Intrepid Announces New Vegan Tours

Maintaining a vegan diet while traveling can certainly have its challenges.

The diet, which has been growing in popularity worldwide, involves abstaining from all animal-derived products including cheese, fish, meat, and even butter.

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In the early 1990s, the movement included just a few million people, but in recent years it has grown to encompass between 550 and 950 million people, by some estimates.

In response to these growing numbers and ever on the cutting edge, Intrepid Travel has unveiled three new tours designed specifically to highlight the vegan food culture in some of the world’s most mouth-watering culinary destinations.

The first of these unique offerings, designed with the help of a team of vegan influencers from around the world, will focus on India, Italy and Thailand.

Each trip will showcase delicious, plant-based food experiences in their respective locales and offer up insider tips on where to snag the best vegan eats.

“Whether you eat a vegan diet, or just want to test the waters, this new line of vegan adventures will offer authentic culinary adventures and experiences you’ll only discover with an Intrepid local leader,” said Intrepid Travel’s Brand & Product Manager, Food Tours, Neil Coletta. “Food travel is here to stay, and it’s our responsibility as a leading travel company to provide a range of offerings that can suit all tastes and lifestyles.”

A 2017 report from research firm Global Data, revealed a remarkable 600 percent increase in people identifying as vegan in the U.S. in the last three years. The vegan diet rejects the commodity status of animals but is also followed by people for health reasons and environmental concerns.

Sales of plant-based food in the U.S. has increased by 8.1 percent during the past year, topping $3.1 billion, according to research carried out by Nielsen for the Plant Based Foods Association and the Good Food Institute, while “vegan food” was among the top Google searches for New Yorkers in 2016.

Intrepid has designed its new line of vegan food tours to focus on destinations already well-known for their culinary scenes, though perhaps not necessarily for the vegan offerings (think: Italy where cheese is one of the most popular food items.)

The three new tours include:

India Vegan Food Adventure (8 days) – This culinary adventure to Dehli, Jaipur and Agra showcases why this corner of the subcontinent is one of the greatest places in the world for vegan travelers. The itinerary ventures far beyond the masala dosas and veggie samosas of the high street cafes and includes vegan cooking classes and visits to iconic sites like the Taj Mahal. Prices start at $1,160.

Italy Vegan Food Adventure (8 Days) – In a country known for its cheese, meats and pizza, Italy is also where some of the world’s most progressive and innovative vegan food experiences can be had. Venturing from Venice to Rome, highlights of the trip include a dinner in Venice’s first vegan restaurant, a farm-to-table vegan feast and two nights in an all-vegan villa in Tuscany. Prices start at $2,610.

Thailand Vegan Food Adventure (8 Days) – Home to some of the world’s most flavorful cuisine, this tour will highlight the legendary and vegan-friendly cuisine of South East Asia, with activities such as a palm sugar demonstration at Tha Kha floating market and preparing a vegan meal under the guidance of a local during an authentic homestay in Chiang Mai. Prices begin at $1,205.

“While we recognize that it’s not realistic for everyone around the world to adopt a vegan lifestyle, as a responsible travel company that values purpose initiatives and sustainability in all aspects, we feel it’s important to encourage and celebrate vegan cultures and practices around the world as one way responsible travelers can help save our planet," said Leigh Barnes, chief purpose officer, Intrepid Travel.