Puglia, Italy
Discover the Magic of Italy’s Heel
Our 9th Small-Group Cultural Immersion Journey to Puglia
Personally Hosted by Dan & Deb
11 Days of Gourmet Cuisine • Exceptional Wines • Charming Villages • Guided Walks • Scenic Bike Rides • Hands-On Cooking Class • Authentic Local Experiences
September 6–17, 2027
11 Days • 10 Nights
An exclusive journey created for guests of Deux Soldats Winery, Walla Walla.
Join Eric and Ruthann, owners of Deux Soldats Winery, and of course Dan and Deb, on a journey through a region of beauty, wine, food, and adventure.
September 6, 2027 – September 17, 2027
11 Days / 10 Nights
10 nights in four-star resorts, wine tasting, 8 lunches and dinners (some wine-paired), Michelin-rated restaurants, two half-day easy bike tours (one is optional) through the countryside, walking tours in four ancient towns, cooking class, two wine tastings, a tour and olive oil tasting, more.
from $3,398 double occupancy
All pricing, room choices/upgrades, air details, and more are on the Logistics page linked below.
FIRST DEPOSIT upon sign-up $700 per person
Please fill out the Initial Deposit Form and email it to us at the time of deposit
Do NOT buy air or insurance until the minimum participation level has been reached and the go-ahead has been given.
We are excited to offer our 9th Puglia tour exclusively to Deux Soldats Wine Club members. Eric and Ruthann, the owners of the winery, will, of course, be accompanying everyone on the tour. This will be our second collaboration with Deux Soldats.
For over 30 years, Morningstar has been crafting unforgettable group tours. We enjoy sharing destinations we love with friends, new and old.
This will be our 9th tour to Puglia—a place that has completely captured our hearts. With its warm, welcoming people, uniquely delicious food and wine, breathtaking hilltop villages, and a history that unfolds at every turn, Puglia is pure magic. Framed by shimmering seas on both sides, the atmosphere here is simply enchanting.
We LOVE our friends in Puglia. The hoteliers are our family, embracing our guests with that signature Italian warmth that makes you feel instantly at home. Every time we return, it’s like stepping 20 years back in time—where life moves at a slower, more authentic pace.
Think of it as Tuscany without the tourists—at half the cost!
Experience the charm, the flavors, and the friendships that keep bringing us back, time and time again. We can’t wait to introduce you to the Puglia we adore
This is Puglia
Puglia (poo-lee-ah) is a breath of fresh air… something completely unexpected… a balm for the spirit…a respite from the crowds …a break from the touristic… a rabbit hole which transports you back 20 years. Puglia is the heel of Italy. For those fortunate enough to visit, it connects to simpler times and a natural landscape that is increasingly difficult to find. No hype, no hordes of tourists… just natural wonders, great wine and food, fascinating history, and warm and friendly people.
Take time to read the itinerary descriptions and look at the numerous linked photo galleries. Then you will understand our enthusiasm for this region, Italy’s heel.
If you want to experience how Italy used to be, join us on our wine and food tasting journey through Puglia. It will be a journey you will never forget.
What is included
Day by Day Itinerary with ALL the details below
Day one: arrive in Bari
Arrive in Bari on September 7, 2027, after your overnight flight from the USA (departing on September 6), and check into your hotel. The Nicolaus Hotel is a 4-star property near the lovely pedestrian shopping area.
Day two: September 8
Monopoli
On our way to Masseria Cervarolo, we will stop for a half-day visit to the ancient port town of Monopoli, where you will have free time to wander around this charming seaside village.
Option: Excellent wine-paired lunch at Piazza Palmieri Restaurante. Spectacular!
Palmieri offers the best warm seafood appetizer we have ever had, along with excellent main courses.
Menu:
- Hot seafood appetizer
- Seafood first course
- 1 glass of white wine
- 1 glass of red
- Water and coffee
- Of course, substitutes are possible @ $49 exact price t.b.a.
September 8 afternoon: Arrival at Masseria Cervarolo. This property is an old farm/fortress that has been beautifully restored. Many of the rooms are trullis! Replete with a beautiful pool area and a Michelin-rated restaurant, Cervarolo is perfectly located and within short driving distances of all the sites we will visit.
Afternoon Option: Wine tasting with Teresa, a local sommelier, right at beautiful Cervarolo! We will do this @5:30ish. $29
Day three: September 9
Locorotondo / Optional AM bike ride
For those not doing the optional bike ride below, you will spend the morning exploring the ancient town of Locorotondo on your own. A wine-paired lunch overlooking a beautiful vista will be served in Locorotondo for everyone. The bike riders will meet up with everyone in Locorotondo.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITY – 4-hour guided ride through the countryside: For active, adept bike riders, we are offering a half-day bike ride through the countryside in place of the city visits. If you love biking, DO NOT MISS THIS. It is worth every penny. The ride will end at Locorotondo, where we will meet the rest of the non-biking group and have the same lunch as described.
COST: $t.b.a. includes transportation to the starting point of the ride, bike (electric-assist bike), and guides. This must be signed up for by the time of final payment at the end of January. The fee will be added to your final invoice. We need a minimum of 10 riders.
Optional: Afternoon cooking class at Masseria Cervarolo $30
Our dinner this night will be a 4-course, wine-paired, led by local sommelier Teresa.
September 9: cooking class at Masseria Cervarolo. First, a Puglian cooking class in the late afternoon. A 4-course wine-paired dinner at Cervarolo’s Michelin-rated restaurant follows, both included in your tour events. Bonus: A local sommelier will be there throughout the meal to share notes on each wine! As with our other masserias, we will be the only guests in the hotel…all ours.
Day Four: September 10
Lecce
Lecce is one of the best-preserved Baroque cities in the world. Two-hour walking tour followed by free time and lunch on your own.
Depart Lecce and return home to Cervarolo for some late-afternoon free time to relax and enjoy Cervarolo.
Day Five: September 11
Easy Bike ride through the countryside
Bike ride through the countryside
Optional: Ride to the Sea! Half-day electric-assist bike ride, Parco della Dune Costiere. The ride takes us through the Ostuni countryside with panoramas of the Adriatic coast and the Puglian landscape. Cost t.b.a. for e-bike and guides. We will go from the ride’s endpoint to Ostuni, where the non-riders are. You can enjoy the optional wine-paired lunch (price t.b.a.) or have lunch on your own. Following Ostuni, we all head to Masseria Macaroni for the most informative olive oil tasting you will ever have.
OR
Leave mid-morning to arrive at Ostuni. Enjoy the above-mentioned optional lunch. Then on to the olive oil tasting at Masseria Macaroni.
Day Six: September 12
Alberobello, the city of Trulli
Alberobello, the city of Trulli
Alberobello, a Unesco site. Upon arrival in the morning, we will explore the village of Alberobello with our local guides, and when you have free time, you can wander, shop, and have lunch on your own.
After Alberobello, it is on to Altamura and our next masseria experience: Masseria Pitti, a farm/fortress from the 1700s. Live oil and wine were produced in caves beneath the property.
Part of the group will be at Masseria Pitti. There are only 12 rooms available at Pitti on a first-come, first-served basis. Those not upgrading will be at the 4-star Hotel San Nicola in the nearby town of Altamura.
Both properties are 10 minutes apart. The package includes the 4-star Hotel San Nicola in Altamura. The Pitti upgrade prices are on the logistics page. Three of the included wine-paired dinners will be at the Pitti, with the fourth being a 3-hour walking dinner tour in Altamura. Everyone will participate in all the Pitti activities, including the dinners. ur charter bus will provide the short rides needed between properties. Best of all: we will be the only people in the Pitti… all ours.
Day Seven /September 13
Gravina
We arrive in the morning for a unique walking tour of this historic village, with underground olive oil and wine-making facilities that date back many centuries.
Then: Time for an amazing wine-paired lunch at one of our fav Puglian restaurants! Deb and Dan discovered Mamma Mia’s restaurant overlooking the ruins of Gravina and it was one of the best meals we had on our trip. Puglia is known for its truffles and Mamma Mia’s makes a memorable truffle-based pasta you will savor and enjoy. Not a truffle fan? A substitute main is available. This will be a two-hour extravaganza replete with appetizers, main pasta, desserts, and of course a LOT of wine! Tellin ya: You are patzo (crazy!) if you don’t do this lunch!
ps: Did we mention that this place has one of the most amazing views anywhere!
Cost: T.B.A.
Day Eight: September 14
Free day with optional add-ons
Option 1: Day-long bike ride through Alta Murgia National Park (UNESCO Global Geopark) with e-bikes and guides. Lunch included. $t.b.a.
Option 2: Visit the historic 600-year-old Antico Forno Santa Chiara bakery in Altamura, famous for its Altamura bread. Visit a family-run cheese factory famous for burrata. Price t.b.a.
Option 3: Spend the day on your own exploring the charming village of Altamura. Note: Those staying at the Pitti will have transport to Altamura in the morning, with return on their own via taxi.
Day Nine September 15
Matera
Get ready to be stunned. Matera, an ancient hilltop town with 2,000-year-old cave homes beneath the modern city, will be our tour for the day. Free time to explore and have lunch.
Last group Dinner: Mattia, son of one of the owners of Pitti, will guide us on a 3-hour walking dinner tour in Altamura. Prepare to eat more than you thought possible.
DAY TEN September 16
We leave the Pitti and San Nicola hotels to return to Bari, arriving there mid-morning. You are free to enjoy Bari on your own. There are many shops, restaurants, and views to enjoy. You arrange taxi rides through the hotel desk for your flight home the following day, September 17.
OPTIONAL: UPGRADE HOTEL On our last journey to Puglia, Deb and I discovered an uber-modern, gorgeous 4-star hotel a few minutes’ walk from the sea and the old port of Bari. We loved the Dilman Hotel so much that we are offering it as an upgrade option for this last night. We highly recommend choosing this optional property. The Nicolaus Hotel is the same hotel as at the start of the trip. It is a fantastic hotel, but The Dilman is a step up in luxury, and its location is perfect, within walking distance of the old town and port. Since you will have almost an entire day to explore old Bari on your last day, the upgrade fee is worth it. Everyone upgraded on the last two Puglia tours. See Dilman room choices on the Logistics page.
Summary of Optional Activities
All activities must be signed up for before the final payment.
Day 2: Three-course wine-paired lunch in Monopoly. $ t.b.a.
Day 2: Optional wine tasting of local wines led by our local som-friend, Teresa. A delicious education! $29
Day 3: Ride through Aquaduct park to Locorotondo bike ride: $t.b.a. for transport to starting point, electric-assist bikes, guides
Day 5: Optional ride through the countryside, passing through ancient olive groves and fields of wildflowers, ending at the sea. $t.b.a.for transport to the starting point, electric-assist bikes, guides
Day 7: Wine-paired lunch at Mamma Mia in Gravina. $ t.b.a.
Day 8 All-day bike ride in the countryside around Pitti/ Altamura: $ t.b.a.or transport to starting point, electric-assist bikes, guides, lunch included
Testimonials
FROM PAST PUGLIA CLIENTS
This tour of the Puglia region is fantastic. From the great food and wine (not to mention great prices), to the beautiful accommodations and breathtaking countryside, I can say this tour is one not to miss. The planning and attention to detail by Dan and Deb is great! The daily schedule is well thought out including plenty of time for relaxing lunches and shopping. Every town and city was unique from each other, packed with its own history and beauty. Falling in love with this region is guaranteed, there’s not a thing not to like. You will also enjoy the hosts, Dan and Deb. Lots of fun and laughter are always included.
Zero stars. Ha ha, jk. This was the second trip we’ve done with Dan and Deb and let’s just say, we’re ready for number 3.
Dan and Deb’s enthusiasm for the places they invite you to is infectious, but what is more infectious is their love of the people they have met over the years that have become family, from the drivers to the guides to the waitstaff. Traveling with Morningstar, you’re going to experience home-cooking, warm welcomes and world class hospitality and warmth from everyone you meet. The vibe is causal, fun, and ‘lets go on an adventure’. Be ready to experience the off-the-beaten path places of the world where you’ll stay in unique, boutique accommodations and get to try all the local cuisines and wine. So much food and wine. Bring stretchy pants. We can’t wait for our next adventure with Dan and Deb!
Had an amazing trip to Puglia Italy with Dan and Deb. Our hotels/Masserias were so amazing as was everything about the trip! Dave and I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting an experience of a lifetime in Southern Italy!
Puglia with Dan and Deb is truly amazing! They do a wonderful job of planning. Everything was covered! When any issue arose they were quick to address. And of course they made sure we had plenty of wine! Puglia was the best! The people are very welcoming, food first class and plentiful, sites beautiful…could not ask for more!