Flavour Awaits: Our Recipe for Meals on Tour
Food is more than just fuel when you’re travelling – it’s how you really understand a place. The warmth of spices in a Moroccan tagine, the tender pull of handmade pasta, the crackling energy of a night market where smoke rises from sizzling woks – these are the sensory experiences that remain well after you’ve returned home.
On an Approach tour, food is essential to the experience. All your breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are included, and we’ve built hands-on food experiences right into your itinerary.
Let’s pull back the curtain on what food looks like when you travel with Approach.
What to Expect
Every meal is part of the on-tour experience – breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all included!
How Meals Are Served
You’ll experience a variety of different dining styles throughout your tour. Some meals are individually plated, especially at local restaurants, others are served family-style, with platters landing at the centre of the table for everyone to share – the way friends and family actually eat! You will also get to enjoy self-serve buffets where you can load up your plate with whatever catches your eye.
Breakfast
Breakfasts are typically continental buffet-style: local fruit, warm breads, eggs, strong coffee and tea. You’ll also get to try regional breakfast customs – cured meats and cheeses in Italy, a proper Irish breakfast, or noodles in Vietnam.
Lunch
Lunches are served as pre-fixed, two or three-course meals at local restaurants and eateries, keeping you immersed in the destination before heading back to your accommodation. You’ll get one main course option, along with starters and desserts – whether that’s fresh fruit, traditional pastries, or local desserts like panna cotta in Italy or orange with cinnamon in Morocco.
Dinner
Dinners are a mix of hotel dining and local restaurants, where we seek out authentic regional cuisine. Expect hearty memorable meals with a sweet treat – think a traditional boma dinner under African stars in South Africa, folkloric feasts with Andean music in Peru, or a Heuriger meal with local wine in Vienna. These are the kind of dinners where you lean back, completely satisfied – and still reach for just one more bite!
What You’ll Eat
We work with local restaurants and hotels to serve meals that immerse you in where you are – because if you are what you eat, meals are your way into the culture. Over the course of a tour, you’ll experience familiar tastes from home alongside beautiful local flavours.
Slow-Cooked Comforts
Picture this: a tagine in Morocco arrives with the cone-shaped lid lifted to reveal tender lamb falling off the bone, swimming in a sauce fragrant with cinnamon and saffron, surrounded by carrots and chickpeas. Couscous so light it practically dissolves on your tongue.
In Croatia, a family-style platter of roasted meat and potatoes lands at your table in a huge pan, everyone reaching in with serving spoons.
Ocean’s Bounty
Fresh oysters on the Adriatic coast arrive briny and cold, served with nothing but lemon. A Portuguese seafood platter celebrates what the Atlantic provides: prawns, crab claws, mussels, and grilled fish arranged on a wooden board.
Hot Pot & Communal Feasts
In Japan, you’ll gather around bubbling hot pots where thin slices of beef cook in seconds in dashi broth. Each destination brings its own unique flavours to the table.
You’ll encounter meals that become instant highlights – as well as unfamiliar ones that deliver new delights and experiences for your taste buds. That’s the nature of exploring a place through its food: the variety means you’ll discover flavours you never expected to love.
Dietary Restrictions
No one should miss out on the food experience! We accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free (Celiac), diabetic, and no seafood diets. Let us know at booking, and we’ll work with restaurants in advance.
Some destinations have more variety than others. In countries where meat and fish dominate, you may encounter repeating vegetarian dishes. When that happens, take a tip from seasoned travellers: buy extra snacks at local markets to mix into your routine!
For any restriction not listed, include details in your booking form. Our Sales & Traveller Champions will confirm whether and how we can accommodate your needs. For more detailed information about dietary accommodations, check out our dietary restrictions FAQ.
Hands-On Food Experiences
Eating is one thing – experiencing food is another. Let’s dive into a few flavour-packed highlights you’ll discover on tour.
Tra Que Village: Farm to Table
(Vietnam & Angkor Wat)
Step into village life in Tra Que, just outside Hoi An. Don a conical hat, get your hands deep into the earth, and tend the very vegetables you’re about to cook.
Then let the fire roar and leap from the woks and pans, the heat hitting your face as your mouth waters.
You’ll make local favourites like bánh xèo – crispy Vietnamese crepes filled with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts, and spring rolls packed with fresh herbs.
For the culinary challenged, no sweat! A local chef guides you through techniques passed down through generations. When you sit down to eat what you’ve made, it tastes different because you know exactly where it came from.
Other food experiences on our Vietnam & Angkor Wat tour:
- Ha Long Bay cooking demonstration
- Hoi An street-food tour
- Honey farm with traditional tea tasting in Ben Tre
Thai Cooking Class & Night Markets
(Authentic Thailand & Phuket)
At a local organic farm in Chiang Mai, you’ll create your own curry from scratch. Not from a jar – from actual ingredients you’ll pound in a mortar and pestle until the paste releases that aroma of lemongrass, galangal, and chillies. You’ll work alongside a local chef in a garden setting – palm trees overhead, the air warm and thick.
We’ll also take you to night markets, where the action happens and things get real!
The air smells like charcoal smoke and frying garlic. Vendors work under bare bulbs, flipping skewers over open flames, stretching roti dough impossibly thin and folding it around banana and condensed milk.
Take your plate, sit at plastic tables with cold bottles of Singha, and take in the organized chaos. This is where you taste Thailand at its most vibrant!
Other food experiences on our Authentic Thailand & Phuket tour:
- Khantoke dinner accompanied by traditional Lanna dance performance
- Maeklong Train Market
- Damnoen Saduak floating market
- Roti Saimai (Thai cotton candy) tasting in Ayutthaya
Pisco Sour & Ceviche Classes
(Peru & Mystical Machu Picchu)
Peru takes its pisco sours seriously. You’ll discover why when you craft this iconic drink yourself, learning the exact ratio of pisco, lime juice, syrup, egg white, and bitters that make this cocktail sing.
When you shake it until your wrist hurts and pour that frothy, pale green beverage, you’ll understand why it’s the national drink.
You’ll also get hands-on with ceviche – Peru’s most celebrated dish and a cornerstone of its world-class culinary reputation.
“Cook” fresh fish in lime juice, then toss it with red onion, coriander, and fiery ají peppers. The acid cuts through, the heat builds, and the brightness will wake up your palate!
It’s not just about eating it either – it’s about understanding how the locals turn simple ingredients into something extraordinary.
Other food experiences on our Peru & Mystical Machu Picchu tour:
- Honey bee farm visit with traditional tea tasting
Parmesan Cheese Experience
(Signature Italy Tour)
Walk into a Parmesan factory in Emilia-Romagna and thousands of massive cheese wheels – each weighing 40 kilos – stacked floor-to-ceiling will stop you in your tracks. The air smells rich, almost nutty!
You’ll learn how Parmigiano-Reggiano is produced, the same way it’s been made for 900 years. Those wheels sit on wooden shelves for a minimum of 12 months (sometimes 36!) developing those crystals that crunch between your teeth and that deep, complex flavour.
And yes, a big part of this is tasting! You’ll try Parmesan at different ages and taste the difference. You’ll leave in blue hairnets (perfect for photos), understanding why real Parmigiano-Reggiano costs what it does. Because it’s not just cheese. It’s craft!
Other food experiences on our Signature Italy Tour:
- Mozzarella and limoncello tasting in Sorrento
- Wine and olive oil tastings at a local vineyard
Every Approach adventure has its own flavour. Here’s what else is cooking across our tours:
Colours of Morocco
Gather around a Berber campfire dinner under Saharan stars.
Timeless Japan
Sample sake at the Funasaka Sake Brewery in Takayama, and participate in a traditional tea ceremony in Kyoto.
Prague, Krakow, Budapest & Vienna
Visit a historic Czech brewery for a beer tasting accompanied by traditional Czech music and dinner.
Grand Tour of Ireland
Tour the Guinness Storehouse and enjoy a perfectly poured pint, plus explore your senses at the Jameson Distillery with whiskey tastings.
Ancient Egypt & the Nile
Feast on fresh Mediterranean seafood at a local restaurant in Alexandria overlooking the historic harbour.
Sicily & Southern Italy
Sample Marsala wines paired with lunch at a local cellar, and witness a truffle ice cream demonstration in Pizzo Calabro.
Food isn’t just part of the itinerary – it’s part of the adventure. From hands-on cooking classes to market tours and artisan tastings, every meal tells a story about the place you’re visiting and the people who call it home.
Ready to taste the world with Approach Tours?
Authentic Thailand & Phuket
From the picture-perfect landscapes and soft sand beaches to the opulent temples and royal palaces, Thailand is packed full of riches. Dart through the noisy hustle and bustle of modern life in Chiang Mai on a Tuk-Tuk. Peer into the lives of Thai royalty at the Grand Palace and Ayutthaya Historical Park. Splash around in the tranquil waters of a 1,500-metre-long waterfall, in a pond with an elephant, and on the pristine beaches of Phuket. Sample the wide range of traditional Thai flavours, effortlessly blending savoury, spicy and sweet. Run your hands over artisan-made silks and teak carvings. Awaken all your senses at once in this timeless paradise.
Departures: October & November 2025January, Febrary & March 2026October & November 2026 (+200)
Colours of Morocco
The vibrant contrast of the orange clay architecture against electric blue skies will draw you further into the lively yet ancient culture of this modern kingdom. Marvel at the splendour of royal palaces, coastal havens, lavish Riads, disorientating souk streets, and local artisanry. Savour local cuisines, both unexpected and familiar. Venture through the Merzouga desert on camel back, knowing that a unique and restful night under the stars of the Sahara awaits.
Departures: October 2025April 2026September & October 2026 (+$100)
Enchanting Portugal
Flanked by Spain and the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal seems to enchant anyone who has made a trip along its 1,800 km of pristine coastline. With picturesque vineyards, jagged cliffs and hilly cities, history can be found on every cobblestoned street, and the Portugal experience is different for each traveller. Warm people and delicious food are central to every visit. If salted cod and fresh sardines are everyday staples, the Pastéis de Belém pastry is now an institution in its own right.
Departures: September & October 2025April & May 2026September & October 2026 (+$200)
Grand Tour of Ireland
A lyrical culture in a land of 40 shades of green, Éire is seducing at every turn. From the untamed quiet of Connemara to the thunderous waves crashing against the Cliffs of Moher, through the famous Giant’s Causeway coast, it’s easy to understand why residents of the Emerald Isle proclaim that their land is the most beautiful in the world. The melting pot of eras offers an experience rich in modern culture, founded on over 5,500 years of history and ancestral traditions.
Departures: September & October 2025April & May 2026September & October 2026 (+$300)
Iconic Greece & the Cyclades
With some of Europe’s oldest civilizations developing in this country, impressive monuments still stand as proof of the empires that once called the ancient Panhellenic capital home. While the mainland’s architecture will take you on a trip through time, the Cyclades of Mykonos and Santorini will inspire you to cherish the simpler things in life. Endless blue seas, whitewashed buildings at dramatic angles and pink skies play backdrop to the distinctive cultural heritage and fascinating local traditions of a millennia-old and multifaceted civilization. Local favourites of fresh seafood, strong Ouzo liquor, sun-filled tomatoes, perfectly ripe olives and organic feta cheese will quickly become yours, too.
Departures: September & October 2025April & May 2026September & October 2026 (+$200)
Peru & Mystical Machu Picchu
This land of ethnic splendours offers distinct cultural experiences that vary depending on where you are standing. Experience colonial Conquistador plazas in major cities, local handmade bead wares, charming communities living among the rolling Andean peaks and soaring condors. No visit would be complete without discovering Machu Picchu, the mystical remnants of the great Incan Empire dating back over 700 years. Practice your conversational Quechuan, one of the oldest native languages still spoken today, and cleanse your palate with wedges of sweet Cherimoya fruit, spicy Aji and savory ceviche.
Departures: October & November 2025March 2026October & November 2026 (+$100)
Prague, Krakow, Budapest & Vienna
Captivating moments await curious travellers and history buffs alike. Gaze at the evolution of different architectural styles. Walk across roman bridges while biting into a warm strudel. Quietly enjoy world-class street melodies. Taste a savoury Pierogi made using a century-old original recipe. Feel the emotional remnants of human conflict. These four cities and their countries come together seamlessly to form a timeless tour that will continue to mesmerize travellers for years to come.
Departures: September 2025April & May 2026September 2026 (+$200)
Sicily & Southern Italy
Fresh artichokes, tomatoes, sweet almonds, aubergine and cold pressed olive oil will never taste the same. The south of Italy has its own spin on everything, and food is only one example. Lose yourself in the Sicilian heartland and learn about the myriad of civilizations that each left their mark on the island. Discover Greek temples, Arab-inspired markets, Norman castles, and the shimmering beauty of the volcanic Aeolian Islands. A few kilometres north, Calabria and Puglia offer distinct culinary traditions and spectacular coastal towns. Celebrate the art of living, eating and travelling slowly, in the region that started it all.
Departures: September & October 2025April & May 2026September & October 2026 (+$200)
Signature Italy Tour
A cherished favourite for many travellers and the home of the “Dolce Vita” way of life, Italy has an expansive and established influence in world culture. Fall under the sublime charm of fine leathers, Renaissance art, classical music, delicate pasta, Neapolitan pizza, wonderful wines, fresh mozzarella, and velvety chocolate. From Venice’s waterways and Pisa’s leaning tower to Florence’s Duomo and Cinque Terre’s panoramic views — an unforgettable experience awaits. Our complete itinerary goes beyond the essentials and is the perfect way to discover Italy for the first, second, or tenth time.
Departures: September & October 2025April & May 2025September & October 2026 (+$200)
South Africa & Victoria Falls
Sweeping panoramic views, a rich and diversified cultural heritage and a true wildlife haven are here to be discovered. In a few words, be ready to feel small — stand between two oceans at the southern tip of the continent, witness the Big Five up-close in their natural habitat, and cruise near the world’s largest waterfall. Enjoy some of the finest wines, a product of this unique climate. This once-in-a-lifetime adventure will awaken all your senses.
Departures: August, September, October & November 2025January, February, March & April 2026August, September, October & November 2026 (+$200)
Splendours of Spain
Feel the passion of the Spanish people at every proud monument, in every Flamenco-filled taberna, and on every sparkling beach you visit across this delightful nation. Gaze upon gilded palaces, timeless fortifications and wow-worthy landscapes that influenced such artistic juggernauts as Pablo Picasso and Antoni Gaudí. Dig into hearty, seafood-rich paella, or take a more modest bite of one of endless creative tapas dishes. Notice how your nose perks up as you catch the scent of orange blossoms and olives while passing through the fruitful groves of the Andalusia region. In artisan shops, gently rub your hand across handmade ceramics and supple Spanish leathers. While beautiful and world-class, Spain is much more than just its capital or second city. On this tour, you’ll discover that firsthand.
Departures: April & May 2026September & October 2026 (+$200)
Timeless Japan
Time-honoured traditions blend with modern ingenuity in the land of cherry blossoms and stone gardens. Ancient temples cast shadows across neon-lit streets, while the Nozomi bullet train slices through the picturesque countryside. Watch golden pavilions sparkle against snow-capped Mount Fuji and let the haunting dawn prayers of Mount Koya’s monks transport you to another era. Run your fingers along Himeji Castle’s centuries-old walls, breathe in the steam of Hakone’s hot springs, and savour the complex umami of traditional sake, and fresh sushi. From Arashiyama’s crisp-scented bamboo forests to Kanazawa’s lantern-lit historic districts, each moment in Japan reveals how past and future dance in perfect harmony.
Departures: October & November 2025April, March & May 2026October 2026 (+$200)
Treasures of Croatia & the Balkans
Whether you are relaxing next to the crystal blue waters of the Adriatic, strolling through the historical city centers of Split or Dubrovnik, or taking in the fairy tale beauty of Plitvice’s 100 synchronized waterfalls, experience life in landscape with endless immersive views. In Bosnia, you will learn about the Balkan region’s tumultuous history, while Slovenia will overwhelm you with exquisite views of alpine lakes and million-year-old cave formations. If that isn’t reason enough, get an early taste of what the world is discovering to be a budding wine region.
Departures: September 2025April & May 2026September & October 2026 (+$150)
Vietnam & Angkor Wat
If you come to Vietnam for the delicious food, dramatic landscapes and bustling markets, you will stay for the people whose complex history and rich heritage continue to seduce even the most seasoned travellers. Be humbled by the recounting of war-time stories with French colonial buildings as a backdrop in Ho Chi Minh City. Embrace the sense of awe that takes over while waking up to the dragon-like island formations dotting Ha Long Bay. Get up close and personal with locals while discovering true foodie culture, spanning from humble broths to rich curries. The sprawling temples of Angkor will leave you speechless, as Cambodia’s ancient traditions contrast with modern culture.
Departures: October & November 2025February & March 2026October & November 2026 (+$200)
Ancient Egypt & the Nile
Take a journey back in time as you amble through the monuments, tombs and temples that line the ancient avenues of Egypt. Gaze up at the Great Sphinx and the panoramic pyramids of Giza, venture inside a pyramid and stand awestruck in the face of astonishing temples built for the gods. Travel to Alexandria, historically known as the capital of knowledge and learning, and soak in the splendour of picturesque scenery as you spend seven days cruising down the Nile. Relax by the Red Sea and experience brilliant white sand and sparkling turquoise waters in the coastal town of Hurghada. On this tour, get swept away in Egypt’s living history with every sight you see and every city you visit.
Departures: October & November 2025March & April 2026September, October & November 2026 (+$200)
Epic New Zealand
From north to south, New Zealand unfolds like a story told on a grand stage. Sail through fiords carved by glaciers, see snow-capped peaks stretching into the distance, and wander forests shaded by towering ferns. Here, adventure means wide-open skies, thundering waterfalls, and starry nights that make you feel small in the best way. Listen to the roar of the haka and the tales of the proud Māori people. Savour the smoky flavour of a traditional hāngī, sip world-famous Sauvignon Blanc, and sample fresh seafood by the Kaikōura shore. Breathe in the crisp scent of alpine pines and wild lupins in bloom. Feel the warmth of geothermal pools, the chill of glacial lakes at Mount Cook, and the spray of waterfalls in Fiordland. Each day builds on the last, a chapter bigger and wilder than before. This isn’t just another tour — this is New Zealand, and it’s epic.
Departures: November 2026February & March 2027 (+$500)
