Frequently asked questions

MasterChef Travel holidays are all group holidays and include single-centre culinary short breaks and longer multi-centre food-themed tours to destinations all around the world. The holidays are a celebration of food, including sourcing ingredients, expert demonstrations and hands-on cooking. However, they are also a celebration of the destination and there are plenty of opportunities to see the sights as well as broadening culinary horizons.

They have been created by specialist group travel experts, Cox & Kings, the world’s longest established travel company. Cox & Kings combines expert personal service, exceptional travel expertise and great value for money.

The culinary experts

Who are the MasterChef Travel culinary experts?

MasterChef Travel’s culinary experts are all personalities from one of the MasterChef shows worldwide who will be appearing on certain tours to offer insights on sourcing ingredients, cooking demonstrations and hands-on cookery lessons. These experts are all either former contestants on a MasterChef show, presenters, or professional chefs who have appeared on one of the MasterChef shows worldwide.

Will the MasterChef Travel expert accompany the trip throughout?

The amount of time that the MasterChef Travel expert spends with the group varies from trip to trip. On some shorter single-centre holidays the MasterChef Travel expert will join the group for a full day. For longer, multi-centre tours they will usually be based in one place and spend, typically, two full days with the group, rather than accompanying the group throughout. In some cases their involvement will be longer. Full details of the MasterChef Travel expert’s participation are given on the individual tour pages. Tours featuring MasterChef Travel experts will often also include the services of local culinary experts.

Will the MasterChef Travel expert always be an expert on the destination country's cuisine?

In many cases they are, but not always. In those cases, part of the enjoyment of the trip will be developing an understanding of the local culinary traditions and techniques alongside the MasterChef expert, with support from local experts.

What happens if, for any reason, the MasterChef Travel expert is unable to join the trip?

If the MasterChef expert is unable to travel for reasons beyond their control, such as ill health, we will do everything we can to recruit a comparable alternative MasterChef Expert, who will always have featured in a MasterChef programme in the same country as the original expert. If we are unable to find a suitable alternative, the trip will still go ahead under the guidance of local experts and we will refund the amount of the holiday price that was due to the MasterChef Expert’s participation. If the MasterChef Expert drops out for controllable reasons, then you would have the option of cancelling your booking with a refund, or continuing with the trip under the guidance of local experts, with a refund of the costs associated with the MasterChef Expert. This latter option is subject to sufficient people carrying on with the trip to maintain the minimum group size. Please refer to our booking terms & conditions for full details.

Do all MasterChef Travel holidays feature a MasterChef Travel expert?

No. Many of the trips feature local culinary experts only who are not connected to MasterChef. Details about the experts that feature on each trip are shown on the individual tour pages.

Are all MasterChef Travel experts from the UK?

No. Like the MasterChef programmes, MasterChef Travel is very much a worldwide offering and the MasterChef Travel experts may have appeared on any of the many MasterChef shows broadcast around the world. If you would like to see the holidays that feature MasterChef Travel experts from a specific country please visit the Meet the experts section.

What is a local culinary expert?

Local culinary experts will generally live in the destination country or city. They will have a deep knowledge about aspects of that destination’s culinary culture and will generally be chefs, cookery teachers, cookery writers, food producers or restaurateurs.

What happens if, for any reason, the local culinary expert is unable to join the trip?

If a named local culinary expert is unable to join the group, we will do everything we can to recruit a suitable alternative local expert. If we are unable to find a comparable alternative, the trip will still go ahead and you will be refunded the amount of the holiday price that was due to the named local expert’s participation. Please refer to our booking terms & conditions for full details.

Is travel insurance included?

No, travel insurance is not included in the tour price. However, it is essential that you are fully insured at the time of making a booking, to protect you against cancellation charges. Cox & Kings, the company behind MasterChef Travel, can arrange travel insurance for you - please click here for details of their insurance cover and costs.

Tour essentials

Are all the trips group tours?

Yes, all the holidays shown on the MasterChef Travel website are group tours. If you would like to take a private culinary-themed trip, Cox & Kings, the holiday experts behind MasterChef Travel, has long experience at creating tailor-made travel arrangements and would be delighted to put together an itinerary for you.

How many people are there in a group?

This varies from tour to tour, depending on the facilities available in each destination. However, we deliberately keep the groups fairly small (typically between 10-20 people) to enhance the quality and intimacy of the experience.

Who might be on a MasterChef Travel holiday?

People who share an interest in food and travel. They may come from a number of countries, as MasterChef Travel is promoted worldwide, however the holidays are all based on English-speaking experts and guides (unless otherwise stated). Getting to know people from different countries, ages and backgrounds, who share an interest in food is a particular pleasure of the MasterChef Travel holidays. There may also be couples in which one person is keen on cooking and the other less so. If anyone would prefer to do their own thing, rather than take part in all the culinary activities, that is absolutely fine.

How much travelling is involved?

This varies very much from holiday to holiday. Some are single-centre, meaning that the entire holiday is based in one place, although there may be day excursions from that place; others are multi-centre tours. On the touring holidays, we always try to ensure that there is enough time in each place to learn about the local food and see the key sights. For each holiday, the tour page shows both a short form and a detailed itinerary to give you a clear idea of time spent in each place and the amount of travelling involved.

What is the standard of accommodation?

The standard of accommodation varies from holiday to holiday. Generally, the hotels used will fit into the 3- to 5-star categories, most commonly 4-star. The individual tour pages include details of the hotels featured. In some cases an itinerary may have a specific ‘luxury’ departure, which is typically based in 5-star hotels throughout. These are clearly labelled on the tour page. Staying in a different hotel to the rest of the group is not normally possible, however, upgrading the standard of room within the group’s hotel often is. Please ask a MasterChef Travel consultant for details.

How many meals are included?

The meals included are shown at the end of each day of the tour itinerary. B: Breakfast, L: Lunch and D: Evening Dinner. Breakfast is usually included daily, plus some other meals in interesting places. However, we deliberately do not organise all the meals in advance to allow you the opportunity to try out local restaurants of your choice independently of the group.

Are flights (international / domestic) included?

Yes, our package prices include return international flights out of the UK and all internal flights. If you would prefer to book your own international flights, please contact a MasterChef Travel consultant first, because there are important considerations to take into account.

There are significant benefits of booking your flights through MasterChef Travel:

  1. We are responsible for sorting out alternative arrangements in the event that your flight is severely delayed or cancelled.
  2. MasterChef Travel tours require a minimum group size in order to operate, so by booking your flights through us there is no financial risk to you should MasterChef Travel cancel the tour for this or any other reason.
  3. Where internal flights are required, the prices are often higher if they are not ticketed in conjunction with the international flights.

We strongly advise you not to book flights independently of MasterChef Travel if significant charges would apply in case of cancellation.

Are transfers included?

Yes, on arrival in the destination and at each airport, station or quay along the way, you will be met at the airport by a local representative and taken to your hotel and then back again at the end of your stay.

How much time is available for sightseeing?

MasterChef Travel holidays are as much about discovering the destination as they are about food. On the multi-centre tours there is typically as much time allocated for sightseeing as there is for culinary activities. In short, for single-centre holidays a higher percentage of time is typically dedicated to culinary activities, but there is generally still plenty of time to explore. Please refer to the detailed itineraries for more information about a specific holiday.

Are entrance fees included?

Yes, where possible, the entrance fees and other tickets for the activities listed in the holiday itinerary are included in the price, unless they are listed as ‘optional’ in which case they would be payable locally.

Will I be met at the departure airport?

If you are departing from the UK and checking in at the main departure airport (usually London Heathrow or London Gatwick) there will be a MasterChef Travel representative in the check-in area for a set period of time pre-departure, should you need assistance. All MasterChef Travel clients are sent branded luggage tags prior to departure and it is helpful for our airport representatives if these are displayed on the bags to help our representative recognise you. Details of the check-in assistance for each group are included with the travel documents.

Who will guide the tour?

Generally, each group is accompanied by a dedicated local tour guide, from arrival in the destination. The tour guide is there to ensure the smooth running of the trip, assist with hotel check-ins and answer any questions along the way. In some cases this tour guide will also act as a guide for sightseeing excursions, while in others the services of local guides may be used.

Are visas included when required?

Visas are required in some destinations, depending on nationality, and it is the client’s responsibility to ensure that they acquire a visa, if required, prior to departure. Please view the country facts section of the country information pages to see current visa requirements for UK passport holders in the countries covered by MasterChef Travel. MasterChef Travel recommends the services of Visa Swift when applying for visas.

Are classes and excursions English-speaking only?

Yes, all the group activities are conducted in English unless stated otherwise.

Tour practicalities

What is the age range for group tours?

We have a minimum age of 16 on MasterChef Travel holidays and the tours would typically have a good mix of ages.

What nationality are travellers?

MasterChef Travel is open to everyone. Initially, the holidays are primarily being promoted in English-speaking countries because all the holidays are conducted in English. Therefore, the greatest number of travellers will typically come from the UK, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and India. The nationalities taking part in a particular tour are likely to be affected by the destination (and how close it is to people’s home country) and, if featuring a MasterChef expert, which country’s MasterChef programme they appeared on.

What will I receive after making my booking?

As soon as you have made a booking you will be sent a confirmation invoice, which will show when the final payment is due, and notes about travel in the destination country. Two or three weeks prior to departure you will be sent your travel documents, including flight tickets and a detailed final itinerary.

How are rooms allocated?

Rooms of a particular category are allocated at random in each hotel. We cannot give preferential treatment for any particular traveller, except for practical reasons such as accessibility for those with restricted mobility.

What extension options are available?

For most holidays, we have suggested options for extending the trip, whether simply by adding nights at the hotel at the beginning or end of the itinerary, or more complex extensions involving travelling on to other places. In addition to our suggested extensions, MasterChef Travel’s expert consultants will be delighted to design an extension itinerary tailor-made to your particular interests, budget and timings, be it relaxation on a beach, or a multi-centre sightseeing tour.

What upgrades are available?

Many of the hotels featured by MasterChef Travel have more than one room category. In some cases we have given examples of room upgrade options and costs. However, if you are interested in paying for a higher room category it is worth speaking to a MasterChef Travel consultant, who will be able to let you know the various options. For those looking to travel in greater comfort MasterChef Travel, can also offer excellent rates for flight upgrades to Premium Economy, Business or First Class. All flight and hotel upgrades are subject to availability at the time of booking.

What happens when a tour is cancelled?

The main reasons why a tour might be cancelled by MasterChef Travel are: if there are insufficient people booked on the tour; if the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises against travel to the destination; if it becomes impossible for airlines to operate flights to the destination. If MasterChef Travel is unable to operate a tour for one of these, or any other reasons, you will be refunded any monies paid to MasterChef Travel. MasterChef Travel group holidays all require a minimum number of passengers to book in order to operate and it is important to appreciate that tours are not guaranteed to depart when considering whether to book the international flights for a holiday independently of MasterChef Travel. Please see Are flights (international / domestic) included? for details.

What happens if the MasterChef Travel expert has to cancel?

For tours featuring a MasterChef Travel expert, if the expert is unable to join the tour, MasterChef Travel will seek a replacement expert of similar expertise and renown. If that proves impossible, participants will have the option of either cancelling with a full refund or taking the tour at a discounted price with the MasterChef expert replaced by a local culinary expert. This second option will only be possible if sufficient people would like to take the holiday to form a viable group.

What is the client cancellation policy?

Once you have made a confirmed booking, if you subsequently have to cancel for any reason, the cancellation charges would be calculated on the following sliding scale.

Days before departure notification of cancellation received Cancellation charges as a % of the total holiday cost
More than 56 days Loss of deposit
56-29 days 40%
28-15 days 60%
14-8 days 75%
7-4 days 90%
3 days or less 100%


To protect yourself against these charges it is essential that you have valid travel insurance in place at the time of booking. If you would like to see details of Masterchef Travel’s travel insurance policy, please click here. Please click to see full details of MasterChef Travel’s booking terms & conditions.

Can I reserve a space on the tour without committing?

Yes - as long as you are booking more than 8 weeks prior to the departure date you can hold a place on a tour for up to 5 days without financial commitment.

Can I travel with MasterChef Travel without going on a group tour?

Yes - although all the holidays shown on the MasterChef Travel website are group tours, if you would like to take a private culinary-themed trip, Cox & Kings, the company behind MasterChef Travel, has long experience at creating tailor-made travel arrangements and would be delighted to put together an itinerary for you.

Can I speak to someone face-to-face before booking?

Yes - MasterChef Travel is based in Cox & Kings Travel’s offices at 30 Millbank in Westminster, central London (SW1P 4EE). Visitors are always welcome, however, it is advisable to arrange a time in advance to ensure that your tour consultant will be available to see you. If a visit to central London is impractical, we should be able to pass on as much information as you need by telephone or email.

Can I travel on only part of a group tour?

No - MasterChef Travel group tours are set packages and you would need to book the entire land-based portion of the holiday. You are free to book your own flights if you choose, although there are significant benefits in booking the international flights through MasterChef Travel (please see Are flights international / domestic included? for details). On the tour itself, you are also free to join in as many or as few of the excursions and culinary activities as you choose, although no refunds are possible for any activities that you choose to miss.

Can I buy MasterChef Travel gift vouchers?

Yes - gift vouchers of any value can be purchased from MasterChef Travel. Just ask your tour consultant to arrange this for you.

Can I book my own flights?

Yes you can, but there are significant benefits of booking your flights through MasterChef Travel: 1. We are responsible for sorting out alternative arrangements in the event that your flight is severely delayed or cancelled; 2. MasterChef Travel tours require a minimum group size in order to operate, so by booking your flights through us there is no financial risk to you should MasterChef Travel cancel the tour for this or any other reason; 3. Where internal flights are required, the prices are often higher if they are not ticketed in conjunction with the international flights.

We strongly advise you not to book flights independently of MasterChef Travel if significant charges would apply in case of cancellation.

Can I use frequent flyer miles?

Yes you can, if you book the flights independently of MasterChef Travel. However, there are significant benefits of booking your flights through us: 1. We are responsible for sorting out alternative arrangements in the event that your flight is severely delayed or cancelled; 2. MasterChef Travel tours require a minimum group size in order to operate, so by booking your flights through us there is no financial risk to you should MasterChef Travel cancel the tour for this or any other reason; 3. Where internal flights are required, the prices are often higher if they are not ticketed in conjunction with the international flights.

We advise you not to book flights using frequent flyer miles if you would lose the miles in the event that the tour is subsequently cancelled.

Do group members get sent any MasterChef Travel merchandise?

Yes - every traveller on a MasterChef Travel holiday is sent a complimentary exclusive MasterChef Travel apron, plus a deluxe travel wallet and luggage tags

I like cooking, but my partner doesn't. Can they sit out the cooking classes?

Yes they can. If they would like to do any other sightseeing while the culinary activities are taking place they can ask the tour guide to suggest some options and make the arrangements. These services would be payable locally. There are no refunds available for passengers who choose to miss any of the activities that are included in the set itinerary.

Culinary expertise

What will I learn on the holiday?

What you will learn on a MasterChef Travel holiday will vary from trip to trip. However, typically the culinary focus will be on the ingredients and preparation of classic local dishes that are part of the culinary tradition of the destination. This might include learning about where the ingredients are produced, visiting local markets and shops, watching a demonstration of how to produce particular dishes and then actually having a go at making them yourself. There are experts on hand for all the culinary-themed days, so there are also plenty of opportunities to ask questions and get tips on aspects of cooking that particularly interest you. The specific culinary traditions that each particular holiday focuses on are described on the individual tour pages.

Will I receive a qualification?

No - MasterChef Travel is, more than anything else, supposed to be fun. The trips are not designed as a formal education. The holidays are designed to inspire people with a love of food, by broadening their knowledge and deepening their experience.

Is there a competition element?

No - in that way the holidays are nothing like the MasterChef programmes. Our experts may well taste the food you produce and offer constructive feedback, but it will never be judged and marked. There is no such thing as a cooking failure on a MasterChef Travel holiday.

How good a cook do I need to be?

Enthusiasm for cooking and food will be far more useful than existing ability. The primary aim of MasterChef Travel is to broaden your culinary horizons by introducing you to the cooking traditions of a destination in that destination, so even a very experienced cook will often be faced by unfamiliar ingredients, strange utensils and new environments.

Do I need to bring my own cooking equipment?

No - everything you need will be provided for you. However, if you have a favourite utensil you are very welcome to bring it along.

Are vegetarian / halal / kosher travellers catered for?

The focus of MasterChef Travel holidays is on the ingredients and preparation of classic local dishes that are part of the culinary tradition of the destination. So, the ingredients used will generally be those most commonly used by the locals. If you are interested in joining a MasterChef Travel holiday and have particular dietary requirements, it would be best to seek out those trips that focus on the kind of cuisine that suits you.

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