10 unique walking holidays for food lovers

10 unique walking holidays for food lovers

Inntravel Black Forest Tour, Germany

Find out how much more there is to Schwarzwald cuisine than Black Forest cherry gateau on Inntravel’s six-night, self-guided hotel-to-hotel walk. Hike through fairytale-like scenery oozing Hansel and Gretel charm, through pretty forests, meadows and woodland, averaging around 14km/8.5 miles daily. Travelling between Feldberg-Falkau, Hinterzarten and Kirchzarten, there will be picnic lunches by day, and gourmet meals at your hotels in the evening. Throughout your stays in the three comfortable, welcoming inns, you’ll sample the likes of maultaschen (the local version of ravioli, stuffed with meat or cheese, spinach, breadcrumbs and onion, and served in a dark broth), smoky Black Forest cured ham (Schwarzwälder schinken), and hearty soups, such as Schneckensuppe, a local delicacy made with snails (influenced by the region’s proximity to France). Ordering a thick slab of Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte for dessert is, of course, a must – and do ensure every meal ends with a shot of Kirschwasser: cherry Schnapps.

Discover more and book at inntravel.co.uk

Exodus Adventure Travels Highlights of Albania Tour

Thanks to its proximity to Greece, Italy and Turkey, Albania’s food scene is a compelling mix of hearty, stew-like dishes and fresh, vegetable-based fare. Exodus Adventure Travel’s 10-day guided Highlights of Albania trip (max 16 guests) starts in the cosmopolitan capital, Tirana, where a must-try dish is the local fergase tirane (baked feta with tomatoes, peppers and onions). Enjoy a home cooked lunch in the small village of Dhoksat, which will no doubt include the national dish, tave kosi – a baked lamb and rice casserole with kos (Albanian yoghurt made from goats milk). As well as exploring the UNESCO heritage city of Gjirokastër, there will also be a visit to Përmet, celebrated for its food and wine, including gliko, sweets made from walnuts, and raki, an aniseed-flavoured spirit. Don’t miss the renowned local beer, Birra Korça, in Korçë, the largest city in southeast Albania. There will be easy walks daily, mainly around the towns and villages, and transport is provided between each one.

Discover more and book at exodus.co.uk

Utracks Food Lovers Way of St James Tour, France

This 10-day trip, with a maximum group size of 16, showcases highlights of the French part of the Camino, from Le Puy en Velay in the Auvergne, to St- Jean-Pied-de-Port, near the Spanish border. Walking between 3.7 miles and 10 miles per day, it takes in the beautiful, historic towns of Cahors, Moissac and Saint-Cirque-Lapopie, amongst others. Memorable foodie experiences include lunch at a converted buron, or shepherd’s hut, in Aubrac; many are now restaurants serving local dishes such as aligot (a sinfully rich blend of cheese and mash), farçou (chard fritters), and tripoux, or tripe. There’s also a visit to a truffle orchard, where a truffle hound will demonstrate his skills in cavage, or truffle hunting, and a sensory roam around the local market in Cahors; look out for aromatic, farm-produced cheeses such as Tomme and Fourme d’Ambert. Sample Armagnac at an estate near the historic town of Eauze, and enjoy a Michelin-star dinner at a chateau which produces the famous AOC ‘black’ wine.

Discover more and book at utracks.com

Headwater Atlas Mountains Tour, Morocco

Immerse yourself deep within Morocco’s culture and cuisine on Headwater’s eight-day, self-guided Morocco: Mountains, Desert and Coast trip. Local experts will join you for certain parts, such as during the walk along winding mule tracks to Aroumd, a small, scenic Berber village within the Atlas Mountains. Here you’ll enjoy a home-cooked lunch with a local family who will share the secrets of traditional Moroccan food, including how to bake bread and brew mint tea. Explore the souks, markets and street food stalls in colourful, chaotic Marrakech, which sell everything from aromatic spices to dried couscous and pastilla, a filo-pastry pie traditionally made with pigeon. A night in the Agafay desert involves staying in a luxurious tent and dining on local dishes such as tagine or rfissa – stewed chicken, lentils, and onions served on a bed of shredded trid pastry – before heading to the cooler, coastal city of Essaouira. Take a stroll around the seafood market and select something freshly-caught from a local fisherman for lunch, where it will be expertly grilled in a nearby restaurant.

Discover more and book at headwater.com

Explore Taste of Greece Tour

Dive deeper into Greek cuisine on this 10-day tour between Crete and the Pelopponese, visiting markets, doing cooking workshops and learning about olive oil production along the way. With an average group size of 12, and a variety of not-too-taxing walks around rural mountain villages, bustling cities, and along scenic peninsulas, it’s the perfect blend of food and fitness. Starting towards the south of Crete, sample local honey in the village of Zaros, then visit a farm in nearby Pangia to see how they make their organic feta. Other delicious food stops include trying authentic gyros in Spili, visiting a herbal garden, and a dinner of fresh seafood on the coast at Souda Bay. Breakfast on koulouri – Greece’s version of the bagel – in Athens, and take a vegan cookery lesson near the Acropolis with a passionate local cook who specialises in traditional recipes. In the picturesque town of Nafplion, meet the family who run an ouzo distillery and learn about the production of ouzo, tsipouro, masticha, and their unique cherry liqueur.

Discover more and book at explore.co.uk

Inside Asia Trails of Northern Thailand

This is an excellent opportunity to walk along roads less travelled, as part of Inside Asia’s 12-day Trails of Northern Thailand trip involves a challenging five-day trek through the remote and mountainous scenery of northern Thailand, with stays in hill tribe communities along the way. With plenty of walking every day, you’ll definitely build up an appetite; in the Mae Wang district, stop by a buffalo market to stock up on food before the mountain trek. During homestays with the Karen community here, people eat in the local Khantoke style, where several individual dishes in bowls are served together on a wooden tray. These could include kep moo - pork scratchings served with dips - sai oua, a spicy pork sausage, and khao soi, a Burmese-influenced dish of egg noodles in creamy curry. Try the local firewater, or rice wine, and tea and coffee from the surrounding plantations. In buzzy Chang Mai, where the trip begins, sample street food stalls and markets, and have lunch on a traditional rafthouse. Ending in Chiang Rai, near the Laos and Myanmar border, spend a couple of days visiting Akha tribal villages, finding out more about their way of life and learning how to create some of their traditional dishes, such as shou zhua fan, a mix of rice, beef, coriander and spring onions, and fish grilled in banana leaf.

Discover more and book at insideasiatours.com

Explorations Company Culinary and Nature Delights Tour, Kerala, India

Embark on a 16-day trip around one of India’s most beautiful regions which combines culinary treats with scenic hikes. Think cooking classes, tea tastings and private dinners on houseboats, with a backdrop of stunning nature and wildlife. You’ll go from exploring the lush tea plantations and forested hills of Munnar and the immersive spice plantations of Wayanad, to discovering the unique biodiversity of Thattekad. Highlights include lunch with a Syrian Christian family in Cochin, with the chance to ask them about their way of life and sample their traditional cuisine, which blends their original Syrian cooking techniques with local flavors - dishes include fish moilee, a coconut-based fish stew, varutharacha kozhi - a chicken or beef coconut curry - and idiyappam prawn moilee, a curry served with steamed rice string hoppers. During a homestay, the household will cook delicious Keralan dishes such as Malabar mutton biryani, avial - a dish usually made from 13 different vegetables - and parippu, a lentil curry, while you’ll also learn some of the basic techniques during a cooking class at a farm located in the beautiful backwaters.

Discover more and book a bespoke trip at explorationscompany.com

Hedonistic Hiking Lombardy Tour, Italy

Transport yourself to this strikingly beautiful and lesser-known part of Italy on an eight-night guided hiking trip through vineyards, valleys and mountain villages, with walks of between 4 and 11 miles a day. Start in the UNESCO medieval town of Bergamo, before heading to the Franciacorta vineyards and Lake Iseo, with wine tastings, visits to cheesemakers and dinners in handpicked trattorie and restaurants. Walks will typically be punctuated by picnics featuring local Bitto DOP, Storico Ribelle and Taleggio cheeses, in addition to Salame di Varzi, a course-ground local charcuterie, and the backdrop will be spectacular views, such as in the shadow of Pizzo della Presolana in the Bergamesque Alps. Alternatively, stop at mountain refuges and tuck into the likes of traditional sciatt (buckwheat fritters oozing with Valtellina Casera DOP cheese) and salad made with locally-grown vegetables. At local restaurants in charming villages such as Lovere, sample dishes such as cinghiale (wild boar) con polenta, pizzoccheri – Lombardy’s classic buckwheat flat ribbon pasta dish served with potato, cabbage and cheese - and salmì di cervo, venison cooked in a red wine and pancetta sauce. Wash it all down with renowned local Valtellina wine.

Discover more and book at hedonistichiking.com

Ramble Worldwide Tastes of Northern Portugal and Galicia Tour

Combine the best of two culinary worlds on Ramble Worldwide’s gentle-level-rated, 7-night Tastes of Northern Portugal and Galicia trip, with groups of up to 14. Based between the Spanish city of Vigo in Galicia, and Vila Praia de Ancora in Northern Portugal, this perfectly blends gentle countryside strolls with the opportunity to sample delicious local delicacies and superb wines on vineyard tours. Everyone you’ll encounter has a real passion for food, from the mussel farmers found along the picturesque Ria de Vigo, to the port wine producers in Ponta de Lima. From Vigo, explore bustling local markets and picturesque seaside towns savouring freshly caught seafood, such as spider crab, octopus and Vigo oysters, paired with refreshingly crisp Albarino wines. Then cross into the stunning, quieter Costa Verde, famous for its mountains, lush green countryside, beautiful beaches and excellent vinho verde. Along the way you’ll try local Galician delicacies such as empanadas, polbo á feira (a dish made of octopus) and queixo de tetilla (a soft, creamy, cow's milk cheese) while in Portugal, there’s also the chance to indulge in the famous pasteis de nata.

Discover more and book at rambleworldwide.co.uk

Wine Country Trekking Bodega Bay to Healdsburg Tour, USA

Yes, wine plays a prominent role in this self-guided, 5-day trek through Sonoma County, California, but so does delicious local food. Starting at the pretty seaside village of Bodega Bay, this hike explores the western side of Sonoma County with transfers each day to a new spot for a 3-5 mile hike. You’ll be strolling alongside the Pacific Ocean and through a coastal bird preserve, and when it comes to meals, here it’s all about fresh seafood – chowder, crab, scallops, oysters, red snapper, shrimp... Heading inland, a real highlight is the Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, to marvel at the majesty of the old growth redwoods. There will, of course, be wineries; many are clustered in the Dry Creek Valley, best known for its robust zinfandels. The trip ends in Healdberg, hope to the renowned SingleThread restaurant, which boasts three Michelin stars; dining choices also include a range of other excellent restaurants, from the vegan Little Saint to the modern Californian Dry Creek Kitchen.

Discover more and book at winecountrytrekking.com

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