TORONTO — Intrepid Travel’s three new Real Food Adventure tours in Jordan, Iran and Israel and the Palestinian Territories, come in response to 170% growth in Canadian bookings to the Middle East and 41% growth on its Real Food Adventure tour range, according to the travel company.

“The Middle East has been one of the fastest-growing travel regions at the Intrepid Group in 2017,” says Leigh Barnes, Regional Director for the Intrepid Group.

“Our real food adventure tours are designed to explore a culture through their cuisine. We’re thrilled to offer this experience to our travellers in the Middle East as an opportunity to see why food is truly one of the world’s greatest unifiers.”

The new Real Food Adventures will offer travellers the opportunity to savor authentic, local food experiences, while deepening their understanding of rich culture and heritage of the Middle East, he adds. Each trip, varying in length from six to 10 days, is designed to take travellers to local communities and markets, and to offer them many opportunities to eat with local families.

Guided by local leaders who understand the Middle Eastern culture, here is how Canadians can experience an authentic food experience with Intrepid Travel in 2018:

. The six-day Jordan Real Food Adventure, from $1,595: In the city of Madaba, learn how to prepare the traditional Arabic dish, mansaf, with a local family. Also visit Beit Sitti cooking school, known as one of the most-innovative developments in Jordan’s cuisine.

. The 10-day Iran Real Food Adventure, from $4,020: Shop in the Tehran market in preparation to cook tahchin, the traditional Persian dish, consisting of crisp saffron-infused rice layered with onions, chicken, yogurt, eggs, oil, salt and pepper. “Cook a delicious, homemade Persian biryani in Esfahan. And have a home-cooked dinner in Yazd. Your hosts will lay a tablecloth on the carpeted floor, the way most Iranians dine, and you will share conversations over dinner.”

. The 10-day Real Food Adventure – Israel & The Palestinian Territories, from $3,462: On day two of the tour, enjoy a home-cooked experience in Haifa. In Nazareth, pick your fish from a local market and watch as the fisherman cook it for you. There’s also a visit to a host family for a traditional cooking demonstration.

For more information see intrepidtravel.com/theme/food.