Day 0 – May 17 - Fly from the US to Naples, Italy.

Day 1 – May 18 - Naples
Welcome Naples! Upon arrival at the airport you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel where you will have time to rest up before meeting your guide and fellow walkers for a welcome talk and dinner. Sleep in Naples

Day 2 – May 19 - Naples and Sorrento
Your exploration of Southern Italy will begin with a fascinating walking tour of Naples. This great city combines the sumptuous luxury of a cosmopolitan city with lively urban grit on a scale that is simply one of a kind. After your urban hike you will head towards Sant’Agata, a small town that overlooks the beautiful island of Capri and is strategically located between Sorrento and Positano. You will enjoy a feast of local foods tonight in Sorrento including the world’s finest Mozzarella di Bufala. Sleep in Sant’Agata

Day 3 – May 20 - Pompeii and Vesuvius
No visit to Southern Italy would be complete without a stop in Pompeii. Today you will walk through this ancient Roman settlement which was destroyed in 79 AD by the explosion of Mt. Vesuvius. Pompeii remained covered in a thick protective layer of ash until its excavation began at the end of the 1700’s. In the afternoon you will head towards the ash-maker itself: Mount Vesuvius. A volcanologist will accompany you on a three-hour hike across the black sand that encircles the crater, ultimately reaching its 4,200-foot peak. Along the way you will learn how the legends of Vesuvius dominate local folklore. Sleep in Sant’Agata

Day 4 – May 21 - Capri
Today you will enjoy a short cruise to the fabled island of Capri. The island’s early morning light will invite you up the winding road to Anacapri, a small town of 5,000 residents. Here you will find the Phoenician Steps, a flight of 800 stone steps built by the ancient Greeks. A short walk brings you to Migliara where you will enjoy a viewpoint of the Punta Carena lighthouse and neighbouring Ischia and Procida islands. Those who want to hike further can climb to Capri’s highest point, Monte Solaro (1,926 feet above sea level). But, don’t worry, there is a chairlift option as well! After enjoying this world class view, you will return to the base of Monte Solaro to enjoy some free time and lunch in the village of Anacapri. Later you will visit San Michele, an 18th-century church which boasts one of the finest examples of Neapolitan Baroque artwork, the majolica tiles of Adam and Eve. Sleep in Sant’Agata

Day 5 – May 22 - Ravello and Amalfi
Today you will enjoy an unforgettable walk along the valley between the towns of Ravello and Amalfi. First, you will visit the Villa Cimbrone, an original 19th-century estate which boasts a wild garden that literally hangs over the sea. You will then depart Ravello for the tiny village of Pontone along an ancient mule path. We will chat with the locals about their ancient farming techniques and their belief that these methods will resist the steamroller of globalization. From here you will walk down to the Torre dello Ziro, a medieval tower perched on a crag with spectacular views of the coast. After lunch, you will follow stone steps through a shaded forest into the Valle dei Mulini (Valley of the Mills) and onwards to the harbor of Amalfi. Here you will learn about the harbor’s history and how Amalfi was once important Maritime Republic. Sleep in Paestum

Day 6 – May 23 - Paestum
After breakfast you will tour the Greek-Roman city of Paestum. The ancient temple of Hera was built in 550 BC and has been painstakingly preserved many times through the ages. In the Paestrum museum you will behold unique frescoes that once decorated local tombs. This afternoon you will find yourself in a countryside estate learning how to cook famous southern Italian dishes (while holding a glass of fine Italian wine). Buon appetito! Sleep in Paestum

Day 7 – May 24 - Craco and Matera
Today you will leave Campania for the amazing region (and city) of Matera. Here you may feel a sense of déjà vu because the area’s Middle Eastern appearance has served as the setting for the most famous biblical movies. Pasolini, Rosi, Tornatore, the Taviani brothers, Bruce Beresfort, Catherine Hardwick and Mel Gibson all chose Matera for its “Sassi” feel. Your adventure will start with a morning walk through the abandoned village of Craco before you reach the epicenter of Matera in the afternoon. Sleep in Matera

Day 8 – May 25 - Matera
This day will be dedicated the discovery of Matera’s famed “Sassi.” The labyrinthine streets combine ancient stone sassi structures with buildings of later eras -- a fascinating blend of old and new. Highlights include the charming Piazza Duomo, humble sassi dwellings, and such monumental edifices as the cathedral of San Pietro Caveoso and the 13th-century Romanesque cathedral. You learn about the intriguing lifestyle of the former cave residents. At one time an “open door” attitude prevailed; sassi entryways were always open, extending a welcome to neighbors and visitors, no matter the weather. Sleep in Matera

Day 9 - May 26 - Gravina in Puglia and Altamura
This morning you will pay a visit to two small but impressive cities: Altamura, famous for its beautiful cathedral, and Gravina, a Pugliese city rich with buildings excavated out of tufa rock. In the afternoon you will stop to visit the incredible Crypt of the Original Sin, a frescoed cycle that was painted with unbelievable colors and technique around 1,300 years ago in a remote countryside location. Sleep in Matera

Day 10 – May 27 - Alberobello and Locorotondo
Today you will travel deep into the famed Trulli area of Apulia and the lush Valle d’Itria. Blanketed with vineyards and olive groves, this valley is dotted with hundreds of trulli, curious stone structures used by Apulian farmers. Today’s trailhead is located near the 6th-century church of San Pietro in Barsento. A picturesque walk will take you through green pastures and seemingly endless olive groves. In the village of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you will find streets literally packed with trulli. These buildings feature circular, whitewashed walls and cone-shaped roofs that were originally made without mortar so as to make the structures temporary. A closer look will reveal Paleo-Christian good-luck symbols painted on the roofs. After free time to explore this charming place, you will hit the road again to reach Locorotondo, your home for the next two nights. Tonight you will enjoy a feast of local specialties. Sleep in Locorotondo countryside

Day 11 – May 28 - Ostuni and the countryside
Today you visit the “white city” of Ostuni where you will feel the magic and charm of life in a small Pugliese city. Known for its whitewashed walls, Ostuni overlooks the Adriatic and boasts a captivating medieval center that features a dramatic 15th-century cathedral. The quiet countryside surrounding Ostuni boasts an abundance of oak, cork, and carob trees and thick shrub vegetation including wild broom and bay laurel. You will follow an ancient farmer’s path along sturdy stone walls through a sea of olive trees. In the early afternoon you will arrive amidst the olive groves at a white-washed masseria. Tonight make a farewell toast with a glass of local Primativo (Napa Zinfandel came from this grape stalk!) and enjoy a fine farewell feast. Sleep in Locorotondo countryside

Day 12 – May 29 - Transfer to the airport
This morning after breakfast you will be transferred to the Brindisi or Bari airport for your flight home.

Please provide M&G Expeditions with your flight departure information as soon as you have made your airfare arrangements so that your transfer may be arranged in advance of the tour. There will be 2 morning departures from the hotel to the airport: one to Brindisi airport, one to Bari airport. These airports connect though Rome Leonardo da Vinci (FCO) and Milano Malpensa (MXP) for your flight back to the US on the same day.

Some airfare booking tips:
1) If you can find a good priced flight round trip from the US to London, there is the low cost air company called ryanair (www.ryanair.com) that flyes from and to Bari and Brindisi to London Stansted. You can check it out on the internet.

2) If you can find a round trip good ticket from and to Rome or Milano, but your final price is much higher if you add the internal flight to Naples and out of Bari (or Brindisi) it is easy to book on the interntey your own connection flights to Naples and from Bari or Brindisi to the city you are flying out to the US. You can check out Alitalia (www.alitalia.com ) or easy jet (www.easyjet.com ).

Journey Details:

Your Journey:
1 night in Naples
3 nights in Sant’Agata sui due Golfi
2 nights in Paestum
3 nights in Matera
2 nights in Locorotondo
Total: 11 nights, 12 days

Trip cost: $2,900 per person in double room
Single supplement: $ 380
Deposit required to secure your reservation: $500
Booking deadline: December 31, 2009

Group size will not exceed 20 travellers, with a minimum number of 12.

What is included in your trip:
-Accommodation in carefully selected hotels and country inns
-All group transportation in air-conditioned private bus
-All breakfasts, all lunches and 10 dinners
-The service of a professional tour leader
-Entrances to museums and attractions as per the itinerary
-1 cooking class
-Olive oil tasting
-Post departure travel insurance plan from Travel Guard

What is not included:
-International fare from and to the US
-Personal expenses
-Tips for your M&G guide, driver and local guides

Please contact us for more information