Puglia & Matera Discovery
SMALL GROUP TOURS
Destination: Croatia • Duration: 13 days / 12 nights • Dates: Sep 13 - 25, 2024 • Destination: Italy • Duration: 13 days / 12 nights • Dates: Sep 13 - 25, 2024 • Destination: Italy • Duration: 13 days / 12 nights
Destination: Italy
Dates: Sep 13 - 25, 2024
Duration: 13 days / 12 nights
Arrive Bari international airport, meet your driver and transfer to our hotel in town. Settle in, relax. In the late afternoon hours, meet your host and your fellow travelers at the lobby for a welcome drink. Then, head out to a local restaurant for a welcome dinner of delicious local dishes, to dive right into the culture and life of Puglia.
Arrive Bari
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2025
DAY 1
Today we enjoy the day in Bari! In the later morning hours, we will meet our local licensed guide who will take us on a discovery of Bari. We will stroll the cobbled stone streets of the old town and see the Nonne (grandmothers) at their work of making hand-made pasta. We will also tour the most beautiful historical areas while learning about the local life through the centuries. The walking tour ends in town, you may stay on own if you wish, head back to the hotel and relax, or join your host and spend the afternoon sunbathing, swimming, and having fun at the local city beach.
Bari
DAY 2
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2025
DAY 4
After breakfast, we’ll meet our licensed local guide and head out to explore the UNESCO protected ‘SASSI” area of Matera in an Ape Calessino vehicle. It will be a fun experience, and the guide will provide the insight in such interesting history of the area and take us to visit one of the ancient Cave Dwellings, where families used to live, until not so long ago… This tour will take approximately 3 hours. Enjoy free time in the afternoon. Explore on your own, relax, dive into the “dolce far’ niente” (The sweetness of doing nothing!).
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2025
Matera
DAY 5
Enjoy the free morning in this gorgeous place. Meet your host in the later morning hours and walk together to a very special wine cellar and restaurant where you’ll enjoy a wine tasting and lunch while learning of the local wine production, and amazing gastronomy. After this amazing gastro-experience, you may return to the hotel and relax, or continue to explore Matera, casually and leisurely with your host.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2025
Matera
DAY 6
In the morning, we’ll meet our driver and head back to Puglia, but this time we are going all the way south, to the amazing town Lecce, often called “Florence of the South”. Upon arrival, we’ll meet our licensed local guide and enjoy a guided cultural/historical/food tour of this amazing town, to learn all of it’s secrets while tasting all of it’s amazing food. Then, we’ll get settled in our hotel and the rest of the day is at leisure. Enjoy exploring on your own, with your host, or just relax and live La Dolce Vita in this amazing place.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2025
Matera - Lecce
DAY 7
Ahead of us is a full-day of exploring the southern areas of Puglia! The heel of the Italian boot!
In the morning we’ll head to Gallipoli, a picturesque town full of history. We’ll meet our guide and enjoy a short walking tour to get an idea of the local history and life. Then, there will be some free time for you to grab a coffee or just explore on own before we head toward the southernmost points of Puglia, and a town called Santa Maria di Leuca. Here, we’ll embark a private speed boat and enjoy a 3-hour sail along the coast to view all the amazing caves and swim in crystal clear water. After this amazing experience our driver will take us back to our hotel in Lecce. The rest of the day is yours to relax and rest.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2025
Lecce - Gallipoli - Lecce
DAY 8
We recommend a light breakfast, as we will gather in the morning hours and head toward a local Masseria to visit the farm, see the animals, and learn of their organic production of cheeses, wines and olive oil. Then, we’ll sit down for brunch to taste all of their amazing dishes prepared with the freshest ingreditents. In the early afternoon hours we will continue to explore the south of Puglia and visit Otranto, a town at the eastern coast, often called “The Door to the East”. We’ll meet our local guide and enjoy a wlaking tour to leran about the life, culture and history of this southern Italian gem. Later, you will have some time to explore on own, or to relax at the local beach. The return to Lecce will be in the afternoon hours.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2025
Lecce - Otranto - Lecce
DAY 9
This morning it will be time to depart Lecce, heading back north, toward the central area of Puglia. Our first stop today will be the dreamy, UNESCO protected town of Alberobello. We will meet our guide, and visit the famous Trulli village, admire the unique architecture and learn of the people and life in the area. After the official walking tour, there will be some free time to explore on own, take pictures or to sit down for coffee or gelato. Then, we’ll proceed to visit the picturesque costal town Monopoli. Here, we’ll just enjoy some free time to explore on own and/or to sit down for lunch at one of the local restaurants. In the afternoon, we arrive our hotel in Polignano a Mare. Take in the view, relax, enjoy. The evening is free.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2025
Lecce - Alberobello - Polignano A Mare
DAY 13
Your driver will pick you up from the hotel depending on your departure time and take you to Bari International Airport for your flight.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2025
Depart Italy
DAY 3
Today we’ll bid farewell to Bari and head inland. Our first stop will be the historic town of Altamura, famous for the traditional bread production. We will visit a local bakery, learn the story of this amazing bred, and of course enjoy tasting it. We will also have some free time to enjoy the town before continuing our way toward the region of Basilicata, and our home for the next 3 days – Matera. Matara is thought to be one of the oldest towns in the world! We will get settled in our hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax and enjoy on own, OR join your host in the evening and head out to try out some of the amazing local restaurants and enjoy a drink in town afterward.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2025
Bari - Altamura - Matera
DAY 10
It’s time we have a lazy morning. Take the time to seep in and relax, or go to the beach! In the early afternoon, we’ll head to town and meet our licensed guide. We’ll enjoy a walk through the cobbled stone streets of Polignano a Mare, viewing the amazing architecture and the view of the famous beach while we learn of the way of life through the centuries in this area of Puglia. Then, we’ll continue exploring Polignano on our own, try out the local Aperitivo scene and have some relaxing time in town. Who wants to go for dinner at the famous restaurant in the cave? Join your host tonight for dinner (this is optional, and payment is on the spot, but the reservation must be done in advance)
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2025
Polignano A Mare
DAY 11
It’s time we have a lazy morning. Take the time to seep in and relax, or go to the beach! In the early afternoon, we’ll head to town and meet our licensed guide. We’ll enjoy a walk through the cobbled stone streets of Polignano a Mare, viewing the amazing architecture and the view of the famous beach while we learn of the way of life through the centuries in this area of Puglia. Then, we’ll continue exploring Polignano on our own, try out the local Aperitivo scene and have some relaxing time in town. Who wants to go for dinner at the famous restaurant in the cave? Join your host tonight for dinner (this is optional, and payment is on the spot, but the reservation must be done in advance)
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2025
Itria Valley Towns From Polignano A Mare
DAY 12
Today is the last day or our tour, and your day to relax and enjoy at your own pace. Maybe go and do some shopping or relax at the beach. In the late afternoon hours, we will gather one last ime and head for an amazing farewell dinner in a unique setting where we’ll enjoy the atmosphere and the amazing local dishes and wines. Enjoy your last evening and have fun!
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2025
Polignano A Mare
Pricing
Price Per Person In
Double Occupancy Rooms
$1400
Single Supplement
$5700
Request To Book
What's Included
Accommodation at 4* hotels or similar with breakfast daily, based on double occupancy rooms, with the option for single use at a supplement
Customized arrival and departure airport transfers, according to your individual arrival and departure flight timing
All transfers as per program with comfortable air-conditioned mini coach
Professional English-speaking tour manager throughout
Welcome drink at the hotel
Tour of Gallipoli & Private boat tour to swim and admire nature from Santa Maria di Leuca, 4 hours
Masseria tour with brunch in the Puglia countryside & Walking tour of Otranto
Walking tour of historical Alberobello – Trulli village
Walking tour of Polignano a Mare
Walking tour of Ostuni
Farewell dinner with drinks in the vicinity of Polignano a Mare
Welcome dinner at a local restaurant in Bari with traditional Pugliese 3-course meal, incl. wine & water
Walking tour and food tasting tour of Bari
Walking tour of Altamura and presentation of the bread and tasting
Ape Calessino guided tour of historic Matera with entrance into a Cave Dwelling Museum
Wine and food tasting at a local restaurant in Matera area
Walking tour of Lecce with food tasting
Visas, visa waivers, passport, and/or departure taxes
Airfare
Any items not listed above
Expenses of personal nature, including tips to guides and drivers, telephone calls, table drinks, internet, laundry, etc.
Travel insurance – highly recommended! Check out World Nomads.
Not Included
Pricing
Price Per Person In
Double Occupancy Rooms
$1400
Single Supplement
$5700
- The Coscia-Mancuso Family, White Plains, NY
We cannot thank Vagabonda Travel enough for custom-designing our family trip to Italy. Memories to last a lifetime. Every detail of our trip was perfectly curated and exceptional. We would have never been able to plan this adventure on our own. Communication with the staff is excellent and we felt secure knowing we had contact number while we were traveling. Cannot wait to book our next trip with you soon!
Trip of a lifetime.
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- Megan and Jerry, Los Angeles, California
We have never used a travel service before, and Vagabonda absolutely blew us away! From their hotel bookings, to the day-by-day itinerary, to hidden gems we definitely would have never found on our own, we can't thank their team enough! Highly recommend for anyone who wants an authentic experience in Europe!
BEST TRIP EVER! We'll remember this for the rest of our lives!
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- Pete and Paula, Lindenhurst, New York
When my husband and I started planning our 30th Anniversary trip to Italy we had no idea where to even begin. That’s when I stumbled across Alida’s TikTok videos. I absolutely LOVED her content. To be honest, at first I was skeptical about planning a trip like this off of someone I saw in a TikTok video, but after meeting with her we knew we picked the right travel agency. Our 17-day trip was absolutely incredible. Alida and Vagabonda Travel made our lifetime dream of touring Italy one we will never forget!
Happy 30th Anniversary to Us! A TRIP OF A LIFETIME!
Happy Clients
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Vagabonda's European small group tours are led by our professional hosts. We're dedicated to making sure that every moment of your trip counts. We believe in taking it slow and connecting with locals as we uncover amazing experiences in unforgettable destinations. Travel should be more than just a vacation - it should be an experience that touches your heart and deepens your relationship with the world.
