Fantastic Southern Lights Combo: Rome, Sorrento, Capri & Puglia | 12 Day Escorted Tour 2027
Tour Essentials
Breakfast daily, six meals, two local food experiences and a cooking class
Why we've chosen this tour
We like the variety this journey offers, combining the coastal beauty of Sorrento and Capri and the remarkable history of Pompeii with a more in-depth exploration of Puglia. Alberobello, Matera, Lecce and the region’s white towns are complemented by a masseria dinner and cooking experience, making this a wonderfully varied way to experience two very different sides of southern Italy.
Is this tour for you?
Choose this tour if you want a broad introduction to southern Italy and enjoy variety. There are archaeological sites, coastal scenery, an island excursion, historic cities, whitewashed towns and food experiences, with several changes of hotel along the way. You'll need to be comfortable with a fairly active touring pace, regular walking and moving between coaches, trains and boats.
Not sure? Call us on 03 9824 0898 — we'll tell you honestly whether this tour is the right fit.
Tour Details
Southern Italy has an extraordinary ability to change character within a relatively short distance, and this itinerary makes the most of it. The first half is all dramatic coastline, ancient history and island scenery, with time in Rome, Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri. Then the journey crosses the peninsula into Puglia, where the landscapes open into olive groves, white towns, trulli and the warm stone architecture of the south-east.
There is plenty of substance behind the scenery. You'll walk through the remarkably preserved streets of Pompeii, spend a day on Capri, explore Bari's old city and visit Castel del Monte, Alberobello and Matera before continuing through Locorotondo, Ostuni, Lecce and Otranto.
Food is woven naturally into the Puglia section, with a traditional masseria dinner and a hands-on cooking experience followed by lunch. The result is a broad southern Italian journey that combines some famous names with places and experiences that reveal a more regional side of Italy.
Inclusions
- Arrival transfer from Rome airport to the hotel
- Guided visit of Pompeii with skip-the-line access
- Capri excursion with Blue Grotto visit when conditions allow
- Transfer from Sorrento to Caserta station and train from Caserta to Bari
- Transfer from Bari station to the hotel
- Guided visits in Bari, Matera and Lecce
- Visits to Castel del Monte, Alberobello and Matera
- Dinner in a masseria with one glass of wine included
- Cooking experience and lunch at a masseria
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 - Rome
Arrive in Rome and transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free to settle in and begin enjoying the city at your own pace.
Day 2 - Rome
Enjoy a full day at leisure in Rome. Whether you want to revisit the great landmarks, explore a neighbourhood you haven't seen before or simply settle into the rhythm of a Roman piazza, the day is yours.
Day 3 - Rome, Pompeii And Sorrento
Leave Rome and travel south to Pompeii, where a guided visit takes you into one of the world's most extraordinary archaeological sites. Walk streets frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 before continuing to Sorrento, spectacularly positioned above the Bay of Naples. Dinner is included this evening.
Day 4 - Capri
Set out for a full-day excursion to Capri, an island celebrated for its rugged coastline, brilliant blue water and glamorous villages. Weather and access permitting, visit the famous Blue Grotto by rowboat before enjoying free time to explore at your own pace. Return to Sorrento for dinner.
Day 5 - Sorrento To Bari
Today you cross from Italy's western coast towards Puglia. Transfer from Sorrento to Caserta station and board the train to Bari, where a transfer takes you to the hotel. Settle in and enjoy your first evening on the Adriatic side of southern Italy.
Day 6 - Bari
Discover Bari's atmospheric old city with your tour leader, including the Basilica of San Nicola, the area around the Norman-Swabian Castle and Piazza Mercantile. It's an introduction to a city that feels unmistakably southern Italian — historic, energetic and wonderfully lived-in. Dinner is included.
Day 7 - Trani, Castel Del Monte And Alberobello
Begin in elegant Trani, with its beautiful pale-stone cathedral overlooking the Adriatic, before heading inland to the mysterious octagonal Castel del Monte. Continue to Alberobello, where the UNESCO-listed trulli create one of Puglia's most distinctive townscapes. Dinner is included this evening.
Day 8 - Matera
Cross into Basilicata for a day in extraordinary Matera. Explore the Sassi, where dwellings, churches and lanes have been carved into the rock over centuries, creating a cityscape unlike almost anywhere else in Italy. Return to Alberobello for dinner and overnight.
Day 9 - Locorotondo, Ostuni And Lecce
Travel through the Valle d'Itria to Locorotondo and Ostuni, two of Puglia's beautiful white towns. Wander historic centres of whitewashed lanes and stone buildings before continuing south to Lecce, the baroque heart of Salento, for dinner and overnight.
Day 10 - Lecce And Otranto
Explore Lecce with a local guide, taking in its richly decorated churches, elegant piazzas and warm golden stone. Continue to the coastal town of Otranto for time to explore before enjoying dinner at a traditional masseria — a lovely way to experience Puglia's rural food culture — and returning to Lecce.
Day 11 - Martina Franca, Cooking Experience, Monopoli And Bari
Visit graceful Martina Franca before continuing to a masseria for a hands-on Pugliese cooking experience and lunch. Later, head to the Adriatic coast and Monopoli, with its old harbour and historic centre, before returning to Bari for your final night.
Day 12 - Bari
After breakfast, enjoy any remaining time in Bari before your included transfer to the airport.
Tour Highlights
- Rome, Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri
- Blue Grotto visit when weather and access allow
- Bari, Trani, Castel del Monte and Alberobello
- Matera and the Sassi cave districts
- Locorotondo, Ostuni, Otranto and Lecce
- Masseria dinner and Pugliese cooking experience
Accommodation
Accommodation is planned in comfortable hotels selected for the route and escorted touring format.
- Rome: Hotel St Martin or Hotel Diana Roof Garden
- Sorrento area: Grand Hotel Vesuvio or similar
- Bari: Excelsior Hotel Bari
- Alberobello: Grand Hotel La Chiusa di Chietri
- Lecce: Hotel Delle Palme or Hotel Mercure President
Hotels may be replaced with accommodation of a similar standard if required.
Tour Notes
Physical Requirements
This itinerary includes guided walking, archaeological sites, island transport, cobbled historic centres and coach touring. Travellers should be comfortable walking at a steady pace and boarding boats, trains and coaches.
Exclusions
- City tax is not included and is payable directly at the hotel.
- Drinks are not included with meals unless specifically noted as part of an experience.
- Personal expenses, optional experiences and travel insurance are not included.
Important Notes
- Prices are per person in AUD.
- During peak season, the Blue Grotto can involve long waits and limited capacity. If access or weather prevents the visit, alternative Capri sightseeing may be suggested locally.
- Hotels, itinerary details and inclusions may change and should be reconfirmed before booking.
Cancellations
For information related to cancellations and any associated costs, please refer to our Terms & Conditions.
Gallery
Explore Basilicata, discover more of Campania, Lazio travel guide or browse all Italy tours
Ready to travel?
Tell us about your plans and our team will get back to you with everything you need to know about Fantastic Southern Lights Combo: Rome, Sorrento, Capri & Puglia | 12 Day Escorted Tour 2027.
- We respond within 1 business day
- Your details are kept completely private
- Happy to speak by phone
- Australia-based team, Italy experts
Fantastic Rome & Puglia Combo | 11 Day Escorted Tour 2027
Travel from Rome into the heart of Puglia on an 11-day Fantastic Combo escorted journey through some of southern Italy's most distinctive towns, landscapes and flavours. Discover Bari, Alberobello, Matera, Lecce and Otranto, wander the whitewashed streets of Locorotondo and Ostuni, and experience Puglia's wonderful food traditions along the way.
Southern Lights: Rome, Sorrento, Capri & Puglia 2026
A generous, experience-rich journey through Southern Italy, pairing Rome, Sorrento and Capri with the UNESCO treasures, flavours and white towns of Puglia.
Fantastic Rome & Puglia Combo | 11 Day Escorted Tour 2026
An 11-day larger-group route from Rome through Puglia and Matera, combining southern highlights, local food experiences, and comfortable 4-star stays.
