Whether you see holidays as a chance to let go a bit or try your best to stick to good habits, I’m sure you’d agree it’s harder to eat healthily on holiday than it is at home. Depending on where you’re travelling, limited vegan options can mean you’re faced with eating what you can get, rather than what you want.
Undoubtedly, it’s becoming increasingly easy for us vegans to find meals in more areas of the world. Certainly across Europe, an awareness of allergens means restaurants are becoming better at knowing exactly what has gone into the meal. But what about healthy food that fills you with enough energy for your next adventure?
Here’s my pick of 5 destinations for healthy vegan travel, where I promise there’s more than just salad and chips on the menu – and plenty to keep you active too!
Bhutan, Himalayas
Bhutan is an exciting small kingdom that is nestled in the Himalayas. It’s a great place for ecotourism and bird watching. You can also go trekking on stunning trails and explore ancient Buddhist monasteries, with beautiful flora and fauna along the way.
Since it’s a destination that’ll keep you active, you’ll be pleased to hear it’s a ideal place to find healthy, high energy vegan food. A combination of Bhutanese red rice, dahl, vegetables and chilli-based-condiments features on most menus. You can also get vegan dumplings (momos), vegan noodle dishes, and different kinds of flowers.
Dubai, UAE
Dubai is an exciting holiday destination and there are lots of things to do, whatever your interests. A boat ride along the coastline or heading out into the desert for a safari adventure are great ways to explore the area. A brand new via ferrata that takes you up the highest peak, Jabal Jais, is high on my travel wishlist and only two hours from Dubai.
Overall, it’s a perfect area for vegan travellers. You can find an abundance of naturally vegan Eastern food like grilled vegetable dishes, tabbouleh, hummus, and falafel. There’s plenty of international cuisine available too.
Slovenia
Former Yugoslavia might not be the first destination that comes to mind for vegan travel. I can attest that this is for good reason, but Slovenia is a little different to most of the region. Slovenia has placed a huge focus on green development and this extends to the food options; I spent a couple of weeks traveling around the country last year and stumbled across vegan options everywhere I went.
With a teeny but beautiful coastline, the pristine Julian alps, huge lakes, waterfalls, gorges, and a vast network of caves to explore, it’s an unbeatable destination for a healthy holiday. There’s an abundance of vegan options in Ljubljana, Maribor and Bled, and in more surprisingly places too – as I emerged from Škocjan Caves I found a stall selling vegan sorbet made from local figs! A strong Italian influence means you can always find pasta or a lighter cheeseless pizza.
Turin, Italy
You might have heard of Turin as being the first ‘vegetarian city’. The city’s mayor has promoted vegetarian and veganism, focusing on both animal welfare and health. Turin is situated in the north west of Italy at the foot of the Alps a beautiful area filled with beautiful architecture like the Castle of Rivoli, and Museo Egizio. There’s also Museo Pietro Micca, where you can explore 9 miles of underground tunnels.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite from exploring, finding vegan food is easy. Flower Burger comes highly recommended for its colourful burger buns, as does Ratatouille for its huge range of veganised Italian sweets.
London, England
London is always an interesting city to visit; no matter how many times I’ve been, I always look forward to going again. There are so many exciting things to do, and a ridiculous amount of iconic landmarks like Big Ben, Tower of London, Piccadilly Circus, and Tower Bridge. You can go on themed walking tours, including the slightly creepy option of following the path of Jack the Ripper!
There are also so many museums (the British Museum is somewhere I could revisit and revisit!), art galleries, and stunning buildings like Westminster Abbey, Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace that you can explore.
There are plenty of food opportunities for vegans, especially around Brick Lane where you can try Indian food, Middle Eastern food, and the Boiler House Food Hall.
Where would add to this list for healthy vegan travel?
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