This is Chef Tanya’s 5th trip to Italy and 2nd time in this wonderful area. For this journey she has curated a bespoke culinary program through Matera and Puglia in partnership with the Vegan Travel Club, blending hands‑on cooking with olive oil and wine tastings. Limited to just 16 guests, the itinerary celebrates traditional techniques and authentic regional flavours for an intimate, unforgettable experience in the heel of Italy’s boot.​

Day 1 - Friday, June 4th, 2027 - Southern Italy & Basilicata 
Welcome to Southern Italy. Arrive in Bari and continue to the enchanting region of Basilicata, where you will be based in Matera for the next three nights. Matera’s ancient Sassi cave dwellings have been inhabited for over 10,000 years, making the city one of the oldest continuously lived‑in places on Earth; these atmospheric caves have featured in numerous films, most recently a James Bond entry. Upon arrival you may drop off your luggage and begin exploring; rooms will be available from 2:00 PM. At 6:00 PM we will meet the group and Chef Tanya for cocktails, then proceed to our welcome dinner.
Accommodations: Eurostars Matera La Suite 
Meals: Welcome Dinner

Day 2 - Saturday, June 5th, 2027 -  Matera 
Today we will explore some of the area’s best‑kept secrets. Enjoy a free morning in Matera to settle in and discover the city at your own pace. We will rejoin for a relaxed southern Sunday lunch, a four‑course meal showcasing traditional dishes from this culinary‑rich region. After lunch our guide will lead us through "i sassi", Matera’s historic cave quarter, and share stories about this remarkable, continuously inhabited city.
Accommodations: Eurostars Matera La Suite 
Meals: Breakfast and Sunday lunch

Day 3 - Sunday, June 6th, 2027 - The Cave of Original Sin, Matera 
This morning we will visit the Cave of Original Sin, a special site off the beaten track that offers a deep glimpse into Matera’s distant past. After our visit we will enjoy a meal featuring Matera’s famed cucina povera — naturally vegan dishes perfected over centuries — accompanied by a tasting of local wines during lunch. 
Accommodations: Eurostars Matera La Suite 
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and wine tasting

Day 4 - Monday, June 7th, 2027 - Bread Making in Altamura & Alberobello 
Today we leave Matera for Puglia. Our first stop is Altamura, famed for its ancient ovens and exceptional bread. We will meet a local guide to learn why this area is celebrated for wheat and bread, and then get hands‑on with a bread‑ and cracker‑making lesson taught by the masters. After our lesson we will continue to Alberobello to explore its fairy‑tale trulli: visit Trullo Sovrano and the Trulli Museum, wander Rione Monti and Aia Piccola, shop for artisan ceramics and local crafts, sample orecchiette and homemade sweets, and capture panoramic views at sunset over espresso. We will then check into our new hotel. Optional dinner at Masseria.
Accommodations: Masseria Ayroldi 
Meals: Breakfast and bread‑making lesson with light lunch, and Dinner

Day 5 - Tuesday, June 8th, 2027 - Ostuni and Pizzica 
In the morning we will wander Ostuni’s luminous, whitewashed old town where narrow alleys curl past bougainvillea‑draped houses and artisan shops. We will pause at cafés for espresso, visit the Cathedral with its intricate rose window, and climb to panoramic terraces that reveal olive groves and flashes of the Adriatic. You will enjoy a light lunch on your own at one of the many trattorias. Later, back at the villa, we will join a lively pizzica lesson to learn the fast, tambourine‑driven rhythms and spirited footwork of Puglia’s folk dance. The lesson will cover basic steps, playful partner moves, and call‑and‑response rhythms rooted in ancient tarantella healing rituals, connecting you to local tradition through music and movement. 
Accommodations: Masseria Ayroldi 
Meals: Breakfast and Pizzica Dance lesson and Dinner

Day 6: Wednesday, June 9th, 2027 - Best of Puglia: Gastronomy, Olive Oil, Pasta & Wine (Trulli farm experience)
A relaxed, sensory day in the Itria Valley exploring Puglian culinary arts: olive‑oil tasting, a hands‑on pasta class with a Pugliese nonna in an authentic trulli farm, a guided wine tasting, and a farm‑to‑table lunch enjoyed overlooking an olive orchard. Perfect for food‑lovers who want local stories, techniques and unbeatable views.
Accommodations: Ayroldi Massaeria
Meals: Breakfast and Cooking lesson with Lunch

Day 7: Thursday, June 10th, 2027 - Lecce and Salento 
We say goodbye to the masseria and head south to Salento for some well‑earned relaxation by the sea. Our first stop is Lecce, where the old town rewards exploration: admire the ornate Basilica di Santa Croce, linger in the elegant Piazza del Duomo and its cathedral, view the Roman amphitheatre at Piazza Sant’Oronzo, photograph the imposing Castello di Carlo V, and wander the Baroque streets to discover artisan shops, hidden courtyards and inviting cafés. We will then check in to our resort for two days of seaside relaxation, sun and leisurely swims, and in the evening we will meet again for dinner overlooking the water, enjoying fresh local cuisine as the sun sets.
Accommodations: Posia Retreat and Spa Hotel in Salento
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 8: Friday, June 11, 2027 - Free day at the Resort and Spa
Today is just to relax, get a message, ride a bike, go for a swim, or just take a stroll by the pool and byond. We’ll meet for a ealy dinner to say goodbye.
Accommodations: Posia Retreat and Spa Hotel in Salento
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 9: Saturday, June 12th, 2027 - Transfer to Brindasi Airport
Meals: Breakfast