3 days, 2 nights · Best for Baroque cities, cave dwellings and Apulia's whitewashed hill towns
Apulia and Sassi of Matera Mini Escorted Tour | Vacation Packages for 2025, 2026
Discover Sorrento, Lecce, Matera and Alberobello as caves, whitewashed towns and unique trulli create an enchanting journey through southern Italy.
Your Adventure Starts Here
This is a starting point. Change the nights, choose the style of hotel, add the experiences you want. Your planner takes it from there.
Stop 1Noci, Apulia
Noci
Trulli, baroque towns and cave dwellings
Your base for two nights sits in the Valle d'Itria, the limestone plateau that holds Apulia's most distinctive architecture. From Noci you reach the conical trulli of Alberobello, the white circles of Locorotondo, and the hilltop jumble of Ostuni without crossing the same ground twice. The town itself keeps a working rhythm, its centro storico lined with bakeries turning out focaccia barese and pasticciotti filled with custard.
We arrange your coach travel, cave entry, city tours and coastal visits while you sleep in a traditional masseria or a renovated trullo. Mornings begin with a buffet breakfast before the group departs; evenings and most lunches remain yours to spend as you choose.
Arranged for you: Coach transfers from Sorrento, guided tour of Castellana Caves, visits to Locorotondo and Alberobello, guided walking tour of Lecce, visits to Gallipoli and Ostuni, daily buffet breakfast
Your hotel
Styles, not names. We name the property once we know your dates and your party.
Interests in Noci
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Private pasta-making class in a Valle d'Itria home Day Trips · Half day
Learn to shape orecchiette and cavatelli with a local cook, then sit down to the lunch you've made, paired with Apulian wine.
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Olive oil tasting at a working frantoio Day Trips · Half day
Tour a family-run mill during harvest season and taste estate oils alongside fresh bread, learning to distinguish varietals by nose and palate.
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Guided e-bike tour through the trulli countryside Day Trips · Half day
Ride quiet farm roads past vineyards and stone walls to reach hill towns and rural masserie, stopping for tastings along the way.
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Private wine tour of Primitivo and Negroamaro estates Day Trips · Half day
Visit two or three vineyards in the Gioia del Colle or Salice Salentino zones, tasting the region's signature reds in their cellars.
Day by day in Noci
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.
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
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.
Why plan with Trips 2 Italy?
Designed around you by Italian-born planners
Guides, drivers and boats for your party alone
Hand-selected hotels in every destination
Local English-speaking guides who know their city
Met at the airport, private transfers throughout
Testimonials
Hear from travelers who have planned Italy with us
They took the time to understand our preferences and designed an itinerary that was comfortable, personalized, and enjoyable. They offered thoughtful recommendations while never being pushy.
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Questions travelers ask
What destinations does this package visit?
Over 3 days this journey brings you to Alberobello, Castellana Caves, Gallipoli, Lecce, Locorotondo, and Ostuni. Each stop is woven into the itinerary with time for the landmarks, the views, and the local flavor that make it special.
How is transportation handled on this trip?
Transportation is arranged as part of the itinerary, with comfortable train segments between the cities and vehicle transfers where they serve you best. Every connection is planned for you, so you can focus on the scenery instead of the logistics.
Who will enjoy this itinerary most?
It suits travelers who enjoy the ease of an escorted experience, with sightseeing arranged and a group to share it with.
Can we tailor this trip to our wishes?
Yes. This sample itinerary is a starting point, and every Trips 2 Italy package is fully customizable. Your travel consultant will adjust the destinations, hotel category, pace, and experiences to fit your plans. A minimum of 2 travelers applies.
When is the best time to take this trip?
The package is available all year around on request. Late spring through early fall is prime time on the coast, with warm seas and long evenings, while April, May, September, and October pair gentle weather with quieter towns.