Self Guided Walking in Puglia: From Lecce to Matera
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Experience Overview
From the Baroque splendour of Lecce, to the unique 'trulli' style houses of Alberobello and the cave houses (Sassi) in neighbouring Matera, this self-guided walking trip allows you to discover the beauty of the region at your own relaxed pace. There is plenty of time to appreciate the magnificent coastline and trulli strewn landscapes, and to spend lingering afternoons savouring the traditional cuisine.
Trip For You
This self-guided walking holiday is ideal for independent travellers who enjoy exploring at their own pace, with the reassurance of pre-arranged accommodation, route guidance and local support.
Activity Level: 1 (Easy)
For more information on our trip gradings please visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.
Route & Terrain: The terrain and type of path will vary between manmade paved tracks, tarmac and gravel. All walks take between 3 and 6 hours including lunch stops and require a moderate level of fitness. As this is a self-guided tour; you can walk at your own pace (we recommend taking plenty of time to rest and enjoy the views!). Please be aware that Puglia can be very warm, possibly exceeding 30 degrees in the summer.
Navigation: Headwater Navigation App
How Your Self-Guided Holiday Works
This self-guided trip is operated by our sister company, Headwater. You’ll travel independently and at your own pace using the Headwater Navigation App, which provides expertly curated routes and directions, along with a 24-hour emergency assistance number should you need support. As there is no tour leader or organised group, you’ll enjoy the flexibility to travel at your own pace while following the planned itinerary. Headwater are specialists in self-guided active holidays with more than 40 years of experience.
Eating Drinking
All breakfasts are included. In Puglia you will find genuine regional cooking that has strong links to the land and the sea. To give you an example of the types of food on offer in Puglia: simple, tasty dishes such as the pasta delicacy “orecchietteserved with a sauce of turnip-tops or fresh tomato and sheep’s ricotta-cheese, “cavatelliwith pulses, aubergine and parmesan bake, courgettes “alla poverella- marinated in oil, garlic, mint and vinegar, etc., to accompany grilled fish, seafood, horse-meat chops, lamb, “burrata(soft mozzarella and cream cheese), mozzarella and “caciocavallosheep’s cheese... plus excellent wines. This region is a food lovers paradise!
Weather Information
The Puglia region of Southern Italy enjoys a wonderful Mediterranean climate with all year round sunshine and just enough rainfall to ensure that the green is never too far off. Although Puglia covers a large area it is long and narrow - not more than 30km across. This means that you're never far from the sea which has a moderating effect on the weather.
Highlights
— Visit the UNESCO sites of Matera and Alberobello — Discover Baroque Lecce - the Florence of the South - and the white city of Ostuni — Savour mouth-watering local food and wine — Charming hotels in great locations — Walks are optional with plenty of time to discover each destination
Trip Details
Product Code: 22736
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport:
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Budget
Tour Operator:
Exodus Travel
Supplier Code: W07PM
Starts:
Finishes:
Duration: 8 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Unknown
Includes
7 nights in 3-star equivalent, 3-star and 4-star accommodation — All breakfasts — Briefing at the start of your holiday, plus Headwater navigation app — Walk transfers (excludes rail/bus transfers) with luggage transfers between hotelsAccommodation
All the hotels on this trip have been specially selected for their location and character. In Alberobello we use a family-run hotel in beautifully restored 'trulli' houses while in Matera, your hotel is just a few steps from the famous Sassi district, with wonderful views from its panoramic terrace.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $2425 ($303 /day)
Itinerary
Arrive in Lecce. Enjoy some free time to discover the main monuments of the Salento region's capital, with its baroque architecture, stunning basilica and Roman amphitheatre.
Take a morning train or bus to Otranto (train or bus ticket not included), a little seaside village facing the Adriatic sea and known as the gateway to the Orient. Visit its Aragonese castle and cathedral, home to the impressive 'Tree of Life' mosaic which covers its entire floor and is well worth a visit. Then follow the coastline, past imposing coastal watchtowers, to the Orte cove. Return to Lecce by bus or train (pay locally).
Private transfer (1hr) to the golden sands and crystal clear waters of Lido Morelli. Then set off through the rich and verdant wetlands of the Dune Costiere Natural Park, passing traditional masserie (farmhouses) and ancient olive trees - at 1000 years old, they are the oldest in the Mediterranean. End the day in the striking hilltop town of Ostuni, known as the 'white city' due to its brightly whitewashed buildings clustered together on the hillside. Explore Ostuni's enchanting maze of Greek-style winding streets before dinner.
We take you (40 mins) to the sleepy village of Correggia, then make your way through the gently rolling countryside of the Itria Valley, past ancient olive groves, vineyards and trulli, to the wine town of Locorotondo. Take a short (15 minute) train ride back to Alberobello (train ticket not included). Spend the night in a typical 'Trullo' in the historical centre of Alberobello.
Discover Alberobello, UNESCO World Heritage Site and iconic town owing to the 1000 white-tipped trulli that can be found here. Alternatively, walk through a patchwork of trulli dotted meadows, wheat fields, vineyards and olive groves to the elegant Baroque town of Martina Franca. There is an optional transfer to the start of this walk to make a shorter walk of 14km.
After a private transfer, this scenic walk takes you across the Murgia plateau facing Matera, and the impressive 8th century rock churches that pepper the landscape. This area is perfect for a spot of birdwatching as you walk amongst the pastures and stone farmhouses, keeping your eyes out for birds of prey as you go.
Matera's Sassi district is renowned for its cave-houses, which have been inhabited for centuries and have since been converted into comfortable accommodation. Take a guided tour to learn more of this UNESCO recognised city (payable locally), or hop on the train to Gravina, birthplace of Pope Benedict XIII, with its historic palaces and dramatic canyon. From the town's iconic 17th century aqueduct bridge, head uphill to the Botrugno Hill for sweeping views of this picturesque town, before returning to its atmospheric centro storico. Return to Matera by train.
End in Matera after breakfast.
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Tour Operator
Exodus Travel
It’s all about adventure That is what Exodus was founded upon 50 years ago, and what the company is still all about. Discovering countries, cultures, environments, cities, mountain ranges, deserts, coasts and jungles; exploring this amazing planet we all live on. At Exodus, we know what makes you tick when it comes to holidays. It’s a desire shared by so many others. A yearning to visit new places and come home with a real sense of what they’re all about. This means delving into local traditions, cultures, cuisine, lifestyles – anything that contributes to its unique identity. At the same time, we always remember that we are only guests. So we travel courteously and respectfully, in smaller groups to minimise our impact, to ensure that every Exodus holiday is a beneficial experience for everyone involved. This is a philosophy we take with us around the world, helping you reach some incredible destinations on 500 itineraries across over 90 separate countries. We also strive to provide as much flexibility and choice as we possibly can, making it simple for you to experience a very different holiday. Exodus started life on 4 February 1974 when two friends got together to provide an overland truck to travel to the Minaret of Jam, deep in the heart of the Hindu Kush, the most inaccessible of the world’s great monuments. See our history page for more details about how we began and how we have grown over the past 50 years. Never travelled with Exodus before? Visit our New to Exodus page for some useful, first-timer information.
In Business Since 1974
