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Plan your adventure:
- Tour Operator:
- Explore!
- Max group size:
- 16
- Age range:
- 16 to 85
- Operated in:
- English
- Tour id:
- 124796
Highlights
- Explore unique beehive-shaped trulli houses with wine
- Enjoy coastal walks to the bauxite quarry in Otranto
- Sample Altamura bread, homemade cheese and wine
Itinerary
Expand All
- Introduction
- Day 1 Join trip in Bari
- Day 2 Food tasting in Altamura and visit to the medieval Castel del Monte
- Day 3 Guided tour of the caves and rock carved churches of Matera
- Day 4 Cheese and wine tasting; walk through the Trullis of Alberobello
- Day 5 Free day in Alberobello; chance to visit the Castellana Caves
- Day 6 Visit an ancient olive oil press; continue to Otranto and chance for a coastal walk
- Day 7 Walking tour of Lecce; free afternoon to visit the Museo Faggiano
- Day 8 Trip ends in Lecce
What's Included
Expand All
- Accommodation
- Guide
- Meals
- Additional Services
- Transport
What's Not Included
- Optional
- Additional Services
Where You'll Stay
All accommodations are subject to change
Hotel Adria
Hotelday 1Hotel Sassi
HotelDays 2, 3Hotel Trullidea
HotelDays 4, 5Hotel Eos
HotelDays 6, 7
Customer Photos
Operated by
Explore!
Number of tours
441
Age Range
16 to 85 years old
Response time
within 1 day
Response rate
96%
Explore is a global adventure travel company with 42 years’ experience in providing exciting and authentic travel experiences. With over 350 trips in around 100 countries, Explore’s expertly crafted itineraries combined with award-winning tour leaders, small group sizes and a commitment to...
Read moreSustainability Initiatives
Reduce Carbon Emissions
Animal Welfare
Supporting Destinations
Sustainability Programs
Customer Reviews
- Overall RatingExcellent
- ItineraryExcellent
- GuideExcellent
- TransportExcellent
- AccommodationExcellent
- FoodExcellent
- MBMark· October 15th, 2024Sonia 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 disconcertingShow more
Explore! commented on this reviewThank you for sharing feedback on your most recent trip to Puglia. I am sorry to hear certain parts of the trip left you feeling a little disappointed. We refer to tipping in our trip notes and whilst it isn’t compulsory element of our trips, it is... Show moreTrip date: October 2024 
Nanette· October 15th, 2024The 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.Show moreExplore! commented on this reviewThank you so much for your wonderful review of the Highlights of Puglia tour! It’s fantastic to hear how much you enjoyed exploring the unique charm of Puglia and Basilicata! We’re delighted that you found your Explore leader exceptional and felt their... Show more
Trip date: October 2024- AMary· May 7th, 2023Highlights were the unique accommodations in Matera and Alberobello. It was special to stay in the caves and trulli. It was also great to have a tour leader, and local guides that were native to Italy and guided us through the language, customs, and local cuisine.Show moreTrip date: April 2023Review collected by Explore!
- APaul· May 7th, 2023Our tour guide, Sonia, was exceptional. Probably the best Explore leader I've ever had. My fellow travellers were great too, and it was really nice to have people from different countries. I like the small touches of meeting local people as well as the big sights.Show moreTrip date: April 2023Review collected by Explore!
- AGill· May 8th, 2023As above and the whole trip was a lovely experienceTrip date: April 2023Review collected by Explore!
- ASuzette· May 9th, 2023Matera, and the cave experience, although it leaked a lot. The trulli town of Alberobello was also amazing. Cheese making was also interesting. Although quite an effort for me knees, the coastal walk was exhilaratingTrip date: April 2023Review collected by Explore!
- AKenneth· May 31st, 2023Matera is an amazing place, and towns like Locorotondo and Martina Franca are very picturesque. The food iand wine are fabulous everywhere!Trip date: May 2023Review collected by Explore!
- AJan· May 31st, 2023Wonderful area, charming unspoilt villages and great food!Trip date: May 2023Review collected by Explore!
- ACelia· June 3rd, 2023Matera, cheese tasting on the farm, staying in a lovely trullo, visiting the bakery, Castillo del Monte. Most things, really.Trip date: May 2023Review collected by Explore!
- AKevin· June 5th, 2023Staying in hotels right in the old town areas. Such as the cave and Trulli hotelsTrip date: May 2023Review collected by Explore!
Dates & Availability
8 days
Highlights of Puglia
From Bari to Lecce
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