Puglia Unveiled: A Journey Through the Heel of Italy
Watching mammas making orecchiette pasta in the colourful streets of Bari's Old Town. The pasta’s name translates as ‘little ears’ - take a closer look and you’ll see that’s exactly what they resemble.
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.
- 12 Meals - 7 breakfasts, 5 dinners
- 7 nights in hotels
- Transport - Travel To Destination By Coach
- Headset system on excursions
12 Excursions & 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
Your fare excludes:
- Airfares & Travel Insurance
Day 1 - Otranto
Join your tour group at the hotel.
Day 2 - Lecce - Otranto
This morning, we’ll head to Lecce for a guided walking tour. Known as the ‘Florence of the South’ for its baroque architecture, we’ll view inside the cathedral and the Basilica di Santa Croce. After admiring the city’s honey-stone palazzi and stopping for a delicious takeaway from a bakery, we’ll make our way back to Otranto for time to explore.
Day 3 - Ostuni - Cisternino - Alberobello
This morning we travel to Ostuni, a city which has been occupied since the Stone Age. Commonly known as ‘the white city', Ostuni’s hilltop citadel is encased in white walls and surrounded by white-painted architecture. The 15th-century cathedral is distinctive for the green, yellow and white slate tiles that encase it and the nearby buildings. We enjoy an olive oil tasting before travelling on to Alberobello, with a break to stretch our legs in Cisternino, a historic whitewashed town.
Day 4 - Castellana Caves - Alberobello
We drive to the Castellana Caves, a series of limestone caverns accidentally discovered in 1938. A guide will accompany you as you descend to explore the caves. We also visit Alberobello (there’s a 15-minute walk to the town from the coach). Dozens of quirky trulli - circular, conical-roofed houses - can be found in and around the town. We visit a winery here for a wine tasting accompanied by some local products. Dinner this evening will be at a local masseria.
Day 5 - Matera - Martina Franca
Today we travel to the 2019 European Capital of Culture, Matera, famous for its ‘sassi’ - neighbourhoods of ancient cave dwellings. Monks first created this maze of living spaces and churches as they sought refuge from infidels at the end of the first millennium. Miraculously, they are still largely intact. After our guided tour of the rock church and caves, we make our way to the pretty hilltop town of Martina Franca. We'll have time to wander the whitewashed alleyways and cobblestone paths that lead to attractive piazzas and stunning baroque buildings, before returning to our hotel.
Day 6 - Bari - Margherita di Savoia
We travel to the old port city of Bari. The Romanesque Basilica di San Nicola is dedicated to St Nicholas, or Father Christmas, and was built to house his remains (which still lie in the crypt). As part of the magical Christmas build up here, the local children write letters to St Nicholas and place them in the crypt, before joining a special church service dedicated to them. Next is a visit to Castel del Monte, built by Frederick II in the mid-13th century. Most probably intended as a hunting lodge, it crowns a medieval hilltop village. We continue to Margherita di Savoia and our hotel for the next two nights.
Day 7 - Gargano
Today we’ll visit Gargano in the lesser-known northeast of Puglia. Our exploration includes a guided tour of its highest inhabited town, Monte Sant’Angelo - its basilica is built on the spot where the Archangel Michael first appeared in a cave. After some time to enjoy a wander and maybe a stop for lunch, we'll head back to the hotel stopping to view the striking colours of the Margherita di Savoia Salt Pans.
Day 8 - Margherita di Savoia
Say goodbye to your tour group for your onward travel.
Book by 30 June 2025 & Save $1000 per person!
Multiple Departures are available between 19 May 2025 & 12 Oct 2026
Below price is for 12 Oct 2026 departure
- From
$3,255$2,255 per person twin share* - From
$3,951$2,951 per person sole traveller*
Call our team today to find out more on 1300 414 198. Our team can also assist with booking International flights and accommodation as part of your overall travel plans.
Please note: prices are subject to availability at the time of booking and may change or be withdrawn at any time without notice.
- Vittoria Resort, Otranto (2 Nights)
- Grand Hotel la Chiusa di Chietri, Alberobello (3 Nights)
- Grand Hotel Terme, Margherita di Savoia (2 Nights)
Tips for Your Day Tour
- Comfortable Shoes: Both towns have cobblestone streets, so wear sturdy footwear.
- Pack Essentials: Bring sunscreen, water, and a hat for the sunny Salento weather