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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.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £150 since 4 Jul, to £1,699.

£1,899£1,6994 Jul12 Sep

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

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: Vernole

    Arriving in beautiful southern Puglia

    Fly from London Heathrow (or Gatwick for the 11th & 18th May departures) with the Tour Manager and group to Brindisi, then transfer by coach to Relais Masseria Le Cesine near Vernole for the first dinner together.

  2. Day 2overnight: Vernole

    Exploring the seaside charms of Otranto

    Guided tour of the fortified coastal town of Otranto, including its cathedral (consecrated 1088) and 12th-century mosaic floor, before returning to the hotel for lunch and a free afternoon.

  3. Day 3overnight: Vernole

    To the Baroque city of Lecce

    Coach to Lecce for a guided tour of its Baroque architecture, Piazza del Duomo and cathedral, plus a traditional cafe stop for Leccese coffee and pasticciotto, with free time to explore independently.

  4. Day 4overnight: Vernole

    Savouring the flavours of the Salento region

    Free time to explore the town of Galatina, including the Basilica di Santa Caterina d'Allessandria, followed by a tour and tasting at a winery dating to 1880 with a light regional lunch.

  5. Day 5overnight: Vernole

    A free day in undiscovered Puglia's hidden gem

    A full day at leisure at the hotel, with its olive-grove walking trail and private beach shuttle.

  6. Day 6overnight: Vernole

    The 'trulli' houses of Alberobello

    Visit Il Frantolio Olive Oil Mill, free time in hilltop Locorotondo, then a guided exploration of Alberobello's UNESCO-listed conical trulli houses dating to the 14th century.

  7. Day 7overnight: Vernole

    Sailing along the Ionian and Adriatic coasts

    Guided tour of Gallipoli's historic centre and ancient walls, free time in Santa Maria di Leuca, and a boat tour of the Leuca coast's caves and turquoise waters.

  8. Day 8

    Homeward bound

    Breakfast at the hotel, then a coach transfer to the airport for the flight back to London Heathrow.

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
  • All coach travel throughout the tour
  • Return flights from London Heathrow or London Gatwick to Brindisi
  • Breakfast and dinner each day, 3 lunches
  • Unlimited selected drinks included with dinner (exclusions apply)
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?
From £1,699 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,295 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
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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