5 Reasons to Take a Culinary Trip Right Now
There’s no denying the universal truth that everyone loves a great meal. But cuisine itself is a powerful vehicle for cultural discovery and immersion, reflecting a set of cultural traditions associated with specific regions. In a report released by Skift in 2015 on “The Rise of Food Tourism,” it was determined that approximately 77% of leisure travelers can be classified as culinary travelers. With interest in unique culinary and cultural experiences on the rise, culinary vacations, particularly to more boutique and exotic destinations, are more popular than ever. Below are the top five reasons for culinary travel right now:
1. Off the Beaten Path Culinary Travel on the Rise
While culinary travel traditionally has been associated with such destinations as France, Italy and Spain, a rise in tour operators offering culinary journeys to more exotic destinations is on the rise. When scouting destinations to offer our new culinary tours, we seek to find off-the-beaten path countries and regions that offer rich culinary and cultural experiences. For instance, while not traditional “culinary” destinations, our recently launched Cuba tour and Vietnam tour each allow travelers to immerse themselves in the country’s culture through the cuisine, as travelers interact with locals during cooking classes, meals, trips to farms and markets and unique cultural activities.
2. Authentic Connection with Local People and Culture
Culinary travel, particularly that which takes you deep into the epicurean scene with cooking and mixology courses, insider dining experiences and trips to markets and gardens, is guaranteed to spark an authentic connection – both with the local people and culture. In a small group setting, you become a member of a special foodie community learning from local chefs, visiting local homes for tea, meals and cooking classes, all while developing relationships along the way. Going inside the food culture provides an unparalleled authentic view of life as a local and the traditions that make the destinations culture thrive.
3. Expert Cooking Instruction
Learning to cook a country’s cuisine from an acclaimed local chef is a great way to engage in epicurean tradition firsthand. Not only do you have a great time, but you can bond with the chef, your travel companion and your fellow guests, as you work together to create a great meal. Of course, being able to share your new found skills with your friends and family back home is always an extra treat that continues to connect you to the culture even after your trip ends.
4. Delectable Local Dining
From Cuba’s oldest and finest paladares (private restaurants) and local hotspots in Essaouira, Morocco to hidden treasures in Bangkok’s Chinatown, delectable and unique dining experiences are at the heart of all great culinary travel. With itineraries planned to delight your palette, culinary tour operators like Access Culinary Trips, take the time to scope out the very best dining locations – many of which are off the general tourist’s radar.
5. Insider Access
We are experiencinga new and exciting direction for travel, as travelers are becoming more savvy and attune to opportunities to truly immerse themselves in new destinations. How can travelers do this? Exotic culinary journeys are the answer you’re looking for. At Access Culinary Trips, we go out of our way to find exciting and extraordinary experiences that are not readily available to the general public. Examples of such insider experiences include dinners in royal homes, street food tours on vintage vespas, walking to the weekly market with your own donkey just as the locals do in Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains, enjoying tea in the homes of local families and exclusive cooking classes with celebrity chefs.What exotic culinary destinations are on your radar for travel this year?
Learn more about our award-winning culinary tours and explore culture through cuisine.