Paths of Puglia & Matera - Premium Adventure

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8 Days from

~~USD 4,149~~ USD 3,849

USD 4,714

incl. Taxes

Walking & Trekking

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group, Private Group Adventures

Activity :

Premium Adventures, Walking & Trekking

Activity Levels :

2 out of 7 - Leisurely / Moderate

Group Size :

4 - 14

Ages :

16+

Trip Code :

TIQ

Explore the picturesque landscapes of Puglia and ancient history of Matera in style

On the southeast coast of Italy – the heel of the boot – lies the agricultural paradise of Puglia. This low-lying region was once a gateway for Western Europe to the Near East, and there’s a surprising mix of culture and traditions to discover. Stay in the Unesco-listed town of Alberobello, home to fairytale trulli houses with their whitewashed façades and conical roofs, and walk in the shade of ancient olive trees and vineyards. Visit the baroque city of Lecce and discover why it has been nicknamed the Florence of the South. Hike above the topaz waters of the Adriatic coast and, finally, step back in time in the cave city of Matera.

Highlights

Take gentle countryside and coastal walks
Stay in a trulli house in Alberobello
Visit the baroque masterpiece of Lecce
Enjoy a sunset guided tour of Matera and enjoy a classic Italian aperitivo by candlelight

Key Information

Two nights in quirky trulli houses; two nights in a refurbished country farmhouse; three nights in a beautiful cave hotel
Six days of gentle guided walking
Group normally 4 to 14, plus local leader. Minimum age: 16
Low altitude throughout
Travel by private minivan and train

Countries visited: Italy

What's Included

All breakfasts, five lunches, five dinners, two wine and produce tastings
All accommodation
Named tour leader, chosen for their expertise
Guided visits in Alberobello, Lecce, Ostuni and Matera
Entrance tickets and guided visits of San Agnano Archaeological Park and San Michele Abbey
Train tickets to/from Lecce
Local city taxes
Group arrival and departure transfers available

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (limited availability, only on request)
Upgraded rooms in Matera (limited availability, only on request)
Visas or vaccinations
Tips for tour leader, driver and local city guides

5 Days of Premium Adventures

Pace:

Leisurely: 2mph-3mph (3kph-4kph)

Terrain:

Low altitude; well-marked trails; some uneven rocky terrain

Day 2

13 km / 8.1 miles

Day 3

5 km / 3.1 miles

Day 5

9 km / 5.6 miles

Day 6

6 km / 3.7 miles

Day 7

12 km / 7.5 miles

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible. We use family-run hotels: Dodici Lune Hotel in Matera, Masseria Valente in Ostuni, Trulli or Trulli e Puglia in Alberobello.
We visit a winery in Alberobello that supports the local economy.
At Masseria Valente, we have lunch with a family at their farmhouse which provides for cross-cultural interaction.
Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

By travelling in a small group we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for reusable bottles.
The payment of entrance fees to natural reserves and archaeological sites generates income which is used for upkeep and development of these important sites.
We rewild 1,075sqft (100sqm) per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.
Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
We use public transport where possible during this trip to reduce carbon emissions.
Walking trips like this have very little detrimental impact on the environment and the locals, as it is a quiet, low impact activity requiring comparatively few resources to support.
Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
Plastic waste reduction: Please bring a reusable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Itinerary

Our Premium Adventure begins in the Unesco-listed town of Alberobello, home to 1,500 trulli (conical roofed houses). During our time here, we will stay in trulli houses for an authentic and memorable start to the trip. A welcome dinner is included this evening so we can get to know each other.

Premium accommodation: Charming Trulli or Trulli e Puglia

Meals Included: Dinner

A private transfer will take us to the starting point for our first walk of the week, crossing the peaceful Itria Valley. Passing trulli, ancient olive trees and myriad vineyards, we walk along narrow countryside tracks on our way to the hilltop town of Locorotondo, known for having a relaxed atmosphere, pretty alleys and excellent white wine. After a delicious lunch in a local trattoria, we take a private transfer back to Alberobello. Later in the afternoon, we visit a local winery for a wine and produce tasting, before we head for dinner in Alberobello.

Premium accommodation: Charming Trulli or Trulli e Puglia

Total ascent: 492ft (150m); total descent: 492ft (150m)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

In the morning, a local guide will take us on a fascinating walking tour of Alberobello, explaining the history of this captivating town. We then take a private transfer to the white city of Ostuni, where whitewashed houses create a dazzling effect. After checking in at our premium accommodation, we enjoy lunch in a trattoria. There is time for a short walk in the historical centre before we head out of the city to visit the archaeological park of Santa Maria di Agnano. Our next stop is a typical Apulian farm surrounded by olive trees, some more than 1,000 years old, where we will indulge in a delicious dinner. Finally, we take a private transfer back to our accommodation in Ostuni.

Premium accommodation: Masseria Valente

Total ascent: 328ft (100m); total descent: 328ft (100m)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

In the morning, we take the train to Lecce, justifiably known as the Florence of the South. A local guide will accompany us through the pretty streets and share information about the cultural importance and history of the area, particularly the Basilica di Santa Croce, duomo (cathedral) and Piazza del Duomo. There will be free time for shopping or visiting other renowned sites such as the Roman amphitheatre, the statue of Santo Oronzo or a papier mâché workshop. Later, we'll take the train back to Ostuni.

Premium accommodation: Masseria Valente

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning, we have a guided tour of Ostuni followed by a short transfer to the start of our hike. We walk towards the coast and the fabulous Dune Costiere Natural Park, where we have time to relax on the golden sands or swim in the calm waters of the Adriatic Sea (depending on the season). After a tasty lunch in a seafront restaurant, we'll take a private transfer to Matera, one of the most unusual and memorable destinations in Italy, made famous by the James Bond film, No Time to Die (2021). Our cave hotel is in the heart of the Sassi District, just a few steps from the most famous attractions in town. After check in, there is free time before we enjoy a first glimpse of the enchanting alleys and unique architecture on a guided sunset tour of the city. We'll end with a classic Italian aperitivo in a beautiful setting and admire the twinkling lights of Matera from a lofty position.

Premium accommodation: Le Dodici Lune or Fra i Sassi Residence

Total descent: 328ft (100m)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Today we enjoy a short hike to the Murgia plateau, a vast protected area home to more than 150 rupestrian churches dating from the eighth century. Once inhabited by hermits, the plateau is adorned with wonderful Byzantine frescoes. We descend a canyon until we reach a suspension bridge* that allows us to cross to the other side of the valley. We then hike to the top of the ravine, following a pathway that ends with a spectacular viewpoint of the Sassi District. In the afternoon, we take part in a fun pasta-making class and then enjoy dinner together.

*Customers with vertigo or who have difficulty with heights may wish to opt out of this part of the itinerary; if this is the case, speak to your tour leader at the start of the trip and they will be happy to explain the suspension bridge in more detail, and what options may be open to you if you choose not to take part.

Premium accommodation:Le Dodici Lune or Fra i Sassi Residence

Total ascent: 1,148ft (350m); total descent: 1,148ft (350m)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

On our final hike of the week, we start with a private transfer to the outskirts of Matera. The trail will take us through rugged, limestone landscapes, once home to prehistoric cave dwellings and rock churches. We pass through almond and olive groves on the way. Spring is particularly impressive in this area, with many species of butterfly, orchid and cyclamen. After the hike, we visit the Benedictine Abbey of San Michele Arcangelo in Montescaglioso (known as the City of Monasteries). On our return to Matera, we head to a local winery for a wine tasting before a farewell dinner.

Premium accommodation: Le Dodoci Lune or Fra i Sassi Residence

Total ascent: 591ft (180m); total descent: 1,214ft (370m)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The trip ends in Matera this morning, after breakfast. If you’d like a bit more time to explore this magnificent Basilicatan city, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Visa

Vaccination

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts, five lunches, five dinners and two wine and local produce tastings are included.

In Puglia, you will find genuine regional cooking with strong links to land and sea. To give you just a small list of the on offer in Puglia: bread from the Murge, durum wheat pasta, olives, the pasta delicacy orecchiette served with a sauce of turnip-tops or fresh tomato and sheep’s ricotta-cheese, cavatelli with pulses, aubergine (eggplant) and parmesan bake, grilled fish and seafood, burrata (soft mozzarella and cream cheese), plus excellent wines. This region is a food lover’s paradise, and the abundance of delicious vegetables also makes it a perfect destination for vegetarians. On this trip, there will be many opportunities to taste the best local specialities, particularly during the produce and wine tasting and the traditional dinner included in the itinerary.

Weather

Puglia has a wonderful Mediterranean climate with year-round sunshine and just enough rainfall to ensure the green is never too far off. Although Puglia covers a large area it is long and narrow – not more than 19mi (30km) across. This means you’re never far from the sea, which has a moderating effect on the weather. Please note, Puglia can be very hot, reaching high 30s (around 100F) in the summer.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate).

During the days, we walk for three to six hours (including lunch and photo stops). The terrain and path type will vary from paved tracks to gravel. Please note, the terrain on the trails near Matera can be uneven or rocky so trekking shoes or boots with good grip are required. The walks are easy, but there are some ascents and descents, so a reasonable amount of fitness is required. Puglia can also be very warm, possibly reaching 35C (95F) between July and September. Walking hours stated in the itinerary are approximates only. Timings stated include lunch and photo stops and will vary depending on the pace of your group.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

Availability

Availability

Availability

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

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