Portugal, one of the oldest countries in the world, is a food and wine paradise. The Portuguese are the original foodies, and food and wine have been an integral part of Portuguese culture for centuries. Excellent seafood and cured meats (sausages and ham), delicious bread and pastries, and a deep understanding of flavors put Portugal at the top of the gastronomy ladder.
Portugal is also a cultural haven. Lisbon and Porto are magnificent cities, overwhelmed with timeless magic and great places to visit any time of the year. See the spectacular architecture, visit the monuments, and tour historical buildings. A walk through the streets brings to life the culinary traditions of the Portuguese kitchen.
On this eight-day tour, explore the food, culture, and cuisine of Portugal via Lisbon and Porto. Through cooking classes in unique settings, all run by accomplished chefs, you will be able to bring these traditions back home.
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Everyone in the Explore office was knowledgeable and helpful - they went above and beyond to give details of the trip and discuss its suitability and logistics. And a great bonus - the phone was answered quickly without endless waiting.
I had been apprehensive about my ability to walk quite so far for the full 6 days, but it was perfectly paced and plenty of time for coffee and lunch stops. The scenery was varied and the villages delightful.
The highlight of the trip was having our guide, Spiros, who spoke great English, was passionate about his island and the trail, hugely knowledgable about the local flora and fauna, and on top of all that, funny and kind and intent on ensuring that everyone had a great time.
Experience the winter wonderlands of Europe like never before, with stunning views of Lake Lucerne from the peak of Mt. Pilatus and immersive tours of Munich and Salzburg. An Insight Choice experience in Innsbruck lets you choose between a horse-drawn carriage ride through the Alpine scenery or a visit to the world of Swarovski Crystal. Your Austrian adventure continues with an exclusive Salzburg market tasting experience, where locals serve goblets of Glühwein and freshly baked Lebkuchen, fragrant with ginger and cocoa. Across the border in Germany, Rothenburg, nestled alongside the River Tauber, offers an abundance of 16th-century charm, while in Munich, foaming steins of beer beckon at the city’s famous beer halls.
Taste the essence of Portugal and Spain as you wander through historic cities with rich culture and vintage wines. Explore Lisbon, where narrow Moorish streets meet expansive squares and a castle that overlooks a vibrant, cultural scene below. Walk the scenic Ribeira waterfront in Porto, a Portuguese harbor city and home to Port wine. Enjoy a relaxing 2-night stay on the grounds of a winery in the Douro River Valley. Visit the lively city of Salamanca, before touring Bilbao and San Sebastián and get up close with the local culture of the Basque Country, one of the most renowned Spanish regions for food and wine. Savor this journey along rolling hills, distinct cultures, curving coasts, and twisting vines.
I enjoyed the variety of places we visited. I especially liked having a local guide at each location to learn about the history and culture of each place. The only regret for me was that we couldn’t spend more time in Lake Bled. I liked that we were able to take the boats over to the island, but I would have also enjoyed seeing a view of the lake from a higher vantage point to be able to see the entire lake with the island in the middle. Otherwise, I was fully pleased with the itinerary of the tour.
Private Tour around Apulia and Matera beyond our expectations .Very good the Hotel in Matera, Dimora di Metello..but also Tenuta Monacelle near Alberobello. Great local guide and meals. I only think you should had add an extra day in Apulia, 5 days are not enough. Anyway excellent tour and service. Very good value for money
I have just got home from my cycle holiday in the Loire. It exceeded my expectations. The guide Pierre, was very knowledgeable and helpful. The bikes were good. The cycle paths were all excellent, a few quiet roads, I did not feel nervous or over challenged. There was variety and plenty of visits to Chateau’s, vineyards and wine tasting. The picnic lunches were all very French, which is all part of the experience, and Thomas made wonderful choices of where we had them. The level of cycling was accurate. The distances were comfortable. I will certainly be looking for my next trip with Exodus.
This trip was fantastic.
The itinerary was described accurately. All hotels were very well appointed, clean and most were in beautiful locations.
The guide was excellent and very knowledgeable. We had picknick lunches daily en route.
The group was great, a very diverse group from different countries with lots of humour and stories to share.
We certainly recommend this trip and remember it fondly!
On this self-guided, hotel-to-hotel walking holiday, you'll explore the beautifully tranquil Langhe region of Piedmont, a gastronomic gem quietly tucked into Italy's north-western corner. Recently recognised by UNESCO, the countryside is a glorious mix of gently rippling, wave-shaped hills cloaked by layers of vines, sunflowers and oak forests, crowned with honey-hued hamlets and majestic Savoy castles.
Your route starts and ends in Benevello, nestling in the hazelnut-clad Alta Langa hills, from where you follow the limpid Tanaro River before climbing through a string of hamlets to your hotel in Fontanafredda, a renowned wine estate that was once owned by the first king of Italy! It's then on to La Morra, an atmospheric wine village known as the balcony of the Langhe for its stunning panorama over the surrounding rolling landscape. As you approach beautiful Monforte d'Alba, whose ochre-coloured houses seem to cling enchantingly to the hillside, you visit Barolo, home of the revered eponymous wine. This rich and fertile land produces some of Italy's finest food and wine, from robust Barolo and sweet Moscato to aromatic white truffles (exclusive to Alba), crunchy hazelnuts and tangy cheeses.
Explore a land where world history and fairy-tale charm come to life in the culturally rich cities of Central & Eastern Europe. Enjoy multi-night stays, immersive local deep-dives, and authentic, traditional flavors in Prague, Vienna, Budapest, and Krakow. Learn about life during the fall of the Berlin Wall from a Berliner who lived through it. Get a sweet taste of the relaxed Viennese coffee house culture. Travel aboard a train, like the locals, on the beautiful journey from Prague to Vienna. Make your journey unique when you choose to visit the House of Terror Museum to learn about Hungarian history or indulge in the famous Thermal Baths of Budapest, one of the largest spa baths in Europe. Discover Krakow on a walking tour through the Old Town. Step into history at Auschwitz during a poignant visit. This is a land where past and present coincide – embrace history, culture, and endless beauty in Central and Eastern Europe.
Watch a Nordic postcard unfold before your eyes and discover the lands where Vikings reigned. Join a local expert for an intimate tour of Stockholm, Sweden’s idyllic capital city. Uncover why Copenhagen is dubbed the "gastro capital of Scandinavia." Experience Norway’s breathtaking fjord region, taking a cruise on Geirangerfjord. An incredible journey to a land of unparalleled beauty awaits you in Scandinavia, where history and culture intersect with stunning natural wonders.