A portion of this tour runs as a group tour where you will be escorted by an expert tour leader. Another portion is self-guided, whether conducted by rail, cruise or land, and you will travel between destinations on your own, with free time to explore at your own pace.
This itinerary will be conducted at a relaxed pace. You will typically spend several nights at one location which means less time spent packing and unpacking, and more sightseeing. You will be required to move about unassisted, including getting on and off vehicles, walking up and down stairs and handling your own luggage.
These tours are our proudest creations. They have been crafted for Inspiring Vacations travellers exclusively, with personal and unique experiences in mind. Please see the Important Information on your selected tour for exact group size. Enjoy features such as hand-picked accommodation, a sampling of the region’s best culinary delights, and a range of optional activities to choose from to best suit your travel style.
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Welcome to Rome! On your arrival at Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO), you will be met and transferred to your hotel by private transfer. The rest of the day is free for you to unwind and explore.
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before leaving Rome for the morning train service to Bari. You will be transferred to Roma Termini station where you will board your train for your four-hour high-speed train service to Bari. On arrival in Bari, make your own way to your hotel and have time to check-in and freshen up before meet your Tour Leader at your hotel.
This afternoon, discover this wonderful city on a walking tour learning about the city's history and its most iconic monuments. Walk through the charming narrow alleys of the old city centre, admire the Basilica of San Nicola where the remains of Saint Nicholas of Myra are preserved and the Norman-Swabian Castle, a 12th-century fortress built by Roger the Norman and rebuilt by Frederick II of Swabia. Be amazed by the astonishing view that you can enjoy from the fortress (admission fee for the Castle at own expense). After the visit, reach Piazza Mercantile where you will see the ancient Column of Justice.
This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before leaving Bari by coach and travelling approximately 40 minutes to reach Trani. Known as the 'Pearl of Puglia', the medieval town of Trani is one of the most remarkable cities of Southern Italy. Discover its art and monuments, visit the Jewish Quarter and the wonderful white stone Cathedral.
In the afternoon, we travel another 40 minutes to reach Castel Del Monte, one of Puglia’s most acclaimed landmarks. Visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 13th century under Roger the Norman, one of the most enlightened kings in history. The building is a harmonious geometrical complex, shaped as an octagon and surrounded by a still unsolved mystery. Continue approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes towards Alberobello: a world-known UNESCO World Heritage Site made famous by the “Trulli”. These dry-stone cone-shaped houses were built in the 14th century from local limestone and this village is really unique, with a fairytale-like atmosphere.
The town of Alberobello gets its name from the ancient oak forest of “Arboris Belli” (beautiful trees) that once covered the area. It is possible to see these typical buildings all over the Itria Valley. For the next two nights, stay in a real “Trullo”.
Enjoy an included dinner this evening savouring local dishes typical of the region.
Today sees us journey to Matera. After breakfast we travel one hour by coach to this incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site. A city on a rocky outcrop, Matera includes the Sassi area, a complex of cave dwellings carved into the mountainside.
Your local guide will uncover the history of the “Sassi” which was evacuated in 1952 due to poor living conditions, but now houses museums like the Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario, with period furniture and artisan tools. Admire the Romanesque Cathedral that overlooks the city, its beautiful campanile (bell tower) and enjoy the amazing view of the “Sassi”. Transfer back to Alberobello in the late afternoon before enjoying another included dinner this evening.
After breakfast, we take a short 20 minute drive to the neighboring town of Locorotondo. Enjoy some free time to visit this small town, one of the famous whitewashed towns of Puglia.
Board the coach again and travel approximately 40 minutes to Ostuni: located between the “Trulli” region and Salento. This charming town overlooks the coastal plain, rich in ancient olive trees and here you will have ample free time to explore another whitewashed town with free time for lunch, shopping and tasting several local products like world-famous Ostuni olive oil (all at your own expense).
In the late afternoon, we travel approximately one hour to reach Lecce in the heart of the Salento region. Enjoy dinner this evening and time to explore this beautiful city on your own.
After breakfast at your hotel, enjoy a three-hour guided visit of the city, to learn the history of Lecce. Visit the old town centre, the 12th-century Cathedral, the Basilica of Santa Croce and Piazza del Duomo.
After your tour, we travel 40 mins by coach to the coastal town of Otranto where you will have some free time l for lunch. Spend the afternoon exploring the wonderful city of Otranto at your own pace. Over the centuries, the city has been invaded by an impressive number of populations, amongst others we can find traces of Greek, Roman and Turkish cultures.
Wander around the old quarters to see how these cultures have blended together. Don’t forget to visit the iconic Cathedral, where the bones of 813 martyrs are displayed in a glass case behind the altar. See its marvellous mosaic floor which rivals the well-known mosaics of Ravenna in richness and significance.
In the early evening, we travel 30 minutes by coach to Supersano, a charming rural town where you will have dinner at the “Masseria le Stanzìe”. The Stanzie is a typical Apulian farmhouse which dates back to the fifth century and now houses a farm where you will enjoy a dinner of homemade pasta and other regional cuisine.
Following dinner, you will be transferred back to Lecce for the evening.
Today you will be transferred to Lecce train station for your six-hour train ride back to Rome. On arrival at Roma Termini, you will be transferred to your hotel where the rest of the evening is at your disposal.
Today enjoy a full day at leisure to explore the Eternal City on your own
Your Italian adventure ends after breakfast at the hotel.
We hope you’ve been inspired.
Inspiring Vacations has been globally recognized and awarded for its handling of COVID-19 during the pandemic. The safety and well-being of our guests are our highest concern during this time of uncertainty, and we are continuously monitoring the evolving COVID-19 situation.
We have adopted the advice of the WHO to ensure all customers can travel with the knowledge of how to travel safely and with confidence.
Australian owned and operated
We are proudly 100% Australian-owned and now operating across Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Canada. Our head office is located in Melbourne, Victoria, with offices around the globe to provide you with 24/7 support while you travel. When you book with Inspiring Vacations, you'll receive the support of travel professionals who are committed to the mission of inspiring people everywhere to experience the world.
Cooling off period
If you change your mind within 7 days of making your booking online, you can request a refund of your initial deposit payment as part of our cooling-off period. Once your purchase date falls outside of the 7-day period, our standard terms and conditions will apply.
Please ensure that any request to cancel your booking is received via email to support@inspiringvacations.com, including the reason for cancellation.
We offer two payment options – the choice is yours. Our advertised price is based on our 'Pay in Full' option, which includes a discount by making full payment at the time of booking. Alternatively, choose our 'Installment Payment Plan' option for the flexibility of incremental payments, beginning with a low deposit.
Please click 'Book Now' and proceed to the payment page to select your preferred option under the heading ‘Choose how to pay’. The total due will be reflected accordingly.
Pay In Full Option:
Installment Payment Plan Option:
Booking Process
Please refer to conditions below, which are agreed to at time of purchase.
Can I extend my stay pre- and/or post-tour?
This depends on the package you are booking.
Where available, extensions must be added at time of purchase and cannot be added post-purchase unless inside the 7-day cooling off period.
We can assist in arranging your airfares to accommodate an extension; however, you must also book the additional nights’ accommodation through us at time of booking (where available as an add-on):
When adding additional nights to your booking, the cost of the extra nights’ accommodation will be reflected on your invoice and payable with the final balance.
Airfare surcharges may apply if extending due to airfare seasonal changes and possible fare differences. These are payable at the time of selecting your desired airfare.
The second installment of your booking must be made before airfares can be booked.
Outside of extending your stay you must select Land Only if:
If you are interested in one of the above options, please select LAND ONLY at time of check-out and you will need to arrange your own airfares. Inspiring Vacations will not be accountable for flight delays or missed tour components due to late arrival or airline changes.
Conditions of flights for this package bookable by Inspiring Vacations:
Seat Selection & Frequent Flyer Points
Inspiring Vacations do not arrange seat selection. It is important to highlight that some airlines do not allow pre-selected seats or they may charge a fee to do so. We strongly suggest you contact the airline directly with seating allocation requirements and or arrive at the airport earlier to arrange your seating. While we do not add frequent flyer member details to bookings, you can do this directly with the airline once you have your flight information.
Online check-in
Some airlines may not permit online check-in where flights have been booked by a travel company. Where unavailable to do so online, you will be required to check-in at the airport. Inspiring Vacations cannot check-in online on behalf of our customers.
COVID-19
Due to COVID there maybe disruptions to standard operating schedules of particular components of this itinerary. Should a component be effected a substitute will be confirmed prior to departure.
Fitness Requirement
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
This particular tour is categorised as a”1”
Leisurely Paced Tour: A general level of fitness and mobility is required for this tour. The itinerary includes ample free time and you will not be impacted by stairs and uneven terrain. Where coach transportation is included, you will be required to get on and off the coach with ease.
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. While tipping is not customary, it's of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many destinations.
You may also consider tipping your tour leader and driver for outstanding service throughout your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however, any changes are beyond our control.
Single Supplement
Single supplement is $744.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price.
Triple Share
Not available.
Tour Length
The total length of the tour in days includes time spent in flight and is subject to change depending on the flight schedule, please refer to the day by day itinerary for the time spent on land.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while traveling.
Visa & Passport information
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return.
Visas may be required.
Please note that these details are subject to change without notice. We recommend visiting https://www.safetravel.govt.nz for up to date information in terms of entry requirements.
Tour Documentation
Final documentation including e-tickets and hotel details will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel.
Group Size
2-15 people
Children
Children must be 5 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.
Tour Style
To meet the needs of various types of travelers, we choose to operate various types of tours, and depending on your selected package will mean different services are provided throughout your trip. The following descriptions of each tour style we hope will ensure that each traveller has appropriate expectations before they start their travels:
You can enhance your holiday by arriving or departing before or after the tour. On this tour you can choose from the following options:
Pre and post-tour accommodation
Please specify in the 'Special Request' field when making your purchase your preferred travel arrangements and if you would like our team to book additional nights' accommodation. The additional cost for these land arrangements will be added to your final payment invoice and are subject to availability.
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