Puglia small group holiday

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

This small group tour is designed to minimise its environmental footprint while allowing travellers to experience Puglia and Basilicata at a slower, more responsible pace.

- Travellers are encouraged to reach southern Italy by high-speed train from Rome or Naples, avoiding domestic flights where possible.

- The itinerary is scheduled outside peak summer months, helping to reduce the environmental pressure caused by mass tourism in high season.

- Group size is limited to a maximum of 12 travellers, reducing transport impact and overcrowding at popular sites.

- Meals included during the tour are based on local, seasonal ingredients. In Otranto, food is prepared using zero-kilometre produce sourced directly from the family farm owned by the hotel hosts.

- Vegetarian options are available every day, reflecting the rich Apulian culinary tradition based on vegetables, pulses and cereals.

ENVIRONMENT

The tour supports the preservation of cultural heritage and the reuse of historic buildings:

- Accommodation is mainly chosen among restored historic properties, such as former convents and traditional buildings renovated using original materials.

- Visits include sites where restoration has respected original structures, such as the house-cave in Matera.

- Travelling in smaller groups allows access to towns and historic centres without contributing to congestion or damage caused by large tour groups.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

This tour is operated by a small local company based in Italy and is built around collaboration with local people and businesses.

- All accommodation is locally owned and small-scale, often family-run, ensuring that tourism revenue stays within the community.

- Drivers, guides and transport providers are all local professionals from Puglia and Basilicata, offering authentic insight into the region’s culture and history.

- Visits to family-run wineries and bakeries provide an important additional source of income for small businesses that cannot compete with large commercial operators.

- Travellers are encouraged to explore local markets and independent restaurants, further supporting the regional economy.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

Tourism can play a positive role in addressing economic imbalance in southern Italy, and this tour actively contributes to that goal.

- Over 99% of the people involved in the tour are from the regions visited.

- The tour supports female employment in areas where women’s participation in the workforce is significantly lower than the national average. Many of the business owners, guides and hosts encountered during the trip are women.

- Staff working in tourism services related to this tour receive fair wages, helping to create skilled employment and reduce regional inequality.

- Small group travel encourages respectful interaction and meaningful exchange between travellers and local communities.

By choosing this tour, travellers support a slower and more respectful way of exploring Puglia and Basilicata, helping small local businesses thrive, preserving cultural heritage and reducing the negative impacts of mass tourism.