SPRING ROAD TRIP PUGLIA

Time of year: March - May

Duration: 9 days / 8 nights

Destinations and highlights: Bari, Alberobello, Polignano a Mare, Matera, Grottaglie, Lecce, Otranto, Gallipoli, Ostuni.

Total route: 630 km

Included (Basic Package): 8 nights in traditional accommodations, 1 car rental, 1 paper travel journal and 1 digital map.

Included (Full Package): Basic package services + 3 authentic experiences, 2 guided tours, 2 traditional meals.

Booking period: from March 15th to May 31th; tours to be booked at least 2 weeks in advance.

9 days / 8 nights

1500 € per couple

Spring out of winter hibernation!

Sunshine with fair temperatures, fewer crowds, and fields full of beautiful blooms make Spring an ideal time to travel to Puglia.

Of course, flowers in bloom aren’t the only draw for a road trip across this Italian region, other highlights include small quaint towns, amazing food and wine, stunning artworks and local handicrafts. Starting in Bari, this itinerary features Matera, the Itria Valley and Salento.

What you will see

You will have the pleasure to visit the beautiful tiny town of Alberobello with its traditional Trulli huts, the UNESCO city of Matera, another gem of sustainable architecture with its “Sassi”, literally houses in the caves. You will proceed to the pottery town of Grottaglie where you will learn the art of crafting ceramics. A stop on the rocky coastline with the marvellous natural pools and beaches of the Adriatic sea will be followed by a visit of the most eastern city of Italy, Otranto. Another stop in the “città bella/beautiful city of Gallipoli” famous for its fishing and trading history since Roman times will be followed by the drive to Ostuni, the “città bianca/white city” with its marvellous scenery on Puglia landscape made of olive trees, vineyards and the blue of the Adriatic sea. This itinerary will amaze you because it captures all the charm and essence of Puglia.

The pleasure of a Road Trip with the support of local people

We create a personalized digital travel pack to help you get the most out of your valuable holiday time. The pack contains a day-by-day itinerary, driving tips, a digital map, hotel information, emergency numbers and a paper travel journal. This pack will provide you with all you need to explore Puglia with confidence.

For you to enjoy one of our road trips, it’s not enough for us to craft a great itinerary. We want you to feel like you are traveling like a local because we share with you what we love ourselves. And we don’t like to schedule every minute, which is why we leave room for serendipity – a local festival, a food stall by the road, a chance encounter.

What's included

BASIC PACKAGE: 1.500 EUR/couple

9 days car rental with KASKO insurance.
8 nights in traditional accommodation with breakfast.
1 digital map of your itinerary with points of interests, suggested parking areas, pick-up points with guides and operators.
1 paper travel journal of “My Road Trip in Puglia” to be found in the car.

FULL PACKAGE: 2400 EUR/couple

9 days car rental with KASKO insurance.
8 nights in traditional accommodation with breakfast.
2 traditional dine-in experiences.
5 authentic experiences (2 private guided tours in Grottaglie and Gallipoli, 1 ceramics laboratory, 1 papier-mache laboratory, 1 food harvest and tasting).
1 digital map of your itinerary with points of interests, suggested parking areas, pick-up points with guides and operators.
1 paper travel journal of “My Road Trip in Puglia” to be found in the car.

What's NOT included

Flights.
Tips to guides.
Entries to museums or other attractions.
Fuel.
Tourist tax.
Other expenses not mentioned in the WHAT'S INCLUDED section

Extras

Fiat 500 L: +150 EUR
Alfa Romeo Stelvio: +350 EUR
Second driver: +50 EUR
Bari Train Station pick-up: +50 EUR
Guides in Matera and Otranto: +300 EUR

Itinerary

DAY 1 – Bari and Alberobello

Arrival in Bari airport, collect your FIAT 500 and then drive and check-in into your accommodation in Alberobello. Free time and dinner on your own.

Included: FIAT 500 pick-up and traditional accommodation.

DAY 2 – Alberobello and Polignano area

Guided visit of the picturesque village of Alberobello. Lunch in a traditional restaurant in Alberobello and drive to the beautiful seaside town of Polignano in the afternoon. Back to Alberobello and dinner on your own.

Included: guided tour in Alberobello, authentic lunch and traditional accommodation.

DAY 3 – Matera

Drive to Matera, check-in into your next accommodation and stroll around the town of Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and 2019’s European Capital of Culture. Lunch on your own in Matera. Back to Alberobello in the evening.

Included: traditional accommodation.

DAY 4 – Grottaglie and Lecce

Drive to Grottaglie, a town famous for its ceramics. Meet your guide for a tour of the town and a visit to a ceramic studio. Drive to your next accommodation in the Lecce area in the late afternoon, check-in and enjoy some free time.

Included: guided tour, visit a ceramics studio and traditional accommodation.

DAY 5 – Lecce

Spend the day in Lecce, plenty of free time to walk around, exploring the quaint alleys and streets of this Baroque town! Meet a master of papier-maché at her laboratory and dinner on your own. Back to the accommodation.

Included: papier-maché laboratory and traditional accommodation.

DAY 6 – Otranto

Drive along the coast near Otranto. This incredibly scenic road offers many photo opportunities, you can pick your favorites from our digital map. Visit Otranto and the Bauxite caves. Back to Lecce in the evening.

Included: traditional accommodation.

DAY 7 – Gallipoli

Drive to Gallipoli and have lunch in a traditional restaurant. Meet your guide to visit the ‘città bella’ (beautiful town) of Gallipoli, a true hidden gem. Drive to Ostuni in the evening.

Included: lunch, guided tour and traditional accommodation.

DAY 8 – Ostuni

Wake up in Ostuni, the ‘città Bianca’ (white town). Go exploring Ostuni medieval old town, with alleys and whitewashed houses that unfold in a maze similar to that of a kasbah. Go up to the hill to view the amazing panorama of millenary olive trees and the Adriatic sea. Enjoy a food harvest and food tasting experience admiring the Ostuni skyline. Dinner on your own and back to the accommodation.

Included: food harvest and food tasting and traditional accommodation.