Frequently asked questions about our Hiking Tours
Here at Puglia Hiking Tours, we think that every traveler is different from one another. In organizing a walking holiday everyone has different needs, specific preferences, doubts and special requests. That’s why we have been planning tours of Puglia together with our customers for over 10 years, respecting and satisfying their requests.
So, we are happy every time we can make your holiday just like you dream of it โฆ or even better!
Here you will find some of the most frequent questions on various aspects of our hiking tours in Puglia: from general information to details about overnight stays and reservations. In any case, you can always contact us: we will always be happy to answer to your requests.
What types of tours do you organize?
We propose self-guided tours, for the more independent travellers. We provide you with GPX tracks to direct you from one accommodation to the next one every day and with all the information you may possibly need along the way, about where to stop for lunch, for a snack and to visit cultural highlights.
It can happen that you meet some other guests along the way. It could be a nice way to share experiences and emotions, but you will always be free to decide how to organize your day!
How fit do I need to be?
All our walking tours are thought for reasonably fit people, curious, nature lovers, willing to discover our beautiful region. Having said that, all our standard tours are between Easy and Gentle level, that means that you should be able to tackle the daily tracks without too much effort, as long as you do some exercise regularly at home. The average daily distance ranges between 10 and 15 km, and the maximum daily distance is 20 km.
What is included in the tour?
All tours include the different overnight stays in selected and verified accommodation with breakfast, luggage transport, medical and luggage insurance, 24/7 phone assistance, a detailed briefing at the start, and touristic information. Lunch or dinner are usually not included, except when specified. Check your tour page or ask us for more info.
You will have an English-speaking guide for the guided tours, and we will provide you with an outdoor smartphone with uploaded tracks (or, if you prefer, you can ask for an extra-Garmin with uploaded tracks), along with useful info about your daily trail. Do not hesitate to contact us to learn more!
What is not included and can be added as extra to the tour?
Every accommodation might ask you to pay a local city tax, which has to be paid on site, where required. Walking shoes and poles, as well as clothings and general equipment, are not included. We will prepare you a little welcome box, which includes an aluminium water bottle and a Puglia Hiking Tours kit.
The standard tour price includes double occupancy in each accommodation, and a single room is always available, with a supplement.
The single room is always an option, either if you are a solo traveller, or if you are traveling in a group but you need a private bedroom. Check the tour pages to learn more about the supplement.
We can also provide you with a private transfer service from the airport to your starting point and/or from your last accommodation back to the airport, before flying home.
If you need to book an extra night before or after your walking holiday, we can book that for you: ask us for availability and quotation.
Last but not least, for those who love trekking, but don’t want to give up luxury and relax after the daily walk, we can book 5* accommodations, based on availability. Please, contact us and ask for more info about the extra price.
How can I book a tour?
You can find a green button displaying โREQUEST INFORMATIONโ on every tour page of our website. Use this button if you need any information about the tour or if you still donโt know what kind of tour best fits you. You can also find a red button displaying โBOOK NOWโ to use in case you have a clear idea of the tour you prefer. Just click on it and fill in the form with the information required.
Our very friendly staff can then start to check accommodation availability for you. Once sorted it out, we send you an email including all the info you need for the payment. As soon as you make the down payment, corresponding to the 25% of the total price, yourย Puglia Hiking Tour is confirmed!
The final payment is due one month before the start of your tour. After that, you receive an email with all the useful information about your upcoming holiday.
During the welcome briefing at your accommodation on day 1, one of our representatives give you a detailed explanation of your tour.
How can I pay?
Bank transferย andย Credit Cardย are the acceptedย paymentย methods. We useย TsPayย system to make the payment.
To confirm the booking we ask a down payment of 25%, the final payment is due one month before the departure date of your cycling holiday.
How do I cancel a reservation and do I get a refund?
Nobody wants to cancel an holiday reservation, we guess, but sometimes there is no alternative and we understand that. Just contact us and we will do whatever necessary.
The cancellation costs depend on how long before the scheduled departure date you cancel. Below are the details about the penalty:
โ between 60 and 31 days prior to arrival: 10% of the total booking.
โ between 30 and 15 days prior to arrival: 30% of the total booking.
โ between 14 and 9 days prior to arrival: 50% of the total booking.
โ between 8 and 3 days prior to arrival: 75% of the total booking.
โ between 3 and 0 days prior to arrival: 100% of the total booking.
What is a single room supplement?
A single room supplement is an extra cost for those who choose to stay in a single room during the tour.
Do you give discounts for groups?
We offer a discount for groups of more than six people, so make sure to bring your friends with you on the trip! Ask us for further details.
What type of accommodation do you use?
All tours include different overnight stays in authentic holiday farms or โmasserieโ in the countryside, little guesthouses in old town centre, or selected 4* hotels. Have a look at our accommodation selection in the section โAccommodationโ of our webpage.
Can I add an extra night before/after my tour?
Yes, you can! If you want to add the extra night in the same accommodation, we will check availability and let you know the additional cost, before confirming it.
We can find alternatives in other cities, or for instance close to the airport, if you need to start or end your tour in Puglia with a stay there. Do not hesitate to ask us for advice!
Can I upgrade to 5* accommodations?
Depending on the tour and the availability, we can provide you with even more comfort and luxury during your holiday: choosing a different room category in the standard accommodations, or by switching to a higher-grade accommodation in the same city. Ask us for more details.
How can I reach Puglia?
Puglia is easy to reach, travelling from other parts of Italy or from Europe.
You can catch a flight to/from our local airports, in Bari town or in Brindisi town.
If you have a car, you can use highways to reach Bari or Foggia, and main roads and secondary roads to all the other cities, coming from both North and South.
You can easily reach Bari or Foggia by train, but you might have to change to one of the local smaller railways or bus companies to get to other destinations. You can also reach Bari or Brindisi by ferry, arriving from Greece, Albania, Montenegro or Croatia.
Which airport is the best starting point?
Puglia has two main airports, one in Bari and the other one in Brindisi, so you can choose between them to book your flights. Bari is the capital of the region and therefore better connected with trains and buses compared to Brindisi, but we offer private transfers from and to both airports. Before your departure, check for public transports of feel free to contact us for further information.
How do I get to the starting point? How do I leave when my tour ends?
We have few options, depending on where you come from and where you need to go.
The easiest option is to use our private transfers, from the airport/station to the starting point and back from your last accommodation. Our van will pick you up with your luggage and drop you off where you want to, without the need of waiting or running to or from a train or bus station.
Please, contact us and ask for an estimate of the costs for the transfer you need.
Alternatively, you can use public transports to get from the airport or station to your first destination (and viceversa), or rent a car.
Feel free to write us an email if you need some help planning your trip.
How do I follow the tracks (GPS, Smartphone, maps)?
We give you the opportunity to use our GPS devices with uploaded tracks, or to use one of our (water-, fall- and dust-resistant) smartphones with all tracks and information uploaded on RideWithGPSยฎ, a very user-friendly application.
For all of our tours, during the briefing, we provide you with maps including practical and touristic information, along with tips for each day.
On what dates can I start one of your tours?
Every tour is available on request in certain periods of the year, which you can find on the specific tour page on our website (where you can also find the specific price of the tour, based on the season).
If for some reason you prefer to start on a different month, ask us and we will check availability and price according to your preferences, offering you quotations and alternatives.
What about my luggage?
The only thing you have to do with your luggage, besides packing everything you need before coming to Puglia of course, is to drop it off every morning at the reception with your luggage tag (that we will provide you with) attached to it and you will find it upon your arrival at your next accommodation in the afternoon. We take care of picking it up and dropping it off (very carefully, no luggage is damaged during our transfers).
What kind of weather can I expect?
Puglia boasts a Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and mild springs and autumns, not too much cold winters. It is also a very varied and extensive region, with microclimates that depend on the specific area in which one is located.ย On the Gargano, for example, the mountainous spur of Italy, there will be days when you will leave the sea and find yourself in mountain woods, or vice versa. And of course temperature and humidity will change with your steps. Of course, with comfortable trekking trousers and shoes and waterproof clothing you won’t have any problem. Anyway, we are right in the middle of the Mediterranean and from January to December every morning can start a wonderful sunny day perfect for walking. In spring and summer, the sweet evenings will allow you to wear skirts and shorts to stroll through the old town. And don’t forget that in Puglia you could easily swim from April to October.
What sort of walkings can I expect?
We planned our routes on a variety of trails: gentle flat terrain, light gravel sections, quiet countryside lanes, woodland tracks. The walk can develop on flat surfaces or present some ascents/descenst according to the tour you choose. We experienced and tested each of our routes, providing you the best in terms of naturalistic, environmental and cultural beauty.
Check each tour description for the fitness level required.
What should I bring for this walking trip?
In addition to what you need for any trip, starting with documents and credit cards, we think that for a walking holiday you need some more specific elements.
We recommend hiking pants and shoes, with good ankle support and a cushioning sole, as well as good socks made of a material that can absorb heat and allow proper transpiration. Don’t forget the waterproof jacket, along with sunscreen and a hat to protect you from the sun.
Walkers more and more often use trekking or walking sticks: they can be very helpful, especially on the steepest sections of the daily route.
Bring with you all the clothes you find most comfortable during a walk, remembering to use different “layers” for sudden temperature changes.
Think about a change of clothes for your elegant evenings depending on the season, as well as swimwear and towels for your stops by the sea.
A personal first aid kit and special medicines in case of severe allergic reactions will always come in handy.
During a guided tour, our qualified guides bring a first aid kit with them, but please refer to them for any special needs or important things to know about your health.
What kind of food can I expect?
Puglia is worldwide renowned for its varied and genuine cuisine: fruit and vegetables from our land, dairy products, unique meat and cold cuts, fresh fish, excellent bread, pasta and traditional desserts. Not to mention the surprising variety of local wines and our excellent olive oil. Whether you are omnivorous, vegetarian or vegan, then, you will have many delights to taste!
If you have any specific dietary needs or allergies, let us know at the time of booking and we will find the best solution for your needs.
Remember to get a packed lunch for your morning walks. Dinner will be included in certain stages and depending on the selected tour, please check the details on each tour page or ask us for more information.
What if I cannnot / I do not want to walk on a specific day?
Feel free to contact us, and we will arrange a private transfer for you, or just ask to the hotel reception for that. Any extra transfer is not included in the tour price. Based on availability, we can also organize guided visits in town or other activities.
Will I have the chance to enjoy attractions along the route and relax once at the hotel?
Yes, of course! We have planned your holiday so that you can follow your daily itinerary in the morning without any rush. We suggest that you do not leave your accommodation later than 9.30 am, so that you can stop along the way to take photos, visit the places and monuments that you find most interesting and take pleasant breaks. In this way you will arrive at your destination and still have time to relax before dinner.