Italy Coastal Puglia Hiking

Itinerary download itinerary

• Day01

  Welcome to Puglia & Hike on the Appian Way

  Meet your guides at the Brindisi airport in the early afternoon and transfer to your nearby hotel. Take time to check in and enjoy the grounds before a very short transfer to Messagne, the starting point of our warm-up hike. Messagne lies directly on the ancient Appian Way, in a region inhabited by the 3rd century BC Messapians, an Iapygian tribe. After our hike, we'll return to the hotel for our first taste of the region's fresh cuisine.

  • Accommodation: Grande Albergo Internazionale
  • Activity: 2-3 hours/3 miles hiking with marginal elevation gain and loss
  • Transportation: 1-hour private van transfer
  • Meals: Dinner
• Day02

  Hike the Murge Ostunesi & Explore the Whitewashed City of Ostuni

  After breakfast at the hotel, start your adventure sipping coffee with the locals in the town of Cisternino. From Cisternino, hike onto the Ostunnesi Plateau towards Ostuni. In the woods, on hidden trails, walk past centennial olive trees, one of the most genetically diverse species in the olive family. In the afternoon, explore the three-hilled city of Ostuni, with its whitewashed houses and verdant surrounding countryside. Return to Brindisi in the afternoon with some time to relax before a gourmet fish dinner.

  • Accommodation: Grande Albergo Internazionale
  • Activity: 3-4 hours/6 miles hiking with marginal elevation gain
  • Transportation: 1-hour private van transfer
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day03

  Hike to Magical Alberobello & Taste Olive Oils at a Local Farm

  After another memorable breakfast at our hotel, transfer west to the farming town of Noci, located in the middle of the wooded Itria Valley, past scattered fortified farmhouses. Stop to visit the historic Barsento Farm and its 6th century church, founded by Sant' Equizio. Continue hiking through fields of almond trees, wildflowers and playful donkeys. After picnic on the trail, hike to Alberobello, known for its trulli, the region's charming stone huts, and taste olive oils at a local farm. Tonight is on your own to explore Brindisi.

  • Accommodation: Grande Albergo Internazionale
  • Activity: 4-5 hours/7 miles hiking with marginal elevation gain
  • Transportation: 1-hour private van transfer
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Day04

  Discover Lecce

  Say arrivederci to Brindisi as our group heads towards Lecce, the main town of Salento, known as one of the capitals of the Baroque style in Europe for its unique churches and elegant buildings. Enjoy a private, guided tour of historic Lecce. Then, take some free time to explore and enjoy lunch on your own. This afternoon, transfer to Otranto to experience its Greek and Byzantine influences from the seaside Masseria dei Monaci, your home for the next two nights. Dine on the Masseria's delicious local farm-to-table fare.

  • Accommodation: Masseria dei Monaci
  • Activity: 3-hour guided walking tour
  • Transportation: 1-hour private van transfer
  • Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
• Day05

  Hike from Orte to Palascia

  Enjoy a relaxing day hiking the idyllic coastal trail from the Masseria Orte to the lighthouse in Palascia. The region's bauxite soils paint the landscape red, creating a spectacular scene of contrasts between the emerald green lake and the abandoned bauxite quarries. Learn to identify rare trailside plants such as the yellow salvione, thyme and the Adriatic vincetossico. End the hike on a high note at the Palascia Lighthouse with unforgettable views of the Adriatic Sea. Return to Otranto late afternoon to enjoy a glass of Negroamaro before dinner.

  • Accommodation: Masseria dei Monaci
  • Activity: 3 hours/4 miles hiking with 260' of elevation gain and loss
  • Transportation: 30-minute private van transfer
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day06

  Hike to Santa Maria di Leuca & Learn Pirate Lore in Gallipoli

  Leaving Ottranto, drive along beautiful coastline towards Santa Maria di Leuca, Puglia's southern tip, the Finibus Terrae. Hike to the mystical Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Leuca, the merging point of the Adriatic and the Ionian Seas. Descend 500 steps at the Christian via Petrina, and explore the Canale delle Menghe. Visit the Saracen tower of "Omo Morto" and Grotta Porcinara, and hear legends of its ancient pirates and fishermen. End your hike with a refreshing swim in Gallipoli's Green Bay. Enjoy a free night on your own in Gallipoli.

  • Accommodation: Hotel Palazzo del Corso
  • Activity: 4-5 hours/7 miles hiking with marginal elevation gain
  • Transportation: 1-hour private van transfer
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Day07

  Explore Gallipoli & Hike the Gravina di Riggio

  Start the day exploring Gallipoli, a fortified city whose high walls have protected it from Eastern invaders for centuries. After a morning transfer, start at a trailhead northwest of Gallipoli to hike through the Riggio Ravine, along a deep canyon, rich in olive trees, shrubs, grottos and 10th century frescoes, stopping for lunch along the way. This afternoon, discover Grottaglie, a town rich in clay and known for its ceramics. Enjoy an unforgettable farewell dinner cooked by Zia Marcella, a local legend celebrated for her hearty family fare — the perfect ending to this magical week!

  • Accommodation: Hotel Palazzo del Corso
  • Activity: 2 hours/2 miles hiking with marginal elevation gain
  • Transportation: 2.5-hour private van transfer
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Day08

  Return to Brindisi

  After breakfast, board your van for a transfer back to the Brindisi airport, and bid arrivederci to Puglia.

  • Transportation: 1-hour private van transfer
  • Meals: Breakfast