There is possibly no better way to begin to understand another country's culture than to explore its food and drink. With that comes all the other aspects of daily life - family, friends, celebrations and festive occasions.

These five tours will allow participants to open a window into another way of life.

Taste Korea

Get on the go in Seoul with O'ngo Food Tours and enjoy a fun day out on one of their Korean food tours or learning how to cook Korean cuisine at their Korean cooking school.  O'ngo Food Tours and Korean Cooking School is rated number one of tours to do in Seoul by real travellers on Tripadvisor.

Whether you wish to discover and enjoy the local cuisine, try gourmet delights, learn how to cook the Korean traditional cuisine or just have fun trying the great variety of street foods O'ngo Food Tours and Korean Cooking School will not only help you to gain a better understanding of Korean cuisine but also give you a glimpse into Korean culture and lifestyle.

O'ngo Food Tours and Korean Cooking School's highly popular culinary tours can be arranged privately or in groups and offer travellers memorable Korean food and cultural experiences.

The company also organises trips for serious foodies to major food destinations outside of Seoul such as Chuncheon, Jeonju and Jeju Island.  A day tour to Jeonju, the food capital of Korea picks you up at your hotel in Seoul at 7am and takes you by bus to Jeonju (3hrs) where you visit the 400 year old hanok village and try the famous noodle soup and dumplings.

In Jeonju you visit a famous tea house, explore local temples and palaces and along the way try a lot of the local specialities.  The most famous Jeonju dish of all is one of Korea's most popular dishes.  A mixture of steamed rice and many vegetables and sometimes a little beef with a fried egg on top which you mix with the special red pepper sauce is loved by Koreans and foreigners alike.

For full details of all the Korean food and cultural experiences you can enjoy with O'ngo Food Tours visit their website.  Read more....

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Taste Sicily

A Sicily tour taking in the highlights of the island�s varied cuisine and historical sites is led by cultural specialist Marcello Baglioni and archaeologist Dr. Michael Metcalfe. There are cooking classes, opportunities to visit local producers of cheeses, olives, honey and wines, and numerous tastings including a demonstration and tasting of traditional Modicano chocolate. Other highlights include exploring historic Syracuse, the beautiful town of Noto, renowned for its Baroque architecture and a walk on Mt. Etna with an expert volcanologist.

Eastern Sicily is home to a vibrant culinary tradition that mixes delicious local produce with cooking styles drawn from its many foreign rulers, from the Byzantines to the Arabs and from the Normans to the Spanish.The rolling hills and fertile plains produce seemingly unlimited quantities of fresh fruit, nuts and vegetables, while abundant flocks and herds produce delicious cheeses and meats. These riches are surrounded by rich fishing grounds, filling the market stalls with an enormous range of marine delicacies. To complete the picture, Sicily now produces some of the most highly regarded new wines in Europe, the perfect accompaniment to its long-renowned ices, fruit drinks and digestifs. This veritable cornucopia of delights provides all the ingredients for a magnificent voyage of cultural and gastronomic discovery.

Marcello (named Sicily's top travel specialist by Condé Nast Traveler magazine) and Michael, the guides who will accompany you on this brand new food tour in Sicily, have lived and worked in the region for many years - they have drawn deeply on their ?experience to craft an itinerary that combines practical cooking experience with expert-led tours exploring the key highlights of the area's gastronomic tradition and wealth in historical sites

As this Sicily tour relies so closely on seasonal produce, the itinerary may change slightly to take advantage of the best culinary delights on offer. We are certain that any food and wine lover will be in raptures over the week long cultural feast that we lay on. We look forward to welcoming you on to this brand new food holiday, the first of many Sicily tours for Peter Sommer Travels. For full details visit the website.

Taste Champagne

Taste Champagne on an Amsterdam canal cruise, sample the product of six wineries along the Rhine-Main-Danube river network between Amsterdam and Budapest, join the last day of the Oktoberfest in Munich, sip a Sekt at the Wertheim Castle, learn about wine tasting from an expert and join a master class on Austrian and German Rieslings during APT's first Platinum Series 15-day Magnificent Europe wine cruise departing on September 28 next year.

On board a luxury Concerto Class river ship, guests also enjoy complimentary international wines, beer and soft drinks throughout the cruise and 41 meals from the ship's kitchen which is accredited by La Chaine des Rotisseurs, one of the world's most prestigious culinary organisations. A private dinner in the ship's wine room is one of seven dining options.

A free return airfare deal (flights from Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane) is available for bookings made before November 30, 2012.

The cruise price includes a spacious suite (choice of styles), the expertise of wine host Christian Maier, the meals, escorted excursions including the above wine and beer experiences, choice of other sightseeing activities, hotel transfers, tipping and port charges.

And, champagne is served too at a private opera recital at the Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest and at a classical music recital at Albertina Palace in Vienna.

Contact 1300 656 985, or visit the website.

A Taste of Catalunya

Delectable tapas, fine wines, wild seascapes, astounding architecture, breath-taking scenery - the Spanish region of Catalunya has it all. And the best way to discover the many facets of Catalunya is to explore on foot with an expert guide on a small group bespoke walking holiday.

A Taste of Catalunya, offered by walking holiday specialists Outdoor Travel Pty Ltd, celebrates the best the region has to offer including the charming port of Sitges with a traditional tapas dinner and a glass of Cava, the Catalan sparkling wine; entrance to two of architect Antoni Gaud's most amazing creations, Casa Batlló and Palau Güell and gentle rambles in the hills above Sitges and along the coast near the beautiful seaside village of Cadaques.

Casa Batlló and Palau Güell are perhaps two of the finest houses ever built in Europe. Both showcase radical design of fantastic form (in both senses of the word) inside and out, and exquisite materials such as wood, wrought iron, ceramics, glass and stone.

Also on offer from Outdoor Travel are a selection of similar regular guided walking tours in the Lot / Dordogne regions and Basque Country of southern France and Spain. Food and wine play an important role in each itinerary, as do the seasons and seasonal foods and flowers especially in spring or autumn.

Email for more information call 1800 331 582.

A taste of the Pyrenees

Pyrénées Tours' founder, Patrick Arrieula, was born in south-west France in a little village at the foot of the French Pyrénées in the Béarn region near the Spanish and Basque borders.

Since 1996 he and his wife Robbie have escorted unique tours in the Pyrenees Atlantic region of south-west France during spring and autumn, sharing their passion for this beautiful part of France. All tours are based in the country, giving you the rare opportunity to meet the locals, taste the regional produce, admire the beautiful landscapes, and experience the culture.

The walking tours are suitable for all those who enjoy walking as well as good dining. The two different itineraries are suitable for two types of walkers. One, for the more energetic with longer walks and the other combining shorter walks with slow food and cultural activities.

The hotels have been chosen for their comfort, charm and good table. During the tours, participants have the choice of joining daily activities or relaxing in the village for the day.  A coach will ensure a comfortable journey along the French country roads.

Email Pyrenees Tours for more information.