Our Travel Philosophy

Our Travel Style

Each trip has been specially customized and curated by Great Culinary Travels. We go on each of these trips ourselves and on the first trip, we vet and customize every aspect of the trip. Adjustments are made on the fly, and feedback from the group is sought. The next trip reflects all of these changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

DO I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SAFETY? 

This is a first-class experience. We stay at nice places, and we eat in clean, healthy places. We stay away from 5-star hotels which tend to be very Westernized, but the hotels we choose are on the higher end.

HOW PHYSICALLY STRENUOUS IS THIS TRIP?

We typically walk between 2-4 miles a day, spread out in small bursts through a 12-hour day. We have people with varying physical abilities. While most places and buses in some of the places we travel, such as India, aren’t geared toward wheelchair travelers, many of us have to sit out some activities due to heat or exertion. Allowances are made for all of us.

We want to show you all that we love about a place and introduce you to our local friends and markets so you get an insider’s view into the region. We want you to experience the real India and enjoy visiting places and markets that typically are not on tourist itineraries.

WHY IS THE DEPOSIT NON-REFUNDABLE?

We choose small boutique hotels that have limited capacity. We book cooking classes well in advance. Without this deposit, none of these things would be possible.

HOW MUCH EXTRA MONEY DO I NEED TO BRING?

Whatever you want to spend for shopping! Everything else–meals, transportation, lodging, and even tips are covered on our trips! Unless you want something special, there are no surprises once you are in-country.

WHAT EXPENSES ARE TYPICALLY NOT COVERED?

·       Transportation / international airfares from your home to/from the country
·       Visa costs
·       Any incidental expenses 
·       Required travel insurance
·       Any meals not listed in the itinerary
·       Any extra excursions or events you plan
·       Alcoholic drinks and extra snacks unless explicitly included in the trip
·       Anything from room service or the hotel minibar
PLEASE READ THE TOUR DESCRIPTION for specifics on each trip.

WHY ARE GREAT CULINARY TOURS THE BEST FOOD TOURS?

Here’s a few reasons people love traveling with us: 

• Unique Experiences: Many of the experiences in our itineraries are one-of-a-kind and only accessible with Great Culinary Travels. You will visit homes, local markets, side streets, and places that tourists do not typically get to see—all while eating and learning how to cook some amazing dishes.
• Friends on The Trip: These trips are geared toward those in the Facebook Group. This means that you have a chance to get to know fellow travelers ahead of time. It also means that your fellow travelers are likely to be like you: culturally curious, foodies, who are non-judgmental. Most of us have struck up close friendships before, during, and after the trips.
• Hand-picked guides: Alka Sharma has been in the travel business for over 30 years. We use only her hand-picked guides and contacts.
• Expert Hosts: Not only do we know our foodie travelers well, we also have deep knowledge about each area we travel. In each area, we partner with local experts.
• Planned Itinerary: Our itineraries are planned so that each day has anywhere from 4 to 8 hours of activity, plus sufficient downtime so that you can just hang out and get to know your fellow travelers.
• Free Time: That said we always offer some optional activities and we always squeeze in some downtime so you can relax.  
• Supporting Local Economies:  We choose places where the USD is strong, and where local economies benefit from our visit. The local markets, artisans, guides, shop owners etc. are grateful for your business, and you come home with great finds at great prices. We see this as a win-win, and as a way to have a positive emotional and economic impact on the places we visit.

Required Documents

• Required Waiver. We require you sign a waiver holding Teknilogic Inc. not responsible for any travel mishaps. Instead, please get travel insurance so you are covered.
• Required Trip Insurance. Please note that trip insurance is required to join us on a Great Culinary Travel trip. FYI most major credit cards (such as American Express, CHASE Sapphire, and Capital One) offer complimentary insurance when you purchase using their card.
• Required COVID-19 Vaccination card. We are very careful to protect ourselves on these trips. No one will be allowed to travel without proof of vaccination.

Cancellation Policy

Our detailed cancellation and refund policy is here. Please read the trip descriptions for exact dates of payment and refunds. Typically we require a $500 non-refundable deposit to hold each spot. Full payment due 60 days before the trip starts at which point NO refunds will be issued. We keep prices low by pre-booking trips and getting attractive prices. Last minute cancellations hurt the whole group.