Puglia & Matera Walking & Hiking tour
8 Days Starting in Otranto and ending in Trani
Visiting: Otranto Città, Otranto, Porto Badisco, Lecce, Torre Guaceto Marine Protected Area, Ostuni, Alberobello, Locorotondo, Trulli Valle d'Itria, Matera, Castel del Monte, Trani
Tour operator:
Tour code:
Pug
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 10
Physical rating:
Low, Fairly Easy
Age range:
25-85
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans, Meat, Pescatarian
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Our small group walking tour in Puglia &Matera located in the heel of the Italian peninsula surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea and blessed with sun, sea and dramatically changing landscapes. This coastline boasts an ancient strategic importance and a rich historical heritage dating back to the Greeks and Roman civilisation and others seeking passage to the East across the Mediterranean Sea. Among the highlights of our tour are the famous Trulli houses of Alberobello (UNESCO heritage site). Trulli are limestone rock buildings curiously cone-shaped to insulate against extreme summer heat, harsh winters and allow for the collection of rainwater. Our journey in Puglia is one of the best hiking tours in Europe with Trani & Otranto, Frederic II’s imperial Castel del Monte (UNESCO heritage site), the decorative baroque town of Lecce known affectionately as the Florence of the South, the spectacular Castellana Caves and two National Parks. We cross the fertile plain of the Tavoliere and the plateau of the Murge, exciting ecological diversity punctuated by Bronze Age, Greek and Roman archaeological sites, mediaeval castles and cathedrals. Before ending our beautiful journey we stop to explore the ‘Sassi’ cave dwellings of Matera. Hospitality in Puglia is a Trulli memorable experience!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Pick Up Bari Airport Travel To Otranro
Location: Bari International Airport-Karol Wojtyla, Otranto Città
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Otranto
Meals Included: Dinner
Rendezvous at 14.00 at Bari airport. Transfer by our private minibus to the old town of Otranto, the most eastern town in Italy and a prosperous trading port on the narrowest straight between Mediterranean Europe and Asia Minor.
Day 2 : Otranto To Porto Badisco. 13 Km
Location: Otranto, Porto Badisco
Accommodation Name: Otranto
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stunning walk from Otranto along a dramatic coastline of cliffs, fortified farms and watchtowers to reach the beautiful cove of Porto Badisco where the bay displays aqua marine reflections among fishing boats bobbing up and down in the water. According to Homer, Aeneas landed here on his escape from Troy!
Picnic lunch and free time in the afternoon to explore Otranto.
Note: In 1481 the Turks attacked and slaughtered the population. The bones are kept in the Duomo and a visit to see its amazing Byzantine mosaic floor portraying the tree of life is a must.
Walk: 4hrs/13km
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 3 : Visit To The Baroque City Of Lecce
Location: Lecce, Torre Guaceto Marine Protected Area
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Locorotondo
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We visit the baroque city of Lecce, sometimes called the Florence of the South. The historic centre is a great place for strolling to admire handcrafts and spotting Roman remains.
We then head to the coast for a beautiful walk in a protected marine nature reserve known as Torre Guaceto. Along this short piece of coastland with exceptional sandy and rocky backdrops, we walk through maquis and olive groves and fresh water lagoons where migrant birds stop to feed.
At the end of the walk is a 16th-century Aragonese defensive look-out tower.
Walk: 3hrs/11km
Day 4 : Ostuni The White City
Location: Ostuni
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Locorotondo
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Free morning to explore the narrow alleyways of the beautiful little town Ostuni known as La Citta Bianca (White town) with lots of places to enjoy a bite to eat (lunch not included). A 24k year old skeleton of a prehistoric pregnant woman was recently found here.
In the afternoon we stop to admire the ancient olive groves where prehistoric stone Dolmen and crypts dating from the Neolithic Age (4000-3000 BC) can be found.
Walk: 2hrs/6km
Day 5 : Alberobello A Trulli Experience
Location: Alberobello, Locorotondo, Trulli Valle d'Itria
Accommodation: Hotel,
Accommodation Name: Matera
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A day spent in the Murge dei Trulli a landscape of olive groves, orchards, vines and Trulli houses. A short drive brings us to Alberobello where the highest concentration of these dry stone huts with conical roofs is to be found — even a Trulli church!!
A visit to Locorotondo is the start of our walk through Trullo country to reach the beautiful whitewashed old town of Cisternino. Transfer to Matera.
Walk: 4hrs/13km
Day 6 : Matera's Sassi
Location: Matera
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Matera
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
A fascinating walk among Matera’s Sassi, the best surviving and most complete examples of rock-cut settlements in the Mediterranean basin. Developed in close harmony with the natural environments the caves here have been used since prehistoric times. At first bare cave dwellings, they were used as early Christian churches or to house flocks of sheep and later they were developed into house-like structures. This setting has inspired film directors for decades and was used for the film ‘The Passion’.
Enjoy a free evening to have dinner (dinner not included) in the old city of Matera.
Walk: 3hrs/10km
Day 7 : Castel Del Monte To Trani
Location: Castel del Monte, Trani
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Trani
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A half days’ walk in the National Park of the ‘ALTA Murgia’ Mediterranean Prairie with a picnic lunch and then a visit to the mystical and interesting Castel del Monte (UNESCO). This 13th century castle built by Frederick II which stands out against the natural backdrop of the surrounding Apulian hills and one of the most sophisticated secular buildings of the Middle Ages.
We end the day in the coastal town of Trani with its stunningly located 12th century Norman cathedral. Time to enjoy this unique seaside setting and explore this historic port town before dinner.
Walk: 3hrs/11km
Day 8 : Departure — Bari Airport
Location: Trani, Bari International Airport-Karol Wojtyla
Meals Included: Breakfast
Scheduled drop off at Bari airport at 9.00am (or earlier than long as this accommodates everyone in the group). Trani station is only a short walk.
If you wish, we can help you to extend your stay or make other independent departure arrangements such as early taxis to the airport.
What's Included
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Local Taxes
Tourist taxes at Hotels
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Drinks with Meals
Wine, water & coffee. No spirits
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1 bottle of Mineral Water per person per day
Water is carried in support vehicle for daily refills
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Tipping and Gratuities
All gratuities for Hotel porters and Waiters service
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Local specialist guiding fees
For local specialist sites
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Fully Guided
2 experienced guides 24/7
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Accommodation
Otranto: 2 Nights Locorotondo: 2 Nights Matera: 2 Nights Trani: 1 Night A nice hotel and a good night's sleep are an important part of your overall travel experience! When considering a hotel, we look at more than just the rooms. We look for hotels or bed and breakfasts which are committed to ensuring their guests are well looked after and pay attention to detail, for example offering locally sourced breakfast produce, or a special selection of toiletries, or tea and coffee making facilities in the room. Wherever possible your hotel will be perfectly positioned for exploring and will have a historical charm or maybe a new and innovative design. We choose the best possible places to stay ensuring that each night you are comfortably settled in a place that is welcoming and full of authentic local charm. We are on a mission to find the ingredients you need to wake feeling rested and looking forward to each day of your Caspin Journeys tour! Take a closer look at some properties we have chosen for you... Owner Guided.
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Country Entry Visas
What's Not Included
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Mini Bar & Bar Drinks
Please do not forget to settle your bill before leaving each Hotel
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Country Entry Visas
International travel always requires a valid passport(minimum six months).
Visas are required for travel to certain countries and must be arranged far in advance of departure.
It is your responsibility to check with the relevant embassy or consulate about the visa requirements for your Holiday- vacation. -
Train Tickets
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Tipping and Gratuities
Tipping and Gratuities for your Trip Leaders is at your discretion
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Airport Transfers at Destination
Not all tours include airport transfers (see Itinerary)
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Travel Insurance
N.
B.
It is a requirement of booking with Caspin Journeys Ltd that you have adequate personal travel insurance to cover the eventualities of your trip.
Check out our Q&As
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Activity Levels Explained. (Part 3 of 3
Strenuous: Full day hikes, 5-8 hours, requiring good stamina and some trekking through rugged mountainous terrain with steep climbs and descents of as much as 1500m, altitudes that can exceed 2000m and some rugged uneven footpaths. For full enjoyment of these tours good fitness is required.
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
Covid-19 Important: Please check for any vaccine requirements with the health authority of your country of origin
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What is the maximum group size?
10
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I am a vegetarian or have Dietary restrictions. Can yo accommodate this?
Yes! On the booking form or on a separate email you can provide us information on any special requests or requirements you may have. If you are vegetarian, let us know if that means you do/ do not eat poultry and/or fish. We pass the information along so that you do not have to worry about it during the trip. We can accommodate most dietary requests, so please do not hesitate to let us know.
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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
4star +
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What currencies are required for this tour?
Euros
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Which Airport to Fly to?
Pick-up and drop off at Naples International Airport. If you plan on staying in Naples for a few days early just make your way there and back on the airport shuttle bus which goes directly into town every 20 minutes.
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
Because our hotel prices are based on double/twin bedrooms, we must charge a single supplement to an individual traveller using a private room on a trip. The single supplement reflects those costs — we don’t make money on it. To keep down these costs we book economical double rooms and they are sometimes smaller, even though they cost more per person.
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
Yes. Prior to departure Caspin Journeys will provide you with useful information which will include: Names of the Participant. Details of Accommodation. Background reading. Packing list. Travel support.
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Can I change my mind and transfer to another trip even after I've already made a reservation?
Transfers to another trip are allowed subject to availability. After your final payment due date we are unable to allow transfers. Any cancellation will follow the Cancellation Policy in our terms and conditions. When transferring to a different date or trip, if the trip costs more than your original trip, you must pay the difference. Exceptions to the Transfer Policy include our Private Trips.
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What happens if a group doesn’t make its minimum required number of passengers?
If you are the first to Book, You tour booking will be taken on a provisional basis, we will keep you updated and confirm the tour as soon as we reach six. We aim to confirm a tour at least 75 days before departure.
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Do you require a visa for this holiday?
International travel always requires a valid passport. Visas are required for travel to certain countries and must be arranged far in advance of departure. It is your responsibility to check with the relevant embassy or consulate about the visa requirements for your vacation.
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
Yes. As listed in the itinerary
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Yes. 2 experienced Caspin Journeys guides 24/7
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Activity Levels Explained. (Part 2 of 3
Moderate:Activity that involves walks and hikes mostly on unpaved trails and paths through hilly terrain with typical elevation gains and losses of 350-600m. Occasional steep and uneven sections of trails and steps. Challenging:Full day hikes, approximately 4-6 hours through mountainous terrain with significant elevation gains and losses (600-900m). Terrain may be rugged with uneven footpaths.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes. 2 experienced guides 24/7, Local specialist guiding, All English speaking
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Is free Wi-Fi available in the accommodation used?
Yes
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
As listed in the itinerary. (Not all tours include airport transfers)
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Is the tour coach air conditioned?
Yes. You will mostly travel in our own air-conditioned Minibus from start to finish
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What is the tipping policy?
In the Service industry in Europe, tipping is customary but not obligatory and at one’s discretion. We at Caspin Journeys have a policy of tipping 10% for the great service we get from our hotels, restaurants and specialist guides. These gratuities are included in the price of your trip (Except for your Trip Leaders).
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Company Instant Book
Yes We do. However, we strongly advice you to contact us to verify availability and check whether tour departure is guaranteed before you make any payments
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
NO. (Unless on a private bespoke tour or by special arrangement)
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How can I purchase insurance for my Trip?
Travel insurance helps you relax about the holiday/vacation you are planning ahead. We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your travel investment. Some insurance companies offer protection called “cancel for any work-related reason”. Make sure you take out insurance within the stipulated no. of days of making your reservation with us. We do not sell insurance.
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Activity Levels Explained. (Part 1 of 3
Leisurely: Walking and hiking trails and paths through rolling countryside with occasional steep trails with up to 350m elevation gain/loss. Fairly easy: Walks and hikes through gentle terrain, across fields, along coastal trails with little elevation gain/loss; altitude is not a factor. Occasionally slightly uneven paths and trails.
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Are flights included in this tour?
No
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No. International travel always requires a valid passport. Visas are required for travel to certain countries and must be arranged far in advance of departure. It is your responsibility to check with the relevant embassy or consulate about the visa requirements for your vacation.
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What if I dont want to participate in a scheduled walk or visit?
Our guides will make suggestions and you can choose what appeals to you. You may want to linger longer in a museum, sketch, watch the world go by in a café or shop while others are out walking. Many of our walks can be abbreviated with the option to jump in the minivan and catch a lift. This is your vacation not a marathon and it is important to us that you go home relaxed and invigorated.
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
Yes. We can assist with advice with pre or post tour accommodation but require you to book direct.
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Will I need a Passport or Visa if I'm travelling internationally
International travel always requires a valid passport. Visas are required for travel to certain countries and must be arranged far in advance of departure. It is your responsibility to check with the relevant embassy or consulate about the visa requirements for your holiday/vacation.
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Will passengers from another country be participating in the tour?
Yes
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Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?
Yes. We transport your luggage between hotels and bring it to your room. You may bring only 1 case and 1 daypack . 1 MEDIUM CASE (60 cm/24″ x 40 cm/16″ x 25 cm/10″) + 1 DAY PACK (43 cm/17″ x 33 cm/13″ x 15 cm/6″). We have limited space in the minibus and will ask you to pay transfer costs. During the day you only carry snacks, water, rainproof and personal items in your daypack
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I'm a single Traveller. Will I be comfortable?
Yes, we do have guests who travel on their own and you’ll feel welcomed as we travel in small groups — max 10 — made up of couples, friends, solo travellers or family members travelling together.
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What is the fitness level required to do this tour?
In the FAQ we have included Activity Levels Explained. (please check them out)
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Can I speak to someone who has done this trip?
Of course! We can put you in touch with a reference who has done that trip. Just contact us!
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How Fit do I need to be to do a Caspin Journeys trip
You need to be healthy and have good general fitness. Our trips are not marathons. If you walk, swim, play golf or do another aerobic activity to stay fit, you shouldn’t have any trouble on our trips. Our trips have different levels of activity and you can choose the level that fits you best. And even then, you will have options. The Caspin support vehicle. Read about our Activity Levels
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
Yes. Entrance fees to museums, events and parks as listed in the itinerary
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
No
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Joining instruction icluding backgroud reading
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Travelling opens our minds and broadens our horizons and it is better still if we do it responsibly and sustainably, and continuously improve our understanding and appreciation for the world around us.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
Transfers to another trip are allowed subject to availability. After your final payment due date we are unable to allow transfers. Any cancellation will follow the Cancellation Policy in our terms and conditions. When transferring to a different date or trip, if the trip costs more than your original trip, you must pay the difference. Exceptions to the Transfer Policy include our Private and Custo
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1992
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Face masks will be required on all transportation. We will have a supply as a backup. The spacious minibus will be sanitized and aired throughout the day. Dining at larger or separate tables and al fresco if possible! Sanitation measures –We are constantly reviewing the cleaning protocols with accommodation providers to ensure they comply with the most current safety guidelines.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
We tailored the best journeys for who wants to enjoy Italy, England, Spain or Corsica in small groups with like-minded
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
NO
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
No
Reviews from Travellers on this Tour
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