Gastronomad Experiences are exceptional in so many ways. We avoid tourism and instead immerse ourselves in authentic culture. We embrace organic foods and natural wines, supporting local food producers who take responsibility as stewards of the natural environment. And we have the help and support of wonderful friends in every location — chefs, winemakers, farmers and food artisans of every description — and these friends greet our guests like family. There's literally nothing else like Gastronomad Experiences.

Here's another big difference: Everything you do, everywhere you go and everyone you meet is a secret surprise so we can delight and enchant you!

We tell our guests what time we're leaving or gathering, with guidance on what to wear based on what we're doing. But they don't find out what we're going to do until we're doing it!

This element of surprise began during our very first Experience in Barcelona years ago. Our guests spontaneously told us they didn't want to know anything about our activities. So that became our policy. And everyone loves the way we do surprises.

Besides being fun, secrecy also changes your mindset. It creates a kind of knowledge-free, decision-free bliss, letting you escape from the normal daily condition of dealing with hundreds of things and making a hundred decisions. We also take professional-quality photographs of everything you do, so you can (if you choose) put your phone away and fully and directly experience the stunning landscapes, exquisite food, beautiful tables and every other magical thing. The result of all this is that Gastronomad Experiences let you be in the moment, worry about nothing, decide nothing and just enjoy the wonderful, exceptional, awe-inspiring, mouth-watering gatherings and activities we have lovingly created for you.

We have many Gastronomad guests who have done not only multiple experiences, but have repeated specific locations. And they're still surprised by almost everything we do because each Experience is unique.

Our practice of keeping everything a secret surprise is fun and joyful. But it takes trust on your part. And we thank you for your trust. In fact, it's your trust that enables us to make our Gastronomad Experiences what they are.

Keeping secrets and surprises, however, makes it challenging for this newsletter. We can't communicate to you about Experiences by telling you what we're going to do. And we keep the best pictures of our Experiences private only for the guests who were there.

All we can tell you is that if you do a Gastronomad Experience, you will be thrilled. You will be delighted. You will be amazed. And, oh yes, you will be surprised!