Because sometimes a one-day food tour just isn't enough, Intrepid Travel have launched an epic 101-day food tour of the world packed full of flavour. Over 14 weeks you can eat, cook and drink your way around the globe. The adventure starts with an onion bhaji in India in March 2018 and ends over mechoui in Morocco in July. Combining a love of travel with a love of food, there are over 150 meals included, as well as plenty of activities and excursions. Here are the highlights.
This epic journey begins with 26 days exploring the cultural and culinary delights of India. From breaking bread with locals in rural homes to sampling the best that India’s family-run restaurants have to offer and trying local delicacies in ancient temples, this is a great way to start your discovery of one of the world’s finest cuisines.
It’s easy to assume that cuisine across India is all the same. But each region has its own preferred ingredients, methods and flavour combinations. As you journey across the country, you’ll visit markets and bazaars, and unlock the secrets to creating traditional dishes at a variety of cooking classes and demonstrations. Enjoy the meaty, piquant curries of Rajasthan, and in the south indulge on fresh fish and coconut-infused dishes. Still not convinced? Here are some of India's most beautiful sights, and if you want a taste of India at home, try this chickpea curry recipe from our sister site, loveFOOD.
Known for their combination of spicy, salty, sweet and sour flavours, the Vietnamese use plenty of herbs in their cooking and favour ingredients such as nuoc mam (fish sauce), shrimp paste, soy sauce, rice and fresh vegetables. Dairy and oil is kept to a minimum, making the cuisine one of the healthiest in the world. Specialties here include goi cuon (rice-paper rolls), banh xeo (Vietnamese pancakes) and pho (noodle soup) – all of which feature on the menu.
There are plenty of highlights on the Vietnamese portion of the tour. In Hanoi there’s you'll take a trip to a teahouse to learn about the country’s tea traditions, while a night on Ha Long Bay is not just beautiful, but includes the opportunity to join a local family on a fishing trip to learn about their way of life. There’s also time to wander the markets of Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as a homestay on the Mekong Delta. Want to try cooking Vietnamese at home? loveFOOD has a brilliant pho recipe here.
Neighbouring Cambodia is next on the agenda. Dishes here are more heavily influenced by Thai cuisine, making them a little spicier. Pepper also features heavily in Cambodian fare and the tour includes a visit to a famous pepper plantation. Other highlights include a homestay in the village of Banteay Chhmar, a visit to Angkor Wat and a remork (tuk tuk) ride that takes you to Siem Reap’s best street food stalls.
What makes Khmer (Cambodian) cuisine so interesting is the amalgamation of flavours from beyond its borders. Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese and French cuisines have all been incorporated to create the tasty foods unique to the country. Rice is at the heart of almost every Khmer dish, although noodles and num pang (baguette) feature as a legacy of occupation by the Chinese and French. Try Cambodian cuisine at home with this honey-glazed chicken from loveFOOD.
The next stop is South Korea, where tradition has been seamlessly blended with modernity – not just in the cities and towns, but in the food. Fly into Seoul and explore the city streets before heading on to Jeonju, the country’s foodie capital. One of the highlights is a stay in the Bulguksa Monastery, where the evening ends with either a martial arts-style meditation or a yoga session. You’ll also visit Gyeongju and Busan before heading back to Seoul.
South Korean cuisine has become increasingly popular in the UK over the last decade or so. While Korean BBQ is probably the country's most famous exports, Korean fried chicken, kimbap (Korean sushi) and kimchi (salted, fermented vegetables) are also favourites. The tour includes a lesson in how to make green onion pancakes, the chance to savour a clambake by the sea and an exploration of Busan’s fascinating craft brewery. Try that fried chicken at home with loveFOOD's Korean chicken recipe.
Japan has long been hailed as a foodie’s paradise, so its no surprise that there are 12 days of this round-the-world tour dedicated to exploring its culinary and cultural highlights. No matter whether they’re serving tonkatsu (deep-fried pork) as a snack in a department store or high-end sushi in a Michelin-starred restaurant, the Japanese take pride in their food, meaning that you're unlikely to get a bad meal here.
Starting in Tokyo and ending in Kyoto, the tour stops at Takayama, Kanazawa, Osaka and Koya-san along the way. Traversing some of the country’s most beautiful countryside and delving into its fascinating history, you’ll see beautiful mountain regions, glittering shores, historic sights like Kanazawa castle and stunning landscaped gardens. A stay in one of the temples of Koya-san, founded in the 8th century by Buddhist monks, is a particular highlight.
From sampling delicious yakitori (skewered chicken) on Shinjuku's Memory Lane and fresh sushi at Tsukiji Fish Market to learning how to make soba noodles, you’re off at a running start in Tokyo (one of the best food cities in the world). You’ll also try succulent Hida beef in Takayama, dine with the vegetarian Buddhist monks of Koya-san, enjoy a cooking class in Kyoto and savour the delights of Osaka – renowned as the country’s culinary capital. Want to experiment with Japanese yourself? Try this recipe for beef udon noodles on our sister site loveFOOD or this tonkatsu curry.
On day 72, the tour leaves the delights of Asia behind and heads east across the Pacific to Mexico – and there’s no bigger contrast to the umami-centric cuisine of Japan than the fiery flavours of this North American country. Mexico has given the world tacos, quesadillas and mole (sauces) and its flavours are a mix of its ancient Aztec heritage, the 16th-century conquest by the Spanish and the African and Asian influences that came with the slave trade.
The highlights of Mexico begin with a walking tour of Mexico City, where you’ll see Bellas Artes Palace, wander down Paseo de la Reforma and visit the vast square of Zócalo. You'll visit the city’s famed food market, the Mercado San Juan and then head out of the city to enjoy a Lucha Libre (wrestling and theatre) performance in Puebla, visit the archaeological site of Monte Alban and take in the coastal beauty of Mazunte.
As with every other culinary destination on the tour, Mexican cuisine differs by region. In Mexico City, you'll go on a ‘taco crawl’ before savouring the delights of the country’s gastro-capital, Puebla. In Oaxaca, the cuisine of the ancients is well preserved, offering the chance to try pre-Hispanic delicacies including chilli, chocolate, mezcal (agave alcohol) and even chapulines (grasshopper). The final day in Mazunte offers the chance to head out on a fishing trip before a class on how to prepare Mexican-style ceviche. Create your own taco crawl with this recipe from loveFOOD.
The cuisine of this part of the world may be less recognisable than some of the other destinations on this adventure, but it is no less delicious. Mixing visits to ancient sights and natural wonders like the Dead Sea with delectable culinary experiences that highlight the North African and Turkish influences, this is a great way to explore this ancient region.
This portion of the tour begins in the Old City of Jerusalem where you’ll dine on classic dishes including hummus and shakshuka (eggs poached in a chilli and tomato sauce). A trip to Zikhron Ya'akov allows you to sample the wine of one of Israel’s finest vineyards, while the opportunity to cook with Druze villagers offers an insight into this agricultural community, whose cuisine relies heavily on olive groves and fruit orchards. Fancy making your own shakshuka? loveFOOD has a brilliant breakfast recipe here.
The final destination on this epic 101-day journey is Morocco. Here, Berber, Arabic and European influences have shaped the cuisine into something unique. As you gorge on traditional Moroccan food, you’ll see the highlights of Marrakesh with its colourful souks, take in the sea air of Essaouira and climb the heights of the beautiful Atlas Mountains.
The streets of Casablanca are a fantastic place to start the final leg of your journey, with the local delicacies of msmen (pan-fried bread), omelette and khlea (preserved meat) all on the menu. In Moulay Idriss, you can see how olive oil is made before learning how to make couscous. In Fes you’ll make pastilla (meat pie) during a cooking class, and you’ll also enjoy traditional Berber food in the Atlas Mountains with a local family. Enjoy some northern Moroccan cuisine at home with our sister site loveFOOD's sardine tagra recipe.