culture. For the active travellers among you, you should consider taking a bike tour around Puglia’s rural landscapes, taking in millenary olive groves, ancient farmhouses and green pastures as far as the eye can see.

But please don’t feel restricted to these ideas. If you feel like doing something different or want to know what else is on offer, just ask us for more suggestions. However you decide to spend your free day, don’t feel like you have to organise everything yourself. If you want to add a bespoke tour to your itinerary, don’t hesitate to ask us to arrange it for you. If you would prefer to leave Puglia to head home or to continue your Italy vacation in another part of the country, there is also the option to leave on this day; if you decide to do this, you are still able to make use of the transfer service we offer.

DEPARTURE DAY

Ostuni white town from the distance

  Pick up at your accommodation

  Transfer to the airport/station

This is the final day of the tour and the day we make our farewells. Our private driver will transfer you to one of the airports or train station. If you plan to spend a few more days in Ostuni, we can postpone your transfer until you’re ready.

Just because we are finishing our tour today does not mean that you have to end your exploration of Puglia. If you are planning on extending your stay, we can help you organise some more activities and day trips, such as those proposed for day six. If you have arranged to spend the next part of your vacation in another area of Puglia or further afield in Italy, we can help to provide a private transfer for you to your next destination.

OUR TOUR OF PUGLIA IS AVAILABLE FOR 1.090 € pp:

Included in the price:.

  Private transfer with private driver on your arrival/departure dates from airport to accommodation and viceversa.

  Transportation, driver and English speaking tour guide for the day tours mentioned in the itinerary.

  Olive oil tasting and cheese tasting on day 2 and 4.

  Entry tickets for the visits in Matera (cave house and rock church) and Lecce (Basilica).

PAYMENT CONDITIONS

Pre-book with no obligation. No deposit is required. You will pay the whole sum at the end of the tour here in Puglia - we accept all sorts of credit/debit card payment.

CANCELLATION

You can cancel the booking anytime and free of charge. Since we have reserved a space for you, we would highly appreciate a prompt communication of the cancellation.

Pick-up times: in order to let you enjoy a relaxing breakfast with no rush at your accommodation pick-up times for almost every day tour is at 9:30 am and some day at 9:00 am.

Accommodation: we do not provide accommodation, but we require to base yourselves in Ostuni for the whole trip. We are happy to send you hotel and B&B recommendations.

Transfers: Private transfers from/to airport are included. In case you arrive earlier than the tour begin or you depart later than the tour end you will still have your private transfer service Ostuni-Airport and viceversa.

IMPORTANT NOTES

While it might seem that there is much going on during our week-long tour of Puglia, we would like to remind you that we are big advocates of slow travel. This means that during our visits to the different places on the itinerary, we take a slow pace; after all, we want to enjoy everything the region has to offer, so there is no need to rush. We are mindful of the fact that some of our clients may have health or mobility issues; if this is the case for you, please let us know and we can adapt the tour accordingly, such as choosing routes with flat terrain, taking shorter routes, or slowing the pace down further. As this is a small group tour, we can be extremely flexible and the tour can easily be adapted to suit everybody’s needs.

Please note that our tours have a maximum of 10 participants - if we reach more than 6 participants we use 2 separate minivans. Using minivans instead of a bus also helps us reaching historic centers more rapidly and easily therefore maximising our time at each place we visit. Minivans are allowed to enter historic centers (buses are not). This allows us to plan drop-off and pick-up points in very central areas of each place we visit.

  Tour dates (arrival day):

  March 2024 (24th)

  April 2024 (2nd, 7th, 14th, 20th, 28th)

  May 2024 (5th, 12th, 19th, 26th)

  June 2024 (2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th)

  July 2024 (7th)

  August 2024 (25th)

  September 2024 (1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th)

  October 2024 (6th, 13th, 20th, 26th)

  November 2024 (3rd, 10th)

  March 2025 (23rd, 30th)

  April 2025 (6th, 13th, 22nd, 28th)

  May 2025 (4th, 11th, 18th, 25th)

  June 2025 (2nd, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th)

  July 2025 (6th)

TripAdvisor

PUGLIA TOURS WITH PUGLIALY

Polignano a Mare bay with people bathing at summertime

Countryside

countryside of Puglia grain fields and a trullo house

Arte Wine Travel di Pietro Calabrese

Via Abate Angelo Tamborrino 28

72017 Ostuni (BR)

P.I. IT 02577710748

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Puglia & Basilicata

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  • Accommodation

Optional Excursions

puglia excursions

Your Holiday Includes

  • Return flights from London
  • 7 nights half-board in a 4-star hotel
  • 15 meals: 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 7 dinners and welcome drink
  • Travelsphere Holiday Director and Specialist Local Guide 
  • Overseas transfers, other transportation and porterage
  • Wi-Fi on board your coach

Included Holiday Highlights

  • Traditional lunch at a fortified farmhouse
  • Tour of Matera and its Sassi houses
  • Visit historic Lecce 
  • See the Trulli houses in three towns

Day 1 UK - Bari

Your holiday begins with a flight to Bari in the region of Puglia in southern Italy. From here we’ll drive you to the 4-star hotel near the small town of Alberobello. Surrounded by rolling hills, fruit trees and olive groves, it’s the ideal base from which to explore the regions of Puglia and Basilicata. The hotel boasts a lovely spa, beautiful gardens, and an outdoor swimming pool, and you can use these facilities at your leisure in between your sightseeing. This evening we’ll meet up and enjoy dinner at the hotel.

Day 2 Farmhouse Experience

Today we'll visit a Masseria, a fortified farmhouse set in a beautiful countryside estate. Here we'll get a chance to experience a real flavour of the food grown and produced in the Apulian region. The visit will include a chance to watch one of the owners demonstrating how to make orecchiette pasta, whose shape is typical of the area. Then the highlight of the visit will be a lunch of typical regional food accompanied by wine and limoncello. Look forward to tasting hot bread and focaccia, traditional appetisers, local meats and cheeses, delicious pasta and more.

Day 3 Matera

You have a full day of exploration to look forward to today on a trip to the UNESCO-listed town of Matera in the region of Basilicata. Here, your Local Guide will tell you all about the Sassi houses you'll see – incredible dwellings built on natural caves and carved into the hillsides. The houses cover a large area and were inhabited from prehistoric times right up until the 1950s. Impoverished residents were then forced to leave the decaying district due to poor sanitation and disease. People returned in the 1980s, injecting new life into the Sassi houses, and as one of Basilicata's most famous sites, they offer a fascinating window to the past.

During a break in sightseeing your Holiday Director and Local Guide will be able to point you in the right direction if you fancy a spot of lunch.

Day 4 Alberobello - at Leisure

How you spend today is entirely up to you. If relaxation is on your agenda, why not laze by your hotel's pool, or book yourself into the spa for a treatment or two. If you want to explore at your own pace, there's a shuttle service into Alberobello, where you’ll find a selection of restaurants and cafés for a leisurely lunch or refreshing drink.

Another alternative is an optional excursion to the pretty hilltop town of Ostuni. The best way to explore is by taking a stroll along the maze of narrow streets lined with white-washed houses. You can stay with your Holiday Director or head off by yourself, it’s entirely up to you. At the highest part of the town, there’s an imposing Gothic cathedral, it’s a hilly climb but worth the effort as the views from up here are sensational. There's also the chance to sample the olive oil that is produced in this region in an abundance of olive groves. Some of the trees here are hundreds of years old.

Day 5 Lecce

After breakfast, we'll head off to explore the attractive city of Lecce. Together with your knowledgeable Local Guide, you'll uncover a new treasure around every corner as you stroll along streets lined with extravagant Baroque architecture and golden sandstone buildings. In the city’s main square, Piazza Sant’Oronzo, you’ll stumble across a sunken Roman amphitheatre that was discovered in 1901 and excavated in the 1930s. Another impressive highlight is the Church of Santa Croce, a masterpiece of Baroque design with an ornate façade adorned with intricately carved statues. You’ll have some free time after the tour to do as you please in Lecce, perhaps head to a restaurant and enjoy a bite to eat or continue the sightseeing and discover more of the city’s beauty.

Day 6 Alberobello - at Leisure

You have a choice to make today. You can spend more time enjoying the facilities at your hotel or maybe head into Alberobello for more sightseeing.

If you would like to see more of the region, an alternative is an optional day of exploration in the coastal town of Trani in the north of Puglia. Here, you'll see fishermen at work in the busy harbour and have the chance to admire the simplicity of its 11th century cathedral sitting right next to the sea. In complete contrast is the grand Castel del Monte, which you'll also visit. This gleaming castle is made from pale stone and can be seen from miles around. As you stand at its base, cast your eyes upwards and take in this octagonal masterpiece which was built in the 13th century by Emperor Frederick II. To this day, nobody knows why the castle was built as there is no town nearby for it to defend.

Day 7 Alberobello, Locorotondo & Martina Franca

You're going to see Puglia's unique and quirky-looking Trulli houses on an included day out. As we drive into the Valley of Itria, these white-washed cylindrical buildings with conical grey roofs can be seen in large numbers. Our first stop is in nearby Alberobello, home to more than 1,500 of these dwellings. Dating back to the 14th century, they are often decorated with painted symbols on their roofs, thought to ward off evil spirits. Next, in the quiet village of Locorotondo, you'll be able to look out and see Trulli houses dotted across the countryside.

Finally, we reach Martina Franca, in the heart of the valley, where Moorish influences have created a town of medieval palaces and churches. The houses here are adorned with wrought-iron balconies and the beautiful Ducal palace is worth a visit. During today’s tour, you’ll have plenty of free time to explore at your own pace, and enjoy a gelato or bite to eat if you wish.

Day 8 Bari - UK

After a memorable week in southern Italy, it’s time to head home. We’ll make sure you’re back at the airport in good time for your flight to the UK.

Additional Information

TAILOR YOUR TRIP

Grand Hotel La Chiusa de Chietri: Room Upgrade

Superior rooms are available at a supplement for the duration of your stay.

For an even more authentic tast of Puglia, take the opportunity to stay in a converted Trullo house in the grounds of the hotel. Authentic Trullo rooms are available at a supplement for the duration of your stay.

Please speak to a Holiday Advisor for details.

Favourite Moment

Not only do you get to enjoy the tastes of local specialities at a Masseria but you'll also have a hands-on experience as you make your own orecchiette, a pasta typical of the region.

Accommodation (as specified or similar)

Grand hotel la chiusa di chietri.

Experience even more of your destination by adding one or more optional experiences to your holiday before you set off. Take a look below at the extra trips you can enjoy on this tour

Trani and Castel del Monte

Trani and Castel del Monte

Ostuni and Olive Oil

Ostuni and Olive Oil

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Prices shown are based on twin occupancy of a double or twin bedded room with private facilities unless otherwise stated. Single occupancy supplements will apply. Travelsphere have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the hotel images provided on this website and images of room types displayed may vary to those offered on your tour. Therefore due to the possibility of inadvertent errors we do not guarantee their accuracy. Accommodation, airlines used and flight times are subject to change and will be confirmed in your final documents.

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Holiday Itinerary Puglia and Basilicata

Day 1 uk - bari.

Today you fly to Bari. On arrival, we will transfer your hotel. D

Day 2 Farmhouse Experience

Today we'll visit a Masseria, a fortified farm. Here we'll get a chance to experience a real flavour of the food grown and produced in the Apulian region, which includes cheeses, olive oil and bread. The visit will include a chance to watch a demonstration by one of the owners making orecchiette pasta whose shape is typical of the area. The highlight of the visit will be a lunch of typical regional food accompanied by wine and limoncello. B, L, D

Day 3 Matera

You've a full day of exploration to look forward to today on a trip to the UNESCO-listed town of Matera. Here, your Local Guide will tell you all about the 'Sassi' houses you'll see – incredible cave dwellings carved into the hillsides. They were inhabited right up until the 1950s and as one of Basilicata's most famous sites, they offer a fascinating window on the past.

During a break in sightseeing your Tour Manager and Local Guide will be able to point you in the right direction if you fancy a spot of lunch. B, D

Day 4 Alberobello - at Leisure

How you spend today is entirely up to you. If relaxation is on your agenda, why not laze by your hotel's pool, or book yourself into the spa for a treatment or two. If you want to explore at your own pace, there's a shuttle service into Alberobello. Another alternative is an optional excursion to the pretty town of Ostuni. With your Holiday Director, take a stroll along its maze of narrow streets lined with white-washed houses which sit beneath an imposing Gothic cathedral. There's also the chance today to sample the olive oil that is produced in this region in an abundance of olive groves. Some of the trees here are hundreds of years old. B, D

Day 5 Lecce

After breakfast we'll head off to explore the attractive city of Lecce. Together with your knowledgeable Local Guide, you'll uncover a new treasure around every corner as you stroll along streets lined with extravagant Baroque architecture. A couple of real highlights to keep an eye out for are the ancient Roman amphitheatre and the Church of Santa Croce. Spend some time looking closely at its ornate façade, which is adorned with intricately carved statues. B, D

Day 6 Alberobello at leisure

You have a choice to make today. You can spend more time enjoying the facilities at your hotel or maybe head into Alberobello for more sightseeing. If you would like to see more of the region, an alternative is an optional day of exploration in the coastal town of Trani in the north of Puglia. Here you'll see fishermen at work in the busy harbour and have the chance to admire the simplicity of its 11th century cathedral. In complete contrast is the grand Castel del Monte, which you'll also visit. This gleaming castle is made from pale stone and can be seen from miles around. As you stand at its base, cast your eyes upwards and take in this octagonal masterpiece which was built in the 13th century by Emperor Frederick II. B, D

Day 7 Alberobello, Locorotondo and Martina Franca

You're going to see Puglia's unique and quirky-looking Trulli houses on an included day out. As we drive into the Valley of Itria, these whitewashed cylindrical buildings with conical grey roofs can be seen in large numbers. Our first stop is Alberobello, where you'll see the Trulli are decorated with painted symbols on their roofs. Then, in Locorotondo you'll see the buildings are arranged in a circular pattern.

Finally, we reach Martina Franca, in the heart of the valley, where Moorish influences have created a town of medieval palaces and churches. The houses here are adorned with wrought-iron balconies which might put you more in mind of Andalucia in Spain than Italy. B, D

Day 8 Bari - UK

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.  B

Departure dates and prices 2024 : Puglia and Basilicata

To book call Travelsphere on   01858 415 405 . To book online click here . To request a brochure click here .

Travelsphere Puglia and Basilicata

Holidays by air 8 days, prices from £1499.

These two spectacular regions abound with unique sights on this fantastic Italian holiday. Visit Masseria Centrone, a fortified farm where you can experience a real flavour of the food grown and produced in the Apulian region, including cheeses, olive oil and bread.

Explore the UNESCO-listed town of Matera and its 'Sassi' houses, incredible cave dwellings carved into the hillsides. Your holiday continues with a visit to the city of Lecce to uncover treasures such as extravagant Baroque architecture, the ancient Roman amphitheatre and the Church of Santa Croce, before discovering Puglia's unique Trulli houses, whitewashed cylindrical buildings with conical grey roofs that can be seen in large numbers into the Valley of Itria.

Optional excursions include visits to the pretty town of Ostuni for a stroll along its maze of narrow streets, and the coastal town of Trani in the north, with its busy harbour and 11th century cathedral. 

Puglia & Basilicata

Book online or call Travelsphere holidays direct on 01858 415 405

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Included Holiday Highlights

  • Lunch at a fortified farmhouse 
  • Tour of Matera and its Sassi houses 
  • Visit historic Lecce 
  • See the Trulli houses in three towns

What's Included

  • ​Return flights from London
  • 7 nights half-board in a 4-star hotel
  • 15 meals: 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 7 dinners and welcome drink
  • Travelsphere Holiday Director and Specialist Local Guide 
  • Overseas transfers, other transportation and porterage
  • Wi-fi on board your coach

Accommodation as specified or similar

Grand Hotel La Chiusa di Chietri

Grand Hotel la Chiusa di Chietri is ideally located within reach of Alberobello. Hotel facilities include a outdoor pool and beautiful gardens. Bedrooms have private facilities, air-conditioning, hairdryer, safe, mini-bar and a TV.

Optional Excursions

Trani and Castel del Monte from £54

You’re sure to be charmed by the picturesque coastal town of Trani, a lovely place to explore, wander or just relax.

Ostuni and Olive Oil from £45

Join our excursion to Ostuni, a pretty town peppered with gleaming centuries-old whitewashed buildings. It is spread over three hills and surrounded by olive groves, boasting a magnificent Gothic cathedral, a lovely place for a leisurely stroll.

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Love Exploring

Love Exploring

Why Puglia In Italy Should Be Your Next Vacation Destination

Posted: December 22, 2023 | Last updated: December 22, 2023

<p>Historically overlooked by foreign visitors who rush to the Amalfi Coast or Italian Riviera, Puglia – also known as Apulia – in Italy's southeast is finally getting its moment in the sun. With more than 580 miles of coastline – Adriatic and Ionian – a hilly, Mediterranean interior, and ancient forest, Puglia has incredible places to visit. If you’re keen on long, lazy lunches with excellent local wine, relaxed boat trips to hidden coves, and exploring the whitewashed labyrinthine streets of atmospheric old towns, this region is for you. </p>  <p><strong>Click through the gallery to discover the best places to visit in Italy's Puglia region...</strong></p>

Bucket list Puglia

Historically overlooked by foreign visitors who rush to the Amalfi Coast or Italian Riviera, Puglia – also known as Apulia – in Italy's southeast is finally getting its moment in the sun. With more than 580 miles of coastline – Adriatic and Ionian – a hilly, Mediterranean interior, and ancient forest, Puglia has incredible places to visit. If you’re keen on long, lazy lunches with excellent local wine, relaxed boat trips to hidden coves, and exploring the whitewashed labyrinthine streets of atmospheric old towns, this region is for you. 

Click through the gallery to discover the best places to visit in Italy's Puglia region...

The Adriatic port city of Bari is the capital of Puglia and a gorgeous mix of narrow, winding old town alleyways and fashionable new town palm-tree lined streets. A major hub for ferries and cruises to the Mediterranean, Bari has a vacation feel with its beautiful seafront promenade and harbor, and atmospheric restaurants specializing in seafood. At sunset, the place comes alive with Italian families going for their evening stroll, or passeggiata.

Bari, Bari province

<p>In the shaded streets of Bari’s old town (Citta Vecchia), close to the 12th-century Castello Svevo, local women make and sell the traditional orecchiette pasta of the Puglia region. Round and concave with a rough edge, orecchiette means 'small ears' in Italian and the classic Puglian dish is orecchiette alle cime di rapa (orecchiette with broccoli rabe leaves). The ladies chat in local Barese dialect as they expertly roll and shape the pasta on rickety tables.</p>

In the shaded streets of Bari’s old town (Citta Vecchia), close to the 12th-century Castello Svevo, local women make and sell the traditional orecchiette pasta of the Puglia region. Round and concave with a rough edge, orecchiette means 'small ears' in Italian and the classic Puglian dish is orecchiette alle cime di rapa (orecchiette with broccoli rabe leaves). The ladies chat in local Barese dialect as they expertly roll and shape the pasta on rickety tables.

<p>Inland, roughly halfway between Bari and Brindisi, lies the whitewashed hilltop village of Locorotondo – surely one of Italy’s most beautiful. It's located within the hilly Valle d’Itria (Itria Valley) characterized by red soil, vineyards, and centuries-old olive groves. Wander Locorotondo's labyrinth of narrow streets dotted with ancient churches and take in the sweeping views of the surrounding countryside from the public gardens of the Villa Comunale Garibaldi.</p>

Locorotondo, Bari

Inland, roughly halfway between Bari and Brindisi, lies the whitewashed hilltop village of Locorotondo – surely one of Italy’s most beautiful. It's located within the hilly Valle d’Itria (Itria Valley) characterized by red soil, vineyards, and centuries-old olive groves. Wander Locorotondo's labyrinth of narrow streets dotted with ancient churches and take in the sweeping views of the surrounding countryside from the public gardens of the Villa Comunale Garibaldi.

<p>Also in the Valle d’Itria, Alberobello is famous for one thing: its conical limestone trulli dwellings. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, which describes them as “remarkable examples of drywall (mortarless) construction, a prehistoric building technique still in use in this region,” trulli have been here since the mid-14th century. The town is touristy but charming, especially early in the morning, and if you head to Rione Aia Piccola – the small yard district – you’ll escape the crowds.</p>

Alberobello, Bari

Also in the Valle d’Itria, Alberobello is famous for one thing: its conical limestone trulli dwellings. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, which describes them as “remarkable examples of drywall (mortarless) construction, a prehistoric building technique still in use in this region,” trulli have been here since the mid-14th century. The town is touristy but charming, especially early in the morning, and if you head to Rione Aia Piccola – the small yard district – you’ll escape the crowds.

<p>Like its better-known neighbor Matera (which is found in the Basilicata region), the Puglian town of Gravina has an underground network of rock-hewn caves and churches to explore. It's probably most famous for its Roman bridge – a James Bond filming location in <em>No Time to Die – </em>which is thought to have been built in the 17th century then repurposed as an aqueduct after an earthquake a century later. Gravina's rolling hillsides are also synonymous with wheat, olive oil, and wine, particularly the straw-yellow wine Gravina Bianco DOC and the sparkling Gravina Bianco Spumante DOC.</p>

Gravina, Bari

Like its better-known neighbor Matera (which is found in the Basilicata region), the Puglian town of Gravina has an underground network of rock-hewn caves and churches to explore. It's probably most famous for its Roman bridge – a James Bond filming location in  No Time to Die –  which is thought to have been built in the 17th century then repurposed as an aqueduct after an earthquake a century later. Gravina's rolling hillsides are also synonymous with wheat, olive oil, and wine, particularly the straw-yellow wine Gravina Bianco DOC and the sparkling Gravina Bianco Spumante DOC.

<p>One of Puglia’s four wine-growing regions, Salento is a huge area in Puglia's south that encompasses parts of different provinces (all of Lecce, some of Brindisi, and some of Taranto). It sets itself apart with a different dialect, Salentino, which is closer to the dialects of Sicily. Warm and dry, Salento produces whites, reds, sparkling wines, rosé, and even sweet wines – tours to vineyards for tastings can be organized in Lecce. Don’t miss sampling the deep, dark red Negroamaro wine.</p>

Salento, Puglia

One of Puglia’s four wine-growing regions, Salento is a huge area in Puglia's south that encompasses parts of different provinces (all of Lecce, some of Brindisi, and some of Taranto). It sets itself apart with a different dialect, Salentino, which is closer to the dialects of Sicily. Warm and dry, Salento produces whites, reds, sparkling wines, rosé, and even sweet wines – tours to vineyards for tastings can be organized in Lecce. Don’t miss sampling the deep, dark red Negroamaro wine.

<p>On Puglia’s lesser-explored southwestern coast, Gallipoli can be visited by car or train. The fortified old city is reached by crossing a 17th-century bridge and this island, with its Aragonese castle and baroque Sant'Agata Cathedral, is the focus for most visitors. Watch the sunset over the Ionian Sea from beneath the old city walls on the Spiaggia della Purita beach.</p>

Gallipoli, Lecce

On Puglia’s lesser-explored southwestern coast, Gallipoli can be visited by car or train. The fortified old city is reached by crossing a 17th-century bridge and this island, with its Aragonese castle and baroque Sant'Agata Cathedral, is the focus for most visitors. Watch the sunset over the Ionian Sea from beneath the old city walls on the Spiaggia della Purita beach.

<p>Located on the Salento peninsula and often called the Florence of the South, Lecce is an extraordinary and aesthetically pleasing jumble of streets and squares. Lecce flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries and has some fine examples of grand Baroque architecture – Barocco Leccese (Lecce Baroque) – in the local honey-hued limestone. The Duomo di Lecce with its impressive bell tower – part of the 17th-century redesign – has views as far as the Adriatic Sea six miles away.</p>

Lecce, Lecce Province

Located on the Salento peninsula and often called the Florence of the South, Lecce is an extraordinary and aesthetically pleasing jumble of streets and squares. Lecce flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries and has some fine examples of grand Baroque architecture – Barocco Leccese (Lecce Baroque) – in the local honey-hued limestone. The Duomo di Lecce with its impressive bell tower – part of the 17th-century redesign – has views as far as the Adriatic Sea six miles away.

In the center of Lecce in the main piazza of the old town, a Roman amphitheater was uncovered by accident in 1901. Built during Hadrian’s reign as Roman emperor in the 2nd century, the horseshoe-shaped amphitheater is partially buried but still used as a venue today (but not for the 15,000 spectators it could once hold).

Torre Sant’Andrea, Melendugno

Not far from the city of Lecce, between Torre dell’Orso and Otranto, the coastline north and south of the village of Sant’Andrea is known for brilliant turquoise water and sea stacks (the 'torre,' meaning towers, in the name come from the man-made watchtowers). There is a tiny sandy beach but most swimmers head to the natural ledges and rocky coves that punctuate this rugged coast. In winter, when the few seasonal restaurants and waterside cafes have closed, this is a wild place for solitary hiking.

<p>On the east coast of the Salentine Peninsula and gazing towards Albania and Greece, the beautiful port town of Otranto was a stronghold of Greece and the Greek language until the Romans arrived in the 11th century – and then it was subsequently sacked by the Turks in the 15th century. The handsome Centro Storico (old town) abuts the harbor and is home to the Romanesque Cattedrale di Santa Maria Annunziata and the imposing fortress of Castello Aragonese.</p>

Otranto, Lecce

On the east coast of the Salentine Peninsula and gazing towards Albania and Greece, the beautiful port town of Otranto was a stronghold of Greece and the Greek language until the Romans arrived in the 11th century – and then it was subsequently sacked by the Turks in the 15th century. The handsome Centro Storico (old town) abuts the harbor and is home to the Romanesque Cattedrale di Santa Maria Annunziata and the imposing fortress of Castello Aragonese.

Close to Otranto and with its own car park is a disused quarry sunk into an intense red and dusty landscape. The mineral quarry was abandoned in the 1970s and has since returned to nature – there’s a small green lake (no swimming) and several hiking trails for peaceful walks that circumnavigate it. A unique one-off in Puglia.

Cava di Bauxite, Otranto

A thickly forested spur of land jutting out of the northeast of Puglia, Gargano is an isolated mountain massif, with a high point at Mount Calvo (3,494 feet) and the UNESCO-listed Sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel on the lonely peak of Sant'Angelo Mount. Gargano’s stunning coastline of limestone cliffs tumbling down to azure waters is punctuated by beaches and rocky coves and is best explored by boat – the resort of Vieste has some of the best beaches nearby.

Gargano National Park, Foggia

The ancient trees of Gargano’s Umbra Forest are all that remain of Italy’s once vast beech forests, and Umbra is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. North and west of the forest are wetlands and the lagoons of Lakes Lesina and Varano. Lake Varano is home to the Isola di Varano nature reserve and its many species of birds, including cormorants, great crested grebes, and greater flamingos.

Tremiti Islands, Gargano

Off Puglia’s coast and part of Gargano National Park, Tremiti is a peaceful, mostly uninhabited, and completely car-free five-island archipelago in the Adriatic. The serene archipelago had a murkier past, acting as a penal colony in the 1st century AD and again during the Second World War. Ferries cross from Termoli to the most developed of the islands – and the only one with a sandy beach – San Domingo, where the clear, deep waters of the islands are perfect for scuba diving. Spend time exploring trails through pine forests and to hidden coves.

<p>Castel del Monte, or 'the castle of the mount' found inland in Alta Murgia National Park, is an unusual 13th-century citadel built by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. Built from limestone and white marble, the octagonal castle has no ditches, no drawbridge and no basement and was likely built as a lavish home or hunting lodge. Perfectly mathematically precise, Castel del Monte is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site described as “a successful blend of elements from classical antiquity, the Islamic Orient and north European Cistercian Gothic.”</p>

Castel del Monte, Andria

Castel del Monte, or 'the castle of the mount' found inland in Alta Murgia National Park, is an unusual 13th-century citadel built by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. Built from limestone and white marble, the octagonal castle has no ditches, no drawbridge and no basement and was likely built as a lavish home or hunting lodge. Perfectly mathematically precise, Castel del Monte is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site described as “a successful blend of elements from classical antiquity, the Islamic Orient and north European Cistercian Gothic.”

The prehistoric archaeological site of Roca is a 40-minute drive from Lecce and probably best known for the evocatively named and beautifully sited Grotta della Poesia (Cave of Poetry). The area is criss-crossed with natural karst caves and tunnels and until recently Grotta della Poesia was a popular natural swimming hole, but no more. As an incredibly important site of archaeological interest, today entrance to Roca is ticketed, swimming is banned and exploration by guided tour is encouraged.

Roca Vecchia, Lecce

<p>The small city of Polignano a Mare has been occupied over the centuries by the Byzantine Empire, the Normans, the Angioinians, and the Aragonese. However, you don't come here for a history lesson, but to stroll the lungomare (waterfront), squeeze onto the impossibly pretty Lama Monachile beach, and maybe indulge in a spot of cliff diving – Red Bull comes to this rugged coast each year as part of its Cliff Diving World Series.</p>

Polignano a Mare, Bari

The small city of Polignano a Mare has been occupied over the centuries by the Byzantine Empire, the Normans, the Angioinians, and the Aragonese. However, you don't come here for a history lesson, but to stroll the lungomare (waterfront), squeeze onto the impossibly pretty Lama Monachile beach, and maybe indulge in a spot of cliff diving – Red Bull comes to this rugged coast each year as part of its Cliff Diving World Series.

<p>Just outside the town of Castellana Grotte is a huge underground system of karst caves that reaches as deep as 400 feet, though tours only reach as far as roughly 230 feet. A cool 61ºF year-round, the series of large underground limestone caverns and their extraordinary stalactite and stalagmite formations were discovered in 1938.</p>

Grotte di Castellana, Bari

Just outside the town of Castellana Grotte is a huge underground system of karst caves that reaches as deep as 400 feet, though tours only reach as far as roughly 230 feet. A cool 61ºF year-round, the series of large underground limestone caverns and their extraordinary stalactite and stalagmite formations were discovered in 1938.

<p>This Valle d'Itria hilltop town was founded in 1310 and is a lovely laidback place to explore on foot, a little off the tourist trail. Porto Santo Stefano marks the passageway to the whitewashed old town where the architecture is predominantly baroque; don’t miss the elaborate Palazzo Ducale. Every summer the town hosts an opera festival, the Festival della Valle d'Itria.</p>

Martina Franca, Taranto

This Valle d'Itria hilltop town was founded in 1310 and is a lovely laidback place to explore on foot, a little off the tourist trail. Porto Santo Stefano marks the passageway to the whitewashed old town where the architecture is predominantly baroque; don’t miss the elaborate Palazzo Ducale. Every summer the town hosts an opera festival, the Festival della Valle d'Itria.

A medieval, whitewashed hill fortress dubbed Puglia’s Citta Bianca (white city), Ostuni is a formidable sight from the surrounding plains and olive groves. Explore its cute alleys and narrow streets, visit the Concattedrale di Ostuni – Ostuni cathedral – and order a cold drink in one of the peaceful piazzas. Just five miles from the sea, nearby beaches include the sandy Spiaggia di Pilone, or the untamed Spiaggia di Torre Pozzelle.

Ostuni, Brindisi

<p>Puglia has some 60 million olive trees and produces at least 40% of Italy’s olive oil. Deep in the countryside of the Valle d’Itria around hilltop town Fasano are ancient olive groves planted in deep red soil and protected by dry stone walls. From Fasano you can organise a visit for tours and tastings at centuries-old farmhouses and oil mills.</p>

Fasano, Brindisi

Puglia has some 60 million olive trees and produces at least 40% of Italy’s olive oil. Deep in the countryside of the Valle d’Itria around hilltop town Fasano are ancient olive groves planted in deep red soil and protected by dry stone walls. From Fasano you can organise a visit for tours and tastings at centuries-old farmhouses and oil mills.

<p>The lively Puglian city of Monopoli, not far from Bari, has an impossibly beautiful fortified old port and a warren of old town lanes to explore. There are churches around every corner and on the waterfront is the imposing fortress, Castello di Carlo V. The city’s name comes from the Greek 'Monos Polis' meaning only, or unique, and of all the towns and cities in Puglia, it retains a working feel that's precious.</p>  <p><a href="https://www.loveexploring.com/galleries/108696/italys-most-beautiful-towns-and-villages"><strong>Now check out Italy's most beautiful towns and villages</strong></a></p>

Monopoli, Bari

The lively Puglian city of Monopoli, not far from Bari, has an impossibly beautiful fortified old port and a warren of old town lanes to explore. There are churches around every corner and on the waterfront is the imposing fortress, Castello di Carlo V. The city’s name comes from the Greek 'Monos Polis' meaning only, or unique, and of all the towns and cities in Puglia, it retains a working feel that's precious.

Now check out Italy's most beautiful towns and villages

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  1. This is Why You Must Visit Puglia Italy 🇮🇹 #travelshorts

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  1. Escorted Puglia Tours 2023-2024

    Tauck's small group escorted tours include an 8-day Puglia tour. Explore Alberobello and Lecce. Stay in Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Basilicata. 800-788-7885 or your ... Alberobello, Puglia, Italy. 2024 Small Group . 2025 Small Group . Top. Select... Overview Itinerary

  2. 10 Best Puglia Tours & Trips 2024/2025

    Español: Circuitos por Apulia 2024/2025. Nederlands: Puglia Rondreizen 2024/2025. Browse 117 tours from the best tour operators in Puglia with 433 reviews visiting places like Alberobello and Lecce. Compare & book now!

  3. Best Puglia Tours

    On our Puglia guided tours, we offer a whole host of traditional Puglian experiences for you to enjoy, such as cheese tasting, wine tasting, olive oil tasting, and a visit to a street food market. Puglia has some of the best natural areas in the whole of Italy and for the active among you, we can arrange tours of Puglia which will introduce you ...

  4. Puglia Tours 2024/2025

    Italy Exclusive Escorted Tours. All of our Italy tours are exclusive to Citalia and have a maximum of just 18 people per tour. ... Tours of Puglia will take you through beautiful landscapes, to some of the area's most iconic destinations, as well as off the beaten track. Travel in a small group and get to know other likeminded travellers or ...

  5. THE TOP 10 Puglia Tours & Excursions (UPDATED 2024)

    The best tours in Puglia according to Viator travelers are: UNESCO's Alberobello and Matera from Bari. Tour to 4 Towns of Salento: Otranto, Leuca, Gallipoli, Galatina. Boat tour of the Polignano a Mare caves with aperitif. Alberobello, Monopoli, Polignano Small-Group Day Trip from Bari.

  6. Tours of Puglia

    We organize private, tailor-made tours and shore excursions of Puglia and Basilicata regions, Italy and most European destinations at extremely competitive prices. Trulli of Alberobello, Lecce, Ostuni, Castel del Monte, Trani, Castellana Grottos, Matera, Otranto, Santa Maria di Leuca, the Salento region, Polignano a Mare, Barletta, Bari and Brindisi, just to name a few.

  7. Puglia Tours

    On our escorted tours of Puglia in Italy you'll join likeminded travellers lucky enough to uncover a region of great historical diversity together. The first port of call is Puglia's capital, Bari, with its Romanesque cathedral and the Basilica of St. Nicholas - two landmarks first crafted by the Normans almost one thousand years ago. ...

  8. Southern Italy Puglia Tour

    Southern Italy Tour | Small Group Tour. Puglia is a region in Southern Italy with so much to offer even seasoned travellers. Puglia offers unique sights, such as the trulli conical stone houses, and the nearby cave town of Matera. Stunning landscapes, such as the very photogenic town of Polignano A Mare which is poised on the rocks high above ...

  9. Escorted and guided tours of Puglia, Italy

    LOCAL tour guide for your holiday in puglia, italy. Cultural and gastronomic tours of Puglia to having the ultimate food and cultural experience off the beaten path!To reconcile the spirit of "do-it-yourself" visits with the comfort of private guided ones.You will eat exactly what the local people eat and you will visit the places they go to.

  10. Puglia private and small group tours

    Small group and private guided tours in Puglia Discover Puglia with us...the heel of Italy! We are specialized in customized and guided tours in Puglia for individuals, families and small groups. We will personally accompany you in discovering the Puglia region, not only its artistic treasures, natural beauties and culinary delights, but also the experience of its everyday lifestyle.

  11. THE 10 BEST Puglia Tours & Excursions for 2024 (with Prices)

    These experiences are best for tours in Puglia: Small Group Boat Excursion to Polignano a Mare; Full Day Tour by Car and Walking among the Apulian Beauties; Street Food Tour in Bari old town - Do Eat Better Experience; Puglia Cooking class "Le orecchiette, che pasta!" UNESCO's Alberobello and Matera from Bari; See more tours in Puglia on ...

  12. Espressino Travel Puglia Tours

    2024 TOURS. Join us for incredible, unforgettable tours in Puglia, the fascinating heel of the Italian boot. Espressino Travel will be your personal guides on weeklong Puglia culinary tours and day tours from our home in the stunning city of Lecce. As we travel the region, you will partake in hands-on cooking classes, interact with locals, dine ...

  13. Best tours of Puglia, Italy: escorted tour and itinerary

    Meet at the hall of the hotel. Visit of Matera and its Unesco's site "the Sassi" (cave houses, rocky churches where time seems to stop).; Focaccia tasting in an ancient bakery with a wood burning oven in Altamura, town famous for its bread.; Lunch in a selected restaurant; Guided tour of Gioia del Colle: the castle and its museum, the churches, the historical center.

  14. Escorted Puglia Tours 2023-2024

    Tauck's small group escorted tours include an 8-day Puglia tour. Explore Alberobello and Lecce. Stay in Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Basilicata. 800-788-7885 or your travel advisor START PLANNING THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME GET ...

  15. Authentic Puglia Small Group Escorted Tour

    On small group escorted tours, it is customary to leave a token of appreciation the driver and guide at the end of the tour. For more information, call our Italy Experts on: 01293 765055 Or Request Your Quote. Discover our multi centre holiday itinerary for Authentic Puglia Small Group Escorted Tour - Masseria Caselli.

  16. Puglia Private Tours

    CUSTOM ESCORTED TOURS TO PUGLIA 2024 - RECOMMENDATIONS. Puglia is an enchanting area of Italy to visit. If this is your first time to the region, our escorted tours of Puglia will give you a fantastic insight into its history, culture and cuisine. The great thing about our escorted tours Puglia is that they are highly flexible.

  17. Puglia small group guided tours

    8 DAYS PUGLIA SMALL GROUP GUIDED TOUR. This tour is ideal for those who want to make an unforgettable vacation living the Italian lifestyle! Visiting Puglia with us you will discover the real Made in Italy in all its aspects: art, history, ancient traditions, events, delicious food and excellent wine. We will personally accompany you through ...

  18. Escorted Holiday Undiscovered Italy

    Undiscovered Italy - Puglia. All flights. Experienced guides. Excursions & trips. Great memories. Uncover one of Italy's best kept secrets on our escorted holiday to Puglia. This charming corner in the south of Italy is full of beautiful towns and villages, stunning coastline and, of course, it is overflowing with tantalizing local food and wine.

  19. Puglia Holidays

    Puglia - Discover the Heel of Italy Escorted Group Tours With countryside that's blanketed with olive groves, a collection of historic cities and fairytale towns, and a coastline stretching for 800-odd kilometres, Puglia is a rich region filled with simple pleasures.

  20. Puglia, Lecce and Vieste Tour 2024

    You and nine or more of your friends or family can travel for less with our group offer, available on all tours, ocean and yacht cruises, and river cruises of 6 nights or less. Choose to receive 10% off your group's booking costs back or one free place - simply call 01283 901216 and speak to a member of our dedicated groups team.

  21. Small Group Tours Puglia Italy: slow pace, flexible, local independent

    AWESOME SMALL GROUP TOURS OF PUGLIA 2024-2025 - 1090 € pp. Are you a solo traveller, a couple or a small group of friends who want to experience the best of Puglia but you've never been to the region yet? Then our small group tours Puglia are perfect for you. We run escorted tours of Puglia region in small groups at slow pace to give you a ...

  22. 8 Day Puglia & Basilicata Package Holiday

    Your holiday begins with a flight to Bari in the region of Puglia in southern Italy. From here we'll drive you to the 4-star hotel near the small town of Alberobello. Surrounded by rolling hills, fruit trees and olive groves, it's the ideal base from which to explore the regions of Puglia and Basilicata. ... Guided tour holidays you may ...

  23. Puglia Italy Escorted Tours

    Optional excursions include visits to the pretty town of Ostuni for a stroll along its maze of narrow streets, and the coastal town of Trani in the north, with its busy harbour and 11th century cathedral. Book online or call Travelsphere holidays direct on 01858 415 405. To check availability and to book Request a Brochure.

  24. Why Puglia In Italy Should Be Your Next Vacation Destination

    In the shaded streets of Bari's old town (Citta Vecchia), close to the 12th-century Castello Svevo, local women make and sell the traditional orecchiette pasta of the Puglia region.