Puglia: Discover the Heel of Italy

Christine Jeffrey   -  Traveled, September 2023

Very Interesting Amazing trip to te heel of Italy. Matera was my particular highlight, due in part to the passionate guide who enthralled us it her personal relationship with Matera. Trulli houses beautiful although Alberobello was not great. The train to Martina Franca was good. Lecce too was magnificent, I’ve never seen so many churches. A great trip. Most Inspirational Moment The guide, Brunella at Maters. Also Anna at the olive Grove. Thoughts on Group Leader Mainly good but he didn't really bond with the group. Advice for Potential Travellers Good shoes.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 09/26/2023

Laura Rendon-Morgan   -  Traveled, May 2023

ADE: Puglia: Discover the Heel of Italy Beautiful landscapes, amazing food and wine, incredible architecture! Most Inspirational Moment Olive oil tasting on a historical family-owned masseria with 2000-year-old olive trees, followed by an amazing lunch at another beautiful masseria. Matera is so unique and beautiful and the hospitality and comfort at the trulli in Alberobello were top notch too! Otranto for a beach day and the architecture in Lecce is incredible. Thoughts on Group Leader In Matera and Lecce we had local guides who made the cities come alive. Our trip leader throughout was able to give us a great introduction to Italian culture and made us feel right at home. Advice for Potential Travellers This was my first trip to Italy and it was perfect! We went mid-April, my sister and I flew into Milan for a few nights and then down to Bari to meet the group at the airport for Discover the Heel Italy. In spring, before it becomes a summer vacation destination for Italians, Puglia feels off the beaten path and you get the historical sites and beach towns all to yourself! Wear comfortable walking shoes and take waterproofs if rain is in the forecast so you can stay out all day. There is a lot of free time on the trip, so take advantage of the opportunity to wander around and discover on your own. There’s something for every diet, but the bread and cheese is incredible, and the vegetables are super fresh. Suggestions The hotels that you visit on this trip are super unique to this area and not the standard hotels you might find in American chains. I do recommend meeting the group at the airport on arrival as the start hotel in the Sassi can be a bit difficult to find on your own if you’re not familiar with Matera already.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 05/31/2023

kim simkins   -  Traveled, September 2022

Lovely part of Italy A busy itinerary exploring a beautiful part of Southern Italy. Some stunning hillside cities with classic narrow streets and cafe culture. Lots of excellent food and local wine throughout. Whilst not strenuous in itself, it was a pretty full on itinerary, with heat, lots of steps and extensive exploring on foot, with uneven pavements/cobbles and walking terrain. Not as leisurely as the trip notes might make you believe, and not really suitable for those with limited mobility or fitness. Some parts are very busy and touristy, but easy to wander the back streets to escape the crowds and immerse yourself in Italian culture. A mix of city, rural areas and seaside to give a taste of the whole area. Most Inspirational Moment Loved the views over the city from the terrace in Matera, and listening to the bells of all the churches ringing out on a Sunday afternoon. Walking into the white city of Ostuni was stunning, taking in an Aperol Spritz at an outside cafe by the cathedral whilst watching the world go by, and then seeing the sun go down along the city walls! Walking alongside the azure blue Adriatic sea in Otranto Thoughts on Group Leader Andraea was a very enthusiastic and hardworking leader. He sometimes struggled to understand the question he was being asked and so it was not always easy to get a straight answer. The group were not easy for him to deal with, and under the circumstances he did an adequate job. Advice for Potential Travellers Forget the map, just wander through the narrow streets away from the main centres and explore the real Italy! Enjoy the cafe culture and people watch over an aperitif in a central square! Indulge yourself with the local cuisine. Sample the amazing gelato and granita, such an amazing variety of flavours. Don't do this trip if you are not very fit or mobile, it has a huge amount of walking on cobbles and up and down steps, and the busy schedule means you would not maximise the value of the places visited. Suggestions Didn't particularly like the visit to Polignano del Mare, was incredibly busy and touristy, but lacked the charm and atmosphere of the other places. Alberobello was beautiful but best seen at dawn when the city streets were empty. The Trulli I stayed in was lovely, but surrounded by shops and bars off the main street and was incredibly noisy until 1am every night, so glad to get away to Ostuni to get sleep! The group were scattered over the whole resort, so there were long walks to get to rooms, and I regretted not having a case with wheels as I had to lug a heavy holdall!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 09/26/2022

Katie Shilton   -  Traveled, July 2022

A lovely part of Italy This is a really lovely part of Italy. It seemed less touristy than some other parts but some of that may be due to the after effects of covid still hitting tourist numbers The majority of places we visited are truly stunning. I loved Matera, Alorobello, Ostuni, Polignano, Otranto and Lecce. I was disappointed not to get to stay in Otranto as the beaches there were very nice. All the places we visited were very different and very interesting and we had just about the right amount of time in each. We went to some very lovely restaurants with excellent food! Most Inspirational Moment I really loved staying in the Trulli and found Matera fascinating as it is on so many levels - a proper rabbit warren! Thoughts on Group Leader I really liked Gabriele. Although it was only his second time running this trip he is a very experienced leader and is a very nice, intelligent and interesting man. Everything ran perfectly - pick ups always on time, hotel check ins much quicker and simpler than normal etc. Advice for Potential Travellers Be aware this tour is not really suitable for anyone with mobility issues. Matera is built on seven levels so steps absolutely everywhere and paving is uneven and sometimes slippery. Suggestions I really enjoyed the trip, although I do think some improvements could be made to it. I was not a fan of the options for the free day and would like to see additional things offered such a a bike ride or a visit to an interesting town. The caves are stunning but to be honest not really my thing and Monopoli was dull. Also the plan of a walk between the Masseria to Ostuni is silly in the summer months. Although it would be fine for some people such as myself it is really not practical for a lot of people. The walk looked to be dull and a little dangerous with the heat for those who are not good with heat or very fit and although I personally would have been capable of it other members of the group would not and so we all decided we would rather get to Ostuni quicker as we would not have had much time there otherwise. Although I think it is fine to offer the walk as an option I think not offering a free transfer as an alternative is very irresponsible of Exodus and endangers their clients (which is very unlike them) and I believe this has been fed back numerous times.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 07/28/2022

V K   -  Traveled, July 2022

Nice part of Italy We had a small group so it was really easy to travel and organise. The places we visited in Puglia were all very different and had its own charm and I really enjoyed my week. However there were parts of the trip which just did not make sense eg two walks (each between 1-2 hours) were scheduled at the hottest time of the day which caused concern for a number of us in the group. To avoid the uncomfortable heat (and quite frankly one of the walks just didn’t even serve a purpose to heighten our enjoyment of the trip) transport was arranged at an additional expense to each traveller to arrive at the final destination that day. Apart from that, the trip was brilliant and covered alot of the region. A truly relaxed trip for those who want a slower pace for a week. Most Inspirational Moment Staying in Matera and seeing one of the oldest towns in Italy, olive oil tour, discovering Lecce and the rich history of this city. Thoughts on Group Leader Gabriella was very capable and entertaining and went beyond to help everyone on the trip. Advice for Potential Travellers On the free day it would be best to go either to the cave or Monopoli but not both. The churches/cathedrals are closed between 12 and 4pm and there is little else to do in the walled city during that time. Or just spend your time at the beach at Monopoli with no expectation of exploring the walled city.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 07/29/2022

Susan Hall   -  Traveled, June 2022

Fabulous Trip Really enjoyed this trip to Puglia, staying in some really unusual accommodation. From the caves of Matera, through my personal little trullo house in Alberobello to the 13th century former palace in Ostuni and even the modern hotel in Lecce, it was all great. This part of Italy is so varied and stunning in both countryside and architecture, it makes for a very varied and enjoyable holiday. There is an excellent mix of culture, food and wine tasting, beach, walking and free time so that the week didn’t feel at all rushed yet we packed in loads. I must commend our guide Nino who went to enormous lengths with a quite demanding group to ensure we all had a great time. The local guides were extremely knowledgeable and made both Matera and Lecce come alive with their vast understanding of the history of each town and the visit to the olive farm and the winery were both very enjoyable and informative. I opted to visit the Castellana Grotto which is a must-see, biggest cave system I have been in – very impressive indeed. All in all an excellent trip. Most Inspirational Moment Visiting Claudio Riso's workshop in Lecce, what he can achieve with paper mache is just incredible! The incredible mosaic floor in the Otranto cathedral - still can't get over the fact that the public can walk on it. Thoughts on Group Leader Antonino (Nino) was an excellent group leader. He had just the right approach to the group, providing information but not excessively so, a great sense of humour and a real desire to resolve any issue, no matter how small, to ensure that everyone had an enjoyable holiday. Nino went out of his way at times to arrange suitable dining experiences to suit all tastes and budgets and was extremely accommodating with everyone's requirements for free time and when the heat, steps and distances were too much for some group members to participate in the planned walks. Nino also went out of his way to sort out the chaos at Bari airport on the return journey when our flight was cancelled at short notice, managing to get flights the next day for a lady who was going to run out of medication. It would have been helpful if BA had actually notified someone in Exodus of the cancellation so that he was better informed. As it was I was the only person who received a prior notification, because my booking wasn't included in the group booking for some reason. Advice for Potential Travellers Just be aware that the nature of the landscape particularly in Matera and Ostuni is such that walking involves a great number of steps, so this is not a suitable holiday for anyone with mobility issues. The walking is very gentle but proved challenging because of the extreme heat which I hadn't anticipated in May (it was 30+C each day), so worth going earlier or later in the year, if like me, you are not good walking in the heat. Suggestions Would highly recommend this trip to anyone who like me, enjoys a holiday packed with variety, interesting scenery and history, alongside some walking and excellent food. The company was great too, but of course I can't vouch for any other trips!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 06/30/2022

K Healey   -  Traveled, September 2022

Unspoilt part of Italy at its best Well planned itinerary and plenty of free time. Very beautiful part of Italy not generally frequented by a lot of British tourists, compared to other Italian towns, and well worth visiting. You wont be disappointed. Excellent food, as you would expect. Most Inspirational Moment Can't say there was an "inspirational moment" as such, but every bit was enjoyable and glad I did this trip. I would thoroughly recommend it. Thoughts on Group Leader Excellent, as you would expect. Advice for Potential Travellers You don't have to do the suggested group meals in the evening and there are other alternatives on the free day (Tuesday) at Alberobello besides the suggested places to visit. Alternatives included visiting towns closer by (like Locorotondo or Martina Franca), going further afield to Monopoli or the caves (as per the tour notes, or just spend the day in Alberobello. The wine tasting (which included a museum and presentation) was good (excellent wine) and a light meal was included with it. Whilst Alberobello is pretty, it is very tourist and I would recommend looking at it first think in the morning or after the shops have shut when it is a lot quieter... especially on the way to the breakfast restaurnt. You see Alberobello at its best, beautiful and tranquil, not bustling with people. Some of the shops have panorama terraces on their roof too, and besides the viewing balcony mentioned in the guide books, there is also a garden that has good views of the Monte Rione district too. None of the hotels have hotels so the only option of swimming is at the beaches of the towns visited briefly (Polignano a Mare and Otranto), but there was a pool at one place guests could use staying in designated trulli houses from company Exodus use. The trulli houses for Exodus guests were scattered at various places all over the town so no one was next to or close to each other, and breakfast was a a central restaurant in town. Regarding Ostuni and the masserias, Exodus had taken on board the feedback on the reviews of former customers on their website and had arranged taxi (at no extra cost to the customer) back to Ostuni for those who didn't want to do (or couldn't manage) the 6 km walk to the town, which is well worth noting. Even if you can manage the 6 km walk, one thing you need to consider (apart from the hthiseat), is that time in Ostuni is limited to just the rest of the day and evening as we moved on the following morning. We left the second masseria about 2.30 (after lunch); the taxi journey is about 10 minutes to Ostuni; the walk was around 2 hrs, so you need to weigh up valuable usage of the time as whilst part of the group did the walk, the others of us who took a taxi spent time in a lovely gelateria and walked around the town walls viewing the countryside... after checking in at the hotel and our rooms too. T There are plenty of local produce food shops everywhere, especially local producers of olive oil in Ostuni, so don't feel you have to buy it at the masseria visited in the Ostuni countryside (although you can, it was very nice) and the prices in those shops in Ostuni weren't any different. Puglian olive oil is very good, and there are a lot of olive groves around the area. The cookery lesson at the masseria near Ostuni wasn't as I had expected; due to Covid we couldn't really do much! The Sassi districts of Matera are stunning and it is very difficult to stop walking around them and taking in the views. The views from the hotel used is spectacular. We felt rushed to get to the cathedral in Otranto when arriving there, as we were late leaving the Osuni that morning (the luggage was late leaving the hotel). Otherwise the whole tour itself wasn't rushed. There were two guided city walks (Matera and Lecce),otherwise the tour leader gave brief orientation walks of the towns on arrival most of the time. In Lecce there are plenty of museums, but I (and a couple of others) visited the Museum Faggiano) which was fascinating and apart from the excavations and exhibits, etc, had a fascinating story behind it of how it came to be, which made it all the more interesting. It's a small museum not far away from the city gate you enter the city by, from the walk from the Eos Hotel to the city centre. Finally, electric plugs and sockets - I took a European plug adaptor, which unfortunately didn't work in a lot of sockets in the hotels and trulli house (and others in the group found the same). Whilst it did work in most bathroom sockets, there were no sockets it fitted at the Hotel Eos. However the hotel Eos were very helpful and lent be a plug I could use to charge my mobile phone (which I used as a camera throughout the holiday). I would suggest bringing a multi-country adaptor, or several adaptors. Their sockets are 3-pin that take the smaller rounder pins; although the two pins will work, the thicker two pins won't work. You don't need to bring a hairdryer with you, everywhere we stayed at had them. Suggestions Thank I have covered everything!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 09/28/2022

Penny Broomhall   -  Traveled, May 2022

Puglia May 2022 Pleased to visit an area previously unknown to me. We experienced unseasonably hot weather (some days 35 degrees in May) which made walking the streets of some cities difficult. The free day at Monopoli we agreed to be shortened in order that some time could be spent viewing our base Alberobello. I was surprised not to have dedicated transport which led to some timing issues and having to walk to the meeting point. Overall a tour of varieties of cities/sea side/olive groves with some good recommendations of where to eat. Most Inspirational Moment As a keen photographer parts of the architecture and street photography highly rewarding. Matera at night as initial sight highly worthwhile. The main square at Lecce a wow moment. Thoughts on Group Leader Nino has guided on this tour for a number of years and become knowledgeable about the area. He dealt with a group of 16 women quite well. He was perhaps ambitious in his timings for us to walk to destinations as there were a couple of us with walking issues. Advice for Potential Travellers Be prepared for scrambling up and down highly uneven sometimes steep steps/streets. Suggestions The transport issue I reiterate cos I have not experienced before a trip where we do not have dedicated transport - you state "private" transport but I had not taken on board this meant we would have vastly different transport throughout the week.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 06/15/2022

Sue Potter   -  Traveled, May 2022

James Bond locations, baroque towns and wonderful food A lovely and unexplored part of Italy. Interesting hill top towns and coastal areas. A very relaxed trip with plenty of free time (maybe a little too much). Matera, Alberobello and Lecci were the highlights for me. All stunning. Food and wine excellent everywhere: plenty of local cuisine. Polignano, Ostuni and Otranto were lovely but easily seen in a couple of hours. Graded as 1 but there are lots of steep steps in Matera and Ostuni. There was an extra walk added from the masseria lunch to Ostuni (about 2 hours) which hadn’t been mentioned in the trip notes and meant those unable to walk had to pay for a transfer. Definitely need good shoes for this. We were unable to complete the listed coastal walk due to rain. All hotels were great, central and/or in historic buildings. No long journeys. Would recommend for a relaxing introduction to the region. Most Inspirational Moment Matera: seeing the kestrels swooping in the mornings, views all over the town, esp from the gorge walk. Staying in a trullo The visit to the olive farm. Lecce's wonderful cathedrals and rooftop terrace of hotel. Thoughts on Group Leader Fabrizio was very enthusiastic and helpful, with lots of suggestions for restaurants etc. He did a lovely welcome/orientation session. Always joined us for meals, was very good at dietary requirements etc. His instructions/timings etc were always very clear. He was always very sociable with the group and happy to chat. As previously mentioned some of his information was out of date eg opening times for cathedral, restaurants but this was probably due to post Covid changes. Advice for Potential Travellers Good shoes. Waterproof and jacket for the April departures. Solo travellers should be aware that there are quite a few free afternoons. Suggestions No

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 05/29/2022

Elisabeth Mulgrew   -  Traveled, April 2022

An interesting tour of this region This is an interesting tour overall. The three main places visited – Matera, Alberobello and Lecce – are all so historical and individually fascinating to explore, yet completely different. The accommodation is similarly characterful and varied; potentially having a cave room in Matera, next a trullo in Alberobello, then a converted monastery in Ostuni (my room, in the roof, had the original guttering inside the room!) and finally an old palazzo in Lecce. There is a lot of free time outside of the designated free day, which might not suit some people, particularly solo travellers who don’t bond as well with others in their group (our group of twelve had six solo travellers and those who wanted to could always find someone to explore with, as everyone was pretty sociable). Although this trip is graded as leisurely, there is a lot of walking around the various places visited, sometimes involving quite steep climbs on steps/cobbles/slopes, especially in Matera. Most Inspirational Moment Staying in the trullo in Alberobello was such an unusual experience - I instantly fell in love with "my" trullo as I walked into it! Castellana Caves was the best cave system I have visited (despite the rather horrible guide!), with some truly stunning formations. The olive farm tour and tasting was a surprising highlight due to the sheer knowledge and enthusiasm of the guides there as well as the preserved historical aspects, plus the superb oil! Thoughts on Group Leader Fabrizio was very sweet and enthusiastic, drawing us in with his "hello friends" welcome from the start! His information wasn't always totally up to date, possibly because of Covid, and he hasn't yet realised that toilets are an important need after a journey, but he was still lovely to be with. Advice for Potential Travellers Make sure that you have comfortable walking shoes with a good grip - the cobbled streets can be slippery if it rains and in most of the places visited, but especially Matera, you will mainly be going up and down steps/slopes when walking around. Be prepared to be left to explore on your own at some point of every day, sometimes for quite a few hours! Castellana Caves is the option I did on the free day - superb caves, and big (3km underground, in sometimes slippery conditions, and very humid too - so we got very hot, especially as we had to wear FFP2 masks throughout the tour). I gather that Monopoli was very enjoyable from those in our group who chose that. Our guide arranged transfers to both, the cost of which was split between those going (so we paid 16 Euros for the cave transfer but those going to Monopoli paid 37.50 Euros as there were a lot fewer of them).

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 04/29/2022

David Butterworth   -  Traveled, October 2019

A wonderful area to explore Leisurely was the description….a fairly lively leisurely …. great trips, knowledgeable, friendly and helpful leader. Some amazing places to visit and accommodation to stay at – all comfortable and most very different. Most Inspirational Moment Supper with everyone at a farm where we were served with home grown produce, all of which was delicious Thoughts on Group Leader Pleasant, friendly, knowledgeable and helpful Advice for Potential Travellers Take your camera with plenty of memory card space and don't forget the charger/s you'll need

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/29/2019

Jen S   -  Traveled, April 2019

A taste of a lesser known region of Italy This trip gave a flavour of the region of Puglia in more ways than one… Staying in four different locations across the week, we learned about the importance of olives and wine in the region with visits to a an olive grove for olive oil tasting and a factory for wine tasting, and were encouraged to try local specialities by our leader who at group meals ordered a range of typical dishes so that we could try a variety. Although not specifically a food tour, food has to be a major part of any trip to Italy… Most Inspirational Moment Exploring the alleyways of white-walled hill-town Ostuni as the sun was going down. Advice for Potential Travellers The walks (I can't speak for the one from Otranto, which we were unable to do due to bad weather) were fairly flat and easy. The guided town tours are if anything more strenuous as they are longer! (Note, the one around beautiful Matera does involve a few steps and sloping paths, the only way of seeing this town built into the sides of a gorge). Walking trainers or even walking sandals are appropriate for all walks on this trip. My personal advice - take your coffee the way the Italians do, stood at the counter with an espresso cup and a glass of water. It's quick, nice, local, gives you a caffeine boost, gives free access to a toilet, and usually there's cake available too! To nut allergy sufferers - be aware that in this area hazelnut is commonly mixed with chocolate in pastries and desserts. There is a great love of Nutella! Always check before ordering!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 05/14/2019

Mike Wells   -  Traveled, October 2018

Varied tour of a fascinating region The region was rewarding and not very touristy. Towns were full of atmosphere. Some enjoyable walks. Hotels were close to centres. Not too much coach travel and enough free time. Warm and friendly guide. But quite a bit of walking so Might be difficult for those even with some mobility problems and not all accommodation great. Free day a bit problematic as limited public transport and a day in arivabello not all that interesting. But guide helped and we went to two nice towns so not insuperable. Local food and wine was good. Recommended but be prepared to walk Most Inspirational Moment The towns all full of atmosphere and the whole week more than any individual visit was inspirational Thoughts on Group Leader A lovely lady lively and energetic Advice for Potential Travellers Don’t go if you can’t walk easily or want luxury resorts. You might prepare by learning a little Italian as outside hotels English isn’t much spoken though you could get by Suggestions Really good week but for the price some of the hotels a bit basic

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 11/18/2018

Lynette Zeitz   -  Traveled, October 2018

Great itinerary but let down by poor accommodation The itinerary was very interesting and our tour leader Barbara was great. But the accommodation overall was not good. I wasn’t expecting luxury accommodation but clean and comfortable. However, in every hotel including the 4 star hotel in Ostuni there were problems for various members of the group but the worst was the Sassi accommodation in Matera where I had fresh black mould in my bathroom. Like the other recent reviewer, I found the included dinner very poor. Our group was also supplied with a minivan and bus on two different days that had broken seatbelts. I really would have liked to have rated this trip higher because the sights and experiences were great. Most Inspirational Moment Walking around Alberobello and Matera Thoughts on Group Leader Barbara was a delight. Knowledgeable, warm and attentive to the different needs of the group.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 11/14/2018

Verity Barnes   -  Traveled, September 2018

Great tour but disappointing hotels I thought the tour was great and enjoyed where we visited and the activities included. I was disappointed with the hotels. Only the hotel in Ostuni was 4 star; and the rest 3 star. This tour cost a lot more than Riviera, Just You or Travelsphere and only Had 2 meals included. I was expecting it to be a cut above the rest for the price paid. The tour was good and the tour manager excellent. Shame it was let down by the choice of accommodation. I also found the places we stayed in to be much too touristy. Most Inspirational Moment When I went on my own to Polignano a Mare for the night. Thoughts on Group Leader Fantastic! Advice for Potential Travellers If you are fussy about where you stay then don’t book this tour.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 09/19/2018

Jan Watson   -  Traveled, June 2018

Wonderful trip in Puglia I loved every minute of this very diverse tour. Every day was different and very interesting, our group leader Fabrizio was awesome and the individual group participants were lovely and lots of fun. I would definitely recommend this tour. Most Inspirational Moment Matera was a highlight - I wish I had arranged for extra days there. Thoughts on Group Leader Awesome! Very informative and loads of fun. Advice for Potential Travellers Embrace the diversity of this tour. Suggestions No

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 06/26/2018

Howard Jones   -  Traveled, June 2018

Outstanding Italy Trip Great combination of sightseeing, excursions, walking and activities in Puglia. Most Inspirational Moment Trullo hotel in Alberobello was lovely; Matera was fascinating - luxurious cave-dwelling. Thoughts on Group Leader Barbara was really excellent - efficient, knowledgeable and friendly. Advice for Potential Travellers No need for hiking boots, but bring sturdy sensible footwear for the walking. Some rough tracks and cobblestones involved. Suggestions Excellent choice of venues for group meals at each end of the trip with a wide selection of local speciality dishes.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 06/25/2018

Mike Giles   -  Traveled, June 2018

Been to Italy? Now visit Puglia Like many people we meet we did not know Puglia existed until we saw this trip. A gem of a region, very different and so suited to a short leisurely summer trip when time is a constraint to a full-on distant adventure tour for which Exodus is otherwise renowned. Distances travelled are comparatively short so it easy to fit in many of the historic, architectural and geological sights with ease. Most Inspirational Moment The caves at Castellana are pretty impressive and the largest complex we have ever visited. However, a ‘Wow’ moment, after arriving at a fairly grotty end of Matera, was stepping onto the main square viewing platform to overlook the entire “Sassi” in which we were to later stay and explore. Thoughts on Group Leader Barbara Schito was our tour leader and guide in all aspects of the trip. As a native of Puglia she was so enthusiastic in her wish to impart her knowledge and love of the region. Her delivery is passionate and charming and so much part of the whole experience Advice for Potential Travellers The food (and wine) of the region is first class and we found it to be reasonably priced having spent only 60% of our budget. As meat-eaters we were very pleased to find ristorante Carnivori in Lecce with choice cuts in the chill cabinet, cooked and served in traditional style before embarking on a week dominated by (very nice) pizzas, pastas and breads. Suggestions The weather was exceptionally hot for the time of year, with occasional thunderstorms and it is worth considering these eventualities.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 06/29/2018

Linda Williams   -  Traveled, May 2018

Highlights of puglia Excellent trip Most Inspirational Moment Visiting e olive oil farm Thoughts on Group Leader Excellent could have been more helpful

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 06/15/2018

Colin Southward   -  Traveled, May 2018

Very enjoyable A great week of cycling in a mix of road, old tracks, villages and town. An opportunity to swim in the Ionian Sea and Adriatic. Great real local food. Usual high standard of the guide and his knowledge of the area Most Inspirational Moment Cycling with a diverse group in an exceptionalarea. Thoughts on Group Leader Very knowledgeable and good at organizing stops to see the different ares of interest. Advice for Potential Travellers Do some training before you go. Try the local dishes.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 06/15/2018