Originally published on Rachel Ray Magazine.
Mixing outdoorsy activities (biking, paddling) with cooking classes, farm stays, and wine tastings, these splurgy foodie travels will show you how to take a bite out of life.
Great Hikes and Cuisine of Crete
Guided by Kostas Vasileiou, a local cook and winemaker, you’ll hike the mountain trails of this ruggedly beautiful Greek island. The scenic trek is interspersed with seaside monastery lunches with monks, a shepherd’s-cheese tasting, and educational stops at ancient ruins and sanctuaries. From $5,495 per person for 11 days, wildernesstravel.com
Rogue River Wilderness Gourmet
On the banks of Oregon’s wild Rogue River, dine by candlelight at a linen-covered table on regional Pacific Northwest fare prepared by local chefs and paired with Calaveras County wines and microbrews. Trust us, you’ll be hungry for it after a day of (moderate) rafting on whitewater rapids. From $1,649 per person for four days, oars.com
India: Culinary Secrets of Rajasthan
Between the street-food tastings (pani puri, papri chaat), cooking classes with local families, and visits to organic vegetable farms, take in iconic sites like the Taj Mahal, enjoy a village safari, and luxuriate each night at gorgeous resorts and charming lodges. From $5,500 per person for 11 days, elevatedestinations.com
Cycling from Granada to Cordoba
Pedal along olive groves and timeworn castles in Spain’s Andalusia region to discover the best food and wine experiences the area has to offer. When not biking, spend your days learning how to prepare Spanish dishes and tasting monovarietal grapes at local wine bodegas. From $1,180 per person for eight days, pure-adventures.com
A Taste of Georgia: Wine, Cuisine & Culture
Join culinary writer Carla Capalbo (Tasting Georgia: A Food and Wine Journey in the Caucasus ) to discover the history of this ancient country through food, wine, and music. You’ll have underground wine tastings in Tbilisi, attend a Georgian feast, and tour rural vineyards. From $5,595 per person for 13 days, mircorp.com
Chile: Fjords, Fields & Flavor
Go clamming in mudflats, make curanto (a firepit feast of meats, seafood, and potato dumplings) with family farmers, and kayak through inland channels to taste urchin pulled straight from the sea. From the fjords of Chiloé to bustling Santiago, you’ll shop, cook, and learn from some of Chile’s most visionary chefs. From $6,995 per person for 10 days, culturexplorers.com