The Heel Of Italy: Puglia (trip)

The Heel Of Italy: Puglia

  • Bari Airport, Bari, Italy
  • Culinary & Wine Travel
Italy, Europe

Contact provider for price8 DaysYear-round
Boutique accommodations Exertion level: 3
Operator: Tour de Forks - Uncommon Epicurean Adventures 12 people max
This is a 7 day independant package of Puglia. Travel through a landscape filled with vineyards and groves of olives thousands of years old, marvel at fairy tale trulli and explore beautiful baroque cities.

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Locations visited/nearby

Italy, Europe

0 testimonials about this trip.

2 testimonials about the provider, Tour de Forks - Uncommon Epicurean Adventures:

  • Reviewer: Chef Anita Lo located in New York, NY USA
    "I'd recommend Tour de Forks to my own mother. I'd even require it for all serious foodies and food professionals if I could, so they all would experience the fresh new ideas of 'Mod Oz' (modern Australian cuisine: a cutting edge, urban cuisine influenced by nearby Asia), and the exceptional cheeses, wines, meat and produce from that continent.

    You could do it on your own, but chances are, even if you have several good guide books, you're going to be disappointed with more than just a couple of meals, and you won't get the personalized, VIP treatment you get from having a few famous, local food professionals showing you around as you do on Tour de Forks. I wish every country I've visited had a Meera Freeman, a George Biron, and a Melissa Joachim to take me out to dinner. These are people whom chefs want to impress and who routinely get the best tables and the best service-these are the people you want at your dinner table. Not only are they your insider's ticket to the culinary cognoscenti circle, they are also passionate teachers who give illuminating demonstrations throughout the tour and take you to find the best jamon, the best lobster, and the best cheeses the country has to offer.

    The tour, however, is not just about food. The accommodations are luxurious. You stay at only the most fabulous hotels. Some of the highlights didn't even have anything to do with food. If you go on your own, try not to miss a private plane ride over the "12 Apostles"-12 stunning rock formations off the south-eastern coast on the way to King Island, home to award winning cheeses, fabulous seafood and fantastic beach views. Also don't miss the wild kangaroos that hang out in the golf courses on the way to Sunnybrae, George Biron's home, farm and former restaurant in some of the most beautiful, unspoiled countryside left in the world. And don't forget to take a boat ride with local dolphins on your way back to Melbourne from wine tastings at local vineyards. Or, just sign up for the tour, relax, and let Meera, George and Melissa guide you through a trip to remember."
  • Reviewer: Jackie Chasey located in New York, NY USA
    My Tour de Forks culinary adventure was a foodie dream come true. Of course, the Tour de Forks team arranged every detail to please the most sophisticated, discriminating traveler-that was expected, although probably shouldn't have been taken for granted-but what was unique about this trip was the access to experiences you could never have traveling on your own unless you're a celebrity or restaurant royalty.

    My fellow travelers were a diverse lot, interesting, accomplished and extremely congenial, and our small group felt like a bunch of friends enjoying each other's company and not like everyone's stereotype of a tour group. I'm sure this was due largely to our tour organizers and guide who did an amazing job of taking individual needs and preferences into account and dealing with every situation with humor and the utmost flexibility.
    I will travel with Tour de Forks again, and I recommend it without reservation to anyone who loves food and wine and wants a luxurious, informative and uniquely pleasurable vacation experience.

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Special information

  • This is a custom departure, meaning this trip is offered on dates that you arrange privately with the provider. Additionally, you need to form your own private group for this trip. The itinerary and price here is just a sample. Contact the provider for detailed pricing, minimum group size, and scheduling information. For most providers, the larger the group you are traveling with, the lower the per-person cost will be.

Itinerary

Day 1
Morning arrival at Bari airport. Private transfer to the 5-star Villa San Martino. Light lunch and mozzarella demonstration. Relax or optional guided tour of the baroque town of Martina Franca. Welcome dinner.

Day 2
Drive to Locorotondo, known for salame and flinty, white wines. Tasting at artisanal salame maker. After lunch, visit Alberobello, the Trulli capitol of Puglia, recognized by UNESCO. Trulli are unique to Puglia, circular in shape, and built from limestone without cement or mortar. Dinner at local restaurant.

Day 3
Drive to Matera, in the region of Basilicata, for a tour of the most outstanding, intact example of a troglodyte settlement in the Mediterranean region. In nearby Altamura, sample the bread, a hearty, rustic traditional loaf made from local ingredients including durum wheat, and a yeast culture that's been nourished for the past half-century. Afternoon at leisure and dinner.

Day 4
A truffle hunt with Giuseppe and his hounds. Lunch featuring the truffles you found follows. Afterwards visit Corigliano which is located in an area called Grecia Salentina. Many people here speak Griko, a blend of Greek and the local dialect. Finally, visit the 16th century Leone di Castris winery for a NegroAmaro wine tasting and tour. Transfer to 5-star Hotel Patria in Lecce. Evening at leisure.

Day 5
Tour of the port town of Gallipoli and the Olive Oil Museum. Continue to Galatina for a tour of Santa Caterina and the Tarantate Museum. Legend states that some Galatina women were bitten in the tobacco fields by a Tarantula spider. In order to cure themselves, the women had to dance to the rhythm of percussive sounds. This dance is now called pizzica and is the traditional dance of the area. Evening at leisure.

Day 6
Morning cooking class and lunch in Lecce, famous for home cooking. Afternoon guided tour of Lecce. Evening at leisure.

Day 7
Day of leisure to shop or wander in this beautiful baroque town.

Day 8
Private transfer to Brindisi airport.

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