Unwind on a GRJ All Inclusive exploration of undiscovered Puglia in the heel of Italy, uncovering its labyrinthine ports, white-washed villages and unique ancient dwellings.

Your holiday begins at London Gatwick, where you meet the Tour Manager and your group of travellers before flying to Bari. On arrival, we transfer to our hotel a short drive from Polignano a Mare.

Set in extensive grounds on the Puglian coast, our four-star hotel has a private golden-sand beach and spa. Benefitting from a quiet location, this relaxing all-inclusive base is ideally situated for exploring this charming and unspoilt part of Italy.

This evening, we enjoy dinner at the hotel with drinks included - as they are between 10am and 10pm each day.

*Please note, it is possible to fly from regional airports and meet your Tour Manager in Italy

**Please note: during the low season (1st April to 24th May and 21st September to 1st November), the following facilities are not available: Private beach with sunbeds & parasols, and entertainment.

***Please note: on the 21st May departure, we will stay at the GranSerena Hotel near Torre Canne.

Puglia has picture-perfect landscapes of vineyards and olive groves complemented by beautiful towns, and today, we discover some of the region's most impressive. First, we visit the circular town of Locorotondo, renowned for its sparkling white spumante wine. Here, you have free time to wander the peaceful labyrinthine streets of the historic centre, exploring among whitewashed buildings and stone churches.

We continue to nearby Martina Franca, where there's also time to look around. In the heart of the historic old town is the sandy-coloured Baroque façade of St Martin's Basilica on the main square.

Returning to our hotel for lunch, we then visit the town of Polignano a Mare. With winding streets of whitewashed buildings, this beautiful coastal town is perched on top of a limestone cliff overlooking the ocean. The sparkling Adriatic attracts sun-worshippers, who can view cliff divers jumping into the sea from great heights at Polignano's Blue Flag beach.

Back at the hotel this evening, we enjoy dinner with drinks.

Travelling by coach to Fasano Station, we board a train for a journey to Lecce. Here, we enjoy a guided tour of this city known for its Baroque, Renaissance and Romanesque buildings, attractive squares and leafy lanes.

With its elaborate architecture and winding alleys, Lecce has been dubbed 'the Florence of the South'. The main square, Piazza del Duomo, sits in the shadow of Lecce's cathedral and its bell tower. Our tour ends at a traditional café, where we sample a Leccese coffee, made with almond milk and poured over ice, with 'pasticciotto' - a southern Puglian pastry filled with custard or ricotta.

With a free afternoon to continue exploring, you could enjoy your picnic lunch near Piazza Sant'Oronzo in view of the Roman amphitheatre - a partially buried archaeological treasure excavated in 1938. The streets are lined with cafés, bars, restaurants and shops offering local products such as olive oil, wine and ceramics.

We return by train to Fasano and transfer by coach to our hotel in time for dinner and drinks.

With a day at leisure, you could choose to relax at one of the hotel's pools or on its private beach, spending a peaceful day soaking up the Italian sunshine.

Lunch is available at the hotel, and afterwards, you may like to hire a taxi or ride a shuttle bus to Monopoli. In the town's charming old quarter is a Baroque cathedral, pretty houses and faded stone palaces. The town respects siesta time, but the colourful, flower-filled streets become livelier in the late afternoon when artisan craft shops, small boutiques and specialist grocery stores reopen.

Monopoli's Old Port is overlooked by a 16th-century fortress castle, and its striking whitewashed houses contrast with the translucent blue Adriatic. You could enjoy this peaceful scene from a harbour café in the afternoon. The fishing harbour comes to life at dusk and dawn when wooden fishing boats cast off and fishermen return with their catches.

You can return to our hotel at leisure to enjoy dinner with drinks this evening.

This morning, we travel by train through the countryside to Bari, Puglia's capital and a city overflowing with cultural charms. Bari's long history as a trading port is explored on a guided tour of the old town, tucked on a headland edging into the Adriatic Sea. Home to the 11th-century Romanesque Basilica di San Nicola and a Swabian Castle, along with stunning grand piazzas, we're transported back in time as we hear stories of this former Roman and Byzantine port city.

Afterwards, you're free to continue sightseeing at your own pace. Maybe visit one of the Old Town's many museums or enjoy your picnic lunch on the long seafront promenade, which has views of the city walls and the crystalline sea. You might also like to sample the city's thriving street food or relax at a stylish bar or alfresco café with a glass of local wine. We return to our hotel by train and coach in the late afternoon, ready for dinner this evening.

A highlight of any trip to this part of Italy is an excursion to Matera. We leave Puglia by coach this morning to travel to this spectacular town in neighbouring Basilicata. Rugged, hilltop Matera is a UNESCO World Heritage site, recognised for its ancient 'sassi' cave dwellings dug deep into the cliffside. This fascinating destination has been a favoured filming location for decades and is featured in the James Bond film 'No Time to Die'.

After a short break on arrival, our guided tour takes us through the maze of winding streets and fascinating Palaeolithic-era abodes, some of which were inhabited until the 1950s. Matera has flourished in recent years, being named the European Capital of Culture in 2019, and there are many boutiques, craft shops, bars and cafés to discover during your free time.

After enjoying your picnic lunch while taking in beautiful views, you could also explore the newer part of Matera, where stalls and shops sell delicious local produce.

Later this afternoon, we return by coach to our coastal hotel for dinner and drinks.

After breakfast, we travel by coach to the town of Alberobello, famous for its UNESCO-listed limestone 'trulli' houses. These curious cone-shaped homes date to the 14th century and are one of Puglia's must-see attractions. Originally built without mortar so they could be quickly dismantled and easily rebuilt - which allowed occupants to evade tax collectors - 'trulli' houses are now emblematic of the region.

Free time to explore allows you to step back in time to an almost forgotten era of Italy, admiring the delightful, whitewashed stone houses, which spread out towards the surrounding hillsides.

We return to our all-inclusive hotel near Monopoli in time for lunch, and then the afternoon is yours to enjoy at your own pace. You may like to spend a free afternoon relaxing by the pool or on the private beach overlooking Puglia's rugged coastline before our final dinner in Italy this evening.

Beauty and history collide in southern Italy, and this last week has been a showcase of both. From glittering scenes of the Adriatic and timeless clifftop towns to charming villages notable for their historic structures, including 'sassi' and 'trulli' houses, each day has put a new version of Puglia before our eyes.

Marvel at the scenery again this morning as we transfer to Bari airport by coach for our return flight to London Gatwick or Manchester.

Enjoy More with a GRJ All Inclusive Holiday

• On this GRJ All Inclusive tour, all meals in our resort hotel near Polignano a Mare are included.
• Drinks available between 10am-10pm include soft drinks, fruit juices, beer, local wine, coffee, national liqueurs and spirits. Drinks do not include soft drinks or beers in bottles or cans, foreign wine, liqueurs and spirits.
• Open bar includes unlimited consumption of a selection of sweet & savoury snacks between 10am-10pm each day in Polignano

Our Discoveries range offers everything you need at a great price so you can travel with confidence. It provides comfortable, locally run accommodation*, standard rail or economy flights and expert-led group tours. You'll be in groups with an average of 30-35 travellers and a maximum of 40. *where available

On excursion days, a picnic lunch will be provided by the hotel.

The 4-Star Pietrablu Resort and Spa is situated a short drive from Polignano a Mare on the beautiful coast of Puglia. Its seafront location gives it a relaxed atmosphere, perfect for making the most of the hotel's facilities which include a private beach, tennis court, spa and two outdoor swimming pools. You will be staying in an air-conditioned suite which has a patio area or balcony and comes equipped with free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TV, safety deposit box, minibar, tea & coffee-making facilities, hairdryer and complimentary toiletries.

Flight upgrades are available. For information regarding the types of upgrades offered by the various airlines we use, call our expert team for details.

Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West End or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home.

We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels, please contact us on 01904 734 805.

Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.

We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.

For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.