The global culinary tourism market reached a value of over US $696 billion in 2021 and its expected to continuously rise throughout 2022 and beyond. For travellers nowadays, sampling the local cuisine is a key part of exploring a country. It allows tourists to experience a country’s culture, traditions and societal norms, as well as awaken the senses and try new flavours whilst away from home. As world leaders in supercar holidays, Ultimate Driving Tours curate memorable trips to a range of destinations all over the world with gourmet hotspots including France and Italy.
Inviting guests to fully immerse themselves in a destination, Ultimate Driving Tours curates unforgettable itineraries allowing enthusiasts to drive their favourite supercars through some of the world’s most breath-taking scenery. As leaders in luxury driving holidays, Ultimate Driving Tours’ journeys are unrivalled, partnering the world’s best cars and routes with five-star accommodation, unique cultural experiences, high-quality wine and local cuisine.
Food has always been an essential part of a vacation, not only as a way to experience a country’s culture, traditions and societal norms, but as a way to awaken the senses and sample new flavours whilst away from home. Ultimate Driving Tours invites guests to indulge in the very best of Italian and French cuisine with the below tours for the remainder of this year and throughout 2023.
Supercar Tour d’Italia (Tour 1: Saturday 3 – Friday 9 September 2022 | Tour 2: Monday 12 – Sunday 18 September 2022)
Supercar Tour d’Italia encompasses everything that is Italian, from fast cars, delicious food and exceptional wine as well as stunning luxury residences in verdant countryside. Guests will enjoy picturesque driving routes in local heroes Ferrari and Lamborghini as well as some of Germany and Britain’s fastest cars such as the Aston Martin DB11 and the McLaren 720S. This seven-day itinerary features two different routes zig-zagging through Bologna, Maranello, Verona, Bormio, St Moritz and Lake Garda.
Complemented by the very best of Italian hospitality, guests will stay at five-star accommodation; historic hotels and castles, ultra-luxe resorts and charming villas whilst enjoying fine dining and local favourites. Enthusiasts can choose to start or end their tour at the iconic Italian Grand Prix with extras available including a private track experience, Champions Club hospitality or a paddock upgrade.
Ultimate Driving Tours’ Supercar Tour d’Italia starts from £10,250 per person including accommodation, all dining, use of Ultimate Driving Tours’ full fleet of supercars and a fully hosted and managed holiday.
A Taste of Tuscany Supercar Tour (2-8 October 2022)
Heralded as the gourmand’s paradise, Italy is renowned for its pizzas, pastas, gelato, wine and coffee. With delicious cuisine available across the country, Ultimate Driving Tours aim to showcase the very best of Tuscany. Available from the 2nd until the 8th of October, A Taste of Tuscany is a supercar tour that begins in Florence and leads guests out on country roads to San Gimignano, onto Sienna before heading back to Florence’s old town via the enchanting Chianti.
Gourmet highlights include a tour of Florence’s food market, bursting with authentic Tuscan flavours and tastes as well as sampling the famous red wine Chianti with a private tour and wine tasting at a renowned vineyard in San Gimignano. As a region well known for its truffles, guests will forage for the intoxicating and irresistible ‘tartufo’, and enjoy a home-made lunch featuring the truffles found.
The trip offers guests the opportunity to drive one of the world’s best supercars on Tuscany’s fantastic driving roads with breath-taking backdrops of vineyards, charming villages and lush forests; overnight stays in the region’s best hotels including Belmond’s historic castle Castello di Casole.
Rates for A Taste of Tuscany Supercar Tour starts from £10,750 per person including accommodation, all dining, use of Ultimate Driving Tours’ full fleet of supercars and a fully hosted and managed holiday.
Luxury Self-Drive Holiday in France: Riviera and Provence (from April to October)
France is famous across the globe for its fine cuisine and wine. With its rich flavours and sumptuous treats, it is the perfect destination for foodies to visit. Ultimate Driving Tours French Self-Drive Tour: Riviera and Provence is a five-day self-guided adventure where guests can explore the French countryside, unwind in luxury accommodation and feast on their favourite French delicacies.
Meandering through the south-eastern part of France, this route takes drivers through the beautiful French Riviera and Provence, enjoying a diverse scenic backdrop ranging from purple lavender fields to lush national parklands, stunning historic villages and rugged cliffs.
Expertly planned, guests will dine on exquisite French cuisine, enjoy stunning wine or uncover local gems on their own. For the ‘culture vultures’, there are a variety of optional cultural experiences including a visit to Grasse’s traditional perfumeries or exploring the famed seaside towns of Monaco, Niche and Cannes.
Ultimate Driving Tours’ French Self-Drive Tour: Riviera and Provence starts from £4,990 per person per shared car and includes four nights’ accommodation, daily breakfast and parking along a pre-planned route.
Beautiful Cars and Michelin Stars (8-14 June 2023)
Beautiful Cars and Michelin Stars is a luxury driving tour of France’s most iconic wine regions. Embark on an incredible gourmet journey and celebrate the legendary guide that brought driving and gastronomy together: Michelin. Guests will journey from Lyon to Champagne via Beaujolais and Burgundy, delighting in epicurean experiences created by renowned chefs at some of the world’s most celebrated restaurants in a fleet of supercars and masterful grand touring cars.
A gourmet luxury holiday to cherish forever. Accommodation includes two nights at one of the finest hotels in the vineyards of Beaujolais, Château de Bagnols, one night in the heart of the historic town of Beaune, in the Burgundy Wine Region at Hôtel Le Cep, one night at Abbaye de la Bussière, nestled between Dijon and Beaune and two nights at Royal Champagne Hôtel & Spa in Champillon. Dining experiences include dinners at Michelin Star restaurants Restaurant 1131 and Le Royale and Loiseau des Vignes.
Rates for Beautiful Cars and Michelin Stars start from £11,750 per person including accommodation, all dining, use of Ultimate Driving Tours’ full fleet of supercars and a fully hosted and managed holiday.