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8 Day From Rome to Puglia Self Drive inc. Matera, Bari, Alberobello, Lecce + More

8 Day From Rome to Puglia Self Drive inc. Matera, Bari, Alberobello, Lecce + More

8 Days
Rome

From the timeless wonders of Rome to the sun-soaked heel of Italy, discover ancient cities, whitewashed villages, the spectacular coastlines of Puglia, Matera and the Adriatic on an unforgettable self-drive adventure.

  • 7 Nights in 3* accommodation on your road trip
  • 2 incredible additional experiences
  • Car rental
  • 7 Breakfasts to kick-start your day
exploring

About This Trip

Imagine an Italian escape that takes you from the grandeur of one of the world’s great capitals to a sun-drenched coastline where brilliant white villages meet the most dazzling shades of turquoise. This is a journey of contrasts, moving from Rome's magnificent monuments and vibrant city life into the slower, more soulful rhythm of southern Italy. Along the way, you'll experience ancient history, beautiful architecture, unforgettable food and the simple pleasure of having time to stop, wander and take it all in. From morning coffees in bustling piazzas to evenings beneath the Mediterranean sun, this is Italy at its most captivating.

 

Your adventure begins in Rome, where two nights allow you to soak up the extraordinary atmosphere of the Eternal City. You'll stand before the mighty Colosseum, wander through streets lined with centuries of history, discover the ruins and treasures of the Roman Forum. Rome has a wonderful sense of theatre, where monumental fountains, elegant piazzas, ancient ruins and lively cafés create a city that feels as though history is unfolding around you. It's a spectacular urban opening to your journey, filled with the energy, culture and grandeur that have made Rome one of the world's most irresistible cities.

 

Then it's south to Puglia, where the mood changes completely. Here, dazzling whitewashed towns glow beneath endless blue skies, turquoise Adriatic waters sparkle beyond rugged coastlines, and narrow streets lead to hidden squares, family-run trattorias and ancient stone homes. You'll discover the whimsical trulli of Alberobello, the cliffside beauty of Polignano a Mare, the extraordinary Sassi of Matera and the ornate Baroque streets of Lecce, before following the coast towards Otranto, Gallipoli and Santa Maria di Leuca. With your own automatic hire car, you have the freedom to experience it all at your own pace, taking the scenic route, stopping for a seafood lunch overlooking the sea or lingering in a beautiful village simply because you don't want to leave. Add in local tastings, authentic Puglian recipes and a special dinner in a traditional Masseria, and you'll experience a side of Italy that feels wonderfully genuine, relaxed and utterly beautiful.


What's Included
7 Nights in 3* accommodation on your road trip

We have sourced the very best accommodation in Rome and Puglia to ensure you have a comfortable bed at the end of your day's adventure.

2 incredible additional experiences

Choose 2 additional experiences from this extensive list adding more joy to your journey:  

  • Norman Swabian Castle in Bari entrance ticket

  • Street food tasting in Bari

  • Food tasting with local specialties in Ostuni

  • Ticket for a cave-church + a cave-house + Palombaro Lungo

  • Matera bread (+ local food) tasting

  • Lecce: LeccEcclesiae ticket (including the entrance to the main churches in the city)

  • Pasticciotto + local coffee in Lecce

  • Ticket forCastle + Underground Olive Mill in Gallipoli

  • Shared boat tour in S. Maria di Leuca (weather permitting)

Colosseum & Roman Forum Tickets

Discover two of Rome's greatest attractions with included tickets to the iconic Colosseum and the Roman Forum.

Car rental

Enjoy the freedom of an MG ZS (or similar) automatic rental car from Day 3, with unlimited kilometers allowing you to explore southern Italy at your own pace.

7 Breakfasts to kick-start your day

Every morning you will start your day with a delicious Italian breakfast to set you up for a day of exploration.

Authentic Masseria Dinner

Enjoy a special three-course dinner in a traditional Masseria, with a tasting of local recipes and an authentic taste of Puglia.


Top Local Experiences

Included in your deal


Trip Itinerary

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Where You'll Stay

Included in your deal

3* Accommodation - Double/Twin Basis

All hotels are subject to availability, a hotel list will be provided to you 2-4 weeks prior to your departure. In the event that any of the hotels are unavailable, we will accommodate you in a hotel of a similar or higher standard, in a similar location to ensure your itinerary is able to run smoothly.

 

3* Rome Hotel (or similar) - Rome

3* Trulli Holiday  (or similar) - Alberobello

3* EOS Hotel  (or similar) - Lecce

Single supplementNo
Max occupancy2 Adults
ShareableNot available
Bedding arrangementDouble/Twin Room

Improve your room's comfort

Optional
4* Upgrade - Double/Twin Basis

4* Rome Hotel (or similar) - Rome

4* Hotel Monte Sarago (or similar) - Ostuni

4* Masseria Mongiò dell’Elefante (or similar) - Otranto

 

A general list of amenities across all of our hotels is as follows:

 

  • Private double/twin share room with ensuite

  • Complimentary Wi-Fi

  • 24-hour reception

  • Bar

  • Restaurant

  • Pool

Total p/p price+$145
Single supplementNo
Max occupancy2 Adults
ShareableNot available
Bedding arrangementDouble/Twin Room
Other Info
highlights

Rome is best experienced on foot, with nowhere to be and plenty to discover. Spend your opening days wandering through a city where grand history constantly collides with everyday Italian life, turning a corner from a quiet cobbled lane into a bustling piazza filled with conversation, scooters and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Stop for a creamy gelato, watch the world go by from a pavement café and follow the streets towards the Colosseum before exploring all of the historic importance of the Roman Forum. It is the feeling of Rome that stays with you, the buzz of the streets, the beautiful chaos and the sense that something extraordinary is waiting around every corner.

 

Then comes the journey south, where Italy seems to turn the colour dial all the way up. Puglia is a feast for the eyes, with brilliant white villages set against intensely blue skies and turquoise seas, ancient olive groves stretching across the countryside and rugged cliffs tumbling towards hidden beaches. You'll wind your way through the trulli of Alberobello, gaze out across the Adriatic from Polignano a Mare and discover the ancient stone world of Matera, before following the coast through Otranto and Gallipoli towards the very tip of the heel. With your own car, you can chase the views, stop whenever somewhere catches your eye and savour those glorious stretches of road where the landscape itself becomes part of the adventure.


location

Your trip begins in Rome, where you stay for 2 nights before taking the high speed train over to Bari to pick up your hire car and heading over to Polignano a Mare.  From here, you head south to the stunning white city of Ostuni, before heading inland to stay in Matera.  Then you are back to the coast to stay in the incredible Lecce, before dropping your hire car off in Bari & taking the high speed rail back over to Rome.


facilities

The hotels included in our Puglian Adventure feature the following facilities:

 

  • 24-Hour Reception Desk

  • Complimentary Wi-Fi

  • Air conditioning

  • Restaurant

  • Wellness Centre

  • & Many More!


important info

Exclusions

  • Return international flights

  • Visas

  • Optional activities/tours, personal expenses/transfers not mentioned

  • Travel Insurance

  • Tips & gratuities

  • City taxes

Age restrictions

  • There is no minimum age for this tour when children are accompanied by an adult

Occupancy

  • The minimum number for this tour to commence is one person (a single supplement may apply)

  • Pricing is per person based on double bed/twin share

Passport & visa requirements

  • All visitors require a passport with a minimum validity of 3 months beyond your return travel date is required for all passengers (including children and infants)

  • It is the visitor's responsibility to ensure they are holding the correct and current visa for the countries they are visiting

  • If the visitor is a non-Australian passport holder, a valid re-entry visa may be required

  • Important: Please start arranging your visa at least 6-8 weeks prior to departure to account for any delays due to consulate operating hours and processing times

Travel Insurance

  • We recommend you purchase travel insurance as soon as possible after purchasing this package

Health & vaccination

  • As border restrictions for countries begin to ease, being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will maximise the number of locations you can visit. So whilst you are not legally required to be vaccinated, and it’s also not a requirement to travel with us, it will limit some of the countries that you can visit and may make it harder to travel for the next 12-18 months.

  • We highly recommend our travellers to look at the current travel restrictions of their destination, speak with a medical professional at least 30 days before departure or get in touch with our team for travel advice.

  • Health care such as a doctor’s surgery, dentist and optometrists may not always be accessible on this tour

  • It is advised that you ensure you have adequate health insurance cover as part of your travel insurance

Porterage

  • Porterage is not available throughout this trip. 

Tipping

  • Tipping and gratuities are not included in the package and are at your own discretion

Fitness requirements

  • Travellers should have a good level of physical fitness and mobility. They must be able to partake unaided in their chosen activities/package tours/cruise etc. as outlined in the itinerary

Dietary requirements

  • Any dietary requirements must be received by DealsAway at least 30 days prior to your scheduled departure date. Failure to provide these details by this date may result in an inability to cater for your requirements

  • In most cases DealsAway can cater for special dietary requirements but please note that on occasion, this may not be possible due to location, lack of availability of ingredients, and other extenuating circumstances. It is always advised to carry supplies with you

Transfers

  • Transfers are not included in this trip. 

Documentation

  • Any applicable pre-trip or tour documentation will be emailed to you prior to travelling. Should you have any queries regarding this please feel free to contact us directly via email at support@dealsaway.com

DealsAway savings

  • The value and comparative savings have been determined based on published rack rates and the value of inclusions. Please be advised that rack rates may not be reflective of actual rates being charged, dependent on the timing and manner of your booking and therefore are only indicative of the level of saving

Itinerary amendments & changes

  • Occasionally our itineraries are updated prior to departure to incorporate improvements stemming from past travellers’ feedback as well as updates from our ground operators. Please note that while we operate successful tours in this region throughout the year, some changes may be necessary due to inclement weather, public holidays, common seasonal changes to timetables and transport routes, and unforeseen circumstances. This can happen with little notice so please be prepared for modifications to the route. The order and timing of included activities may also vary from time to time

Availability

  • All DealsAway trips are available on a request-only basis and are subject to availability. Once booked you should receive a payment confirmation and receipt via email, followed by a booking confirmation normally within 72hrs of making a booking, sometimes this can take a little longer subject to supplier delay

  • If you have not received your confirmation within 5 business days of payment confirmation please contact us immediately by email at support@dealsaway.com

  • In the event that your trip is unavailable on the dates you have chosen, we will contact you by telephone to advise the next available dates

Surcharges

  • Any prices quoted exclude specific costs/measures which may be introduced at a later stage as a result of Government changes due to COVID-19 health and safety restrictions. DealsAway will inform its guests of these changes as soon as possible, these additional charges will be passed on by DealsAway to the guest

AMENDMENTS & CHANGES

 

Name change or corrections

  • Name corrections may incur a fee

  • Name changes are not permitted

  • After bookings are fully paid, any amendment has to be requested in writing and incurs a $150 fee per person from our supplier, plus any additional costs and administrative expenses incurred in arranging the amendment

Date changes

  • Date changes are not permitted

Refunds

  • Please refer to our booking conditions for all information on refunds

DealsAway reserves the right to modify prices for marketing and commercial reasons. Please note that full terms and conditions apply. Refer to the website's terms and conditions.

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