Types of Accommodations

Along the Materano Trail there are various types of accommodations available; on the official website you’ll find their “bureaucratic” classification (hostel, B&B, guesthouse, farm stay, holiday rental) but since in reality the differences are more practical and less formal, it’s easier to divide them into these categories:

hostels: this is the preferred option for those seeking the special atmosphere of sharing typical of pilgrimage trails, and indeed the clientele is almost exclusively hikers. You have to account for giving up some privacy, but from my experience the comfort level has been quite high; excluding those in the larger cities (Bari and Matera), the others rarely have large dormitories full of beds but rather, some can surprisingly be very comfortable with four-bed rooms (or even just two) and private bathroom: in essence, B&Bs with the difference that the room is shared with other fellow hikers.
pilgrim lodges: functionally they are like spartan hostels, but on a donation basis (i.e., without a fixed price) and managed by non-profit associations. There’s one on the Peuceta Trail (Masseria Galietti, I talk about it here) and one on the Ellenica Trail.
B&Bs: the classic bed and breakfasts found everywhere, with private room and bathroom; since rooms are usually doubles, if you’re traveling alone it can be a slightly more expensive option because they aren’t shareable. Breakfast varies greatly depending on the place: it ranges from abundant sweet and savory buffets with homemade cakes and fresh fruit, to the sad packaged croissant with fruit juice.
farmhouses and farm stays: they can offer beds either in private rooms or dorms, and it’s a great opportunity to pair the overnight stay with a gastronomic and natural experience, being run by family businesses that combine hospitality with farming, dining, and/or food production activities. On the Picciano Sanctuary stage it’s almost a must.
hotels: among the affiliated accommodations there’s only one real hotel, and in general, except in the larger cities, there aren’t any proper ones on the trail, perhaps with the exception of the scattered hotel where I stayed in Montescaglioso; personally, I keep this as a last resort if nowhere else has availability, both for budget reasons and because it distances you a bit too much from the philosophy of the trail.

How Much Does It Cost to Stay on the Materano Trail

Excluding donation-based accommodations without a fixed price, like pilgrim lodges or Ester in Bitetto, the average cost to stay on the Peuceta Trail and Lucana Trail is between €20 and €25 if hostels suit you. On the Ellenica Trail prices are a bit higher because there are fewer hostels, reaching €40 in Massafra where availability is limited.

If you want to save money on stages without hostels (like Massafra), you can try via the Materano Trail’s social media to find other hikers to share a multi-bed room with. If successful, you can cut costs in half, considering that a single might cost €40 while a quadruple could be €80.

Do You Need a Sleeping Bag?

The short answer is: no. The long answer is here, where I explain why I made a mistake bringing a sleeping bag in my backpack.

Booking Overnight Stays

Have you decided how many days to dedicate to the trail? Have you chosen the route? Have you taken time off and set your departure date? Great, at this point there’s only one thing left to do: book your overnight stays in advance. The starting point is the official Materano Trail website, where for each stage there’s an updated list of all affiliated accommodations and their contacts (email, phone, social, website).

I prioritized hostels and farmhouses seeking human connections, conviviality, sharing, and more affordable prices. All the places I contacted responded very quickly and none require a deposit to hold the booking, showing trust in the wayfarer seeking hospitality—which we in turn must reciprocate: it’s important to cancel as soon as possible if plans change for any reason.

It’s not mandatory to choose affiliated accommodations, and no one will stop you from booking through other channels; however, avoid booking engines, for the obvious reason that intermediaries take percentages (often hefty) from hosts and thus from the local area.

That said, you should account for the possibility that beds might be fully booked in official network places, for example if a large group has already reserved on your dates.

If you face a “fully booked” situation for most stages (and if you can be flexible with dates), first try shifting your start by even just one day: you might find a completely different availability. Remember that the Peuceta Trail requires exactly seven days to complete, so weekends (Saturday and Sunday) are likely the preferred start days to finish in time for work on Monday. If you’re following this strategy and starting on a weekend, it’s even more advisable to book as far in advance as possible.

As a last resort, if you’re really struggling to find lodging, turn to traditional booking sites for suitable options. All three trails have plenty of accommodations (some high-end) to fall back on; but don’t expect low prices, especially in peak season.

For the laziest, note that a “booking assistance” service is available via the official site for a small contribution to the Association.