Tour Seductive Southern Italy

Meals

Nine breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners

Transport

Private and local transport

Guide

Local Insider

Others

Naples street food tour Matera walking tour Alberobello guided tour Locorotondo visit Itria Valley e-bike tour Castellana Caves visit Olive oil tasting Ostuni walking tour Otranto private tour Santa Maria di Leuca private tour Lecce walking tour

Accommodation

One night Matera cave accommodation Eight nights premium hotel accommodation Hotel Palazzo Salgar Overlooking the Port of Naples, this white-marble hotel is ideally located within easy walking distance of the most significant landmarks in the city, such as Naples Cathedral and Porta Capuana. Expect comfortable, air-conditioned rooms with modern furnishings, plus a gym, sauna and Turkish bath. Hotel Splendid Maiori Located on the seafront in Maiori, steps away from the beach, Hotel Sole Splendid makes a perfect base for exploring the Amalfi Coast. The contemporary rooms are comfortable – some boast sea views – plus there’s an on-site bar, for when you need to cool off from the Italian sunshine with an Aperol spritz. Corte San Pietro This charming guesthouse, in the historic Sassi district of Matera, is beautifully set in restored limestone cave dwellings and centred around a tufa stone courtyard. Inside, monochromatic rooms feature local stone, wood and iron, infusing the ancient heritage of the building with refined, contemporary touches. Cala Ponte Hotel Make the most of the magnificent swimming pool and private gardens at this stylish resort on the Adriatic Coast – the perfect place to switch off and soak up the Puglian sunshine. Whitewashed bungalows offer luxuriously comfortable beds and spacious bathrooms with rainfall showers. President Hotel This recently renovated four-star hotel, in the beautiful baroque centre of Lecce, has been a bastion of Italian hospitality in the city since 1973. From the elegant marble stylings of the lobby to the clean, crisp and very spacious rooms, the President will keep you rested, refreshed and ready to explore Lecce. Don’t forget to fuel up on local delicacies like friselle al pomodoro and pasticciotti leccesi at breakfast! Please note that, while unlikely, the accommodation indicated may be subject to change (see T&C’s). On a rare occasion, alternative arrangements may be necessary – this may be due to a lack of availability at our preferred accommodation, or other reasons outside our control. We’ll do everything we can to prevent this from happening; however, in cases where it is unavoidable, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.

Hygieneprotocol

An average size of our groups is 10 which means you have the security of the group, but can avoid large crowds. All our Local Insiders will be Health & Safety trained and ensure your safety and wellbeing is the number one priority. Our private vehicles will feature daily assigned seating and undergo daily deep cleaning of all surfaces. Where possible, we use small / boutique accommodation which means fewer guests and less contact with other travellers. We require all hotels to provide protocols around the extra health & hygiene measures taken. Most included activities will be exclusive to our group where possible to minimize contact with other travellers and locals.

Not included:

Others

- Visas - Travel Insurance - Flights to and from the destination - Resort/City taxes (where applicable)

Optional

Private boat tour along the Amalfi Coast (Day 3)

Flights

Flights are not included

Insurance

Insurance is not included

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Arrive In Naples
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Arrive In Naples

Touch down in Naples and make your way to the hotel where you’ll be greeted by our Local Insider, who will accompany the group throughout the trip. At 6pm, join your fellow travellers for a welcome drink. Later on, head out for a three-course Neapolitan meal together – an ideal opportunity to get to know each other. After that, you might be tempted by a nightcap in a local bar – otherwise head back to the hotel for a good night’s rest ahead of your first full day.

Accommodation:

Hotel Palazzo Salgar

Activities included:

Welcome dinner
Day 2 Day 2: Join A Street Food Tour Of Naples
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Join A Street Food Tour Of Naples

Learn all about the history of Neapolitan food and its importance to the city culture on a street food tour. Naples is of course synonymous with pizza and pasta, but there are many other local specialities such as sfogliatelle (a flaky, shell-shaped pastry typically filled with sweetened ricotta) and aubergine parmigiana (aubergine baked with layers of tomato sauce and mozzarella), which are well worth trying. Explore the city at leisure in the afternoon before taking a private transfer to the Amalfi Coast – your next stop.

Accommodation:

Hotel Splendid Maiori

Activities included:

Naples street food tour
Day 3 Day 3: Cruise Along The Amalfi Coast
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Cruise Along The Amalfi Coast

Today, the choice is yours. You could embark on a private boat tour of the Amalfi Coast to explore one of the most alluring stretches of coastline in Europe – or take the public ferry to either Amalfi or Positano and spend the day as you wish. Think pastel-coloured fishing villages set against the backdrop of dramatic cliffs and forests overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. Whether you want to swim, relax on the beach or wander leisurely around the streets and piazzas of these picturesque villages, you won’t be short of options. Return to Maiori in the evening.

Accommodation:

Hotel Splendid Maiori

Optional activities:

Amalfi Coast private boat tour
Day 4 Day 4: Explore The Winding Streets Of Ancient Matera
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Explore The Winding Streets Of Ancient Matera

Today we cross into the Basilicata region to reach Matera – known for its ancient hillside cave dwellings in the Unesco-listed Sassi area. Weave your way through the narrow, winding streets on a guided walking tour and discover why it was crowned 2019 European Capital of Culture. You may well recognise it from the latest James Bond movie, No Time To Die.

Accommodation:

Corte San Pietro

Activities included:

Matera walking tour
Day 5 Day 5: Cycle Through The Itria Valley By E-Bike
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Cycle Through The Itria Valley By E-Bike

You’ll continue eastwards into the Itria Valley – a particularly scenic part of the Puglia region. Marvel at the extraordinary trulli (traditional limestone dwellings with conical roofs) on a guided tour of Alberobello, and navigate the labyrinth of whitewashed alleyways and piazzas in Locorotondo, often regarded as one of the most photogenic towns in Puglia. Keen cyclist? You’ll also have the opportunity to hop on an e-bike and glide through a dreamy patchwork of olive groves and vineyards. Refuel with lunch in Locorotondo before heading to Polignano a Mare on the Adriatic coast – your home for the next two nights.

Accommodation:

Cala Ponte Hotel

Activities included:

Alberobello guided tour

Locorotondo visit

Itria Valley e-bike tour
Day 6 Day 6: Relax On The Beaches Of Polignano A Mare
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Relax On The Beaches Of Polignano A Mare

Today is yours to spend as you wish. After a leisurely breakfast, why not head into the old town and soak up the laid-back atmosphere with a coffee in the main square, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II? If you fancy catching rays, pack your beach towel and sprawl out at Lama Monachile (also known as Cala Porto), a secluded white-pebble beach sandwiched between craggy cliffs and bordered by a Roman-era bridge. As evening rolls in, make your way to the Pietra Piatta or Balconata sul Mare for wonderful views of the town and Adriatic Sea.

Accommodation:

Cala Ponte Hotel
Day 7 Day 7: Visit The Castellana Caves And Taste Puglian Olive Oil
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Visit The Castellana Caves And Taste Puglian Olive Oil

Wave goodbye to Polignano a Mare as you travel down the heel of the Italian boot to Lecce. Your first stop is at the Castellana Caves for a guided tour of karst chambers 70m (230ft) underground. You’ll then continue to Il Frantoio olive farm where you can taste the area’s famed olive oil from the source, before visiting the nearby hilltop town of Ostuni, nicknamed La Città Bianca (the White City) for its whitewashed buildings. Here, you’ll enjoy a guided walking tour followed by lunch at a masseria (traditional Puglian farmhouse).

Accommodation:

President Hotel

Activities included:

Castellana Caves visit

Olive oil tasting

Ostuni walking tour
Day 8 Day 8: Explore Otranto And Santa Maria Di Leuca
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Explore Otranto And Santa Maria Di Leuca

Your day starts with a guided tour of the Salento peninsula – the southernmost part of Puglia, home to some of the best beaches in Italy and baroque towns. First, you’ll be shown around Otranto, a city that bears strong Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Norman architectural influences; highlights include an 11th-century cathedral with an elaborate mosaic floor and the Aragonese Castle. It’s then time to explore Santa Maria di Leuca, known for its hilltop lighthouse and the Basilica De Finibus Terrae. Bring your camera to these vantage points to capture panoramic views of the town and coastline, where the Adriatic and Ionian seas merge.

Accommodation:

President Hotel

Activities included:

Otranto private tour

Santa Maria di Leuca private tour
Day 9 Day 9: Admire The Extravagant Architecture Of Lecce On A Walking Tour
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Admire The Extravagant Architecture Of Lecce On A Walking Tour

Begin the final full day of your southern Italy adventure with a walking tour of Lecce, nicknamed the Florence of the South due to its honey-coloured baroque churches and palaces, with elaborately decorated façades, dotted throughout the old town. Spend the rest of your day at leisure, exploring independent craft shops, street cafés and cosy wine bars, as well as a superb selection of authentic Puglian restaurants. Come nightfall, cap off your trip with a memorable farewell dinner in the company of your fellow travellers.

Accommodation:

President Hotel

Activities included:

Lecce walking tour

Farewell dinner
Day 10 Day 10: Depart From Lecce
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Depart From Lecce

It’s time to bid farewell to your new friends as your trip comes to an end. Check out of the hotel and make your way to Salento Airport to catch your flight home – or choose to extend your stay and experience what else Italy has to offer.

10 days tour

Seductive Southern Italy

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Seductive Southern Italy

Day 1: Arrive In Naples

Day 2: Join A Street Food Tour Of Naples

Day 3: Cruise Along The Amalfi Coast

Day 4: Explore The Winding Streets Of Ancient Matera

Day 5: Cycle Through The Itria Valley By E-Bike

Day 6: Relax On The Beaches Of Polignano A Mare

Day 7: Visit The Castellana Caves And Taste Puglian Olive Oil

Day 8: Explore Otranto And Santa Maria Di Leuca

Day 9: Admire The Extravagant Architecture Of Lecce On A Walking Tour

Day 10: Depart From Lecce

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