A piedi lungo il Cammino Materano
La Via Peuceta del Cammino Materano è una lunga linea di passi, incontri ed...
27.06.2022
Guided 
Walking
Taste of South Italy - Walking guided group Matera and Puglia
Puglia & BasilicataDifficulty path:Easy
Guided · WalkingDuration: 8 daysCode: wg024
from 1290 €GUARANTEED DEPARTURE!
Highlights
A journey that fills the eyes and heart with wonder: an exciting and easy itinerary that will immerse us in the nature and warmth of southern Italy.
An expert local guide will lead us through the beauties of Puglia and Basilicata, staying overnight in the most evocative places in this part of Italy and accompanying us on delicious tastings. Matera, a UNESCO heritage site, offers unique views set in the rock: we will sleep among the stones and explore the rock churches. In Alberobello we will be welcomed by its fairy-tale houses in the green heart of Puglia, dotted with white villages. We will walk among monumental olive trees to reach Ostuni. We will finally arrive in the surprising Lecce and then spend a day surrounded by the endless blue sea of Otranto.
An expert local guide will lead us through the beauties of Puglia and Basilicata, staying overnight in the most evocative places in this part of Italy and accompanying us on delicious tastings. Matera, a UNESCO heritage site, offers unique views set in the rock: we will sleep among the stones and explore the rock churches. In Alberobello we will be welcomed by its fairy-tale houses in the green heart of Puglia, dotted with white villages. We will walk among monumental olive trees to reach Ostuni. We will finally arrive in the surprising Lecce and then spend a day surrounded by the endless blue sea of Otranto.
Join the GROUP TRIP
30/03 > 06/04/2025
26/10 > 02/11/2025
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Matera and the rock churches
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Alberobello and the trulli
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The landscapes of the heel of Italy
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Mouth-watering tastings
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Lecce and the beautiful sea of Otranto
Program
Day1
Meeting in Matera
Individual arrival in spectacular Matera, where we will meet our guide. Immersed in an ancient and wild landscape, we will discover a unique city in the world.
Dinner included and overnight stay in Matera.
Day2
Exploring the surroundings of Matera
12km, +340m -350m
One of the most important features of the area around Matera is the presence of over a hundred rock churches scattered throughout the territory. Sometimes they are hidden by dense vegetation and dug along the steep banks of the canyons. We will discover the most important ones, following a route through rocks and Mediterranean scrub, stopping from time to time to admire Matera in all its charm.
Second overnight stay in Matera.
Day3
Locorotondo and Martina Franca
13km, +180m -140m
A short private transfer after breakfast will leave us on a route that follows the ancient Apulian Aqueduct. We will enter the green heart of Puglia making a stop in the pretty Locorotondo, a small village on the hill with characteristic sloping roofs. The historic center is small and enchanting, and from its terraces the view extends over the expanses of vineyards that surround it.
We will then reach Martina Franca, to taste and learn more about extra virgin olive oil, and to admire its decorated churches, ancient buildings and airy porticoes.
Overnight stay in Martina Franca.
Day4
Martina Franca and Alberobello
19km, +220m -240m
After breakfast, we will go down the small Monte San Martino, in the heart of the Itria Valley.
The itinerary takes us through an ancient oak forest, allowing our imagination to see what this area was like centuries ago. We will walk along narrow streets bordered by characteristic dry stone walls, to reach Alberobello, whose shape is made up of hundreds of inverted cones. Among the trulli we will taste the wines of this fertile valley.
Overnight stay in Alberobello.
Day5
Ostuni
12km, +250m -130m
After breakfast, a private transfer will take us to the beauties of the Park Dune Costiere.
We will walk among the fortified masseria farms and we will get to know the typical landscape of the Park, made up of majestic olive groves and cultivated fields from which come the renowned delicacies that we will find in the area's restaurants. We will have a taste of them during a tasting at a family-run farm before continuing slightly uphill towards the majestic White City.
Overnight stay in Ostuni.
Day6
Ostuni and the park
14km, +10m -220m
We will continue to explore the Park Dune Costiere with a beautiful nature walk.
We reach the coast near the mouth of the Morelli river, in a landscape painted by the blue of the sea and the soft colors of ponds, dunes and Mediterranean scrub. In the afternoon, with a private transfer, we will arrive in Lecce: a guided visit will introduce us to this elegant town and we can spend the rest of the time shopping, sitting in a bar or browsing around.
Overnight stay in Lecce.
Day7
Otranto
9km, +95m -110m
We reach Otranto after breakfast with a public transfer.
We will walk along the easternmost coast of Italy between pristine bays, ancient towers, red earth landscapes and suggestive cliffs. The view can reach as far as the impressive Palascìa lighthouse and, with a bit of luck, as far as the coast of Albania. We then visit Otranto, a port city with a memorable history... and a unique mosaic!
Return to Lecce by train for the last dinner together and overnight stay.
Day8
Lecce
We'll say goodbye after breakfast … arrivederci!
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.
What's included
Our offer includes
- 7 nights with breakfast in shared room
- Local English speaking guide during the excursions
- 2 Dinners (first and last night)
- Olive oil tasting on Day 3
- Wine tasting on Day 4
- Tasting of local products on Day 5
- Lecce guided visit on Day 6
- Scheduled private and public transports
- Luggage transportation hotel to hotel
Not included
- Transfer IN and Transfer OUT
- Other meals and drinks
- Entrance fees and tips
- Hotel tourist taxes
- Insurance and what's not listed as Included
Departures and prices
Guarantied departures30/03/2025 => 06/04/2025
Standard1290 € /p
Guarantied departures26/10/2025 => 02/11/2025
Standard1290 € /p
Supplements per person
Single room
Standard350 € /p
Transfer Bari Apt-Matera (min 2 pax)
Standard70 € /p
Transfer Brindisi Apt – Matera (min 2 pax)
Standard145 € /p
Transfer Lecce - Brindisi Apt (min 2 pax)
Standard45 € /p
Transfer Lecce-Bari Apt (min 2 pax)
Standard100 € /p
Other Information
Grade
Easy - The tour is suitable for anyone with a minimum of training. The length of a walking day ranges from a minimum of 9 to a maximum of 19km, with almost undemanding unevenness and travel times between 2.5 and 4.5 hours.
The tours wind mainly through dirt paths and country lanes; rarely, and only when strictly necessary, on busy roads.
We recommend to wear comfortable walking shoes, better if trekking boots, and to bring with you a hat, drinking water, sun cream, swimsuit and a waterproof jacket in case of rain.
Accommodations & Meals
Accommodation in optimally located accommodation.
All rooms are ensuite.
- 2 nights in Matera
- 1 night in Martina Franca
- 1 night in Alberobello
- 1 night in Ostuni
- 2 nights in Lecce
In case of limited availability we choose an alternative position with similar characteristics. Alternative details will be noted in the updated service list.
7 breakfasts, 2 dinners and 3 tastings included. All other meals are not included.
Support
You will be accompanied during the excursions and dinners by one of our expert tour leader, coordinator of the group and passionate about travel, nature and the territory visited. He/she will support you, becoming a travel companion and trying to meet the needs of the group, while being attentive to individual requests.
He/she will help make your vacation authentic, relaxing and fun.
Travel documents
A few days before departure you will receive by email the documentation containing the latest information relating to your holiday.
Arrival and Departure
Getting there
Matera is easily reachable by train, car and by air.
BY TRAIN. The train stations close to Matera are Bari, Gioia del Colle, Ferrandina and Metaponto, info on Trenitalia website.
From Bari you can reach Matera on board the trains or buses of the FAL-Ferrovie Appulo Lucane, while from Metaponto and Ferrandina you can go to Matera only by bus (check the times on the SITA sites and FAL). To know deletions or additions of stops, cancellations, delays, detours and many other useful information for those traveling by train with Trenitalia, see viaggiatreno. NB: on Sundays and public holidays there are no trains but only a few buses.
BY AIR. The nearest airports to Matera are those of Bari, Brindisi and Naples.
The Bari Palese airport is located at about 60km and is connected by shuttle services of various companies or, having reached the central station of Bari with the Ferrovie del Nord Barese, you can take the FAL train to central Matera (about 80min). NB: on Sundays and public holidays there are no trains but only a few buses.
Brindisi Casale airport is about 150km away, from here you can reach Matera by bus passing Bari Palese airport. Visit the Aeroporti di Puglia website for more detailed information.
Naples Capodichino airport is about 250km away and is connected to Matera by various bus companies.
BY BUS. Matera is also accessible by bus. Here are the major companies operating the service: Marinobus, Baltour & Flixbus, Marozzi, Busmiccolis, Petruzzi autolinee.
BY CAR. The nearest motorway exits are Bari Nord and Gioia del Colle for those taking the A14 or Adriatica highway; exit at Sicignano-Potenza for those coming from the A3 Salerno-Reggio Calabria. map.google.com can help you with the directions.
Back to Matera
From Lecce you can reach Matera with Trenitalia getting to Bari, in combination with Ferrovie Appulo Lucane from Bari to Matera. The entire trip cost varies from € 16 to € 30 depending on the type of trains; the travel time is about 3.5 hours. NB: on Sundays and public holidays the train service is replaced by bus rides.
→ If you prefer to travel in total comfort, you can book a private transfer on the days of arrival and departure.