Food tours

Uncover a world of authentic, mouth-watering food.

Food brings people together. It anchors you in the present moment. That’s why, years after a trip, you can still remember the taste of fresh, juicy olives in Greece or the fragrant smell of pho simmering on the stove in Vietnam. By pairing the classic grassroots Intrepid travel style with a focus on food, you’ll get up close and personal with the world's most exciting food cultures. It might be spoiling your tastebuds with flavour-filled curries in Sri Lanka, mastering the art of making soba noodles in Japan or sharing a meal with Buddhist monks in South Korea.

Created with the culinarily curious in mind, these are real, local experiences with a foodie twist: one part culture, one part adventure and three parts delicious. From bite-sized trips to gastronomic odysseys, we’ll get you munching, crunching, sipping and slurping just like the locals. Hungry?

Our food trips

Explore the flavours of India. Be Open. Be Intrepid.

Must-try dishes around the world

Closeup of a plate of ceviche in Peru
Peru – ceviche

Ceviche is the unofficial national dish of Peru. It's made by marinating cubes of raw fish and seafood in lime juice, onions, salt and aji amarillo chilli peppers, and is served cold with sweet potato chunks, plantain chips and corn on the cob.

Paella served fresh in Spain
Spain – paella

This saffron-flavoured rice dish originated in Valencia hundreds of years ago when hungry servants would combine rice with leftovers from Moorish kings' lavish banquets. The dish varies across the regions, but the mixed version with chorizo, mussels and prawns is the most popular internationally.

Plate of different Indian of dishes curries and foods
India – thali

Struggling to choose just one curry? Fear not. A thali comprises several eye-popping dishes served on a large plate. The dishes typically include grains, lentils, vegetables or meat curries, chutney, raita, pickles and pappadum – creating the perfect balance of sweet, salty, bitter, sour, astringent and spicy flavours.

A plate of fresh cooked meats and cheeses at lunch in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Balkans – cured meats and cheeses

When travelling through the Balkans, treat your tastebuds to delicious charcuterie boards loaded with traditionally preserved meats, cheeses, vegetables and bread. Some of the most popular Balkan meats to try include cevapi (homemade grilled sausage), njeguši (dry-cured ham) and pljeskavica (Balkan burger).

Fresh bowl of khao soi in Thailand
Thailand – khao soi

There’s a whole world of Thai noodle dishes to discover beyond the obvious (and delicious!) pad thai. Khao soi is a chicken and coconut noodle soup from northern Thailand. It’s packed with vibrant aromatics and is served with crispy fried noodles, shallots and fresh lime wedges on top.

Man cooking Falafel in the markets in Bethlehem, Israel
Israel & Palestinian Territories – falafel

Considered to be Israel’s national dish, these balls of deliciousness (made with ground chickpeas, herbs and spices) are a must-try plant-based dish. They’re usually served on a platter or in a warm pita pocket filled with pickled vegetables, crunchy cabbage salad and generous lashings of creamy tahini sauce.

Where you can try authentic local food

Why choose us

Real, authentic experiences

We love the highlights, but for us, the real magic is found off the tourist trails. Our trips combine iconic sites with hidden gems that you’ll only discover with Intrepid. We’re talking mornings exploring the Taj Mahal, followed by a Mughlai cooking class with a passionate home cook.

Local expertise

Whether you’re perusing markets, hunting down the best street food bites or learning how to cook centuries-old family recipes at a homestay, there’s no better way to get the inside scoop on a destination – and its culinary traditions – than with an expert local leader by your side.

Small groups

Big coaches and flag-toting tour guides don’t cut it for us. With a maximum group size of 12, our groups blend in with the locals and have plenty of opportunities to interact with chefs, street food vendors and group leaders. It also means you can really connect with your fellow foodies.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 based on 887 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Italy Real Food Adventure

Kareen · Traveled August 2024
The tour was a bit of a disappointment. The accommodation is 1-2 stars. They say some are 3 stars but it’s definitely not! Tuscany was the highlight. Accommodation is all on the outskirts of the towns and cities. 20 min walk into town each time. Did not feel very safe leaving hotel at night sometimes. 90% public transport. Guide was great!
Review submitted 12 Aug 2024

Sri Lanka Real Food Adventure

David · Traveled July 2024
Excellent itinerary and inclusions. Nandana is the best tour leader I’ve ever had. Sri Lanka and its food very much exceeded expectations thanks to the tour leader, the driver and assistant. Real Sri Lankan food and the overall experience will not disappoint.
Review submitted 05 Aug 2024

Japan Real Food Adventure

Kirsty · Traveled July 2024
A well planned tour, where you experience an authentic appreciation of Japanese food and culture. The cooking school sections were fun and delicious, especially In Kanazawa, where we made tempura and Japanese omelet. This experience was the highlight of the tour for me. Highly recommended.
Review submitted 31 Jul 2024

Cambodia Real Food Adventure

Claire · Traveled July 2024
A whistle-stop tour of Cambodia with plenty of opportunities to sample local food, and interesting visits to cottage-industry producers. This was well balanced with traditional sightseeing and chances to learn about Cambodia’s history and culture. Not as wet as I had expected for the rainy season, and a quieter time to see the sights, which was a bonus.
Review submitted 29 Jul 2024

Cambodia Real Food Adventure

Jimmy · Traveled July 2024
This was a great, genuinely food-focused tour, suitable even if you’ve been to Cambodia before.
Review submitted 01 Aug 2024

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