The Ionian Way: Puglia, Matera & Corfu

After three unforgettable years exploring Sicily together, your hosts Nicola McLaren from World Travellers and Davide Canevari are back with a new Italian adventure, this time following the Ionian Sea from southern Italy to Greece.

 

Wander the ancient towns of Puglia, step into the remarkable Sassi of Matera, visit a local burrata cheese farm, taste wine at a family winery and stroll through centuries-old olive groves. Then cross the Ionian to the Greek island of Corfu, where the pace slows to island time. Join a local cooking experience and spend a glorious day on the water visiting Paxos and Antipaxos.

This isn’t a trip about ticking off sights. It’s about seeing each place through local eyes, discovering the people, food, traditions and stories that make it special, and sharing long lunches, beautiful coastlines and good conversation around the table.

What's Included in your Hosted Journey

Accommodation

1 night at JR Hotels Grande Albergo delle Nazioni, Bari

2 nights at Hotel Sassi, Matera — staying within the ancient Sassi in a unique cave hotel!

2 nights at San Lorenzo Boutique Hotel & Spa

2 nights in Lecce — hotel to be advised

3 nights at Corfu Holiday Palace

Food & Wine

10 breakfasts

6 meals including:

Welcome Dinner in Bari

Winery visit, wine tasting and lunch

Local burrata cheese farm experience

Olive farm visit

Cooking class and local culinary experience

Farewell Dinner in Corfu

Special Experiences

Guided walking tour of Bari

Guided tour of Matera

Visits to Alberobello, Locorotondo, Polignano a Mare, Monopoli, Ostuni, Lecce, Gallipoli and Otranto

Visit to the Castellana Caves

Guided walking tour of Lecce

Guided walking tour of Corfu

Puglian coastal boat tour

Full-day boat trip to Paxos & Antipaxos

Hosted & Looked After

Personally hosted by Nicola McLaren from World Travellers, and Davide Canevari

Salvo as our driver

All transportation throughout the journey

All tipping and gratuities

What's Not Included

Airfares & transfers to/from the tour

Items of a Personal Nature

 

Pricing

10 Night Hosted Journey

Twin Share from

$10,500*

per person

---

Single Share from

$12,500*

per person

Day to Day Itinerary

Day 1: Sunday, 29 August: Bari

Our adventure begins in Bari, the lively capital of Puglia and our first introduction to this beautiful corner of southern Italy.
After arriving and settling into our hotel, there will be time to relax and prepare for the adventure ahead.
This evening we'll come together for our Welcome Dinner — the perfect opportunity to meet our fellow travellers, reconnect with old friends, meet Davide and Salvo, and raise a glass to the journey ahead.
Our Puglian adventure has officially begun.

Included: Welcome Dinner,
Overnight: JR Hotels Grande Albergo delle Nazioni, Bari

Day 2: Monday, 30 August: Bari - Matera

This morning we'll begin with a guided walking tour of Bari, discovering the historic heart of this fascinating coastal city.
Then we'll experience one of the things Puglia does best — food.
We'll visit a local burrata cheese farm, where we'll discover how this famous Puglian delicacy is produced and learn more about the traditions behind one of the region's most celebrated foods.
From Bari, we'll continue inland towards Matera. As the landscape changes, we'll arrive at one of Italy's most extraordinary  destinations — a city carved into the rock.
We'll have time to begin exploring Matera before settling into our accommodation for the next two nights. And this is an accommodation experience in itself.
We'll stay in the heart of the ancient Sassi, in Hotel Sassi, giving us the wonderful opportunity to experience Matera from within its historic cave dwellings.
This evening is yours to enjoy at leisure, perhaps discovering one of Matera's atmospheric restaurants for dinner.

Included: Breakfast
Overnight: Hotel Sassi, Matera

Day 3: Tuesday, 31 August: Matera

Today we'll take our time discovering Matera.
Our guided tour will lead us through the extraordinary Sassi, ancient cave dwellings, churches and winding passageways that tell the story of this remarkable city.
We'll discover spectacular viewpoints across the ravine and learn about the fascinating history of the people who once lived in these rock-hewn homes. Then we'll combine history with another great Italian pleasure — wine and food.
We'll enjoy lunch at a local winery, accompanied by a wine tasting, surrounded by the beautiful landscape of southern Italy.
There will also be time to wander through Matera at your own pace, browse the local shops or simply find a beautiful spot to sit and absorb the atmosphere.
With two nights here, there is no need to rush.

Included: Breakfast, Winery Lunch & Wine Tasting
Overnight: Hotel Sassi, Matera

Day 4: Wednesday, 1 September: Alberobello - Locorotondo - Polignano A Mare

Today we return to the beautiful Puglian countryside and discover some of the region's most iconic towns.
Our first stop is Alberobello, famous throughout the world for its enchanting trulli — traditional stone houses topped with distinctive conical roofs.
We'll wander through the historic streets and discover the stories behind these fascinating buildings.
From here we'll continue to Locorotondo, a beautiful hilltop town surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, before making our way towards the Adriatic coast.
Our final destination is Polignano a Mare, dramatically perched above the brilliant blue sea.
We'll settle into our beautiful countryside accommodation.

Included: Breakfast
Overnight: San Lorenzo Boutique Hotel & SPA

Day 5: Thursday, 2 September: Polignano A Mare & Monopoli

Today is all about the beautiful Puglian coast.
We'll explore Polignano a Mare, with its whitewashed buildings, narrow lanes, spectacular viewpoints and famous blue waters.
We'll then continue to Monopoli, another beautiful coastal town with a fascinating historic centre and a wonderful Mediterranean atmosphere.
And today we'll see the coastline from another perspective.
We'll head out onto the water for a boat tour along the Puglian coast, enjoying the spectacular scenery, hidden coves and crystal-clear Adriatic waters.
There will be time to relax, take photographs, perhaps swim and simply enjoy the beauty of the coastline.
It's a day to slow down, breathe in the Mediterranean air and enjoy la dolce vita.

Included: Breakfast
Overnight: San Lorenzo Boutique Hotel & SPA

Day 6: Friday, 3 September: Castellana Grotte - Ostuni - Lecce

Today we'll discover another side of Puglia.
We'll visit the spectacular Castellana Caves, an extraordinary underground world of caverns, rock formations and passages carved naturally beneath the earth.
From underground, we'll return to the Puglian landscape and visit a traditional olive farm near Ostuni.
Olive trees are woven into the history and culture of Puglia, many of them centuries old.
We'll discover the traditions surrounding this important local product and gain an insight into the relationship between the land, the people and the food of the region.
Then we'll continue to Lecce, our home for the next two nights.
Known as the Florence of the South, Lecce is celebrated for its extraordinary Baroque architecture, created from the warm golden limestone found throughout the region.

Included: Breakfast
Overnight: Hotel in Lecce — to be advised

Day 7: Saturday, 4 September: Lecce & Gallipoli

This morning we'll discover the beautiful city of Lecce on a guided walking tour.
We'll explore its historic centre, elegant piazzas, magnificent churches and intricate Baroque architecture.
Then we'll head south towards the coast and the beautiful town of Gallipoli.
Built on an island connected to the mainland by a bridge, Gallipoli has a fascinating historic centre surrounded by the sea.
We'll have time to explore the old town before enjoying some time at Gallipoli Beach — a chance to slow down and enjoy the beautiful coastline. We'll then return to Lecce for the evening.

Included: Breakfast
Overnight: Hotel in Lecce — to be advised

Day 8: Sunday, 5 September: Otranto - Corfu

Today we continue through southern Puglia, travelling towards the eastern coast. We'll visit Otranto, one of Puglia's most beautiful seaside towns, with its historic centre, ancient walls and spectacular Adriatic setting.
Then comes an exciting new chapter of our journey. We'll leave Italy behind and cross the Adriatic to Corfu.
A new country.
A new island.
A new Mediterranean experience.
On arrival, we'll settle into our Corfu home and begin to embrace the slower rhythm of island life.

Included: Breakfast
Overnight: Corfu Holiday Palace

Day 9: Monday, 6 September: Discover Corfu

Today we'll discover more of beautiful Corfu.
We'll explore the island with a guided walking tour, discovering its fascinating history and the unique blend of Greek, Venetian and Mediterranean influences that have shaped Corfu over the centuries.
And, naturally, food will once again be part of the experience.
We'll take part in a cooking class and local culinary experience, discovering some of the ingredients, recipes and traditions that make Corfiot cuisine so distinctive.
We'll cook, taste and share the experience together. There will also be time to relax at our hotel and simply enjoy the beautiful island
surroundings.

Included: Breakfast
Overnight: Corfu Holiday Palace

Day 10: Tuesday, 7 September: Paxos & Antipaxos

Today is one of the great highlights of our Greek adventure.
We'll head out onto the Ionian Sea for a full-day boat trip to the beautiful islands of Paxos and Antipaxos.
We'll cruise along spectacular coastlines, discover beautiful coves and experience the extraordinary turquoise waters surrounding these idyllic islands.
There will be opportunities to swim, relax and simply enjoy a  wonderful day on the water.
This is Mediterranean island life at its best.
After our day at sea, we'll return to Corfu for our final evening together. And tonight we'll celebrate our journey with our Farewell Dinner — raising a glass to the places we've discovered, the experiences we've shared and the friendships and memories created along the way.

Included: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner
Overnight: Corfu Holiday Palace

Day 11: Wednesday, 8 September: Until We Meet Again

Our final morning is yours to enjoy at leisure.
Perhaps take one last swim, enjoy a leisurely breakfast, relax by the pool or take one final stroll and soak up the atmosphere of Corfu.
Then, with our adventure drawing to a close, we'll say our goodbyes.
From the ancient cave dwellings of Matera, through the olive groves and whitewashed towns of Puglia, across the Adriatic and onto the turquoise waters of Corfu, Paxos and Antipaxos, this has been a journey filled with wonderful places, memorable experiences, great food and plenty of laughter.
But most importantly, it's been about sharing the journey together.
Until the next adventure.

Included: Breakfast

Terms and Conditions

Fares are per person, in NZD. Airfares, transfers and items of a personal nature are at an additional cost. This is a carefully crafted small-group journey, with a limited number of guests so that we can preserve the personal and relaxed style that makes these adventures so special. A deposit of $1,500 per person is required to hold your space.