When planning our next (international trip), it is often difficult to escape the shackles of the familiar - the Mediterranean, for example, is well-traversed and relatively easy to navigate. We look at trips to more exciting destinations with longing, wishing we could explore what’s off the travel guides but without the courage (alternatively, recklessness) to do so.

Luckily, independent travel agency Noland Citizen is here to take our hand and lead us - 2016-travel-pic-style - all the way to the streets and plates of India. That’s right, plates. Because this trip - taking place from October 23rd to November 2nd, 2024 - is not a regular one; it’s a culinary journey in partnership with local food consultancy Lulu’s Kitchen.

“India is a feast for the eyes and the senses,” Alia Al Askalany, founder of Lulu’s Kitchen, tells Scene Eats. “It’s not as commonly or easily explored as other destinations, in the Mediterranean for example, by the local Egyptian traveller.”

“The purpose of this trip is to lead our guests on a beautiful, fun, interesting, carefully curated and one-of-a-kind journey into the magical world of India under the umbrella of gastro-tourism; an area still untapped locally.”

For six months, Alia Al Askalany and Sara Farouk, the founder of Noland Citizen and an old friend of Al Askalany’s, researched high and low for the ultimate India trip, one that would enable travellers to quite literally taste Indian culture to the fullest. “We toured different cities and immersed ourselves in market tours, farm-to-table experiences, local cooking class visits, cultural excursions and also tried out different accommodation options, to be able to properly curate a unique and personal experience for our guests.”

The India trip itinerary includes trips to some of the country’s most reputable restaurants, and large markets, but it also includes sit-ins on local families’ cooking practices, which, arguably, shows you the true taste of India. “Like in Egypt, families hold heirloom recipes that sometimes get lost from generation to generation if they are not shared with others. In India, connecting storytelling with traditional cuisine, especially at home, makes this experience very special.”

On Noland Citizen’s upcoming trip, you are invited to tread this guarded terrain with care. “Within individual households, unique recipes and spice blends are closely guarded secrets. By exploring India from region to region through its cuisine, we get to explore the culture and stories that contributed to its recipes.”

From intimate home visits to exploratory market visits that help you explore the city at large, Noland Citizen & Lulu’s Kitchen’s upcoming adventure makes for a comprehensive exploration through the uniquities of Indian cuisine. A bit lost for an opinion, we asked Al Askalany what her favourite part of the trip is: “If I had to pick one, it would be the farm-to-table dining experience on Mharo Khet farm in Jodhpur. The energy of the land is amazing, so are the owners - not to mention the bounty of native and non-native produce available. There’s just a lot of love poured into the experience.”