Puglia & Basilicata Custom Tour

“These tours are examples of some of the places to visit and the sights and activities you can experience. They are completely customizable to your time and budget. Please use the “Design Your Own form” to start planning your next vacation with us”

Tour Features

This Independent Tour is designed for travelers who enjoy adventure and discovery. These two regions offer a mix of sea and countryside perfect for travelers who wish to explore a truly distinctive part of Italy. Unique history, culture, and culinary delights abound in the heel of the peninsula. Arrive in the coastal city of Bari and enjoy this port city. On your second day proceed to the ancient city of the Matera once known as Sassi or Stones. Matera was deemed a UNESCO World Heritage site and was a featured backdrop for the Mel Gibson film Passion of the Christ. Continue the tour into the historical agricultural fields of Puglia where the olive trees are over a century old and indulge in the flavors. Enjoy the sandy beaches of the Ionian Sea which are a contrast to the rugged coast of the Adriatic and spend time in the town of Santa Maria di Leuca where both seas collide! Discover the deep caverns of the Grotte di Castellana, the unique conical houses known as Trulli in Alberobello, and shopping the quaint boutiques in Monopoli.

CURRENT EXCHANGE RATES

Ciao Tours will fix the exchange rate at the time of full payment or 60 days prior to departure.

Accommodations
  • 1 Night Lodging near the Bari Airport
  • 3 Nights Lodging in Matera
  • 4 Nights Lodging at the Masseria outside of Lecce
  • 3 Nights Lodging in Polignano al Mare
  • 2 Nights Lodging in Historical Bari
Customize
  • Or customize a whole tour to your liking

What’s Included

  • Daily Breakfast at all Accommodations
  • Hosted Dinner at the Masseria near Lecce
  • 11 Day Car Rental with Standard Transmission
  • Private Walking Tours of Lecce, Matera & Bari
  • Morning Hiking Tour in the Sassi Caves including picnic
  • Tour of Alberobello, Conversano, Monopoli, Locorotondo, Santa Maria di Leuca, Gallipoli, Grotte di Castellana at Leisure
  • Tour Assistance from Ciao Tours’ Italian Office Representatives
  • General Driving Directions, including Maps
  • All Taxes Included except local city taxes

What’s Not Included

Air flights, travel insurance, tips, and anything not specifically mentioned in “What’s Included”.

Daily Itinerary

DAY 1 – ARRIVAL – BARI

Private Transfer to Central Bari Hotel and explore Bari at leisure.

NO MEALS INCLUDED ON DAY 1

DAY 2 – ALTAMURA AND MATERA
  • Altamura links its birth to the mythical disembarkation of the escaping Trojans who landed on the Adriatic Italian coast
  • Witness the 400,000 year old calcified Altamura Man in the grotta di Lamalunga (limestone cave)
  • Dinosaur Caves in Pontrelli. This is one of the richest fossil deposits in the world dating back to the Cretaceous period (about 70 million years old).

MEAL INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST

DAY 3 – MATERA
  • 4-hour Private Walking Tour of Matera
  • Local Product Tasting (Cheeses, Cured Meats & Wine)
  • Backdrop for Mel Gibson’s blockbuster movie “Passion of the Christ” and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • The old city was created out of the rocky ravine

MEAL INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST

DAY 4 – MATERA
  • 4-hour Guided Hiking in the Matera Hills
  • Hiking from the Sassi to Cristo La Selva; packed lunch inside a cave; return by bus

MEALS INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST & LUNCH

DAY 5 – TARANTO & LECCE
  • Tour Grottaglie at leisure
  • Hosted Dinner at the Masseria
  • Citta Vecchia is the heart of the “old city” of Taranto and is actually on a island while the main part of the city is called Citta Moderna or the “modern city”
  • The small town of Grottaglie is known for hand crafted ceramics of Grecian influence

MEALS INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST & DINNER

DAY 6 – LECCE
  • 2 Hour Private Guided Walking Tour of Lecce
  • Lecce it is the main city of the Salentine Peninsula, a sub-peninsula at the heel of the Italian Peninsula and is over 2,000 years old. Because of the rich Baroque architectural monuments found in the city, Lecce is commonly nicknamed “The Florence of the South”

MEAL INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST

DAY 7 – GALLIPOLI & SANTA MARIA LEUCA
  • Tours these towns and the West Coast of Puglia at Leisure appreciating the difference between the two coasts
  • Gallipoli: in Greek-Kallipolis meaning beautiful city
  • 11th Century Castel Angiono and fortress
  • Corte Gallo- unique alleyways and part of town with house facades decorated by locals inspired by items used by fishermen

MEAL INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST

DAY 8 – OTRANTO
  • Tour of the Eastern Coastline via Cesarea Terme
  • Beautiful views of the sea
  • Historic churches & castle

MEAL INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST

DAY 9 – OSTUNI, MARTINA FRANCA, LOCOROTONDO & ALBEROBELLO
  • Enjoy the different towns and the unique houses known as Trulli
  • Dinner in Polignano al Mare on Own
  • Ostuni- 15th Century Gothic Cathedral
  • Martina Franca features Baroque Buildings and a Ducal Palace built in 1669
  • Locorotondo or round place features a circular city plan
  • Alberobello or beautiful tree features thousands of Trulli or conical houses unique to this region

MEAL INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST

DAY 10 – CONVERSANO & MONOPOLI
  • Enjoy exploring the centre and shopping in Monopoli
  • The Pulo (Neolithic site), a circular cave 23 m deep with grottoes and remains
  • Grotta Bianca- featuring stalactites and stalagmites is considered in perfect condition
  • Above the cave is a look-out tower

MEAL INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST

DAY 11 – CASTELLINA DI GROTTE & ALBEROBELLO

Enjoy the day at leisure.

MEAL INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST

DAY 12 – TRANI & CASTEL DI MONTE
  • Enjoy the day exploring the towns of Trani & Castel Monte
  • Proceed to Bari and enjoy Dinner at Leisure
  • Simple yet spectacular Cathedral set on a small peninsula that juts out into the sea

MEAL INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST

DAY 13 – BARI
  • 2-hour Private Guided Walking Tour of Bari
  • Bari is the Second Largest Metropolis in the South- a visit to the ancient district is worth a visit to compare it’s modern day culture as an industrial capital
  • San Giacomo Church
  • Walk along the Lungomare or Seaside Promenade

MEAL INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST

DAY 14 – BARI

Return rental vehicle & conclusion of tour.

MEAL INCLUDED: BUFFET BREAKFAST

Customize a whole tour to your liking