Basilicata, Italy

What's Included:

• 8 nights in a handpicked resort Adjacent to an Ancient Castle with private pool & famous restaurant
• 1 Pro Instructor
• 12+ hours Pickleball instruction, + tournaments
• Transportation to and from Airport Bari (BRI)
• Buffet special Handmade local breakfast every morning
• All lunches with typical fresh local products
• During dinners always included minimum 1 bottle of Special Wine every 2 people
• 4 Gourmet “theme dinners’’ in resort, 1 dinner in vineyard, 1 special dinner in Matera, 1 dinner on the Sea Waterfront
• Lucanian BBQ dinner during the International Farewell Pickleball Party
• Typical Lucanian brunches “Merenda Del Contadino”
• 1 lunch in a mountain hut
• Private deluxe motor coach for day trip excursions
• Day trips to Matera & Biggest National Park of Italy (Pollino)
• 3 Adventures: The Angel’s Flight, River tubing, Trekking
• Guided Tours in Archeological sites, lunar landscapes, unique villages, + More
• Professional guided tours in each city and places visited
• 2 cooking experiences (Breakfast & pasta)
• Vineyard experience & wine Tasting
• Wine, local cold cuts and cheese tasting
• Bilingual tour leader

 

What's Not Included:

• Airfare, tips, extras, personal spending, travel insurance

 

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Tours, trekking, beach, golf, horse riding etc.

• Live for 9 days a 1000 y/o village adjacent to a famous Castle
• Lose yourself into the 3000 y/o Ancient Greek Archeological Sites
• Feel the thrill of being in timeless lunar landscapes
• Understand why this region is loved by Hollywood Movie Makers
• Live a day inside a town that looks like a living nativity scene: Matera
• Admire the Paleolithic Landscape of Matera by Night
• Tasting Basilicata typical “Merenda  del Contadino”
• Have a dinner in vineyards
• To take at least one photo a day with a wonderful background and your paddle in the foreground
• How many minutes will you take to reach the other Mountain during The Angel’s Flight?
• Challenge yourself & the river current during the river tubing adventure
• To get your face floured while making fresh pasta
• Make new Pickleball and life friends
• Prepare your next day breakfast with the Resort Chef, from start to finish!
• Breathe in the salty air during a dinner on the Ionian Sea waterfront
• Win a Pickleball match against Italians
• Get lost in beauty and romance of Mediterranean
• Fall in love with the view from one of the Pollino, Biggest national Park in Italy
• Taste the Typical Lucanian BBQ & the unforgettable Hanged Provolone Cheese
• Be Italian for 9 days

Miguel Enciso is a true pickleball aficionado with over four decades of experience and a deep-rooted passion for the game. A Southern California native, Miguel was introduced to pickleball at a young age and has been hooked ever since.

Former USAPA Ambassador for Oak Park (CA) he is a pickleball coach and influencer (12K+ Followers). His expertise and passion have earned him a position as a coach at the Nike Pickleball Camp at Pepperdine University. This prestigious camp provides aspiring pickleball players with the opportunity to learn from top-tier instructors and refine their skills.

At the moment Miguel is the Pickleball Director at the Westlake Athletic Club in Westlake Village (CA) and Head Pro at the Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks (CA).

He also wrote the song THE PICKLEBALL LIFE! Miguel's message to pickleball enthusiasts and newcomers alike is simple and inspiring: "Come on out and see what the fun is all about and always, ALWAYS…PADDLE UP!"

WHERE WE ARE?

We will be close the village of Metaponto (ancient Magna Grecia), a place with 3000 years of History. It is located on the Ionian Sea in Southern Italy. Precisely, the region where our trip takes place is the Basilicata.The lunar landscapes of this land inspired many Hollywood Directors as a set to record their movies: Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ (2004), 007’s No Time to Die (2021), Ben-Hur (2016) …and many others…This is a perfect location for a pickleball vacation because of its Mediterranean weather, relaxed way of life,rich culture, history, delicious food & wine and friendly people. Our home base will be “Il Filaro Del Castello Di San Basilio” a completely restored Charming Resort born in the middle of a rural village (1000 years old). A unique place characterized by the Fortified Monastic Castle, theater of important historical events, that characterize the landscape. Is a wonderful place close to the seaside, far from the stress of the big cities. The pickleball courts are just few kilometers away from the resort. From this place we will start several trips and experiences during our holiday:We will visit the archeological sites of the Ancient Greece, The South of Italy White Canyon “Calanchi della Basilicata), Matera (UNESCO World Heritage Site from 1993), we will do a real human flight experience between 2 mountains (The Angel’s Flight), a river tubing adventure. You will try some of the best Italian Culinary Specialties and Taste the Special Southern Italian Wines. You will also learn how to make the Typical Handmade Pasta of Basilicata, you will prepare your next day breakfast together with the Chef… and much, much more! Pickleball courts are 15 minutes away, Pickleball is scheduled for 5 days of the tour (during the morning) and includes pickleball training, open play, competitions, and Farewell International Pickleball Party with Typical BBQ!

 

Brief Itinerary Basilicata Trips

• Day 1: Bari/Metaponto Arrive to resort, pool, relax and welcome dinner
• Day 2: Metaponto Morning pickleball, Archelogical sites, South of Italy White Canyon, ‘theme dinner’
• Day 3: Metaponto Morning pickleball, Pietrapertosa (The Angel’s Flight), Castelmezzano, ‘theme dinner’
• Day 4: Day-trip to Matera, dinner and Matera by night
• Day 5: Metaponto Morning pickleball, freetime, cooking classes, Metaponto beach, dinner on the waterfront
• Day 6: Day-trip to Pollino National Park for rivertubing and trekking, “theme dinner”
• Day 7: Metaponto Morning pickleball, visit to a Masseria for Pasta Making & Wine Experience and dinner
• Day 8: Metaponto Morning pickleball, International Farewell Pickleball Party & BBQ
• Day 9: Metaponto/Bari Airport, arrive same day to US or Canada

Detailed Program

Day 1

• You will arrive to the Airport of Bari (BRI) and we will take care of the transport from the airport to the Resort
• You will have time to settle in and enjoy all the services offered by the resort
• Welcome Dinner!

 

Day 2

• 8.30 am - 11:00 am pickleball training and play
• 11:00 am – 2:00 pm Aperitif, Brunch, and rest in the Hotel
• 2:00 pm – 7:00 pm visit at the surrounding Territory: Ancient Greek Archeological Site & “Calanchi della Basilicata” (the White South of Italy Canyon) a lunar landscape that ispired many poets, writers, movie makers
• 7:00 pm “Theme Dinner” & Relax in our resort

 

 Day 3

• 8:30 am – 11:00 am pickleball training and play
• 11:00 am – 1:30 pm Aperitif & Brunch
• 1:30 – 7:00 pm move to Pietrapertosa to visit this unique village and to do the real human flight Experience between two mountains called “Volo Dell’angelo – The Angel’s Flight”. After we will also visit the village of Castelmezzano. These two villages are among the most beautiful villages of entire South of Italy!
• 8:00 pm “Theme Dinner & Relax” in our resort (early wake-up on the next day)

 

Day 4

• 10:30 am We will spend the whole day to visit Matera (UNESCO World Heritage Site from 1993), one of the most ancient cities in the whole world. Its unique landscape and authentic cave houses inspired many Hollywood movie makers to shoot their movies here.
• Light lunch and guided tour. After you will have some free time to have the possibility to get lost in the magic of this city.Special Dinner & Matera by Night
• 11 pm we will come back to the Resort

 

Day 5

• 8:30 am – 11:00 am pickleball training and play
• 11:00 am – 1:30 pm Aperitif & Brunch
• 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Afternoon: Cooking Classes of Authentic Southern Italian Specialties: you will prepare your next day breakfast with the Resort Chef, from start to finish!
• 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm relax in the resort pool (or at the resort private beach)
• 7:30 pm evening walk & special dinner in Metaponto beach, on the wonderful Ionian Sea waterfront

Day 6

• 7:00 am – 12 pm we will move to Pollino Mountain (Biggest Italian National Park & Natural Reserve) for the unforgettable River Tubing Experience
• 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm we will move to a mountain hut for the typical farmer's lunch.
• 3:00 am – 6:00 pm trekking in one of most panoramic part of the park, where we could also admire specimens of 400 y/o trees and the famous “Pino Loricato” an autoctonal tree that grows only in this national park
• 8:00 pm “Theme Dinner” & Relax in our resort

Day 7

• 8:30 am – 11:00 am pickleball training and play
• 11:00 am – 1:30 pm Aperitif & Brunch
• 1:30 pm – 16:30 pm Relax in our Resort
• 16:30 pm – 10:30 pm Experiences in Masseria: we will visit an ancient typical Southern Italian Masseria, we will prepare and learn how to make the Handmade typical pasta and other specialties, we will have a trekking in the vineyards, we will try the special wines produced in this Masseria while we enjoy the sunset over the vineyard, we will eat all the specialties that we prepared during the afternoon!
• 11:00 pm back in our Resort for the night

 

Day 8

• 8:30 am – 11:00 am pickleball training and play
• 11:00 am – 1:30 pm Aperitif & Brunch
• 1:30 pm – 5 pm rest in the Hotel and prepare luggage for the travel
• 5:30 pm – 11 pm Farewell Party: International Pickleball Party with Italian Participants, Famous Lucanian BBQ (Special grilled meat + “hanged provolone cheese” on the Fire)
• 11:00 pm back in our Resort for the night

Day 9

• Wake up and move to Bari Airport (BRI)
• Time to say Good-Bye…. And for sure, we will meet to the next Pickleball Italy Trip

 

Important information about the itinerary: Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and will make every effort to provide equally appealing alternatives when adjustments need to be made. We appreciate your understanding.

The Resort

The Resort is adjacent to an ancient Castle of VII Century AD. This is the perfect place for those who love to carve out moments of relaxation and well-being immersed in nature and with a stunning view. It is the ideal destination for those who want to purify themselves from daily stress by treating themselves to a unique and unforgettable experience. The hotel's amenities include a private pool, private beach, olive groves and orange groves perfect for walking & Meditation, access to the courtyard of the castle, one of the best restaurant of the whole region (where we will have many of our dinners).

 

The Meals

All meals are included and carefully selected to offer the best in authenticity and taste, starting with breakfast served in the resort. Both lunch and dinner (inside or outside the resort, depending on the daily visits), have nothing to do with the classic international meals of resorts. Each meal will have a theme, it will be a real culinary journey through Basilicata & Southern Italian cuisine, with the unforgettable wines and many tastings of typical local products.

 

110+ Days prior to arrival - deposit always refundable

71-110 Days prior to arrival- deposit non-refundable

0 – 70 Days prior to arrival – 100% of the Total Price non-refundable

PLEASE NOTE: if the number of participants doesn’t reach the minimum number of participants, the trip will not be held and the full amount paid will be refunded.

We strongly encourage all travelers to invest in travel insurance to both minimize your financial risks of traveling and provide you with peace of mind to fully enjoy your trip. Travel insurance can provide many helpful resources including refunds or assistance for any of the following situations that may arise before or during a trip:

• You need to cancel your participation on the tour
• You need to cancel or change a flight
• Lost baggage during the trip
• Stolen items during the trip
• Medical costs during the trip

If you would like to compare policies here are two well-known travel insurance providers to consider: Travelex Travel Insurance and Travel Guard. You can also use InsureMyTrip.com to compare multiple companies’ plans.

AIRPORT

The arrival and departure airport is Bari International Airport, which is 90 minutes from the resort. The day of arrival must match the first day indicated and the day of departure with the last day (day 9).

We will provide the ground transportation to and from the airport! Before the trip, we will send you an email with a form where you can enter your flight information — based on these details, we will set up ground transportation.

 

Additional Information

You will need:

• Your passport
• An EU outlet adapter (available on Amazon)
• Your Pickleball paddle (if not don’t worry you can write us)

 

Recommended:

• A portable charger for longer tour days
• Travel insurance — for this trip or any other trip you take! We do not have a specific recommendation for travel insurance; this is up to you.
• 50 - 200 Euros to have on hand. We recommend withdrawing Euros from an ATM once you arrive. Euros will be useful for street souvenirs, cash-only shops, tips, etc.

 

You will NOT need:

• a Visa
• a Covid test or vaccine
• Tips are not expected by drivers/servers/staff in Europe. If you would like to tip, though, 5%-10% on your bill or a few Euros is the typical tipping range.

 

WEATHER

The average temperature in Ionic Coast of Basilicata in June is about 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Days are generally sunny and mild, with maximum temperatures that can reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Minimums, on the other hand, hover around 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Rain is rare in June on the shoreline of Ionic Sea. The standard is to have about 1-5 days of light rain during the month of June.

Regarding the Trekking at the Pollino National Park you will need some warm clothes because we will reach 1600 meters above the sea-level.

June is the perfect pleasant month to visit Basilicata. The temperatures are warm and the days are long and sunny, making it ideal for outdoor activities such as hiking, picnics, and visiting historic villages.

• Double Room – $ 4,950 (per person when sharing a room) - initial deposit $2,800 ($1,400 per person)

• Single Room – $ 5,950 (solo traveler with private room) - initial deposit $1,500

Please note that only one deposit is necessary to reserve a double room for two guests.

These initial deposits will be deducted from your grand total (listed above).

NOTE: The unique design of the beds in the rooms does not allow for two single beds, but only one Italian King Size Bed for two people. The double room is therefore the perfect solution for two people who want to share one King Size Bed.

ROOMS INFO: The rooms are all lovely and decorated in traditional Italian style, but they come in different sizes. The rooms will be assigned in order of booking.

After placing your initial deposit, your full payment is due 70 days prior to arrival.