titan travel puglia

Puglia - Discover the Heel of Italy

Escorted Group Tours

10% Discount

With countryside that’s blanketed with olive groves, a collection of historic cities and fairytale towns, and a coastline stretching for 800-odd kilometres, Puglia is a rich region filled with simple pleasures. On our Puglia tours, we’ll spend eight days winding through quiet landscapes, discovering baroque Lecce (the ‘Florence of the South’) and the traditional trulli houses of Alberobello. We’ll even stretch into the neighbouring region of Basilicata to visit Matera and explore its ancient cave dwellings.

Included with every escorted tour

• VIP door-to-door travel service
• Knowledgeable tour managers
• Included excursions
• Selected meals and international flights
• 7 breakfasts

Accommodation

7 nights in hotels

Travel in destination by coach

Excursions and visits

• Guided tours of Lecce (including entrance to the cathedral and Basilica di Santa Croce), Matera, and Monte Sant'Angelo
• Visits to Otranto, Ostuni (with olive oil tasting), Cisternino, Alberobello (with wine tasting), Castellana Caves, Martina Franca, Bari, and Castel del Monte
• Tasting at a local bakery in Lecce

Europe . Italy . Bari . Ostuni . Alberobello . Lecce

London Gatwick Airport

Escorted tour moderate

From £ 1,714 per person - £ 1,900

Including optional travel insurance or a price reduction if not required

Duration: 8 days

Please note

• In many cities in Italy, a room tax of between €1-5 per person per night (subject to change), is payable directly to the hotel on check-out.

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Puglia - Discover the Heel of Italy

7 nights from £1795.

Enjoy and explore the adventure on this Puglia - Discover the Heel of Italy tour.

• Guided tours of Lecce (including entrance to the cathedral and Basilica di Santa Croce), and Matera
• Watching mammas making orecchiette pasta in the colourful streets of Bari's Old Town.
• VIP door-to-door travel service
• Tasting at a local bakery in Bari or Lecce
• Visits to Ostuni (with olive oil tasting), Cisternino, Locorotondo, and Alberobello (with wine tasting)

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Puglia - Discover the Heel of Italy

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Join your tour group at the hotel.

This morning, we’ll head to Lecce for a guided walking tour. Known as the ‘Florence of the South’ for its baroque architecture, we’ll view inside the cathedral and the Basilica di Santa Croce. After admiring the city’s honey-stone palazzi and stopping for a delicious takeaway from a bakery, we’ll make our way back to Otranto for time to explore.

This morning we travel to Ostuni, a city which has been occupied since the Stone Age. Commonly known as ‘the white city', Ostuni’s hilltop citadel is encased in white walls and surrounded by white-painted architecture. The 15th-century cathedral is distinctive for the green, yellow and white slate tiles that encase it and the nearby buildings. We enjoy an olive oil tasting before travelling on to Alberobello, with a break to stretch our legs in Cisternino, a historic whitewashed town.

We drive to the Castellana Caves, a series of limestone caverns accidentally discovered in 1938. A guide will accompany you as you descend to explore the caves. We also visit Alberobello (there’s a 15-minute walk to the town from the coach). Dozens of quirky trulli - circular, conical-roofed houses - can be found in and around the town. We visit a winery here for a wine tasting accompanied by some local products. Dinner this evening will be at a local masseria.

Today we travel to the 2019 European Capital of Culture, Matera, famous for its ‘sassi’ - neighbourhoods of ancient cave dwellings. Monks first created this maze of living spaces and churches as they sought refuge from infidels at the end of the first millennium. Miraculously, they are still largely intact. After our guided tour of the rock church and caves, we make our way to the pretty hilltop town of Martina Franca. We'll have time to wander the whitewashed alleyways and cobblestone paths that lead to attractive piazzas and stunning baroque buildings, before returning to our hotel.

We travel to the old port city of Bari. The Romanesque Basilica di San Nicola is dedicated to St Nicholas, or Father Christmas, and was built to house his remains (which still lie in the crypt). As part of the magical Christmas build up here, the local children write letters to St Nicholas and place them in the crypt, before joining a special church service dedicated to them. Next is a visit to Castel del Monte, built by Frederick II in the mid-13th century. Most probably intended as a hunting lodge, it crowns a medieval hilltop village. We continue to Margherita di Savoia and our hotel for the next two nights.

Today we’ll visit Gargano in the lesser-known northeast of Puglia. Our exploration includes a guided tour of its highest inhabited town, Monte Sant’Angelo - its basilica is built on the spot where the Archangel Michael first appeared in a cave. After some time to enjoy a wander and maybe a stop for lunch, we'll head back to the hotel stopping to view the striking colours of the Margherita di Savoia Salt Pans.

Say goodbye to your tour group for your onward travel.

What's Included

12 meals: 7 breakfasts 5 dinnersundefined excursions and visits

7 nights in hotels

Titan tour manager

Guided tours of Lecce (including entrance to the cathedral and Basilica di Santa Croce), and Matera

Visits to Ostuni (with olive oil tasting), Cisternino, Locorotondo, Alberobello (with wine tasting), Bari, Martina Franca and Polignano a Mare

Excursions to Castellana Caves, Trani, Castel del Monte, and Otranto (with orientation tour)

Tasting at a local bakery in Bari or LeccePlus

Portable audio headset system on excursionsfalse

Travel in destination by coach

Visits to Otranto, Ostuni (with olive oil tasting), Cisternino, Locorotondo, Alberobello (with wine tasting), Castellana Caves, Martina Franca, Bari, Castel del Monte, and Gargano National Park

Tasting at a local bakery in LeccePlus

Guided tours of Lecce (including entrance to the cathedral and Basilica di Santa Croce), Matera, and Monte Sant'Angelo

Visits to Otranto, Ostuni (with olive oil tasting), Cisternino, Locorotondo, Alberobello (with wine tasting), Castellana Caves, Martina Franca, Bari, and Castel del Monte

Visits to Otranto, Ostuni (with olive oil tasting), Cisternino, Alberobello (with wine tasting), Castellana Caves, Martina Franca, Bari, and Castel del Monte

Check out our Q&As

Do i have to pay a single supplement.

In most cases a single supplement will apply. If the price for a Single room for sole occupancy is not shown, please ask our team for details and we will be able to check the details for you.

Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

How long has the tour company been trading.

We've been taking our customers across the world on escorted tours for more than 40 years

What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

Our commitment to sustainable travel is part of our ethos. We love exploring the world and hope that, alongside our customers, we can be part of a bigger change in respecting the people and wildlife on our planet and minimising the impact we have on our environment.

What policies are in place for Covid-19?

With some COVID-19 rules and restrictions still in place there are a few details that you need to know. This information is subject to change. It’s your responsibility to monitor changes and ensure you fulfil all relevant criteria for travel. Rest assured that we’re on hand to help and answer any questions you might have.

What documents will I receive before I travel?

You’ll receive your Final holiday documents via email approximately 14 days prior to your departure.

Reviews of this Operator

Recently returned from the great....

Recently returned from the great Indian rail journey.My wife and I could hardly believe the value for money.From pick ups from Durham to Heathrow and back,to the number of coach and train journeys , quality hotels, great choice of food throughout and our first night in Heathrow Hilton. What really made our trip a success was our guide, Prashant,who managed a party of twenty four very varied, sometimes a little unpredictable travellers with ease.Nothing was too much trouble for him and as a group we gelled and warmed to Prashant as he kept us safe, well informed and a little entertained by his mix of authority and humanity.Where do I begin with the tour itself ? India,a country of extremes.Poverty,wealth,order,chaos.Sometimes bleak,often breathtakingly beautiful.The people,the cities,art, architecture,flaura and fauna.Delhi,Jaipur, Amritsar,Agra, Ranthambore, Chandigarh and the icing on the cake that is Shimla. An absolute masterclass of man versus nature,the railway and buildings are an unbelievable feat,but wait until you see the dual carriageway being built on the mountainside.🤯I could go on for a very long time but I'll just post some photos.Thanks to Titan,thanks to the excellent Prashant and and a massive thanks to the other twenty two travellers who helped shape our holiday of a lifetime.🏁💜

I have booked the Icelandic...

I have booked the Icelandic Adventure holiday with Titan Travel, the Booking Staff was pleasant throughout. What I love about Titan Travel, transfer from your home to the airport and vice versa is included in the holiday.

Danube cruise was great value....

Danube cruise was great value. Well organised. Clear instructions from Titan prior to travel. Door to door service great.

Exceptional trip and service by Titan

Just returned from a fabulous tour of California & the golden west. It’s a full on tour with early starts but you see so much varied landscape from the ocean to the desert to Yosemite. My 2nd tour with Titan & my first solo tour. Thoroughly enjoyed it & met some great people. Grand Canyon was amazing would definitely recommend

Not merely a holiday, rather a memorable experience

I have used other travel operators; this was the 1st time of touring with Titan----Israel, The Holy Land, from being collected from home and returned at the end of the holiday this was an unforgettable experience; the Tour Manager, a PhD Archaeology made the whole tour so interesting, he enlightened us throughout each day from an historical, archeological and Biblical viewpoint, bringing each site we visited come to life, and went over and above his remit escorting us for evening trips around the local area; thanks also to our very patient driver who coped with the very busy traffic; our hotels were good, professional and pleasant staff and really good food; I would recommend Titan to anyone looking for a fascinating tour with excellent efficient service thank you Titan nor just for a holiday for a memorable experience

We had a 2 weeks...

We had a 2 weeks fantastic holiday arranged by Titan to Vietnam and Cambodia. Excellent,well organised Throughly enjoyed. Very good service by Vietnam Airlines, if you could afford book it in premium economy. We had a door to door service , picked up to airport from home and then dropped at home from airport, very convinient. Particular credit goes to our guide THI who is a caring, knolegeable, friendly down to earth man who made our trip a memorable one. I will not hesitate to book another holiday through Titan, their staff are friendly and helpful

We had a fantastic holiday...

We had a fantastic holiday in Mississippi. Right from our chauffeur driven car picking us up to the return journey, we had a great time. The first hotel The Gaylord was amazing,absolutely huge,first class. The second The Double tree in Memphis unfortunately wasn't, the hotel was tired and very basic, the only plus was where it is situated in the centre of town, we were only there two nights so it wasn't to bad. The American Queen Steam Boat was first class all the way, thoroughly enjoyed the seven nights sailing down the Mississippi. The last hotel the Sheraton New Orleans was very comfortable too. Our guide throughout our time away was Laura Tuttle. she was amazing, very knowledgeable, and helpful. We also had a coach driver Guil, who went over and beyond to give you the best time. Other coach guides included Jim,who was so funny, and also very knowledgeably. Very entertaining throughout. The entire itinerary itinerary was very well thought out, included a huge variety of visits to different Interesting locations. Highly recommend using Titan for all your holiday destinations.

Perfect Italian Holiday…

Just returned from a lovely week in Sorrento at the Grand Hotel Hermitage, we had an excellent guide Peter Macchristopher. we loved the hotel the staff were very nice especially in the dining rooms, the food was good and the room we had was really nice with a wonderful view. Altogether very good value holiday.we felt the trip to Pompei was very good also boat trip to Amalfi. I would recommend a walk to the village of St Agatha and a three hour ride on the Little Blue Train. Great fun.this can be booked at reception.

THE GREAT INDIAN RAIL JOURNEY!!!!...

THE GREAT INDIAN RAIL JOURNEY!!!! (Dreadful) Avoid Titan and Saga at all costs. False descriptions of the tour and dreadful administration Returned to the UK last evening with a great sigh of relief after the worst holiday ever. 1. No block booking of airplane seats by Titan. (Husband and I sat apart on the long, overnight flight) 2. Unable to pre-book seats as Titan reference numbers did not coincide with anything. 3. Husband and I not sat together on any of the train journeys! In fact, on one occasion I was sat, alone on a sleeper carriage, a couple of carriages away from the rest of the group who were scattered over two or three carriages. Terrifying as a female to be sat alone in the midst of noisy locals!!!!! (Eventually the guide, Rahi, did come to rescue me and found a seat near the main group) 4. The guide, Rahi, would usually get off the coach and begin walking off without waiting for all the group to disembark the coach. (Spot the guide in the crowd!) 5. The guide, Rahi, refused to use any identifying prop such as a flag, hat, jacket or umbrella. Frightening to be in the manic crowds of Delhi and other crowded places to be unable to see the guide. 6. NO AUDIO HEADSET system on any excursion 7. The guide, Rahi, didn’t face the whole group, but stood sideways on and was unable to be heard by the majority. 8. OUTRAGEOUS behaviour by the guide when he enquired as to the whereabouts of my husband, whom I explained was in bed with an upset stomach and was feeling unwell. Rahi DID A REVERSE AIR PUNCH😳😳. This was in response to an earlier conversation when my husband had complained about our separate seating arrangements. TOTALLY UNPROFESSIONAL 9. When we arrived at Heathrow to find our aircraft seats were not allocated, we were advised to speak to our guide on arrival at Delhi. Rahi merely shrugged his shoulders and said he couldn’t do anything. 10. Tour pace incorrect - gruelling pace and only half a day relaxation due to the guide, Rahi, throwing in visits to shops and factories fie him to earn his commission as I head him tell another!!!!!!! 11. When off loaded the return flight due to illness, we were unable to get in contact with Titan/Saga. Left in Delhi without an hotel or flight!!! Found accommodation but didn’t remove shoes or clothes due to the poor standard. Final summary: Poor, disappointing, inefficient, incompetent, misleading, misrepresentations, are just a few words to describe.

Luxury VIP door to door...

Luxury VIP door to door travel! I don't think so....Titan sent a Toyota Prius uber to Stanstead for a return journey to Newport, S Wales. 4 adults plus luggage! the experience was anything but luxurious. Contacted Titan on the return journey and since return. They simply didn't seem interested and offered us a £300 travel discount off a future trip! After a lot of emails they converted it to a £300 cash refund. Give it a lot of thought before booking !

Dates & Availability

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Monday - Monday

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Free date changes.

Titan Travel allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 75 days before the start of the tour.

Transfer as credit to Future Tours

Titan Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform titan travel, 75 days before departure.

Low Deposit

Titan Travel requires a minimum deposit of 395 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.

Cancellation Policy

We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of titan travel charges.

Up to 75 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

At 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.

At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.

At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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Puglia - Discover the Heel of Italy

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Puglia – Discover the Heel of Italy

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Home / Europa / Italia / Puglia

Tour della Puglia

1° giorno MATERA Arrivo a Matera e sistemazione in hotel, cena e pernottamento. 2° giorno MATERA – MARTINA FRANCA – OSTUNI Dopo colazione, visita guidata dei famosi “sassi” e del...

Puglia: Discover the Heel of Italy

• — Baroque Lecce and crystal-clear sea in Salento — Trulli houses in Alberobello — Visit the unique Unesco town of Matera

Highlights and Inclusions

• — All breakfasts, 1 lunch/cookery class, 1 wine tasting — All accommodation — Tour leader throughout — Group arrival and departure transfers available

Fly to Bari and transfer to Matera. One of the most unusual and memorable destinations in Italy, Matera is home to extensive cave-dwelling districts, known as the Sassi District. Our hotel is in the heart of the district, a Unesco World Heritage site, and offers a terrace with panoramic views across town. After checking in, we enjoy a first glimpse of the enchanting alleys and unique architecture of Matera., one of the most interesting, distinctive and memorable towns in Italy. Accommodation: Hotel Sassi or Le Dodici Lune (or similar)

We start our week with a full day in one of the most interesting, distinctive and memorable tourist destinations in Italy: Matera. On a hill, overlooking an impressive canyon in the neighbouring region of Basilicata, Matera has only recently gained the deserved spotlight. In 1993, the town was made a Unesco World Heritage site for being the most outstanding, intact example of a troglodyte settlement in the Mediterranean, all carved in bare limestone. Accompanied by a knowledgeable local guide, we walk through the cave-dwelling districts and learn about the history of this fascinating place. In the afternoon, we can discover the city at our own pace and perhaps visit the rupestrian churches. Accommodation: Hotel Sassi or Le Dodici Lune (or similar)

In the morning, we take a private transfer to Alberobello, stopping en route at the village of Polignano a Mare, which is on the edge of a craggy ravine. We stroll along the whitewashed streets and enjoy superb views of the Adriatic Sea and coastline from a panoramic terrace. Later, we transfer to Alberobello, home to dry-stone dwellings called trulli. Many of these, which run up a series of pretty (but fairly steep) streets, have been turned into artisan shops and restaurants. We enjoy a wine tasting at a local winery before dinner, and stay overnight in traditional trulli. Accommodation: Trulli houses

Today is free to choose among several local activities. You may choose to take a day trip to the scenic port town of Monopoli or visit the Castellana Caves, the most important and biggest cave system in Italy. At the entrance of the Itria Valley, these caves began to form about 90m years ago. There is a tour that takes you more than 200ft (60m) deep and allows you to see stalactites, stalagmites, concretions, incredible shapes, fossils and canyons. Accommodation: Trulli houses

In the morning, we take a private transfer to the white city of Ostuni. On the way, we visit an ancient masseria (traditional Apulian farm) where we enjoy an olive oil tasting. For lunch, we visit another typical masseria surrounded by olive trees, some of which are more than 1,000 years old, reaching it by a 1.2mi (2km) walk along a scenic lane. Here, we take part in a cooking demonstration followed by a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, we transfer 4mi (6km) to Ostuni, where we have free time to visit the city. We stay overnight in Ostuni. Accommodation: Hotel La Terra (or similar)

Today, we transfer to pretty Otranto, the easternmost town in Italy. We spend the day exploring the pretty architecture, views, seafront restaurants and white sandy beaches of the medieval centre. We also visit the Romanesque cathedral, dating to 1088 and with extensive 12th-century floor mosaics. After lunch, we can join our tour leader for an optional gentle coastal walk following the Salento coves and creeks (approximately two hours of walking, 4mi/6km). Those who prefer not to take part can explore the town at their own pace, or perhaps relax on one of the Otranto beaches (seasonal), renowned for their clear water. In the late afternoon, we transfer to Lecce. Accommodation: Eos Hotel (or similar)

In the morning, we have free time to enjoy shopping opportunities or visit well-known monuments such as the Roman amphitheatre. We then enjoy a guided visit to Lecce in the afternoon, arguably one of the most distinctive baroque cities in Europe. Most of the buildings here are constructed in the soft local stone, with pretty decorations and cherubs covering façades and doorways. During our walking tour, we have time to admire several architectural gems, including the best baroque monument in town: the Basilica di Santa Croce, ornamented with strange beasts and allegories. Accommodation: Eos Hotel (or similar)

Transfer to Bari and fly to London.

Amazing trip to te heel of Italy. Matera was my particular highlight, due in part to the passionate guide who enthralled us it her personal relationship with Matera. Trulli houses beautiful although Alberobello was not great. The train to Martina Franca was good. Lecce too was magnificent, I've never seen so many churches. A great trip.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

The guide, Brunella at Maters. Also Anna at the olive Grove.

What did you think of your group leader?

Mainly good but he didn't really bond with the group.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Good shoes.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Beautiful landscapes, amazing food and wine, incredible architecture!

Olive oil tasting on a historical family-owned masseria with 2000-year-old olive trees, followed by an amazing lunch at another beautiful masseria. Matera is so unique and beautiful and the hospitality and comfort at the trulli in Alberobello were top notch too! Otranto for a beach day and the architecture in Lecce is incredible.

In Matera and Lecce we had local guides who made the cities come alive. Our trip leader throughout was able to give us a great introduction to Italian culture and made us feel right at home.

This was my first trip to Italy and it was perfect! We went mid-April, my sister and I flew into Milan for a few nights and then down to Bari to meet the group at the airport for Discover the Heel Italy. In spring, before it becomes a summer vacation destination for Italians, Puglia feels off the beaten path and you get the historical sites and beach towns all to yourself! Wear comfortable walking shoes and take waterproofs if rain is in the forecast so you can stay out all day. There is a lot of free time on the trip, so take advantage of the opportunity to wander around and discover on your own. There’s something for every diet, but the bread and cheese is incredible, and the vegetables are super fresh.

The hotels that you visit on this trip are super unique to this area and not the standard hotels you might find in American chains. I do recommend meeting the group at the airport on arrival as the start hotel in the Sassi can be a bit difficult to find on your own if you’re not familiar with Matera already.

Well planned itinerary and plenty of free time. Very beautiful part of Italy not generally frequented by a lot of British tourists, compared to other Italian towns, and well worth visiting. You wont be disappointed. Excellent food, as you would expect.

Can't say there was an "inspirational moment" as such, but every bit was enjoyable and glad I did this trip. I would thoroughly recommend it.

Excellent, as you would expect.

You don't have to do the suggested group meals in the evening and there are other alternatives on the free day (Tuesday) at Alberobello besides the suggested places to visit. Alternatives included visiting towns closer by (like Locorotondo or Martina Franca), going further afield to Monopoli or the caves (as per the tour notes, or just spend the day in Alberobello. The wine tasting (which included a museum and presentation) was good (excellent wine) and a light meal was included with it. Whilst Alberobello is pretty, it is very tourist and I would recommend looking at it first think in the morning or after the shops have shut when it is a lot quieter... especially on the way to the breakfast restaurnt. You see Alberobello at its best, beautiful and tranquil, not bustling with people. Some of the shops have panorama terraces on their roof too, and besides the viewing balcony mentioned in the guide books, there is also a garden that has good views of the Monte Rione district too. None of the hotels have hotels so the only option of swimming is at the beaches of the towns visited briefly (Polignano a Mare and Otranto), but there was a pool at one place guests could use staying in designated trulli houses from company Exodus use. The trulli houses for Exodus guests were scattered at various places all over the town so no one was next to or close to each other, and breakfast was a a central restaurant in town. Regarding Ostuni and the masserias, Exodus had taken on board the feedback on the reviews of former customers on their website and had arranged taxi (at no extra cost to the customer) back to Ostuni for those who didn't want to do (or couldn't manage) the 6 km walk to the town, which is well worth noting. Even if you can manage the 6 km walk, one thing you need to consider (apart from the hthiseat), is that time in Ostuni is limited to just the rest of the day and evening as we moved on the following morning. We left the second masseria about 2.30 (after lunch); the taxi journey is about 10 minutes to Ostuni; the walk was around 2 hrs, so you need to weigh up valuable usage of the time as whilst part of the group did the walk, the others of us who took a taxi spent time in a lovely gelateria and walked around the town walls viewing the countryside... after checking in at the hotel and our rooms too. T There are plenty of local produce food shops everywhere, especially local producers of olive oil in Ostuni, so don't feel you have to buy it at the masseria visited in the Ostuni countryside (although you can, it was very nice) and the prices in those shops in Ostuni weren't any different. Puglian olive oil is very good, and there are a lot of olive groves around the area. The cookery lesson at the masseria near Ostuni wasn't as I had expected; due to Covid we couldn't really do much! The Sassi districts of Matera are stunning and it is very difficult to stop walking around them and taking in the views. The views from the hotel used is spectacular. We felt rushed to get to the cathedral in Otranto when arriving there, as we were late leaving the Osuni that morning (the luggage was late leaving the hotel). Otherwise the whole tour itself wasn't rushed. There were two guided city walks (Matera and Lecce),otherwise the tour leader gave brief orientation walks of the towns on arrival most of the time. In Lecce there are plenty of museums, but I (and a couple of others) visited the Museum Faggiano) which was fascinating and apart from the excavations and exhibits, etc, had a fascinating story behind it of how it came to be, which made it all the more interesting. It's a small museum not far away from the city gate you enter the city by, from the walk from the Eos Hotel to the city centre. Finally, electric plugs and sockets - I took a European plug adaptor, which unfortunately didn't work in a lot of sockets in the hotels and trulli house (and others in the group found the same). Whilst it did work in most bathroom sockets, there were no sockets it fitted at the Hotel Eos. However the hotel Eos were very helpful and lent be a plug I could use to charge my mobile phone (which I used as a camera throughout the holiday). I would suggest bringing a multi-country adaptor, or several adaptors. Their sockets are 3-pin that take the smaller rounder pins; although the two pins will work, the thicker two pins won't work. You don't need to bring a hairdryer with you, everywhere we stayed at had them.

Thank I have covered everything!

A busy itinerary exploring a beautiful part of Southern Italy. Some stunning hillside cities with classic narrow streets and cafe culture. Lots of excellent food and local wine throughout. Whilst not strenuous in itself, it was a pretty full on itinerary, with heat, lots of steps and extensive exploring on foot, with uneven pavements/cobbles and walking terrain. Not as leisurely as the trip notes might make you believe, and not really suitable for those with limited mobility or fitness. Some parts are very busy and touristy, but easy to wander the back streets to escape the crowds and immerse yourself in Italian culture. A mix of city, rural areas and seaside to give a taste of the whole area.

Loved the views over the city from the terrace in Matera, and listening to the bells of all the churches ringing out on a Sunday afternoon. Walking into the white city of Ostuni was stunning, taking in an Aperol Spritz at an outside cafe by the cathedral whilst watching the world go by, and then seeing the sun go down along the city walls! Walking alongside the azure blue Adriatic sea in Otranto

Andraea was a very enthusiastic and hardworking leader. He sometimes struggled to understand the question he was being asked and so it was not always easy to get a straight answer. The group were not easy for him to deal with, and under the circumstances he did an adequate job.

Forget the map, just wander through the narrow streets away from the main centres and explore the real Italy! Enjoy the cafe culture and people watch over an aperitif in a central square! Indulge yourself with the local cuisine. Sample the amazing gelato and granita, such an amazing variety of flavours. Don't do this trip if you are not very fit or mobile, it has a huge amount of walking on cobbles and up and down steps, and the busy schedule means you would not maximise the value of the places visited.

Didn't particularly like the visit to Polignano del Mare, was incredibly busy and touristy, but lacked the charm and atmosphere of the other places. Alberobello was beautiful but best seen at dawn when the city streets were empty. The Trulli I stayed in was lovely, but surrounded by shops and bars off the main street and was incredibly noisy until 1am every night, so glad to get away to Ostuni to get sleep! The group were scattered over the whole resort, so there were long walks to get to rooms, and I regretted not having a case with wheels as I had to lug a heavy holdall!

Great combination of sightseeing, excursions, walking and activities in Puglia.

Trullo hotel in Alberobello was lovely; Matera was fascinating - luxurious cave-dwelling.

Barbara was really excellent - efficient, knowledgeable and friendly.

No need for hiking boots, but bring sturdy sensible footwear for the walking. Some rough tracks and cobblestones involved.

Excellent choice of venues for group meals at each end of the trip with a wide selection of local speciality dishes.

Like many people we meet we did not know Puglia existed until we saw this trip. A gem of a region, very different and so suited to a short leisurely summer trip when time is a constraint to a full-on distant adventure tour for which Exodus is otherwise renowned. Distances travelled are comparatively short so it easy to fit in many of the historic, architectural and geological sights with ease.

The caves at Castellana are pretty impressive and the largest complex we have ever visited. However, a ‘Wow’ moment, after arriving at a fairly grotty end of Matera, was stepping onto the main square viewing platform to overlook the entire “Sassi” in which we were to later stay and explore.

Barbara Schito was our tour leader and guide in all aspects of the trip. As a native of Puglia she was so enthusiastic in her wish to impart her knowledge and love of the region. Her delivery is passionate and charming and so much part of the whole experience

The food (and wine) of the region is first class and we found it to be reasonably priced having spent only 60% of our budget. As meat-eaters we were very pleased to find ristorante Carnivori in Lecce with choice cuts in the chill cabinet, cooked and served in traditional style before embarking on a week dominated by (very nice) pizzas, pastas and breads.

The weather was exceptionally hot for the time of year, with occasional thunderstorms and it is worth considering these eventualities.

Excellent trip

Visiting e olive oil farm

Excellent could have been more helpful

A great week of cycling in a mix of road, old tracks, villages and town. An opportunity to swim in the Ionian Sea and Adriatic. Great real local food. Usual high standard of the guide and his knowledge of the area

Cycling with a diverse group in an exceptionalarea.

Very knowledgeable and good at organizing stops to see the different ares of interest.

Do some training before you go. Try the local dishes.

A fascinating holiday very interesting area of Italy."Full on" busy busy busy

The White City. Ostuni.

Agata was a great guide and we all regarded her as a friend, very kind to me and a lovely sense of humour.

This really is a full on holiday, full of interest and each of the four places we visited were so interesting May is a good month to visit this area the wild flowers were really lovely.

I have been travelling with Exodus since 1996 (Petra and Palmyra) travelling by expedition truck. Now aged 80 years I still love Exodus holidays and the people who use Exodus. Keep up the excellent standard Exodus it has been a pleasure using your company.

excellent itinerary in covering Puglia in terms of scenery, landscapes, seascapes, distinctive landmarks in towns as covered, participating in or sharing local experience e.g. visit to olive tree groves; olive oil and wine tasting. accommodation in Trulli and formerly cave dwellings in Matera....

Castellana limestone cave; stay on Trulli in Alberobello

very efficient, responsible, comprehensive as well as detailed in taking care of needs, requests, meeting expectations, providing and obtaining information for all participants, very knowledgeable on all areas and aspects covered by the tour, full of energy and initiatives in guiding, offering help to and motivating participants.. recommending very good restaurants and regional food

will base on or along my above comments

more information on the duration as possibly required , type and terrain of walking path surfaces, e.g. rocky, stony, pebbled, gradient and varying degrees of difficulties for age group of over 60s

Really well organised with an excellent guide and fascinating excursions.

Caves at Castellana

Really knowledgeable and well organised. Took everyone's wishes into account.

Very good exposure to the cave dwellings, trullis and olive groves in the Puglia region. Marinella was an excellent guide who provided us with the background and context in a clear and simple manner. She also took care to introduce us to the variety of foods available in the region - which we may have missed out on if this care was not taken.

"Inspirational" is a difficult word! I greatly enjoyed seeing the trullis in Alberobella, the ancient olive groves and the very nice towns and villages we passed through.

Excellent knowledge and communication ability. Very patient and accommodating. She arranged for us to eat excellent dinners though some of these were more expensive than I would have planned for. I suggest that she should advise participants about the options available for dinner before proceeding to make bookings on her own.

a) August is very hot! and the tour in this month should be avoided, if possible. b) The distance from Matera station to the hotel is significant and your suitcase will need to be carried most of the way - so travel light! c) Fresh orange juice is widely available and can be an inexpensive and refreshing pick-me-up.

A pleasant and rewarding few days in one of the lesser-visited parts of Italy. Gentle visits to picturesque towns and villages taking in the cuisine and culture were ideal for a group of 11 ranging in age from about 40 into the mid 70s. Travelling in May avoided the blistering heat which followed throughout the summer. There was plenty of free time in which the group could do their own thing. Accommodation was excellent throughout, particularly the Trulli of Alberobello, and caves of Matera.

I'm unable to pinpoint a "moment". I thought the whole week was inspirational. But if I'm forced on pain of death, then sitting by the roadside in Alberobello licking ice-cream made me appreciate life after serious health issues.

Marcella was lovely. Very knowledgeable, chatty and welcoming. Excellent command of English. Catered to people's individual tastes. On the free day in Alberobello everyone went elsewhere. But I wanted to savour this Unesco World Heritage town, so I stayed put. I have an urge to swim everywhere I visit and Marcella pointed me in the direction of a hotel where I could use their pool for 5 Euros. The staff were lovely and didn't ask for anything.

Although a solo traveller I thought this trip and the region of Puglia and Basilicata would be ideal for young families. There is the usual tacky souvenir stuff but I found locals friendly and helpful, particular in local restaurants. No pestering anywhere from touts. The Peroni beer is outstanding, particularly the Tradizione (red label) and the Gran Riserva (quite strong at 6.6%) which is difficult to find in this country (Scotland).

Try and visit before we end up out of the EU. The pound seems to losing its value quicker than expected.

Exceptional. This is the first time that we have used this company and we found the experience wonderful. The group size was perfect, great itinerary, activities better than expected, all enhanced by the enthusiastic group leader as well as the local guides.

Matera is an exceptional place. The story behind the sassi with their troglodyte dwellings and the subsequent displacement of the inhabitants was fascinating. We were lucky also to experience the Festa della Bruna.

Our group leader was fantastic. As an experienced small group traveler I have had many different leaders. I can say without doubt our leader was better than of all previous ones.

Puglia was hot. I would advise travelers planning to go there in July to be prepared for this possibility.

A beautiful region with wonderful food, wine and olive oil. Also the swimming was great.

This is a really lovely part of Italy. It seemed less touristy than some other parts but some of that may be due to the after effects of covid still hitting tourist numbers The majority of places we visited are truly stunning. I loved Matera, Alorobello, Ostuni, Polignano, Otranto and Lecce. I was disappointed not to get to stay in Otranto as the beaches there were very nice. All the places we visited were very different and very interesting and we had just about the right amount of time in each. We went to some very lovely restaurants with excellent food!

I really loved staying in the Trulli and found Matera fascinating as it is on so many levels - a proper rabbit warren!

I really liked Gabriele. Although it was only his second time running this trip he is a very experienced leader and is a very nice, intelligent and interesting man. Everything ran perfectly - pick ups always on time, hotel check ins much quicker and simpler than normal etc.

Be aware this tour is not really suitable for anyone with mobility issues. Matera is built on seven levels so steps absolutely everywhere and paving is uneven and sometimes slippery.

I really enjoyed the trip, although I do think some improvements could be made to it. I was not a fan of the options for the free day and would like to see additional things offered such a a bike ride or a visit to an interesting town. The caves are stunning but to be honest not really my thing and Monopoli was dull. Also the plan of a walk between the Masseria to Ostuni is silly in the summer months. Although it would be fine for some people such as myself it is really not practical for a lot of people. The walk looked to be dull and a little dangerous with the heat for those who are not good with heat or very fit and although I personally would have been capable of it other members of the group would not and so we all decided we would rather get to Ostuni quicker as we would not have had much time there otherwise. Although I think it is fine to offer the walk as an option I think not offering a free transfer as an alternative is very irresponsible of Exodus and endangers their clients (which is very unlike them) and I believe this has been fed back numerous times.

Really enjoyed this trip to Puglia, staying in some really unusual accommodation. From the caves of Matera, through my personal little trullo house in Alberobello to the 13th century former palace in Ostuni and even the modern hotel in Lecce, it was all great. This part of Italy is so varied and stunning in both countryside and architecture, it makes for a very varied and enjoyable holiday. There is an excellent mix of culture, food and wine tasting, beach, walking and free time so that the week didn't feel at all rushed yet we packed in loads. I must commend our guide Nino who went to enormous lengths with a quite demanding group to ensure we all had a great time. The local guides were extremely knowledgeable and made both Matera and Lecce come alive with their vast understanding of the history of each town and the visit to the olive farm and the winery were both very enjoyable and informative. I opted to visit the Castellana Grotto which is a must-see, biggest cave system I have been in - very impressive indeed. All in all an excellent trip.

Visiting Claudio Riso's workshop in Lecce, what he can achieve with paper mache is just incredible! The incredible mosaic floor in the Otranto cathedral - still can't get over the fact that the public can walk on it.

Antonino (Nino) was an excellent group leader. He had just the right approach to the group, providing information but not excessively so, a great sense of humour and a real desire to resolve any issue, no matter how small, to ensure that everyone had an enjoyable holiday. Nino went out of his way at times to arrange suitable dining experiences to suit all tastes and budgets and was extremely accommodating with everyone's requirements for free time and when the heat, steps and distances were too much for some group members to participate in the planned walks. Nino also went out of his way to sort out the chaos at Bari airport on the return journey when our flight was cancelled at short notice, managing to get flights the next day for a lady who was going to run out of medication. It would have been helpful if BA had actually notified someone in Exodus of the cancellation so that he was better informed. As it was I was the only person who received a prior notification, because my booking wasn't included in the group booking for some reason.

Just be aware that the nature of the landscape particularly in Matera and Ostuni is such that walking involves a great number of steps, so this is not a suitable holiday for anyone with mobility issues. The walking is very gentle but proved challenging because of the extreme heat which I hadn't anticipated in May (it was 30+C each day), so worth going earlier or later in the year, if like me, you are not good walking in the heat.

Would highly recommend this trip to anyone who like me, enjoys a holiday packed with variety, interesting scenery and history, alongside some walking and excellent food. The company was great too, but of course I can't vouch for any other trips!

Pleased to visit an area previously unknown to me. We experienced unseasonably hot weather (some days 35 degrees in May) which made walking the streets of some cities difficult. The free day at Monopoli we agreed to be shortened in order that some time could be spent viewing our base Alberobello. I was surprised not to have dedicated transport which led to some timing issues and having to walk to the meeting point. Overall a tour of varieties of cities/sea side/olive groves with some good recommendations of where to eat.

As a keen photographer parts of the architecture and street photography highly rewarding. Matera at night as initial sight highly worthwhile. The main square at Lecce a wow moment.

Nino has guided on this tour for a number of years and become knowledgeable about the area. He dealt with a group of 16 women quite well. He was perhaps ambitious in his timings for us to walk to destinations as there were a couple of us with walking issues.

Be prepared for scrambling up and down highly uneven sometimes steep steps/streets.

The transport issue I reiterate cos I have not experienced before a trip where we do not have dedicated transport - you state "private" transport but I had not taken on board this meant we would have vastly different transport throughout the week.

A lovely and unexplored part of Italy. Interesting hill top towns and coastal areas. A very relaxed trip with plenty of free time (maybe a little too much). Matera, Alberobello and Lecci were the highlights for me. All stunning. Food and wine excellent everywhere: plenty of local cuisine. Polignano, Ostuni and Otranto were lovely but easily seen in a couple of hours. Graded as 1 but there are lots of steep steps in Matera and Ostuni. There was an extra walk added from the masseria lunch to Ostuni (about 2 hours) which hadn't been mentioned in the trip notes and meant those unable to walk had to pay for a transfer. Definitely need good shoes for this. We were unable to complete the listed coastal walk due to rain. All hotels were great, central and/or in historic buildings. No long journeys. Would recommend for a relaxing introduction to the region.

Matera: seeing the kestrels swooping in the mornings, views all over the town, esp from the gorge walk. Staying in a trullo The visit to the olive farm. Lecce's wonderful cathedrals and rooftop terrace of hotel.

Fabrizio was very enthusiastic and helpful, with lots of suggestions for restaurants etc. He did a lovely welcome/orientation session. Always joined us for meals, was very good at dietary requirements etc. His instructions/timings etc were always very clear. He was always very sociable with the group and happy to chat. As previously mentioned some of his information was out of date eg opening times for cathedral, restaurants but this was probably due to post Covid changes.

Good shoes. Waterproof and jacket for the April departures. Solo travellers should be aware that there are quite a few free afternoons.

This is an interesting tour overall. The three main places visited - Matera, Alberobello and Lecce - are all so historical and individually fascinating to explore, yet completely different. The accommodation is similarly characterful and varied; potentially having a cave room in Matera, next a trullo in Alberobello, then a converted monastery in Ostuni (my room, in the roof, had the original guttering inside the room!) and finally an old palazzo in Lecce. There is a lot of free time outside of the designated free day, which might not suit some people, particularly solo travellers who don't bond as well with others in their group (our group of twelve had six solo travellers and those who wanted to could always find someone to explore with, as everyone was pretty sociable). Although this trip is graded as leisurely, there is a lot of walking around the various places visited, sometimes involving quite steep climbs on steps/cobbles/slopes, especially in Matera.

Staying in the trullo in Alberobello was such an unusual experience - I instantly fell in love with "my" trullo as I walked into it! Castellana Caves was the best cave system I have visited (despite the rather horrible guide!), with some truly stunning formations. The olive farm tour and tasting was a surprising highlight due to the sheer knowledge and enthusiasm of the guides there as well as the preserved historical aspects, plus the superb oil!

Fabrizio was very sweet and enthusiastic, drawing us in with his "hello friends" welcome from the start! His information wasn't always totally up to date, possibly because of Covid, and he hasn't yet realised that toilets are an important need after a journey, but he was still lovely to be with.

Make sure that you have comfortable walking shoes with a good grip - the cobbled streets can be slippery if it rains and in most of the places visited, but especially Matera, you will mainly be going up and down steps/slopes when walking around. Be prepared to be left to explore on your own at some point of every day, sometimes for quite a few hours! Castellana Caves is the option I did on the free day - superb caves, and big (3km underground, in sometimes slippery conditions, and very humid too - so we got very hot, especially as we had to wear FFP2 masks throughout the tour). I gather that Monopoli was very enjoyable from those in our group who chose that. Our guide arranged transfers to both, the cost of which was split between those going (so we paid 16 Euros for the cave transfer but those going to Monopoli paid 37.50 Euros as there were a lot fewer of them).

Leisurely was the description....a fairly lively leisurely .... great trips, knowledgeable, friendly and helpful leader. Some amazing places to visit and accommodation to stay at - all comfortable and most very different.

Supper with everyone at a farm where we were served with home grown produce, all of which was delicious

Pleasant, friendly, knowledgeable and helpful

Take your camera with plenty of memory card space and don't forget the charger/s you'll need

This trip gave a flavour of the region of Puglia in more ways than one... Staying in four different locations across the week, we learned about the importance of olives and wine in the region with visits to a an olive grove for olive oil tasting and a factory for wine tasting, and were encouraged to try local specialities by our leader who at group meals ordered a range of typical dishes so that we could try a variety. Although not specifically a food tour, food has to be a major part of any trip to Italy...

Exploring the alleyways of white-walled hill-town Ostuni as the sun was going down.

The walks (I can't speak for the one from Otranto, which we were unable to do due to bad weather) were fairly flat and easy. The guided town tours are if anything more strenuous as they are longer! (Note, the one around beautiful Matera does involve a few steps and sloping paths, the only way of seeing this town built into the sides of a gorge). Walking trainers or even walking sandals are appropriate for all walks on this trip. My personal advice - take your coffee the way the Italians do, stood at the counter with an espresso cup and a glass of water. It's quick, nice, local, gives you a caffeine boost, gives free access to a toilet, and usually there's cake available too! To nut allergy sufferers - be aware that in this area hazelnut is commonly mixed with chocolate in pastries and desserts. There is a great love of Nutella! Always check before ordering!

The region was rewarding and not very touristy. Towns were full of atmosphere. Some enjoyable walks. Hotels were close to centres. Not too much coach travel and enough free time. Warm and friendly guide. But quite a bit of walking so Might be difficult for those even with some mobility problems and not all accommodation great. Free day a bit problematic as limited public transport and a day in arivabello not all that interesting. But guide helped and we went to two nice towns so not insuperable. Local food and wine was good. Recommended but be prepared to walk

The towns all full of atmosphere and the whole week more than any individual visit was inspirational

A lovely lady lively and energetic

Don’t go if you can’t walk easily or want luxury resorts. You might prepare by learning a little Italian as outside hotels English isn’t much spoken though you could get by

Really good week but for the price some of the hotels a bit basic

I loved every minute of this very diverse tour. Every day was different and very interesting, our group leader Fabrizio was awesome and the individual group participants were lovely and lots of fun. I would definitely recommend this tour.

Matera was a highlight - I wish I had arranged for extra days there.

Awesome! Very informative and loads of fun.

Embrace the diversity of this tour.

We had a wonderful week in a part of Italy that was new to us.

We have done eleven previous group trips with companies like Intrepid and Explore and Marinella was way better than any previous leader. Whether it's through local knowledge or willingness to do lots of preparation I don't know, but we were inspired by the way Marinella was able to make places come alive when she introduced us to them.

Marinella was a wonderful leader - full of enthusiasm, patience, good humour and energy. Her goal was to ensure that every guest had the best possible time. She mixed easily and confidently with all guests and always helped out if there was a problem.

If you find extreme heat difficult, travel before June.

Temperatures were in the mid to high 30s, which is much hotter than we are used to. These temperatures are foreshadowed on the Exodus website and they're OK as long as the accommodation has fully functioning air conditioning. Air con was fine in Lecce, Ostuni and Matera, but poor at Alberobello where we had hot nights and not much sleep.

The holiday was most enjoyable and we were escorted by Marinella in a friendly and efficient way. The hotels we stayed in were comfortable, and some uniquely interesting.

I was very excited to see Alberobello, which I had long wanted to visit. And Matera was a great revelation - I knew nothing of its history, and found it fascinating

Marinella was friendly, energetic and charming, and full of interesting information. She found some lovely places for us to eat at. She was concerned for and interested in everyone in the partyExpect

If you go in July, leave your woollies well behind. It was EXTREMELY hot when we were there.

You will feel well looked after by Exodus.

This was a nice close up look at the heel of Italy. Lots of historic context alongside regional cuisine, great local wines, and beautiful countryside. We had a great group of 11 like-minded travellers and had a lot of fun.

Trying out the local cuisine was a highlight, especially all the amazing appetizers.

Marcella was great! She spent time with us even when she didn't have to and always made sure we were taken care of.

Bring good walking shoes. The walks are longer and a bit more challenging than they sound in the trip description, and take place in the heat of the day.

Suggest you change the physical activity rating from one star to two. I would have liked to learn more about the flora of the region.

We would definitely recommend this holiday; the choice of hotels was superb. There was such a wide variety of things to see and the area is very beautiful.

Spending time in Matera was a real highlight and also travelling on the local train to Lecce through the olive groves.

Marinella was an exceptional guide; nothing was too much trouble and she was very knowledgable about the area and interesting to listen to. We appreciated the effort she made to find good local places for the group to eat together in the evening, and accompanying us, which made a lot of difference to our holiday.

Some of the pavements were polished cobbles so a shoe with a good grip is essential. There were quite a lot of hills and steps to negotiate.

There were no early morning starts so in that sense it was leisurely, but we were on our feet most of the day so in our view we would classify this holiday as leisurely/moderate.

An interesting introduction to a region of Italy often overlooked. There was so much to see and do, plus staying in a trulli house in Alberobello was an amazing experience. The food was superb and the wine amazing.

So many, visit olive trees thousands of years old. The caverns, each cave better than the last. Staying in a trulli.

Giuseppe was very passionate about showing us his part of Italy, from introducing us to amazing food and wines made from local products, to showing us beautiful little towns.

Food is a little more expensive than the trip notes suggest. Double the recommendations as there is so much amazing food and wine to trip.

On our free day we went to Martina Franca and Locorotondo, these were beautiful towns well worth a visit

An interesting and vey varied trip. Sara our group leader was delightful and efficient. It was a busy itinerary, very enjoyable, maybe not quite as leisurely as one may have thought it would be.!

Difficult,. The caverns were amazing, the olive producers ancient olive grove also. 2000 year old trees reminds one of how fragile and small we are.

Sara was lovely, good fun and efficient

Look upon the trip as slightly more full on than possibily required, but vey enjoyable nonetheless

An excellent trip. The pace of the trip is perfect. A week flew by and we felt we had been all over the Puglia region. So much to do and see in such a short space of time and yet we managed to relax and get some free time in too. The food was outstanding, the wine was delightful, the people were a pleasure to be around. Every stage of the trip was enjoyable and slightly different.

The whole trip was perfect but if I were to pick a section that stood out, I would say Aberobella. To stay in a Trulli house was such a wonderful experience - not at all what I was expecting. The cookery lesson was more of a demonstration (although we did get to try make some pasta) but it was thoroughly enjoyable and the meal at the end was the best meal of the holiday.

Salvatore' was an excellent leader. He was knowledgeable, professional and caring. His English is perfect and he has a personable way about him that makes him a pleasure to listen to. Nothing was too much trouble, he didn't once look irritated (particularly by eight women who were always looking for the next loo stop!). His choice of restaurants and eating places was superb. Once you know you're in good hands it is so easy to switch off and chill out.

Don't hesitate - just book it.

If I were to change anything about this trip it would be to add an overnight stay in Otranto. We had a lot of time in Lecce and if anything were to give I would forego some time there. The specialist guides in Lecce and in Matera were first class !

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Apulia or Puglia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south.

Latitude: 40.7928393, Longitude: 17.1011931

Puglia or Apulia , a southern region forming the heel of Italy’s “boot,” is known for its whitewashed hill towns, centuries-old farmland and hundreds of kilometers of Mediterranean coastline. Sometimes referred to as "the heel of Italy", in reference to the country's boot-like shape, Puglia is a charming region that can be visited all year round and it's mostly occupied by plains and hills.

Start your trip to Puglia

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In Puglia, everything the Italophile craves is here in abundance: ancient towns, extravagant churches, seas of olives, olive-green seas and food to equal of anywhere else in Italy.

Best Time to Visit

Best places to visit, leave the planning to a local expert.

Experience the real Puglia. Let a local expert handle the planning for you.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Castel del Monte

You'll see Castel del Monte, an inhumanly exact geometric shape on a hilltop, from miles away. Mysterious and perfectly octagonal, it's one of southern…

Mosaics, skulls, crypts and biblical-meets-tropical imagery: Otranto's cathedral is like no other in Italy. It was built by the Normans in the 11th…

Grotte di Castellana

Valle d’Itria

These spectacular limestone caves, 40km southeast of Bari, are Italy's longest natural subterranean network. The interlinked galleries, first discovered…

Basilica di San Nicola

Bari's signature basilica was one of the first Norman churches to be built in southern Italy, and is a splendid (if square and solid) example of Pugliese…

Basilica di Santa Croce

It seems that hallucinating stonemasons have been at work on the basilica. Sheep, dodos, cherubs and beasties writhe across the facade, a swirling…

Museo Faggiano

Descend through Lecce's rich historical strata in this fascinating home-turned-museum, where sewerage excavations led to the chance discovery of an…

Museo Archeologico di Santa Scolastica

Housed in a well-preserved 16th-century defensive bastion, this excellent museum reopened in late 2018 and features a superbly curated overview of the…

Museo Nazionale Archeologico di Taranto

Sitting unassumingly in a side street in Taranto's new town is one of Italy's most important archaeological museums, chiefly dedicated to the archaeology…

Top picks from our travel experts

8 of the best things to do in puglia, italy.

Head to San Domino for walks, grottoes and coves. It has a pristine, marvellous coastline and the islands' only sandy beach, Cala delle Arene. Alongside…

Giuseppe Zimbalo's 1659 reconstruction of Lecce's original 12th-century cathedral is recognised as being among his finest work. Zimbalo, Lecce's famous…

Piazza del Duomo

Piazza del Duomo is a baroque feast, the city's focal point and a sudden open space amid the surrounding enclosed lanes. During times of invasion the…

The third of the Isole Tremiti, Capraia (named after the wild caper plant) is uninhabited. Birdlife is plentiful, with impressive flocks of seagulls…

Parco Nazionale del Gargano

Promontorio del Gargano

One of Italy's largest national parks, a place of sweeping coast and deep, ancient forests, sits on the spur of southern Italy in Puglia, jutting out into…

Medieval buildings thrust out of San Nicola's rocky shores, the same pale-sand colour as the barren cliffs. In 1010, Benedictine monks founded the Abbazia…

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip.

Best Things to Do

From hiking in Gargano National Park to tasting local pastries in Lecce, experience the best of Puglia with these top things to do.

Things to Know

These top tips on safety and etiquette can help you plan your visit to Puglia in the south of Italy.

Transportation

What’s the best way to get around Italy’s “boot heel”? Read our guide to find out.

Money and Costs

While on the rise in recent years, Puglia is still a relatively undiscovered destination for foreign visitors. Italians, though, have known for a very long…

Traveling with Kids

Puglia is an Italian vacation destination that can satisfy the whole family. Here are the region's best things to do with kids.

Best Road Trips

The best way to get around Puglia is definitely by renting your own set of wheels – here are five of the best drives in Italy's boot heel.

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Titan Travel   Reviews

In the Tour operator category

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Reviews 4.0.

1,704 total

Most relevant

How I wish I did not have to leave a…

How I wish I did not have to leave a star for this company. After our disasterous trip to Japan we and our friends wrote to the CEO of the company and we know others have as well. We were promised a reply but nothing has happened which is about the norm from Titan. Nothing is done. Having read reviews from other customers about their experiences with the Japanese trip on different dates to ours the whole thing is an absolute disaster from start to finish being put on a Cathay Pacific flight away from our friends and not the promised brochure BA flight is unforgiveable , Bad tour guides helped ruin the holiday with poor quality head phones lack of information about the areas visited, getting us lost on numerous occasions no idea of opening closing time, too many things to list. As to offering us a free drink in the happy hour at Hiroshima for the mess up with the flights, we found it to be a complete insult. AI Nick, get your act together because if Titan carries on like this, it is a doomed company.

Date of experience : 21 March 2024

Reply from Titan Travel

Hi Jan, As discussed, please be assured a full response following our in depth investigation has been sent to you to address your concerns. Kind regards, Thomas Titan Travel

Foothills of the Himalayas …

I’ve just got back from the foothills of the Himalayas tour. Wonderful tour manager Alex despite his jokes haha! Bisham was very knowledgeable of the areas we went to and very helpful as was Alex

Date of experience : 23 April 2024

Hi Heather, Thanks so much for taking the time to share your review. It sounds like you had a great time and that Alex kept you all entertained! We look forward to you joining us on another Titan adventure, Best Wishes, Nick Titan Travel

Magic on the Nile.

We booked the holiday Magic of the Nile, with a few days in Cairo as an extension. It was truly a magical holiday from start to finish. Titan looked after everything on the holiday, it was planned to perfection. The flights, hotels and the boat were all excellent with good food, service and was very clean. Staff made sure that they went that extra mile to make the holiday special. Our tour manager Ayman Eltaqy helped to make the holiday special. He made sure that anything we needed was sorted and especially organised the trips so we went at optimum times. He was approachable and advised us on Egyptian culture. The trips and excursions were delivered at a pace all could cope with and enjoy. The places visited were excellent and included all the places you would expect and more for an experience you would never forget. We were accompanied with an Egyptologist; John Emad who was extremely knowledgeable and explained everything in an interesting way. I learned so much. It was a fantastic holiday I will never forget it. I would thoroughly recommend this holiday.

Date of experience : 31 March 2024

Let the buyer be ware.

The Turkish holiday I wished to book - as advertised in their latest brochure was not available on the dates advertised, in addition the price had been increased by 25%. The shorter duration Turkish holiday, although priced as per brochure had been reduced by 1 day. In addition the online documentation is at odds with that received in the post.

Date of experience : 20 April 2024

Hi, Thanks for sharing your review of your booking experience. We do appreciate your comments as these help us to identify areas for improvement. We understand that you have been in contact with our sales staff to complete your booking and the team should be able to answer any further queries that you may have with regards to the pricing an availability. We do hope that we can restore your faith in us and that you have a wonderful holiday, Best Wishes, Nick Titan Travel

Essence Of Japan Tour 1st April fiasco

Titan really need to get their act together. The Japan tour was the trip of a lifetime for my son and I and it started badly when most of us learned we would not be seated with our partners on the 13 hour outward flight. Obviously no thought about their customers but then I suppose Titan will blame BA. Then after nearly 2 hours in passport control when we arrived we then had to wait for our rooms to be available. Then we had to endure an inexperienced local guide for most of the tour who was difficult to understand and also got us lost a few times trying to find a shrine, temple or Samurai house. We spent nearly an hour walking in the park trying to find the Big Buddha temple in Nara. We then had an excellent guide for one day only around day 10 and then she was inexplicably changed for another guide. Overall the whole tour was spoiled by these issues to say the least but we all stuck together and bonded well despite all these grievances. Having now returned home and read about similar issues on other recent Titan tours to Japan then it is obvious Titan have sadly let down a lot of people. Still waiting for a response, apology and some recompense? Paul Smith

Date of experience : 01 April 2024

Hi Paul, We're really sorry to read about your experiences on your recent trip to Japan. This is clearly not the kind of feedback we aim to receive. We can assure you that your comments will be taken extremely seriously and fed back to our senior management teams for their information and review. We understand that our customer relations team have received a copy of your feedback and have begun investigating the points that you have raised. They will be in contact with your directly to address your concerns. We do hope that we can go some way to restoring your faith in us and that you will consider us again for your future travel plans, Best Wishes, Nick Titan Travel

If you want excellent service ask for…

If you want excellent service ask for Ann. Friendly, but professional. Knowledgeable, answered all questions, even calling back when she said she would regarding additional flight queries. Extremely helpful when I changed holidays. Titan/Saga - please clone Ann.

Date of experience : 19 April 2024

Hi, Thanks for taking the time to share your review. We're delighted to hear that Ann was able to answer all your queries and help you confirm your booking. We will pass on your kind feedback. We hope you have a fantastic holiday with us, Best Wishes, Nick Titan Travel

20 day tour from Toyko to Nagasaki via…

20 day tour from Toyko to Nagasaki via coach and train. Great tour seeing a great country aways on my bucket list! Learnt a lot about culture and the country 3 weeks is a long time and the only hing I would say is some cities need a bit more time but the trip covers a vast area so time was tight.

Date of experience : 28 March 2024

Hi Stephen, Thanks so much for taking the time to share your review. We're so pleased to hear that you had such a great time exploring Japan. We do appreciate your feedback regarding the length of time in each city, this will be fed back to our products team for their information and review. We look forward to you joining us on another Titan adventure, Best Wishes, Nick Titan Travel

Essence of Japan

Geoff our Titan tour manager really made the trip fun & enjoyable The Japanese guides were very knowledgeable but their English pronunciation made it difficult to understand. The down side of the trip wss once again the failure with British Airways, this time with loss of pre booked allocated seats.

Date of experience : 16 April 2024

Thank you Ian, for your feedback from which we are delighted to hear how well Geoff organised your Tour. It is a shame to read you did not receive your pre booked allocated seats. Our Customer Service Team have been made aware and will be in contact with you soon to resolve this matter. Kind regards, Nic Titan Travel

India golden triangle with Ranthambore

First time in India and first time on an escorted tour. We were delighted with all the effort free hotels, excursions, travel and experiences. India is a complete assault on the senses in every way imaginable. We had a fantastic group to travel with which made it so enjoyable. Alex Matthaei was the best tour manager: drole, unflappable, a joke a day (raj of the pun) , oiled the gears so everything ran smoothly. Tour guide Anil was so schooled in Indian history he brought the sites alive and would answer any question on India. It’s a full on schedule with early starts but absolutely worth it. Hotels and food all of a high standard. Icing on the cake : we saw tigers !! Let down at Heathrow as our return driver hadn’t been booked , knocked a star off. Still waiting for a response to complaint.

Date of experience : 29 March 2024

Thank you for your feedback from which we are delighted your first escorted tour was a great success. We hope you will be joining us again in the future for many more adventures. Kind regards, Nic Titan Travel

Just booked Royal India for 2025 with Titan Travel

Just booked Royal India for 2025. Really looking forward to it. We have been to Australia and New Zealand with Titan. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Hi Sharon, Thanks for taking the time to share your review. We're delighted to hear that you have enjoyed your previous tours with us and have returned to book again. We hope you have a wonderful time exploring India next year, Best Wishes, Nick Titan Travel

Golden Triangle with Ranthambore

With a bit of trepidation we booked our first escorted tour to India’s Golden Triangle with Ranthambore National Park through Titan Travel. Our fears were unfounded as Alex our Titan Tour representative had the whole tour running like clockwork and so well organised. Moving us to a different seat on the coach every day meant as a group we all got to meet and get to know each other quite quickly which was a great idea. We loved Alex’s morning jokes and dry wit. Anil our tour guide was exceptionally knowledgeable in Indian history and made every excursion informative. He also had a lovely sense of humour. The hotels were all fabulous with a good variation of buffet food to suit everyone. Will definitely be booking another tour with Titan Travel in the future.

Hi Jeanette, It's great to hear you have enjoyed your first escorted tour with Titan Travel. Thank you for your kind comments about Alex, we will share them with the India team. Kind regards, Nic Titan Travel

The booking staff were helpful…

The booking staff were helpful especially Ferhat and Adam. Ferhat is a proper salesman. He knows how to talk to customers. I ended booking for 2 holidays when initially I wanted to book only one with Titan and the 2nd one with another company. That shows he is good at his job. I previously had a bad experience with Titan in Paloma Italy in 2010 which wasn’t investigated by Titan. I avoided Titan for many years so this is a trial to see how this holiday will go.

Date of experience : 15 April 2024

Hi Emah, Thank you for taking the time to share your great feedback with us.. We are delighted to hear how well Ferhat and Adam looked after you. Thank you for returning to Titan, we cannot wait to send you away on your next tour. Kind regards, Nic Titan Travel

Golden Triangle, India 🇮🇳

Our first time in India and it didn't disappoint. Our tour guide Alex Mathaei was wonderful, well organised and told a joke or two which always made us laugh. Anil, our local guide knew his history, very knowledgeable and always answered any question asked. It was a large group of us who all got on well. Lovely hotels where you could relax after a full on day. Early morning starts each day which you'd need to be prepared for, but well worth it. The Taj Mahal was awesome, bucket list ticked! The safari round Ranthambhore didn't disappoint, and we were very fortunate to see Tiger's, wow, so majestic. The only thing that let this holiday down was the seating arrangements on the plane,Titan didn't have us sitting next to our companion, but, thankfully on our return journey Alex managed to sort this out for us.

Hi Lyn, We are delighted we have been able to exceed your expectations on your first Titan tour. We hope you will be joining us again on many more adventures. Kind regards, Nic Titan Travel

India’s Golden Triangle with Ranthambore

Brilliant trip, well organised (thank you Alex Matthaei) even laughed at most of his jokes. We also had a really well informed guide (Anil) who gave us insights into Indian culture as well as history behind each of the sites we visited. The hotels were fabulous and a varied range of meals available at each sitting. Transport between cities was an adventure in itself. I had never been along a dual carriageway on the wrong side of the road facing oncoming traffic before, but it seemed that is what they do when the road is closed. We got there in one piece and was something to laugh about with the rest of the group. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending this trip and am looking at another trip with them in the future.

Thank you Ann, for a great review. We are glad Alex's humour kept you amused during the tour! We will ensure your kind comments are passed onto him and the India team. Kind regards, Nic Titan Travel

Golden Triangle India

I had a great time on this tour. The booking administration team was helpful. On the day of departure, I was collected by a lovely driver and from then on my whole experience was fabulous. I was with a fantastic group of people and we were fortunate enough to be led by Alex and Anil on our adventures. Borh were knowledgeable and organised. Can't wait to go on another Titan tour

Hi Tanya, It's great to read you had a great time on the Golden Triangle India tour. Thank you for such positive feedback. Kind regards, Nic Titan Travel

India's Golden Triangle Tour

Just back from the Golden Triangle tour. Had an amazing time thanks to our tour manager Alex Matthaei and local tour guide Anil Kumar. Couldn't fault the organisation, quality of the hotels and knowledge of both of the above gentlemen. Truly an exceptional experience.

Thank you for your feedback - we are delighted you enjoyed the Golden Triangle tour and Alex made your holiday. We hope to see you again soon for more Titan Travel adventures. Kind regards, Nic Titan Travel

Titan Travel Essence of Japan

AWFUL TITAN. ESSENCE OF JAPAN Titans poor service managed to sully rather than polish and enhance what they claimed would be a "VIP"experience. At circa £6450 with single supplement on what I hoped would be the holiday of a lifetime we are extreemly disappointed. Our titan rep Ian said he had not been to Japan previously. His main experience I gather was in Spain. He seemed to treat the trip as his holiday and be out of his depth..reactive to issues rather than pro active. The on site japanese guide was a nice lady but poor english and gave minimal info or interpretation, certainly not providing the "enthusiastic and knowledgeable" service claimed in the brochure.. I would recommend using ANY OTHER COMPANY THAN TITAN. Some problems I experience: 1. Hotel not ready on arrival and no courtesy room offered so taken to the river bank for two hours..waste of half a day. 2. On site guide..poor English and little insight or interpretation offered. She managed to get us lost on 3 occasions. Resulted in rushing, further time wasted and even more frustration when it should have been a pleasure. I believe we missed out on several sights as a result. 3. No flexibility or thinking on feet from guides..Having spent hours up tokyo sky tree in the rain with poor visibility we drove past main cherry blossom sites (why do they think we booked early April?) 4. Poor service by guides only further highlighted when substituted on day 10 by another rep who was very good. Sadly she lasted one day. 5. Long queues at breakfast on occasion. Sometimes set up in conference rooms. VERY POOR in comparison with similar tours we have taken.

Hi Anne, Thank you for your detailed and concerning feedback. We are investigating the Essence of Japan Tour with our suppliers and Product Team . Please be reassured we will be in contact with you soon to resolve your concerns. Kind regards, Nic Titan Travel

Essence of Japan tour

Essence of Japan tour Ended on Wednesday after a lovely time and Geoff our English tour manager was fantastic. Everything ran smoothly and it was a great group of people. Would have loved to have had a few evening meals arranged as think it bonds the group more. Would certainly use Titan again.

Date of experience : 05 April 2024

Hi, Thanks for taking the time to share your review. We're so pleased to hear that you had such a great time and that Geoff looked after you all so well. We look forward to you joining us on another Titan adventure, Best Wishes, Nick Titan Travel

Brilliant booking

Brilliant booking service staff are friendly and treat you as an interesting individual. They are happy to explain their superb tours and the extra little details they provide.

Hi Alison, We're so pleased to hear that our agents were able to answer all your queries and help you confirm your booking. We hope you have a fantastic holiday with us, Best Wishes, Nick Titan Travel

Great Indian Railway Tour

Throughly recommend this tour Sanjeev has been the most amazing guide and shown us the real India His knowledge, compassion and genuine kindness has made this a truly special experience Everything went to plan and added extras made sure we could just enjoy our journey We could not have wished for a better person to guide us through Lots of special memories with a fabulous group of people

Date of experience : 14 April 2024

Hi Sandra, Thank you for your amazing review of our Great Indian Railway Tour and your feedback about Sanjeev. We are delighted you had an enjoyable tour. Kind regards, Nic Titan Travel

Suggested companies

Saga travel, riviera travel, newmarket holidays.

Titan Travel   Reviews

In the Tour Operator category

Visit this website

Company activity See all

Write a review

Reviews 4.0.

1,704 total

Most relevant

How I wish I did not have to leave a…

How I wish I did not have to leave a star for this company. After our disasterous trip to Japan we and our friends wrote to the CEO of the company and we know others have as well. We were promised a reply but nothing has happened which is about the norm from Titan. Nothing is done. Having read reviews from other customers about their experiences with the Japanese trip on different dates to ours the whole thing is an absolute disaster from start to finish being put on a Cathay Pacific flight away from our friends and not the promised brochure BA flight is unforgiveable , Bad tour guides helped ruin the holiday with poor quality head phones lack of information about the areas visited, getting us lost on numerous occasions no idea of opening closing time, too many things to list. As to offering us a free drink in the happy hour at Hiroshima for the mess up with the flights, we found it to be a complete insult. AI Nick, get your act together because if Titan carries on like this, it is a doomed company.

Date of experience : 21 March 2024

Reply from Titan Travel

Hi Jan, As discussed, please be assured a full response following our in depth investigation has been sent to you to address your concerns. Kind regards, Thomas Titan Travel

Foothills of the Himalayas …

I’ve just got back from the foothills of the Himalayas tour. Wonderful tour manager Alex despite his jokes haha! Bisham was very knowledgeable of the areas we went to and very helpful as was Alex

Date of experience : 23 April 2024

Hi Heather, Thanks so much for taking the time to share your review. It sounds like you had a great time and that Alex kept you all entertained! We look forward to you joining us on another Titan adventure, Best Wishes, Nick Titan Travel

Magic on the Nile.

We booked the holiday Magic of the Nile, with a few days in Cairo as an extension. It was truly a magical holiday from start to finish. Titan looked after everything on the holiday, it was planned to perfection. The flights, hotels and the boat were all excellent with good food, service and was very clean. Staff made sure that they went that extra mile to make the holiday special. Our tour manager Ayman Eltaqy helped to make the holiday special. He made sure that anything we needed was sorted and especially organised the trips so we went at optimum times. He was approachable and advised us on Egyptian culture. The trips and excursions were delivered at a pace all could cope with and enjoy. The places visited were excellent and included all the places you would expect and more for an experience you would never forget. We were accompanied with an Egyptologist; John Emad who was extremely knowledgeable and explained everything in an interesting way. I learned so much. It was a fantastic holiday I will never forget it. I would thoroughly recommend this holiday.

Date of experience : 31 March 2024

Let the buyer be ware.

The Turkish holiday I wished to book - as advertised in their latest brochure was not available on the dates advertised, in addition the price had been increased by 25%. The shorter duration Turkish holiday, although priced as per brochure had been reduced by 1 day. In addition the online documentation is at odds with that received in the post.

Date of experience : 20 April 2024

Hi, Thanks for sharing your review of your booking experience. We do appreciate your comments as these help us to identify areas for improvement. We understand that you have been in contact with our sales staff to complete your booking and the team should be able to answer any further queries that you may have with regards to the pricing an availability. We do hope that we can restore your faith in us and that you have a wonderful holiday, Best Wishes, Nick Titan Travel

Essence Of Japan Tour 1st April fiasco

Titan really need to get their act together. The Japan tour was the trip of a lifetime for my son and I and it started badly when most of us learned we would not be seated with our partners on the 13 hour outward flight. Obviously no thought about their customers but then I suppose Titan will blame BA. Then after nearly 2 hours in passport control when we arrived we then had to wait for our rooms to be available. Then we had to endure an inexperienced local guide for most of the tour who was difficult to understand and also got us lost a few times trying to find a shrine, temple or Samurai house. We spent nearly an hour walking in the park trying to find the Big Buddha temple in Nara. We then had an excellent guide for one day only around day 10 and then she was inexplicably changed for another guide. Overall the whole tour was spoiled by these issues to say the least but we all stuck together and bonded well despite all these grievances. Having now returned home and read about similar issues on other recent Titan tours to Japan then it is obvious Titan have sadly let down a lot of people. Still waiting for a response, apology and some recompense? Paul Smith

Date of experience : 01 April 2024

Hi Paul, We're really sorry to read about your experiences on your recent trip to Japan. This is clearly not the kind of feedback we aim to receive. We can assure you that your comments will be taken extremely seriously and fed back to our senior management teams for their information and review. We understand that our customer relations team have received a copy of your feedback and have begun investigating the points that you have raised. They will be in contact with your directly to address your concerns. We do hope that we can go some way to restoring your faith in us and that you will consider us again for your future travel plans, Best Wishes, Nick Titan Travel

If you want excellent service ask for…

If you want excellent service ask for Ann. Friendly, but professional. Knowledgeable, answered all questions, even calling back when she said she would regarding additional flight queries. Extremely helpful when I changed holidays. Titan/Saga - please clone Ann.

Date of experience : 19 April 2024

Hi, Thanks for taking the time to share your review. We're delighted to hear that Ann was able to answer all your queries and help you confirm your booking. We will pass on your kind feedback. We hope you have a fantastic holiday with us, Best Wishes, Nick Titan Travel

20 day tour from Toyko to Nagasaki via…

20 day tour from Toyko to Nagasaki via coach and train. Great tour seeing a great country aways on my bucket list! Learnt a lot about culture and the country 3 weeks is a long time and the only hing I would say is some cities need a bit more time but the trip covers a vast area so time was tight.

Date of experience : 28 March 2024

Hi Stephen, Thanks so much for taking the time to share your review. We're so pleased to hear that you had such a great time exploring Japan. We do appreciate your feedback regarding the length of time in each city, this will be fed back to our products team for their information and review. We look forward to you joining us on another Titan adventure, Best Wishes, Nick Titan Travel

Essence of Japan

Geoff our Titan tour manager really made the trip fun & enjoyable The Japanese guides were very knowledgeable but their English pronunciation made it difficult to understand. The down side of the trip wss once again the failure with British Airways, this time with loss of pre booked allocated seats.

Date of experience : 16 April 2024

Thank you Ian, for your feedback from which we are delighted to hear how well Geoff organised your Tour. It is a shame to read you did not receive your pre booked allocated seats. Our Customer Service Team have been made aware and will be in contact with you soon to resolve this matter. Kind regards, Nic Titan Travel

India golden triangle with Ranthambore

First time in India and first time on an escorted tour. We were delighted with all the effort free hotels, excursions, travel and experiences. India is a complete assault on the senses in every way imaginable. We had a fantastic group to travel with which made it so enjoyable. Alex Matthaei was the best tour manager: drole, unflappable, a joke a day (raj of the pun) , oiled the gears so everything ran smoothly. Tour guide Anil was so schooled in Indian history he brought the sites alive and would answer any question on India. It’s a full on schedule with early starts but absolutely worth it. Hotels and food all of a high standard. Icing on the cake : we saw tigers !! Let down at Heathrow as our return driver hadn’t been booked , knocked a star off. Still waiting for a response to complaint.

Date of experience : 29 March 2024

Thank you for your feedback from which we are delighted your first escorted tour was a great success. We hope you will be joining us again in the future for many more adventures. Kind regards, Nic Titan Travel

Just booked Royal India for 2025 with Titan Travel

Just booked Royal India for 2025. Really looking forward to it. We have been to Australia and New Zealand with Titan. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Hi Sharon, Thanks for taking the time to share your review. We're delighted to hear that you have enjoyed your previous tours with us and have returned to book again. We hope you have a wonderful time exploring India next year, Best Wishes, Nick Titan Travel

Golden Triangle with Ranthambore

With a bit of trepidation we booked our first escorted tour to India’s Golden Triangle with Ranthambore National Park through Titan Travel. Our fears were unfounded as Alex our Titan Tour representative had the whole tour running like clockwork and so well organised. Moving us to a different seat on the coach every day meant as a group we all got to meet and get to know each other quite quickly which was a great idea. We loved Alex’s morning jokes and dry wit. Anil our tour guide was exceptionally knowledgeable in Indian history and made every excursion informative. He also had a lovely sense of humour. The hotels were all fabulous with a good variation of buffet food to suit everyone. Will definitely be booking another tour with Titan Travel in the future.

Hi Jeanette, It's great to hear you have enjoyed your first escorted tour with Titan Travel. Thank you for your kind comments about Alex, we will share them with the India team. Kind regards, Nic Titan Travel

The booking staff were helpful…

The booking staff were helpful especially Ferhat and Adam. Ferhat is a proper salesman. He knows how to talk to customers. I ended booking for 2 holidays when initially I wanted to book only one with Titan and the 2nd one with another company. That shows he is good at his job. I previously had a bad experience with Titan in Paloma Italy in 2010 which wasn’t investigated by Titan. I avoided Titan for many years so this is a trial to see how this holiday will go.

Date of experience : 15 April 2024

Hi Emah, Thank you for taking the time to share your great feedback with us.. We are delighted to hear how well Ferhat and Adam looked after you. Thank you for returning to Titan, we cannot wait to send you away on your next tour. Kind regards, Nic Titan Travel

Golden Triangle, India 🇮🇳

Our first time in India and it didn't disappoint. Our tour guide Alex Mathaei was wonderful, well organised and told a joke or two which always made us laugh. Anil, our local guide knew his history, very knowledgeable and always answered any question asked. It was a large group of us who all got on well. Lovely hotels where you could relax after a full on day. Early morning starts each day which you'd need to be prepared for, but well worth it. The Taj Mahal was awesome, bucket list ticked! The safari round Ranthambhore didn't disappoint, and we were very fortunate to see Tiger's, wow, so majestic. The only thing that let this holiday down was the seating arrangements on the plane,Titan didn't have us sitting next to our companion, but, thankfully on our return journey Alex managed to sort this out for us.

Hi Lyn, We are delighted we have been able to exceed your expectations on your first Titan tour. We hope you will be joining us again on many more adventures. Kind regards, Nic Titan Travel

India’s Golden Triangle with Ranthambore

Brilliant trip, well organised (thank you Alex Matthaei) even laughed at most of his jokes. We also had a really well informed guide (Anil) who gave us insights into Indian culture as well as history behind each of the sites we visited. The hotels were fabulous and a varied range of meals available at each sitting. Transport between cities was an adventure in itself. I had never been along a dual carriageway on the wrong side of the road facing oncoming traffic before, but it seemed that is what they do when the road is closed. We got there in one piece and was something to laugh about with the rest of the group. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending this trip and am looking at another trip with them in the future.

Thank you Ann, for a great review. We are glad Alex's humour kept you amused during the tour! We will ensure your kind comments are passed onto him and the India team. Kind regards, Nic Titan Travel

Golden Triangle India

I had a great time on this tour. The booking administration team was helpful. On the day of departure, I was collected by a lovely driver and from then on my whole experience was fabulous. I was with a fantastic group of people and we were fortunate enough to be led by Alex and Anil on our adventures. Borh were knowledgeable and organised. Can't wait to go on another Titan tour

Hi Tanya, It's great to read you had a great time on the Golden Triangle India tour. Thank you for such positive feedback. Kind regards, Nic Titan Travel

India's Golden Triangle Tour

Just back from the Golden Triangle tour. Had an amazing time thanks to our tour manager Alex Matthaei and local tour guide Anil Kumar. Couldn't fault the organisation, quality of the hotels and knowledge of both of the above gentlemen. Truly an exceptional experience.

Thank you for your feedback - we are delighted you enjoyed the Golden Triangle tour and Alex made your holiday. We hope to see you again soon for more Titan Travel adventures. Kind regards, Nic Titan Travel

Titan Travel Essence of Japan

AWFUL TITAN. ESSENCE OF JAPAN Titans poor service managed to sully rather than polish and enhance what they claimed would be a "VIP"experience. At circa £6450 with single supplement on what I hoped would be the holiday of a lifetime we are extreemly disappointed. Our titan rep Ian said he had not been to Japan previously. His main experience I gather was in Spain. He seemed to treat the trip as his holiday and be out of his depth..reactive to issues rather than pro active. The on site japanese guide was a nice lady but poor english and gave minimal info or interpretation, certainly not providing the "enthusiastic and knowledgeable" service claimed in the brochure.. I would recommend using ANY OTHER COMPANY THAN TITAN. Some problems I experience: 1. Hotel not ready on arrival and no courtesy room offered so taken to the river bank for two hours..waste of half a day. 2. On site guide..poor English and little insight or interpretation offered. She managed to get us lost on 3 occasions. Resulted in rushing, further time wasted and even more frustration when it should have been a pleasure. I believe we missed out on several sights as a result. 3. No flexibility or thinking on feet from guides..Having spent hours up tokyo sky tree in the rain with poor visibility we drove past main cherry blossom sites (why do they think we booked early April?) 4. Poor service by guides only further highlighted when substituted on day 10 by another rep who was very good. Sadly she lasted one day. 5. Long queues at breakfast on occasion. Sometimes set up in conference rooms. VERY POOR in comparison with similar tours we have taken.

Hi Anne, Thank you for your detailed and concerning feedback. We are investigating the Essence of Japan Tour with our suppliers and Product Team . Please be reassured we will be in contact with you soon to resolve your concerns. Kind regards, Nic Titan Travel

Essence of Japan tour

Essence of Japan tour Ended on Wednesday after a lovely time and Geoff our English tour manager was fantastic. Everything ran smoothly and it was a great group of people. Would have loved to have had a few evening meals arranged as think it bonds the group more. Would certainly use Titan again.

Date of experience : 05 April 2024

Hi, Thanks for taking the time to share your review. We're so pleased to hear that you had such a great time and that Geoff looked after you all so well. We look forward to you joining us on another Titan adventure, Best Wishes, Nick Titan Travel

Brilliant booking

Brilliant booking service staff are friendly and treat you as an interesting individual. They are happy to explain their superb tours and the extra little details they provide.

Hi Alison, We're so pleased to hear that our agents were able to answer all your queries and help you confirm your booking. We hope you have a fantastic holiday with us, Best Wishes, Nick Titan Travel

Great Indian Railway Tour

Throughly recommend this tour Sanjeev has been the most amazing guide and shown us the real India His knowledge, compassion and genuine kindness has made this a truly special experience Everything went to plan and added extras made sure we could just enjoy our journey We could not have wished for a better person to guide us through Lots of special memories with a fabulous group of people

Date of experience : 14 April 2024

Hi Sandra, Thank you for your amazing review of our Great Indian Railway Tour and your feedback about Sanjeev. We are delighted you had an enjoyable tour. Kind regards, Nic Titan Travel