Explore Southern Italy





Uncover the many attractions of Italy’s Puglia region
Take off on an unforgettable journey down Italy’s rarely visited heel, getting to know another side of this beautiful country. See the beauty of Amalfi, unwind in style among the sophisticates of Trani and tour the Roman ruins, baroque churches and whitewashed alleyways of Lecce. Wander among the peculiarly shaped houses of Alberobello, wander the hillside dwellings of Matera and discover the Old Town’s life surrounding Bari's Basilica di San Nicola. Head down and say ciao to Italy’s southernmost slice of the Adriatic.
4.6
29 reviewsStart: Minori, Italy
End: Bari, Italy
- Duration
- 10 days
- Group size
- 1 to 12
- Minimum age
- 15 years old
- Style
Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time
Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time
Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities
Premium: Our best accommodation, exclusive inclusions and our most experienced leaders
- Original
- Theme
Our themes categorise trips based on a common interest or activity, while showcasing the highlights of a destination.
- Explorer
- Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Why you'll love this trip
- Stroll through the flourishing countryside of the Amalfi Coast and pick lemons straight from the tree.
- Join the sophisticates of Puglia with a glass of Moscato di Trani and drink to Trani’s Adriatic beauty at a harbour-side bar.
- Explore the otherworldly Sassi of Matera – stone houses formed from natural grottoes and tufo cliffs overlooking a dramatic gorge.
- End this Italian adventure sipping limoncello in the tangled streets of Bari’s Old Town.
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2026 - 31 December 2026
Itinerary
Ciao! Welcome to Italy. Your adventure begins on the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Amalfi Coast, in the small town of Minori. The Amalfi peninsula is a land of rocky coasts, cliff-top vistas, bright seas, tiered lemon groves, whitewashed villages, steep cliffs and blue skies. You'll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight to meet your local leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive in Minori Town early, why not take a self-guided stroll in search of some gorgeous panoramic views of the coast. Or you could just plant yourself at a sunny piazza cafe and enjoy a macchiato or a gelato.
- Hotel in Minori (Amalfi Coast) (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
You have a free day to explore Minori Town and Amalfi Town (just a 15 minute bus ride away) today. If you're after a relaxing walk with a few cultural highlights, stroll from one side of Amalfi Town to the other and pay a visit to the Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea and the Chiostro del Paradiso. If you’re after something more active, maybe head out on a walk through the Valley of Mills. Alternatively, you can take a bus to the Valley of Dragons to reach pretty Ravello – for centuries, its lofty position and sunny, dry climate have made it an appealing place for writers, artists, musicians and travellers. Ravello also boasts two magnificent villas, the 11th century Villa Rufolo – once the home of Wagner – and Villa Cimbrone – a 19th century mansion with sprawling gardens and great views over the Gulf of Salerno. You could also take a half-day walk along the narrow trail of the famous Sentiero Degli Dei (the Walk of the Gods) through forests and fields of wildflowers, olive groves and vineyards.
- Hotel in Minori (Amalfi Coast) (1 night) (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Amalfi - Chiostro del Paradiso - EUR3
- Capri - Hydrofoil Amalfi to Capri - EUR44
- Ravello - Villa Cimbrone - EUR10
- Ravello - Villa Rufolo - EUR8
Travel to Italy's east coast to Trani, known as the 'Southern Pearl'. Once an ancient trading hub, Trani is a port town with a white cathedral on the seawall. The crescent-shaped marina is a great place to relax and watch the world go by. With medieval streets and its own sweet wine, Trani feels like stepping into a 1950s movie set. When you arrive, explore the historic centre and its medieval churches on a walking tour with a local guide. The Old Town points to a time when this was a major port for merchants travelling to the Near East. Later, kick back on the waterfront and watch the sophisticates of Puglia clink glasses of Moscato di Trani in cosy bars.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Trani - City Walking Tour leader led
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.
Today is a free day to explore all that Trani has to offer. You might like to visit the dramatic Cattedrale di San Nicola Pellegrino – begun in 1099 and taking over two centuries to finish, the soft white-pink limestone Norman cathedral is dedicated to the famously foolish St Nicholas the Pilgrim, whose bones lie in the crypt below the church. Inside, it’s bright and airy and the remains of a 12-century mosaic near the main altar set off the simply furnished church. You can also head to the castle built by Frederick II – the king of Sicily, Italy, Germany, Jerusalem and the Holy Roman Emperor in the 13th century. Explore the medieval Jewish quarter, built in all-white stone, stopping by two synagogues, the Scola Nova and the Scola Grande. Fishermen sell the day’s catch in the marina, so maybe head there for dinner and grab a glass of wine harbourside.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Trani - Cathedral - Free
- Trani - Castello di Trani - EUR8
- Trani - Cathedral Bell Tower - EUR5
- Trani - Synagogue of Scolanova - Free
Head south and delight in the baroque architecture and atmosphere of Lecce. Lecce's elaborate ornamentation is elevated to dizzying heights, presenting the casual viewer with a feast for the senses. Sumptuous palazzi (mansions), a defensive main square, Roman ruins and magnificent allegories dancing across ornate facades make Lecce a swoon-worthy sight for any traveller. The university gives the town a lively feel, and there are little boutiques, antique shops and delicious delis to explore.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Polignano - Stopover enroute to Lecce - EUR3
Your travel time today will be approximately 2.5 hours.
Today is a free day for you to explore Lecce. If open, maybe step beneath the city and see the restored Roman amphitheatre excavated in the 1930s. Built in the 2nd century AD, the remarkably intact theatre seated 15,000 people. Overlooking the arena is the Colonna di Sant'Oronzo – a statue of Lecce's patron saint mounted on a Roman column. Maybe check out the Basilica Di Santa Croce’s facade of sheep, dodos, cherubs and monsters or head to the Piazza del Duomo. Used in the past as a defence against invaders, the square's openness is bordered by a 12th-century cathedral, a 68 m-high bell tower, a 15th-century Episcopal Palace and an 18th-century Seminario. In the afternoon, meet up with the group for an aperitivo with local specialties like friselle, taralli, puccia, bombette and burrate.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lecce - Aperitivo with Local Specialties
- Lecce - Roman Amphitheatre - EUR10
- Lecce - Castello di Carlo V - EUR8
- Lecce - Basilica di Santa Croce - Free
- Lecce - History Museum - EUR5
- Lecce - Museo Faggiano - EUR5
Travel by private transport to a local masseria to meet an olive oil producer, who will show you how the techniques have changed over the millennia before you're treated to a tasting. Some olive trees here are thought to be close to 3000 years old and the farm has been active since Roman times. You’ll then head to Ostuni and explore its narrow streets before continuing to Alberobello. Travellers flock here to see at the beehive-shaped Trulli (singular trullo) – small, dry-stone houses built from local limestone in the 14th century. The origins of the buildings are unclear, although it's possible the mortar-less dwellings were created to be easily dismantled in a feudal tax evasion scheme. Wander the Old Town quarter of Rione Monti, where thousands of Trulli (and souvenir shops) rise over the hill or head over to Rione Aia Piccola and see Trulli family dwellings.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Alberobello - Olive Oil Mill Visit and Tasting
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.
Transfer by private mini bus to Matera. The extraordinary sight of Matera's Old Town gives a haunting, bittersweet insight into ancient life. One of the oldest cities in existence, Matera's otherworldly drawcard is the sassi (singular sasso) – stone houses formed from natural grottoes and tufo cliffs overlooking a gorge. Its resemblance to Jerusalem has attracted film directors of biblical epics, but its dark interiors were the scene of shameful poverty in the mid-20th century. Duck down into the sassi through the knot of staircases and alleyways that snake through the limestone ravines, and take a guided tour to appreciate both its ancient and modern history. Tonight, you’ll stay in accommodation with balconies overlooking the sassi.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Matera - Ipogeo Underground Cistern
- Matera - City Walking Tour with Local Guide
- Matera - Museo della Scultura Contemporanea - EUR7
- Matera - Cathedral - Free
- Matera - Casa Noha Multimedia Exhibit - EUR7
Your travel time today will be approximately 1 hour.
This morning is free for you to explore the narrow alleyways and caves of Matera before boarding a local train to Bari at around lunchtime. Sitting on a small peninsula in the Adriatic Sea overlooking Greece, Bari is the prosperous capital of Puglia. The tangled streets of its Old Town, Bari Vecchia, conceal Romanesque churches, a market, medieval piazzas and a Swabian castle. The Basilica di San Nicola was built to hold the relics of St Nicholas, which were stolen from Turkey by local Bari fishermen and have made the city a place of pilgrimage since 1087. The relics are also the mainstay of Bari's biggest annual celebration, the Festa di San Nicola. The stone walls are lovely to walk around, with the sea lapping on one side and the medieval town on the other. Bari is also the perfect place to see out your last night and have a group meal by the harbour, sampling local limoncello and some of the seafood the city is famous for.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Bari - Pinacoteca Provinciale - EUR5
- Bari - Basilica di San Nicola - Free
- Bari - Cattedrale di San Sabino - Free
- Bari - Castello Svevo - EUR10
- Bari - Pane e Pomodoro Beach - Free
Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.
Your journey will come to an end after breakfast today and you are free to depart at any time. If you would like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent to organise additional accommodation.
- Breakfast
Inclusions and activities
9 breakfasts
Train, Public bus, Private vehicle, Taxi
Hotel (9 nights)
- Trani - City Walking Tour leader led
- Lecce - Aperitivo with Local Specialties
- Alberobello - Olive Oil Mill Visit and Tasting
- Matera - Ipogeo Underground Cistern
- Matera - City Walking Tour with Local Guide
- Amalfi - Chiostro del Paradiso - EUR3
- Capri - Hydrofoil Amalfi to Capri - EUR44
- Ravello - Villa Cimbrone - EUR10
- Ravello - Villa Rufolo - EUR8
- Trani - Cathedral - Free
- Trani - Castello di Trani - EUR8
- Trani - Cathedral Bell Tower - EUR5
- Trani - Synagogue of Scolanova - Free
- Polignano - Stopover enroute to Lecce - EUR3
- Lecce - Roman Amphitheatre - EUR10
- Lecce - Castello di Carlo V - EUR8
- Lecce - Basilica di Santa Croce - Free
- Lecce - History Museum - EUR5
- Lecce - Museo Faggiano - EUR5
- Matera - Museo della Scultura Contemporanea - EUR7
- Matera - Cathedral - Free
- Matera - Casa Noha Multimedia Exhibit - EUR7
- Bari - Pinacoteca Provinciale - EUR5
- Bari - Basilica di San Nicola - Free
- Bari - Cattedrale di San Sabino - Free
- Bari - Castello Svevo - EUR10
- Bari - Pane e Pomodoro Beach - Free
This trip generates 17 kg of CO2-e per person per day
Learn more about our climate commitment.
When you travel with us, The Intrepid Foundation gives you more opportunities to support important causes in destinations you visit.
Before you book you should know
- Due to the terrain the means of transportation on this trip is a mix of local trains, private vehicles and public buses. Train travel is a fast way to traverse long distances, allowing you to avoid traffic jams and arrive right into the city centre. Trains are comfortable and all have toilets, however can often be quite busy.
- Please note that you'll have to carry your own luggage on and off the trains, and up and down stairs at train stations and at hotels, so make sure it doesn’t exceed our weight and size recommendations. You can find this information in the 'Packing' section of the Essential Trip Information. You may want to consider taking a backpack rather than a wheelie bag, however this is up to your personal preference and what you feel more comfortable with.
- Summer temperatures can be extreme in many of the regions visited (over 40°C), which can be uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Additionally, please be aware that July, August and the first half of September is high season along the Southern Italian coast, which means that the local infrastructure is under a lot of pressure with a lot of people in the towns we visit. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
- Hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together.
- On this trip you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight under 15kg / 33lb. Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps to accommodate the cobbled streets, uneven surfaces, stairs and steps you are likely to encounter while carrying your luggage. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day trips.
- If you have more time to explore the region you can extend your trip and see more of Italy by starting your travels in Rome. Check out our trip 'Rome to Southern Italy' (trip code ZMSSC). Most departure dates are designed to create this perfect combination trip.
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
TWIN SHARE BASIS
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.
CHECK-IN TIME
Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
FACILITIES
Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.
Hotel 7 Bello
V Alfonso Gatto, 39
Minori
84010
ITALY
Phone: +39 089877619
Instructions
Capodichino Airport in Naples (airport code NAP) has bus connections to Naples Central Station from where you can catch frequent trains to Salerno (1 hour). From Salerno regular buses run along the coast to Amalfi, stopping in Minori. Get off at Hotel 7 Bello stop. Alternatively, if you arrive into any of Rome's Airports (airport codes FCO and CIA), you can catch a train or bus to Rome Termini Station, and from there another train to Salerno (3 hours). For train schedules please visit trenitalia.com.
If you have pre booked an arrival transfer from Naples Airport (NAP) your transfer driver will be waiting in the arrivals hall holding a board with the Intrepid Logo or your name. In case of flight cancellations, changes, if you experience severe delays at immigration, baggage collection or customs, or if you are not able to find the driver, please contact the transfer operator directly: +39 089871530.
Alternate joining point
For trips departing on the following dates, use this joining point.
08 Oct 2025 (ZMSQ251008), 22 Oct 2025 (ZMSQ251022)
Hotel Caporal
Via Strada Nuova 20,
Minori
84010
ITALY
Phone: 0039 089854049
Description
The Hotel Caporal in Minori is a modern and comfortable hotel, located close to the beach and nearby a 1st century Roman Villa. All rooms are equipped with ensuite bathrooms, hairdryer, air-conditioning/heating, telephone, flat screen satellite TV, safe and room service. The hotel also has a library and a private beach for you to relax.
Instructions
Hotel Caporal is located steps away from all the historical and cultural attractions of Minori.
Dates and prices
Important notes
1. A single supplement is bookable for this trip. Availability is limited due to small property we use. Please speak to your agent for further information.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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