Bread of life? Or Life of Bread - The Life of Pão We first came across Soul Travelling on Facebook after booking our stay in Benaulim. Several of their experiences looked interesting, but this one in particular appealed to us as a “must do”, as we have an interest in baking. From the outset, the communication was brilliant. The day before the experience, we were provided with the full meeting address and our ambassador’s (guide’s) contact details and profile. We also received key information for the afternoon, such as bringing water and sunglasses. Timings were clearly set out, and we were reminded to arrange our own transport, as this was not provided and we would be travelling between locations. Our ambassador, Medora, sent us a WhatsApp message that morning to introduce herself, welcome us, and confirm the details. She also warned that the bakery gets very hot, so water bottles are essential. We met at Da Tita by Magic Italy, a fully authentic Italian bar and restaurant. Medora was pleasant and welcoming, and seemed genuinely excited to share the experience with us. We were lucky that our family of six were the only people booked on the tour, so we enjoyed a completely customised experience; however, I’m confident Medora would have delivered the same high standard regardless. We first went to Majorda railway station to hear about the history of bread in Goa—how it was introduced and how it developed over time. Medora also explained the difference between the bread we would see being made (Poi) and more “standard” breads. From there we crossed the road to one of the few traditional bakeries left in Goa to meet Mr Godinho, the owner, and learn from him. He shared his own story, the craft behind his bread-making, and the differences between the various breads. We watched the day’s batch being rolled; the dough had been made and proved earlier (it takes at least three hours to ferment). We saw and learned about the wood-fired oven the bread is baked in, including how it is set up each day. We discussed how it was built and how it is maintained. We were then invited to roll our own Poi and test our skills under Mr Godinho’s expert eye. Medora stayed with us throughout, making sure we missed nothing and that all our questions were answered. We watched the bread bake and then tasted the Poi fresh from the oven—wonderfully crisp, fresh, and delicious. After thanking Mr Godinho, we left the bakery with the breads we had shaped, packed in souvenir bags provided by Medora. We then returned to Da Tita, where Medora was waiting with some freshly baked Poi. We split them and filled them with a selection of vegetarian fillings provided by the restaurant, before baking them in the pizza oven to create Goan paninis—which we thoroughly enjoyed. Fresh, homemade lemonade was also available to keep us refreshed as we ate. Throughout the afternoon, Medora showed real knowledge of—and pride in—the Goan traditions she was introducing us to. Her knowledge and friendliness were without compare, and she played a huge part in making the experience so special. At no point did it feel like “just a job” to her; she seemed to genuinely enjoy guiding us through the day. No question was ever a problem, and her knowledge of the local history and area was impressive. As a family, we cannot praise her enough—she is a true ambassador for Soul Travelling. We would highly recommend this experience to anyone interested in learning more about Goa’s history and the Portuguese legacy in its food—especially its bread.

Best baking experience in Goa with soul travelling - We had an amazing hand on experience with Koonan on goan breads. It was worth the time spent and totally recommended

Baking trip with 80 year old bakery - Nice hands on experience with baking. Learnt some basic techniques of dough kneading and a visit to bakery. Nice explanation by the host Koonan.

Bakinggggg - After couple of trips to Goa, we find a new things to do. If you are fond of bake food, give it a try. Nice experiance.

Life of Pao - Really wonderful experience seeing the history of bread being made.

Good experience - Good experience it was my first time baking bread it was a good experience

Bread making - Lovely tour of the bakery with a wonderful breadmaking experience.Mrs Fathima was very sweet and Karan was a fantastic ambassador

Bread baking tour - It was a very interesting and nice tour. We have seen many things we would never have known otherwise! Highly recommended!

Soul Sand Surfing - It was really nice to learn and know about history of bread making in Goa. Soul travelling made our experience worth while

Baking Memories in Majorda - This was hands down one of the most unique experiences in Goa. Imagine baking traditional Goan bread with an 80-year-old baker in Majorda—no fancy machines, just pure skill, stories, and a lot of heart. Watching him work felt like watching history in action. Between kneading dough, listening to his tales, and waiting for the bread to come out perfectly baked, the time just flew. Soul Travelling turned a simple baking session into a beautiful, laugh-filled, soul-satisfying experience (and yes, the bread tasted even better because we made it ourselves). If you want to experience the real Goa, this one’s a must-do!