travel with anna
Take a Delicious Adventure with Anna
Join Anna (and often her husband, Michael) to do what she loves most, second only to being in the kitchen: travelling! Anna & Michael host customized culinary travel experiences to beautiful destinations meant to make your travel dreams come true. Take a look at the upcoming schedule and get ready for some tasty travels!
Visit global destinations in an exclusive & delectable way
Destinations
Explore popular destinations or hidden gems. Either way you’ll have access to experiences you couldn’t book on your own.
Small Group
Groups sizes are rarely over 20 guests, so we can access better restaurants and hotels and make use of initiate cooking school settings.
Quality
Customized, truly unique itineraries with quality and good taste in mind,
Food & Beverage
Visit local food producers, wineries, food markets and more, in addition to
local sights.
“People who love to eat are always the best people”
Julia Child
Your Tour Coordinator: Giovanni Varano
Giovanni and the Olson’s have been hosting culinary tours since 2018. Giovanni is a trained tour operator and he speaks Italian, Spanish and English fluently. He can handle any questions you may have about the trip and its details as you plan, and he travels with the group on every trip, with you every step of the way. He can also plan extension trips before or after an Olson adventure and can even design private or small group tours for you.
UPCOMING TOURS
Sept 27-Oct 4, 2024
Max 16 participants!
Join us on an incredible culinary adventure discovering Catalonia’s hidden gems and exploring Barcelona like you never done before!
- 7 nights accommodation in 4 star hotels.
- Private transportation for excursions in the program.
- Hand picked restaurants and menus.
- Live cooking demo/classes experiences.
- Guided cultural tours.
- Street food experience at Boqueria Market.
- Visit to wineries and local productions.
- Spectacular restaurant experience with molecular gastronomy.
- 24/7 assistance by FTDA representative.
- Hosted by Celebrity Chef Anna Olson.
Tour Highlights
Max 16 participants!
- Hosted by Anna & Michael Olson
- Welcome tapas dinner in one of Barcelona’s best specialized restaurants on Paseo de Gracia.
- Guided visits to the iconic Gaudi’s landmark Sagrada Familia
- Dali museum in town of Figueres.
- Tour of the Emporda Region with stop in Cadaques, the birthplace of Salvador Dali
- Travel to the countryside surrounding Espluga. Visit to local winery
- Tour of the famous Boqueria market
- Walk through La Rambla and Barrio Gotico
- Visit to one of the best wineries followed by wine tasting at the winery.
- Visit to Santa Maria del Mar Cathedral.
- Visit to the El Born neighborhood, including some of its gourmet stores
Barcelona Gastronomy Experience
L’Occitanie Gastronomy Experience
Oct 4-10, 2024
Join us on an incredible culinary adventure discovering the French Region of l’Occitanie, its hidden gems, history and, of course, its food and wines!
- 6 nights accommodation in 4 star hotels.
- Private transportation for excursions in the program
- Hand picked restaurants and menus.
- Live cooking classes experiences with Anna Olson
- Guided cultural tours.
- Street food experience at local markets.
- Visit to wineries and local productions.
- Spectacular experience at Michelin starred restaurant
- Blend-your-own-wine experience.
- 24/7 assistance by FTDA representative.
- Hosted by Celebrity Chef Anna Olson.
Tour Highlights
- Welcome dinner at La Marquiere restaurant.
- Visit the Cité de Carcassonne, a Unesco World Heritage listed walled city.
- Cruise onto the Canal du Midi.
- Visit Les Halles de Narbonne.
- A cruise on the Lagoon of Thau.
- Visit Mirepoix, a medieval village dating from the 10th century.
- Under the guidance of our wonderful host Anna Olson & local chef Nathalie, you will create a full traditional French meal.
- Visit the castle ruins of Lastours.
- Visit the village of Minerve the “most beautiful villages of France”.
- visit an olive oil production and learn about the “La Lucque” olive.
- Dinner at la Barbacane, a Michelin star restaurant!
Dec 8-Dec 15, 2024
Max 32 participants!
Experience Europe’s old-world charms during the most magicaltime of the year.
This cruise takes you to some of the most famous and delightful holiday markets in Central Europe. At each market, you’ll find wooden stalls displaying traditional crafts that range from quirky little characters made of fruit and dressed in Bavarian costume to beautifully carved and painted Nativity figures. You’ll also find exquisite ornaments and fine contemporary crafts, along with fairytale villages decked in holiday finery.
Sparkling lights illuminate ancient cathedral squares and the sound of children’s laughter mingles with carols. Enjoy Uniworld’s exclusive “Taste of Christmas” program in Vienna, where you’ll see astonishing confectionary decorations in Café Demel’s windows. Celebrate the season in a new way as you meander through old lands, and remember, as the Christ kind says, “While this market’s splendor is fleeting, the joy it brings is eternal.”
Tour Highlights
Max 32 participants!
- 7 nights/8 days aboard Uniworld Cruises’ S.S. Beatrice
- Tours and visits to Holiday markets in Nuremberg, Regensburg, Deggendorf, Passau & Vienna.
- Exclusive excursions showcasing Anna’s favourite sites and tastes.
- Sailing the Danube and Linz rivers.
- Private social events and receptions with host Anna Olson.
- On-board festive cooking & baking demonstrations.
- All meals & beverages on board included, plus receptions.
- Luxury staterooms with French Balcony.
- Option for an 2-night pre-cruise extension trip to Prague.
European Culinary Delights &
Holiday Market Cruise
We have thoroughly enjoyed our travel experiences with Anna and Micheal! Being foodies, the foods we’ve made or watched being made on our tours have been awesome and delicious! We highly recommend an Olson tour – we’re booked on our third trip with them.
We love travelling with Anna and Michael because it always includes unique cultural and foodie experiences. Whether that’s impromptu pastry-making classes over breakfast, or dissecting the secrets of sfogliatelle over happy hour, every day is both informative and delicious. We also know we’ll be travelling with small groups of likeminded travellers, many of whom become great friends. All of this with two exceptionally gracious hosts.
Having taken several food tours with Anna, we appreciate how interactive she is throughout the trip and the wonderful insight we received from the ‘behind the scene access’ to excellent food producers. Anna’s warm and approachable nature and genuine love for food and people created an atmosphere of travelling with a friend. Beyond the delicious food, cooking lessons and incredible locations, the camaraderie and connections among fellow food enthusiasts through a small group size made these trips exceptional.
Curious to hear about trips before the public?
Can you accommodate solo travellers?
Yes, we certainly can. There is a single traveller supplement, and this ensures a private room. And we are a friendly bunch to travel with, so you’ll feel comfortable, safe and included.
How can I hear about these trips first, since they sell out quickly?
Before we publicly announce our culinary tours, we send an invitation to our exclusive mailing list first. To join this list, visit our tour operator’s website and sign up for the newsletter (we don’t inundate you with emails, just new trip announcements)
Can you accommodate food allergies?
We take food allergies very seriously and have found that European countries have been readily able to accommodate. We repeat the allergies to the staff upon arrival at every meal and the substitution dishes are very well prepared to match the calibre of the planned menu.
Will I get a recipe package at the end of the trip?
Anna makes note of all of the dishes that spark interest throughout the trip, from cooking classes, or that come up in conversation, and compiles a collection of recipes and images for everyone so that you can recreate your delicious experiences at home.
APPEARANCES
BOOK SIGNINGS | DEMOS | EVENTS
Oh Yum livestreams
September 12th, 6 pm ET
October 12th, 6 pm ET
October 19th, 6 pm ET
Join Anna for one of her signature livestream baking sessions, where you can ask her questions and even bake along with her.
West Coat Women’s Show
November 18th
BC Place
Vancouver, BC
Join Anna as she gets you ready for the holiday entertaining season with live demos, followed by a meet & greet and cookbook signing.
Christmas in November
November 3rd-12th
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
Jasper, Alberta
A festive spectacle to get you in the spirit for the holiday season! Your days are filled with cooking, baking and decorating demonstrations, fantastic feasts are served, and all with the beautiful Rocky Mountains as a backdrop. Three 3-day package dates are available to consider.