ROB & KIM'S ultimate italIa
LECCE, MATERA & PUGLIA I October 3 – 9, 2027
Join us October 3 – 9, 2027 as we explore Italy’s oldest city, Matera and soak in the authentic beauty, flavors, and coastal magic of Puglia.
Rob and Kim Murgatroyd are American expats that have been living in Florence Italy since 2021. They combined their love of Italian culture and life with decades of experience creating magical, bucket-list experiences around the world.
The result -> Rob & Kim’s Ultimate Italia Experience
Discover Lecce, Matera & puglia
the package includes:
We have hand crafted and toiled over every experience, vetted every restaurant, created every menu – from our personal favorites.
This is NOT a cookie-cutter, pack-in-as-much-as-possible tour.
This is your Ultimate La Dolce Vita Puglia dream, unfolding…
Included:
- BONUS!!! 1 pre-event night in Lecce hotel (October 3rd)
- 3 nights in a typical Pugliese farmhouse called a Masseria
- 2 nights in a Luxury cave hotel in Matera, Italy’s oldest city!
- Delicious breakfast daily at the hotel daily
- 3 group lunches, including wine, beer or non-alcoholic drinks
- 3 group dinners, including wine, beer or non-alcoholic drinks
- Exclusive, curated bucket list experiences by Rob & Kim
- All fees for excursions including transportation
- Free time built into your schedule to rest, explore, shop & enjoy on your own
- Group airport transfer from Brindisi Airport to Lecce on the 3rd at 3:30pm (you should plan to arrive at the airport by 2:30pm).
- Group airport transfer from Matera to Bari Airport on the 9th at 9am, arriving at Bari airport by 10am.
- Pre-trip packing tips and group Zoom session and What’s App Group
*Airport transfers: If your flight schedule requires transportation outside of these designated group transfer times, you will be responsible for covering the cost of your own transportation.
*Airfare not included
Sneak Peak Highlights
- Explore the history and art of Lecce, often called the Florence of the South”
- Stay in Italy’s oldest city, Matera and explore the unique cave homes (and travel in James Bond’s footsteps)
- Wine tasting in one of Puglia’s top family vineyards
- Olive oil tasting in one of Puglia’s oldest olive farms
- Visit the “White City” of Ostuni for a stunning sunset aperitivo and dinner.
- Visit to Altamura’s famous bakery from 1300’s. It’s the oldest and most famous bread making village in Italy.
- Exclusive cooking class featuring the local Pugliese specialties
- Cruise Puglia in a classic Fiat 500 through the villages and countryside making stops to explore the quaint villages.
- Built in free time to explore the more villages such as Alberobello, Monopoli, Polignano a Mare, Locorotondo or just relax/recharge in luxury.
And more… 😉
what others are saying…
I’ve had the pleasure of joining Rob & Kim’s Ultimate Italia trips twice. After falling in love with the first trip, I couldn’t resist signing up for the second one immediately upon returning home. Each journey surpassed the last in sheer amazement.
Rob & Kim’s trips are immersive, heart-expanding adventures that satisfy wanderlust while introducing you to the authentic Italy through artisan encounters and incredible cuisine. It’s more than a travel experience; it’s a life-changing journey.
GAIL MITCH
2023 Attendee
“It was truly a dream come true! I loved the conversations, the scenery and events we did. I have so many memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life! The details and every moment were just perfect.”
GABRIELLE & GERRY TSCHOPP
2x Attendees 2023/2026
“I’m so we trusted you to do it all. The surprises, the experiences and the people! Every second was magical. We are so glad we chose this trip to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary!”
Heidi Ruiz
2023 Attendee
“Life changing! That’s how I would describe this trip. It came at the exact right time, and with the right people! I’m beyond thankful for this experience, the exclusivity, and the attention to detail. My heart is full.”
Francine & Ed Botti
2024 Attendee
“Rob & Kim thoughtfully curated unique experiences for the Ultimate Italia itinerary. We had a wonderful trip–we would book again!”
On the last night of our trips, we ask our guests to write us a message…
Barbara & Chris
2026 Attendees
“All of it has been top notch and some of it unable to be re-created on our own. We aren’t ‘group travel people’ but you may have changed that just a little bit”
Dave & Kim
2026 Attendees
“Can’t tell you how much we enjoyed this experience with you. It was better than we could have imagined.”
Annette & Joe
2x Attendees 2025/2026
“This journey through Italy that we have shared with you is a memory we will cherish forever. It has allowed me to travel back in time and envision the lives of my Italian ancestors.”
ruth
2026 Attendee
“Words can not fully express how impressed I am with the extent you all go to to surprise us! You all embody the word ‘Wonderlust’. Thank you!”
LIANNE MCAUGHLEY
2x Attendee 2023/2024
“The Ultimate Italia Experience is a exactly that…an experience you won’t find from a tour group. A week of soulful conversation, amazing food in intimate locations and cultivating lifelong friendships. And, I’ve already booked a second trip!”
Jim & Diane Gavula
2024 Attendees
“Such and incredible experience around every corner and almost every other minute. I am so that that we just said YES to joining this group. Thank you for giving us experiences we could have never had on our own “
carol mackoul
2024 Attendee
“What an amazing experience! I took a leap into the unknown with an “online” personality and I am so very happy that I did. Loved each and every day, event and surprise!”
Mariam & Sydney
2024 Attendees
“We didn’t know what expect going in. It turned out to be an incredible experience. Every event was carefully planned. It felt like a fun family vacation. We also met some wonderful people in our group that we still keep in touch with.”
PACKAGES
SOLD OUT!
INDIVIDUAL
REGULAR PRICE €11,992
EARLY BIRD PRICE €8,992
PAYMENT PLAN:
- 8 payments €1,124
- 1st payment at registration
- Recurring payments set automatically every 30 days
- Payments must be completed by SEPT 15, 2027.
By registering, you are confirming that you have read the cancellation/credit policy in the FAQ, terms & conditions.
COUPLES
REGULAR PRICE €16,992
EARLY BIRD PRICE €13,992
PAYMENT PLAN:
- 8 payments of €1,749
- 1st payment at registration
- Recurring payments set automatically every 30 days
- Payments must be completed by SEPT 15, 2027.
By registering, you are confirming that you have read the cancellation/credit policy in the FAQ, terms & conditions.
F.A.Q.
Travel Insurance & Refund Policy
REFUND WINDOW
• 120+ days prior to departure: You may cancel within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.
• 119–91 days prior to departure: You may cancel within 15 days of purchase for a full refund.
Refund requests must be submitted in writing to rk@robertmurgatroyd.com.
If you register 90 days or fewer prior to departure, no refund window applies
NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT
Once the applicable refund window has expired, a portion of your payment is considered a non-refundable deposit, reflecting planning costs, administrative time, and group vendor commitments.
The non-refundable deposit amount is equal to the deposit.
• 90+ days prior to departure: Loss of deposit; remainder issued as credit
• 60–89 days prior: 50% of total trip price retained, remainder issued as a credit
• 30–59 days prior: 75% of total trip price retained, remainder issued as a credit
• Less than 30 days prior: 100% of total trip price retained
Cancellation fees reflect anticipated losses, vendor commitments, and the decreasing likelihood of reselling the reserved space.
Amounts retained beyond the non-refundable deposit will be issued as a future trip credit valid for 24 months from the original departure date.
Credits are non-transferable unless otherwise agreed in writing.
PAYMENTS & REFUNDS
All payments are processed in euros.
Any refund will be issued in euros. Your financial institution determines the applicable exchange rate.
NO-SHOW POLICY
We are not responsible for missed or delayed flights or travel disruptions outside our control. No refunds or credits will be provided for late arrival, early departure, or no-shows.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance to protect your investment and provide peace of mind before and during your trip.
A good policy may cover trip cancellation or interruption, medical emergencies, emergency medical evacuation, lost or delayed baggage, and certain travel delays, depending on the policy you choose.
Before purchasing a separate policy, check whether your credit card includes travel insurance benefits.
Many premium travel credit cards offer coverage when you use the card to pay for your trip, though benefits, coverage limits, and eligibility requirements vary by card.
If you decide to purchase a policy, some well-known providers include:
- Allianz Travel Insurance
- Travel Guard by AIG
- Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection
- Seven Corners
- IMG Global
- GeoBlue (for travelers who want robust medical coverage abroad)
Be sure to read the policy carefully to understand exactly what is and isn’t covered, and choose the option that best fits your travel needs.
Flight and Airport Tips
Note: Arrival and depature airports are different. We suggest looking at flights from North America using ‘ITA Airways’, as they fly from most major US Cities with connecting flights into both airports.
Arrival Airport:
Brindisi Airport (airport code: BDS)
– 45 minutes from Lecce where our journey will begin.
Group transfer will be arranged at 3:30pm on arrival day October 3rd from the airport to the host hotel in Lecce.
Departure Airport:
Bari Airport (airport code: BRI)
– 50 miutes from Matera where our journey will end.
Group transfer will be arranged at 9am on check-out day October 9th from the host hotel to Bari Airport.
*Group airport transportation is included in the package on the arrival and departure day only and to/from the recommended airports only.
Our team is available to arrange any additional transfers that do not coincide with the above.
Flights are not included in the package.
Passport & Entry Requirements
There is no visa required for U.S. or Canadian citizens.
In order to enter Italy, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact your destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
ETIAS UPDATE
ETIAS travel authorization is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals traveling to any of these 30 European countries. It is linked to a traveller’s passport. It is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. If you get a new passport, you need to get a new ETIAS travel authorization.
It is currently not open for application, we will keep you updated.
Physical Activity
Full disclosure – this will be an active trip!
Matera is built of uneven stone and stairs. We will be doing walking tours and often reaching restaurants/activities on foot.
Additionally, many of the Puglia villages are also quite hilly. Please consider this prior to signing up for our experiences.
If you have physical limitations or injuries that will prevent you from fully participating, please let us know in advance and we will accomodate as best as possible.
Food & Drink Allergies, Preferences
Don’t drink alcohol? Need a gluten, vegan or vegetarian free menu? Or have other allergies or dietrary restrictions?
No problem!
We will send you a survey following your registration that will allow you to give us all the details so we can plan ahead!
Gluten Free: If you typically eat gluten free, please confirm if this is a preference or an allergy.
Who operates and organizes the travel experiences?
We are not a travel agency or tour operator. Our experiences are curated and hosted by our team, while all travel services, including accommodations, transportation, guides, and excursions, are arranged and operated by our licensed travel partner, Amaluci. Amaluci is fully authorized and responsible for the organization and delivery of all travel components in accordance with Italian regulations.
