This tour is fully escorted by a dedicated tour leader who will accompany you throughout the tour. If your tour includes multiple countries, you will be met by a new tour leader in each country and any internal flights included will be unescorted.
This tour is categorised as 1 out of 5
Explore at your own pace: Discover your destination at your own pace with our self-guided itinerary. Options include driving, rail, or cruising (excluding expeditions). Enjoy included guided day trips for sightseeing as outlined in your itinerary.
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
✓ Small group tour, with no more than 15 travellers
✓ Incredible sightseeing including time to explore Rome and a tour of Southern Italy's charming Puglia region, including Bari's vibrant port and guided visits of many gorgeous towns like Matera, Lecce, Trani and UNESCO-listed Alberobella with its trulli houses
✓ 8 nights in central 4-star accommodation, including a stay in a traditional 'Trullo' house
✓ Breakfast daily & 5 dinners
✓ High-speed train travel from Rome to Bari and Lecce to Rome
✓ Airport transfers included on the first day of tour
✓ Fully escorted by professional English-speaking tour guides
✓ Comfortable, dedicated transportation throughout by deluxe coach with complimentary WiFi
✓ Complimentary headsets so you don't miss any information provided by tour leader and local guides
✓ In-depth sightseeing and entrance fees as per the itinerary
✈ Needing international airfares to accompany your Inspiring Vacation? You will be able to access our flight portal after securing your package to add international airfares to your booking.
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! The rest of the day is free for you to unwind and explore.
Arrival airport transfers are included as part of your package. You will be met upon arrival at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
If Inspiring Vacations has not provided your international airfares, please ensure you provide your flight details via your Traveller Hub portal no later than 90 days prior to travel so that your transfers can be confirmed.
Please note: if you are arriving early and have made your own arrangements prior to your tour commencing, airport transfers will not be included. However, if you are purchasing pre-nights accommodation as part of your Inspiring Vacations package, airport transfers will still be provided to the starting hotel.
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.
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 to Maglie where you will have dinner at the “Masseria L’Uliveto”. Visit this ancient farm, learn about the history and culture of Puglia. Dinner with typical meals and products from the region.
In the night, travel back to Lecce.
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.
Airport transfers are not included. Our transfer portal offers the option to book your airport transfers for an easier arrival experience (additional charges apply). Access to this portal will be available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed.
This is a land only package.
This package does not include international airfares. If you would like to add airfares to your booking our flight portal will be available via your Traveller Hub. The flight portal will allow you to search for all available airfares to your destination. The function works like most general flight search engines allowing you to select your preferred airline, book different cabin classes (eg. Business class) and view flight durations and transit times to your destination.
The flight portal will be available via your Traveller Hub once the following criteria has been met:
Visit our Flight Hub for more information on terms and conditions, amending your flights and information on luggage allowances.
Some of our packages will include airport transfers in either one or both directions when arriving or departing from your destination. To know if transfers are included please view the ‘inclusions’ section of your selected package. If airport transfers are stated, transfers will be included as advised.
If transfers are not included, we also offer the option to book your airport transfers using our online portal. Access to this portal is available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed. Transfers are readily available and do not need to be booked until your final hotel list has been confirmed. Once you have made a transfer booking, please refer to your confirmation email for all transfer details including a local contact number for the transfer company.
If you book pre and/or post-tour accommodation on your own arrangement, and the tour includes transfers, note that these will be forfeited. The transfers are only provided in line with the tour dates and pre and/or post-tour accommodation purchased through Inspiring Vacations when available.
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 for your destination. For further visa information, click here.
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, but we can’t guarantee your request will be available at all properties.
Single travellers
When booking this tour, solo travellers will be presented with two options:
1 - Single Supplement
By paying an additional $600.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price, you guarantee the privacy of your own room throughout the entire trip.
2- Shared Room with a known friend
If travelling together with a friend, you can opt to share your room with him/her and avoid paying a single supplement.
You and your friend can create a unique booking each. Creating a unique booking, gives each of you the flexibility of making different travel arrangements (such adding extra accommodation, flights, etc), make separate payments and have individual access to our Traveller’s Hub
During the purchase path, you will need to provide your friend’s booking ID (if known) or at a minimum, your friend’s full name
Triple Share
Not available.
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://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html for up to date information in terms of entry requirements.
Group Size
Minimum: 2
Maximum: 50
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:
All participants must be in good physical condition to fully engage in this journey. For the safety and welfare of yourself and fellow travellers, if you are feeling unwell prior to departure, we advise staying home and contacting us to arrange alternate plans.
Prior to selecting your trip, carefully review the itinerary to assess your ability to comfortably manage our travel style. Please be aware that if, based on evaluation by our leader or local representative, a participant is deemed unable to safely complete the itinerary, we retain the right to exclude them from all or part of the trip without reimbursement.
It is advisable to consult your physician for current medical travel advisories and any required vaccinations before embarking. We recommend carrying a first aid kit and any necessary medications in their original packaging, as they may not be readily available during travel. For those carrying medication, it's essential to check your government's foreign travel guidelines for local restrictions or regulations.
Click HERE for more information on weather in Italy.
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