Foodie Paradise: A Culinary Expedition Around the World in 2024

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.