Private, customized tours to Cuba, Mexico, Portugal, Spain and Morocco are available to these fabulous destinations for food, music, art and more. I am happy to customize a personal tour for you and your party to anywhere in the world. Who wants to travel with 40 people on a bus when you can travel with Chef John and local guides to give you the culinary trip of a lifetime. And enjoy more than just food with personalized additions such as wine tasting, art and culture tours, concerts and whatever you want to do.
Private culinary tours provide a personalized travel experience for you and your party and include all travel planning, resorts, flights, transfers, Chef's table dinners, tours of local gourmet markets and whatever you want to experience anywhere in the world. For a sample itinerary, please scroll down to see what 7-days in Morocco looks like.
If you're visiting Tubac and would like a private, custom tour of Arizona's Wine and Distillery region in Sonoita, please see the bottom of the page for details.
Please contact Chef John directly to discuss availability and travel options at chefjohn@culinarybud.com
Cuba - Art, Music and Food
Explore Cuba from the cigar plantations of Pinar del Rio, through Havana and other classic cities, all the way to Santiago de Cuba. This exclusive road trip highlights the art, music and food with local chefs, musicians, artists and stay at classic or contemporary resorts in the city or on amazing beaches.
Mexico: Guadalajara and the Tequila
Get on board for the ride of your life with the Herradura Express Tequila Train, distillery tour and a gourmet meal with music and dancing at the Herradura Estate in Jalisco. Also see the historic city of Guadalajara including famous restaurants, murals by Jose Clemente Orozco and the home of former Mexican President Porfirio Díaz.
Mexico City Art, Food and Pyramids
Experience the largest city in north America with regional food, drinks and music. Your tour includes Xochimilco, Coyoacan and Teotihuacan - and I'll even help you correctly pronounce these famous historic attractions! See amazing art and cultural anthropological highlights from Mayan and Aztec civilizations. Visit museums, award-winning restaurants and much more.
Sonora Food Tour from Nogales to San Carlos, Mexico
Get a taste of Sonora, Mexico with all of the amazing flavors featuring Sonoran beef, fish or shrimp from the Sea of Cortez, Cheese and Honey from Imuris and famous bread from Magdalena. It's an easy road-trip from southern Arizona, and you will find where to go for the best food and shopping in Nogales and throughout Sonora.
Sonoita and Elgin Wine and Distillery Tour
About 45 minutes southeast of Tubac, enjoy the wine and spirits in Elgin and Sonoita, Arizona. From Rhone style wines to lavender infused Vodka, your taste buds will be rewarded with amazing flavors. Private tour available for 2 to 4 people; for larger groups, a VIP Limo is available by request. As your tour guide and designated driver, you will also learn about the great history of southern Arizona. Cheers to a safe and memorable trip!
Have you been to Marrakeech? If not, let's go!
Day 1: Arrival at Tangier Med - Visit Tangier - Then to the blue pearl Chefchaouen:
I fly with you from your departure location and we meet my friend Omar in Tangier. We can either fly directly, or take the ferry from Tarifa, Spain to Tangier.
Afterwards go to Chefchaouen by the Rif Mountains, we get there around 4pm and explore the blue beautifully perched beneath the raw peaks of the Rif, one of the prettiest towns in Morocco, an artsy, blue-washed mountain village that feels like its own world. with its old medina, a delight of Moroccan and Andalusian influence with red-tiled roofs, bright-blue buildings and narrow lanes. Overnight in Chefchaouen.
Day 2: From Chefchaouen to Fes through Volubilis and Meknes:
After breakfast in the Riad, we are going to leave the unforgettable Chefchaouen towards a special destination, The city of Fes, also known as the scientific city of Morocco because In its heyday, Fes attracted scholars and philosophers, mathematicians and lawyers, astronomers and theologians. Craftsmen built them houses and palaces, kings endowed mosques and medersas (religious schools). On the way we will have the opportunity to visit “Volubilis “, Roman ruins well preserved in this historical place and, also we are going to visit the magnificent city of Meknes also known as the Ismail capital, where you will have the chance to walk around and discover this historical magnificent city. Then we finish to Fes the old city to spend our third night.
Day 3: Fes sightseeing "guided tour":
After Breakfast, you are going to explore, the historical ramparts of the Medina of Fes with a professional local guide. See the historical Marinid tombs, visiting the 14th century “ the Madrasa Bou inania “, and its excellent museum, with its rich collection of illuminated manuscripts, and ceramics. And enjoying lunch in the Medina.Then you are going to resume exploring the fascinating cobbled lanes of the Medina, and the richly decorated Attarin’s madrasa, Also the medieval tannery, and the infinite variety of handicrafts, copperplate and pottery.
After an entertaining day, we pick you up back to the Riad.
Day 4: From Fes to Ifrane — Azrou forest— Midelt to Arfoud then to Merzouga desert:
After breakfast, we are going to continue towards our next destination, “Ifrane”, also known as “Switzerland of Morocco”. passing through Atlas mountains which contains the largest forests of cedar trees, that is inhabited by monkeys. After a quiet stay. we will resume towards the tizi ntalghamt pass to Midelt( known as the capital of Apples). we head out to the magnificent Merzouga via Erfoud, passing by the spectacular Ziz Gorges and Errachidia, where you are going to eat a traditional lunch among Berber people and their hospitality. We continue to Merzouga, when arrived, you will be welcomed by a lovely camel, that will take you through the magnificent world of the sandy dunes of erg Echebbi . In a memorable experience on the top of the camels you will admire the spectacular sunset in the Middle of the Sahara, you arrive to our traditional well equipped camp, where you will enjoy a traditional dinner, while listening to some Berber music show, in a friendly mood under the stars, and a traditional dinner. Overnight in the camp.
Day 5: From Merzouga desert to Rissani traditional market— Tinghir gorges - Rose Valley to Ouarzazate:
In the morning, before breakfast, it’s recommended to wake-up early so you cannot miss the spectacular sunrise of Merzouga in the middle of the Sahara. Then have breakfast before taking either the camel or car back to the village of Merzouga. resuming our tour towards Boumalne Dades, and Toudra gorge one of the most spectacular canyons around the world passing by the traditional Rissani Market, and the beautiful ziz Valley, in Toudra you will have the opportunity to hike/walk among local people to enjoy its Beauty.
After that we will resume our journey through the Dades Valley, towards the beautiful city of Kalaat Magouna a city literally covered in roses, a carpet of roses as far as the eye can see, then Ouarzazate also known as "African Hollywood", the city that attracted with its unique landscapes many producers to give it a part in the film, with its biggest film studios in Morocco, passing through the enjoyable path of the thousand Kasbahs passing by tiny Berber villages where you can take some great pictures.
Day 6 : From Ouarzazate — Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou — High Atlas mountains- to Marrakech - - Marrakeech sightseeing with a local experienced guide, visit and explore the old Medina of Marrakeech in the afternoon:
We are going to head out to explore the famous Kasbah of Ait-Ben-Hadou, a world Heritage site, which was a part of many universal films such as “Gladiator”. Have lunch, and then continue to Marrakech, experiencing the beauty of Atlas mountains via the road of Tizi-n-Tichka the highest road in Morocco with an altitude of 2260m, offering you charming views as far as the eye can admire, valleys, oasis, mountains, and Berber villages.
When arrived, you will have the chance to tour, and discover the rich heritage side of Marrakech with a local guide, such as the “koutoubia mosque “, the “minara gardens “, the “Bahia palace “, "Menara Garden", the “ Majorelle garden “, and the magnificent “Dar si said palace “.Also the museum of jewelry, and the maze-like alleys, where souks (market places) , sells traditional clothes, leather-work, and so much more. Conclude our day in the hotel to spend the night.
Day 7: From Marrakech hotel to either Marrakech or Casablanca airport for departure:
After breakfast/lunch in the beautiful red Marrakech, we will go to the airport based on your flight info, and return to Portugal, Spain or the USA - the choice is your.
