Puglia & the South - Undiscovered Italy for Solo Travellers - EXCLUSIVELY FOR SOLO TRAVELLERS

EXCLUSIVELY FOR SOLO TRAVELLERS

Join a group of friendly solo travellers to explore the often-overlooked delights of South Italy's 'high heel' on this holiday to Puglia. Discover Cisternino's whitewashed buildings, the conical roofs of the Alberobello's trulli houses, hilltop Ostuni and the extraordinary caves at Matera. See Lecce's partially buried Roman amphitheatre, and perhaps visit the caves at Castellana's, wine-producing Locorotondo and elegant Martina Franca on one of our optional excursions.

Highlights

Relaxing in a comfortable hotel beside the Adriatic Sea
A visit to the medieval village of Cisternino
Alberobello's traditional, conical Trulli houses
Seeing hilltop Ostuni's walls gleaming in the Italian sun
Lecce's Baroque buildings and Roman ruins
The UNESCO-listed wonders of Matera's sassi cave-dwellings
The chance to visit the Castellana Caves and Locorontodo on an optional excursion

Inclusions

Seven nights' dinner, bed and breakfast accommodation at the four-star Hotel del Levante, Torre Canne
A tour of Cisternino, Ostuni and Alberobello
Tours of Lecce and the cave network at Matera
A Welcome Drink on your first evening
Return flights from the UK to Bari
Coach travel and transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager

1

Fly to Bari, meet your tour manager and transfer to your beachside hotel in Torre Canne, settling in to your comfortable surroundings and depending on your flight time, enjoying a welcome drink on the terrace before dinner this evening.

2

Today you're free to rest, relax and make the most of your hotel's seaside location. If you feel like exploring further afield, you can rent bicycles from the hotel, or stroll into the nearby fishing port and the small resort of Torre Canne to see its tiny harbour and working lighthouse.

3

Today's tour begins as we head into the vine- and olive-covered landscape of the Itria Valley on our way to Cisternino. Wander the narrow streets of its time-weathered medieval quarter before we explore the stunning, white-washed hill-town of Ostuni, with its labyrinthine maze of narrow streets, and see famous Alberobello's amazing conical trulli houses.

4

Nicknamed the Florence of the South because of it's ornate Baroque buildings, Lecce is one of Southern Italy's most appealing cities. Soak up the atmosphere of this historic trading centre with its elegant buildings, ornate churches and marbled courtyards. Explore the old town, which surrounds the ruins of a great Roman amphitheatre, before we return to Torre Canne.

5

Spend another day relaxing. Why not head out to explore or to enjoy a long, lazy lunch with the new-found friends from your group? Alternatively, take a dip in the pool or the sea, or simply curl up with a book on a terrace or in one of the hotel lounges.

6

Today we'll travel into the neighbouring province of Basilicata, and head to Matera. This enthralling labyrinth of a town is famed for its extraordinary sassi (ancient cave-dwellings). Uncover the history of this fascinating place, with its chiese rupestri (churches hewn from the rocks), ancient streets and colourful piazza.

7

Relax in Torre Canne, today, or join us as we head back into the Apulian countryside. On this final excursion we'll see the towering stalagmites and vast, cool caverns at Castellana, stop in Locorotondo to taste local produce and the town's famous white wine, and discover the hidden Baroque buildings at the heart of otherwise modern Martina Franca.

8

Say goodbye to your Apulian hosts, and board the coach to begin your journey back to Bari airport at the end of a fascinating, relaxing tour of Puglia.

Further Information

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from Bari Airport to the hotel is approximately one hour.

Entrance Fees

Since some attractions visited offer free admission to visitors at certain times of year, we do not include entrance fees. These will be payable locally where applicable. This applies to excursions that are included in the price of your holiday and to excursions booked as optional extras.

Meals in Italy

Guests on half-board arrangements will be served a three-course evening meal, and can expect a first course of traditional pasta or soup, a main meat or fish course accompanied by one or two types of vegetable, and a simple dessert of fruit, cake or Italian ice cream. Breakfasts will usually consist of bread rolls, jam, cereal, ham, cheese, fruit juice, tea and coffee. Menus will vary from hotel to hotel, but choice will be more limited than in a normal restaurant. In some instances, individual guests who have booked with the hotel independently may be offered a different menu from those who are staying at the hotel as part of a package tour.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Combining hotel transfers

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Italian hotel room tax

Some regions of Italy have introduced a room tax of between 1 € and 3 € per person per night, payable directly by the guest to the hotel on check-out. You will be advised by your tour manager in resort if a particular hotel is implementing this charge.

Airport development fees

An Airport Development Fee has been introduced at a few UK Airports. You will be required to pay this charge at the following airports prior to checking in for your flight: Blackpool, Durham Tees Valley, Newquay and Norwich. The amount varies from airport to airport, but it is generally between £5 and £10 per person. Please visit the airport's website for further information.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Foreign Office Travel Advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.