Puglia: Discover the Heel of Italy

Really enjoyed this trip to Puglia, staying in some really unusual accommodation. From the caves of Matera, through my personal little trullo house in Alberobello to the 13th century former palace in Ostuni and even the modern hotel in Lecce, it was all great. This part of Italy is so varied and stunning in both countryside and architecture, it makes for a very varied and enjoyable holiday. There is an excellent mix of culture, food and wine tasting, beach, walking and free time so that the week didn't feel at all rushed yet we packed in loads. I must commend our guide Nino who went to enormous lengths with a quite demanding group to ensure we all had a great time. The local guides were extremely knowledgeable and made both Matera and Lecce come alive with their vast understanding of the history of each town and the visit to the olive farm and the winery were both very enjoyable and informative. I opted to visit the Castellana Grotto which is a must-see, biggest cave system I have been in - very impressive indeed. All in all an excellent trip.

We would definitely recommend this holiday; the choice of hotels was superb. There was such a wide variety of things to see and the area is very beautiful.

I loved every minute of this very diverse tour. Every day was different and very interesting, our group leader Fabrizio was awesome and the individual group participants were lovely and lots of fun. I would definitely recommend this tour.

A really lovely trip that mixes culture, food, wine, and history!

Exceptional. This is the first time that we have used this company and we found the experience wonderful. The group size was perfect, great itinerary, activities better than expected, all enhanced by the enthusiastic group leader as well as the local guides.

An interesting introduction to a region of Italy often overlooked. There was so much to see and do, plus staying in a trulli house in Alberobello was an amazing experience. The food was superb and the wine amazing.

Great combination of sightseeing, excursions, walking and activities in Puglia.

I loved the itinerary! Saw so much in a week and at the same time did not feel rushed. I felt there was enough time to explore the highlights of the region. I enjoyed exploring Matera and Polignano a Mare. The lunch on day 5 was delicious - one of the best meals I have had in Italy. The coastal walk was lovely as well in Otranto. The places we stayed were so unique. I loved the Trulli house in Alberobello. I also loved the group and sharing the experience with like-minded people.

This is an interesting tour overall. The three main places visited - Matera, Alberobello and Lecce - are all so historical and individually fascinating to explore, yet completely different. The accommodation is similarly characterful and varied; potentially having a cave room in Matera, next a trullo in Alberobello, then a converted monastery in Ostuni (my room, in the roof, had the original guttering inside the room!) and finally an old palazzo in Lecce. There is a lot of free time outside of the designated free day, which might not suit some people, particularly solo travellers who don't bond as well with others in their group (our group of twelve had six solo travellers and those who wanted to could always find someone to explore with, as everyone was pretty sociable). Although this trip is graded as leisurely, there is a lot of walking around the various places visited, sometimes involving quite steep climbs on steps/cobbles/slopes, especially in Matera.

A busy itinerary exploring a beautiful part of Southern Italy. Some stunning hillside cities with classic narrow streets and cafe culture. Lots of excellent food and local wine throughout. Whilst not strenuous in itself, it was a pretty full on itinerary, with heat, lots of steps and extensive exploring on foot, with uneven pavements/cobbles and walking terrain. Not as leisurely as the trip notes might make you believe, and not really suitable for those with limited mobility or fitness. Some parts are very busy and touristy, but easy to wander the back streets to escape the crowds and immerse yourself in Italian culture. A mix of city, rural areas and seaside to give a taste of the whole area.