Women-Only Italy: Puglia Uncovered
$3999.00
Discovery
9 nights in Italy
What to expect
Culinary Experiences
Cooking classes & wine tastings
UNESCO-listed Cities
Gargano Boat Tour
Explore dramatic cliffs & sea caves
Iconic Coastal Towns
Bari, Polignano a Mare & Vieste
About this trip...
Join a group of like-minded women for an unforgettable journey through Puglia, Italy’s sun-soaked heel. This women-only adventure blends culture, cuisine and companionship as we explore whitewashed hill towns with ornate churches, winding alleyways, dramatic coastlines and timeless traditions.
Stroll the pretty lanes of Locorotondo and Polignano a Mare, admire the fairytale trulli of Alberobello, and step back in time in Matera, the UNESCO-listed “City of Stone.” Take in the rugged beauty of the Gargano Peninsula, where sea caves and limestone cliffs shape one of Italy’s most breathtaking coastlines. Savour local flavours with cooking classes, a panzerotto tasting and a celebratory wine experience.
Between excursions, relax, share stories and embrace Puglia’s slower rhythm of life. With your own room and the support of a welcoming group, this tour offers the perfect mix of independence and camaraderie, empowering you to connect, explore and create lasting memories.
Puglia draws you in with the fragrance of olive groves, the golden light of its vineyards and the tranquillity of its fishing harbours. This is Southern Italy at its most authentic — and you’re invited to experience it all.
What's included?
Return airport transfers (Bari)
Private room for sole use
Solos Board: Daily breakfast, two lunches & two dinners
Welcome drink
Olive oil tasting at a local oil mill-
Half day at a masseria with cooking class, dairy demonstration & lunch
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Guided visit to Pomona Gardens
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Entrance fees in Matera & Castel del Monte
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Boat trip in Vieste
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Wine tasting experience
Guide service on all excursions-
Accompanying Solos Tour Leader
Passport, Visa & Entry Requirements
- International flights are not included
- Travel insurance
- Tips & drinks
- Meals when not included in the itinerary
- Activities when not included in the itinerary
- Tourist City Tax - EUR 3.00 per person, per night at Hotel Excelsior in Bari for up to 4 nights payable locally.
- Tourist City Tax - EUR 1.00 (April) & EUR 3.00 (Sep) per person, per night at Hotel Falcone in Vieste payable locally.
Itinerary
- Arrive in Puglia
- Explore Bari
- Alberobello, olive oil & the White City
- Matera & Altamura
- Flavours of the farm & hilltop towns
- Day at leisure – or discover Lecce & Otranto (Optional)
- Seaside elegance & medieval majesty
- Vieste, The Jewel of the Gargano Peninsula
- Along the Gargano Peninsula & wine tasting
- Arrivederci Puglia
What you'll be doing
Day One: Arrive in Puglia
- Dinner included
Day Two: Explore Bari
- Breakfast included
Day Three: Alberobello, Olive Oil & the White City
We start the day in Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its fairytale-like trulli – whitewashed stone houses topped with distinctive conical roofs. Take a leisurely stroll through the enchanting old town before sitting down to a traditional lunch inside one of these historic homes. We’ll then head to a nearby oil mill, where we learn how this liquid gold is produced and sample a variety of local oils. In the afternoon, we continue to Ostuni, known as the ‘White City’, where sunlit whitewashed buildings and a maze of narrow streets create a magical atmosphere. Enjoy a relaxed walk through its peaceful streets, take in breathtaking views of the Adriatic Sea and perhaps sip a refreshing drink at a local café before heading back to our hotel.
- Breakfast & lunch included
Day Four: Matera & Altamura
Today we travel inland to Matera, one of Italy’s most fascinating cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known as the “City of Stones,” Matera is famed for its ancient cave dwellings, rock-hewn churches, and underground cisterns, creating a landscape unlike anywhere else in the world. With our local guide, we’ll explore the Sassi districts and bring the city’s history to life — visiting the Palombaro Lungo, a vast underground reservoir and stepping inside a traditional cave home to see how families once lived.
- Breakfast included
Day Five: 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, hands-on experience that celebrates Puglia’s rural roots. After lunch, we visit Pomona botanical garden, an organic estate with over 1,200 fruit trees. Our guided tour will feature rare and climate-resistant fruits, historic Italian citrus species and one of the Mediterranean's most important fig collections.
- Breakfast & lunch included
Day Six: A day at leisure – or discover Lecce & Otranto (Optional)
Today is ours to enjoy however we wish. We can take time to relax at the hotel, or explore the nearby surroundings at our own pace.
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, we 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 a relaxed end to the day.
- Breakfast included
Day Seven: Seaside Elegance & Medieval Majesty
Today we visit Trani, a charming coastal town renowned for its cathedral dramatically perched by the sea. 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 transferring to our hotel in Vieste. (Shuttle bus at Castel del Monte €2.00 per person - subject to changes, to be paid locally)
- Breakfast included
Day Eight: Vieste, The Jewel of the Gargano Peninsula
Located on the Gargano Peninsula in northern Puglia, Vieste is famous for its golden sandy beaches, crystal-clear Adriatic waters and dramatic limestone cliffs. The historic center is a maze of narrow streets, whitewashed houses, and small piazzas, with highlights including the Vieste Cathedral and the ancient castle overlooking the sea. The old port adds to the town’s charm, with fishing boats bobbing in the harbour and waterfront cafés serving fresh seafood.
- Breakfast included
Day Nine: Along the Gargano Peninsula & wine tasting
This morning we'll enjoy a guided tour of Vieste before joining a boat tour along the stunning Gargano coastline, exploring its dramatic cliffs and hidden sea caves. In the afternoon we'll experience the rich flavours of Puglia's wines with a tasting on our hotels fabulous terrace. Sample a selection of regional wines, while learning about the traditional winemaking techniques that make this region so renowned. Share stories and toast to a week of unforgettable experiences with the backdrop of golden sand, crystal clear waters and the imposing Pizzomunno cliff. Savour the flavours of Puglia and enjoy one last moment together with a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
- Breakfast & dinner included
Day Ten: 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
Accommodations
- Hotel Excelsior four-star - Bari (6 nights)
- Hotel Falcone four-star - Vieste (3 nights)
Dates & Prices
Essential Information
We recommend that you check if vaccinations are required for your destination at the CDC’s recommendations for your visited destination(s). We also recommend you purchase travel protection. A travel protection plan can often assist with medical emergencies and reimburse costs that are covered by the plan. Please verify coverage details with Solos before you travel.
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.
Not sure what travel documents you need? Our trusted partner, sherpa°, makes it easy to check visa and entry requirements based on your destination and passport. One quick check now means smooth sailing later. Click here to learn more.
Optional excursions are not guaranteed and are based on minimum numbers. The prices quoted are guideline only and may involve other non-Solos holidaymakers.
