Discover Sorrento, Lecce, Matera and Alberobello as caves, whitewashed towns and unique trulli create an enchanting journey through southern Italy.
Starting from $1106 per person.
Apulia and Sassi of Matera Mini Escorted Tour | Vacation Packages for 2025 – 2026
3 Days/2 Nights
Starting from
$1106
per person*
Apulia and Sassi of Matera Mini Escorted Tour | Vacation Packages for 2025 – 2026
Unforgettable Italian Journeys, Designed for You
Curated by passionate Italy experts, this sample itinerary is just the beginning of your Italian adventure. Every journey we design is unique, crafted around your interests, pace, and dreams so you can experience Italy’s beauty and culture like a true insider. Let us transform your vision into a one-of-a-kind travel experience, filled with authentic moments and lasting memories
Day 1
SORRENTO – CASTELLANA CAVES – LOCOROTONDO – ALBEROBELLO – NOCI
Sun-Kissed Villages and Coastal Charm
- Early morning pickup in Sorrento (designated meeting point or hotel, depending on location)
- Travel into Apulia for a guided visit of the Castellana Caves
- Walking tour inside the caves (about 2 miles): stalactites, stalagmites, fossils, canyons, crystal formations
- Free time for lunch at leisure
- Visit Locorotondo: hilltop historic center, traditional cummerse houses
- Wine tasting at a local cellar in Locorotondo
- Continue to Alberobello to see the UNESCO‑listed trulli houses
- Evening arrival in Noci, dinner, and overnight at a local hotel
Day 2
NOCI – LECCE – GALLIPOLI – OSTUNI – NOCI
Cultural Treasures, Baroque Wonders, and Coastal Delights
- Buffet breakfast at the hotel in Noci
- Travel to Lecce, the “Florence of the South”
- Walking tour of Lecce’s baroque city center: Celestini Palace, statue of St. Oronzo, Roman amphitheater, Basilica of Santa Croce
- Free time for lunch at leisure
- Continue to Gallipoli, a historic seaside town on the Ionian Sea
- Leisurely lunch opportunity by the sea, tasting local Apulian cuisine
- Visit Ostuni, the “White Town,” with its whitewashed buildings and historic lanes
- Return to Noci for dinner and overnight at the hotel
Day 3
NOCI – MATERA – SORRENTO or ROME
From Hilltop Villages to Cave Marvels and Coastal Charm
- Buffet breakfast at the hotel in Noci
- Depart for Matera, one of Italy’s oldest continuously inhabited settlements
- Guided visit of the Sassi di Matera cave districts (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Learn about the cave dwellings carved into the rock and their Paleolithic origins
- See locations used in films such as “The Passion of the Christ,” “The Nativity Story,” and “The Gospel According to St. Matthew”
- Free time for a snack at leisure in Matera
- Return journey via Pompeii to either Sorrento or Rome
- Arrival in Sorrento or Rome marks the end of the tour and services
MAKE THIS ITINERARY YOURS
Turn this sample itinerary into your dream Italy vacation – tailored to your pace, passions, and budget.
Day 1
SORRENTO – CASTELLANA CAVES – LOCOROTONDO – ALBEROBELLO – NOCI
Sun-Kissed Villages and Coastal Charm
Your Apulia adventure begins with an early morning pickup in Sorrento, either at a central meeting point or directly at your hotel, depending on its location. Travel by coach into the heart of southern Italy to the spectacular Castellana Caves, a vast underground system discovered in 1938. During a guided walking tour of nearly two miles, you’ll learn to distinguish stalactites from stalagmites while admiring fossils, stone formations, canyons, and glittering crystal structures. After a short lunch break at leisure, continue to the whitewashed hilltop town of Locorotondo, known for its circular historic center and unique cummerse houses with tall, sloping roofs designed to collect rainwater. Here, you’ll enjoy a wine tasting at a local cellar and sample some of Apulia’s renowned wines. The journey then continues to Alberobello, where you’ll explore the famous trulli—traditional conical stone huts that are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In the evening, arrive in Noci, a small town with Norman origins, where you’ll enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at a local hotel.
Day 2
NOCI – LECCE – GALLIPOLI – OSTUNI – NOCI
Cultural Treasures, Baroque Wonders, and Coastal Delights
After a rich buffet breakfast at your hotel, depart for Lecce, one of Apulia’s most beautiful cities and often called the “Florence of the South” for its extraordinary baroque architecture. A guided walking tour of the historic center showcases highlights such as the ornate Celestini Palace, the statue of St. Oronzo, the 2nd‑century Roman amphitheater, and the Basilica of Santa Croce with its richly decorated façade and Corinthian columns. Enjoy free time for lunch before continuing to Gallipoli, a charming seaside town with ancient roots and views over the turquoise Ionian Sea. After a leisurely lunch break—perhaps sampling fresh seafood and local specialties—you’ll travel to Ostuni, known as the “White Town” for its whitewashed houses and narrow, winding streets. Stroll through this atmospheric hilltop village and soak in the classic Mediterranean scenery. In the evening, return to Noci, where you’ll have dinner and a peaceful overnight stay at your hotel.
Day 3
NOCI – MATERA – SORRENTO or ROME
From Hilltop Villages to Cave Marvels and Coastal Charm
Following another satisfying buffet breakfast, depart Noci for Matera, a city often considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in Italy. Here you’ll explore the famous Sassi di Matera, two ancient districts made up of cave dwellings carved directly into the cliffs. Believed to have been inhabited since the Paleolithic Era, these rock‑hewn homes and churches create a dramatic, almost biblical landscape that has attracted numerous filmmakers. As you walk through this UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll recognize settings from films such as “The Passion of the Christ” (2004), “The Nativity Story” (2006), and “The Gospel According to St. Matthew” (1964). There will be time for a snack at leisure before you begin the return journey, traveling via Pompeii en route back to either Sorrento or Rome. Arrival in Sorrento or Rome marks the conclusion of your Apulia and Matera tour and the end of our services.
This Package Includes:
– Transportation by Deluxe motor coach as per itinerary;
– Accommodation in 4 Star Category Hotels in double/twin rooms with private facilities;
– Daily Buffet Breakfast;
– 2 Dinners as per itinerary;
– Multilingual Tour-Escort;
– Panoramic Visits as per itinerary;
– Return to Rome via Tour bus (optional).
– Vat Taxes and service Charges.
This Package Does Not Include:
– All Land & Air prices: Additional U.S. & Foreign Departure Taxes and Surcharges Fee(s) assessed by the Airlines.
-Hospitality city tax which varies by city and hotel category. If applicable it has to be paid locally to the hotel.
– Beverages.
– Porterage service.
– Other Entrance Fees to Monuments or Museums, Tips, Extras.
– All which is not listed under PACKAGE INCLUDES.
Terms and Conditions:
All departure are Guaranteed.
Due to logistic reasons, the itinerary can be reversed.
(*) Rate based on two adult persons sharing a double or twin bedded room with private bathroom. Single rooms are available at an additional supplement. Childrens, triple room rates and alternative accommodation arrangements are available upon request. (Additional and different charges may apply).