For this Puglia Walking Trip departures are available almost all year.
If you choose it for your Easter holidays 2023, you will see every village abuzz with the rituals of Holy week: the most popular Good Friday procession is in Alberobello, where the entire local community is involved in the re-enactment of the “Passion of Jesus”. In Ostuni there are music and local markets until Easter Monday.
The spring months are full of colours and amazing smells: in March and April the days get longer and being outdoors is just a pleasure; in May temperatures rise rapidly teasing the desire of the first swimmings.
Summer holidays can be full of life: the beaches fill up and many events begin. July and August are the busiest months of the year, not suitable for those looking for a relaxing vacation.
This year we had “courageous” departures in January immediately after a good snowfall: invigorating cold and lonely landscapes for a vacation out of the ordinary!
Self guided 
Walking
Puglia Walking Trip: Itria Valley and coastal dunes
Murge & Itria valley - PugliaDifficulty path:Highlights
A Walking Trip In the heart of Puglia. The towns of Martina Franca, Locorotondo and Cisternino represent the last eastern edge of the Murgia plateau, bordering on the southern Salento plain. The Alberobello area completes the timeless magic of these places with its unique houses, today like yesterday, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves as far as the eye can see. Descending the Murgia plateau you will walk in the protected area of the Park Dune Costiere, reaching the sea and so discovering Ostuni, white village in between hills and plains.
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The magic Trulli of Alberobello, today Unesco Heritage
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The White Cities of Ostuni, Cisternino and Martina Franca
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Incredible views of the Itria Valley
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Nature and History of the Park Dune Costiere
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Tasting of EVO oil nearby the ancient Via Traiana
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Typical food and wine of Puglia
Program
Alberobello
Your Puglia Walking trip starts from Alberobello.
Welcome to the city of Trulli, the ancient peasant dwellings on which it has been said so much. The last plausible hypothesis led to think of a link between Alberobello and Harran: in this ancient Turkish city on the border with Syria, typical alveolar houses are strikingly similar to the trulli of Alberobello.
To find out more about the history and legends related to the trulli, we strongly recommend a visit to the Museum of the Territory “Casa Pezzolla”.
From Alberobello to Martina Franca
19km, +230m -210m
The first stage of this Puglia walking trip will head south on country roads and stretches of gently sloping trails.
Enjoy the view and the nature of Bosco Selva, a rare example of the vast oak grove that once covered the whole surrounding area. Following directions for Martina Franca, among the high dry stone walls typical of this area, and along pasture fields that still preserve ancient trulli, you will go up to Monte San Martino to reach the elegant old town centre of Martina Franca, vivid example of Puglia Baroque art.
Overnight in Martina Franca.
Martina Franca - Locorotondo - Cisternino
13km, +200m -130m
Early in the morning, with a short public transfer you reach Locorotondo.
The village name recalls the characteristic shape of its historical centre: a set of white houses arranged in concentric rings. The lands here are devoted to the cultivation of vines that give high-quality wines, like the Locorotondo Doc. After a visit to the old town you get back on the track of your Walking Tour, now running along the Puglia Aqueduct, the longest in Europe. The final stretch will take you to Cisternino, a charming village renowned for the whiteness of its houses and for its “stoves”, fornelli, reinvented butcher shops, where you can personally choose the meat cuts to be grilled on the spot for you.
Public transfer to Martina Franca and overnight.
From Martina Franca to Natural Park Dune Costiere
13km, +150m -400m
Short bus ride to reach Cisternino and its buildings, examples of baroque style and oriental Renaissance.
Back on the walking route, you climb down the eastern slopes of the Itria Valley until you get to the Regional Natural Park Dune Costiere, among the most interesting protected areas of South Italy due to its many natural habitats and sites of historical importance: there is still trace of the ancient Via Traiana.
Crossing the agricultural village of Montalbano you will reach its dolmen, a megalithic monument hidden amongst ancient olive trees and once used for esoteric rituals that were quite common among the ancient inhabitants of this land.
Today and tomorrow overnight in Montalbano.
Natural Park Dune Costiere
18km, +110m -110m
You will need a full day to discover this Park and its many beauties.
A loop walking trail brings you amongst olive trees that are thousands of years old, and allows you a close look at fossil dunes, witnesses to the shift in sea level over the millennia.
Cross endless pastures framed by the famous “blades”: canyons hiding ancient caves. Between the fossil dunes and the new ones, you will find the wetland of the River Morelli, characterized by the presence of fresh water where eel fishing was practiced since the 19th century.
The way back to the farm will be on the same gravel roads, leaving the sea behind you and continuing towards the imposing massif of Murgia to reach again Montalbano.
From Park Dune Costiere to Ostuni
13km, +240m -120m
Leave Montalbano to walk in the countryside where tasty products that end up on the dinner tables of typical restaurants you might want to sit at are grown.
After a tasting in a family-run farm, you shall come up the “mountains” by carefully choosing your path: through the forest, climb slowly towards the ancient village La Terra, the highest and most characteristic hill of Ostuni.
If you like, you can also try a detour to the Sanctuary of San Biagio, the most complete rocky settlement of Ostuni. When, among the olive trees, you can see the white inverted cone of Ostuni, then you will be near the Archaeological Park of Santa Maria di Agnano, a site of exceptional historical value where a young woman of the Paleolithic era was found. Testimonials of this discovery are preserved in the Museo Civico near the splendid Cathedral.
Overnight in Ostuni.
Ancient Masseria and back to Ostuni
6km, +60m -210m
After breakfast a short transfer will take you to the sanctuary of Sant’Oronzo, immersed in nature. From here walk a short trail on gravel roads, among thousand-year-old olive trees and splendid landscapes, back to the Natural Park Dune Costiere. This protected area between Ostuni and Fasano, with its numerous natural habitats, ancient olive groves, historic buildings and underground oil mills, plays an important role in the environmental protection and relevant sustainable economic development.
Reach an ancient farmhouse to taste real extra virgin olive oil, and then back to Ostuni by private transfer.
Free time to enjoy your last day in Ostuni.
Ostuni
After breakfast, end of services.
If you still have time during this last day of your Puglia walking Trip, we recommend to stroll randomly through the maze of winding streets of the old town, looking for a souvenir of your stay ... perhaps a tool made out of olive wood, crafted by the strong hands of patient artisans.
If you like cycling, take a look at this bike tour in the Itria Valley.
Tour programme variations
Due to organizational reasons, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during the holiday.
Along the way you may find temporary deviations (for example road works) which cannot be foreseen; in this case each walker can decide autonomously how to deal with these stretches.
What's included
Our offer includes
- 7 nights with breakfast in double room
- Tasting at the farm day 6
- 2 dinners day 4 and 5 (drinks not included)
- Entrance at the I Giardini di Pomona Garden day 3
- Olive oil tasting day 7
- Private transfers day 7
- Detailed route directions with maps
- Travel App (maps, tracks, route notes)
- Luggage transportation hotel to hotel
- Phone assistance 08:00-20:00
Not included
- Transfer IN and Transfer OUT
- Public transports day 3 and 4
- Meals and drinks
- Entrance fees and tips
- Hotel tourist taxes
- Insurance and what's not listed as "Included"
Departures and prices
Supplements per person
Other Information
The Walking tour in the green heart of Puglia is suitable for anyone with a minimum of training. The length of a walking day ranges from a minimum of 12 to a maximum of 19 km, with almost undemanding unevenness and travel times between 3 and 4,5 hours.
The tour winds mainly through dirt paths and country lanes; rarely, and only when strictly necessary, on busy roads.
We recommend to wear comfortable walking shoes and to bring with you a hat, trekking poles, drinking water, sun cream, swimsuit and a waterproof jacket in case of rain.
The tour offers accommodation in Masseria, Trulli house and 4* hotels.
- 1 night in Alberobello
- 2 nights in Martina Franca
- 2 nights in Montalbano
- 2 nights in Ostuni
7 breakfast, 2 tastings and 2 dinner included.
→ We will take care of your luggage while you are walking.
For the whole duration of your tour, you can contact our assistance numbers.
A few days before departure you will receive by email the Service List with instructions for using the Travel App.
Upon your arrival, ask at reception for the info pack with:
- updated Service List;
- luggage Labels;
- detailed Route directions with maps.
Getting there
Alberobello is easily reachable by car, train and by air.
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. Buses and trains of the Trenitalia easily connect Alberobello with the railway stations of Bari, Taranto and Lecce.
BY AIR. The closest airports are Bari and Brindisi, both connected with the most important Italian and foreign cities. From both airports, you should get to Bari train station by shuttle bus service or train, and from here continue with the Trenitalia to Alberobello.
BY CAR. The main highways are the A14 Bologna-Taranto and the A16 Napoli-Canosa. We recommend you to exit the motorway in Bari Nord and continue along the SS16 to Monopoli and continue on the SP113 towards Alberobello. maps.google.com can help you with the directions.
Back to Alberobello
From Ostuni you can reach Alberobello with buses and trains Trenitalia, probably with 1 or 2 train changes. NB: On Sundays and public holidays many train rides are replaced by bus rides.
Ask for a quote
Travel tips
When do you fancy leaving?
Why choose this tour for your Walking holidays in Italy?
They are easy walks in touch with nature and the locals: you will discover step by step the wonders of the Valley of Trulli and relax among bucolic landscapes, ancient roads like the Via Traiana and pristine beaches of the Park Dune Costiere.
Holidays for all!
Luggage transport from hotel to hotel, routes designed with accuracy and directions constantly updated, ongoing support for a holiday in complete safety.
Local specialties
The package includes 2 tastings in small local farms. The guided tour with extra virgin olive oil tasting is in a historic farmhouse in the beautiful countryside of Ostuni among ancient olive trees, the true wealth of these lands. Another tasting will be at a family-run farm where Milena will capture you with its simplicity. Authentic flavours, DOC wines, Slow Food presidium..and your taste buds will thank you!
We help you to choose
Our travel packages include just enough to make your holiday safe and serene, you will be free to choose where to stop and when you start walking again, where and what to eat: we will give you informations on our selection of restaurants and goodies affordable for any budget, or if you prefer, we will book for you, for an all inclusive holiday.
