Gratis gids 10 verborgen natuurplekken in Europa
Gratis gids 10 verborgen natuurplekken in Europa. Meld je aan voor onze nieuwsbrief en ontvang inspirerende reistips en routes voor je volgende groene reis.
Puglia
Puglia is the heel of the boot, and at its narrowest point, the distance between the Adriatic and the Ionian Seas is less than fifty kilometers. You can see both in a single day of cycling.
That’s what makes Puglia so special for active travelers. The landscape is flat enough to cover a lot of ground, yet varied enough to never get boring: centuries-old olive groves, limestone coastal trails, white villages perched on rocky outcrops, and the rugged Gargano Peninsula in the north. The Cammino Materano, the coastal trail from Lecce to Leuca, the train ride through the Valle d’Itria: Puglia has routes that will stay with you for a long time.
Nature Travel Lab maps out Puglia with hiking and biking trails and small-scale accommodations that can be booked directly with the owner.
All about nature in Italy
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The most beautiful regions for nature lovers
South Tyrol
Tuscany
Abruzzo
Piedmont
Valle d'Aosta
Sardinia
Sicily
Umbria
Molise
Le Marche
Veneto
Friuli-Venezia-Giulia
Liguria
Trentino
Puglia
Lake Como
Lake Garda
Lazio
Emilia-Romagna
Campania
Basilicata
Small-scale nature stays Italy
Choose your favorite region and discover our tips for the best small-scale Nature stays with a sustainable focus. You book directly with the owner, so you are guaranteed the lowest price.
Special accommodation in Italian nature
Find unique small-scale Nature stays in Italy. From glamping to luxury boutique hotel and from B&B to vacation home or agriturismo. They are all special and different, but they all have an eye for sustainability.
Our sustainability criteria for overnight stays
Using these sustainability icons, you can easily see in what area an overnight stay is active with its sustainability policy.
Zero footprint
Architecture
sustainable/local construction
Food
organic/local cuisine
Social
family/local runned/social projects
Wellbeing
Sauna/yoga/wellness/treatments
Surroundings
Environment/recycling
Choose your region
Sicily
Tuscany
Valle d’Aosta
Piedmont
Basilicata
Puglia
Campania
Veneto
Lombardy
Lombardy
Lake Garda
South Tyrol
Sardinia
Emilia-Romagna
Umbria
Le Marche
Trentino
Abruzzo
Liguria
Friuli-Venezia-Giulia
Lazio
Nature in Puglia
If you’re looking for sun, sea, and varied landscapes, Puglia is the perfect destination. This region in southern Italy is known for its charming villages and beautiful beaches, but it’s Puglia’s natural beauty that makes a trip here so special. You’ll find rugged cliffs along the Adriatic coast, long sandy beaches on the Ionian Sea, peaceful nature reserves, and an inland region filled with centuries-old olive trees, vineyards, and dry stone walls.
One of the most beautiful nature reserves is the Parco Nazionale del Gargano, in northern Puglia. Here, forests, limestone cliffs, bays, and scenic overlooks alternate. The Alta Murgia offers a completely different atmosphere—an open and rugged area where you can experience the quiet, almost untouched character of southern Italy. There are also beautiful protected areas along the coast, such as Torre Guaceto, where clear water, dunes, and Mediterranean plants come together.
What makes Puglia’s natural beauty so appealing is the blend of landscape and everyday life. Here, nature reserves blend seamlessly into farmland, olive groves, and small villages. As a result, a trip through Puglia feels not only beautiful, but also authentic and local. You don’t discover this region by rushing, but rather by traveling slowly and taking the time to look around.
Whether you love quiet beaches, walking along the coast, or the peaceful countryside, Puglia is a surprisingly versatile nature destination in Italy. It’s a region where you can feel the open spaces, savor the seasons, and experience the landscape at a leisurely pace.
Hiking and Biking in Puglia
Hiking and biking in Puglia are ideal if you want to actively explore the landscape without it necessarily being a strenuous outdoor destination. It’s precisely the mix of coastline, nature reserves, and quiet country roads that makes Puglia an attractive destination for an active vacation in Italy. Here, you can walk along cliffs and bays, bike through olive groves, and stop in small villages along the way for an espresso or lunch.
Puglia offers plenty of variety for hikers. Along the Adriatic coast, you’ll find trails with ocean views, rock formations, and hidden beaches. In nature reserves such as Torre Guaceto and the Gargano National Park, you can enjoy beautiful hikes through dunes, forests, and Mediterranean vegetation. The inland areas are also worth exploring, such as the Valle d’Itria, where you can hike among trulli, low stone walls, and ancient olive groves.
Cycling in Puglia is also highly recommended. Large parts of the region are flat or gently rolling, making Puglia ideal for recreational cyclists. The areas around Ostuni, Monopoli, the Valle d’Itria, and parts of Salento are particularly well-suited for leisurely bike rides. Here, you’ll ride along quiet roads, through open countryside, and past small towns full of character.
If you want to travel sustainably, hiking and biking in Puglia are excellent options. You’ll experience the region at a slower pace, see more of daily life, and notice details that you’d easily miss from a car. That’s exactly why hiking and biking in Puglia are such a wonderful way to truly experience this southern Italian region.
Where to Stay in Puglia
A unique place to stay in Puglia is truly part of the travel experience. In this region, you often don’t just stay in a hotel, but in a place with character, nestled in the countryside. Think of a charming masseria among the olive trees, an authentic trullo in the Valle d’Itria, or a small-scale agriturismo in the countryside. It’s precisely these traditional accommodations that add a special touch to a trip through Puglia.
One of the best ways to experience Puglia is to stay at a masseria. These are often old farmhouses that have been converted into charming accommodations, featuring thick stone walls, a peaceful garden, and a breakfast featuring local products. They’re often located away from the busiest areas, allowing you to enjoy plenty of space and tranquility. This is ideal for nature lovers: you’re close to hiking trails, quiet roads, and the most beautiful stretches of coastline or countryside.
Spending the night in a trullo in Puglia is also a special experience. These iconic white cottages with conical roofs instantly give your stay that typical Southern Italian feel. You’ll find many lovely places to stay in and around the Valle d’Itria. If you prefer to travel small-scale and sustainably, an agriturismo or eco-B&B is often a good choice. These places usually focus on local hospitality, regional products, and a stay that blends in with the surroundings.
If you want to travel at a leisurely pace, it’s best to choose accommodations outside the most popular cities. Consider the areas around Ostuni, Gargano, Salento, or the Valle d’Itria. That way, you can explore Puglia at a more leisurely pace. And that’s exactly what makes this region so enjoyable: you don’t have to rush to see everything here, because the charm of staying in Puglia lies precisely in slow travel.
“Nature is our greatest ally and inspiration.”
– Sir David Attenborough
Special spots in nature
We select the nicest accommodations with all a focus on sustainability policies. Think luxury Treehouses in the middle of nature or a boutique hotel in the countryside. Sustainability categories range from organic cuisine and mindfull focus to waste separation and zero-waist policy.
Luxury overnight stay in nature
The accommodations all have something unique and of course a location in or near nature. Spending the night in nature does not always mean sleeping in a tent. Find special and luxurious nature stays for your active vacation or just for your slow travel experience.
Comfortable overnight stay in nature
The overnight focus on sustainability policy gives attention to comfort and quality.
They often use their own vegetable garden or local cuisine. Much attention is paid to the quality of the accommodation, the environment and the guest.