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Traveller Reviews – “Discover Puglia Experience”

“Discover Puglia” – Secrets of Southern Italy Luxury Experience – Link to Itinerary

WHAT CLIENTS ARE SAYING
Memories that will last a lifetime! What can I say, the tour of Puglia with Nico in May 2025 has been amazing. From before the tour starts to beyond Nico delivers!
The pretour meet up was casual and informative offering a chance to be introduced to the group.
Once in Lecce you are seduced by Puglia. All the way the senses are in overdrive. Cooking, tasting and experience moments of history. Nico is an engaging and experienced host and guide. His knowledge and attention to detail allows you to be immersed into this wonderful part of Italy. It’s more than a taste….
The itinerary is as described with frequent surprises. Planned with optimal food and cultural activities and allowing for time to relax or explore
Nico has established relationships with the various providers you will meet. This ensures a special time while visiting the bakery, cooking with the chef or chatting to the staff at the wonderful  accommodation sites.
Prior to meeting up with the tour I suffered an in injury resulting in surgery. This was NOT Nico’s responsibility but he assisted me with medical translations and much, much more. I know without his support I would have gone home. I thank him sincerely for giving me the confidence to proceed with my surgery in a foreign clinic and continue with my holiday. He provided much more than expected with grace and professionalism. This is one example of how generous Nico is as a professional and a man. I will be forever grateful….Michelle
If you are undecided about booking the last few places on the Discover Puglia tour in May 2025, I would encourage you to do so. I was lucky enough to get a cancellation only a few months before the September 2024 departure and am so glad I did. If you have been on tour with Nico & Belinda before, you will know how well organised they are.
As Puglia is Nico’s original family home, he is an amazing source of knowledge. Nothing is too much trouble and he was a wonderful support and calming influence while I waited for my suitcase to catch up to me five days after arriving in Italy by myself. The accommodation was varied and all top notch – a delightful small hotel in Lecce old town, a wonderful Masseria in the countryside, and amazing cave hotel in Matera, and a small hotel very close to the historic area of Bari.
I’m trying to restrain myself about the food or else I’ll end up writing pages. All the food was delicious. You will discover foods you have not tried before or new combinations of ingredients. One of my favourites was smooth silky freshly made ball of ricotta serviced with tiny pieces of candied celery. The other member of the group were all friendly and happy and a pleasure to be with…Rosanne
The ‘Discover Puglia Experience” is truly magnificent. It is a fun filled experience of being personally immersed into the diverse richness of the Italian culture and cuisine. 
All of Nico and Belinda’s preliminary planning and personal attention to the details that go into making a tour like this was very evident.  Their passion for Puglia and her people is pure joy and one which certainly does produce a product worth enjoying!
Thank you so much Nico and Belinda…Paula x
I’ve just returned from a tour of Puglia with Nico and Belinda and would like to say that this small part of Italy is simply amazing!  The old villages are beautiful with so much history, small alleyways full of colour, unique dwellings and even little Nonnas making pasta.  
Nico and Belinda have sourced the best accommodation, wonderful cooking schools and restaurants, while allowing plenty of free time as well.  Plus Nico’s knowledge of each place is an added bonus!  Thanks again to you both for a great tour! Kind regards…Deb
Having just completed my fifth tour with Nico and Belinda, it is great to say that it did not disappoint in any way!  
Carefully curated (yet still flexible) activities, interesting, varied and sometimes fabulous accommodation experiences and, of course, exceptional  food were the hallmarks of a magnificent time in Puglia. 
More importantly, though, was the genuine care and support provided to each member of our delightful group.  We were in the best possible hands!  Thank you so much, as always, Nico & Belinda. J xx
Hi Nico, Here is our review of our magnificent trip to Puglia.  I’m still dreaming of all those dinners  To say a visit to Puglia is a gastronomical must, is an understatement. 
If you enjoy food, wine and history, together with fabulous and unique accommodation, then you should definitely join this 5 star tour. We were blown away by the amazing food, history and sheer beauty this region had to offer.
Nico and Belinda researched this tour to perfection to give us, and our group members, the most memorable trip of a lifetime. My husband claims he has now eaten the best meal in his life at a small country restaurant found somehow, by Nico. I claim that all of our food and wine in Puglia were the best we have sampled on any tour.  
We can now adamantly say, Italian food and wine is our absolute favourite!
Thank you to Nico and Belinda for the wonderful travel experience you organised for us. This tour and all its highlights, will remain in our memory for a long time to come…Denise & Lindsay
Nico and Belinda were delightful, caring hosts throughout our ten days on the “Discover Puglia Experiences” tour!
My husband and I loved getting to know the wonderful group of people on the tour who we were introduced to initially at very useful briefings before departure. We loved everything about the tour… from the luxury hotels; guided cultural walkabouts of different places; of course the fantastic food, including tasty street treats; and classes conducted by knowledgable locals.
We recommend this tour to anyone seeking to take a relaxing, but deep dive into the beautiful place that is Puglia – its food, culture, history and people!…Munira & Malcolm
Ciao Belinda and Nico,
It will be our pleasure to share with others what a wonderful experience it is to join one of your tours.
Peter and I throughly enjoyed every minute we spent with both of you and the fabulous people that made up our group. The combination of outstanding food, wine, cooking classes and amazing sites and places shared with like minded people was just so unique and special. 
Thank you both so much for the care and effort you put into our trip. It was such fun and I am sure lasting friendships have been made – certainly wonderful memories have been.
Hopefully you are both relaxing and enjoying this glorious weather in Perth before your next wonderful adventure. Gracie mille…Jacquelyn and Peter
DISCOVER PUGLIA – Dear Nico and Belinda…I want to say an enthusiastic “thank you” for the recent “Cuisine and Culture” tour in Puglia, southern Italy. This was my 5th trip with you over the past 13 years (lucky me!), and each has been a memorable and enriching window on the world through the lens of food, wine and authentic cultural experiences.
After the hordes of people in Rome and the Amalfi Coast, it was refreshing to visit the less touristy region of Puglia, and be immersed in its rich history, beautiful architecture and delectable “cucina povera”.
Your local knowledge and meticulous organisation ensured a smooth, hassle-free trip from pickup in Brindisi to departure in Bari.  Our small group of like-minded travellers provided delightful companionship.
Choosing a highlight is difficult. Was it the amazing wine tasting and lunch at Castello Monaci; the impromptu focaccia picnic at Altamura; the evening stroll around cosmopolitan Bari; or perhaps the tuk tuk tour of beautiful Polignano a Mare? For me, it was Gianna’s cooking class and dinner in the beautiful baroque city of Lecce. My attempts at making orecchiette and burrata were far from perfect, but the infectious effervescence, hospitality and passion of Gianna most definitely were! It’s these personal connections that make your tours unique and unforgettable! Warm regards…Anne
Ciao all, Jacquie has so eloquently summed up what we all felt about your Very Special “Cooking & Culture Tour”! 
Our amazing group of people who will be life long friends in my book. Happy to spread the word Nico & Belinda you two are truly a great pair of individuals, who certainly made our world magical. Thank each and everyone of you for being so inclusive with me, I had a ball. Jennifer xx 
Nico and Belinda, Chris and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the Puglia Tour. Your organization and planning made the trip seamless and your knowledge of all the places visited was super impressive!
The accommodation was fantastic and unique, and the experience made us feel very special. The transportation was so comfortable and show cased a great way to see the countryside. The walking tours in the towns you took us to showed us how the locals live, shop and most importantly eat and drink!  Thank you again,  it was a trip we will have fond memories of for a long time…Lori xxx
My Sister and I joined The “Discovery Puglia Experience” In October 2023. The group was small, to keep it intimate enough, enabling our amazing host and guide Nico Moretti to give it a personal touch. Nico’s character and amazing knowledge to all things foodie in Italy, made for the perfect recipe in creating an amazing experience. We explored the old city streets , nibbling on street delicacies along the way! He took us to places off the tourist trodden track to dine and drink delicious meals. The tour offered plenty of options too, so when we needed a little down time we could relax. Highly recommended!…Penny 
Dear Nico and Belinda, I want to say an enthusiastic “thank you” for the recent “Cuisine and Culture” tour in Puglia, Southern Italy.
This was my 5th trip with you over the past 13 years (lucky me!), and each has been a memorable and enriching window on the world through the lens of food, wine and authentic cultural experiences.
After the hordes of people in Rome and the Amalfi Coast, it was refreshing to visit the less touristy region of Puglia, and be immersed in its rich history, beautiful architecture and delectable “cucina povera”.
Your local knowledge and meticulous organisation ensured a smooth, hassle-free trip from pickup in Brindisi to departure in Bari.  Our small group of like-minded travellers provided delightful companionship.
Choosing a highlight is difficult. Was it the amazing wine tasting and lunch at Castello Monaci; the impromptu focaccia picnic at Altamura; the evening stroll around cosmopolitan Bari; or perhaps the tuk tuk tour of beautiful Polignano a Mare? For me, it was Gianna’s cooking class and dinner in the beautiful baroque city of Lecce. My attempts at making orecchiette and burrata were far from perfect, but the infectious effervescence, hospitality and passion of Gianna most definitely were! It’s these personal connections that make your tours unique and unforgettable! Warm regards…Anne
This was our first experience of touring with Nico and Belinda ,and our introduction to this fascinating part of Italy! The experience was well beyond our expectations- with varied and carefully chosen destinations ,excellent accommodation, inspiring guides , and some serious (and hilarious ) cooking classes – and all with a small group of great travel companions, who soon became friends who really enjoyed each other’s company .
We are usually independent travellers, and had never been on an “organised” trip before but will not hesitate to entrust another holiday experience to Nico and Belinda -who are the perfect hosts!…Anne & Michael
2023 “Discover Puglia Experience”
Dear Nico and Belinda, Thank you both for such an amazing tour of the Puglia region. We feel that you highlighted the “best of” and the “must see” attractions perfectly and at just the right pace. The cooking class with the divine Gianna was a personal highlight and your selection of restaurants was outstanding. Cannot wait to join you on another foodie tour, please keep us updated…Stephen and Nick 
“Discover Puglia tour”
This was our second tour with Nico and Belinda, and met all our expectations. Our last tour in 2013 was in Vietnam – a fantastic experience. Puglia is not usually part of the Grand Tour of Italy, and we jumped at the chance of seeing this region in the company of Nico, who has family there. Fascinating country, cuisine and sights with a small friendly like minded group and with Nico to save us attempting phrase book Italian! Remarkable restaurants and food (and wine!), but also plenty of time to do your own thing too. Highly recommended…Steve & Marina  
“Discover Puglia – Southern Italy Tour”
It’s hard to wipe the smile off your face when you think about this tour. To escape the tourist track that you may find yourself on with larger companies, Nico takes you to his forefathers part of Italy and away from the crowds. The accommodation at Masseria Cervarolo was sublime and then off to Ostuni Brindisi for another visual feast. Include these two wonderful places to stay with sojourns to an ancient olive oil estate, an amazing winery, castles, caves….. oh and the cooking classes. There are a couple of inclusive meals that you will definitely enjoy should you decide to take this tour. This was my 4th tour with Nico and Belinda and my wife’s 5th. All are exceptional private affairs where you are among like minded people. There is no expectation to perform with Nico’s tours, if you wish to kick back and have time to yourself, then you do so. Otherwise it’s fun and adventure all the way…Ric & Jill