Where To Find The Finest Chocolate In The World

Chocaholics assemble! From gourmet choccy treats to sophisticated desserts and soul-soothing beverages, these are the best Culture Trips to book a spot on if you’re searching for the world’s tastiest chocolate.

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Sample fine chocolate in Quito, Ecuador

Ecuador is the ultimate pilgrimage site for chocolate-lovers around the world. This small country’s rare Arriba cocoa beans are widely regarded as the richest on the planet, with around two thirds of the classified ‘fine’ chocolate originating here. Always remember to leave some space in your luggage before going to Ecuador, because you’ll want to take as many bars and boxes of chocolate as you can home with you. On day two of our Adventurous Ecuador trip we’ll be in the city of Quito, which is surrounded by world class chocolatiers. Having toured the city and taken part of an authentic cooking class, we’ll wrap up proceedings for the day with a luxurious chocolate tasting session.

From US$2199

Next available from 9th Mar 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Quito, Ecuador

ENDS AT

Quito, Ecuador

DURATION

8

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Close up of Cioccolato di Modica (chocolate froma Modica, Scily)

Feast on specialty chocolate in Sicily, Italy

Italy is often associated with the finer things in life, from gelato to wine and beyond. Chocolate is mostly associated with the northwestern region of Piedmont, home to the Ferrero company and Turin, Italy’s so-called capital of chocolate. Real connoisseurs know, however, that you need to all the way south to Sicily to find the most extraordinary cocoa creations in Italy. Up in the Unesco-listed Val di Noto region – a gorgeous collection of hilltop baroque towns – is the small city of Modica. This place still uses ancient techniques thought to have been brought over from Aztec cultures during Spanish rule of Sicily. It’s ground manually and made cold, which means the sugar crystals don’t dissolve, giving a delicious crunchy texture. No added fats are used, just cocoa and sugar, and the cold-making process means that the supposed beneficial properties of cocoa, such as antioxidants and flavonoids, are retained. Locals even claim that a square of their dark chocolate a day staves away sugar cravings and helps you to lose weight! Our eight-day Spectacular Sicily trip includes a tour of the Val di Noto region, stopping off for a walking tour of Modica, with plenty of time to do some sampling and shopping. We recommend visits to ancient Antica Dolceria Rizza and Caffe del’ Arte.

From US$2924

Next available from 20th Apr 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Palermo, Italy

ENDS AT

Siracusa, Sicily

DURATION

10

GROUP SIZE

14

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

STYLE

Discovery

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Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.