Seductive Southern Italy
10 Days Starting in Naples, Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy and ending in Lecce, Province of Lecce, Italy
Visiting: Naples, Amalfi Coast, Matera, Locorotondo, Alberobello, Polignano a Mare, Masseria Il Frantoio, Grotte di Castellana, Ostuni, Santa Maria di Leuca, Otranto, Lecce
Tour operator:
Tour code:
ITS
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 14
Age range:
25-99
Special diets catered:
Vegans, Meat, Vegetarians, Gluten Free
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Active, Adventure Tours, Small Group, Walking Hiking and Trekking
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
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 the atmospheric beach town of Polignano a Mare, 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. All of our trips are flightless in destination, with 100% of all carbon emissions offset. It's just part of how we see the world while being good to it.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive In Naples
Location: Naples
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Palazzo Salgar
Meals Included: Dinner
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.
Activities included:
Welcome dinner
Day 2 : Join A Street Food Tour Of Naples
Location: Naples
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Splendid Maiori
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
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.
Activities included:
Naples street food tour
Day 3 : Cruise Along The Amalfi Coast
Location: Amalfi Coast
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Splendid Maiori
Meals Included: Breakfast
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.
Optional activities:
Amalfi Coast private boat tour
Day 4 : Explore The Winding Streets Of Ancient Matera
Location: Matera
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Corte San Pietro
Meals Included: Breakfast
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.
Activities included
Matera walking tour
Day 5 : Cycle Through The Itria Valley By E-Bike
Location: Locorotondo, Alberobello
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Cala Ponte Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
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, and navigate the labyrinth of whitewashed alleyways and piazzas in Locorotondo, often regarded as one of the most photogenic towns in Puglia. Keen cyclist? You’ll also have the opportunity to hop on an e-bike and glide through a dreamy patchwork of olive groves and vineyards. Refuel with lunch in Locorotondo before heading to Polignano a Mare on the Adriatic coast – your home for the next two nights.
Activities included:
Alberobello guided tour
Locorotondo visit
Itria Valley e-bike tour
Day 6 : Relax On The Beaches Of Polignano A Mare
Location: Polignano a Mare
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Cala Ponte Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today is yours to spend as you wish. After a leisurely breakfast, why not head into the old town and soak up the laid-back atmosphere with a coffee in the main square, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II? If you fancy catching rays, pack your beach towel and sprawl out at Lama Monachile (also known as Cala Porto), a secluded white-pebble beach sandwiched between craggy cliffs and bordered by a Roman-era bridge. As evening rolls in, make your way to the Pietra Piatta or Balconata sul Mare for wonderful views of the town and Adriatic Sea.
Day 7 : Visit The Castellana Caves And Taste Puglian Olive Oil
Location: Masseria Il Frantoio, Grotte di Castellana, Ostuni
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: President Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Wave goodbye to Polignano a Mare as you travel down the heel of the Italian boot to Lecce. Your first stop is at the Castellana Caves for a guided tour of karst chambers 70m (230ft) underground. You’ll then continue to Il Frantoio olive farm where you can taste the area’s famed olive oil from the source, before visiting the nearby hilltop town of Ostuni, nicknamed La Città Bianca (the White City) for its whitewashed buildings. Here, you’ll enjoy a guided walking tour followed by lunch at a masseria (traditional Puglian farmhouse).
Activities included:
Castellana Caves visit
Olive oil tasting
Ostuni walking tour
Day 8 : Explore Otranto And Santa Maria Di Leuca
Location: Santa Maria di Leuca, Otranto
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: President Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your day starts with a guided tour of the Salento peninsula – the southernmost part of Puglia, home to some of the best beaches in Italy and baroque towns. 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 Santa Maria di Leuca, known for its hilltop lighthouse and the Basilica De Finibus Terrae. Bring your camera to these vantage points to capture panoramic views of the town and coastline, where the Adriatic and Ionian seas merge.
Activities included:
Otranto private tour
Santa Maria di Leuca private tour
Day 9 : Admire The Extravagant Architecture Of Lecce On A Walking Tour
Location: Lecce
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: President Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Activities included:
Lecce walking tour
Farewell dinner
Day 10 : Depart From Lecce
Location: Lecce
Meals Included: Breakfast
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
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Local Insider
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Accommodation
One night Matera cave accommodation Eight nights premium hotel accommodation
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Meals described in the itinerary
Nine breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners
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Private and local transport
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Naples street food tour
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Matera walking tour
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Alberobello guided tour
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Locorotondo visit
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Itria Valley e-bike tour
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Castellana Caves visit
What's Not Included
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International flights
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Visas (if required)
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Optional activities
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Insurance
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Resort Taxes (Where applicable)
Accommodation
Hotel Palazzo Salgar
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
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
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.
Cala Ponte Hotel
Make the most of the magnificent swimming pool and private gardens at this stylish resort on the Adriatic Coast – the perfect place to switch off and soak up the Puglian sunshine. Whitewashed bungalows offer luxuriously comfortable beds and spacious bathrooms with rainfall showers.
President Hotel
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!
Please note that, while unlikely, the accommodation indicated may be subject to change (see T&C’s). On a rare occasion, alternative arrangements may be necessary – this may be due to a lack of availability at our preferred accommodation, or other reasons outside our control. We’ll do everything we can to prevent this from happening; however, in cases where it is unavoidable, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Check out our Q&As
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Do I need any vaccinations?
As a tour operator we are unable to give medical advice, however we suggest you contact your doctor, a professional medical travel clinic or check out the World Health Organisation website for more details.
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Will there always be a guide on the trip?
Absolutely yes. We pride ourselves on our expert Local Insiders - they are an integral part of what makes our trips so special. Your Local Insider will accompany you throughout the trip and is there to help and assist in any way possible as well as ensure everything works to time.
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What is the group size?
Our maximum group size is 14, although our average group size is 10-12 people. Group travel is a great way to meet other people, and you will have the safety of travelling with a group, but you can also decide how much time you want to spend by yourself.
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When will I know if my trip is guaranteed?
We usually wait until we have a few travellers booked on a trip before we guarantee it will run. The latest we will guarantee a trip is 60 days ahead of departure, often it will be long before.
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Why should I travel with Culture Trip?
We know the world's best bits – our award-winning content proves it. Now we’re using that expertise to bring you curated trips that combine thoughtful planning with authentic experiences and hand-picked accommodation. Led by Local Insiders, our trips bring together small groups of curious travellers who embrace the value of shared experiences, cultural immersion and travel that never feels rushed.
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Do I need to tip?
Tips are not included in the price of your trip but are entirely optional and at your discretion.
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How many meals are included?
Breakfast is included daily and then depending on your itinerary, some lunches and dinners. This is clearly indicated in the trip details or ask your Travel Expert to confirm.
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What kind of transport do you use on your trips?
We use a mix of public and private transport on our trips, but usually a small and comfortable minibus, so we can access more remote destinations that larger groups can’t get to.
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What is not included in the trip?
We don’t include the following in our trips: insurance (however you must have insurance to travel on one of our trips), flights, tips for local guides, optional activities and other meals and services not mentioned in your itinerary.
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Are flights / transport to the destination included?
No - our travellers come from all over the world so flights and / or transport to the start destination are not included.
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How fit do I need to be to take one of your trips?
We offer a variety of different trips, most of which do not require a specific level of fitness. Some of our trips are more active, but we include details on each specific trip information page. If you are unsure please don’t hesitate to ask one of our Travel Experts.
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What happens if I need to amend or cancel my booking?
You can change the date of your tour up to 60 days prior to departure and cancel at any time, although cancellation conditions may apply.
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Do I need to buy travel insurance?
Yes - all travellers must have travel insurance before they join one of our trips. You are strongly advised to take out your policy at the time of booking to protect your holiday payments in the event of cancellation.
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Is there any age limit on the Trips?
You must be 25 or over to travel on our trips, however there is no upper age limit. You just need a sense of adventure.
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Can I travel in my own private group?
Yes you can. Our team of Travel Experts can put together a bespoke trip to suit all group sizes in most destinations around the world. Please contact us for more details.
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Can I book extra nights accommodation before or after my trip?
Yes, call or email one of our Travel Experts who will be able to add accommodation to your booking.
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What visas do I need?
Depending on your passport and your destination, you may need a visa to travel on one of our trips. It is up to you to ensure you have any and all necessary visas before you travel. We recommend you check with a specialist visa agency at least 6 weeks before you travel.
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Are airport transfers included?
Some of our trips do not include airport transfers, so we recommend customers either take public transport or a taxi. However, if you would like us to arrange a private transfer please ask one of our travel experts who can arrange this for you.
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What happens if I am travelling on my own?
Most accommodations on our trips are reserved on a twin share basis. Therefore, if you are travelling on your own you will be sharing a room with another Culture Trip traveller of the same sex. However, most of the time it is possible to pay a supplement for your own room. Please ask your Travel Expert for more information.
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What kind of luggage should I bring?
It depends on the type of trip you have booked, but we usually recommend a soft sided bag or case as they are easier to handle on a trip.
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How much money should I bring?
This will depend on how long your trip is, your destination and how much you intend to spend on personal expenses and any meals that aren’t included. It is a good idea to check out the cost of a local lunch and dinner in your destination before you travel.
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I booked but cannot travel anymore. What are the amendments and cancellation options?
We understand plans can change and that’s why we offer flexible booking conditions. You can change or cancel your booking at any time up to 56 days prior to departure and receive a full refund of any funds you have already paid towards your trip.
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Do I have to make full payment at the time of booking?
You do not have to make full payment at the time of booking. We only require a small, fully refundable deposit of $100 to secure your spot on the trip. Full payment is due at the latest 56 days prior to departure.
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Do I have to take part in all the activities? Will there be free time on my trip?
The amount of free time varies per trip. Please enquire with our travel experts to get a proper understanding on the amount of free time on the trips you are interested in. You do not have to take part in all activities but we strongly encourage you to do so! We have carefully crafted each trip to show you the best of every destination, so you’d be missing out! Also taking part in activities is a great way to get to know your travel companions and make new friends. Nothing like a positive and supportive group environment to venture outside of your comfort zone and surprise yourself!
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What is a Local Insider?
We believe there’s no better way to discover a new place and a new culture than by experiencing it through the eyes and experience of a local. That’s why we only work with local guides - whom we name our Local Insiders. They know their region inside out and have a passion for sharing it with travellers. All our Local Insiders have years of experience guiding and speak English. Importantly, they like to travel the way we like it too: away from crowds, tourist traps and queues. Focussing on the true essence of a destination, teaching you all about the local culture and profusely sharing local hidden gems and insights.
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Free Date Changes
Culture Trip allows you to make 5 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 55 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Culture Trip allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform culture trip, 55 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Culture Trip requires a minimum deposit of 300 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 55 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of culture trip charges.
Up to 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 54 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.