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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Hidden Gems of Southern Puglia

Eight-day escorted tour of southern Puglia's coastal towns and countryside from London

Illustration of Hidden Gems of Southern Puglia

Great Rail Journeys operates this eight-day escorted tour to Salento, the sun-drenched southern tip of Puglia, Italy. You depart London Heathrow and fly to Brindisi, then settle into Relais Masseria Le Cesine, a beautifully restored 17th-century fortified farmhouse surrounded by olive groves near Vernole. This is your base for the week. From there, coach trips take you to Otranto, a fortified medieval town on the Adriatic coast where you tour the cathedral consecrated in 1088 and its 12th-century mosaic floor. You visit Lecce, known as the Florence of the South for its Baroque and Renaissance architecture, and taste a traditional Leccese coffee made with almond milk. You travel to an 1880 winery for wine tasting and lunch, tour the UNESCO-listed trulli houses of Alberobello, and sail along the Leuca coast where the Ionian and Adriatic seas meet. One full day is left free at the hotel to relax by the pool, walk olive groves, or visit the private beach. A UK Tour Manager guides the group throughout, and most meals and drinks are included in the package.

What to know before you look closer

  • This is not a rail tour; transport is by flight from London and coach throughout Puglia. If you are seeking train travel, confirm with Great Rail Journeys that this matches your expectations.
  • The single supplement is GBP 500 above half the double-occupancy price, a significant premium.
  • Group size can reach 40 people; if you prefer smaller groups, confirm the size of your departure before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Relais Masseria Le Cesine, Vernole

    Arriving in beautiful southern Puglia

    Your Italian holiday begins at London Heathrow, where you meet the Tour Manager and travel group. Together, board the flight to Brindisi Airport. On arrival, a coach transfer takes you to Relais Masseria Le Cesine, built on the site of an ancient farm with a masseria dating back centuries. Relax at one of the three swimming pools, unwind in the spa or take a shuttle to the hotel's private beach. Check in and familiarise yourself with the on-site amenities before the first dinner together.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2overnight: Relais Masseria Le Cesine, Vernole

    Exploring the seaside charms of Otranto

    After breakfast, head to Italy's easternmost city, Otranto. This fortified town sits on the Adriatic coast with thick walls surrounding whitewashed buildings and an imposing castle. Enjoy a guided tour of the historic centre, including entrance to the stunning cathedral consecrated in 1088 and its 12th-century mosaic floor. Return to the hotel for lunch; the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  3. Day 3overnight: Relais Masseria Le Cesine, Vernole

    To the Baroque city of Lecce

    Travel by coach to Lecce, renowned for its Baroque, Renaissance and Romanesque buildings. A guided tour reveals elaborate architecture and winding alleys. Visit Piazza del Duomo and the 17th-century cathedral. Continue to a traditional café for a Leccese coffee (made with almond milk, poured over ice) and a pasticciotto pastry. Free time to explore independently before returning to the hotel for dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  4. Day 4overnight: Relais Masseria Le Cesine, Vernole

    Savouring the flavours of the Salento region

    After breakfast, visit Galatina – a quaint, walkable town with cobbled streets and the frescoed Basilica di Santa Caterina d'Allessandria. Continue to a nearby winery dating to 1880 for a tour of the facility, explanations of cultivation and production, and a tasting of varietals including primitivo and negroamaro. Enjoy a light lunch of traditional breads, puccette with olive oil, taralli, friselline, cured meats and cheeses. Return to the hotel for a relaxing afternoon.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  5. Day 5overnight: Relais Masseria Le Cesine, Vernole

    A free day in undiscovered Puglia's hidden gem

    A full day at leisure. Wander along the walking trail through olive groves, take the hotel shuttle to the private beach for sun and sand, relax by the pool or explore the hotel grounds. Dinner is served at the hotel this evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  6. Day 6overnight: Relais Masseria Le Cesine, Vernole

    The 'trulli' houses of Alberobello

    After breakfast, journey north to Alberobello, famous for its UNESCO-listed limestone trulli houses. En route, stop at Il Frantolio Olive Oil Mill (in operation for nearly 80 years) for a tour and tasting, then visit hilltop Locorotondo for free time. Arrive in Alberobello early afternoon for a guided tour of the cone-shaped trulli homes dating to the 14th century. Return to the hotel for dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  7. Day 7overnight: Relais Masseria Le Cesine, Vernole

    Sailing along the Ionian and Adriatic coasts

    After breakfast, travel to Gallipoli on the Ionian Sea for a two-hour guided tour of its ancient walls and historic centre on an island linked to the mainland by a 17th-century bridge. Continue to Santa María di Leuca at the tip of Italy's heel for free time to admire the lighthouse overlooking the confluence of the Ionian and Adriatic seas and the nearby basilica. Set sail on a boat tour of the Leuca coast, dotted with ancient caves and crystal-clear turquoise waters. Return to the hotel for the final dinner together.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  8. Day 8

    Homeward bound

    The holiday draws to a close with breakfast. A coach transfer takes you to the airport for the flight back to London Heathrow.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Guided tour of Otranto's fortified medieval centre on the Adriatic coast, including the cathedral consecrated in 1088 and its 12th-century mosaic floor.
  • Day 4Wine tasting and light lunch at an authentic Puglian winery dating to 1880, with explanations of cultivation and production of primitivo and negroamaro varietals.
  • Day 6Guided tour of Alberobello's UNESCO-listed cone-shaped trulli houses, with a stop at Il Frantolio Olive Oil Mill for a tour and tasting.
  • Day 7Boat tour along the Leuca coast from Santa Maria di Leuca, where the Ionian and Adriatic seas meet, with views of the lighthouse and nearby basilica.

Included

  • Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 7 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation at Relais Masseria Le Cesine
  • All coach travel throughout the tour
  • Return flights from London Heathrow to Brindisi
  • Breakfast and dinner each day
  • 3 lunches (Days 2, 4, and winery day)
  • Unlimited selected drinks included with dinner (exclusions apply)
  • All guided tours and excursions
  • Entrance to Otranto Cathedral
  • Entrance to Lecce Cathedral
  • Leccese coffee and pasticciotto tasting in Lecce
  • Olive oil tasting at Il Frantolio Olive Oil Mill
  • Wine tasting and light lunch at Puglian winery
  • Boat tour along the Leuca coast
  • Guided tour of Alberobello trulli houses
  • Guided tour of Gallipoli

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

What flights are included?
Return flights from London Heathrow to Brindisi airport are included in the price.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes, a UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from London throughout the eight days.
What are the hotels?
You stay seven nights at Relais Masseria Le Cesine, a restored 17th-century fortified farmhouse near Vernole with a private beach, three pools, and a spa.
What meals are included?
Breakfast and dinner each day are included, plus three lunches on Days 2, 4, and the winery day. Unlimited selected drinks are included with dinner.
When does the tour run?
Departures are scheduled for May, June, September, and October 2027.
What tours and activities are included?
Included are guided tours of Otranto (with cathedral entry), Lecce (with cathedral entry), Alberobello, and Gallipoli; wine tasting and lunch at a winery; olive oil tasting at Il Frantolio Olive Oil Mill; a boat tour of the Leuca coast; and a Leccese coffee and pasticciotto tasting in Lecce.

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