How To Travel As A Vegan
By Alice Kuersch – World traveller for over a decade. I visit every place I write about so I can provide real photos and tips so you can have the best travel experience.
Is it possible to travel as a vegan? I’ll teach you how!
Following a vegan diet is one of compassion for animals and the planet. Is it possible to stick to a diet free from animal products when you venture to places with different cuisine and you can’t speak the language? It is possible! Some countries are easier than others.
I have been vegan since 2005 and have travelled to 30+ countries while maintaining a strict diet with no animal products. On occasion mistakes can happen with language barriers and misunderstandings but I always do my best to eat only plant-based meals – even when travelling. I would love to share with you my top tips so you can eat your way around the world and experience amazing cuisine from all corners of the globe.
TOP TIP: 📱 Your best tool for vegan travel is your phone + the internet
Buy a ESIM so you’re connected from the moment you land at the airport
# Tips To Travel As A Vegan
1. Google Maps
My favourite way of finding vegan friendly restaurants when travelling is Google Maps by searching for reviews that other people have left.
Simply open the app and search for vegan in your current location or desired area – this will show restaurants that have the word vegan mentioned in their reviews, even if they’re not exclusively vegan establishments.
Don’t stop at the initial search results though; dive into the reviews section of promising restaurants and use the search function within reviews to look for specific terms like vegan, vegetarian, oat milk, almond milk, or dairy free.
This can reveal hidden gems where other diners have discovered vegan options that aren’t prominently advertised on the menu.
Many traditional restaurants have accommodating chefs or accidentally vegan dishes that others have highlighted in their reviews.
TOP TIP – Pay it forward! Leave a review when you find vegan options so future travellers can find it too!
2. Happy Cow
Happy Cow is a tool that is essential when travelling as a vegan. You can either download the app or use the website directory of vegan, vegetarian or vegan friendly restaurants, cafes, bars, bakeries and more. Both are free and you don’t need an account to see over 250,000 businesses.
Listings provide details on the type of cuisine, approximate cost, address, opening hours and the best part – reviews and photos from previous visitors.
3. Internet On The Go – Buy an ESIM
Having connection to the internet while travelling makes travelling as a vegan SO much easier! With translation apps, maps, social media and review sites at your finger tips if there is vegan food to be found nearby you will know!
Phones these days don’t even require a physical sim card for you to connect to a local network. You can buy an ESIM online before your trip and it will be up and running as soon as you land – super helpful for getting transport from the airport safely too!
My favourite ESIM provider is Airolo – I recently bought a sim and plan for Thailand and it was easy to connect when I arrived. You can choose from a range of plans depending on how long your trip is and how much data you need. I went with 10GB for a 30 days trip.
4. Learn key phrases in the local language
Brushing up on a few handy words for travelling in non-English speaking countries will ensure your dietary needs are understood and followed.
In Spanish speaking countries I have a list memorised of the things I don’t eat so I can communicate this with restaurant staff.
You can look up a translation before you go and even print a list to take with you with phrases like – I’m vegan, no meat, dairy, eggs, or honey.
Some languages are tricky so having a printed card that locals can read is useful too. Translation apps also work but best to be prepared incase you don’t have internet access everywhere you go.
5. Go To A Cooking Class
There’s no better way to understand the local cuisine than learn to cook it yourself! Not only will you take home an collection of new dishes to cook but you’ll have a deeper understanding of ingredients used and what dishes can be veganised.
In Thailand, I went to an excellent cooking class and learned how to cook Pad Thai, Tom Yum Soup, Massaman Curry, Green Curry and more! My teacher also explained that curries can often contain shrimp paste and to be aware when ordering from not veg restaurants.
I loved doing a specialised vegan cooking class but if you can’t find one in your destination you can find a non-vegan one and ask if they will cater to vegans. If it’s a group lesson you might be with people cooking meat so if that’s not something you want to do you could book a private class.
🤩 Vegan Cooking Class in Bangkok, Thailand
6. Download translation apps
Google Translate is an absolute game-changer for vegan travelers navigating foreign countries.
The app’s live text translation feature is particularly useful for checking ingredients on packaged foods – simply point your phone’s camera at the ingredient list and it will translate the text in real-time on your screen. This is invaluable when you’re grocery shopping in countries where you can’t read the local script, helping you avoid hidden animal products like milk powder, gelatin, or fish sauce.
It’s not perfect but I find taking a still photo gets better results than the live translation as you move your phone over the text.
The voice translation feature is equally impressive – you can speak in English and the app will translate your words into the local language, then the restaurant staff can respond in their language and you’ll hear the English translation. This makes ordering at restaurants much easier, especially when explaining complex dietary restrictions. You can say something like “I don’t eat any animal products – no meat, fish, dairy, eggs, or honey” and have it accurately translated. You can download languages for offline use.
7. Book accommodation with kitchen facilities
Having access to a kitchen is incredibly valuable for vegan travellers, especially on longer trips where you don’t want to spend money dining out three times a day. Even the most basic kitchenette with a stovetop and some pots can save you hundreds of dollars and ensure you always have satisfying plant-based meals available.
I’ll often whip up a pasta dish with whatever vegetables I can find at the local market, and lentils cooked with potatoes, garlic & chilli. From my experience, having the ability to cook basic meals when travelling makes longer trips much more affordable and gives you more flexibility with your food choices.
8. carry basic cooking essentials
Pack a small waterproof pouch with essential cooking ingredients that can transform any basic meal into something delicious. Your travel cooking kit could include small containers of olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and vegetable stock cubes or powder.
I use a wet bag like this one from Biome to store all my cooking essentials. Yes, it’s probably intended for storing nappies, but it has a much better use for travellers! The waterproof lining means if any oil or liquid spills, it won’t ruin your clothes or other items in your luggage.
Consider adding a few other lightweight essentials like nutritional yeast (for cheesy flavour), dried herbs like oregano or basil, and maybe some hot sauce or chilli flakes if you like spice. These small additions take up minimal space but make a huge difference when you’re cooking simple meals in basic kitchen facilities.
9. Connect With The Vegan Community
Ok we can all admit that social media is the worst but for vegan travel Facebook groups are a great source of information. Look up if there is a group for the destination you are heading – people are usually happy to answer questions. Reddit forums can be useful too!
10. Find Local Markets & Grocery Stores
You haven’t really experienced a place until you’ve shopped like the locals – I could spend hours looking at the selection at a market or grocery store.
Keep an eye out for fresh fruit and vegetables – you can discover types you would never see in your home country.
Don’t forget to take a bag with you to carry all your goodies with no plastic.
TOP TIP: Don’t forget to take a bag with you to carry all your goodies with no plastic.
11. Pack snacks
Keep portable vegan snacks with you for those moments when you’re caught without food options or need energy between meals. I keep a bag of dried fruit or nuts with me in my backpack and stock up when I run low.
Good travel-friendly options include mixed nuts, dried fruits, energy bars, and seeds. Having backup food means you won’t end up making compromising food choices when you’re tired and hungry.
On long travel days where you’ll be stuck on a bus all day or doing a full day tour, you might not have the opportunity to find a vegan meal. In these situations, bring a packed lunch like a sandwich and fruit to keep you going throughout the journey.
12. Pack reusable Items
Bring a reusable water bottle, travel utensils, and your own cup for zero-waste coffees, teas and smoothies. These items reduce your environmental impact and mean you can enjoy takeaway meals or street food without relying on single-use plastic cutlery.
A collapsible cup or bowl can be particularly handy for street markets or food stalls where they might only have disposable containers.
13. travel with other vegans or people who embrace your veganism
You may be willing to walk an extra 2km to a vegan restaurant but will your travel buddies? Have a conversation with your fellow travellers to give them a heads-up ahead of time. If they want to join you for an adventure to a vegan-friendly cafe great! If not then you don’t need to spend every meal together.
14. Look for vegan-friendly hotels
Look for accommodation that provides vegan food. There are eco-lodges, resort, bed & breakfast and even hostels that will offer a vegan friendly meal to start your day right. Away in Chiang Mai is a great example of an all vegan hotel.
15. Check airline meal options and pre-order
If our vegan travel involves flying you can request to have a vegan meal. You need to do this nice and early. Usually the code for a vegan meal is VGML. I mean airplane food is never amazing but some airlines are pretty good. I’ve also had some absolute shockers.
The worst was when something happened with the plane at the last minute and my meal didn’t make it onboard. They could offer me nothing but a very pathetic packet of rice crisps. This is why I have trust issues and can’t go anywhere without snacks packed! 😂
16. Stay near vegan eateries
In a place like Seoul in South Korea – the city is huge but a lot of the vegan friendly restaurants are in a cluster in Itaewon.
If you’re heading to a country that might be hard to find vegan options look at your options before you book your place to stay so you know you will have something nearby.
17. Be patient and educational when veganism is unfamiliar in some cultures
In some countries, veganism is not well known, especially if you venture out of the major cities. In Japan, dashi – a stock made with fish, is commonly used in many dishes which would otherwise be vegetarian and vegan friendly. Trying to order without dashi can be a struggle.
Do your best to make your needs clear. Mistakes can happen! Don’t blame yourself or the restaurant staff – it’s all part of the experience and you will know for next time.
18. Last Resort Vegan Options
Oreos – ugh. The accidentally vegan sweet biscuit that is somehow found everywhere. If you’re desperate there’s a good chance you’ll find a pack of Oreos. I normally avoid this palm-oil riddled horror but I have bought them when desperate. Other options easily found in a convenience store – plain chips, rice, fresh fruit, nuts & dried fruit.
19. Coffee!
Finding milk alternatives can sometimes be a challenge when travelling. I often drink black coffee or try to seek out cafes offering soy, milk, almond or oat – expect to pay extra!
20. Advise Of Dietary Requirements When Booking A Tour
When booking a tour that includes lunch get in touch with your tour provider ahead of time to check if they can offer a vegan options – they are usually happy to cater to dietary needs.
Enjoy Your Vegan Travel
Well done for travelling as a vegan! It’s not always easy but your effort has a big impact on animals and the planet.
BOYCOTT LIST – There are many companies who are profiting from the genocide in Palestine. Booking platforms promote rental properties located on stolen and occupied Palestinian and Syrian land.
COMPANIES TO BOYCOTT
Booking.com + Sub brands (Agoda, Kayak, Priceline, Opentable, Rentalcars.com, Momondo, Cheapflights
Expedia.com + Sub brands (Hotels.com, Trivago, Vrbo, Travelocity, Hotwire, Orbitz, ebookers, CheapTickets, Expedia Cruises, Wotif, CarRentals, Egencia)
Tripadvisor + Viatour
Airbnb
Bookaway.com
Recommendations – not on Boycott List currently
Hotel/Hostel: Hostel World, Trip.com
OR book directly with the hostel or hotel if you can
Car Rental: Discover Cars, GetRentacar.com
Tours & Experiences: Explore what your destination has on offer with Get Your Guide. The reviews are a great place to learn what to expect.
Buses, Ferries & Trains: 12Go is my go to for booking transport – compare offerings my multiple tour operators. Booking confirmation is instant and hassle free.
ESIM & Internet Package: Stay connected with an ESIM from Airolo – land at the airport and connect straight away without the hassle of buying a local sim card.