Top Culinary Trips to Take in 2023
Senior Travel Writer
Book your way to a global buffet with these delicious culinary Culture Trip adventures.
It’s never a bad idea to let your stomach or nose lead the way through the world. From delicious street eats that you cannot pronounce to white-tablecloth restaurants that showcase talent for your taste buds, you can eat your way into the heart of a place’s history and culture. Hungry for the flavours of the world? Then grab a bib and join other insatiable travellers on these trips featuring the best culinary adventures to take in 2023.
South Korea, for seafood, rice wine and street eats
How far would you go for great Korean food? If you don’t mind 10 days in this East Asian country, then you’ll have your fill of bibimbap and makgeolli. Start in the markets of Seoul, then work up an appetite for late-night street eats after karaoke. You’ll shed some calories on a cycling trip through Gyeongju, then chew them back when dining in a traditional hanok home. Taste the results of your own cooking class with a toast of rice wine, then visit South Korea’s largest seafood market to pick out whatever sea dweller you want on your plate.
From US$2414
Next available from 8th Oct 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Seoul, South Korea
ENDS AT
Seoul, South Korea
DURATION
10
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Georgia, for bread and wine made the ancient way
If you’re feeling a bit peckish, perhaps a little wine and bread in Georgia will hold you over? The people in these parts know a thing or two about bread-baking and wine-making; their ancient practices are among the oldest in the world. You won’t need to pack any snacks, either. You’ll dive into traditional Georgian lunches in Tbilisi, a wonderful dinner in Stepantsminda and a masterclass culinary lesson using fresh ingredients from the country’s largest farmer’s market.
From US$1189
Next available from 18th May 2024
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Tbilisi, Georgia
ENDS AT
Tbilisi, Georgia
DURATION
9
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Jordan, for desert dinners and wondrous walks
Work up an appetite during this journey through Jordan. Hiking through the desert, venturing across sandstone mountains and swimming in the Red Sea will get your sense of adventure – and tummy – rumbling. It’s no mirage: this trip may be action-packed, but it also includes street food in Amman, wine at the country’s oldest winery, a cooking workshop with a local family in Umm Sayhoun and a desert dinner under the stars in Wadi Rum.
From US$2379
Next available from 6th Jan 2024
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Amman, Jordan
ENDS AT
Amman, Jordan
DURATION
8
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Vietnam, for a royal tea ceremony and royal palaces
A cultural and culinary magnet for veteran globetrotters and foodies, Vietnam is a natural inclusion on our list of culinary trips to take this year. In Hanoi, you’re met with picturesque pagodas and an abundance of local street food (we recommend bun cha). You’ll also visit the beautifully rural valley of Mai Chau and take an overnight train to Hue – the country’s former capital – which is an invitation to admire the Imperial City’s royal palaces. Should that all make you thirsty, you’ll follow it up by sailing along the Perfume River for a royal tea ceremony.
From US$1204
Next available from 5th Dec 2023
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Hanoi, Vietnam
ENDS AT
Hoi An, Vietnam
DURATION
12
GROUP SIZE
18
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
Northern Italy, for fresh wine, fresh olives and a fresh-air lunch
Embrace la dolce vita on this nine-day Rail Trip that calls at all of Northern Italy’s highlights. Start in Rome on a tour encompassing the city’s most famous landmarks, including the Trevi Fountain and the Colosseum. Next, wine and olive oil tasting in Tuscany. You’ll wander vineyards and olive groves, trying out fresh produce along the way, before heading to Italy’s culinary capital, Bologna, for a gourmet food tour. After an excursion to Emilia-Romagna full of Parma ham, Parmigiano Reggiano and balsamic vinegar, we’ll visit Lake Como and cap off the trip with a farewell dinner in Milan.
From US$
Next available from 1st Jan 1970
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Rome, Lazio
ENDS AT
Milan, Lombardia
DURATION
9
GROUP SIZE
14
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
Maja Proescholdt, Emma Gibbins and Lorna Turnbull contributed to this article.
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meet our Local Insider
Hanna
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!
Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.
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Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
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