Where to go on a
cooking & food vacation

There are enticing global options year round for where to go on a cooking and food vacation. And such diverse settings! Choose from rustic Italian farms or Spanish hills, colourful Mexican towns or Sri Lankan coasts, Cambodian stilt villages or Provençal hideaways. Within countries there are wonderful contrasts too, dishes changing with the vistas – madcap Mexico City vs. colonial Puebla in Mexico, coastal Krabi v bustling Bangkok in Thailand, colonial Delhi v jewel-like Jaipur in India. You meet an eclectic bunch of locals too: Thai market traders, Cambodian fishermen, Mexican chefs, Italian farmers. And all share your foodie passion.
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1. Cambodia
2. Finland
3. France
4. India
5. Italy
6. Mexico
7. Peru
8. Spain
9. Sri Lanka
10. Thailand
11. Vietnam
Cambodia

1. Cambodia

Best known for the staggering 12th century ruins of Angkor Wat, Cambodia also boasts an ancient food culture where pepper replaces chilli for heat, and novel herbs and condiments jazz up freshwater fish and French-influenced dishes. Chow riverside in vibrant Phnom Penn, find French-Khmer fusion in colonial Battambang, then prepare traditional dishes with a fishing family staying in a house on stilts.
Finland

2. Finland

The Finns are passionate about their food and yet it’s little known outside the country. That’s a shame because it’s comforting, delicious and based around the freshest of flavours. You could find yourself foraging for mushrooms and berries in deep, dark forests, sampling warm cinnamon pastries from an organic bakery, or sampling reindeer at one of Helsinki’s many swish dining spots.
France

3. France

Just behind the Cote d'Azur, discover rustic Provence on a homestay fed by fresh-picked organic produce. Or liven up winter truffling in Perigord, sampling unforgettable truffle dishes daily, washed down with unique local 'black wine'. In SW France, discover distinctive Basque ways with trout and chestnut-fed ham. Or devour Dordogne delights (river fish, lavender and saffron sauces) staying at an 18th century chateau.
India

4. India

From old colonial Delhi to beach-fringed Goa via the ethereal beauty of Jaipur and fascinating cultural mix of Kerala, India is an unforgettable kaleidoscope of culinary experiences: fabulous street food in pulsating Mumbai and old-school Delhi; 1200-year-old traditional Rajasthan cuisine; rainbow-hued markets everywhere. Along the way, you'll learn how subtle and diverse Indian cuisine can be.
Italy

5. Italy

Italy serves up dreamy settings with dreamy food. Try fresh pesto in its gorgeous Genoa birthplace, pizza amid Naples' breathless beauty, or sniff white truffles in Piedmont. Delve cucina povera (peasant cooking) in backstreet Rome. Discover Sicily's Arab-influenced dishes and nose-to-tail street food in multicultural Palermo, or Sardinia's novel seafood by breathtaking beaches: sea urchin, botarga (dried roe) and tart scabecciu fish.
Mexico

6. Mexico

Mexican cuisine goes way beyond the fast foody bland tacos and refried beans of Tex Mex. Try proper taco like the succulent el pastor (slow-roasted marinated pork) in Mexico City, then learn about classic mole sauces in colonial Puebla. Marvel at culture and buildings as colourful as the food in Oaxaca, or make Mexican-style raw fish ceviche on the beach.
Peru

7. Peru

Geography underpins Peru's newly hip cuisine – superb seafood, Andean produce, rainforest fruits. Add Spanish and Inca influences. In Lima, try street foods like anticuchos (beef skewers) or masamorra (purple corn). Visit a Pisco distillery and do a fish market cooking class in charming Cuzco. Compare traditional and contemporary NovoAndina mountain meals amid Inca ruins, then enjoy a pachamanca feast, slow-roasted in underground ovens.
Spain

8. Spain

Complement Spain's fertile plains, hills, coasts and ancient towns with Moorish and Iberian cuisine at a traditional cortijo farmhouse, joining in local harvests from olives to asparagus – or cook rabbit with almond plus quail stuffed with figs in Andalucia. Explore Extremadura flavours brought back by Conquistadores (peppers, chocolate), or discover Riojan gourmet secrets like tapas paradise town Logrono and medieval wine-making mecca Laguardia.
Sri Lanka

9. Sri Lanka

Seductively different to India, Sri Lanka and its food revels in the influences of Portuguese, Arabs and Dutch settlers it once enchanted. Tangy sambal curries sing with flavour, while coastal fish markets provide abundant seafood to savour by palm-fringed beaches – including intriguing jadi fermented fish. Spicy Tamil dishes flavoured with coconut milk dominate heart-stopping highlands dotted with tea plantations.
Thailand

10. Thailand

Thailand is a friendly culinary cornucopia. Cook in bustling Bangkok or pick herbs on an organic farm to enliven Thai veggie nosh. Learn to use banana leaves and cook over open fires. Sizzle seafood on a golden beach or visit a palm sugar factory. Compare atmospheric night markets with amazing floating ones – or a unique railway market held on working train tracks!
Vietnam

11. Vietnam

Vietnam’s food fragrantly meshes with dramatic bays, canals, emerald rice paddies and exotic history: pho and French colonialism in Hanoi; banh khoai and imperial citadels in Hue; banh xeo and lantern-lit streets in Hoi An; banh canh and pulsating markets in Ho Chi Minh City. Drink in cafes by madcap streets or sit at market stalls as aromatic noodle soups are made beside you.
Short break pasta making & Italian food vacation, Tuscany

Short break pasta making & Italian food vacation, Tuscany

A Tuscan food adventure, learn to make pasta

From £900 to £1025 4 days ex flights
Read 4 reviews
Cooking and walking vacation, Spanish Pyrenees

Cooking and walking vacation, Spanish Pyrenees

Gastronomy and beautiful walks in the Spanish Pyrenees.

From €1695 8 days ex flights
Read 41 reviews
Malaysia food and culture holiday

Malaysia food and culture vacation

Discover many of Malaysia's culinary highlights

From £3250 16 days inc UK flights
Mexico small group vacation, a food adventure

Mexico small group vacation, a food adventure

Get an authentic taste of Mexico on this 8 day tour

From US $2066 to US $2435 9 days ex flights
Read 5 reviews
Nutritional food vacation in the Peloponnese

Nutritional food vacation in the Peloponnese

Cook to supercharge the metabolism and protect from illness.

From £1295 7 days ex flights
Vegan holiday in Greece, cooking and food

Vegan vacation in Greece, cooking and food

Being vegan the Mediterranean Way - Greek cooking vacation

From £1355 7 days ex flights
Read 11 reviews
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Written by Norman Miller
Photo credits: [Page banner: Brooke Lark] [Cambodia: epixx - iStock] [Finland: Edsel Little] [France: Jez Timms] [India: VD] [Italy: Josh Hild] [Mexico: Sarah Wu] [Peru: Lou Stejskal] [Spain: Jose Luis Cernadas Iglesias] [Sri Lanka: Llaughingmango - iStock] [Thailand: Evan Krause] [Vietnam: Jack Young]
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