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We are pleased to announce another edition of our Basilicata & Puglia Highlights 5-day tour by air between Friday 27 and Tuesday 31 March 2026We have been organising our Puglia tours since 2019, adding tours to Basilicata in 2024. We are always keen to return to these beautiful regions in Southern Italy, which have always mesmerised us for their wonderful scenery, architecture, culture and cuisine. On this tour, you will be able to savour the festive atmosphere at the various towns and villages we will be visiting in Puglia, from the beautiful countryside of Alberobello and its famous “trulli”, to the beauty of its tranquil villages such as Ostuni, Locorotondo and Cisternino, to the marine landscapes of places such as Bari, Otranto and Polignano a Mare and much more. We will also be visiting the neighbouring region of Basilicata, where we will visit Matera, which is the third oldest continuously inhabited city in the world and the scene of various cinematic masterpieces, such as The Passion of the Christ, starring Mel Gibson, and No Time to Die, starring Daniel Craig, which is also the last instalment in the popular 007 James Bond series. Our culinary adventures will definitely go beyond the savouring of the traditional orechiette, taralli and the local Primitivo and Aglianico wines. We are sure that you will return back home enriched with a better knowledge of what this particular corner of Italy has to offer.
Limited seats are available on this tour and, as always, booking will be on a first come first served basis.
Visiting: Alberobello, Locorotondo, Cisternino, Ostuni, Grotte di Castellana, Matera, Gravina in Puglia, Altamura, Polignano a Mare, Otranto, Lecce, Bari Vecchia, Bari.
Full programme
Friday 27 March 2026
Meet at 4:00am at Malta International Airport for check in and embarkation on Ryanair flight FR7108 to Bari departing at 6:50am. Arrival in Bari at 7:10am. On arrival, we will board our private coach and head towards Alberobello, arriving there at around 8:30am. Alberobello was named a UNESCO world heritage site in 1996 and is known for its “Trulli”, which are small limestone houses made with dry walls, similar to our own “hitan tas-sejjieh”, and topped with a conical roof. They are an exceptional form of unique building construction deriving from prehistoric techniques that have survived intact and are still functioning in the modern world. Alberobello is located at 428 metres above sea level. On arrival in Alberobello, we will walk from the coach parking area towards the historical centre located around 400 metres away, following which we will enjoy some free time for breakfast at one of the eateries in the historical centre (not included in tour price). We will then proceed to visit various interesting parts of this pretty town, including the Rione Monti quarter, with its unique townscape of different trullis, such as the Trullo Siamese and the trullo-style Church of St Anthony of Padova. Such buildings make Alberobello the only historical centre in the world with an entire quarter of trulli. We will enjoy free time in this area of Alberobello, following which we will then cross over to the other side of town where we will visit the Trullo Sovrano (entrance included in tour price), which is the only trullo spread on two floors, the Basilica of San Cosma and San Damiano, known as the “medical doctor” saints and more. Departure at around 12:00pm to the pretty medieval village of Cisternino, which is included in the “Borghi piu’ Belli d’Italia” list, arriving there at around 12:30pm. Your tour guide will guide you through the five contrade (neighborhoods) of the town, where we will be able to admire the winding alleyways, churches and public garden, enjoying views over the expansive Valle d’Itria. Free time, including free time for lunch (not included in tour price) in Cisternino, which is also renowned for its various osterie, where the speciality is grilled meat but where you can also find other mouth-watering local Apulian dishes. At around 3:00pm, we will board our coach to visit the nearby town of Locorotondo, also listed in the “Borghi piu’ Belli d’Italia” list and located just 10 km away. This town is considered as another gem in the beautiful Valle d’Itria and here we will be able to visit the historical centre with its various attractive buildinga. Free time in Locorotondo. Late afternoon transfer to Taranto. Check in at our hotel, the exquisite four star Hotel Ara Solis (https://www.arasolishotel.com) located in Taranto. Allocation of rooms, followed by Dinner at the Hotel.
Saturday 28 March 2026
Buffet breakfast at the hotel, followed by departure to the grotte at Castellana Grotte. Here we will be able to visit (entrance included in tour price) the Grotte di Castellana, which were discovered in 1938. The caves began to form 90 million years ago and during our visit we will be going down to a depth of around 70 metres underground, where we will experience stalactites, stalagmites, concretions, incredible shapes, fossils, canyons and caves during a spectacular 3 kilometre underground walk which will take around 1 hour and a half. The Caves are also known for being the stage of various theatrical representations of Dante’s Inferno which are held frequently here. Late morning departure to Ostuni, the “white city” which evokes the style of the Peublos Blancos (White Villages) of Andalucia in Spain. Ostuni is the panoramic town “par excellence” of Puglia located at an altitude of 218 metres above sea level just 8km from the Adriatic Coast. It is said that here every house is a belvedere. On arrival in Ostuni, we will have free time for lunch (not included in tour price) in the historical centre. We will then meet after lunch where we will be able to explore together the historical centre and its cute alleyways, whilst appreciating various buildings such as the Basilica, the Aragonese Walls, the Obelisk of Sant’ Oronzo, the Scoppa Arch and much more. Free time in Ostuni, followed by late afternoon departure to our hotel. Free time at the Hotel, followed by dinner at the Hotel.
Sunday 29 March 2026
Buffet breakfast at our hotel, followed by departure at around 9:15am to Gravina in Puglia, nestled in the Parco Nazionale dell’ Alta Murgia, arriving there at around 10:15am. Here we will enjoy a short coffee break in the historical centre, before proceeding to the picturesque canyon in order to see the unique aqueduct bridge which was also used for the last James Bond film “No Time to Die”. (Click to see this scene). Free time in Gravina in Puglia. Coach transfer at around 12:15pm to Matera, arriving there at around 12:45pm. On arrival in Matera, we will visit the old cistern which was discovered recently (entrance fee included in tour price). Free time for lunch (not included in tour price). After lunch we will proceed to tour the famous “Sassi di Matera”, which is an intricate network of cave houses which form the city of Matera and which make Matera the world’s third oldest continuously inhabited city dating back to the Paleolithic age around 10000 years BC. Free time in Matera for further personal sightseeing. Departure from Matera at around 5:30pm to the medieval town of Altamura, arriving there at around 6:00pm. According to an ancient legend, Altamura's former name was Altilia, from Alter Ilium, the "other Troy”. According to a legend, it was founded by Antellus, a friend of Aeneas and also a fugitive from the Asian city of Troy destroyed by the Greeks. Another legend attributes the foundation to Althea, queen of the Myrmidons. Here we will visit the historical centre, Including the Cathedral built by emperor Federico II in 1232. Free time in Altamura. followed by late afternoon departure to our hotel. Dinner at the Hotel.
Monday 30 March 2026
Buffet breakfast at our hotel, followed by departure at around 9:15am to Gravina in Puglia, nestled in the Parco Nazionale dell’ Alta Murgia, arriving there at around 10:15am. Here we will enjoy a short coffee break in the historical centre, before proceeding to the picturesque canyon in order to see the unique aqueduct bridge which was also used for the last James Bond film “No Time to Die”. (Click to see this scene). Free time in Gravina in Puglia. Coach transfer at around 12:15pm to Matera, arriving there at around 12:45pm. On arrival in Matera, we will visit the old cistern which was discovered recently (entrance fee included in tour price). Free time for lunch (not included in tour price). After lunch we will proceed to tour the famous “Sassi di Matera”, which is an intricate network of cave houses which form the city of Matera and which make Matera the world’s third oldest continuously inhabited city dating back to the Paleolithic age around 10000 years BC. Free time in Matera for further personal sightseeing. Departure from Matera at around 5:30pm to the medieval town of Altamura, arriving there at around 6:00pm. According to an ancient legend, Altamura's former name was Altilia, from Alter Ilium, the "other Troy”. According to a legend, it was founded by Antellus, a friend of Aeneas and also a fugitive from the Asian city of Troy destroyed by the Greeks. Another legend attributes the foundation to Althea, queen of the Myrmidons. Here we will visit the historical centre, Including the Cathedral built by emperor Federico II in 1232. Free time in Altamura. followed by late afternoon departure to our hotel. Dinner at the Hotel.
Tuesday 31 March 2026
Buffet breakfast at the Hotel, followed by check out from the Hotel. Departure from the Hotel at around 9:30am to Polignano a Mare, arriving there at around 10:15am. The jagged coastline of Polignano a Mare is one of the most beautiful in Puglia as a result of its very steep slopes. We will visit the beautiful historical centre, replete with signs of the Arab, Byzantine, Spanish and Norman cultures. Here we will enjoy the beautiful alleys of the old town, the Lama Monachile bridge, which doubles up every year as the theatre for the only Italian location within the Red Bull Cliff Diving circuit, the picturesque Piazza dell’ Orologio, the statue dedicated to one of Polignano a Mare’s greatest sons - the legendary singer Domenico Modugno known for his famous Volare / Nel blu dipinto di blu which, since 1958, has gradually morphed into a second Italian national anthem much loved by one and all - and much more. Free time in Polignano a Mare. Departure at around 12:30pm to Bari. On arrival in Bari, we will have free time for lunch (not included in tour price) which can be taken at one of the many eateries in the historical centre. We will then meet at around 3:30pm to visit Bari Vecchia, the old town which until a few decades ago was considered off limits for the tourist due to local criminality: all that has thankfully changed now. We will proceed to visit the Basilica of San Nicola (entrance included in tour price), patron saint for mariners and for girls, where the remains of the co-patron saint of Bari have been kept since the year 1087, when 62 sailors from Bari, in a keenly fought race against other sailors from Venice, managed to retrieve the saint’s body from the city of Myra, in what is today Turkey, following the fall of the city to the Ottomans. We will then proceed to visit the Duomo dedicated to San Sabino (entrance not included in tour price), the town’s other co-patron saint, before proceeding to view the imposing Castello Normanno Svevo. Free time in Bari, including free time for further personal sightseeing, such as the Teatro Petruzzelli, as also to visit the high street shops on the pedestrian Via Sparano. Departure towards Bari airport at around 9:00pm, arriving there in time for check in and embarkation on Ryanair flight FR7107 departing at 11:50pm arriving in Malta at 1:10am on Wednesday morning.
Price :
Adults: €899
Children aged 2 to under 12 years : €669
Children aged up to under 2 years : €150
Price includes:
Direct Ryanair flight Malta-Bari-Malta including one 10kg cabin or checked luggage maximum dimensions 55cm x 40cm x 20cm and one small bag maximum dimensions 40cm x 20cm x 25cm
Taxes and airport charges
All transfers and excursions in Puglia by private coach which stays with us throughout our stay
Accomodation on Half Board basis in twin or double room sharing including buffet breakfast and three course dinner inclusive of local wine and mineral water at our hotel, the exquisite four star Hotel Ara Polis (https://www.arasolishotel.com) located in Taranto. All rooms with bathroom or shower ensute.
Entrance to Trullo Sovrano in Alberobello
Entrance to Grotte di Castellana
Entrance to Old Cistern in Matera
City tax on hotel stays
Service of Go Sicily Travel tour leader
Insolvency Fund certificate
Other:
Single Room Supplement: €90 per person
Reserved seat on Ryanair flight: €10 each way
Payment terms:
Deposit of €100 per person on confirmation
Balance by 10 March 2026 or immediately on booking for bookings (subject to availability) made after 10 March 2026
COVID-19 measures:
At www.gosicilytravel.com, we pride ourselves in offering quality experiences which are fully compliant with COVID-19 requirements whilst at the same time ensuring that our guests have an enjoyable experience
COVID vaccination certificates or swab tests are not required to travel to Italy and back to Malta with effect from 25 July 2022. The compilation of Passenger Locator Forms is also not required.
Terms and conditions:
Link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2316066091759498&type=3
Refund policy:
A 100% cash refund applies if the flight is cancelled due to new COVID-19 measures.
For enquiries and bookings please contact us on:
Mobile: 79742459
or
email: [email protected]
or
via Facebook message
or
visit us (by prior appointment on 79742459) at our offices at
Go Sicily Travel, Cube Office Suites, 154, Eucharistic Congress Road, Mosta (road in front of Mosta Dome, around ten doors up from Partit Laburista club on the left hand side in the direction of Valletta)
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