Foodie Paradise: A Culinary Expedition Around the World in 2024

Food is as important a cultural cornerstone as any in Mexico, so we felt the need to go all out on the culinary treats on this itinerary – it is the Complete Mexico Experience, after all! We’ll kick things off in the capital with an authentic dinner at Cafe de Tacuba followed by a classic Mexican hot chocolate. We’ll also dine out at Azulisimo Restaurant in CDMX before moving on to Puebla, famous for its rich and sticky mole poblano sauce. The foodie experience continues in Oaxaca with lunch amid the cacti forests of Zapotitlan Salinas, en route to the city of Oaxaca, widely regarded as the nation’s culinary capital. Here you’ll master the art of making fresh tortilla, learn all about the foundations of Mexican cuisine with a traditional cooking class and toast your creations with a smoky mezcal-tasting session – around 90% of the spirit is produced in this region.

Georgia doesn’t jump out to many as an obvious foodie destination, but join us on the fringes of Europe and Asia and you’ll discover an ancient culture that has cultivated its culinary craft for centuries. Gorge on the hearty, cheesy bread delicacy of khachapuri – a cultural staple here – and explore an old farmer’s market with the help of a local chef, who’ll help us select the right ingredient for our cooking class at their own home. Wine has been produced here for longer than anywhere else on Earth, and you’ll learn about this 8,000 year-old tradition during a workshop that showcases the qvevri vessels used for underground fermentation. You’ll also experience the traditional toastmaster ceremony and later be treated to a sumptuous wine tasting session. Back on food, you’ll visit a local family to learn about old baking techniques and snack on churchkhela, a sausage-shaped sweet made from nuts and thickened grape juice.

Lovers of East Asian cuisine will fall head over heels for South Korea, and our 10-day tour showcases the finest foodie traditions of this beautiful country. You’ll visit Sokcho fish market, dine monk-style during a Korean temple stay and have dinner at a traditional Hanok in Gyeongju, but the tastebuds will really start tingling when we reach the coastal city of Busan, Korea’s culinary capital. Gorge on Busan Hotteok – a sweet-filled pancake treat – and visit the city’s iconic fish market, before hitting the beach to sip soju – a clear, subtly sweet Korean spirit. You’ll also be treated to an authentic cooking class, after which you’ll be able to wash down your creations with rice wine, before winding down with a traditional tea ceremony. The trip ends in nearby Jeonju, a charming old city famous for birthing Bibimbap, perhaps the most iconic dish in all of Korea. Eating this picture-perfect rice bowl meal, in the place from whence it came, is the ideal farewell dinner to reflect on our sumptuous South Korean odyssey.

The fragrant spice combinations of North African cuisine are rich, hearty and speak to real home-made cooking. Morocco is the best nation to really dive into this culinary tradition, which is exactly what you’ll do on our jam-packed 11-day tour of the country. In the ancient city of Fes you’ll experience home-cooking for real with dinner at a local family’s home, as well as a visit to Café Clock, which specialises in fresh falafel, lamb tagine and crispy pastilla pastries. Further authentic eating experiences await as we dine desert style under the stars of the Sahara and lunch in a rural Berber village in the Atlas Mountains, before reaching the ultimate Moroccan foodie destination, Marrakech. Here you’ll be treated to an amazing street food tour, as well as an authentic cooking class on our final day.

We’ve already sung the praises of South Korea’s culinary prowess, but the real best-kept secret when it comes to food in East Asia is without doubt Taiwan. The beauty of this small island nation is that its culture, and by extension cuisine, has a distinct identity while also being heavily influenced by neighbouring nations, particularly China and Japan. Our Rail Trip around the island is full of mouthwatering experiences, from strolling the bustling night markets of Taipei to sipping world class tea with views of Sun Moon Lake. You’ll visit the culinary capital, Tainan, have lunch with stunning mountain views in Shifen and mark the last day of our trip with a Taiwanese cooking masterclass at a local culinary school.

Sweet toothed travellers should take note of Portugal, a nation utterly obsessed with cakes and pastries, which draw the attention of countless eyes passing by pretty patisserie shop windows all over the country. The country’s most famous creation is obviously the pastel de nata, now eaten the world over, but never quite as good as in Lisbon, their birthplace. You’ll discover the best spot in the city to gorge on these egg custard delights as we embark on a local delicacies trail of the capital, during our eight-day Portuguese adventure. You’ll also discover another egg-based sweet treat – ovos moles – as we explore the idyllic lagoon city of Aveiro. Winos, meanwhile, will fall in love with the northern leg of our trip, as we treat you to a Port tasting in Porto, followed by a visit to the luscious, vineyard-covered hills of the Douro Valley.