Hiking along the Puglia coast, from Otranto to Gagliano del Capo, gives you a perfect mix of all the wonderful things Puglia has to offer: great swimming spots, untouched nature, small unexplored villages and incredible views.
Start among the orange and olive trees of Otranto to follow the red-coloured soil that forms the hiking trails just a few metres from the water, taking you to the lighthouse of Punta Palascia, Italy’s easternmost point. From here you’ll walk to the village of Porto Badisco, continuing between fishing villages, coastal spa towns and ancient villages dating back to the Iron Age when the Messapians inhabited the area. The journey ends in Lecce, which offers fantastic architecture from Roman times. Puglia also has a wonderful nature to walk in: from coastal roads with paradise beaches to fabulously lush forests.
Hike in Puglia on the heel of Italy
Highlights
- Fantastic hike along old ‘tratturi’, hiking trails, which take you through orchards and olive groves
- The picturesque town of Lecce with its ancient architecture, good food and cosy shops
- Swim at paradise beaches with crystal clear waters
- Historical sights dating back to the Roman Empire
Quick facts
| Travel duration: | 8 days/ 7 nights |
|---|---|
| Travel period: | 20/3 - 26/7 & 1/9 - 31/10 |
| Grade: | Easy. Average 3-4 h/7-12 km/ 200-400 m per day. Day by day trip grading, see "program" on each trip. 2 |
| Accommodations: | |
| Trip type: | Self guided walking holidays |
| Price example: | From €720 |
| Meals: | Breakfast & 2 dinners |
Prices per person in EUR
For a twin room, an additional cost of 26 Euro per person applies.
8 days/ 7 nights From €720 Book your trip
| Period | TRP - Triple Room | Double Room - shared bed | Twin Room - separate beds | SGL - Single Room |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-09-12 2025-10-31 | €720 | €890 | €910 | €1,210 |
| 2026-03-20 2026-03-25 | €730 | €890 | €910 | €1,250 |
| 2026-03-26 2026-04-23 | €740 | €900 | €930 | €1,270 |
| 2026-04-24 2026-05-11 | €760 | €930 | €950 | €1,330 |
| 2026-05-12 2026-05-24 | €760 | €940 | €960 | €1,340 |
| 2026-05-25 2026-06-22 | €800 | €950 | €970 | €1,440 |
| 2026-06-23 2026-07-25 | €800 | €990 | €1,010 | €1,440 |
| 2026-09-01 2026-09-10 | €800 | €990 | €1,010 | €1,440 |
| 2026-09-11 2026-09-18 | €770 | €950 | €970 | €1,360 |
| 2026-09-19 2026-09-30 | €760 | €930 | €950 | €1,330 |
| 2026-10-01 2026-10-31 | €740 | €900 | €930 | €1,270 |
Prices quoted are per person and include:
- Accommodation 7 nights incl. breakfast
- Dinners two evenings
- Luggage transport for hotel changes
- Mobile app in English:
- Digital maps
- Destination information
- Practical information
- Detailed day-by-day walking route descriptions
- 24-hour emergency hotline for urgent matters
Not included
- Local ‘City Tax’ ‘Tassa di soggiorno’ in some villages. The tax is paid on the spot and the cost varies, about 1-3 Euro per night.
- Flight to/from the destination
- Transfer to/from the airport
* Single room rates
- Single room rates apply when travelling in the company of others. If you are travelling on your own, in most cases there is an extra charge due to more expensive luggage transport. Please contact us for prices.
Optional extras
- Printed maps & walking directions: 30 Euro (collected at check-in at the first hotel)
- Private transfer from Bari or Brindisi airport. For prices see the tab ‘Getting here’
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Lecce
You will arrive in Lecce, the baroque capital of southern Italy. After checking in at the hotel, a stroll around the city is recommended to admire the amazing architecture that Lecce has to offer.
Day 2 Discover Lecce and Otranto - 7.5 km
In the morning, you’ll have the chance to continue exploring Lecce. After enjoying lunch at one of the city’s many restaurants, take a local bus to Otranto. Today’s walk around Otranto will be a good warm-up, with the opportunity to discover the Idro Valley, which extends 5 km from the city and also gives Otranto its name. You will pass both citrus and olive groves until you finally cross the river and make your way back to Otranto.
7.5 km, +70 m, -60 m
Day 3 Hike from Otranto to Porto Badisco - 12.5 km
Walk through the alleys and labyrinths of Otranto to reach the harbour where the hike begins. Here you will find a flat and barren coastline, where you will pass several bunkers from the Second World War. If you wish, you can take a small detour to an incredibly beautiful bauxite lake. Along the coast there are several beaches offering crystal clear water, perfect for a refreshing swim! During today’s hike, the Punta Palascia lighthouse will act as a signpost: as long as you have it in front of you and the sea on your left, you’ll know you’re on the right path. The Punta Palascia lighthouse is the easternmost point in Italy and only 71 km from Albania, which you can see when the weather allows.
12.5 km, +310 m, -290 m
Day 4 Hike from Porto Badisco to Cesarea Terme - 13 km
The first stop of today’s hike is the beautiful inlet of Porto Badisco, where you can replenish your energy reserves with good coffee and sandwiches. Then the route continues along the coast, where you will pass the round flat stone houses, called ‘pagliari’, which are characteristic of the area. After 6 km of walking you leave the coast to walk inland along narrow paths through the fields. The final stretch of the day’s walk takes you down to the spa town of Santa Cesarea Terme, where you can enjoy a refreshing swim after the day’s adventures.
13 km, +200 m, -200 m
Day 5 Hike from Santa Cesarea to Marittima - 11.5 km
Leaving Santa Cesarea, the walk begins along old dirt roads winding through the fields to the town of Castro, which dates back to the time of the Messapians. Here you can explore the old town and have a much-needed lunch and then a refreshing swim in the harbour before continuing the walk. The rest of the stage continues along the coast towards the night stop: Marittima.
11.5 km, +250 m, -195 m
Day 6 Hike from Marittima to Marina Serra - 13,5 km
Today’s walk starts through orchards and olive groves to reach a traditional ‘tratturi’, a network of old roads and paths connecting neighbouring villages to the sea. Right in front of you is the sea: go to Tricase Porto to enjoy a refreshing iced coffee. From Tricase Porto, you have an easy hike to Marina Serra, a small cosy coastal village.
13.5 km, +260 m, -320 m
Day 7 Hike from Marina Serra to Gagliano del Capo - 12.5 km
The last stage of the journey starts with a short climb towards the trail called ‘enemy’s path’ (sentiero del nemico): a perfect place to ambush your enemies throughout history, there by its name. Then follow the coast and head for a ‘tratturi’ that will lead you to Novaglie, which is a beautiful pebble beach. Here starts the incredible ‘Cipollianes path’, named after the caves in the area and well worth a visit. From the Ciolo bay you hike along the Ciolo valley to Gagliano del Capo where you take a transfer bus to Lecce.
12.5 km, +450 m, -320 m
Day 8 Departure day
We at EverTrek hope you have had a great trip!
We hope to see you again.
Acommodations
In the larger cities you stay in 3-4* hotels while on the countryside we use nice B&Bs.
All accommodation is en suite and has breakfast included. In Porto Badisco and Marina Serra are dinners also included.
8 days/ 7 nights
| Night | Place | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| Night 1 | Lecce | Hotel ***/**** |
| Night 2 | Otranto | Hotel ***/**** |
| Night 3 | Porto Badisco | Hotel ***/**** |
| Night 4 | Santa Cesarea Terme | Hotel ***/**** |
| Night 5 | Marittima | Hotel ***/**** |
| Night 6 | Marina Serra | Hotel ***/**** |
| Night 7 | Lecce | Hotel ***/**** |
Route map
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