For all you galloping gourmets, MasterChef Travel has announced a new range of foodie holidays.
The holidays include new escorted group tours to Portugal, Tuscany, Veneto in Italy and Japan, with winner of MasterChef UK, Tim Anderson. There’s also a range of private tours, including a self-drive journey to Crete.
The Treasures of Japan trip with Tim Anderson takes place over 11 days from October 9 and costs from £3,495 per person. It starts in Tokyo and visits Kyoto and Mount Fuji, historical Nara and Osaka. Highlights include a visit to Tsukiji fish market, a hands-on sushi lesson, a green tea ceremony, a visit to a sake brewery, street food tours and a traditional Kaiseki dinner.
The 7-day Splendours of Veneto departs on September 5 and is led by Sara Danesin Medio, costing from £1,495 per person. The tour explores the lesser-visited region of Veneto, taking in Padua, Vicenza and Castelfranco. MasterChef UK 2011 finalist Sara Danesin Medio, who was born in the region, accompanies the tour, which includes visits to the oldest producer of Prosciutto di Montagnana, a grappa distillery and Valdobbiadene, the home of prosecco.
Departing 25 April 2016 the Treasures of Lisbon tour is over five days and costs from £1,395 per person. Culinary highlights include a range of tastings, from petiscos (similar to tapas), to red wine and Moscat. Travellers also join chef and MasterChef Portugal judge Justa Nobre to prepare traditional dishes in her restaurant.
There are two departures (April 17 and October 9) for the 6-day Tuscan Farmhouse Escape which costs £1,175 per person. Based in an agriturismo in the Tuscan countryside, this short break includes two hands-on cooking classes where the menu could include seasonal pasta or bistecca alla fiorentina, wine cellar and olive mill visits with tastings, and local market visits.
The 8-day Traditional Tastes of Crete itinerary is an eight-day, self-drive trip costing £865 per person. Among the foodie highlights are visits to an olive oil grove including tastings, a hands-on cooking workshop in a local village, and visits to dairy and wine estates.
All prices include flights (international tours only), transfers, excursions, accommodation with breakfast and other meals as specified.
All group tours feature local culinary experts and offer the opportunity to discover local cuisine as well as exploring the countries’ most interesting sights.
See Cox and Kings to book
