Otranto

  Highly recommend for Puglia and Matera - I heartedly agree with all the previous 5-star reviews. My husband and I wanted to visit Puglia; we did not want to drive, we wanted to eat meals on our... read more own schedule, and we wanted to learn about the places we visited. I took a chance relying on a website without a first person recommendation. Consider this a first person recommendation! We are a couple from the US and have taken small group tours in the past. For this trip, we wanted some flexibility. Apulia Slow Travel was responsive to our interests and created the itinerary, reserved hotel rooms, and scheduled drivers and guides. We could not be more pleased with the arrangements they made for us.

The drivers were friendly and punctual, and the guides were exceptional: their expertise extended beyond Italian and local history to art, culture, agriculture, economics and geography. I will also note that every meal at the restaurants Apulia Slow Travel recommended was excellent. Our only regret is that Apulia Slow Travel provides their services exclusively for Puglia and Matera -- otherwise they would be our first choice for arranging future trips elsewhere.

  The Magic Continues!!  - We returned this October with a huge group of 16 friends after our impressive 4-person first visit in May organised by Apulia Slow Travel. Emma did not leave any... read more stone unturned in finding us quality transport to accommodate all of us! She seamlessly also helped organise the guides and made advance reservations for lunch (and helped with the pre-ordered menu) at a wonderful restaurant. Once again, everyone was fully engaged in Michele’s clear ‘story-telling’! I cannot recommend Apulia Slow Travel enough. Everyone fed back that they thoroughly enjoyed themselves given that every activity was so informative and enjoyable to showcase Puglia, and went so smoothly!! Bravo Michele and Emma!!!

  Grazie Mille to Apulia Slow Travel!  - Apulia Slow Travel (AST) is incredible. I would highly recommend them to anyone who is visiting the Puglia region. Puglia is a gorgeous, breathtaking destination.

We were a group... read more of 4 (me, my husband, and two friends) who were attending a wedding in Puglia and our plans was to remain in the region for a week after that event. I am usually the planner/organizer in the group, however having never been to Puglia before, it quickly became overwhelming: deciding where to go, transportation requirements (nobody wanted to rent a car), accommodation, activities, etc.

I contacted AST for help and was in communication with Emma. Emma asked a few questions, made some suggestions, and quickly put together an amazing itinerary for us that maximized our short time in Puglia. Communication with AST was frequent and responses were received in a timely manner. The pick-ups were seamless, the activities were wonderful, and the pricing was fair.

We spent time at a dairy farm where we got to make our own mozzarella, stracciatella and burrata; visited a winery with a tasting and lunch; learned about olive oil production at a fabulous, small, family-run operation; and had the most stunning focaccia at the oldest bakery in the region, in Altamura. We had guided walks of Bari, Polignano a Mare, Locorotondo, Martina Franca, Otranto, Alberobello, Lecce, and Matera. For the most part, we were based out of Ostuni and AST arranged our hotel.

I cannot thank Emma enough for all her help with planning our trip. We have such great memories and I am already thinking of going back. We would definitely, 100%, use them again in the future! Do not hesitate to engage them!!

  A Flawless and Unforgettable Journey Through Puglia  - We just returned from a trip to Puglia arranged by Emma at Apulia Slow Travel, and it was nothing short of extraordinary. The itinerary was absolutely perfect — every hotel... read more and the masseria we stayed in was charming, authentic, and exactly what we had hoped for.

The excursions and guides were outstanding, each bringing something unique and special that gave us such a fun and meaningful introduction to the food, history, and culture of Puglia. What impressed me most was how thoughtfully the trip was balanced. Our planner really listened: my husband, who prefers shorter tours, felt completely engaged, while our daughters in their twenties were equally delighted and entertained. In fact, when I asked my husband to name his favorite experience, he said he couldn’t choose — he loved them all!

Some highlights for us included the magical town of Matera, Corte San Pietro was a unique accomodation, our dreamy masseria Santo Scalone in Ostuni (a joy to return to each afternoon to relax by the pool), boat trips along the coast with wonderful guides, and an e-bike ride through the Itria Valley countryside with a stop for lunch at a beautiful farm. The cooking class was another highlight with Livio from Castle Elvire in Lecce — a joyful day we’ll never forget. Hiking along the coast in Otranto was also a unique experience.

Additionally, Emma recomended wonderful restaurants and activities for our unscheduled time.

Honestly, the only regret is that we didn’t stay longer! This was a 10+ experience — perfectly planned, seamless, and personalized. Apulia Slow Travel created memories for our family that we will treasure forever. We look forward to booking with Apulia Slow Travel again!

  A team that find out what people want and deliver it exceptionally!  - Emma helped curate a private tour for my wife and I after we provided the dates we wanted to visit Puglia and the interests we had. She prepared a perfect... read more itinerary for us in every way! We loved the region, the places we visited and the many great experiences such as olive oil making and tasting, wine making and tasting, focaccia tasting, pasta making and even visiting a dairy farm to watch cheese being made followed by cheese tasting. Emma checked in every day of the tour and provided updates as required, but what will always remain in our memory are the professional and courteous drivers we had and the knowledgeable and passionate guides we had. I could not recommend this company any higher. They helped make our trip truly wonderful!

  Excellent service, even in the weekend  - Excellent service in helping us make a booking for our family on a catamaran excursion in Puglia. Very flexible and good service in the weekend. Very responsive.

  Touring with Apulia Slow Travel was a great experience from the very start. I reached out to Michele for recommendations as a first-time visitor to Puglia and he sent back... read more a tailored programme based on what I was interested in seeing.

Over two full days we visited Matera, Alberobello, Lecce and Otranto. This gave us a lovely overview of different local histories and architectures as we took in the region's beautiful scenery. In each city we had pre-booked entry to the major churches as well, which meant we had a seamless tour from start to finish.

Michele is a friendly and interesting guide who obviously knows his subject very well. He was also really helpful in answering any questions I had, both before and during the trip. I wouldn't hesitate to book more tours with the company if I go back to Puglia in future.