Culinary and Cultural Travel Enthusiasts

For more information, go to our website: www.eatsmartguides.com, or to sign up, please contact Susan at 608-285-2390, or e-mail info@eatsmartguides.com.

2026 EAT SMART CULINARY AND CULTURAL TOUR TO TURKEY
October 6 to 15, 2026
Only 8 Spots Available

Join Joan Peterson, publisher of the award winning Eat Smart Culinary Travel Guide​ series, and her daughter and business partner, Susan Chwae, for an unforgettable journey where every day is a feast for the senses. This is more than a tour—it’s your backstage pass to the flavors, traditions, and stories that define a destination.
From market-to-table tastings and hands‑on cooking classes to insider culinary talks and vibrant market explorations, you’ll experience the region the way passionate food lovers do: up close, authentically, and deliciously. You’ll savor iconic dishes, discover hidden gems, and learn the secrets behind the flavors you’ve always wanted to master.
And because travel should be as enjoyable as it is enriching, we balance our culinary adventures with visits to must‑see cultural highlights, plus plenty of time to shop, relax, and soak in the atmosphere. You’ll return home with new skills, new friends, and a deeper connection to the culture.

Travel with confidence
Our Culinary & Cultural Tours are ideal for guests with special dietary needs—we work directly with our chefs to ensure every traveler enjoys safe, satisfying, and beautifully prepared meals.
Have limited mobility? We’re happy to make special arrangements so you can enjoy the full experience comfortably. Just let us know when you inquire.

If you’re ready for a journey that blends culture, cuisine, and unforgettable memories, this is your moment.

Spaces are limited—and our tours fill quickly.

FOR A MINIMUM OF 6 PARTICIPANTS, MAXIMUM OF 8 PARTICIPANTS
$6,925 per person, double occupancy with 8 participants. $1,270 Single Supplement.
*The tour will proceed if we have a minimum of participants. Final price to be determined by number of participants and will be discussed with confirmed participants prior to final tour commitment and payment of deposits to Turkey tour operator.

Deposit:
​A non-refundable* deposit of $1000 per person is required upon booking.
*****Your deposit is refundable until you have been notified that the tour has filled and the deposits have been sent to our Turkey tour operator, at which point the deposit is non-refundable.

To reserve your spot, please e-mail susan@eatsmartguides.com to receive a Reservation Form and pay the deposit​, or call 608-285-2390. Because we have just a limited number of spaces, any names signed up on Meetup who don't request the Reservation Form and pay their deposit will be removed.

Cancellation and Refund: If a written notice of cancellation is received from a passenger 75 days or more prior to departure, all advance deposits, minus any expenses incurred by Eat Smart Culinary Travel or the Tour Operator, will be refunded. If cancellation is made 74 – 30 days before departure, the cancellation charge is 50% of the tour cost. If cancellation is made 29 – 15 days before departure, the cancellation charge is 75% of the tour cost. If cancellation is made 14 – 1 days before departure, the cancellation charge is 100% of the tour cost.

Included Services:

• Accommodation in Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Göcek.
• Domestic flights in Turkey: İstanbul / Kayseri, Kayseri / Istanbul / Denizli.
• All airport group transfers.
• Land transportation by air-conditioned vehicle.
• Professional English-speaking guide through-out the tour.
• Entrance fees to museums and historical sites.
• Bosphorus cruise with private motor yacht.
• Private boat for river cruise over the Dalyan in Göcek.
• All lunches and dinners, unless specified.
• Cooking class & Dinner in Istanbul at Chef Table with Serkan Bozkurt.
• Baklava Workshop & Brunch at Güllüoğlu.
• Cooking class & Lunch at Village House in Cappadocia.
• 1 Soft drink, tea and coffee during lunch and dinner.
• Bottled water (available on the motor coach and at lunch and dinner).
• Tips for the porters at the hotels and airport.

Services not included:

• International flights for the participants and connection flight on departure day from Dalaman.
• Alcoholic drinks during lunch and dinner.
• Tips for driver and guide.

Optional services not included in the price (subject to change)

• Hürrem Sultan Hamam; Price per person: $ 110 - 24 hours cancellation
• Balloon Tour; Price per person: $ 350 - 48 hours cancellation

Accommodation and arranged sightseeing are subject to change at any time due to unforeseen circumstances or circumstances beyond Eat Smart Culinary Travel (ESCT) control. Every effort will be made to operate tours as planned, but alterations may occur after the final itinerary has been issued. ESCT also reserves the right to withdraw a tour or any part of it, to make such alterations to the itinerary or the tour inclusions as it deems necessary or desirable, and to pass on to tour members any expenditures or losses caused by delays or events beyond its control. In case of any appreciable variation in the tour price due to these circumstances, ESCT reserves the right to make adjustments to the tour costs as necessary.

Eat Smart in Portugal: 2026 Culinary and Cultural Tour

Experience Portugal through its most authentic expression—its cuisine. Join us for an immersive journey that brings you to the heart of Portuguese culture, guided by the flavors, traditions, and stories that define this remarkable country. Savor an extraordinary range of regional specialties in the places where they were born, from coastal classics to countryside comfort dishes. Step into the kitchen for a hands-on cooking class that reveals the techniques and secrets behind Portugal’s most beloved recipes.

Along the way, enjoy engaging culinary talks and vibrant market visits, where you’ll explore the herbs, spices, and essential ingredients that shape Portuguese cookery.

Between tastings and culinary adventures, you’ll also experience Portugal’s iconic cultural landmarks—with time built in to shop, relax, and soak in the rhythm of daily life. You’ll return home with a deeper understanding of Portugal’s culinary heritage and a profound appreciation for the history and culture woven into every dish.

Tour Cost with Maximum of 10 participants
Starting Price Per Person - 5997 € converted to USD at time of final payment.
Single Supplement - 500 € converted to USD at time of final payment.
Payment: A non-refundable deposit of $2000 US per person is required upon booking. To request a Reservation Form and pay the deposit, please contact us at susan@eatsmartguides.com or call 608-285-2390.
Final Payment: Due 45 days prior to departure.
Cancellation and Refund: If a written notice of cancellation is received from passenger 46-90 days or more prior to departure, all advance deposits will be refunded. If cancellation is made 45 – 30 days before departure, the cancellation charge is 35% of the tour cost. If cancellation is made 29 – 15 days before departure, the cancellation charge is 75% of the tour cost. If cancellation is made 14 – 1 days before departure, the cancellation charge is 100% of the tour cost.​

Included Services:
• Group airport transfers
• Land transportation by air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional English-speaking guide throughout the tour
• Services of tour leaders Joan Peterson and Susan Chwae
• Entrance fees to museums and historical sites included in the group day tours
• All cooking and wine demos, lunches and dinners, unless specified
• 1 soft drink, tea, or coffee during lunch and dinner
• Bottled water (available on the motor coach and at lunch and dinner)
• Copy of culinary guidebook, Eat Smart in Portugal, by Ronnie Hess and Joan Peterson

Services not included:
• International flights*
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages during lunch and dinner unless specified in the itinerary
• Tips for guide and driver
• Tips for porters at hotels
• Tips for wait staff
General Notes:
• On this tour there is moderate walking on uneven surfaces, so you will want to pack good walking shoes.
* Tour leader and travel advisor, Susan Chwae (based in US), can help you obtain international flights and trip insurance.