Puglia, Pompeii & Amalfi — Self-Launched 6-Day Independent Version
6 days · Puglia, Basilicata & Amalfi Coast, Italy
On The Go Tours charges £2,750
No-markup version: ~£665 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of On The Go Tours' 6-day Rome–Puglia–Amalfi loop, done entirely on public transport and self-booked stays. You'll cover the same ground — Montecassino Abbey, Trani, Alberobello's trulli, Lecce's Baroque old town, Otranto and Gallipoli, UNESCO Matera, hilltop Castelmezzano, Sorrento and Positano, a Vesuvius crater hike and Pompeii — but using Trenitalia/Frecciarossa trains, regional buses and the Campania ferry network, booking sites directly, and eating where locals eat. Costs below are rough backpacker/budget-traveller estimates per person in GBP (Italy is a Western Europe price point: budget guesthouses ~£30-45/night in a twin, food ~£20-30/day, transport ~£20-25/day). Expect to walk a lot, carry a daypack, and book Vesuvius/Pompeii and Matera sites online a few days ahead in high season.
Day-by-day
Rome → Montecassino, San Pietro Infine & Benevento
Rome / Benevento
Start at Rome Termini and take a Trenitalia regional/Frecciarossa to Cassino (~1.5hrs, ~£10-14). From Cassino station, local bus/shuttle or a 20-min taxi (~£8 shared) up to Montecassino Abbey — free entry, audioguide ~£5. Continue by regional train Cassino → Venafro/Caianello area and a local bus to San Pietro Infine, the abandoned WWII village ruins (free to wander; check weekday bus times — if awkward, a shared taxi from Venafro costs ~£15). Overnight in Benevento (cheap guesthouse/B&B near the station), and walk the evening: Arch of Trajan, the Roman theatre and Santa Sofia church (all free/cheap).
🚌Trenitalia Rome Termini → Cassino ~£12; local train/shuttle to Montecassino ~£5; regional trains and local bus to Benevento ~£10
🛏Budget B&B or guesthouse in central Benevento (~£35-45 twin, ~£20pp)
- →Montecassino Abbey (free entry, audioguide ~£5)
- →San Pietro Infine abandoned village ruins (free)
- →Evening walk: Arch of Trajan, Roman Theatre, Santa Sofia, Benevento
Benevento → Trani, Polignano a Mare & Alberobello → Lecce
Trani / Alberobello / Lecce
Early regional train Benevento → Foggia → Trani (~3hrs, ~£15). Two hours in Trani: the cathedral on the harbour and the Swabian castle exterior (free to view). Continue by regional train Trani → Polignano a Mare (~1hr, ~£5) for an independent lunch of panzerotti/focaccia by the Lama Monachile bridge — in summer you can watch the cliff divers. Then bus or regional train to Alberobello (~40min, ~£3-4) to walk the trulli district (free). Late afternoon/evening train Alberobello → Lecce (~1.5-2hrs, ~£6-8). Stay in a budget B&B in Lecce's old town.
🚌Regional trains Benevento → Trani ~£15; Trani → Polignano ~£5; Polignano → Alberobello bus/train ~£4; Alberobello → Lecce ~£8
🛏Budget B&B/guesthouse in Lecce old town (~£40-50 twin, ~£22-25pp)
- →Trani cathedral and harbour
- →Polignano a Mare: Lama Monachile, cliff divers, panzerotti lunch
- →Alberobello trulli houses walk (free)
Lecce, Otranto & Gallipoli by local bus/train
Lecce / Salento
Morning self-guided wander of Lecce: Piazza del Duomo, Basilica di Santa Croce, the Roman amphitheatre — the Baroque centre is compact and free to explore (an optional 2hr guided old-town walk via GetYourGuide runs ~£25). Mid-morning bus or train to Otranto (~45min, ~£3) for the cathedral's mosaic floor and the Aragonese castle exterior, plus a seafood lunch. Afternoon bus down the coast to Gallipoli (~1hr, ~£4) for the old-town island and harbour at golden hour. Return bus/train to Lecce (~1-1.5hrs, ~£4). Second night in Lecce.
🚌Local buses/trains Lecce → Otranto ~£3; Otranto → Gallipoli ~£4; Gallipoli → Lecce ~£4
🛏Budget B&B/guesthouse in Lecce old town (~£40-50 twin, ~£22-25pp)
- →Self-guided Lecce Baroque old town walk
- →Otranto cathedral mosaic and old town
- →Gallipoli island old town and harbour
- →Sample Salento cuisine (pasticciotto, seafood)
Lecce → Matera → Castelmezzano → Salerno
Matera / Castelmezzano / Salerno
This is the long travel day — book the early bus. Lecce → Matera via Bari (Flixbus/Itabus or regional train + bus, ~3-3.5hrs, ~£15-20). Spend 3 hours in Matera: the Sassi districts are free to walk; a combined Sassi cave-church/house ticket (Casa Grotta / rock churches) is ~£10-15, or a GetYourGuide Sassi walking tour ~£25. For Castelmezzano, take the local bus from Matera/Potenza (approx 1-1.5hrs, ~£4; limited services — check times and fall back to Potenza as a hub). Short hike up to the castle ruins viewpoint above the village (free, 1hr round trip) — a fitting stand-in for the tour's Castelmezzano hike. Evening bus/train Potenza → Salerno (~2hrs, ~£10-12). Overnight Salerno (cheaper and better connected than Sorrento).
🚌Lecce → Matera bus/train ~£18; Matera/Potenza → Castelmezzano local bus ~£4; Potenza → Salerno train/bus ~£11
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in central Salerno (~£40-55 twin, ~£22-28pp)
- →Matera Sassi self-guided walk + Casa Grotta/rock church ticket ~£12
- →Hike to Castelmezzano castle ruins viewpoint
- →Optional: Sassi guided tour via GetYourGuide ~£25
Amalfi Coast: Sorrento, Positano & ferry cruise
Sorrento / Positano / Salerno
Take the Campania regional train or SITA bus Salerno → Sorrento (~1.5hrs, ~£4-5) for a morning of limoncello tasting and wandering the old town. Then the SITA bus Sorrento → Positano (~50min, ~£2.50, or a Travelmar ferry in season ~£12) — swim off the Spiaggia Grande and browse the boutiques. The scenic hop is a ferry: Positano → Amalfi → Salerno on the Travelmar/Alicost lines (single ~£8-14; a day pass ~£25). Lunch: skip the tour's scenic restaurant and eat a ~£12-15 trattoria lunch or street food. Evening back in Salerno.
🚌Train/bus Salerno → Sorrento ~£5; SITA bus or ferry to Positano ~£3-12; Positano → Salerno ferry ~£10
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in central Salerno (~£40-55 twin, ~£22-28pp)
- →Sorrento old town and limoncello tasting
- →Positano beach swim and boutiques
- →Amalfi Coast ferry cruise (Positano–Amalfi–Salerno)
Vesuvius crater hike, Pompeii & return to Rome
Vesuvius / Pompeii / Rome
Early bus/train Salerno → Naples (~1hr, ~£5) then Circumvesuviana train to Ercolano Scavi (~20min, ~£2) and the Vesuvius shuttle bus up to the 1,000m trailhead (~£10 return + park entry ~£10; book the Vesuvius entry slot online in high season). Hike the ~30-min crater rim trail. Back down, Circumvesuviana to Pompeii Scavi (~20min, ~£2) for 3 hours in the archaeological park (entry ~£16; skip-the-line via GetYourGuide ~£22, or a small-group guided tour ~£35). Late afternoon: Circumvesuviana Pompeii → Naples (~35min, ~£2.50), then Frecciarossa/Italo Naples → Rome Termini (~1hr10, ~£20-30 if booked ahead).
🚌Salerno → Naples ~£5; Circumvesuviana Ercolano/Pompei ~£4; Vesuvius shuttle ~£10; Naples → Rome Frecciarossa ~£25
🛏Not included — own arrangements in Rome (Rome hostels from ~£25-35pp)
- →Mount Vesuvius crater rim hike (park entry ~£10)
- →Pompeii Archaeological Park (entry ~£16)
- →Optional guided Pompeii tour via GetYourGuide ~£35
Self-launched vs. On The Go Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | On The Go Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£665 | £2,750 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,085 per person (76%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more On The Go Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£665
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Puglia, Pompeii & Amalfi — Self-Launched 6-Day Independent Version cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £665 per person for 6 days in Puglia, Basilicata & Amalfi Coast, Italy. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with On The Go Tours?+
Yes — On The Go Tours charges around £2,750 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £665 — a saving of roughly £2,085 (76%) per person.
How long is the Puglia, Basilicata & Amalfi Coast, Italy trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Puglia, Basilicata & Amalfi Coast, Italy.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, adventure, hiking trip through Puglia, Basilicata & Amalfi Coast, Italy, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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