Self-Guided Coastal Walking in Puglia

Your accommodation for the first two nights of your holiday is in the small coastal town of Otranto. After checking-in, you may choose to spend some time exploring Otranto, the harbour and the Cathedral with its magnificent mosaic floor. This evening, we recommend exploring the historic centre and enjoying a dinner of freshly-caught fish in one of the family-run restaurants.

We are able to offer private transfers from both Bari Airport (BRI) and Brindisi Airport (BDS). Please contact our self-guided team for further information

Today's walk is a good warm-up hike, discover the small Idro valley that gives Otranto (Hidruntum) its name. The Idro river spring is about 5 kilometres from Otranto, in a location called Monte St Angelo. This is a very fertile area, you will be walking among orchards, olive trees and orange groves. You begin the walk at the side of the river and follow it through fields of olive trees, passing by the St Angelo rock church. You will then continue downhill back to Otranto, known as the 'Pearl of the Orient'.

You can expect today's 7.5 kilometre walk to take approximately two hours.

Walking through the maze of the narrow alleys of the old town you reach the new port. Here a flat, gravel coastal path contours around a series of coves. You pass by several WWII bunkers and you can make a short detour to an interesting Bauxite (quarry) lake, going slightly inland. Following the coast you have several opportunities to stop for a dip in the crystal clear waters. You continue along the coast towards the Punta Palascia Lighthouse from which on clear days you can see the Albanian mountains across the Adriatic Sea. Punta Palascìa lighthouse is the easternmost point of Italy and just 71kilometres away from Albania.

You can expect today's 12.5 kilometre walk to take approximately five hours.

The first stop of today's walk is the beautiful inlet of Porto Badisco where you can buy a coffee and picnic lunch. Continue following a shepherd's path, you will see the typical round, flat- topped, dry stone buildings where the shepherds used to sleep, known as 'Pagliari'. You will then leave the coast and start climbing up to the inland plateau. After following narrow paths through the fields you come to a great picnic spot in a small pine forest offering shade on sunny days. Finally descend to the spa town of Santa Cesarea Terme where there are some great swimming spots to cool off and relax In the warmer months.

You can expect today's 12.5 kilometre walk to take approximately four hours.

Today you leave Santa Cesarea, first by climbing uphill then following narrow paths inland through the fields to the ancient Messapian town of Castro, with its imposing high walls. The Messapii were an Indo- European people who settled in the heel of Italy, thought to have travelled over from the Balkan Peninsula around 2500 BC. Explore the old town and maybe stop for lunch before descending to the port where you can go swimming. Continue along the coast to the Acquaviva cove, a beautiful hidden inlet and a fantastic swimming spot where a fresh water spring comes out at sea level. Then walk along the thickly forested Acquaviva valley towards Marittima.

You can expect today's 11.5 kilometre walk to take approximately four and a half hours.

Today you will see several traditional 'tratturi', a system of ancient roads and footpaths used by the locals to go down to the sea or to connect villages and orchards. Each stone tells the story of a hard peasant life. Descend to Tricase Porto, where you can try a good 'caffe in ghiaccio' (iced coffee) and go for a swim. Today's final destination, Marina Serra is a small coastal hamlet with great swimming spots.

You can expect today's 13.5 kilometre walk to take approximately four and a half hours.

Today you walk to Novaglie, a lovely quiet rocky beach from where the breath-taking 'Cipolliane path' starts. It is named after the caves you can visit along the way. The Cipolliane path leads you to the Ciolo Bridge, the last great swimming spot on this trip. From the tiny Ciolo cove, you walk up the Ciolo valley to Gagliano del Capo from where you take the train to Lecce for your last night in the beautiful Baroque city. We can also arrange a private road transfer from Gagliano del Capo to Lecce for you and your luggage at an additional cost if you prefer to not take the train. Please contact our self-guided team for further information.

Nicknamed the 'Florence of the South' because of its rich Baroque heritage, the city's palaces, churches and statues are made from the famous local stone and are well worth exploring.

You can expect today's 12.5 kilometre walk to take approximately five hours.

After breakfast, the organised part of your holiday comes to an end.

We are able to offer private transfers from Lecce to both Bari Airport (BRI) and Brindisi Airport (BDS). Please contact our self-guided team for further information