Website cookies Besides essential cookies, if you agree, we’d like to set optional ones that remember your wishlist for your next visit and that provide analytics for us to improve the site and our advertising. A cookie will remember your choice. If you change your mind, click on the ‘cookies’ link at the foot of the page. Learn more

0     
+44 (0)1653 617001
back
back
back
back
back
back
Inspirations 2022
Our latest holiday brochure
  • Walking
  • Cycling
  • Journeys by rail, boat & car
  • Plus... Why you can book and travel with confidence
Download brochure
back
back
back
 

A Journey through Puglia

Treasures of Italy's ‘Deep South’
 
Experience the charm of laid-back Puglia on this self-guided journey by car (hire car included). Discover a land of olive groves, picturesque coastal scenery, splendid Baroque architecture, ancient conical houses and delicious local cuisine, and stay in traditional masserie.
A Journey through Puglia. 8 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
A Journey through Puglia. 8 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A touring holiday in Puglia

Puglia – the heel of Italy – has a special character which goes beyond the warming influence of the solleone (‘lion sun’) that ripens the olives and lends intensity to the full-bodied Negroamaro wines. This unique appeal is perhaps best summed up by the simple, uncomplicated attitude of its people, and a sense of slowing down.
Here, traditions run deep and family ties are strong. Flavours are fresh and bold, with a lusty cuisine unafraid to draw on the abundant riches of the land. The towns and villages, too, have a laid-back, unpretentious charm; and the landscapes, while little-known and even less frequently visited, have a colourful allure, from olive groves stretching out to a red-earthed horizon to the honey-coloured coastline – peppered with caves and lapped by the waters of an emerald sea.
Our discovery of this inviting region features three masserie of character, from which you can explore at leisure. We provide suggestions on cultural visits that take in the most beautiful architectural treasures, and recommend some excellent restaurants where you can pause for a leisurely lunch of pasta and seafood accompanied by a crisp dry or slightly sparkling white Locorotondo wine, or a full-bodied Primitivo red.
 

Book with confidence

We are accepting bookings for our holidays to Italy. Our flexible booking arrangements, commitment to safety and financial protection mean that you can book with confidence.

What we’re doing so you can book and travel with confidence >
Check the destination entry requirements >
 
Gallery
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • Arrival near Porto Badisco
    Night 1: at Masseria Panareo (the first of three nights here).
    As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of exploration.
  • Explore Porto Badisco & the surrounding area
    Spend your time here relaxing by the hotel’s panoramic pool, visiting the splendid botanical gardens of La Cutura, walking along the coast (we suggest a route to Porto Badisco; 8.5km, 2.5hrs) and exploring nearby Otranto. This historic port sits on a rocky spur close to the stiletto ‘heel’ of Italy. Meander through the streets and alleyways of the Old Town (literally ship-shape, within its imposing fortifications), pay a visit to the Norman cathedral with its remarkable 12th-century ‘tree of life’ mosaic, then stroll along the walls, where you might find a strategically placed café for a refreshing drink and a view of the bay.
    Take a walk to Porto Badisco
    Explore Otranto
  • Porto Badisco to Sternatia: 1hr by car
    Today, take a detour west, to visit Galatina’s ornately frescoed church en route to the fortified island town of Gallipoli. Wander its maze of streets, admiring Baroque churches and picking a fish restaurant for lunch, before heading north-east. Your next two nights are spent at the Masseria Chicco Rizzo, located in peaceful countryside near Sternatia, just south of Lecce. If you wish, you can choose to stay in Lecce itself – the charming Palazzo Rollo occupies an ideal position near the city’s magnificent cathedral.
    Gallipoli
  • Explore Lecce
    Spend today in Lecce (just a short drive or train journey from Sternatia), whose Baroque splendours have earned it the soubriquet ‘Florence of the South’. Following our self-guided walking tour, admire the sumptuous architecture, enhanced by the easily carved, honey-coloured local stone (pietra Leccese), and featuring elaborately sculpted gargoyles and animals. Not everyone is a fan, of course: the Marchese Grimaldi famously claimed the façade of the Basilica di Santa Croce was like ‘a lunatic having a nightmare’; but for most people, it works. So immerse yourself in this harmonious beauty – with its astonishing number of churches – and prepare to be stupito (amazed).
    Explore Lecce
    Beautiful Baroque Lecce
  • Sternatia to Ostuni: 2hrs by car
    Continuing north today, enter the Valle d’Itria where the rolling countryside is criss-crossed by dry-stone walls (much like our own Yorkshire) and dotted with the distinctive, cone-shaped roofs of trulli  houses. You stay in the wonderfully traditional, oil-producing Masseria Il Frantoio.
  • Explore from Ostuni
    Take an early morning trip to (the trulli famous!) Alberobello to beat the crowds. Then explore the fabulous ‘white towns’ of Ostuni and Locorotondo, perhaps sampling the latter’s renowned red wines on a tasting tour at the Cantina Sociale; or head to the nearby coast or the beach. For a walk, we recommend the archaeological park of Santa Maria d'Agnono (6km, 2hrs); or you could walk or cycle in the Parco delle Dune Costiere (16km), or at Torre Guaceto (7km, 2hrs). Further afield, you can explore the Pianelle Forest, or continue as far as spellbinding Matera.
    Viisit the famous Alberobello
    Discover the white town of Ostuni
 

Accommodation

You stay at three beautifully converted traditional masserie.

Occasionally, due to availability, we may offer an alternative hotel, as shown below. You will be informed of any change to the usual hotel (along with any price implication) prior to us confirming your holiday to you. Wherever you stay, we recommend extra nights at any base (or all three!) to give you more time to explore the local area.
 

Extend your stay

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
Currency converter
We can only accept payment in GBP, but you can use this converter to find out how much the holiday equates to in your own currency.
Please enter an amount Please enter a valid amount British Pound Sterling (GBP)
Currency is required
NB: this should be used as a guide only. Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in significant variation by the time you come to pay.

  • 8 nights: 22 August 2021 - 31 October 2021, 01 April 2022 - 30 June 2022 & 22 August 2022 - 31 October 2022

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    22 - 31 Aug 2021 £1345 £795
    1 - 8 Sep 2021 £1295 £460
    9 - 28 Sep 2021 £1230 £440
    29 Sep - 24 Oct 2021 £1145 £415
    1 - 17 Apr 2022 £1195 £440
    18 - 30 Apr 2022 £1235 £450
    1 - 31 May 2022 £1295 £465
    1 - 22 Jun 2022 £1360 £485
    22 - 31 Aug 2022 £1395 £835
    1 - 8 Sep 2022 £1360 £485
    9 - 28 Sep 2022 £1295 £465
    29 Sep - 23 Oct 2022 £1195 £440
    3rd & 4th person discount -£85 to -£110
    Single traveller supplement £85 to £110

    Includes accommodation, meals, travel between hotels and any other services integral to the holiday as described, plus a detailed information pack, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Included travel: 8 days' category B car hire (Lancia Ypsilon or similar with manual transmission)
    Please note: a 'one-way' supplement is payable locally if the hire car is returned to a different location from the pick-up point

    Driving time to the first hotel from: Bari 2h30, Brindisi 1h30
    Driving time from the final hotel to: Bari 1h, Brindisi 0h50

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Masseria il Frantoio, near Ostuni
    'Privilege': 22 Aug - 31 Oct 2021 £32
    'Privilege': 01 Apr - 30 Jun 2022 £34
    'Privilege': 22 Aug - 31 Oct 2022 £34
    Superior: 22 Aug - 31 Oct 2021 £12
    Superior: 01 Apr - 30 Jun 2022 £14
    Superior: 22 Aug - 31 Oct 2022 £14

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Prices include an extra day's car hire
    Masseria Panareo, near Porto Badisco (with dinner) Double room Single room
    22 Aug - 31 Aug 2021 £155 £210
    01 Sep - 11 Sep 2021 £128 £168
    12 Sep - 31 Oct 2021 £115 £145
    01 Apr - 31 May 2022 £122 £154
    01 Jun - 30 Jun 2022 £135 £176
    22 Aug - 31 Aug 2022 £164 £222
    01 Sep - 11 Sep 2022 £135 £176
    12 Sep - 31 Oct 2022 £122 £154
    Masseria Chicco Rizzo, Sternatia (with dinner) Double room Single room
    22 Aug - 27 Aug 2021 £155 £200
    28 Aug - 29 Sep 2021 £130 £164
    30 Sep - 31 Oct 2021 £120 £154
    01 Apr - 13 Apr 2022 £126 £162
    14 Apr - 19 Apr 2022 £145 £180
    20 Apr - 30 Apr 2022 £126 £162
    01 May - 30 Jun 2022 £145 £180
    22 Aug - 27 Aug 2022 £164 £210
    28 Aug - 29 Sep 2022 £136 £172
    30 Sep - 31 Oct 2022 £126 £162
    Masseria il Frantoio, near Ostuni (B&B) Double room Single room
    22 Aug - 06 Sep 2021 £150 £300
    07 Sep - 03 Oct 2021 £140 £210
    04 Oct - 31 Oct 2021 £125 £195
    01 Apr - 13 Apr 2022 £132 £206
    14 Apr - 02 May 2022 £148 £222
    03 May - 28 May 2022 £132 £206
    29 May - 30 Jun 2022 £148 £222
    22 Aug - 06 Sep 2022 £158 £316
    07 Sep - 03 Oct 2022 £148 £222
    04 Oct - 31 Oct 2022 £132 £206
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Bari or Brindisi
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Rome.  To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Bari (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Edinburgh - Brindisi (via Milan Bergamo) Ryanair 
    Edingburgh - Bari (via Munich) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Bari (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Glasgow - Bari (via Munich) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Liverpool - Bari Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Bari British Airways,  easyJet 
    Gatwick - Brindisi easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Bari British Airways 
    Heathrow - Brindisi British Airways 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Bari Wizz Air 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Bari Ryanair 
    Stansted - Brindisi Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Brindisi Ryanair 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Rome.  To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above except those operated by Ryanair. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service (£60 for India and Nepal). Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

What is included
  • 8 nights
  • 5 dinners
    8 breakfasts
  • detailed cultural information
  • category B car hire
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 13 reviews
  • Sue and Maurice, Worthing
    14 October 2019

    A very varied holiday so difficult to pick out any one highlight but we much enjoyed the Torre Guaceto walk by the sea - but then the weather was very good!

  • Mr D Coupe
    Lytham St. Annes
    12 October 2019

    Highlights:

    The walk along the coast to Torre Guaceto, one little cove after another.

    Matera was amazing and is one of the locations for the new James Bond movie. We recommend staying out of town - the Masseria San Francesco was good, breakfast in a cave, infinity pool but only B&B.

    Ostuni was lovely, make sure you see the exhibition in the museum relating to the woman who died in childbirth 24,000 years ago. She is wearing a wonderful hat made of seashells.

    The Horace Walpole exhibition in the"Castle of Otranto".

    INNTRAVEL NOTE: We offer an extension to Matera, with options to stay in the city (Locanda di San Martino) or just outside (L'Orto di Lucania, near Montescaglioso)

  • Anon
    30 September 2019

    All the accommodation exceeded our expectations, but especially the Palazzo Rollo in Lecce (see above). The information pack (routes, guides, walks etc) were all extremely helpful.

  • Mr I Jones
    Lingfield
    11 September 2019

    We thought this was an excellent holiday. The choice of Masserias was good and we enjoyed the restaurants suggested. Interesting area with friendly and obliging hotels.

  • Anon
    10 September 2019

    A varied and interesting trip round Puglia including both the masserias and places visited plus Matera [optional add-on] which is unique - watch out for it in the next James Bond film as filming was taking place much to the interest (and irritation) of the locals! We particularly enjoyed visits to Gallipoli, Monopoli and Lecce and just driving through the countryside between venues. An overnight stay in Bari was also enjoyable and could happily have stayed another day.

  • Mr S Ross
    Chippenham
    04 September 2019

    Good local restaurants: l’Approdo Di Enea - Porto Badisco beach, Osteria del Porto - Savelletri no Egnazia, La Scalleta d’Oro  - Mattinata, Borgo Antico - Peschici (Gargano).
    Archaeological site at Egnazia really worth a visit. Alberobello very touristy. Matera was the highlight of the cities / towns despite James Bond being filmed there! We found 30’ too hot to walk in unshaded areas. Gargano peninsula a gem. Better to focus on Foresta Umbra and the suggested routes from the visitor centre in middle of park than walk from hotel.

    INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers extended their Journey through Puglia with add-ons in Mattina and Matera.

  • Mrs Rodger, East Lothian
    04 September 2019

    The standard of and sites of all 3 agriturismos were very good indeed. Lovely places to stay - friendly, comfortable and good food. We really enjoyed them all. Great to have swimming pools on site too. We did at times find the “signage” for roads poor in this area. Quite tricky when driving into towns and negotiating their one-way systems!! We were caught out a few times visiting small towns after noon to find restaurants, shops etc closed but I presume this is still part of tradition there. On the whole, a good holiday and thank you Inntravel for your excellent organisation.

  • Anon
    02 September 2019

    We have enjoyed a number of typically active walking holidays and city breaks with Inntravel over the years, both in Italy and elsewhere. With its reliably sunny climate, excellent food and wine, delightful accommodation options and attractively balanced range of things to do and see, the Puglia / Basilicata package seemed to promise the slow(er) holiday that we are now generally looking for and it certainly succeeded. We enjoyed ourselves enormously.

  • Ms S Whiles
    Nuneaton
    31 August 2019

    Amazing places to visit. Great service from Inntravel from the start of our booking journey to the end of the trip. The hotels they chose for us were all different and really interesting places to stay.

  • Anon
    19 June 2019

    Wonderful countyside and weather. Food and wine were a great experience. Driving was easy except in some of the towns with complicated and narrow one way systems. The Masseria’s were a delight and hard to leave. At Masseria Il Frantoio we dined out one night at the Masseria Le Carrube some 2 Km away which was a most interesting dining experience, an entirely Puglia Vegetarian menu as eaten by the local people. You might wish to investigate this Masseria which had a wonderful postion and facilities.

  • Anon
    30 May 2019

    All the accommodation was great. They all had their own strengths. Il Frantoio gave us a great welcome - and you can choose 4, 6 or 8 course meals. We had a 4 course meal with others doing the same and that was fun. Though after that, we went to their favourite restaurant in Ostuni. Chicco Rizzio was also a great welcome and the food was delicious. Lots of highlights! We were glad to have some walks between the sight seeing. Many thanks.

  • Mr C Kent
    Ludlow
    03 May 2019

    Matera should feature as a destination, perhaps instead of an alternative. It was the stand-out visit.

    INNTRAVEL NOTE: We offer accommodation in the old town of Matera as an add-on to our Journey Through Puglia holiday

  • Mr MRE Matthews
    Winchester
    25 April 2019

    Wild flowers are superb at the end of April.
 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • If your holiday plans go awry because of Coronavirus, rest assured that we’ll do right by you. Since the start of the pandemic, our flexible booking policy and prompt issuing of refunds to customers who prefer not to defer their holiday have earned us high praise in the national press.
  • We sincerely hope that your holiday experience will be as enjoyable as it would have been before the pandemic – we’re not operating holidays if the key highlights can no longer be delivered – but, naturally, there will be some changes to ensure your and other people’s safety, not least taking tests before and after your holiday for many destinations.
    Your holiday experience: what to expect >
    Safety measures being taken by hoteliers & others >
    Entry requirements for non-UK destinations & for re-entering the UK >
  • The information that we send to you 2-3 weeks before your holiday includes practical information about each stage of your journey so that you can travel confidently from one hotel to another, recommendations for places to visit and eat out in each place, plus cultural information about the area. Where applicable, we also provide notes for a self-guided walking tour of most cities, and some large towns. Sample travel pack >
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines (but not, currently, with Ryanair). As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. For Europe, there’s a £35 booking fee per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). For India and Nepal, the booking fee is £60 per person. More information on flights >
  • Absolutely! We are experts in tailored rail travel. Making use of sleeper trains or stopovers in cities along the route, we can get you from London to virtually anywhere in mainland Europe. We can even make arrangements to Mallorca, Sicily and Norway with a combination of ferries and rail. Please contact Abi and Lizzie to discuss your plans.
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to take out our recommended travel insurance policy (if you live outside the UK you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    We'll ask you for the details of your policy (insurer, policy number and medical emergency phone number) so that we can help out if the worst happens while you are on holiday. It's up to you, though, to check that your policy covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs; we don't check alternative policies.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Italy, but not a visa. If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • The principal official language is Italian, though some regions have a second official language, such as South Tyrol, where German is widely spoken. The currency is the Euro. Italian time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.

    At Inntravel we work in close partnership with our hoteliers, taxi drivers and other local suppliers to provide our self-guided holidays directly to you. We are entirely confident that you will continue to receive the usual warm welcome from them, regardless of what is happening in the European political sphere.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.
    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
Last fetch time is : 10/21/2021 4:13:59 AM