Southern Italy
Basilicata: The land where time stood still
Tour Dates
1 – 9 October 2025
Tour Cost
€3,695 per person
Single supplement: €385
This tour explores the undiscovered region of Basilicata in the instep of the foot of Italy. Much of the region is completely untouched by the modern world and time seemingly stands still. We start in the pretty town of Maratea on the west coast before heading inland to the pristine Pollino National Park. Here we stay in the charming small town of Rotonda for three nights, surrounded by its magnificent scenery and fascinating history. The final stop of the tour is the unique Unesco World Heritage city of Matera which, in 2019, was the European Capital of Culture. We stay in an Albergo diffuso, or “scattered hotel”, with rooms carefully converted from the town’s original cave dwellings, each with its own individual features and atmosphere. Our final walk explores the compelling history of this matchless city and the surrounding countryside.
This tour starts and finishes in Naples, and our meeting point is the Renaissance Hotel Naples. At the end we can return guests to the same hotel or Naples train station or Naples airport. People might choose to extend their walking holiday in Italy by seeing more of Naples, or visiting Florence, Rome or Pompei and the Amalfi coast. For more ideas on where to go visit our City Guide page. For further information on the history of Matera, see the Blog.
What’s Included?
- 8 nights’ accommodation in 3 delightful hotels
- 2 experienced and knowledgeable guides to look after your every need and bring this stunning area to life
- All meals including wine
- Gourmet picnic lunches each day and snacks en route
- Dinner in a variety of superb restaurants
- Museum visits and wine/food tastings as per itinerary
- Support vehicle, enabling you to walk as little or as much of the trail as you please
- Transport to/from Naples in air-conditioned minibus
- Comprehensive pre-trip information
- Luggage transported for you so all you need to carry is a small backpack with water etc.
Our tours are genuinely all-inclusive – learn more about what we offer.
Tour Highlights
- Sleep in a cave in the Unesco World Heritage city of Matera
- Hike in the spectacular and untouched Pollino National Park
- Discover spellbinding wonders of this ancient land
Walking/Terrain
Terrain: We walk on mule tracks, forest paths and rugged mountain trails as well as hiking in open pastures. There are some significant ascents and descents on this tour, with some up to 700m.
Shortest/Longest Day: 8km/4.9 miles: 16.5km/10.2 miles
We have graded this hike a Level 4. Some of our tours are more challenging than others, so see how we grade our hikes to make sure you choose the right one for you. If you are interested in this tour, then you might also like to take a look at The Wilds of Abruzzo, Slovenia & Friuli, or The Italian Lakes
Accommodation
Locanda delle Donne Monache: 4-star hotel in former convent in old town of Maratea with a swimming pool
Il Borgo Ospitale: A “scattered hotel” spread across different buildings in Rotonda, in the heart of the Pollino National Park
Le Grotte della Cività: Sister hotel to the stunning Sextantio hotel where we stay on our Abruzzo tour, this hotel’s rooms are converted from Matera’s original cave dwellings
Itinerary
LEAVE BLANK
Day 1
09:30 am: Meet at the Renaissance Hotel Naples. We head south, making a stop in Campania at a mozzarella farm for a visit and tasting of genuine Mozzarella di Bufala DOP. After lunch, we continue to Maratea, a picturesque town clinging to a hillside overlooking the Tyrrhenian coast, beneath a dramatic statue of Christ the Redeemer. We stay for three nights in a charming hotel in the old town. Welcome drink followed by dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 2
Hike from the vibrant mountain village of Trecchina, following an important pilgrim trail up to Madonna del Soccorso. After a picnic lunch, we continue across open country on shepherds’ trails, descending through remote pastures to join a mule track clinging to the mountainside with wonderful coastal views as we approach Maratea. Dinner in a local restaurant.
(12km/7.4 miles)
Day 3
Morning hike follows an old medieval trail through chestnut and oak woods, passing remote grazing areas. Picnic at a low mountain pass with views to the coast. In the afternoon, the trail continues on an old mule track, descending to the coastal hamlet of Aquafredda. Dinner in a local restaurant.
(8km + 8km/4.9 + 4.9 miles)
Day 4
Depart Maratea and drive along the coast into Calabria, then inland to the village of Papasidero. We start our hike through the village, crossing the river on a lovely stone bridge before joining a trail above the river gorge. After a lunch of local antipasti, we visit a Paleolithic cave first excavated in 1961. Continue by road to arrive at our hotel in Rotonda, nestled in the Pollino National Park. Base for the next three nights. Enjoy Lucanian cuisine in local restaurants each night.
(10.5 km/6.5 miles)
Day 5
15-minute drive to start our hike from a small hamlet, climbing through beech forests on a woodland track. Picnic lunch with a view before continuing our ascent and descending through the Unesco-listed landscape on a ravine track, ending back at the hamlet.
(15.5 km/9.6 miles)
Day 6
30-minute drive to Colle di Impiso to start our walk. This spectacular hike takes us to the Piani del Pollino, the gem of Pollino National Park, and the magical Loricato Pine forests. As there’s no van access at lunch, your guides will hike the picnic in for you before returning to Rotonda for our final dinner there.
(16.5 km/10.2 miles)
Day 7
Leave our hotel and stop to view a collection of prehistoric remains in the local Rotonda museum. After a cappuccino, continue by road to the Ionian coast to visit the ancient Greek site at Policoro. Enjoy a leisurely lunch of local seafood before continuing to the Unesco World Heritage city of Matera. Check into your cave accommodation at the Albergo Diffuso, Le Grotte della Civita. Join a local guide for a tour of the Sassi (cave-dwellings) of the old town before drinks and local specialities at a wine bar.
Day 8
Walk starts from outside the city, returning on foot past rock churches and abandoned houses with lovely viewpoints to the hotel for a light lunch. The afternoon is free to explore Matera’s amazing sights and museums. Final dinner in one of the best restaurants in Matera.
(8km/4.9 miles)
Day 9
Return to Naples for 12:30 pm, with drop-off at the airport, train station, and Renaissance Hotel. For guests wishing to explore Puglia or cross the Adriatic to Croatia after the tour, transfers to Bari can be organized for approximately €150.
