Ostuni, the white village
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Self-drive highlights of Puglia and Matera
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Ostuni, the white village
Matera
Gallipoli, the Pearl of the Ionian Sea
Gallipoli, Italy
Locorotondo
Trulli in Alberobello
Italy

Self-drive highlights of Puglia and Matera (Tour code: 17035)

Starts and Ends
Bari to
Bari/ Brindisi
Travel Periods
until 31 October 2027
Experience
Travel Style
Independent Holiday Packages
Discover the charm of Southern Italy on this 6-day self-drive journey through Puglia and Matera. Explore whitewashed hill towns, UNESCO-listed treasures, dramatic coastlines and authentic local flavours, while staying in a traditional Masseria.

Highlights

Stay in a character-filled Masseria surrounded by the Puglian countryside

Enjoy a traditional Masseria dinner and a choice of local experiences throughout the itinerary

Explore beautiful seaside towns including Polignano a Mare, Otranto and Gallipoli

Visit the famous trulli of Alberobello, the White City of Ostuni and historic Matera

6 days
From
AUD 1,548
per person, twin share
Travelling with kids? Read more 
All services are subject to availability.

Overview

Experience the highlights of Puglia as you travel from the vibrant streets of Bari and the clifftop beauty of Polignano a Mare to the iconic trulli of Alberobello and the whitewashed lanes of Ostuni. Venture inland to the extraordinary UNESCO-listed city of Matera before continuing south to the Baroque splendour of Lecce, the coastal charm of Otranto, Gallipoli and Santa Maria di Leuca. Along the way, enjoy a traditional 3-course dinner in a local Masseria, choose from a selection of included local experiences and discover Southern Italy at your own pace.

Inclusions

3 nights in Ostuni at Hotel Monte Sarago 4 * or similar
2 nights in Otranto at Masseria Mongiò dell'Elefante 4* or similar
Traditional 3-course dinner in a Masseria
Daily Breakfast
Choice of 2 included local experiences from a selection of cultural, food and wine experiences throughout the itinerary

Day 1 Bari Ostuni

Welcome to Puglia. Upon arrival in Bari, collect your rental car and begin exploring the region's vibrant capital. Wander through the atmospheric streets of Bari Vecchia, discover the impressive Basilica di San Nicola and soak up local life in the historic centre.

Included experience options available today:

  • Norman-Swabian Castle entrance ticket in Bari
  • Street food tasting in Bari

Guests may select up to 2 included experiences throughout the itinerary.

Later, drive south to the picturesque seaside town of Polignano a Mare. Perched on dramatic limestone cliffs overlooking the Adriatic Sea, this charming village is known for its narrow laneways, stunning coastal views and lively piazzas.Take time to explore at your own pace before continuing to your accommodation in the Ostuni area, where you'll spend the next three nights discovering the highlights of Central Puglia.

Overnight stay in Ostuni at Hotel Monte Sarago - 4* or similar.

Day 2 Ostuni Alberobello & Locorotondo Ostuni

After breakfast, discover some of Puglia's most iconic towns in the beautiful Valle d'Itria region. Your first stop is UNESCO-listed Alberobello, famous for its unique trulli houses and storybook setting. Wander through the historic districts and enjoy the charm of one of Italy's most distinctive villages. 

Continue to Locorotondo, renowned for its whitewashed houses, flower-filled streets and panoramic countryside views. Later, visit Ostuni, the famous "White City", where bright white buildings cascade down the hillside overlooking olive groves and the Adriatic coastline.

Included experience option available today:

  • Food tasting with local specialties in Ostuni

Guests may select up to 2 included experiences throughout the itinerary. 

Special included experience: This evening, enjoy a traditional 3-course dinner at a local Masseria, featuring authentic Puglian recipes and regional flavours. This experience is included in addition to your 2 selected experiences.

Overnight stay in Ostuni at Hotel Monte Sarago - 4* or similar.

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3 Ostuni Matera Ostuni

Today's journey takes you inland to the extraordinary city of Matera, one of Southern Italy's most remarkable destinations. Famous for its ancient cave dwellings and dramatic setting, Matera offers a fascinating glimpse into Italy's past. 

Explore the UNESCO-listed Sassi di Matera, wander through atmospheric stone laneways and discover one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world. With its unique landscape, rich history and unforgettable views, Matera is a true highlight of Southern Italy. 

Included experience options available today:

  • Cave Church, Cave House & Palombaro Lungo admission
  • Matera bread and local food tasting

Guests may select up to 2 included experiences throughout the itinerary.

Overnight stay in Ostuni at Hotel Monte Sarago - 4* or similar.

Breakfast

Day 4 Ostuni Lecce Otranto

Travel south to Lecce, often referred to as the "Florence of the South" for its elegant Baroque architecture and vibrant atmosphere. Explore beautiful piazzas, ornate churches and historic streets while enjoying the city's lively café culture and local flavours. 

Continue to the coastal town of Otranto, one of Puglia's most picturesque seaside destinations. Wander through its charming old town, visit the impressive cathedral and enjoy sweeping views across the Adriatic Sea. 

Included experience options available today:

  • Lecce Ecclesiae ticket (including access to Lecce's main churches)
  • Pasticciotto and local coffee tasting in Lecce

Guests may select up to 2 included experiences throughout the itinerary

Overnight stay in Otranto at Masseria Mongio' dell'Elefante - 4* or similar.

Breakfast

Day 5 Otranto Gallipoli & Santa Maria di Leuca Otranto

Discover the stunning coastline of the Salento Peninsula today. Begin in Gallipoli, a charming fishing town surrounded by the Ionian Sea, where historic streets, lively piazzas and waterfront views create a relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere.

Continue south to Santa Maria di Leuca, located at the very tip of Italy's heel. Known for its dramatic coastline and beautiful sea views, this picturesque destination marks the meeting point of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas.

Included experience options available today:

  • Castle & Underground Olive Mill admission in Gallipoli
  • Shared boat tour in Santa Maria di Leuca (weather permitting)

Guests may select up to 2 included experiences throughout the itinerary

Overnight stay in Otranto at Masseria Mongio' dell'Elefante - 4* or similar.

Breakfast

Day 6 Otranto Bari or Brindisi

After breakfast, begin your journey north along Puglia's beautiful Adriatic coastline. Depending on your departure arrangements, consider stopping in one of the region's charming coastal towns for a final taste of Southern Italy before heading to the airport. 

Return your rental car in Bari or Brindisi, where your Puglia and Matera adventure comes to an end.

Breakfast

Additional information

Official language
Italian
Local currency
EURO

FROM price reflects the lowest available price within the advertised travel period (e.g. April to October). Pricing varies depending on travel dates, availability and demand, and may not be available on all departures. Higher pricing applies during peak and shoulder periods. Final pricing is confirmed at the time of enquiry or booking. Please refer to Pricing & Price Conditions for full details, including inclusions, exclusions and other conditions.

Choose 2 included local experiences: 

  • Norman-Swabian Castle admission in Bari
  • Street food tasting in Bari
  • Food tasting with local specialities in Ostuni
  • Cave Church, Cave House & Palombaro Lungo admission in Matera
  • Matera bread and local food tasting
  • LeccEcclesiae pass (including entry to Lecce's main churches)
  • Pasticciotto and local coffee tasting in Lecce
  • Gallipoli Castle & Underground Olive Mill admission
  • Shared boat tour in Santa Maria di Leuca (weather permitting)

Experience selections are subject to availability and must be requested at the time of booking.

Car Rental Includes: A 6-day intermediate automatic rental car (MG ZS or similar), featuring automatic transmission, air conditioning, seating for up to five passengers and space for three bags. The rental includes unlimited mileage, SCDW (Super Collision Damage Waiver), STP (Theft Protection), airport surcharge, taxes and applicable fees, giving you the freedom to explore Tuscany at your own pace. Vehicle upgrades are available for a supplement, subject to availability at the time of booking.

FAQs

Who are Entire Travel Group?

Welcome to Entire Travel Group. We offer exceptional travel experiences across our extensive range of Entire Holiday Packages, Entire Group Journeys, Entire Rail Journeys, and Entire Cruise Journeys. With our industry-leading Peace of Mind Booking Plan, you can Book Now with flexibility and confidence.

Entire Travel Group is celebrating over 50 years of passionately delivering unique and memorable travel experiences. We are an Australian, family-owned, award-winning business with a friendly team ready to match your expectations to the perfect holiday experience.

Entire Travel Group used to be known by the individual brands shown in the footer of the website. The company has not changed, but we have amalgamated under one brand - Entire Travel Group.

For more details please visit - About Us | Entire Travel Group

Is Entire Travel Group Australian owned and operated?

Entire Travel Group is proudly Australian family owned and operated and as it stands today represents 50 years of experience, progress, and evolution. We proudly support the community with our long-term commitment to many important charity organisations. We were awarded the best operator in our class at the most recent National Travel Industry Awards.

Is Entire Travel Group industry accredited?

Entire Travel Group is both ATIA and CATO Accredited. The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) is the trade association representing the land supply sector of the Australian Travel Industry.

Does Entire Travel Group have industry awards?

Entire Travel Group was honoured at the 2023 National Travel Industry Awards with Most Oustanding Wholesaler - Product / Service.

As our team works tirelessly to deliver exceptional holiday experiences, it was exciting to have this acknowledged with the highest recognition. The award is also a testament to the quality of our partners around the globe, and we take this opportunity to thank them for their tremendous support of our customers.

Are the Entire Travel Group holiday packages exclusive?

In some cases, we are the sole representative in Australia for the overseas travel operator. In other circumstances the product developed has been exclusively built for Entire Travel Group and can’t be found elsewhere.

What’s unique about Entire Travel Group Holiday Packages?

  • They are not group tours with set departures - they are pre-designed, purpose built, independent holiday packages full of unique and memorable experiences.
  • Our holiday packages have been exclusively built for us in collaboration with our handpicked suppliers, who also offer full on-ground support for the clients.
  • We are offering unique travel experiences which cannot be found elsewhere.
  • Many packages include our “Freedom of Choice” options which allow you to tailor the holiday experience. Like a sommelier matching wine to a meal, we have used our experience to carefully select and offer the right experiences in each location.
  • They include our Peace of Mind Booking Plan.
  • A wide selection of our packages are compliant with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Covid Safe Travels.

Our motto for Independent Holiday Packages is start your holiday when and with who you want!

Our Independent Holiday Packages are NOT group tours with set departure dates. Group Tours have specific set departure dates, and of course, you are travelling with unknown passengers in a coach. These tours are great for certain travellers and there are many reputable tour operators providing a wide range of options around the world.

At Entire Travel Group, our focus is Independent Holiday Packages. Available daily, they are pre-designed, purpose built, packaged itineraries full of memorable experiences delivered by our hand-picked local partners.

Our holidays suit every demographic, from couples to singles, to retirees to families and everyone else in between.

Why travel with Entire Travel Group?

Of Entire Travel Group's attributes, we have settled on "When Experience Matters" as the quality we believe adds the most value to our customers. We have the experience to ensure your itinerary makes the dream holiday possible. Our continually enhanced technology allows our team to provide a quality customer service experience, and our partnerships with outstanding operators ensure we are confident of the on-ground experience for our customers.

For more details please visit - About Us | Entire Travel Group

How does the Peace of Mind Booking Plan work?

Our Peace of Mind Booking Plan allows you to book with confidence in the new international travel environment. With low deposits, a cooling off period and a flexibility period where you can cancel and rebook later, we really do have you covered.

For more details please visit - Peace of Mind Booking Plan | Entire Travel Group

Is there a cooling-off period?

Look for packages with our Peace of Mind Booking Plan logo on the website.

  • We understand that occasionally plans may change, so we give you the confidence to proceed with a cooling off period.
  • You may cancel for any reason within 7 days, where you will receive a 100% refund of your $100 per person deposit.

For more details please visit - Peace of Mind Booking Plan | Entire Travel Group

What is Freedom of Choice?

At Entire Travel Group we understand that our customers have their own personal tastes and interests - so throughout our packages look for “Freedom of Choice” which gives you the ability to tailor your holiday from the various experiences offered on selected days. Like a sommelier matching wine to a meal, we have used our experience to carefully select and offer the right experiences in each location.

The Freedom of Choice options are included in the package price, and the price remains the same regardless of the choice you make on each day.

Our Freedom of Choice program offers flexibility, by allowing you to choose from different options on pre-selected days in the itinerary.

  • Our per person price includes one tour on each Freedom of Choice day in the itinerary.
  • The price of the package remains the same regardless of the choice you make on each day.

For more details please visit - Freedom of Choice | Entire Travel Group

What is Book Now?

Book Now offers you the ability to make a reservation on our website for Holiday Packages that include our Peace of Mind Booking Plan. But it’s not just a static offer – you have complete flexibility from travel dates, passenger numbers, single supplements, room upgrades, optional extras, flexible booking terms and more.

  • Our team will contact our overseas suppliers and confirm all arrangements.
  • A Confirmation from our reservation system will be sent in the coming days.
  • The Booking Number on this confirmation supersedes the website reference.

How secure is the Entire Travel Group's on-line payment portal?

  • Entire Travel Group have partnered with TravelPay to ensure secure on-line credit card payments.
  • TravelPay is a level 1 PCI DSS compliant, which gives you peace of mind that your payment card data is in safe hands.
  • Entire Travel Group does not store any credit card information.

For more details please visit - Security and Compliance - TravelPay

What forms of payment can be used at Entire Travel Group?

  • To confirm a booking using our on-line Book Now process, a credit card must be used to pay the refundable deposit.
  • For additional payments on the booking, Entire Travel Group supports bank transfer, credit card, TravelPay B2B, PaymentGate.
  • For further details please visit our Payments page.

Can you book my international airfares?

On some Islands Holiday Packages (e.g. Fiji), it is practical to include flights, so where we have done this it is indicated by the plane icon.

However, on the majority of our Holiday Packages, we do not include international flights.

We found that many customers may prefer to:

  • Travel on a specific airline of their choice
  • Have the flexibility to book flights with Frequent Flyer points
  • Select flight dates that may be different to our Holiday Package start/end dates
  • Use a Travel Credit already held with the airline
  • Use their travel agent for this service

We are able to assist with flights on any Holiday Package, so please just notify us during the Book Now process or contact our team.

Should I take travel insurance?

Travel insurance is strongly recommended. During the Book Now process please confirm you require assistance, and our team will be in contact with you.

What should I do before travelling?

Before you travel it is your responsibility to ensure you have the appropriate documentation including visas. If you are travelling on a passport other than Australian or New Zealand, you will require a permit to re-enter Australia. It is your responsibility as the traveller and/or travel booker to meet all government entry requirements.

For more information please visit - Before you travel | Entire Travel Group

How does a Travel Agent make a booking?

Please visit the Entire Travel Group's Agent Portal. We are here to support our industry partners with a range of informative updates, marketing collateral for campaigns and a reward & recognition program.

How do I start a Booking?

  • On any page that has Book Now simply follow the booking process.
  • You must select the Travel Agent tick box and provide correct details.
  • To confirm a booking only the refundable deposit is required.
  • An agency credit card must be used for this initial payment.

How do I contact Entire Travel Group?

For more information please visit - Contact us | Entire Travel Group

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