What to expect
Culinary Experiences
Cooking classes & wine tastings
UNESCO-listed Cities
Explore Matera & Alberobello's beauty
Culture & Charm
Coastal towns & picturesque villages
Freedom to choose
Mix of guided touring & free time
About this trip...
Step into something truly special with Taste of Puglia — our latest culinary and cultural journey crafted exclusively for solo travellers. This isn’t just a holiday; it’s a delicious deep-dive into the authentic heart of southern Italy.
Over the course of eight enriching days, we’ll uncover the beauty of Puglia, the sun-kissed heel of Italy’s boot. From ancient olive groves and charming whitewashed villages to dramatic coastlines and time-honoured traditions, every stop invites you to connect — not only with the land, but with its vibrant people and bold, rustic flavours.
With a no-single-supplement policy and your own room throughout, you’ll enjoy the comfort of travelling solo while sharing the experience with a warm, welcoming group. Carefully designed to blend local tastes, meaningful encounters, and a dash of adventure, Taste of Puglia offers the best of Italy — solo, but never on your own.
What's included?
Airport transfers
Room for sole use
Light lunch in Trani (day 3) and muscat wine tasting-
Three-course lunch in a restaurant in Alberobello - first course, main course with side dish, fruit or dessert, water and ¼ bottle of wine (day 2)
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Solos Board: Daily breakfast & dinner (drinks not included)
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Three-course lunch in Matera (day 5) - first course, main course with side dish, fruit or dessert, water and ¼ of wine)
Welcome drink-
Half day at a masseria with cooking class & dairy demonstration and lunch (day 7)
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Tasting of three types of wine + snacks (day 4)
Olive oil tasting at a local oil mill (day 2)
Entrance fees in Matera & Castel del Monte
Guide service on all excursions-
Accompanying Solos Tour Leader
Passport, Visa & Entry Requirements
- Tourist City Tax - EUR 1.00 for initial night, EUR 1.50 per night afterwards payable to the hotel locally (amount subject to change)
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International flights are not included
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Tips & drinks
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Meals when not included in the itinerary
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Activities when not included in the itinerary
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Travel insurance
Itinerary
- Arrive in Puglia
- Trulli, Olive Oil & the White City
- Seaside Elegance & Medieval Majesty
- Bari’s Charm & Polignano’s Cliffs
- Stone Secrets & Flavours of Basilicata – Matera
- A day to unwind – or discover Lecce & Otranto (Optional)
- Flavours of the Farm & Hilltop Towns
- Arrivederci, Puglia
What you'll be doing
Day One: Arrive in Puglia
- Dinner included
Day Two: Trulli, Olive Oil & the White City
- Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Day Three: Seaside Elegance & Medieval Majesty
Today we visit Trani, a charming coastal town renowned for its cathedral dramatically perched by the sea. After a gentle walk along the harbour, we enjoy a light lunch with local Moscato wine and regional sweets.
We’ll have time to soak in the relaxed atmosphere or explore artisan shops along the marina. In the afternoon, we head inland to visit the mysterious Castel del Monte, a striking 13th-century fortress with a perfectly octagonal shape. Its harmonious blend of architecture and landscape will leave you in awe as we gaze over endless olive groves before heading back to the hotel. (Shuttle bus at Castel del Monte €2.00 per person - subject to changes, to be paid locally)
- Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Day Four: Bari’s Charm & Polignano’s Cliffs
- Breakfast & dinner included
Day Five: Stone Secrets & Flavours of Basilicata – Matera
Today we journey inland to Matera, one of Italy’s most captivating cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known as the 'City of Stones', Matera’s ancient cave dwellings, rock churches, and underground cisterns form a landscape unlike anywhere else in the world. As we explore the Sassi with a local guide, we’ll uncover stories carved in stone — from the Palombaro Lungo, a vast subterranean reservoir, to a traditional cave home that reveals how families once lived.
We break for lunch at a local restaurant, where the regional cuisine of Basilicata takes centre stage — simple, hearty, and packed with flavour. The meal begins with a broad beans cream served with chicory and crusco peppers, showcasing the region’s love for earthy ingredients and bold textures. For the first course, enjoy Ferricelli pasta with Materana sauce, a rustic medley of olives, capers, and pezzente sausage, a traditional local salami. The main dish features Lucano black pork chops, slow-cooked in an earthenware pignata with tender potatoes, delivering depth and richness with every bite. Sporcamusi, a light puff pastry filled with custard cream, offers a sweet ending to the meal. Everything is paired with local red wine and water, reflecting the warm hospitality and proud culinary heritage of the region. (Menu is subject to change)
- Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Day Six: A day to unwind – or discover Lecce & Otranto (Optional)
Today is ours to enjoy however we wish. We can take time to relax at the hotel, unwind by the pool, or explore the nearby surroundings at our own pace. Whether you’re in the mood for a quiet morning or a bit of spontaneous adventure, this is your chance to set the rhythm.
For those eager to keep exploring, we offer an optional guided tour to Lecce and Otranto — two of Puglia’s most culturally rich and visually striking towns. In Lecce, often called 'the Florence of the South', we’ll admire its golden Baroque architecture and vibrant piazzas. Highlights of the guided tour include the Church of Santa Croce, Piazza Sant'Oronzo, and the atmospheric Piazza Duomo. The visit includes an aperitif featuring a rustico leccese and a traditional caffè leccese with pasticciotto.
In the afternoon, explore Otranto, a charming coastal town with Byzantine roots. Visit the Cathedral and admire its vast 12th-century mosaic floor, one of Europe’s finest medieval artworks. Stroll through the old town, enclosed by ancient walls and facing the emerald sea. We return to the hotel in the evening for dinner and a relaxed end to the day.
- Breakfast & dinner included
Day Seven: Flavours of the Farm & Hilltop Towns
We begin the day with a hands-on cooking class at a traditional masseria in the countryside. We’ll learn how to shape orecchiette pasta and enjoy it for lunch alongside freshly made burrata, mozzarella, and ricotta during a dairy demonstration. It’s a joyful, down-to-earth experience that celebrates Puglia’s rural roots. In the afternoon, we visit Locorotondo and Martina Franca, two of the most beautiful towns in the Itria Valley. Their winding lanes and elegant buildings offer the perfect end to a week of culinary discovery.
- Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Day Eight: Arrivederci, Puglia
After breakfast, we say our farewells and transfer to Bari airport for our flight home – hearts full, taste buds tingling, and new friendships made.
- Breakfast included
Accommodation
The D’Aragona Hotel & Spa Four-star October 25 & All dates 2026
Facilities include
Room includes
Dates & Prices
Essential Information
We recommend that you check passport and visa requirements for the country you are visiting at the State Department if you have a U.S. Passport. Most countries require that your passport have at least six months validity when traveling internationally, and many require that you have one to two blank visa pages for either an entry stamp or visa. As a general rule, please check that your passport has six months validity beyond your planned trip, and if not, please renew your passport with plenty of time to provide Solos with your updated passport information by the final payment due date.
Optional excursions are not guaranteed and are based on minimum numbers. The prices quoted are guideline only and may involve other non-Solos holidaymakers.
