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Apulia's coastal route - The heel of Italy

- Enjoy nature, culture, sea and wine -

8 Days / 7 Nights
Moderate

Hiking from Otranto to Gagliano del Capo perfectly summarises all the gems Puglia has to offer. Epic views, stunning swimming spots, unknown villages waiting to be explored and windswept, unspoilt nature.

After an enchanting tour among orange and olive trees, you'll leave Otranto to follow a red dirt path that leads a few metres to the sea towards the lighthouse at Punta Palascia, Italy's easternmost point, and on to the small bay of Porto Badisco.

In the following days you will pass small fishing villages, coastal spa towns and ancient Messapian villages, ending in Lecce with its Baroque palaces and Roman masterpieces.

The route of this walking holiday is constantly changing, just like the surrounding landscape. From a coastal shepherd's path along a low, uneven cliff to the open grasslands of an Apulian ‘savannah’, along roads lined with stone walls, cut by old wagon wheels and sometimes surrounded by lush vegetation.

A hike that is also a true experience for the senses. The presence of nature becomes more and more vivid with every step, accompanied by the gentle rustle of ancient olive trees, the chatter of cicadas, the scent of wild fennel and liquorice, and the azure glint of the sea. A wonderful walking holiday in Italy.

 

Highlights on this tour

  • Fantastic walks along the ‘Tratturi’, old roads and paths that wind through orchards and olive groves
  • "The “Cipolliane Trail”; a breathtaking hike overlooking the sea and named after the caves you can visit along the way
  • Historical sights from all eras, from Roman masterpieces and Messapian cities to modern-day churches, fortresses and villas
  • The lively city of Lecce with its baroque palaces, delicious food and craft shops
  • Beautiful beaches for swimming in crystal clear waters
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The route

The terrain is hilly and the route leads through vineyards and forests. Daily walking distances vary and can last up to 5 hours. The route takes you along trails consisting of mule tracks, gravel paths and stretches along tarmac sections. A good basic fitness level is necessary.

Itinerary

See the day-by-day itinerary below.

Today you arrive in Lecce, the Baroque capital of southern Italy.

Once you've settled into your accommodation, head outside to admire the many architectural wonders that this vibrant city of art has to offer.

Hotel (example): Hotel Delle Palme

Continue exploring Lecce before travelling to Otranto by local bus. Today's hike is a great warm-up that will take you to discover the small Idro Valley, which originates 5 kilometres from the city and gives Otranto (Hidruntum) its name. You'll walk upstream through lush landscapes of citrus and olive groves and pass the rock-cut church of San'Angelo. After crossing the river, you'll return to Otranto, known as the ‘Pearl of the East’.

Hotel (example): Hotel San Giuseppe

You start by walking through the labyrinth of narrow alleys in the old town and arrive at the new harbour. From here, follow a flat, gravelled coastal path that encircles a series of small bays. You'll pass several World War II bunkers and take a short detour to an interesting ‘bauxite lake’ a little inland. Along the coast, you'll have several opportunities for beach stops with crystal clear water. Continue towards the clearly visible lighthouse at Punta Palascia. On clear days you can see the Albanian mountains on the other side of the Adriatic Sea.

This evening, dinner is included at your accommodation in Porto Badisco.

Hotel (example): Masseria Panareo

You start today's tour at the beautiful bay of Porto Badisco. Continue along a shepherd's path and see the typical ‘pagliari’, round, flat-topped stone buildings where shepherds used to sleep. After 6 kilometres you leave the coast and climb up to the inner plateau, following narrow paths through the fields. There is a good picnic spot in a small pine forest after 8.5 km that provides shade on sunny days.

Hotel (example): Hotel Est

You leave Santa Cesarea and climb up a paved road to an old gravel path surrounded by stones. You'll reach the ancient Messapian town of Castro with its impressive high walls. After exploring the town and perhaps having lunch, continue down to the harbour where you can go for a swim. The path leads you to the bay of Acquaviva and up a lush valley towards the village of Marittima.

Hotel (example): B&B Palazzo Vecchio

Today's tour will take you through orchards and old ‘tratturi’. At Tricase Porto you can enjoy a ‘caffè in ghiaccio’ and go for a swim before reaching Marina Serra, a small coastal town with good swimming opportunities.

Dinner is included at today's accommodation.

Hotel (example): B&B Il Rifugio dei Lavaturi

Today's tour starts with the ‘Sentiero del Nemico’ trail and takes you to Novaglie and the breathtaking ‘Cipolliane trail’ that ends at the Ciolo bridge. From here you walk up the valley to Gagliano del Capo, where you will be driven back to Lecce.

Hotel (example): Hotel Delle Palme

After breakfast, check-out and individual journey home.
Arrivederci Puglia!

Prices and dates

Prices per person in EUR

The price includes

  • Tourist tax (if due)
  • Handling fee (€20)

Practical information

Here you can get answers to various questions about the trip
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The price is based upon two people sharing. It is also possible travel alone in a single room. Simply choose "1 person" in the booking form and it will automatically add the single room surcharge.

On this tour you will be on your own supplied with maps, route descriptions and luggage transfers. That means that your time is your own and you have plenty of time to enjoy the stages in your own pace.

Check the price quickly
You can quickly check the price of your desired trip without having to fill in anything. Here's how:

  1. Choose your desired start date
  2. Click on the green button "See price and reserve your holiday" and go to the booking form
  3. Select number of people, add any optional extras and see the price at the bottom of the page (you don't have to fill in anything on the form).

Get a quote
For example, if you want a flight included or changes to the trip, you can order a quote for this using the "Get a quote" button. Remember to describe in detail what, if anything, you want changed.

The process of your booking
When you book, we will start booking hotels and arranging all the practical details of the trip. This process typically takes 2-5 working days, but some bookings may take longer. If you are arranging your own transport, we recommend that you wait until we have confirmed your booking before arranging this.

Dates
If you can select the date in the tour calendar at the top of this page, this is a possible start date. We continually update the tours with sold-out dates, after which those dates will turn red and cannot be selected.

The flights to/from Bari or Brindisi are not included in the price. You can easily find a suitable flight via a flight booking engine such as Momondo or Skyscanner.

Notice: we recommend that you book with us and wait for the confirmation before you book your flights.

Get a quote
If you prefer that we handle your flight, then we would be happy to arrange this for you. You simply book a quote below the map on this page and we will return with a quote as soon as possible (usually within 2-5 working days). Please note that we add a handling fee of 45 euro to each flight and this means that the flight will be cheaper if you book it yourself.

Getting from the airport to Lecce
Bari and Brindisi Airports are served by both major and low cost carriers.
From Brindisi you can take either a private shuttle or a train to Brindisi train station and then
a train to Lecce.
Arriving in Bari, you can take a bus or a train to Bari Centrale train station and then a train to
Lecce.
On departure, you can take a train from Lecce to Bari Train station and then a train to the
airport. Information online at www.trenitalia.com

We also recommend that you use this tool to easily find your way to Lecce: Rome2Rio

This tour is a roundtrip, that starts and end en Lecce, so the home journey will just be a reverse of arrival. 

Selected 3 and 4* hotels are used in the larger towns, while in the villages and countryside we
use cosy, friendly ‘agriturismo’ (farmhouses) and B&B. In Porto Badisco you are staying in a
nice, typical “Masseria” just out of town.
In all the accommodation the rooms have private bathrooms and a good Italian breakfast is
included each morning.

In some places, you may be required to pay a "tourist tax" – this is paid locally.

Alternative accommodation 

During high season it is possible that you might sleep in different accommodation to the ones
that are indicated in the description. In some cases, it is possible that your list of
accommodation differs slightly. This means that start or end of the routes are slightly altered.
Therefore you should check to see if your accommodation is the same as that mentioned in the
programme. If not, you must be alert at the start and end of the routes.
In choosing alternative accommodation we have tried to maintain the same standards and
quality. We have also tried to stay in the same towns and villages, in order to change routes as
little as possible but this might not always be possible.

Additional Nights

It is possible to purchase extra nights at the hotel in Lecce before and after the trip.
This can be selected on the booking form.

The trip is on bed and breakfast basis because throughout the trip there are plenty of
opportunities to taste both the outstanding local cuisine and a wide array of prestigious regional
wines. Dinner is only included in Porto Badisco and Marina Serra, because there are no
alternative options available in the immediate surroundings.

Luggage transfer is included on this tour. Upon arrival at the first hotel you will be given luggage tags along with the rest of the welcome package. You fill out the luggage tags and put them on your bags where they will remain for the duration of the tour.

Your luggage is picked up from the hotel lobby around 9am every morning and will arrive at your next hotel at 6pm at the latest (often long before that). If there are any special exceptions to the luggage transfer you will be notified upon arrival.

Luggage transfer includes one bag per guest and the bags can weigh 20kg each.

This is a self guided walk with average daily stages of 2-5 hours.
The paths are clearly visible but sometimes not marked; there are some sections of the trail
which are rough and exposed. There are some ups and downs along the coast and walking poles
are definitely handy.

Hot weather:
It can get warm in summer. To avoid the danger of heat stroke, you are advised
not to do any walking if temperatures rise above 35º C. Remember that springs may dry up, so
remember to carry plenty of drinking water (at least 2 litres per person). Good sun protection
is essential (sunscreen, sunglasses, hat).
A reasonable level of fitness is required. As with all of our trips it is important that you are well
prepared. We suggest that you undertake regular exercise – swimming, cycling, and jogging,
two to three times a week for three months prior to your departure. This is suitable for all ages
including active children (aged 8 and above).

General overview of the weather in Apulia

Spring (March–May):
Spring along the coast is mild and pleasant, with temperatures between 12-20°C during the day. There may be periods of light rainfall, especially in March and April, and the wind along the coast is usually moderate, providing a refreshing breeze during the hike. This is an ideal time for hiking as the weather is cool enough to avoid heat.

Summer (June–July):
Temperatures along the coast rise to between 25-35°C, particularly in June and July. There is very little rainfall, and the wind is generally light, but the warm air can make hiking challenging during the middle of the day. It is recommended to hike early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the highest temperatures.
Hot weather: It can get hot in the summer. To avoid the risk of heatstroke, you are advised not to hike if temperatures rise above 35°C. Remember that springs may dry up, so make sure to carry plenty of drinking water (at least 2 liters per person). Good sun protection is essential (sunscreen, sunglasses, hat).

Autumn (September–October):
Autumn along the coast is pleasant, with temperatures between 15-25°C, making it an excellent time for hiking. There may be a little more rainfall in October, and the wind along the coast is often light to moderate, creating perfect hiking conditions. The landscape around Otranto and Galiano del Capo is beautiful and colorful, adding an extra dimension to the hike.

On this tour, you will receive the following documents:

Upon booking
Immediately after booking this trip, you'll recieve a pre-booking-email where you can get a complete overview of your booking. Once the tour is confirmed you get a confirmation email from us along with practical information about the tour.

One month before departure
You will receive a hotel list and final travel documents.

Upon arrival at the first hotel
You'll receive the welcome pack, which contains everything you need for the trip. There will be route descriptions, maps, luggage tags and specific local vouchers. The documents are in English.
Notice: On some tours it is necessary to either print the documents yourself or to bring them electronically.

Starting in 2025, travelers from visa-exempt countries will need an ESS or ETIAS authorization to enter EU nations. This system enhances border security while simplifying entry procedures. Ensure compliance by applying online before your trip to avoid delays.
You can read more about it here.

We recommend taking out travel insurance that covers at least illness, accident, repatriation, lost holiday, luggage and liability. As a customer, you are responsible for taking out the necessary travel insurance to cover these costs.

Before taking out insurance, you should check whether you are already covered by travel or cancellation insurance through your home insurance company, credit card or similar - please note that there may be differences in insurance coverage.

After booking this trip, you get access to various discount schemes.

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