Secrets of Puglia — Self-Launched
9 days · Puglia & Basilicata, Italy
Blue-Roads Touring charges £2,790
No-markup version: ~£960 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Blue-Roads Touring's 9-day "Secrets of Puglia" loop from Naples — same stops (Bari, Polignano a Mare, Alberobello, Castellana Caves, Lecce, Manduria, Itria Valley, Ostuni, Matera, Altamura) but using Italy's excellent and cheap rail/bus network instead of a private minicoach. You'll stay in hostels, guesthouses and budget B&Bs, join small-group walking tours and food experiences booked direct or via GetYourGuide/Klook, and eat like a local. All costs are rough backpacker/budget estimates in GBP and will vary by season.
Day-by-day
Arrive Naples — pizza and old-town wandering
Naples
Fly or train into Naples and check into a hostel or budget B&B in the centro storico or near Piazza Bellini. Spend the afternoon walking Spaccanapoli and the Quartieri Spagnoli, then do the classic Naples welcome dinner: a margherita at a historic pizzeria (Sorbillo, Da Michele or similar) with a cold Peroni — the DIY answer to the tour's welcome dinner. Book your onward Bari train tonight for tomorrow morning (Trenitalia Frecciarossa/Frecciargento, ~2h, from ~£15 if booked in advance; slower Intercity from ~£12).
🚌Airport Alibus to city centre ~£4.50 or Metro Linea 1
🛏Hostel dorm or budget B&B in central Naples, ~£25-30
- →Self-guided walk of Spaccanapoli and Quartieri Spagnoli
- →Naples pizza dinner in the centro storico
Naples to Bari — mozzarella, old town and the sea
Bari
Morning train to Bari (2h). Drop bags at your guesthouse in Bari Vecchia or near the station. Do a cheap self-guided loop of Bari Vecchia: the narrow lanes where nonnas roll orecchiette, Bari Cathedral, the Basilica di San Nicola and the lungomare. For the cheese-tasting experience, book a small-group burrata/mozzarella workshop or simply visit a caseificio in the countryside around Bari/Valenzano — many run 1-hour tastings or you can join a GetYourGuide 'Bari street food' walk (~£25-35) that covers focaccia barese, panzerotti and cheese. Evening: swim or chill at Pane e Pomodoro beach or a bar by the port.
🚌Naples–Bari train ~£15-20
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Bari Vecchia/station area, ~£30
- →Self-guided Bari Vecchia walk (cathedral, basilica, orecchiette lanes)
- →Burrata & mozzarella tasting (caseificio visit or Bari street food tour via GetYourGuide)
Polignano a Mare — cliffs, coves and octopus
Polignano a Mare
Take the regional train from Bari to Polignano a Mare (25 min, ~£2.50) — a much cheaper option than relocating hotels. Base yourself here for two nights in a guesthouse or the town's small hostel. Explore the clifftop old town, the balcony viewpoints over Lama Monachile beach, and walk the coastal path to the rocky coves for a swim if it's warm. Lunch or dinner on fresh seafood — grilled octopus, plus a plate of riso patate e cozze (rice, potato and mussels). Hire a kayak or join a 2-hour boat trip along the caves (~£25) if you want the water perspective.
🚌Bari–Polignano regional train ~£2.50
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Polignano a Mare, ~£32
- →Self-guided cliff and Lama Monachile walk
- →Optional sea-cave boat trip or kayak (~£25)
- →Seafood dinner in the old town
Alberobello trulli + Castellana Caves, on to Lecce
Lecce (via Alberobello & Castellana)
A logistics day — do it with the local Ferrovie del Sud Est network. Early regional train Polignano/Bari to Alberobello (~1h), walk the Trullo Sovrano quarter and Rione Monti with a small-group or audio-guide tour (entrance to Trullo Sovrano ~£3-4; GetYourGuide walking tours ~£20). Local bus from Alberobello to Castellana Grotte (~30 min, ~£2), then join a timed guided cave walk at Grotte di Castellana (~£16-18, book online — the 'Grotta Bianca' route is the classic 1.5h option). Late afternoon bus/train from Castellana to Lecce (~1.5-2h, ~£6-8 via Bari or direct FSE). Check into a guesthouse just outside Lecce's baroque core.
🚌Regional trains and FSE buses Polignano–Alberobello–Castellana–Lecce ~£12-15 total
🛏Guesthouse/B&B in Lecce old town, ~£30
- →Alberobello trulli walk and Trullo Sovrano
- →Grotte di Castellana guided cave tour
- →Evening wander of Lecce's baroque centre
Lecce — baroque, rustici and Negroamaro
Lecce
Full day in Lecce. Do a self-guided baroque loop: Basilica di Santa Croce, the Duomo, Piazza Sant'Oronzo and the Roman amphitheatre, plus the eccentric Museo Faggiano (a house-museum dug by its owner, ~£8). Join a 2-hour small-group food and wine walk (~£35-45 via GetYourGuide/Klook) to try rustico leccese, pasticciotto and Negroamaro/Primitivo wines — this substitutes nicely for the tour's led walk and wine notes. If you're adventurous, seek out carne di cavallo at a traditional trattoria. Sunset at the beach at San Cataldo is a 20-min bus ride away (~£1.50).
🚌On foot; local bus to San Cataldo ~£1.50
🛏Guesthouse/B&B in Lecce, ~£30
- →Self-guided baroque walk (Santa Croce, Duomo, amphitheatre)
- →Lecce food & wine walking tour (~£40)
- →Optional Museo Faggiano
Manduria wine tasting and into the Itria Valley
Itria Valley (Martina Franca / Locorotondo)
Bus or train from Lecce to Manduria (~1h-1h20 via FSE). Book a winery visit and tasting direct at a Primitivo estate (~£20-30 including a light plate of cheese, salami and 'cranu stumpatu' hard wheat bread) — many producers take direct bookings by email/phone. Afterwards continue by bus to Martina Franca or Locorotondo in the Itria Valley (~1.5h). Check into a countryside hostel/agriturismo or a guesthouse in Locorotondo — this is your base for the next three nights, which cuts down the hotel-hopping the tour reviews complained about.
🚌FSE buses Lecce–Manduria–Martina Franca/Locorotondo ~£8-10
🛏Agriturismo/hostel or Locorotondo guesthouse, ~£32
- →Primitivo winery visit & tasting in Manduria (~£25)
- →Self-guided wander of whitewashed Locorotondo or Martina Franca
Ostuni — pasta-making class and the White City
Ostuni / Itria Valley
Take the local bus or a short shared taxi from Locorotondo to Ostuni (~30-40 min, ~£3-5). Book a farmhouse pasta-making class with lunch in the Ostuni countryside direct or via GetYourGuide/Airbnb Experiences (~£45-60) — you'll make orecchiette and cavatelli and eat them with local wine. Afternoon: explore the whitewashed old town, Piazza della Libertà and Ostuni Cathedral. If it's hot, a 15-minute drive/bus takes you to the coast at Villanova or Costa Merlata for a swim. Return to your Itria Valley base in the evening.
🚌Local bus / shared taxi Locorotondo–Ostuni ~£5 return
🛏Agriturismo/hostel or Locorotondo guesthouse, ~£32
- →Farmhouse pasta-making class with lunch (~£50)
- →Ostuni old town, Piazza della Libertà and cathedral
- →Optional beach stop at Costa Merlata
Matera — Sassi, cave houses and the underground cistern
Matera
Bus from the Itria Valley toward Matera (~1.5-2h; FAL/FSE connections via Bari or direct services, ~£6-9) — or take the train via Bari. Spend the day in the Sassi: a timed Casa Grotta entry (~£5) and the Palombaro Grande underground cistern (~£8), plus a small-group guided Sassi walk or audio guide (~£20) covering the rock churches (Chiese Rupestri). Stay overnight in Matera — a budget guesthouse or hostel room carved into the Sassi (~£35-45). Final dinner of local specialties: strazzata focaccia and a glass of Aglianico del Vulture.
🚌Bus Itria Valley–Matera ~£8
🛏Budget cave guesthouse/hostel in Matera Sassi, ~£40
- →Guided or audio-guided Sassi walk (~£20)
- →Casa Grotta and Palombaro Grande entries (~£13)
- →Final local dinner in Matera
Altamura bread, then back to Naples
Altamura to Naples
Morning bus or train to Altamura (~30 min, ~£2) for a bakery visit and a taste of Pane di Altamura DOP — the famous durum loaf — plus a wander of the Romanesque cathedral. Pick up mostaccioli or marzapani sweets for the journey. Then travel back to Naples: bus or train Altamura/Matera to Naples (~3-3.5h, ~£12-18). Aim to be in Naples by mid-afternoon if you have an evening flight; otherwise add a cheap final night near Napoli Centrale.
🚌Altamura–Matera local bus ~£2; Matera/Altamura–Naples bus or train ~£12-18
🛏Not included — onward travel or optional final night ~£28
- →Altamura bakery visit and bread tasting
- →Altamura old town and cathedral
- →Souvenir sweet shopping
Self-launched vs. Blue-Roads Touring
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Blue-Roads Touring | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£960 | £2,790 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,830 per person (66%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Blue-Roads Touring-style trips? Check them out here.~£960
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Secrets of Puglia — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £960 per person for 9 days in Puglia & Basilicata, Italy. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Blue-Roads Touring?+
Yes — Blue-Roads Touring charges around £2,790 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £960 — a saving of roughly £1,830 (66%) per person.
How long is the Puglia & Basilicata, Italy trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Puglia & Basilicata, Italy.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, foodie, slow-travel trip through Puglia & Basilicata, Italy, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.