Murgia Park and Sassi at Sunset: Guided tour from Matera

Walk through canyons and caves while the Sassi glow at dusk

A guided tour of Murgia Materana Park and the Sassi di Matera, starting in the late afternoon and ending at sunset. You walk scenic trails through canyons, ancient caves and rock-cut churches, see the Sassi from high vantage points, and learn about the communities and traditions that shaped this UNESCO World Heritage landscape. The tour lasts roughly two and a half hours and includes an expert guide and air-conditioned transport to and from Matera.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Murgia Park and Sassi at Sunset

• Join guided tour in Murgia Park
• Walk scenic trails through canyons
• Visit ancient caves and rock churches
• Learn about local flora and fauna
• Hear stories of historic communities
• Admire Sassi di Matera viewpoints
• Enjoy sunset views and photography

The experience

How do you see the Sassi without spending a full day hiking on your own? This tour picks you up in Matera and drives into Murgia Materana Park, where the guide leads you along marked trails that wind through the canyons and past the ancient caves and rock churches carved directly into the stone. The timing matters: you arrive as the light begins to shift, so the Sassi (the ancient stone neighborhoods carved into the cliff face across the valley) catch the golden hour from multiple viewpoints along the walk. The guide points out the local plants, the birds of prey that hunt here, and the traces of prehistoric settlements scattered across the landscape, then tells you the stories of the communities that lived in these caves for centuries.

The walk itself is steady but not strenuous. The trails are scenic rather than technical, and the guide sets a pace that lets you stop for photographs and questions. You see the Sassi from angles most day-trippers miss, and you learn why this landscape matters: the way people adapted to the rock, the traditions that still echo in the villages, the balance between the wild park and the ancient settlements. By the time you reach the final viewpoint, the sun is low enough that the stone glows, and the Sassi shift from pale gold to deep amber. The drive back to Matera takes about thirty minutes.

What’s included

• Expert guide in English or Italian.
• air-conditioned vehicle pickup and drop-off from Matera.
• access to the scenic trails, caves and rock churches of Murgia Materana Park.
• views of the Sassi di Matera from high vantage points.

Options for this experience

2 options

Sunset tour of the Murgia Park and SassiGuide in Italian · 15:00 and 16:00

Murgia Park English15:00 and 16:00Guided walking tour in the Murgia Materana Park in English, taking in rock churches, panoramic views and ancient trails.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 15:00 and 16:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (4 to 17 years) · Child (under 4): free

GroupUp to 17

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Passi nei Sassi

Is this one for you?Choose the English option if your guide language matters for understanding the history and stories. Choose the Italian option if you speak the language and want a more local perspective. Either way, the sunset timing is what makes the Sassi glow from the viewpoints. Book the afternoon departure if you want the light, not the midday one.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (4 to 17 years); Child (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly are the Sassi di Matera?

The Sassi di Matera are ancient neighborhoods carved directly into the limestone cliffs above the city, with homes, churches and storage caves hollowed from the rock itself. They date back thousands of years and were inhabited continuously until the 1950s. Today they are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Italy's most distinctive archaeological landscapes.

How difficult is the walk through Murgia Park?

The trails are scenic and suitable for all fitness levels, according to the operator. You walk at a steady pace along marked paths through canyons and past caves, with stops for views and photography, but there are no scrambles or technical sections.

Will I have time to photograph the sunset?

Yes. The tour is timed so you reach the high viewpoints as the light begins to change, and the guide builds in time at the scenic spots where the Sassi catch the golden hour. The final viewpoint is positioned for sunset views before the drive back to Matera.

How do I get to the meeting point?

The tour includes pickup and drop-off by air-conditioned vehicle from Matera, so you do not need to arrange separate transport to the park.