How much does it cost?

From £1,199 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $1,620 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is train travel included?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes standard class regional train travel between Monopoli and Lecce, and to Bari, as well as all coach transfers throughout the tour.

Is this an escorted tour?

Yes. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from London Gatwick through the entire holiday. Guided tours of Lecce and Bari are included; other days allow independent exploration.

When does the tour run?

Great Rail Journeys operates six departures in 2027: April, May, June, August, September and October. Price is GBP 1,299 (approximately USD 1,735) for all departures.

What accommodation is provided?

Seven nights at the Pietrablu Resort and Spa, a four-star hotel in Polignano a Mare with extensive grounds, pools, private golden-sand beach and spa facilities (available late May to late September).

Are regional departures available?

Yes. Passengers can depart from regional UK airports; private transfers are arranged. UK rail connections from your local station are available as optional extras with fully flexible tickets.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Simply Puglia

Eight-day escorted Puglia coastal escape from London with trains and guided tours

Great Rail Journeys operates Simply Puglia, an eight-day escorted holiday in southern Italy based at a four-star beachside hotel near Polignano a Mare on the Adriatic coast. Departing from London Gatwick, the tour combines guided exploration of three historic cities with leisurely free days for independent discovery. Days unfold between the coastal hotel and visits to Lecce, celebrated as 'the Florence of the South' for its Baroque architecture; Bari, where Roman and Byzantine heritage fills the old port city; and the UNESCO-listed trulli homes of Alberobello, with their distinctive cone-shaped stone houses built from the 14th century. Regional trains connect the main destinations, while coach transfers and a Tour Manager handle logistics throughout. All meals and an unlimited drinks package are included, along with access to the hotel's private beach, pools and spa. Free days allow you to relax in place, explore Polignano's clifftop lanes, or venture independently to neighbouring coastal towns such as the white-walled city of Ostuni.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £100 since 4 Jul, to £1,199.

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

The group size can reach 40 people, which may limit the intimacy of some guided experiences
Most free days require independent exploration; unguided travel on regional trains is suggested but not arranged
The hotel is described as set 'a short drive' from Polignano a Mare, not in the town centre itself

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Polignano a Mare
Flying direct to Italy's Adriatic coast
We meet the Tour Manager and travel group at London Gatwick and fly direct to Bari, then transfer to our hotel near Polignano a Mare, a four-star property with a private golden-sand beach and spa (available late May to late September). We enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel.
Day 2overnight: Polignano a Mare
Exploring Polignano a Mare
A morning at leisure at the hotel, then after lunch a short drive to Polignano a Mare to explore its whitewashed streets, coastline and Lama Monachile beach. We return to the hotel for dinner.
Day 3railovernight: Polignano a Mare
Discovering the historic city of Lecce
We travel by train from Monopoli to Lecce for a guided tour of its Baroque architecture, finishing with a traditional Leccese coffee and pastry. A free afternoon follows before returning by train and coach to the hotel for dinner.
Day 4railovernight: Polignano a Mare
A day at leisure in Puglia
A free day to relax at the hotel or explore independently, with the option of a train trip to the whitewashed hill town of Ostuni. Lunch and dinner are available at the hotel restaurant.
Day 5railovernight: Polignano a Mare
Touring the port city of Bari
We travel by train to Bari for a guided tour of the old town, including the Basilica di San Nicola and the Swabian Castle, with free time to continue exploring before returning to the hotel by train and coach for dinner.
Day 6overnight: Polignano a Mare
A free day to enjoy the laid-back Puglian atmosphere
A day at leisure at the hotel's pools or private beach, with the option of a taxi or shuttle to the old quarter of Monopoli. Dinner at the hotel this evening.
Day 7overnight: Polignano a Mare
Viewing the 'trulli' houses of Alberobello
A coach trip to Alberobello to see its UNESCO-listed 'trulli' houses, with free time to explore before returning to the hotel for lunch. The afternoon is free before our final dinner in Italy.
Day 8
Homeward bound
A relaxed morning before we transfer by coach in the afternoon to Bari airport for our return flight to London Gatwick.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Afternoon walk through Polignano a Mare's whitewashed streets and visit to the Blue Flag beach at Lama Monachile, set in a limestone cove
Day 3Guided tour of Lecce's Baroque, Renaissance and Romanesque buildings, ending with traditional Leccese coffee and pastry at a local café
Day 5Train journey to Bari and guided tour of the Old Town exploring the 11th-century Basilica di San Nicola and Swabian Castle
Day 7Coach excursion to Alberobello to explore the UNESCO-listed cone-shaped trulli houses that spread across the hillsides

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
7 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
Standard Class rail travel
All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
Return flights from London Gatwick and Bari
Regional departures available
Breakfast, lunch & dinner each day
Unlimited drinks package each day between 10am-10pm in Polignano a Mare (exclusions apply)
Unlimited consumption of a selection of sweet & savoury snacks between 10am-10pm in Polignano a Mare
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £1,199 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $1,620 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes standard class regional train travel between Monopoli and Lecce, and to Bari, as well as all coach transfers throughout the tour.
Is this an escorted tour?: Yes. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from London Gatwick through the entire holiday. Guided tours of Lecce and Bari are included; other days allow independent exploration.
When does the tour run?: Great Rail Journeys operates six departures in 2027: April, May, June, August, September and October. Price is GBP 1,299 (approximately USD 1,735) for all departures.
What accommodation is provided?: Seven nights at the Pietrablu Resort and Spa, a four-star hotel in Polignano a Mare with extensive grounds, pools, private golden-sand beach and spa facilities (available late May to late September).
Are regional departures available?: Yes. Passengers can depart from regional UK airports; private transfers are arranged. UK rail connections from your local station are available as optional extras with fully flexible tickets.