Day 1 : Bari arrival

Afternoon arrival at Bari airport. You will be picked up by your private driver and taken to your Hotel, where you will check in. Welcome cocktail and light

dinner.

 

Overnight.

Day 2: Alberobello / Martina Franca / Locorotondo.

Morning guided tour of Alberobello, the trulli capitol of Puglia recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Site. Trulli are unique to Puglia and these mysterious buildings, with thick limestone walls and graceful conical roofs, originated hundreds of years ago. Visit to a winery, with out-museum, and wine tasting.

 

Transfer to Martina Franca, time to explore on your own and have free lunch. In the afternoon guided tour to this nice town, built 431 meters above sea level and affording sweeping views of the surrounding villages. The center is home to the Ducal Palace, built in the latter half of the 17^th century by the noble Caracciolo family.

 

From Martina Franca, you will take a scenic drive overlooking Locorotondo which literally means “round place”, named for the shape of the first village there. In Locorotondo you will enjoy a meat tasting accompained with local wines.

 

Back to the hotel and overnight.

Day 3: Castellana /Savelletri / Ostuni / Cisternino

Breakfast and transfer to Castellana for a guided visit to the famous Caves. You will reach the farthest cave called "the White Cave", referred to as the "whitest in the world" because of the whiteness of its concretions. Lunch in a wonderful 5* farmhouse in Savelletri.

 

This afternoon you will take a guided tour of Ostuni, one of the most beautiful white villages in Puglia. The town is situated in the midst of the green countryside and the blue sea. The historical center of the town is on a hillside surrounded by small white washed houses overlooking the shore. During your walk through the city center we will break for a gelato, initially introduced to Puglia by the Arabs.

 

Move to the the close village of Cisternino for a dinner with "meat tasting", in a traditional "fornello" (butchery in which you choose the meat that will be cooked under your eyes...).

 

Back in hotel and overnight.

Day 4: Lecce / Corigliano d'Otranto

Breakfast, check out and transfer to Lecce for a guided tour. Well known to many as the "Florence of the South", in the city center you will immediately notice the Baroque style of architecture, especially while visiting the Basilica di Santa Croce and the Duomo. Lunch in typical "trattoria".

 

In the afternoon transfer to Corigliano d’Otranto and check in "masseria" (a farmhouse dated back to the 18th century, restored into a wonderful accommodation.). Time to relax.

 

Visit to the historical center of the village, located in an area called "Grecia Salentina" in which traditions and customs incorporate the strong Greek influence. Aside from Italian, many people here speak Griko, a blend of Greek and Italian.

Back in farmhouse and dinner (with "Pizzica" music entertainment, if requested as optional) and overnight.

Day 5: Galatina / Giuggianello

Breakfast and move to the "griko district"capital, Galatina. The elegant town is home of the 14^th century’s Basilica of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria and the "Tarantate" Museum, focused on the local legend of women who were bitten by a Tarantula or tarantate. In order to cure themselves, the women had to dance to the rhythm of percussion sounds. This dance is now called "pizzica" and is the traditional dance of the area.

 

Lunch will take place in a wonderful Masseria (farmhouse) in Giuggianello, completely surrounded by flowers, plants, an holm-oak tree wood and a Botanical Garden.

 

After a short relax time come back home. This late afternoon you will enjoy a hands on cooking class taught by one of their chefs. The class will end with a dinner of the items that you have helped to prepare.

 

Overnight.

Day 6: Gallipoli / Santa Maria di Leuca / Otranto (Salento’s Ionian and Adriatic Coast)

Breakfast and transfer for a guided tour of Gallipoli, an island linked to the mainland by a bridge, including the visit to a subterranean olive oil mill followed by an olive oil tasting. Lunch in Gallipoli, based on fish menu.

 

In the early afternoon drive along the sandy western coast for a visit to Santa Maria di Leuca, the southernmost point of the region "where the land ends" and Ionian and Adriatic Seas meet each other.

 

After the visit, continue driving along Salento’s Adriatic Coast to admire its astonishing wild cliffs and reach the oriental town of Otranto, whose small picturesque town centre boasts monuments of great historical value: the ancient Byzantine Church of St. Peter and the Apulian Romanesque Cathedral, with its magnificent 12th century’s mosaic covering the surface of the church’s pavement. Time for shopping and free dinner.

 

Back to the hotel and overnight.

Day 7: Corigliano d'Otranto / Salice Salentino / Lecce

Breakfast and check out. This morning you will have a wonderful time walking in the woods, here in Corigliano d'Otranto, with our local truffle hunting expert. He will teach you how to find the truffles, and later he will show you how good fresh truffles can be. You will finish the hunt with lunch at our experts’ restaurant. Enjoy!

 

Afternoon guided visit of an ancient winery for a wine tasting, in Salice Salentino. Dinner in historical “masseria”

 

Overnight in Lecce.

Day 8: Departure

Breakfast and check out. Transfer to the Airport, for departure.

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh departure


Our fantastic holiday come to an end. After breakfast be relax until our driver will come to take you to airport for your flight.