1. SOUTHERN VISIONS
®
in partnership with
Active & Cultural Vacations
An Intimate Guided Adventure and Luxury Cruise
of the Magical Land of Puglia.
uglia is the unspoiled gem of Italy without the with over 800km of coastline, there is no better way
crowds and the canned tours of more well to experience the true coastal wonders of Puglia than
known parts of the country. Puglia is truly by luxury cruise. This itinerary offers a diversity of
another country in the country and we have built an ways to explore the rugged coastline, the quaint
itinerary not only unique to this unique land, but we interior towns and the old-world charm of this region
believe unlike any adventures currently offered in that comprises the heel of Italy’s boot. By day you will
Europe. We offer a chance to live Puglia as a native be fascinated by Puglia’s endless orchards of twisted
while experiencing personalized service on par with olive trees, beautiful masserie (farmhouses),
the great hotels and resorts of the world. A group of whitewashed hilltop towns and interesting “trulli”,
no more than 6 guests will be guided by local adventure and by night your taste buds will be tantalized by the
entrepreneur Antonello Losito, a native of Puglia with region’s culinary delights! Remember, this is like no
over 7 years of travel expertise. From the moment other travel itinerary in Italy. You may choose any or
you are met in Bari until long after you return to your all of each day’s activities, or you may choose to break
home you will feel the effects of this magical land, and from the schedule and explore on your own. You
Southern Vision’s dedication to your unmatched may even choose to simply relax with a book, a bottle
experience. of local wine, and watch the beautiful life of Puglia go
idly by. Whatever options you choose, this is YOUR
You will exchange experiences with this ancient land vacation, and we are here to facilitate your own
through biking, culinary instruction, wine tasting, and particular journey.
www.southernvisionstravel.com

2. SOUTHERN VISIONS
®
in partnership with
Active & Cultural Vacations
Itinerary Overview
Day 1 - Sunday
12:00 pm - Pick Up in Bari - We will meet you at the
airport in Bari to begin your Pugliese Adventure. We
travel to Conversano for our introduction to life in
Puglia.
1:00 pm - Introduction to Southern Visions and Apulian
Cuisine - We will take your luggage, answer your
questions, and feed you some of the freshest foods
in all of Europe; and give you time to explore
Conversano. We provide maps, suggested shopping,
and view into the rest of the week.
6:30 pm - L’Aperitivo - An introduction to Apulian
wine (yes, you get to drink it) with emphasis on the
role of wine at the Italian table and how advances in
enology and viticulture are making Pugliese vineyards Day 2 - Monday - Puglia by Bike - Today we are going
some of the most sought after in the world. to immerse ourselves in the “land of the trulli and
caves”.
8:00 pm - Dinner at il Pashà Restaurant – Located
directly in front of a medieval castle and one of the 7:30 am - 8:30 am - Breakfast Italian Style - croissants
most authentic restaurants in all of Puglia. We will (cornetti) and caffe or cappuccino are the perfect fuel
guide you in making selections that will harmonize to begin a day of walking and biking.
with your own interests while creating new favorites!
9:00 am - Private van transfer to Alberobello (please
Lodging “Corte Altavilla” - Quaint, and at the same come dressed in biking attire).
time luxurious, this family run hotel exemplifies what
we mean by Personalized Service. 10:00 am - Guided Walking Tour of Alberobello - The
city of Trulli, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Trulli are ancient dwellings with conical roofs believed
to be a funnel for the soul to reach heaven.Alberobello
is a city almost entirely built from the 1500 + ancient
trulli.The Trulli are still utilized to this day for dwellings,
inns, shops and services and make for a magical
morning experience.
11:30 am - Meet by the bikes for our daily route talk,
bike fitting & safety talk. Biking is the easiest way to
cover the most ground on a trip to Puglia. Puglia has
low difficulty terrain and makes for leisurely riding.
We provide our guests with the most reliable and
safest equipment in the industry.
12:00 pm - Bike tour along the Itria Valley - Rolling
hillsides dotted with whitewashed trulli and colorful
wildflowers make spinning through the countryside’s
extensive network of stonewall-lined roads a delightful
way to spend a day. In the afternoon we will travel a
short distance to Locorotondo, a picturesque hilltop
town named aptly for its curious circular shape.
www.southernvisionstravel.com

3. SOUTHERN VISIONS
®
in partnership with
Active & Cultural Vacations
architecture and quaint shops make it one of Puglia’s
most interesting destinations.
4:00 pm - Private van transfer to Conversano - After
a great ride we send you home in the van with drinks
and snacks to give you a recharge.
6:00 pm - Cooking class with Patrizia - Tonight provides
another fabulous opportunity to taste the best of
Puglia and learn how to make it at home. Patrizia is
a legend in this region for her brilliant use of local
ingredients and precise instruction. This trip is like
being on the set of your very own Food Network
show!
Lodging “Corte Altavilla”
Day 3 - Tuesday - Going out to sea!
9:00 am - Meet by the bikes for daily route talk
9:30 am - This morning we will make our way from
Conversano to Polignano a Mare, an ancient village
of Greek origin. Set on beautiful, limestone cliffs above
1:00 pm - Lunch stop in the farm village of San Marco the Adriatic, this gem of a town has views of the
for a mozzarella making demonstration and lunch. sparkling Mediterranean that can’t be beat. This will
Puglia is home to some of the finest mozzarella in the be a good excuse to taste what is considered the best
world, and you will have the chance to discover how gelato in the region! From Polignano a gentle and
it is made, and perhaps more importantly; eat it! short ride up to Monopoli will build your appetite
for lunch.
2:30 pm - Afternoon ride and visit of Locorotondo
and Martina Franca - Enjoy a leisurely spin from 12:30 pm - End of the ride in Monopoli
Locorotondo to Martina Franca takes us through the
scenic Valle d’Itria and past beautiful masserie 1:00 pm - Transfer onto the boat “Monny”! Welcome
(farmhouses). Martina Franca’s elegant baroque drink onboard and introduction to life as a Pugliese
www.southernvisionstravel.com

4. SOUTHERN VISIONS
®
in partnership with
Active & Cultural Vacations
Mariner – By bike you have seen the historic gems of that is Pugliese cuisine. After lunch, we jump back on
interior Puglia. Now on the sparkling deck of the land to explore the brilliant Città Bianca (white city)
legendary “Monny” you will experience a Puglia until of Ostuni or extend your day with a walk into the
now only known to the Pugliese sailors and fishermen. beautiful natural setting of Lamacornola.
Sunrise and sunset on deck will make you feel as
though the Monny belongs only to you. We will give 3:00 pm - Optional walking excursion at Lamacornola
you the low down on life onboard and set you free – This walk will take you from the stunning seaside
to explore the bustling port of Monopoli. to a natural preserve of olives, eucalyptus, and ancient
dwellings. More evidence that Puglia is a land unto
As the sun sets you will see Monopoli’s historic centre itself.
come alive during the “passeggiata”, a traditional Italian
evening stroll in town. 7:00 pm - Private transfer by van from Monny to Il
Frantoio.
Evening Dinner On your own in the old town (dinner
suggestions and map provided). 8:00 pm - Dinner at Il Frantoio (Often the dining
highlight on all trips in Puglia). Rosalba manages the
Overnight on board kitchen which doesn’t work as a restaurant. They
decide to “offer” dinner when they can harvest fresh
Day 4 - Wednesday ingredients from their own backyard. Once again
8:00 am Breakfast on board - Ahh, cappuccino and a Southern Visions’ connections have guaranteed a meal
sea breeze…heaven… at this legendary Masseria. It’s a journey in the local
cuisine re-imagined; each plate in served with an
9:00 am - Boat transfer to Villanova di Ostuni and explanation about the ingredients, a particular wine
mooring. to match and even a unique olive oil for each course.
Simply magic…
1:00 pm - Lunch onboard - The traditional Mariner’s
lunch kicked up a few notches to encompass the Overnight on board.
delicacies of the sea and the grand tradition of freshness
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5. SOUTHERN VISIONS
®
in partnership with
Active & Cultural Vacations
Day 5 - Thursday once protected the town and learn about the town’s
8:00 am Breakfast on board turbulent history at the famous cathedral before sitting
down to enjoy a dinner of fresh seafood, for which
9:00 am - Boat transfer to the World Wildlife Fund Otranto is famous.
Oasis of Torre Guaceto and mooring
8:00 pm - Dinner on your own in the old town (dinner
10:30 am - Free time to explore the site. Optional suggestions and map provided).
walking excursion in the park
Overnight on board.
1:00 pm - Picnic lunch along the beach – After a
thought provoking and soul uplifting walk, we provide Day 6 - Friday
a fabulous picnic lunch on the beach before jumping 8:00 am - Breakfast on board.
back on the boat.
9:00 am - Boat transfer to Santa Maria di Leuca.
3:00 pm - Boat transfer to Otranto – On our way we
will stop for a swim in the crystal clear azure waters 10:00 am - Optional bike ride to S.M. di Leuca - Today
on one of the many fabulous beaches lining the coast is a ride never to be forgotten.We pedal the incredible
to Otranto. coastline between Otranto and Santa Maria di Leuca,
situated at the very heel of Italy’s boot. From the
5:00 pm - Welcome to Otranto - Otranto is bordered famous thermal town of Santa Cesarea Terme, to the
by two seas, the Adriatic and Ionian. This city has long coastal fishing villages of Castro and Tricase Porto
been the gem of the Salento peninsula. You will have you can feel the Byzantine influence. Those on the
a chance to visit the beautiful Aragonese castle that ride will stop for a traditional lunch along the sea.
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6. SOUTHERN VISIONS
®
in partnership with
Active & Cultural Vacations
1:00 pm - Lunch on board in S. M. di Leuca - For those
who choose to remain onboard, The captain will
arrange a lunch much like the legendary sailors of
Salento.
8:00 pm - Dinner in a local restaurant devoted to
fresh ingredients and the fabulous Salice Salentino
wines of Salento.
Overnight on board.
Day 7 - Saturday
8:00 am Breakfast onboard – We say farewell to our
Amazing captain and crew.
9:00 am - Private van transfer to Lecce.
10:30 am - Guided Walking Tour of Lecce – Commonly
referred to as the Florence of the South, Lecce, more
than any other town in Puglia, has retained its historic
and cultural identity. Its “Leccese baroque” historic
centre stands above all others in its beauty. Vibrant
shopping, beautiful cathedrals and coffee on every
corner, this lively and inviting town is the perfect place
to end a wonderful journey.
The Gems of Puglia:
12:00 pm - Arrivederci! An Intimate Guided Adventure and Luxury Cruise of the Magical Land of Puglia
7 days/6 nights - 6B/4L/4D (1 picnic)
Departure Dates:
08/06 - 15/6 - 22/06 - 29/06
06/07 - 13/07 - 20/07
Trip Size:
4-6 Participants
Arrive/Depart:
Conversano/Lecce
Accomodations:
**** Hotel and Premiere private Boat
Cruise itineraries are available with weekly
departures from June to July (Starting Day: Sunday)
with a minimum of 4 participants and include
daily van support as well as the full-time services
of a professional guide. Contact us for any other
desired date.
www.southernvisionstravel.com