Amazing Amalfi, Mystical Matera and Pristine Puglia

Upon arrival in Naples today at the airport or rail station, one of our English speaking team member's will be there to meet you and privately transfer to one of our premier properties in beautiful Sorrento.   

The drive from Naples to Sorrento is spectacular and usually takes a little bit over an hour, traffic permitting.  Sometimes, we might take longer, but no worries, the drive is very scenic and you will enjoy glorious views over the spectacular Bay of Naples and Mt. Vesuvius.   Along the way, we will have time to stop for photos of the cliffs of Sorrento.  There are numerous vantage points along the way.

Upon arrival at the hotel, you will have time to check in, relax and enjoy some wonderful free time in Sorrento.  Tonight, we recommend you dine at one of our favorite restaurants among the lemon groves, where they serve a variety of local Sorrentine and southern Italian dishes.   We will be happy to reserve one of the best tables in the house and provide some fantastic dining recommendations throughout the duration of this trip.

Overnight at the hotel in Sorrento. 

This morning at the hotel you will enjoy a fantastic buffet breakfast that may keep you full for the duration of the day! Our breakfasts throughout this trip consist of numerous Italian baked goods, eggs, a variety of cheese, fresh fruit, waffles and cured meats, bacon, sausages and much more.

After breakfast, we will be there to pick you up at the hotel and take you down to the port of Sorrento where you will join your captain and small group of other guests who will depart today for the incredible island of Capri.

Today, you will have the chance to experience this incredible island in its entirety (weather permitting) we will sail around the entire island.  You will then have time to head up to Anacapri and enjoy some free time for shopping on the island. 

In the late afternoon we head back to Sorrento and back to the hotel where you will have time to relax before dinner this evening.  We will provide many of our top restaurant options in Sorrento when you book this trip and in many instance we may offer free transportation to a few incredible properties complementary by the restaurant depending on the time of year. 

Overnight at the hotel. 

Following an incredible breakfast at the hotel this morning, you will depart Sorrento for the incredible Amalfi Coast.

We head firstly as far south as possible, to the gardens of Ravello which is home to the Infinity Terrace and we do recommend, should you be able to walk the stairs up to the Giardino Ruffalo that you definitely enter these gardens and enjoy them in all their glory.

Following our time in Ravello, we start to head north again and you will have time to stop in Amalfi town, Atrani, Conca Dei Marini and many other towns along the coast, before we head to Positano where you will have time to break for lunch and enjoy the sites of this incredible sea-side fishing village, now one of the most famous towns in Italy. 

This morning, following breakfast we depart Sorrento for Pompeii where you will meet our guide and begin a wonderful private walking tour of Pompeii.  Make sure to wear your running shoes today as the ground can be uneven and you will need to walk at least 3-4 Km.   This is an outstanding experience that will bring the history of Pompeii to life and nothing beats hearing and seeing with your own eyes what unfolded one frightful day that lives on this city frozen in time, even today!

Following our morning experience, you will have time to get bite to eat before we carry onto Matera.  It's about a 2 hour drive today and we don't expect you will arrive in Matera until at least 16:00 this evening.

In Matera, you will enjoy accommodations in the historical center and a chance to enjoy this incredible city by night.   

Dinner at leisure and overnight in Matera. 

This morning following breakfast at your hotel, your guide will be there to meet you in the morning and begin a walking tour of this incredible city.  Similarly to Pompeii you want to have a walking tour in Matera because there is a unique underground portion to the city where you will find one of souther Italy's largest cisterns and a network of underground cave dwellings, which are unique the world over.

Among other things, your guide will introduce you to the underground portion of the city, the Sassi (caves) and many secrets of Matera including some unique local food that you simply would never know about, it if wasn't for our expert local guide.

Following lunch, our driver will meet you to take you to Ostuni (the white city) on the coast of Puglia.

Free time this evening for dinner at leisure and overnight at your hotel. 

This morning after a delightful breakfast at the hotel (By now, you are getting use to those and the incredible Italian coffee served fresh every morning!), we will be there to meet you in the lobby to begin our full day private tour of the Itria Valley, home to fairy tale like towns like Alberobello, Martina Franca and Locorotondo.

We will start our day our time in Alberobello, which is home to hundreds of Trulli, which look like they were built for gnomes or dwarfs.  They are so cute and seeing so many all together to form a city is truly incredible!   You will want to walk around here, take it all in and visit the shops which are home to many local traditional crafts as well as olive oil, cheese and wine. However, we will recommend you not o load up here!

By this time we will all be ready for lunch and we will head to a local Olive farm called Il Frantoio where you will get to sample olive oil, wonderful local delicacies including Burrata, various wines and numerous Pugliese dishes.  This will certainly be an unforgettable lunch!

Following lunch we head to the coast to visit Monopoli or should you be tired, back to the hotel where you can catch some rest and enjoy some evening cocktails with spectacular sunset views.

Overnight at the hotel and dinner at leisure.  

This morning we will be heading south down the coast of the 'heel of Italy's boot' to the city known as the 'Florence of the Italian South', Lecce.

Here, you will enjoy a morning walking tour of the city, which is home to a large Roman Amphiteatre. 

Following our morning walk and talk here, we will continue onto the port side town of Otranto where you will have a chance to enjoy lunch and walk around this marvelous town. 

In the late afternoon, we head north again back up the coast to Polignano a Mare, one of the most beautiful towns on the coast for your final evening in Puglia where you may want to dine at the famous Grotta Palazzese restaurant or simply enjoy the spectacular scenery here. 

Overnight at the hotel in Polignano a Mare. 

After several days of being on the road, we wanted to provide you with a day of leisure so that you could either go back to some of the towns and cities you visited in Puglia this past week and/or to simply enjoy the beach and a day at leisure on your own.

We have a few options today, which include:

- Visiting Bari's historic center

- Doing a cooking course 

- Visiting the Castellana Caves 

- Visiting Monopoli (which we may be able to squeeze in, if you visit Bari)

Since we have been organizing tours in Puglia for many years, we did want to leave this day open to give you a break and simply do what you want before you leave! 

This evening, get ready for a fabulous farewell dinner in Puglia! 

Overnight in Polignano a Mare 

This morning you will enjoy one of your final southern Italian breakfasts with us.

Following breakfast, we will be there in the hotel lobby ready to meet you and take you to the Bari airport or rail station where you will continue your journey.

Should you require assistance with rail, flights or anythings else here in beautiful Italy, we will be standing by to help you!

Arrivaderci Puglia.