DESTINATIONS FOOD & DRINK | ESCORTED TOURS exper expert ASK THE “Food tours are a great


option for anyone embarking on a solo travel adventure


for the first time or who has never been on a group trip


before. You will automatically have things in common with your fellow travellers – a love of delicious food.”


Hazel McGuire, general manager UK & Ireland, Intrepid Travel


CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Khachapuri, a cheese-filled bread, Georgia; traditional cooking in Georgia; dining out in South Korean capital Seoul on a tour with Intrepid PICTURES: Shutterstock/Timolina; Ben Mac


earthenware vessels, before sharing a traditional mtsvadi (barbecued kebabs) lunch with a local family. More hands-on activities include making aubergine rolls stuffed with walnut paste as part of a cookery lesson in Mtskheta. Georgia’s cultural heritage is just as compelling as its food and wine, as evidenced by visits to the Narikala and Gremi fortresses, the Jvari Monastery and the birthplace of Joseph Stalin. Book it: Explore’s eight-day tour starts at £1,908, including flights, accommodation, internal transport and some meals, departing on September 30. explore.co.uk


BEST FOR: VEGANS South Korea Real Food Adventure – Intrepid Travel Veganism is on the rise, with about 3% of the UK population now vegan (up from 2% in 2019), according to a YouGov poll in January. Last year, Intrepid Travel decided both to keep up with this growing trend and promote eating habits that have less impact on the planet, adding vegan experiences to all its culinary tours. Chiming with a recent poll that saw the


country’s cuisine ranked as the world’s favourite, travelweekly.co.uk Georgia’s shared borders


with Turkey and Armenia ensure some real treats for gastronomes and wine lovers alike in the cradle of wine


Intrepid’s Hazel Maguire, general manager for the UK and Europe, recommends heading to South Korea, where one of the operator’s bestselling foodie tours includes a plant-based celebratory dinner during a stay at Golgulsa Temple. Other vegan-friendly culinary experiences on the tour include a kimchi cooking class, where guests make pancakes out of the spicy fermented veg; a demonstration on how the traditional red chilli paste gochujang is made; and a craft brewery tour in Jeonju. For tour meals, participants who would prefer plant-based alternatives will be catered for with meat-free substitutes and a range of other local vegan dishes, including soybean and sprout soup or aubergine dumplings. Book it: The eight-day tour with Intrepid Travel costs from £2,480 for a September 18 departure. The price includes accommodation, most meals and internal transport, but not international flights. intrepidtravel.com


BEST FOR: ART AND CULTURE Parma to Florence: Italy’s Culinary Highlights – Exodus Travels Southern Italy’s cucina povera (kitchen of the poor) and its many meat-free dishes make it a favourite with vegetarians, but it’s good to


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