Apulia Tour Companies

9 day tour of Puglia is really 7 days because 2 days involve travel. We would have been happy to skip the last 3 days. We visited one estate that had an excellent lunch. It also had its own wine which was excellent. We believe there should be some winery visits. We didn't like the experience of sharing part of the tour with South Americans.

This tour was by far the worst tour I have ever been on 1. They have to deliver what they offer 2. The tour company should have a back up 3. It is no use dropping us at a destination and being told that we will be picked up in three hours. We were never given a map of the city or highlights. 4. Our “English” speaking guide, spoke very little English and was not aware of the itinerary or the pints of interest on the itinerary. 5. The hotels are too far out of the towns. I think the towns offer more at night but if you are not familiar with the areas, you unsure about where to go. 6. Some compensation should be made to the travellers on this tour and/or you should take it off your list. It was not a cheap tour and we definitely did not get the level of experience that.we were entitled to. Rosemary Barbetta For Fausto, Sandra and Evelyn

Would have preferred more time on the Amalfi coast

Enjoyed each of the destinations. The organised activities were excellent, in particular the wine tasting and olive oil tasting. The local guides were very good. The standard of accommodation was reasonable. The 3 hour wait for transfer at Naples could have been better organised either as a shorter wait or have baggage storage included to allow for a short visit to the city centre.

Sonia was an excellent guide but there were some parts of the tour we either felt were strange or did not enjoy. We had booked this tour because it did not have any meals planned besides breakfast. We wanted to seek out southern Italian cuisine ourselves, not find that the group seemed expected to go for evening meals together. It was intriguing to stay in the Trullo and the cave hotel in Sassi. But the hotels in Bari and Lecce were of very low quality. Probably a two star. Threadbare towels, mould in shower in the Lecce Hotel. We were also taken by surprise at being asked for the ‘tip kitty’ in the parking lot of the castle. The option of prepaid tips should be given. And as for two of the guides at the castle and in Lecce, we wouldn’t have personally tipped either of them. We couldn’t understand them and they bored on interminably. The best guide was in Matera. Escape! doesn’t provide whisperers, so it’s often impossible to hear guides anyway. Buses were often small without enough leg room. For some totally unknown reason the tour ends in Lecce when it would make more sense to end in Bari. The two villages we were advised to visit on the free day were not worth visiting at all. We would have been better advised to stay in Alberobello. Sonia is an excellent guide and did an admirable job. We still don’t know why Escape! Insisted on having our travel insurance details. We have never been asked for this information in 20 years of travelling. We enjoyed the itinerary but found some of Escape!’s policies disconcerting

The Highlights of Puglia was a fabulous tour. It was busy but plenty of free time to explore. Puglia has amazing towns and I would suggest everyone should visit the amazing Sassies or cave homes of Matera. Spectacular! Staying in a cave home plus staying in the Trullo houses in Alberobello was a great experience. Puglia and Bascilata regions give a unique taste of southern Italy. Our tour guide was exceptional and made every location exciting.

I loved the trip and the tour. Both Emilio, Clara and Miki were charming at all times and very attentive to my needs and well being. Always with a smile. I loved the area and Emilio's cooking. I still dream about his dishes, especially the tuna tartar and the gnocchi with prawns!!! It is an experience that I recommend to everyone without hesitation.

Thank you Emilio and family for hosting me at Tenuta Linazza! I arrived as a guest and left as a friend. My heart is full from your generous hospitality. Emilio, your passion for cooking shines in every plate of delicious food you made. Thank you for sharing your chefs secrets and teaching me to respect every single ingredient. Cooking classes at the end of the day was highlight for me after enjoying the sights of Puglia. No day was rushed and I was able to have free time. My itinerary was moved to suit the weather to maximise my experience. My night tour in Leece was spent with Emilio’s father Antonio, who was born in Lecce, and was an expert guide of the area. Thanks to Michael also for showing me some sights including Alberobello which was truly a special town to visit. Until next time!

Excellent combination of activities and the guides for each were all exceptional. The only let down was the hotel which was quite run down, but worst still the air-conditioning wasn't working and although we talked to various hotel staff each day the situation wasn't remedied

Our trip was well organized from the lead up communications to the hand over of the car, the suggestions for the itinerary and the choice and quality of the accommodations. A very enjoyable trip- we will choose Tour Radar again for a future holiday.

Disappointing in some respects as follows 1) little to no commentary on the bus 2) no headsets to hear the guide when taking photos 3) picking up and dropping off passengers in Bari cost us 2 hours of our time on the tour

Poorly organized. Sometimes the spot from the cabs was not clear . And it took forever until I had someone on the phone who could explain it (badly). Then you don't know if you can get anywhere. Not suitable for solo travelers. The drivers were great. City tours: Way too forced and exhausting. You don't need a historical and religious tour in every city you stay only 1 day. It was just stress. For solo travelers this is unpleasant. The city guides were nice, but the English was poorly understood.

I had a stressful start as I was given the wrong flight time to meet up with the group for the transfer to our start city of Matera. After hanging around the airport to catch a shuttle, my tour guide turned up at the correct time to meet the rest of the group. After that the cycle tour was amazing. Well organised, great accommodation, fabulous guide & support staff. I iopted for an ebike which I am glad of as there was some mean hills but great views. The countryside is spectacular. I highly recommend this tour.

Incredible, thoughtful and alot of fun . This was an extraordinary group and the 3 tour leaders were fantastico! For my first bike tour abroad , I couldn’t have been more impressed and this was beyond my expectations! Thant’s Exodus! Nancy

The tour in Italy was very well executed. The GPS app worked beautifully.

The accommodations were outstanding on this bike tour. Friendly and comfortable

This was without doubt the worst tour I have ever been on and in fifty years of travel that is a lot! A lack of organisation and support beginning with little or no communication and no vouchers for transfers so I was constantly concerned I would not be met, or helped with luggage on and off the train, which is what happened. The only communication was a Booking confirmation to my agent (who had to phone for that) only five days before the actual tour. It indicated the tour operator was I Love Rome, which it wasn't - it was Carrani Tours. My own emails to Tour Radar for more information and vouchers promised replies that never eventuated. On my return to Rome from Lecce the driver put me off outside the station to handle my own baggage. On my arrival in Rome, it took a time for me to get myself and luggage off the train and walk to the meeting point from the last carriage, by which time the driver had gone and 'gone off duty' and I had to find a taxi, an extra 10 euros and much trauma, as I am no longer young. The so called '9-day tour' included two days train journeys to and from Rome and two days 'Rome at your leisure'. That meant no guide, no maps, no help and the hotel nowhere near the centre of Rome; more than a km walk to the hop-on-hop-off bus that was the best and cheapest option, that should have been proper city tour with a bus and a guide. This is, in my opinion, false advertising. It was in effect a five-day tour. Others with the same tour but different initiating companies had vouchers as well as an extra two days in Puglia. In view of my experience on my Rome termini arrival from Puglia, and no indication the transfer to the airport I had paid for would happen, I hired a taxi to make sure I would be on time, an extra 50 euros. Food was so poor in Alberobello our group refused a second evening meal at the same restaurant and we found our own. The two breakfasts there also were absolutely sub-standard. Our tour guide, although cheerful and helpful, had inadequate English. All of us found it difficult to understand her, and she found it difficult to understand our questions. Two stars is actually more than this tour and this company deserves. I will go out of my way to make sure as many people as possible get to know this.

Flavio was our Tour Leader and he is an excellent Tour Leader. His energy and enthusiasm during our tour brought Puglia alive. He was always available and no issue ever phased him. If there was an issue he dealt with it in a very calm and professional manner to everyone’s satisfaction- a true diplomat. He is an excellent ambassador for Back Roads Tours and when I go back to Italy I will certainly try to ensure he is our Tour Leader. He really did go above and beyond to make our tour truly memorable.

This tour was so well organised and was a well balanced programme of visiting historic sites and otherwise hidden places. The tour leader, Flavio, made sure that everyone was taken into consideration and he talked to us about cultural and conversational dos and don’ts in Italy. He was caring, intelligent and humorous. I always felt included on this tour.

Our Puglia tour was beyond all expectations! Gaetano was brilliant. The itinerary was amazing ... a wonderful mix of walking tours, fabulous experiences, and incredible sights. And the meals !!! So good! But best was Gaetano's consideration and thoughtfulness ....I will never forget this tour, and I recommend it to everyone.

Gaetano was our guide for our visit to the Puglia region in southern Italy. We visited pretty coastal towns, and ancient cliff houses and stone huts. Gaetano was very familiar with the area, and did an excellent job of explaining the sights. He also gave us good recommendations for places to eat and shop. Our hotels were great! Phil had a foot problem that made it hard for him to climb many stairs. Gaetano found routes and alternative ways that let Phil see all the sights. Gaetano e buonissimo!

You won’t be disappointed. The countryside is beautiful, accommodations lovely and food delicious!

This ride under promises and over delivers in almost all respects ! Knowledgable Guides proud of their Italian heritage made everything come alive interesting History, Incredible changing landscapes , quiet country Roads and great food made for a wonderful 10 day experience. If I had to criticise something -- then I guess we would have liked the minimum rides to be slightly longer ( 40 km in a day is just to little to earn that great dinner