Embark on an unforgettable 16-day journey through the heart of Italy, exploring the lesser-known gems of Abruzzo and Puglia. Discover the ancient traditions, stunning landscapes, and delectable cuisine of these regions. Our carefully curated itinerary takes you from the majestic Apennine Mountains to the sun-kissed Adriatic and Ionian coasts. Hike through picturesque villages, explore historic towns, and indulge in authentic local flavours. Our Tour Leader and local guides will unveil hidden treasures, sharing insights into the rich history and culture of these regions. And to cap off your adventure, we'll spend two days exploring the Eternal City of Rome, delving into its lesser-known corners away from the crowds.
Prices below are per person, twin-sharing costs in US Dollars (USD). Pricing does not include airfare to/from the tour and any applicable taxes. For single supplement rates and taxes (if any), please refer to below Prices & Dates table. For general information on flights to/from the tour, click here.
Your Travel and Accommodation Arranged For You
Tips Included for Driver, Restaurant Staff, Local Guides
Authentic Local Experiences With Lots Of Inclusions.
Select a date below to reserve your spot:
Optional Single Supplement: $0 USD (number of singles limited).
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Inclusions
Full-time Tour Leader services with local guide support at several locations.
Breakfast daily, most dinners, some lunches (as per tour itinerary).
All sightseeing and entrance fees for sites noted as 'visited' in the detailed itinerary. Gratuities for local guides, drivers, restaurant staff, porters.
Airport transfers for land & air customers and for early arriving/late departing land & air customers who book their extra hotel nights through us.
Exclusions
International airfare to/from the tour.
Most lunches, some dinners (see full itinerary)
Tour Leader gratuities, drinks, personal items (phone, laundry, etc), insurance, international air taxes (if applicable), and any excursions referenced as 'optional'.
Airport transfers for Land Only customers.
Seasonality and Weather
Spring in Abruzzo and Puglia offers a delightful blend of mild temperatures and blooming landscapes. The Apennine Mountains of Abruzzo are particularly stunning during this time, with vibrant wildflowers carpeting the hillsides. In Puglia, the coastal towns and villages come alive with warmer weather, making it ideal for exploring ancient trulli, historic towns, and pristine beaches.
Early fall is a magical time to visit Abruzzo and Puglia. As the summer crowds dissipate, the regions offer a serene and picturesque experience. Abruzzo's mountains are ablaze with autumn foliage, creating breathtaking vistas. In Puglia, the harvest season is in full swing, providing opportunities to taste fresh local produce and experience traditional customs. Whether you're interested in hiking, exploring historical sites, or simply relaxing on the beach, early fall is an excellent time to visit both regions.
Transport and Travel Conditions
Most transport is by private air-conditioned vehicle, the size depending on ultimate group size (see 'group size'). Due to the winding roads and lack of accessibility on narrow streets in small towns and villages, we will avoid the large motor-coaches more typical of large group touring. One of the delights of exploring these places is the lack of long road journeys, allowing us to maximize our time doing, seeing, smelling, tasting, experiencing, and soaking it all in.
Our difficulty rating "Level 3" refers to our walks/hikes that go beyond town/city walking tours on pavement or cobblestones, to hiking on "natural" surfaces (ie gravel) and pathways that feature some elevation gain/loss as opposed to reasonably flat terrain. Such hikes are leisurely with plenty of stops along the way. This activity does not occur every day, but as per our tour itinerary, even when not on a "hike," we will be on foot quite a lot, with town walking tours, winery visits etc, with plenty of places with uneven surfaces and stairs.
OUR HIKES
Because some hikes can/may be adjusted at the discretion of your Tour Leader depending on things like weather and group interest, the final distances/durations of our hikes as indicated in our itinerary should be taken as guidance only. In the meantime, however, we can advise that, generally-speaking, our walks are leisurely on well-trodden pathways over undulating terrain, 2-3 hours in overall duration with plenty of breaks for rest and refreshment. Please note that some surfaces feature loose material (ie stones, gravel, sand etc) which can be slippery. Participants should be fit and active and accustomed to trail walking and be prepared to engage in a conditioning regimen prior to the trip.
For daily summary of our hiking activities, please refer to the tour itinerary (the word "hike" will appear on the header for days on which we include a hike).
This program also has a strong gastronomic element, well-suited to "foodies," expert or novice, and those who enjoy savouring and lingering over a meal and sampling new things. While vegetarians/vegans are well catered for, we regret that very specific or extremely limited dietary restrictions/preferences could present a considerable challenge on this trip.
Am I suitable for this tour? Please refer to our self-assessment form.
Activity Level: 3
These tours are considerably more strenuous than our Level 1 & 2 "cultural" tours and feature walks/hikes on undulating and uneven pathways for 3-7 hours at a leisurely pace. We don't hike every day, but participants should be fit and active and accustomed to trail walking, possibly in remote locations, and be prepared to engage in a conditioning regimen prior to the trip. Altitude may also be a factor on some tours, though none of our hiking tours currently occur above 3000m/10,000 ft. These are hotel-based tours with no camping, and you are required to only carry what you need for the day.
To learn more about the Activity levels, please visit our tour styles page.
Accommodation
Our hotels are well-located, modern 3-4 star properties. Porter service is usually available (see 'inclusions') though you should be independent with your luggage. As is the norm in Europe, single rooms are limited in number and likely smaller than twins.
For more information, click on the "Map & Hotels" tab.
Staff and Support
Tour Leader throughout & local guides for town/city touring and for our hikes on which local knowledge and insight are of value and appropriate.
Group Size
Maximum 16 (plus Tour Leader)
Regions visited: Western Europe
Countries visited: Italy
*The red tour trail on the map does not represent the actual travel path.
The following is a list of sample hotels at some locations included on this tour. The hotels shown here are meant to provide a general sense of the standard of hotel we usually aim for; they are not necessarily confirmed for your chosen departure.
The common thread running through every room of the Gioberti Art Hotel is painting and sculpture in particular, which accompany the guest in an immersive artistic experience: for a new concept of hospitality, capable of bringing those traveling to Rome for work and tourism closer to the art and architecture of the most contemporary made in Italy.
Tourcode: XAP
