Walking in Puglia

this tour is suitable for those with a good level of fitness, and it is advisable that you have had previous walking experience. It’s best ahead of time to do some practice walks including distances like those you will experience on the tour whilst carrying your day bag.

This tour is graded easy to moderate. Within the tour individual days may vary in difficulty - some might be a bit tougher or easier than the overall rating suggests.

Macs Adventure specifically chooses hotels, guest houses and agriturismo (country hotels) that offer a warm welcome, traditional hospitality and delicious local food and drink. We'll always try to place you in the accommodations detailed in your itinerary, but because of limited availability (especially June to September) we may occasionally need to use an alternative location of the same or better standard. You're welcome to add extra nights along the route, whether to rest or to explore other walking opportunities nearby - just let us know and we can help organize this for you.

Yes, solo travelers are very welcome. There will be a supplement because some costs, like transfers, aren't shared. Or if you'd like to book a single room, just ask. These are available for a supplement.

As some sections of this route are rural with limited waymarking, we'd recommend solo travelers have some experience walking and navigating independently.

Breakfast is included each morning - in Italy, this is generally a light continental breakfast with baked goods. Lunch and dinner aren't included but are available from your hotel or nearby restaurants. Puglia's food is strongly influenced by local produce, with traditional specialities including orecchiette pasta, pane di Altamura bread, and taralli (crisp bread snacks with fennel seeds).

This tour runs between March and October, though it isn't offered in July and August due to high summer temperatures that make walking unpleasant and the difficulty of securing accommodation during peak season. Spring (March to June) offers warm sunshine, fewer crowds and pleasant walking conditions, with wildflowers blooming in May. Autumn is also a favourite, with cooler weather and striking autumnal colors, though the later in the year you travel, the higher the chance of rain. Note that before Easter and in late October, some local shops and restaurants may have reduced hours or be closed for the winter.

May, June and September are peak season for this region, so we'd recommend booking as early as possible if you're considering these months.

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg/44lbs per person.

On certain days of this tour, you'll take a private transfer to the start of your walk and will need to bring your luggage with you in the vehicle, as the driver carries it on to your next destination. There's also a train journey between two towns on this route where you'll need to carry your own bag, so it's worth packing light.

The routes are waymarked in some areas, but much of the terrain is rural with limited waymarking and road signage.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

Bari Airport is the closest airport to Alberobello, with daily flights from the UK and other major European hubs. From the airport, it's a 10-minute walk to the platform for a direct train to Bari Centrale Stazione, taking around 20 minutes and running roughly every 20 minutes to an hour depending on the time of day (less frequent on Sundays). From Bari Centrale, a direct local train to Alberobello takes around 1 hour 45 minutes, with trains running roughly every hour. We can also arrange a private taxi transfer from Bari Airport to Alberobello - just ask your Destination and Adventure Specialist for details.

If you choose the full Hiking in Puglia tour, Brindisi Airport is also an option, with a direct bus from Lecce City Terminal to the airport (roughly every 1-2 hours, a 40-minute journey) - we'd suggest a taxi to the City Terminal Bus Station from your accommodation. You can check timetables with Puglia Air Bus. You can also fly out of Bari Airport, with trains running from Lecce to Bari Centrale roughly every hour (around 1 hour 20 minutes), and onward trains to the airport from there (check schedules on the Trenitalia website).

If you choose the Short Break tour, you'll fly out of Bari Airport at the end. From Ostuni town centre, take a taxi or bus (ask at your hotel reception, who can also book a taxi) to Ostuni Train Station, a few kilometres outside town. From there, a train to Bari Centre takes around 1 hour, with a connecting train on to the airport taking a further 15 minutes (check the Trenitalia website for timetables).

You'll need good hiking shoes or boots, comfortable hiking clothes, waterproofs, a daypack, and we recommend hiking poles. A portable charger for your cell phone is essential. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

On certain days you can shorten the route or skip it entirely by using a taxi or public transport.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation