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The Delights of Puglia – Italy's Best-Kept Secret
Uncover the delights of Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot. It boasts the country’s longest coastline, where the beautiful cities of Trani and Vieste lie, a superb climate, endless olive groves, fairy tale towns such as Alberobello, of whitewashed ‘trulli’ houses, ancient Baroque city of Matera and charming Bari, with its spectacular Castel del Monte. With visits to the beautiful shores of Lake Garda, Ferrara, and the capital city of Rome, all included, this is the perfect holiday for anyone looking to discover the very best of Italy.
Tour Includes
- 15 nights hotel with continental breakfast
- 13 evening meals
- Convenient local joining points
16 days from £2,149pp
Travel Options
Outbound &
Inbound Travel
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Inbound
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Experiences
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Itinerary
Please choose your preferred 16 day itinerary
Local departure by coach or Door-to-Door service, then to northern France for an overnight stay.
We travel to the Cremona or Parma area for an overnight stay.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
We continue to the outskirts of Rome or the spa town of Fiuggi, south-east of Rome, for a two-night stay.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Today you have the full day to discover the Italian capital city of Rome on our included excursion. The Historic Centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with wonderful palaces, churches, basilicas, Roman ruins, monuments and fountains. It has an immensely rich historical heritage and cosmopolitan atmosphere. There will be ample free time for you to explore this wonderful city at your leisure. To make the most of your visit, why not join our optional guided sightseeing tour. The sightseeing tour takes place on both coach and foot and will introduce you to the city’s wonderful sights, including the mighty Colosseum (entrance not included) and the Trevi Fountain. Note: Although Rome is a relatively compact city, we would remind you that this is a walking tour, not suitable for anyone with mobility difficulties and we would recommend you wear suitable shoes for the day.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Optional Excursions
Our optional excursions are a great addition to enhance your holiday experience and are highly recommended.
| 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Rome Guided Sightseeing Tour | 2025 £30 | 2026 £31 |
The optional excursions will be available to book during your tour.
Prices are per person and are subject to change. Payment will be in Euros (cash payments only).
We travel south into the Puglia region of Italy’s ‘boot’ visiting the city of Trani. Known as the ‘Pearl of Puglia’, Trani has a pretty medieval quarter and cathedral, literally perched on the water’s edge. The marina is the perfect place to relax and watch the white yachts and fishing boats in the harbour, while the historic centre, with its medieval churches, glossy limestone streets and faded, yet charming, Palazzi is an enchanting area to explore. We continue to our hotel in southern Puglia for a four-night stay.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Today’s included excursion begins at Castellana Grotte where we visit the famous network of caves created by underground rivers. These caves are amongst the deepest caverns in Europe. We continue through the countryside, seeing a landscape dominated by the ‘trulli’, whitewashed cones made of stones held together, traditionally without mortar. Alberobello is the best place to see and visit the famous trulli houses – there are over 1300 of them here. These cylindrical whitewashed buildings with grey conical roofs tapering out to a point or sphere are often adorned with painted symbols and are the true image of Puglia – one of the most unique towns in Europe. We then visit Ostuni, a charming town, perhaps one of the most stunning in southern Italy. The bright, whitewashed houses create a perfect contrast to the green of the surrounding countryside and its maze of well-preserved, winding streets provides hidden delights around every corner.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Enjoy a day at leisure or why not join our full-day, optional excursion? We start by visiting Lecce, commonly nicknamed the ‘Florence of South Italy’ due to its rich architecture and monuments. Lecce is the main city on Puglia’s Salento Peninsula and because of the soft limestone which is easy to work, it became the centre for the ornate architecture called the Barocco Leccese, and the city is filled with Baroque monuments. The historic centre is compact, making it a great place for walking, and its restaurants offer and abundance of fine food typical of Puglia. We then continue to Otranto, which lies at the most easterly point of mainland Italy, on the Adriatic Sea. The imposing castle with its thick perimeter walls and robust towers, dominate much of the town. Otranto is home to a small port with a series of sea-front promenades and excellent fish restaurants. Spend time exploring the town at your leisure before returning to our hotel.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Optional Excursions
Our optional excursions are a great addition to enhance your holiday experience and are highly recommended.
| 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Lecce & Otranto | 2025 £29 | 2026 £30 |
The optional excursions will be available to book during your tour.
Prices are per person and are subject to change. Payment will be in Euros (cash payments only).
Today, our included excursion takes us to Matera. See the fascinating Sassi district, the most outstanding, intact example of a troglodyte settlement in the Mediterranean region (entrance included). Now part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Sassi district is one of southern Italy’s most important attractions.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
En route to our hotel in the Vieste area of northern Puglia, we call at Bari, the capital of Puglia. Its labyrinth of seemingly endless passages weave through courtyards and under arches where you are likely to see local artisans making their wares or people making pasta. Continue to Castel del Monte, where we visit the most splendid of all Puglia’s castles and one of the finest surviving examples of Swabian architecture. We stay for three nights in the Vieste/Rodi Garganico area.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Enjoy a day at leisure.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Today, join our included scenic coastal tour. Enjoy our visit to the small town of Peschici, perched on top of an impressive cliff overlooking the bay and filled with whitewashed houses which cling to the rocky headland. The old town of Peschici climbs from the harbour to the fortifications of the Swabian Castles. Here, there will be time for you to explore the narrow alleys and hidden squares.
This afternoon we continue onto the fabulous coastal city of Vieste, with its ancient centre, set above towering, sheer white cliffs. The old town sits on the easternmost of the two promontories, at the tip of which stands the Chiesa di San Francesco, once a thriving monastery. There will be free time in Vieste or join our optional boat cruise? The cruise sails along the coast from Vieste, taking in some of the famous coastal sights and entering the seven amazing sea caves, which can only be seen from the water.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Optional Excursions
Our optional excursions are a great addition to enhance your holiday experience and are highly recommended.
| 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Vieste Boat Cruise | 2025 £30 | 2026 £31 |
The optional excursions will be available to book during your tour.
Prices are per person and are subject to change. Payment will be in Euros (cash payments only).
We leave Puglia and travel up to the eastern Marche region for an overnight stay.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
En route to our hotel on Lake Garda, we visit Ferrara, an outstanding Renaissance city rich in history and regarded as one of Italy’s hidden treasures. There will be free time for you to explore the sights such as the San Giorgio Cathedral which dates back to the 12th century and the Este Castle complete with towers, moat and drawbridges. Later today we continue our journey north to Lake Garda for a two-night stay.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Enjoy a relaxing day in resort or join our full-day optional excursion along the shores of Lake Garda, visiting some of the picturesque villages on its shoreline. Spend time exploring the narrow streets or relax in one of the many cafés. During the day, we take to the water on a boat cruise where you can sit back, relax and enjoy the picturesque views of the surrounding area from the lake itself.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Optional Excursions
Our optional excursions are a great addition to enhance your holiday experience and are highly recommended.
| 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Garda Tour including Cruise | 2025 £23 | 2026 £24 |
The optional excursions will be available to book during your tour.
Prices are per person and are subject to change. Payment will be in Euros (cash payments only).
Travel north to Belgium and our overnight stay.
Includes Breakfast
Return home.
Includes Breakfast
2025 is a very exciting and busy year for Rome due to the
Pope’s Jubilee – this is something that happens every 25 years.
Across the year there is a calendar of special events
specifically in and around the Vatican city and processions through the city
which will generate more tourists visiting Rome.
For your holiday, our aim is to ensure our customers will
get the best experience of Rome during this period.
The final itinerary and excursion content will be confirmed on your travel documents a couple of weeks prior to departure.
Thereafter there is still a possibility the excursion content / timings may be updated on-tour and hence it is recommended not to pre-book any local attractions.
Accommodation
You will stay for four nights in southern Puglia in a minimum 3-star hotel, such as the Hotel Lo Smeraldo in the Cisternino area, followed by three nights in northern Puglia in a minimum 3-star hotel, such as the Villa Americana Park in Rodi Garganico. You will also stay for two nights in the Lake Garda area.
Overnight stays in Italy, northern France and Belgium will be in minimum 3-star hotels.
Villa Americana Park Hotel
The Park Hotel Villa Americana is situated in the centre of the Puglian resort of Rodi Garganico. A walk down the flight of steps takes you to the beach of the resort. The hotel has shops, bars and restaurants within easy walking distance. Enjoy the food served in the spacious restaurant. Relax in the lounge or by the outside pool. All bedrooms have satellite T.V., air-conditioning and some have balcony.
Hotel Facilities
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General
- 3 Star
- English Speaking Staff
- Guest Lounge
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Outdoor Swimming Pool (Seasonal)
- Lift
- Central Location
Room
- Hairdryer
- Extra Pillows and Blankets
- Air Conditioning
- Fridge
- Non-Smoking Rooms Available
- Shower
- Telephone
Service
- Safe Box in Reception
- Room Service Available
- 24 Hour Front Desk
- Free WiFi (Public Areas)
- Iron at Reception
Food & Drink
- Vegetarian Meals
- Gluten Free Menu
Accessibility
- Disabled Rooms Available
- Wheelchair Access
- Ground Floor Rooms on Request
Transport
- Bus Stop Nearby
- Train / Tram Nearby
Hotel
- English Speaking Staff
- Guest Lounge
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Lift
- WiFi Available
Luxuria Coach
Stylish and modern, state-of-the-art Luxuria is the business class of coaches. Boasting comfort of the highest standard, sink into the deluxe armchair-style seats, stretch out with much more space around you, and enjoy a vast choice of entertainment on your personal touch-screen TV.
Luxuria Features
- Deluxe armchair-style seats with leather exterior, central arm rests* with cup holders, adjustable headrests and retractable calf rests on most seats to give you a more comfortable journey.
*Face to face seats are forward and rear facing with a table and will not have a calf rest. - Every seat has its own, fully interactive, touch-screen TV offering a wide choice of entertainment so you can control what you want to watch and when.
- There’s a selection of double and single seats, including six face-to-face seats with tables, and five single seats which are ideal for passengers travelling independently.
- Plug sockets and USB points at each seat mean you can keep your devices fully charged throughout your journey.
- Onboard toilet.
Silver Service Coach
More than simply your method of transport, Silver Service offers a coach with added comfort and facilities, such as deluxe reclining seats with leather headrests, an onboard entertainment system, and a spacious rear lounge so you can socialise with your fellow passengers.
Silver Service Features
- Specially designed reclining seats, with leather headrests, footrests and extra legroom.
- A spacious rear lounge where you can relax, socialise and get to know your fellow passengers.
- Our onboard entertainment and satellite navigation system makes your journey fly by.
- Free personal headphones mean you can tune into the music channel, listen to the radio or watch DVDs being played by your crew.
- Personal tables so you can enjoy your refreshments in comfort as you take in the passing scenery.
Reviews
3.8 Out of 5 ( 15 Reviews )
Reviews
Quality
3.8 / 5
Value for Money
3.9 / 5
Yvonne Evans, 1 year ago
accommodations comfortable and quality of meals excellent drivers very helpul and professional a good exploration of the sights of Puglia, and opportunity to explore other places travelling to and from Southern Italy Bus not full - so got to mix with all the passengers who were good travel companions
Verified, collected via Trustpilot
Cullen, 1 year ago
Luxuria coach more comfortable than regular coaches. A lot of the hotels have poor reviews and I would agree with this and not equivalent to 3 or 4 star in Great Britain. The tour involved a lot of walking, with 3 full days with a tour guide so not suitable for people with mobility issues. Saw some wonderful towns and cities though. Drivers had little knowledge of the area but would be useful to know where Information kiosks is to obtain maps. Hotel Smeraldo first night lovely Italian tapas meal but subsequent nights in hotel dining room with choice of Veal or Fish, so opted to pay for meal in restaurant. Free day Villa Americano Park Hotel had pool being renovated but put on a courtesy bus to beach for swim in the sea. Last stop one of the highlights of the tour Lake Garda with a ferry ride. Thoroughly enjoyed the places we visited.
Verified, collected via Trustpilot
Linda, 1 year ago
The sites are wonderful and lived up to expectations. My only reservations were the hotels which in some cases were very dated and on occasions the food choices were poor.
Verified, collected via Trustpilot
Tony, 1 year ago
It was a great holiday , but it was not perfect , some of the food in the hotels was diabolical.,fish with a one carrot or veal with salad . Same the second night . The guest decided to go to restaurant the second night . The single rooms were not up to scratch either .
Verified, collected via Trustpilot
Departure Dates
Good tidings we bring!
Fully escorted breaks
throughout the festive season
