Great trip for food and wine lovers. We enjoyed some new cultural experiences, learned about Basque wine and food, and met new friends.

I’ve been on lots of food tour and this one is spectacular

As one of the chefs helping to lead a tour with The Gourmet Vacation I cannot recommend the experience enough both as a chef and as a guest. Chef Richard had every aspect of our trip planned to perfection with experiences every day that were unique and bespoke. We got to not just be tourists but really delve into the food culture and lives of the locals by doing things like visiting the home workshop of knifemaker Hugo Boyne and taking a morning walk through the market with Michelin chef JP McMahon. The coach and driver Padraig was another highlight of the trip, we made us feel safe, welcomed and regaled us with personal stories during the drives. All the hotels were lovely but especially the Powerscourt Estate where we spent our final night gave us a little taste of luxury to end our wonderful experience.

This trip was wonderful - well planned, action packed, and lots of fabulous food. We got a nice sampling of local foods, scenery and points of interest. Now, I want to go back for more exploring. Richard does a very nice job of curating interesting and unique experiences for the tour. It is nice to be able to experience things that are off the beaten path. He helps to showcase people who are making a difference for their community and that care deeply about place and culture.

We had a fantastic time! The trip was very well organized and there was never a dull moment. We were go,go,go but in a fun way! Richard packed as many learning opportunities and experiences as he could in to the week. Highly recommend!