Arrival at Bari airport and private transfer to Matera (approx.1h.30 -65 km) –

Welcome drink and briefing on the tour followed by dinner together.

Meals included: welcome Dinner

Lodging tonight in Matera : Palazzo Viceconte or similar

City walk : near the ‘Murgia Materana’ Regional Park, Matera is a UNESCO site and in 2019 it has been the European Capital of Culture. It is among the oldest cities in the world and above all, it offers perfect harmony between man and nature. The ‘Sassi’, which rock caves allows you to encounter a breathtaking scenery. During the tour we’ll visit 7 cultural sites. (duration approx. 3 hours)

Today we’ll also experience a Bread cooking class where we’ll learn how to make the famous and tasteful local bread (duration approx. 2.30 hours)

Meals included: Breakfast, packed lunch

Transfer from Matera to Bosco Difesa Grande (approx. 45 min) + hiking Bosco Difesa Grande-Gravina: Today we transfer to arrive in a few minutes at the starting point of the first stage. Then we follow a stretch through a very pleasant rural landscape that also offers wide views of the Apennine mountains and Vulture, an ancient extinct volcano. 

The highlight of this stage, however, is the last part with the arrival in town along the Via Appia and the aqueduct bridge across the ravine. These settings were also the set of the latest episode of the 007 saga ‘No Time to Die’.

Incredibly, the name of the city, Gravina, is not related to the canyons, but to

wheat and wine, of which the city has been a rich producer since Roman times. 

Hike +/- 4,1 miles – gain 500 feet (6.7km ; +155mt)

Meals included : Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner in Gravina

Accommodation in Gravina (Palazzo Fontana - https://palazzofontana.it/)

Transfer from Gravina to Ginosa (approx. 1 hour) + hiking Ginosa-Laterza .

oday a transfer drops you off in Ginosa, and once you leave the historic center, you do a few kilometers entirely on the bottom of the Gravina of Ginosa. This ravine has a unique feature: it is the only one where the village and houses reach to the bottom. 

Then, a sensational scenic walk along the edge of the Laterza Canyon, within the ‘Terra delle Gravine’ Regional Natural Park will bring you to the city of Laterza and its ravine, to discover a unique bread, exported all over Italy and beyond. 

Once in Laterza there is the beautiful historic center to visit, with the

Palazzo Marchesale, which also houses the MUMA, a majolica museum.

We’ll visit Visit of the famous Museum of Maiolica MUMA in Laterza – 30min

Hike 3 miles – gain 400 feet (4.5km +120mt)

Meals included : Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner in Laterza

Accommodation in Laterza (B&B San Giuliano - https://www.sangiulianobnb.it/ or similar)

Transfer from Laterza to Pineta Castelluccio (approx. 20 min) + hiking Pineta Castelluccio to Laterza .

From Laterza a transfer takes you to the starting point of the new stage. You will enjoy a sensational scenic walk along the edge of the Laterza ravine, until you arrive back in town. Much of the entire tour is within the Regional Natural Park ‘Terra delle Gravine’. In particular the area of the Gravina of Laterza is an extraordinary location for birdwatching (‘capovaccaio’ vulture and ‘grillaio’ hawk are the symbolic species of the area). Do not miss the ancient ovens to discover a unique bread, exported all over Italy and beyond. 

Once in Laterza we’ll join a Pottery workshop to learn how to make the wonderful local ceramics ( approx. 2 h)

Hike 4,4 miles-gain 600 feet (7.1km +190mt)

Meals included : Breakfast, Packed Lunch

Accommodation in Laterza (B&B San Giuliano - https://www.sangiulianobnb.it/ or similar)

Transfer from Laterza to Barsento (approx. 1 hour ) + hiking Barsento-Alberobello. Today our private transfer will take us to one of the most important areas of the Valle d’Itria, which is among the most suggestive places in Puglia.   It is here that the “Barsentana” way connected the region from the Ionian to the Adriatic seas.  Central to these trades and the community around was the “Barsento Church”  this building, related to the VII C, is one of the most unique examples of a church built in “Trullo” technique!

We continue our walk through century-old beech woods, and have a look at the little caves around; like the “Soap” or “Holy Mary” caves. Then we finally arrive to Alberobello, UNESCO heritage site and world capital of Trulli, with its iconic rural houses with iconic rooftops built with the dry-stone technique (i.e., without any cement or mortar!).

Today we’ll also experience the Mozzarella making and tasting nearby Alberobello e

Martina Franca (approx. 2 h.)

Hike 5 miles -gain 524 feet (8km +160mt)

Meals included : Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner in Alberobello

Accommodation in Alberobello (Trullidea - https://www.trullidea.it/)

Transfer from Alberobello to Coreggia (approx. 20 min) + hiking Coreggia-Locorotondo .

Today’s walk winds in the very heart of the Itria Valley, where the “trulli”, our typical conic-roofed rural houses, are omnipresent in a lush greenery, amidst gentle hills.

A brief private transfer will take you to Coreggia, and from here you will mainly walk on the “Ciclovia dell’Acquedotto”, one of the greatest water pipelines in Europe, today part of a local network of cycling and walking trails. 

You will finally reach Locorotondo, walking surrounded by Trulli and ancient bridges, olive groves and vineyards, cherry orchards and Mediterranean shrubs

.

This white town is listed in the “Borghi più belli d’Italia” network, which celebrates the most authentic and hidden Italy. You will surely understand why, after a stroll in the labyrinthine old town, a glimpse at the unique “cummerse” houses, or simply sipping a glass of local PDO white wine over the panoramic “Belvedere”.

Then we’ll visit the Perle di Memoria Museum in Locorotondo 

Late in the afternoon we’ll attend a cooking class to learn how to make pasta, taralli and intorchiata followed by a dinner in at Trulli di Figazzano. (approx 4.5h )

Hike 5 miles- gain 360 feet (8km +110mt)

Meals included : Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation in Locorotondo (Domus San Giovanni - https://domussangiovanni.it/ or

similar)

Transfer from Locorotondo to Monopoli (approx. 40 min) + hiking Monopoli-Polignano a Mare.  We will see the best-known Puglia of sea, sun and lively harbors from Monopoli, one of the liveliest towns along the Adriatic Coast. On to Polignano a Mare, a small fishing village with its “gozzi”, typical blue boats usually moored on the sandy shore. In Polignano a Mare we’ll experience a wine tasting at an organic winery (3 different wines + sommelier’s explanation)

approx. 2 h.

Hike 4 miles – gain 200 feet (6.5km +60mt)

Meals included : Breakfast, Packed Lunch

Accommodation in Polignano a Mare : Polignano a Mare (Giovì

Relais - https://www.giovirelais.com/ or similar)

Today we’ll enjoy free time to discover the charming Polignano a Mare.

We’ll experience a boat tour* included a vist to the famous Polignano a Mare ‘s Cave (approx. 1.30 h)  

We’ll have a final dinner together!

Meals included : Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Farewell Dinner

Accommodation in Polignano a Mare: 

Polignano a Mare (Giovì Relais - https://www.giovirelais.com/ or similar)

(*the boat tour will run depending on the sea and weather conditions- if not running the cost will be refunded).

Check out from Polignano a Mare + transfer to Bari Airport (approx. 40min - 52km) or to Bari city for the one who wants to stay one or more night extra in this lively City!

Meals included: Breakfast