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SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Adventure from the Amalfi coast to Puglia on the ultimate Southern Italy tour.

Destination
Starts at

Naples

Destination
Ends at

Lecce

Destination
Duration

10 days

Destination
Group Size

Maximum 14

Destination
Physical Rating

easy Information

Destination
Style

discovery Information

About your trip

Discover clifftop villages, secluded beaches and authentic Italian cuisine on this 10-day journey across southern Italy. Starting in Naples, you’ll venture south to Salerno, gateway to the Amalfi Coast. Your trip continues inland towards Puglia, stopping in Matera en route – a city renowned for its network of ancient cave dwellings carved into a hillside. After a night in Ostuni, ‘the White City’, you’ll move on to Lecce – often labelled the Florence of the South due to its gorgeous array of baroque architecture – for the final leg of your adventure. 

Trip Highlights

  • Sample delicious street food on a culinary tour of Naples
  • Explore the spectacular beauty of the Amalfi Coast
  • Explore the ancient hilltop town of Matera, featured in the latest James Bond movie
  • Meander through the Itria Valley and discover its most beautiful towns
  • Visit a traditional olive oil farm to sample liquid gold straight from the source
  • Discover the Baroque beauty of Lecce, the Florence of the South

Your Itinerary

  1. Day 1 Arrive in Naples

    Touch down in Naples and make your way to the hotel where you’ll be greeted by our Local Insider, who will accompany the group throughout the trip. At 6pm, join your fellow travellers for a welcome drink. Later on, head out for a three-course Neapolitan meal together – an ideal opportunity to get to know each other. After that, you might be tempted by a nightcap in a local bar – otherwise head back to the hotel for a good night’s rest ahead of your first full day.

    Accommodation

    Hotel Palazzo Salgar

    Activities Included
    • Welcome dinner
  2. Day 2 Join a street food tour of Naples

    Learn all about the history of Neapolitan food and its importance to the city culture on a street food tour. Naples is of course synonymous with pizza and pasta, but there are many other local specialities such as sfogliatelle (a flaky, shell-shaped pastry typically filled with sweetened ricotta) and aubergine parmigiana (aubergine baked with layers of tomato sauce and mozzarella), which are well worth trying. Explore the city at leisure in the afternoon before taking a private transfer to the Amalfi Coast – your next stop.

    Accommodation

    Hotel Sole Splendid, Maiori

    Activities Included
    • Naples street food tour
  3. Day 3 Cruise along the Amalfi Coast

    Today, the choice is yours. You could embark on a private boat tour of the Amalfi Coast to explore one of the most alluring stretches of coastline in Europe – or take the public ferry to either Amalfi or Positano and spend the day as you wish. Think pastel-coloured fishing villages set against the backdrop of dramatic cliffs and forests overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. Whether you want to swim, relax on the beach or wander leisurely around the streets and piazzas of these picturesque villages, you won’t be short of options. Return to Maiori in the evening.

    Accommodation

    Hotel Sole Splendid, Maiori

    Optional Activities
    • Amalfi Coast private boat tour
  4. Day 4 Explore the winding streets of ancient Matera

    Today we cross into the Basilicata region to reach Matera – known for its ancient hillside cave dwellings in the Unesco-listed Sassi area. Weave your way through the narrow, winding streets on a guided walking tour and discover why it was crowned 2019 European Capital of Culture. You may well recognise it from the latest James Bond movie, No Time To Die.

    Accommodation

    Corte San Pietro

    Activities Included
    • Matera walking tour
  5. Day 5 Discover the magical towns of the Itria Valley

    You’ll continue eastwards into the Itria Valley – a particularly scenic part of the Puglia region. Marvel at the extraordinary trulli (traditional limestone dwellings with conical roofs) on a guided tour of Alberobello, before heading on to the beautiful town of Ostuni, one of the most photogenic towns in Puglia and our home for the night. Enjoy a guided tour of La Città Bianca (the White City) before spending the evening at your own leisure.

    Accommodation

    Masseria Santa Lucia

    Activities Included
    • Alberobello guided tour
    • Ostuni guided tour
  6. Day 6 Time to do la dolce vita your way

    Spending time in the south of Italy is all about taking time to enjoy the good things in life. That’s why today is an entirely open-ended day, to be spent exactly as you wish. Sip coffee and watch the world go by in Ostuni, hop on a bus to one of the many beautiful spots along the Puglian coast, or simply kick back at the hotel's private beach and luxurious spa facilities. If you need any tips, don’t hesitate to ask our Local Insider!

    Accommodation

    Masseria Santa Lucia

  7. Day 7 Taste Puglian olive oil and visit Lecce

    This morning we travel down the heel of the Italian boot to Lecce. Your first stop is Il Frantoio olive farm, where you can taste the area’s famed olive oil straight from the source, followed by a delightful lunch in a local masseria (traditional Puglian farmhouse), before arriving in Lecce, which you can explore this evening at your leisure.

    Accommodation

    President Hotel

    Activities Included
    • Olive oil tasting
    • Masseria lunch
  8. Day 8 Explore Otranto and Gallipoli

    Your day starts with a guided tour of the Salento peninsula – the southernmost part of Puglia, home to some of the best beaches and baroque towns in Italy. First, you’ll be shown around Otranto, a city that bears strong Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Norman architectural influences; highlights include an 11th-century cathedral with an elaborate mosaic floor and the Aragonese Castle. It’s then time to explore Gallipoli (quite literally ‘beautiful city’ in Greek), considered the pearl of the Ionian coast and boasting centuries of maritime history, which remains alive and well today thanks to the fishermen, who work with local restaurants to produce some of the best seafood in Italy.

    Accommodation

    President Hotel

    Activities Included
    • Otranto guided tour
    • Gallipoli guided tour
  9. Day 9 Admire the extravagant architecture of Lecce on a walking tour

    Begin the final full day of your southern Italy adventure with a walking tour of Lecce, nicknamed the Florence of the South due to its honey-coloured baroque churches and palaces, with elaborately decorated façades, dotted throughout the old town. Spend the rest of your day at leisure, exploring independent craft shops, street cafés and cosy wine bars, as well as a superb selection of authentic Puglian restaurants. Come nightfall, cap off your trip with a memorable farewell dinner in the company of your fellow travellers.

    Accommodation

    President Hotel

    Activities Included
    • Lecce walking tour
    • Farewell dinner
  10. Day 10 Depart from Lecce

    It’s time to bid farewell to your new friends as your trip comes to an end. Check out of the hotel and make your way to Salento Airport to catch your flight home – or choose to extend your stay and experience what else Italy has to offer.

What's included

  • One night Matera cave accommodation
  • Eight nights premium hotel accommodation
  • Private and local transport
  • Nine breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners
  • Local Insider
  • Naples street food tour
  • Matera walking tour 
  • Alberobello guided tour
  • Ostuni guided tour
  • Olive oil tasting
  • Otranto guided tour
  • Gallipoli guided tour
  • Lecce guided tour

What's not included

  • Visas
  • Travel insurance
  • Flights to and from the destination
  • City tax (to be paid at accommodation. See 'Important Information' for prices)

Customer Reviews

Accommodation

Hotel Palazzo Salgar

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Overlooking the Port of Naples, this white-marble hotel is ideally located within easy walking distance of the most significant landmarks in the city, such as Naples Cathedral and Porta Capuana. Expect comfortable, air-conditioned rooms with modern furnishings, plus a gym, sauna and Turkish bath.

Hotel Sole Splendid

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This charming little hotel is right on the water’s edge of the quintessential Amalfi Coast town of Maiori, with its own stretch of private beach just steps away. Southwest-facing rooms are flooded with natural light, elegantly furnished and individually decked out with prettily patterned floor tiles. 

Corte San Pietro

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This charming guesthouse, in the historic Sassi district of Matera, is beautifully set in restored limestone cave dwellings and centred around a tufa stone courtyard. Inside, monochromatic rooms feature local stone, wood and iron, infusing the ancient heritage of the building with refined, contemporary touches.

Masseria Santa Lucia

Perfectly located on the Adriatic coast, this magnificent coastal complex on the edge of Ostuni offers you a classic slice of seaside luxury. Marvel at the sea views from your room, gorge on Puglian delights at the excellent onsite restaurants and pamper yourself silly at the wellness centre. There is a pool onsite, but we recommend heading down to the hotel’s private stretch of sand, aptly named La Dolce Vita Beach.

President Hotel

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This recently renovated four-star hotel, in the beautiful baroque centre of Lecce, has been a bastion of Italian hospitality in the city since 1973. From the elegant marble stylings of the lobby to the clean, crisp and very spacious rooms, the President will keep you rested, refreshed and ready to explore Lecce. Don’t forget to fuel up on local delicacies like friselle al pomodoro and pasticciotti leccesi at breakfast!

Covid Safety

Your safety and wellbeing are our top priority, so we’ve put the following measures in place on all our TRIPS:

  • Our average group size is 10 people (max 18), which gives you all the security of being in a group whilst avoiding a crowd.
  • Where possible, we use small/ boutique accommodation – this means fewer guests and reduced exposure to other travellers.
  • We require all accommodation providers to share protocols around the extra health and hygiene measures they are taking.
  • Included activities are exclusive to our group wherever possible, to minimise contact with others.
  • Covid-19 negative test results or vaccine certificates may be required. Please check the entry requirements for the destination you are travelling to. Our travel experts can assist you in finding this information.
  • We recommend you confirm all guidance on official government sites and check that you are able to travel with your travel insurance issuer. Your travel insurance may be invalidated if you travel against government advice. Our travel experts can assist you in finding this information.

Important Info

  • City tax prices are as follows, per person per night: €4.50 Naples, €4 Maiori, €4 Matera, €2.50 Ostuni and €4 Lecce.
  • You must be aged 25 years or over to join this trip.
  • Please be sure to check whether or not you need a visa to enter the country you're travelling to. Please refer to our Booking Terms & Conditions for further information.
  • If you have any pre-existing medical conditions or accessibility requirements, please notify our Customer Support team as soon as possible.
  • We won't charge you extra if you travel alone – you'll be allocated a twin room with another traveller of the same gender.
  • To upgrade to a private room, share a room with a friend, or book pre- and post-trip accommodation and/or airport transfers, please contact our Customer Support team.
  • Please be aware that travel insurance is compulsory for all travellers.
  • Please be aware that the itinerary, activities and hotels are subject to change. While unlikely, these changes can happen due to circumstances beyond our control. We will always do our best to ensure minimal impact on your experience.
  • Please be aware images on this page are for illustrative purposes and may not reflect your itinerary exactly.
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