MAY 3 - 10 - PUGLIA AND MATERA, SOUTHERN ITALY

Join us on a spectacular walking adventure through the heel of Italy!

Nights - 7. Accommodation: hotels & apartments. Cost - £675 for twin share, £799 for single occupancy room*.

This trip in Southern Italy combines the highlights of Puglia with Matera, the magical city of stone, in Basilicata. Our walking trails will take us through rolling countryside dotted with ancient sites and whitewashed villages, along quaint coastal villages and through rugged and rocky hills.

We will meet in Bari, a vibrant port city on the Adriatic Sea and the capital of Puglia, where we will have the opportunity to explore its maze-like old town, before heading to the stunning green expanse of hilly countryside known as Valle d'Itria.

This attractive region’s narrow winding lanes lead from one pretty little village to the next and its wooded slopes, vineyards and endless olive groves are punctuated by the coned roofs of trulli, fairytale-like dwellings with grey-stone roofs, unique to the region.

Two of the most iconic Puglian villages will be our base for two nights each. First the pretty whitewashed hilltop town of Ostuni, followed by Alberobello, the iconic town almost entirely formed of trulli.

We finish the trip with two nights in the breathtaking cliff-side stone town of Matera, a true spectacle and favourite of film directors, with its cobbled lanes, rock carved churches and extensive cave-dwelling districts.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS:

• Visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Alberobello’s famous trulli dwellings and Matera’s magical cave town.
• Explore the enchanting whitewashed hilltop town of Ostuni.
• Hike over the Itria Valley hills to Locorotondo and Cisternino, two of Puglia's prettiest villages.
• Walk between the quintessential seaside towns of Monopoli & Polignano a Mare with an opportunity to swim in its aquamarine waters.

ACCOMMODATION:

• 5 nights (Bari, Alberobello and Matera) in comfortable hotels (incl. 2 nights in a 4-star hotel).
• 2 nights in Ostuni in lovely apartments.
• Limited single occupancy rooms available* (please see note in comments section).

SUGGESTED ITINERARY:

Sat 3 May: Arrival in Bari.
Sun 4 May: Time to explore Bari in the morning, train/bus to Ostuni, afternoon walk to explore Ostuni and surroundings.
Mon 5 May: Hike from Ostuni to Cisternino incl. possible visit to Agnano Archaeological Park if open (20km, 500m asc, 300m desc).
Tue 6 May: Train to Monopoli, coastal hike to Polignano a Mare (12km), bus to Alberobello (our bags will be transferred for us on this day).
Wed 7 May: Hike from Alberobello to Locorotondo, bus/train back - (17km, 250m asc/desc).
Thu 8 May: Private transfer to Matera, circular hike through Sassi di Matera (15km, 500m asc/desc).
Fri 9 May: Hike near Matera, i.e. in Parco Regionale della Murgia Materana or to Altamura (15-18km)
Sat 10 May: Trip ends, bus/train back to Bari airport

INCLUDED:

• 5 nights hotel and 2 nights apartment accommodation in (single sex) twin share or single occupancy rooms* (see note in comments section).
• 5 breakfasts.
• 1 private transfer (Alberobello to Matera), 1 private bag transfer (Ostuni to Alberobello).
• 5 full days of organised hikes.
• Trip organiser.
• Full financial protection in line with the Package Travel Regulations.

NOT INCLUDED:

• Flights and airport transfers (see below).
• 2 breakfasts, lunches and dinners.
• Local train/bus transport to/from the hikes/accommodation (public transport in Italy is very affordable).
• Any entrance fees.
• Travel insurance.

RECOMMENDED FLIGHTS AND TRANSFERS:

We recommend the following flights with Ryanair or British Airways:

Outbound - Sat 03 May
Ryanair FR1905
Stansted 13:05 - Bari 16.50

Return - Sat 10 May
Ryanair FR1906
Bari 17:15 - Stansted 19:10

OR

(currently also available with Avios)

Outbound - Sat 03 May
British Airways BA2606
Gatwick 13:35 - Bari 17.25

Return - Sat 10 May
British Airways BA2607
Bari 18:15 - Gatwick 20:05

You are free to arrive in Bari at any time on Saturday 3 May. It's easy to reach our hotel with a 30-min train ride or taxi from the airport. The hotel is located just five minutes walk from the station.

From our final hotel in Matera it will be easy to take a bus/train or share taxis back to the airport.

HOW TO BOOK A PLACE ON THIS TRIP:

To confirm your place on this trip please send payment through online banking and use PUGLIA as your payment reference. Your RSVP is not enough to reserve a space on this trip. The account details are:

Account Name: BACKABUSH XPLORERS
Sort Code: 090127
Account Number: 22440622

The following "terms and conditions" apply to all trip reservations:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ngc5A61k76qb6HGMeTK96AVaXn0565yPS9p42IPzIy8/

Please email ingridhansen1@gmail.com as soon as you send payment so that we can confirm everything with you. Thanks! :)