International Tours
We are providing two small group to Europe in 2026
Italy | France
Although you may have travelled extensively and visited many places in the past. Philip and I provide unique tours where your experiences and every detail is organised for you. We are personally involved in every stage of planning and the execution of the tour.
I’ve always found tour groups to be friendly, inclusive and cohesive. Meals including wine are included each day and reflect the region we are visiting. I have been in hospitality and travel for many years and I pride myself on going out of the way to ensure a good time is had by everyone.
Each region we visit is highlighted with the help of local guides who immerse us in the history, customs and cuisine of the surrounding countryside. It is very important to us that the tour experience is similar to the type of travel that Philip and I would do. We have researched each region and visited and stayed in many of the hotels and restaurants.
My life has been influenced and involved in a world of food, cooking and teaching for many years. Although it is still integral and a love, my focus has now included my dedication to gardening and the world of growing our own fruit and vegetables to be used for simple seasonal dishes for meals and entertaining friends and family and landscaping in our dry landscape using plants that suit our conditions.
Travel enables us to be involved in the story of food and gardens. I want my tour groups be introduced to new cultures and identify with the food, customs and celebrations . To be able to immerse yourself in their culture thorough markets, gardens and restaurants. My tours are not all about cooking classes (in fact very rare) - but a chance to interact with locals, become familiar with our surroundings and enjoy the lifestyle.
We endeavour to make each tour a life time experience and to provide happy fun memories that you can dip into at any time.
Italy 30th May - 17th June
In 2023 my tour to Italy was highlighted by a week in a Villa in Val D’Orcia- Tuscany. in 2024 - Lucca and 2025 Masseria Pistola in Puglia Spoilt with the luxury of the Villa, the relaxed informal time together and the food by Alessandro and the staff at the Masseria We now endeavour to include this experience in each tour. In 2024 Philip and I spent 4 days in Puglia with Alessandro who grew up here and spoilt us with a true locals experience. Although I have been to Puglia several times we felt our visit was well worth including in a tour. We secured the stunning Masseria Pistola with its amazing gardens and based our tour around a week in Puglia guided by the wonderful Michele. We loved it so much we are returning in 2026. Arriving in Rome we will travel 2 hours directly out to the countryside for one night before heading to Puglia for 7 days, followed by 2 nightes in Abruzzo, 4 nights in Umbria and ending with 4 nights in Bologna. Our base is gorgeous and we will have an unrivalled 7 days, in the accommodation and stunning facilities of the outstanding Masseria Pistola. I still can’t believe I managed to secure this beautiful setting that we will use as a base to get to know Puglia. Complete with a chef (not Alessandro sadly), guide Michele and with an internationally recognised garden to enjoy. Abruzzo is a region not visited by many tourists. It’s exceptionally beautiful and we have two nights in very different accommodation with a unique experience in the historical village of Santo Stefano Sessanio. The views of Umbria are gorgeous and visiting the hill villages each day is a thrill along with wine tasting, the beautoful accommodation and many gorgoeus meals in Montefalco. Heading further North we finish this tour in Amelia Romagna . Bologna is a famous foody town and visits to manufacturers of Parmigiana Regiano, Balsamico and Proscuitto will be a highlight.You can fly out of Bologna or continue your travels. Butwe have a chance to dine together on our last night and reminisce about our time together over the past 19 days .
France
21st June - 8th July
. We are offering a new tour to France for 2026 .
Starting in Burgundy we will spend a night in Leon to gather together before 5 nights in Beuane. I have been here many times and I am super excited to return and this time to stay at La Terre d'‘or which will wow you with a truely local experience of getting to know this famous wine region. The Grandeur of the Loire follows - we stay in the heart of the region in Ambouise where we will use as a base to visit my favoute Chateau’s - all with stunning gardens.
To complete this tour we are spending 7 days in Normandy - a truely beautiful region of France and what could be better than Chateau Quatre Siason. We have Alessandro returning to cook for us and the food, gardens and history here will fill our days easily. .
France has a long love affair with its lif style and is influenced by its food and wine from each region. Locals are passionate and buy at the local markets which show cases the abundance of produce available and specialities distinctive to the area.
A long history follows many delicacies like Apple cider,, charcuterie, cheeses, especillay Camembert in Normandy. The landscape is surrounded with hedgerows (bocage) Chateau’s, stunning forests, and more cute villages than we could ever visit.
