Basilicata & Puglia Tour
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BASILICATA & PUGLIA TOUR • Join me on a special “off the beaten path” tour to southern Italy! We visit the beautiful regions of Basilicata and Puglia. In Basilicata, we stay at a local farm/Agriturismo and experience true nature, amazing local food and wine, history and the daily lives of the people who make up this unique area. In Puglia, we stay at the sea and enjoy places like the enchanting Alberobello, known for its trulli— white-washed stone huts with conical roofs— and Ostuni, one of Puglia’s most beautiful cities, a tumble of white-washed buildings perched strategically atop a hill with views of the endless olive trees and the glimmering Adriatic Sea.
TOUR DATES:
On request
(maximum group size: 7 persons)
DAY 1 | BASILICATA 5 NIGHTS • Upon arrival, we have a private transfer to our farm outside of Matera. Settle in, relax and enjoy an authentic dinner with the local wine.
Dinner
DAY 2 | BASILICATA • We start the day with a wonderful breakfast including homemade Italian cakes and Marisa’s homemade marmalades and Jams. After breakfast, we take the short drive to the ancient city of Matera, where we meet out guide and spend the morning exploring the breathtaking Sassi di Matera. We have lunch at a very special bar situated deep in the Sassi, where you get to enjoy a beautiful view! Before returning back to the farm, we go visit an incredible view point of Matera where you can explore some caves, take a walk or some memorable photos. In the evening we return back to the farmhouse for an incredible organic home cooked meal.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 3 | BASILICATA • After breakfast, we welcome our friend, Filomena, to the farm. She will give us a traditional pasta-making lesson. Filomena has been making pasta since she was 6 years old. She learned this skill from her Nonna (grandmother). You get the chance to learn how to make typical southern pasta like orecchiette and cavatelli. This fun hands-on lesson might be harder than it looks but it’s a unique experience. After spending the morning with Filomena and Marisa, talking about pasta and sauces, it will be time for a traditional family lunch together! Afterwards, you have the afternoon to relax, perhaps you would like to take a walk around the farm or enjoy a glass of wine on the terrace. This evening we go back to Matera to experience this city at night. We go to a wonderful cave wine bar in the Sassi then you are treated to a wine tasting and food pairing.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 4 | BASILICATA • After breakfast we take the 80-minute drive to the Dolomiti Lucane – the Dolomite Mountains of the south. Here we visit two of the most beautiful mountain towns in all of Italy: Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa. You have time to wander around and enjoy the stunning views! For lunch, we meet our friend, Daniele, at his lovely mountain town restaurant. He will prepare a delicious treat of local products and wine for us. In the afternoon, we return back to the farm for a nice siesta before another fabulous dinner together.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 5 | BASILICATA • Today we learn about olives and oil making! We start the day with a tour of the olive groves, led by Franco and Antonio. We learn all about how they grow and maintain the trees and the different types of varieties that are on the farm. Afterwards, we head over to the local olive press, where you can see and learn all about the machines and techniques that produce the wonderful olive oil. You will also learn how to taste the olive oil and some the secrets to look for! Tonight we have a special treat – Folk musicians arrive to the farm to give us a wonderful performance of music and culture from the Basilicata region.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 6 | PUGLIA 2 NIGHTS • Today we sadly say goodbye to our hosts and travel to Puglia where we call the charming seaside village of Polignano a Mare our home for the next 2 nights! You have the afternoon and evening to relax and explore the area. Perhaps have dinner in a cave overlooking the sea!
Breakfast
DAY 7 | PUGLIA • Today we enjoy a wonderful tour of the area including the beautiful towns of Alberobello, Locorotondo, Ostuni and Monopoli. You will definitely want to make sure you bring your camera today! Alberobello is known for its trulli, whitewashed stone huts with conical roofs. Ostuni is perched on a perfect little hill and would look more at home on a Greek island. And that’s no surprise because Ostuni, in Puglia, the “heel” of the boot, is only 45 miles away from Greece, by way of the Adriatic and the straight of the Otranto. This evening we meet for our farewell dinner at a special restaurant.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
TOUR DETAILS:
Tour Begins: In the afternoon with a transfer from Bari airport to the farm
Tour Concludes: In the morning after breakfast with a transfer to Bari airport
TOUR PRICE:
$4,450 Per person/Double occupancy
TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:
- 7 nights double occupancy lodging
- All breakfast
- 5 lunches with the local wine
- 6 dinners with the local wine
- All entry fees to museums
- All tours
- Wine tastings
- Cooking class
- All ground transportation during the tour
- Personal tour guide throughout the tour
TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Air transportation
- Travel insurance
- Incidentals along the trip
- Hotel tourist tax (see Roommates section below for details)
CLICK HERE TO RESERVE THIS TOUR NOW »
Required Trip Insurance
Please note that trip insurance is required to join us on a Ciao Darcy trip. Trip cancellation insurance will protect all deposits and payments for land and air costs if you are required to cancel your tour. We recommend www.travelguard.com
Minimum Travelers
Minimum Travelers: We only run trips with 4 or more guests. If a trip has fewer attendees at 45 days before the trip dates, we will cancel the trip. However, if this were to happen, we can give you the option of a private tour with a surcharge applied.
Accommodations
We have partnered with boutique hotels that meet the Ciao Darcy standards of service.
Room Options
Double Occupancy: Double occupancy pricing is the price for (1) person to stay in a shared (i.e. double) room. In other words, each person staying in that room will pay the posted double occupancy rate. If you’re a couple or friends traveling together, please know that you’ll each pay the double occupancy rate.
Single Occupancy: Need some alone time? We hear you. That’s why we offer single occupancy rooms. The single occupancy rate is what you will pay to have the room all to yourself.
Roommates
If you do not have a travel partner, you can purchase single occupancy room and have it all to yourself! We do not pair up trip attendees because we find there is not enough privacy in the rooms to allow strangers to room together.
Please note: Many cities in Italy and France have recently implemented tourism taxes on hotel stays in order to “to ensure the quality of tourist, cultural and environmental services in addition to the efficiency of public transports.” We are unable to include these taxes in the tour price as the majority of hotels require the tax to be paid in cash upon check- out. The tax is usually 1 euro per hotel star per person per night. (A four star hotel will usually be four euro per person per night).
