View all
Best price guarantee Learn More
- Gold Operator
- Explore!
- In-depth Cultural
- Immerse yourself in rich history and local traditions
- Group Tour
- Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
- Fully Guided
- An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
- Guided in English
- Group Size 7 - 16
- Age range 16 to 85
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
- 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
- Accommodation
- Guide
- Meals
- Additional Services
- Transport
- Free eSIMTourRadar offers the lead traveler (the person who booked) a free 1GB eSIM for the trip. The eSIM is redeemable only through the TourRadar app 72 hours before departure.
What's Not Included
- Flights
- Insurance
- Optional
- Additional Services
Where You'll Stay
Hotel Adria
Hotelday 1Hotel Sassi
HotelDays 2, 3Hotel Trullidea
HotelDays 4, 5Hotel Eos
HotelDays 6, 7
Customer Photos
Operated by
Explore!
Number of tours
531
Age Range
16 to 85 years old
Response time
within 1 day
Response rate
92%
Explore is a global adventure travel company with 42 years’ experience in...
Read moreSustainability Initiatives
Reduce Carbon Emissions
Animal Welfare
Supporting Destinations
Sustainability Programs
Customer Reviews
- Overall RatingExcellent
- ItineraryExcellent
- GuideExcellent
- TransportExcellent
- AccommodationExcellent
- FoodExcellent
- TATina· April 22nd, 2025Enjoyed my trip. Fabio was an excellent tour guide.Show more
Explore! commented on this reviewThank you for your review and for recognizing the outstanding work of your Tour Leader, Fabio. We look forward to welcoming you on another adventure soon!Trip date: April 2025 - 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 moreExplore! 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 experienceShow moreTrip 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 exhilaratingShow moreTrip 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!Show moreTrip date: May 2023Review collected by Explore!
- AJan· May 31st, 2023Wonderful area, charming unspoilt villages and great food!Show moreTrip 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.Show moreTrip date: May 2023Review collected by Explore!
Dates & Availability
Why book with TourRadar?
- Trusted and vetted operators
- Rated excellent on
- Best price guarantee
- 24/7 customer support
- Earn $50 in travel credits
- Free eSim with every purchase
To protect your payment and ensure your booking will be processed in Australia, never transfer or communicate outside of the TourRadar website or app.
- -19%From Sunday22 Jun, 2025To Sunday29 Jun, 2025EnglishFilling FastThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$3,960$3,190
- -17%From Sunday20 Jul, 2025To Sunday27 Jul, 2025EnglishThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$3,890$3,230
- Instant Confirmation-8%From Sunday31 Aug, 2025To Sunday7 Sep, 2025EnglishFilling FastThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$3,960$3,630
- Instant ConfirmationFrom Sunday7 Sep, 2025To Sunday14 Sep, 2025EnglishAlmost Sold OutThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$4,400
- From Sunday21 Sep, 2025To Sunday28 Sep, 2025EnglishAlmost Sold OutThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$4,620
- From Sunday5 Oct, 2025To Sunday12 Oct, 2025This departure date is not available or sold outSold outFrom:$4,440
- Instant ConfirmationFrom Sunday12 Apr, 2026To Sunday19 Apr, 2026EnglishThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$4,070
- Instant ConfirmationFrom Sunday3 May, 2026To Sunday10 May, 2026EnglishThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$4,070
- Instant ConfirmationFrom Sunday10 May, 2026To Sunday17 May, 2026EnglishThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$4,070
- Instant ConfirmationFrom Sunday17 May, 2026To Sunday24 May, 2026EnglishThis departure date is available and will 100% departGuaranteed departureMultiple Room TypesFrom:$4,070
Best price guarantee Learn More
What our customers ask about this tour
The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.- A
Anne
Asked on April 26th, 2025cost for a single room
Explore!Operator•Written April 2025The single supplement on SEPT 21 PUL trip would be an extra $490. I would have to request to see if there was a single room still available.
- F
Frank
Asked on January 17th, 2025Do u have anything available that would work with our dates
- Explore!Operator•Written January 2025
Unfortunately we do not have tours departing Bari during that time the closest departure we have available is 4th May 2025. Are you flexible with your dates at all? If not would Sicily interest you as we do have departures at the end of April?
- M
Marina
Asked on December 19th, 2024What are the payment options available for this tour?
- Explore!Operator•Written December 2024
You can make payments via credit card or bank transfer, and ensure to check if your card type is accepted.
- J
Justine
Asked on October 22nd, 2024What is the process if I want to change my booking?
- Explore!Operator•Written October 2024
Changes can be requested through your booking dashboard, and additional fees may apply based on availability.
- H
Heidi
Asked on June 30th, 2024We are looking to book a trip sept 13 or 14 until Sept 22. There seems to be no tours available on these dates. What is the significance of these dates?
- Explore!Operator•Written July 2024
To the best of my knowledge, there is no particular reason that the tour is not offered across these dates. We have departures available 1st, 8th and 22nd September.
- G
Geoffrey
Asked on June 11th, 2024What should I do if I want to book a different departure?
- Explore!Operator•Written June 2024
If you wish to change your departure, please contact us to explore available options or possible transfers to other dates.
- J
Joan
Asked on June 2nd, 2024I am interested in any tour similar to this one that starts after oct 20, 2024 and ends before November 3 for a solo traveler in a private room I would like to experience Matera and other areas in Puglia
- Explore!Operator•Written June 2024
The only tour in Puglia we run after 20 Oct is Cycle Puglia with 20 Oct - 27 Oct departure. The price is $2470 per person in single room.
- J
Joan
Traveler•Written June 2024I arrive on Oct 11 in Rome and I'm leaving italy for usa on nov 3, I love this particular tour. Please, do you have any cancellations for a solo private room traveler any dates from Oct 12- Nov 3 please let me know. I cant do your Oct 5 start date
- Explore!Operator•Written June 2024
Unfortunately we do not have this trip departing on the 12th October 2024, our last departure in 2024 is the 6th October and this is currently fully booked. We do not have a way to advise of any customer cancellations but if a customer did cancel from the 6th October trip we would have this back on sale to book within 24 hours - we would therefore recommend regularly checking the tourradar or Explore website.
J2 more answers - D
Debbie
Asked on April 24th, 2024Is there a maximum group size for this tour?
- Explore!Operator•Written April 2024
The maximum number of participants for this tour is 16, ensuring a more personalized experience.
- C
Cindy
Asked on April 4th, 2024How much will be the extra cost for a sigle occupancy? What will be the best way to join the group from Rome? The price does not include soupers, right?
- Explore!Operator•Written April 2024
Single supplement is from £325 depending on the departure date. You can take a train from Rome to Bari. Meals included in price are 7 breakfasts, no lunches or dinners are included.
- S
Simon
Asked on March 31st, 2024How can I check my booking details?
- Explore!Operator•Written April 2024
You can access your booking details through the customer gateway link provided in your confirmation email.
Good to Know
Tour ID: 124796
Videos
Keep Exploring Italy
- Luxury River Cruises & Cruise Lines
- Best 7 Day Italy Itineraries 2025/2026 (with Reviews)
- 10 Best Cultural Travel Companies
- Italy from Bari
- Italy In-depth Cultural
- Small group tour
- 8 days Italy
- Operators in Europe
- South Italy
- Apulia
- Highlights of Puglia Tours in Italy
- In-depth Cultural Tours
- Group Tours
- Fully Guided Tours
- Explorer Tours
- Wine tasting Tours
- Puglia
- Italy tours