The 20 best experiences to have in Puglia

Horseback riding on the beach in Porto Cesareo is a relaxing experience that will allow you to admire the wonderful beaches of Salento. During the excursion you will be able to go swimming while riding your horse.

The departure of the horseback ride is set in the morning (duration 2 hours and 30 minutes) or in the afternoon (duration 1 hour). The morning ride includes breakfast at the stables before departing to the sea, where you will access the beach with the horses

The afternoon ride, on the other hand, does not go all the way to the beach, it is done sea view, passing over the cliffs. 

You will be provided with all the necessary equipment to ride horses, including helmet. The price includes the insurance.

The recommended clothing includes closed shoes and long pants.

Outside of the morning tour (2:30h), from April 15 to October 15 there will be no horse riding on the beach due to an ordinance for the beach season.

From October 30 onward you will be able to access the beach with both tours!

Horseback riding in Otranto, on the Adriatic coast of Puglia, allows you to discover the beauty of the area through beautiful natural areas and historical sites. Accompanied by professional instructors, you will explore Salento's secrets and local traditions.

The route winds through Mediterranean scrub and coastline, offering spectacular views of the sea. During the excursion, you will visit places of great interest such as the small lake in the former Bauxite quarry, the Orte Bay, the Orte Masseria, the legendary Serpe Tower, and the Orte Grove.

Instructors will provide technical assistance and tourist information about the places traversed.

Discover Salento on horseback with a walk suitable for everyone, even beginners.

The excursion, lasting about an hour, includes a ride through the Salento countryside, olive groves, pine forest, until you reach part of the Sant'Andrea cliffs.

You will be provided with all the necessary equipment for horseback riding, including a helmet.

Recommended clothing includes closed shoes and long pants.

To get insurance, you can sign up for a membership card at a cost of €5.

The group excursion by sailboat at sunset in Gallipoli allows you to admire the Salento coast when it is tinged with striking colors.

You will sail along the Ionian coast of Puglia while enjoying an aperitif full of typical products accompanied by local wine.

In case of food allergies and intolerances, you can contact the facility after booking.

Relaxing swimming stops at dusk are also planned during the navigation.

This experience runs from May to October, with the exception of August.

The time may vary depending on the time of sunset.

Discover St. Andrew's Island starting from Gallipoli with a boat excursion.

For this experience you will have a choice of:

•    Morning excursion
•    Afternoon excursion

For each of these excursions, the itinerary includes:

•    departure from the port of Gallipoli
•    Island of St. Andrew and swim stop to swim surrounded by fish
•    Punta Pizzo bay with a stop to swim in the blue waters of this natural oasis
•    return skirting Punta Suina with typical aperitif served on board

During the morning excursion, the boat staff will serve you both an aperitif and a typical fish dish.

During the excursion you will be guided by a skipper who can satisfy all your curiosity about the place.

On the boat there is snorkeling equipment, to admire the seabed, and a sunshade awning to relax in the shade if necessary.

The use of sunscreen, not on board, is recommended to protect yourself from the sun.

Experience a visit to the oil mill of the Masseria Stali oil farm with a guided tasting of the farm's extra virgin olive oils.

During the visit to the oil mill, nestled among centuries-old olive trees, you will discover the journey of organic extra virgin olive oil, from olive harvesting to cultivation and local cultivars.

You will then enter the mill to observe the stages of processing:

•    olive washing
•    pressing
•    kneading
•    extraction

A clear and engaging tour that will allow you to understand each step that transforms the fruit into liquid gold.

The path ends with a guided tasting, during which you will learn how to recognize a quality oil, the different classifications and the main organoleptic characteristics. A unique sensory moment that will forever change the way you taste oil.

Horseback riding in Vieste è also suitable for those who have not è never ridden a horse and è you can choose from several tours: 

Afternoon

The afternoon tour takes place on the plains among olive trees. Departure è set at 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm. The expected duration è is about 1 hour.

Sunset

The sunset tour takes place in the hills. Departure è set at 6:30 pm. The expected duration è is about 1 1/2 hours.

Experience a day at sea along the coast of Vieste by renting a dinghy that is easy to drive and requires no boat license.

È an ideal experience to independently explore coves, sea caves and crystal clear waters of the Gargano.

The inflatable boat è equipped with a 40 hp engine and è designed to provide comfort while cruising, with space to relax and take bathroom stops along the coast. Starting from Vieste you can organize your itinerary in freedom, reaching the most suggestive and less accessible areas by land.

You can choose between half-day or full-day rentals.

The group boat excursion to Vieste Sea Caves will take you to discover the beautiful Gargano coastline.

The group tour departs from Vieste with two daily trips to Baia delle Zagare. You will visit the most striking bays and beaches, some not accessible from the main road. Descriptions of points of interest are provided in Italian and English during navigation. A stop of about 40 minutes is planned at the Bay of Seagulls.

This exclusive tour is taken aboard an inflatable boat with a skipper included who will guide you along the Gargano coastline. Embark on this excursion and experience an adventure in Vieste's Sea Caves in excellent company.

Maximum capacity: 120 people for the group tour, 15 people for the private tour.

Boat trip along the coast of Vieste, rent a boat without a license among friends or family.

Program

After a brief driving lesson from the staff, you will depart from the port of Vieste and have the opportunity to explore the Gargano coast on your own.

You can choose your itinerary by exploring hidden coves or better known beaches such as Baia San Felice, Baia di Campi and Pugnochiuso Beach. You can also make several stops to dive into the sea in the crystal clear waters.

To personalize the experience you can choose from

•    half-day rental
•    full-day rental

Fuel is to be paid on return and the cost is around 50/60€ but may vary depending on several factors.

Discover the caves of the Gargano with a skippered boat excursion and included aperitif.

Departing from the port of Vieste, you will pass by the islet of S. Eufemia and the peninsula of San Francesco to the Pizzomunno monolith, which owes its name to the legend of the fisherman Pizzomunno and his beloved mermaid Cristalda.

You will then skirt Scialara beach and Portonuovo beach to arrive at the San Felice Arch, where the entrance to the Campana piccola cave is visible, and the Testa del Gargano.

Along the crossing, you can admire high white cliffs overhanging the sea with gorse, cysts and pine trees jutting out over the blue waters and picturesque beaches such as San Felice Bay, Campi Bay, Porto Greco Bay, Pugnochiuso Bay, Pergola Bay, Vignanotica Bay and Zagare Bay.

You will also have the opportunity to dive into the sea, thanks to some stops at the most striking points of this trip.

Finally, before returning, you will enjoy an excellent aperitif of local products, offered by the boat's staff.

Throughout the trip, you will be accompanied by a skipper who will be able to tell you delicious anecdotes about this particular area of Puglia.

Dive into this wonderful area of Fasano in the province of Brindisi as you stroll through the Apulian countryside and coastal dunes area.

The experience begins with an introduction in which you will learn about the itinerary and be provided with the necessary equipment for the walk.

Exiting the riding stables you will be surrounded by the greenery of Apulian nature including olive and fig trees that will accompany you throughout the walk.

The equestrian guide will accompany you throughout the experience answering any curiosity you may have about everything that surrounds you during the experience.

On summer weekends, è only the 1-hour, 30-minute excursion is available, which’includes an inland stretch and a stretch of beach.

The horseback ride in the Murge from Corato will last about 50 minutes and will allow you to discover the Alta Murgia National Park with a fantastic experience on horseback, with an equestrian guide.

The horseback ride will be preceded or followed by a lunch held in the farmhouse adjacent to the equestrian club. In summer, the ride is only available at 5 p.m., so lunch precedes it.

Lunch consists of an appetizer of cold cuts, cheeses, focaccia, salted meat, eggplant other typical Apulian products. You will also be offered two first courses, a side dish with vegetables, sweet fruit and drinks included.

The menu varies slightly each week and the Sunday menu is more substantial. 

The Alta Murgia Park is an area of special historical as well as naturalistic importance, visiting it on horseback is an experience that allows you to stay in touch with nature.

Horseback riding in Ruvo di Puglia allows you to enjoy a unique experience surrounded by nature and far from the city chaos.

This experience is suitable for everyone, even those new to horseback riding, and is perfect for couples or groups of friends.

The horseback ride lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes and is preceded by a short introductory briefing.

The activity includes an easy loop trail where you will see the whole area of the first plateau.

You will have the opportunity to pass through areas that have been the scene of thriving pastoralism for centuries, both sedentary and transhumant. These activities have left a remarkable legacy of white roads called "tratturi" carrari , interponderali roads, tratturelli and trails.

You can travel all this on horseback: this experience allows you to relive the history of a time that was, along areas that have not yet been disrupted by the hand of modern man, where the air has a scent all its own and the sky is always blue.

When booking, you can choose from 2 options:

•    horseback ride
•    horseback ride with aperitif on return

The aperitif includes: cold cuts and cheese board, bruschetta with cherry tomatoes, tomatoes in oil, green olives, baked onions, wine and water.

In case of food allergies and intolerances, you can contact the facility after booking.

Suitable sportswear with long pants and closed shoes is required for this experience.

Maximum allowed weight: 120 kg.

Horseback riding in the Murge from Corato allows you to discover the Alta Murgia National Park accompanied by an equestrian guide.

This experience is suitable for everyone, even those who are approaching the world of horseback riding for the first time. The minimum age to participate is 16.

The Alta Murgia Park is an area of special historical as well as naturalistic significance, visiting it on horseback is an experience that allows you to stay in touch with nature.

Sporty and comfortable clothing with long pants and closed shoes is required.

Experience an exciting Vespa adventure between Polignano a Mare, Conversano and Monopoli, passing through centuries-old olive groves, trulli and charming white towns overlooking the sea.

This 3-hour tour from Polignano a Mare is designed to discover Puglia in an authentic way, amid spectacular views, history and local flavors.

In Polignano a Mare, the tour begins with a scenic drive along the coast and a photo stop at the most striking spots, including sheer cliffs and iconic views.

In Conversano there will be a visit to the historic center with the Aragonese Castle and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, followed by a tasting of traditional Apulian focaccia in an historic bakery.

The experience concludes in Monopoli with a stroll through the historic center and a tasting of homemade ice cream, to say goodbye to the trip with one last taste of Apulian traditions.

Experience an exciting Vespa tour to discover the most iconic landscapes of Puglia, between Polignano a Mare, Alberobello, Locorotondo and the Selva di Fasano, with tasting of typical products in the different villages and final aperitif.

Departure from Polignano a Mare, with a scenic route along the cliffs overlooking the sea, giving spectacular views.

The tour continues to Alberobello, the heart of the Trulli, where a local guide will accompany you on a discovery of this UNESCO World Heritage site. During the visit there will be a tasting of the typical Panino Pasqualino, a unique local specialty.

The itinerary continues to Locorotondo, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, characterized by white houses and a charming historic center. Here a tasting of local products is planned, to immerse yourself in the authentic flavors of Apulian tradition.

After the food break, the tour continues to Selva di Fasano, a natural area ideal for taking photographs and admiring splendid views of the Valle d’Itria.

At the end of the experience, you return to Polignano a Mare, where an aperitif overlooking the sea awaits you, taking with you the memory of an authentic tour among historic villages, nature and Apulian traditions.