Puglia: Discover the Heel of Italy - Reverse

8 days
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
Additional images not provided by operator
4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
98%
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
Small Group Tour
Discover the very best of Puglia: the heel of Italy and, until recently, its best-kept secret. Starting in the magnificent baroque city of Lecce – known as the Florence of the South – we travel to the medieval coastal town of Otranto, then onto the elegant white city of Ostuni, visiting two farms for an olive oil tasting and pasta-making demonstration. It end...
26% OFF
$3,638
From$2,695
See departure dates

Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Discover the many wonders of Puglia, a treasure trove of culture and cuisine
    • Marvel at the baroque architecture of Lecce, among the most impressive in Italy
    • Explore the medieval centre of Otranto
    • Visit two typical farms to taste olive oil and watch a pasta-making demonstration
    • Stay in a fairytale-like ‘trullo’ in Alberobello
    • End the adventure in Matera, a magnificent cave town built by a gaping ravine

What's this trip about?

    Discover the very best of Puglia: the heel of Italy and, until recently, its best-kept secret. Starting in the magnificent baroque city of Lecce – known as the Florence of the South – we travel to the medieval coastal town of Otranto, then onto the elegant white city of Ostuni, visiting two farms for an olive oil tasting and pasta-making demonstration. It ends in the cave town of Matera, a favourite for film directors thanks to its crumbling beauty and jaw-dropping spot on the edge of a deep ravine.From baroque Lecce to the cave town of Matera: Uncover the highlights of this culture-rich slice of Italy

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 18 people
Age range16 years and up
Flights and transport
Start CityLecce
End CityMatera

Travel Themes

  • Cultural

Destinations

Activities

  • Culture

Min Group Size

  • Min Group Size: 5

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 18

Trip includes

    • All breakfasts, 1 lunch/cookery class, 1 wine tasting
    • All accommodation
    • Tour leader throughout
    • Group arrival and departure transfers available

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Start Lecce

Our tour begins in Lecce, a city of ornate baroque buildings – a spectacular starting point to our adventure and a chance to see some of the finest architecture in Italy. We properly explore the historic centre tomorrow; this afternoon/evening, we have our welcome briefing and, typically, the group gathers together for dinner. Accommodation: Eos Hotel (or similar)

Day 2 Guided tour of Lecce

Explore the magnificent historic centre of Lecce on a guided walk helmed by our tour leader. See the highly decorative barocco leccese (Lecce baroque) style in churches and palaces, and particularly at the Basilica di Santa Croce, the Piazza del Duomo and the 12th-cen...

Day 3 Transfer to Ostuni; visit Otranto en route

Bid arrivederci to Lecce and take a private transfer (1hr 15min) to Ostuni, a whitewashed city spread over three hills. Before our arrival, stop in the seaside town of Otranto to wander through the compact streets of its fortified medieval centre and visit the Spanish...

Day 4 Farm visits and pasta-making demonstration; arrive in Alberobello

Take a private transfer (50 minutes) to Alberobello this morning, a town almost entirely formed of trulli, fairytale-like dwellings with conical grey-stone roofs. The origin of these UNESCO-protected limestone houses is obscure; however, local farmers claim they were ...

Day 5 Free day. Visit the Castellana Caves or Monopoli by the Adriatic Sea

Today is free to choose among several local activities. You may choose to take a day trip to the scenic port town of Monopoli or visit the Castellana Caves, the most important and biggest cave system in Italy. At the entrance of the Itria Valley, these caves began to ...

Day 6 Visit Polignano a Mare; arrive in Matera

Today we transfer (1hr 10min) to the cave town of Matera, which is thought to have been inhabited for around 10,000 years, making it one of the oldest towns in the world. Along the way, we stop in Polignano a Mare, a town perched atop a limestone cliff rising from the...

Day 7 Guided tour of Matera

Enjoy a guided tour of Matera this morning. James Bond fans may recognise the city as the scenic background for a thrilling car chase in No Time to Die (2021), while scenes for Wonder Woman (2017) and The Passion of the Christ (2004) were also shot here. Its crumbling...

Day 8 End Matera

The tour ends in Matera after breakfast and free time. If you wish to spend longer in this endlessly fascinating city, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay. Otherwise, begin your return journey home.

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:

  • You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
  • Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Design custom trip

Dates & Availability

Price From $2,695
Price per day$337
Last Updated: 3/7/2025

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Travelstride Gift Card
One card, thousands of extraordinary trips
Gifts Card

Exodus Adventure Travels Reviews & Ratings

4.7/5  Excellent
Excellent
13,508
Great
3,271
Average
609
Disappointing
146
Terrible
190
Write a Review

Other Exodus Adventure Travels Reviews

C

Chaplin, Moira

Feb 2025

Written on
Exodus Adventure Travels Company Reviewsby Exodus Adventure Travels

The booking process for my forthcoming…

The booking process for my forthcoming trip to Peru ...

K

KIeran Henderson

Feb 2025

Written on
Exodus Adventure Travels Company Reviewsby Exodus Adventure Travels

Delighted with my first trip with Exodus

My trip to Cambodia was my first with Exodus and all the arrangements and communication prior to and during the trip were excellent. Our tour guide (Bun) was extreme...

S

Sue

Feb 2025

Written on
Exodus Adventure Travels Company Reviewsby Exodus Adventure Travels

Rescheduling made easy

I was very disappointed that my original booking was cancelled because you didn't get enough people to sign up for it. However, the way you dealt with the rebookin...

Write a Review

Tour Operator

About Travelstride

Find your perfect trip

An epic selection of pre-planned trips on every continent, for every style. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies.

Save time

Use simple search and comparison tools to easily find the best trip. Don't sweat the logistics — travel providers plan for you.

Save money

Book directly with the operator. See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals.

Travel confidently

Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly.

Logistics

What's excluded

    • Travel insurance
    • Single accommodation
    • Visas or vaccinations
    • Local city taxes (approx. €15)

Accommodation

We mostly stay in renovated traditional buildings, which give a real taste of classic Puglian architecture. We spend our first two nights in a modern hotel near the historic centre of Lecce, one night in a four-star hotel in Ostuni, two nights in authentic trulli houses (dry-stone dwellings) in Alberobello and two nights in a comfortable three-star hotel in the historic centre of Matera. Below are the hotels normally used: Lecce: Eos Hotel (nights 1-2) Our first two nights are spent at this contemporary 30-room hotel. It has a bar for a pre-dinner drink and the main Lecce highlights (plus some excellent bars and restaurants) are around a 20-minute walk or 10-minute taxi ride away. Ostuni: Hotel La Terra (night 3) In the White City, we stay in Hotel La Terra, which takes over a 13th-century building in the historic centre. This unique property has a bar and restaurant but is also close to the Ostuni highlights. Alberobello: Trulli houses (nights 4-5) Trulli are the symbol of Alberobello (perhaps all of Puglia) so a chance to stay in one of these traditional dwellings is often a highlight for our travellers. They don’t offer the same type of facilities or luxuries as you’d get at a hotel but do offer an insight into these old Unesco-listed buildings. We have a trio of accommodations we use depending on availability, namely Trulli Holiday, Trulli e Puglia or Charming Trulli. Matera: Hotel Sassi (nights 6-7) Opened in 1996, Hotel Sassi (took over a series of dwellings, some of which date to the 1500s. There’s an Italian spread for breakfast (most of the produce locally sourced) and wonderful views of Matera from the terrace.
Cancellation policy

The cancellation policies of this trip when booked through Travelstride are determined by the stated policies of the tour operator - Exodus Adventure Travels.

If you or any other member of your party decides to cancel a confirmed booking you must notify Travelstride in writing. Your notice of cancellation will only take effect when it is received in writing by Travelstride and will be effective from the date on which we receive it.

If You Cancel Your Holiday
You, or any member of your party, may cancel your travel arrangements at any time. Written notification from the lead name or your travel agent must be received at our offices. 

Since we incur costs in canceling your travel arrangements, you will have to pay cancellation charges as follows (see also the exceptions below): 

  • More than 42 days - No cancellation fee. Deposit can be transferred to a new booking departing within 2 years of date of travel of original booking. Any remaining balance will be refundedThis excludes all non-refundable costs as set out in clause 4 above (for example international and domestic flights and local services).
  • Between 41 and 21 days (inclusive) - No cancellation fee. Balance and deposit can be transferred to a new booking departing within 2 years of date of travel of original bookingThis excludes all non-refundable costs as further explained in clause 4 above (for example international and domestic flights and local services).
  • Between 20 and 15 days (inclusive) - 80% of the holiday cost
  • 14 days or less; or failure to join the holiday (inclusive) - 100% of the holiday cost

Certain trips may involve different cancellation charges; you will be advised if this is applicable to your holiday during the booking process.For Polar holidays, the following cancellation charges will be made for all Polar holidays. Period before departure in which you notify us: 

Cancelation charge

  • More than 133 days - Deposit only
  • 133 days or less (or failure to join the holiday) (inclusive) - 100% of the holiday cost

Notes (i) Your deposit is non-refundable, even if the cancellation charge calculated is lower than the deposit amount paid; (ii) If the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim these charges; (iii) certain travel arrangements may be subject to higher cancellation charges and could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements from the moment the booking is confirmed.

If You Change Your Booking

If, after our Booking Confirmation has been issued, you wish to change your travel arrangements in any way, for example your chosen departure date or accommodation, we will do our utmost to make these changes but it may not always be possible. Any request for changes to be made must be in writing from the lead name or your travel agent. You will be asked to pay an administration charge of $60, and any further cost we incur in making this alteration (including those charged by third party suppliers who provide the component parts of your booking).  You should be aware that these costs could increase the closer to the departure date that changes are made and you should contact us as soon as possible. Note: Certain travel arrangements may not be changeable after a reservation has been made and any alteration request could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements.

You can transfer your booking to another person, who satisfies all the conditions that apply to this booking, by giving us notice in writing at least 7 days before departure provided that the new lead passenger accepts the transfer and these Terms and Conditions. Both you and the new traveler are responsible for paying all costs we incur in making the transfer. Please bear in mind that certain airlines and other transport providers treat changes as a cancellation and charge accordingly, up to 100% of the cost for that part of the arrangement. Where applicable these charges will be passed on to you.

If We Cancel Your Booking

Exodus reserves the right to cancel an itinerary before departure for any reason whatsoever, including too few participants ,logistical problems, a Force Majeure Event (as defined in Section 8), or any other circumstances that may make operation of the trip inadvisable. All trip payments received will be promptly refunded, and this refund will be the limit of Exodus’s liability without any further obligation on Exodus’s part. Exodus is not responsible for any expenses incurred by trip members in preparing for the trip, including non-refundable or penalty-carrying airline tickets, special clothing, visa or passport fees, or other trip-related expenses.

If We Change Your Booking

  1. Changes to the price. We can change your holiday price after you’ve booked, only in certain circumstances. Changes in the price of the carriage of passengers resulting from changes to the cost of fuel or other power sources, the level of taxes or fees imposed by third parties including tourist taxes, landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports and airports, or exchange rates mean that the price of your travel arrangements may change after you have booked.

  2. Changes other than the price. It is a term of your booking that we are able to make changes to any aspect of your booking. If the change is insignificant, we will ensure that you are notified about it. Examples of insignificant changes include alteration of your accommodation to another of the same or higher standard. If we are forced by circumstances beyond our control to alter significantly any of the main characteristics of the travel services that make up your package you will have the rights set out below.

    2.1 - We will contact you and you will have the choice of accepting the change or having a refund of all monies paid. You can also accept an alternative holiday, where we offer one (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value). We will tell you the procedure for making your choice. Please read any notification of changes carefully and respond promptly as if you do not respond to us within the timescale given your booking may be canceled.

    2.2 - If you choose to accept a refund then that is the only liability we have and we will not be liable for any further sums, compensation or otherwise and you are advised to adequately insure yourselves against cancellation for any reason

Please note that insurance premiums and amendments charges are not refundable in any circumstances. 

Once you have put down a deposit for a tour, you are unable to cancel and re-book within a promotional period and we reserve the right to amend the pricing on any new booking you make within that time. If you cancel a tour and book the same tour under a promotional code, we reserve the right to decline the booking.

Important Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended after they have been confirmed and any alteration or cancellation could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements in addition to the charge above.

If the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim these charges.

Where possible, we will deduct the cancellation charge(s) from any monies you have already paid to us.

For more additional details, see the booking conditions of TruTravels at the following web address: https://www.exodustravels.com/us/about-exodus/exodus-booking-conditions.

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included
All breakfasts, one lunch/cookery demo and one wine tasting A selection of food on offer includes: bread from the Murge; durum wheat pasta; olives; the pasta delicacy orecchiette, which is served with a sauce of turnip-tops or fresh tomato and sheep’s ricotta-cheese; cavatelli with pulses; aubergine (eggplant) and parmesan bake; grilled fish and seafood; burrata (soft mozzarella and cream cheese); plus excellent wines. This region is a food lover’s paradise and the abundance of delicious vegetables makes it a perfect destination for vegetarians. On this trip, there are many opportunities to taste local specialties, in particular during the wine tasting and pasta-making demonstration.
Age Requirements
16 years and up
Additional Information
[object Object]
Trip ID
exodus-ADER

Become a member

(it's free)
  • Save up to $700 per person
  • Access members-only specials
  • Personalize trip recommendations
Sign up and save
Top Tour Companies on Travelstride:
All 1,600+ companies >
Sign in to reveal savings up to $700 per person!