/The best places to holiday for vegan travellers
ENJOYING the local cuisine is a massive part of any holiday.
But for vegan travellers, it can often be tough to work out which destination is going to best suit your needs.
So to celebrate World Vegan Month this November, one travel site has complied a list of some of the best vegan-friendly travel destinations around the globe.
Research from Booking.com found that more than six in 10 travellers say they pick a destination for its great food or drink.
While more than a third of global travellers - rising to 40% for millennials - are planning to take a dedicated food tourism trip sometime this year.
According to the research, a tenth of global travellers worrying about dietary requirements not being met, whereas almost half of global travellers - rising to 60% for millennials - are still looking to be more adventurous with the type of cuisine they eat while travelling.
With this in mind, the site has delved into its 29m listings in more than 141k destinations around the world to compile a roundup of the best destinations for vegan cuisine, along with the best places to stay. CHIANG MAI, THAILAND Chiang Mai is nestled in the mountains of northern Thailand where much of the city still features ancient artefacts. It is Thai tradition to use little or no meat when cooking so this has resulted in the city being filled with delicious vegan restaurants. WHERE TO STAY: Green Tiger Vegetarian House offers not only vegetarian cuisine but a variety of excellent vegan dishes too, in its in-house restaurant. The guesthouse is also close to local landmarks including Wat Lokmolee and the Chang Puak Market. CANGGU, INDONESIA Situated on the south coast of Bali, Canggu is an up and coming resort area filled with healthy food and vegan restaurants. Canggu is also a surfer’s paradise and is renowned for great waves. WHERE TO STAY: The Bed by the Sea is a six minute walk from the beach and is close to the vibrant streets of Canggu, which are filled to the brim with vegan eateries. Away from the hustle and bustle, guests can relax by the pool and garden at the property for a relaxing break which comes complete with vegan dishes at breakfast. LA LAGUNA, NICARAGUA Nicaragua is a great place for foodies, boosting delicious traditional dishes of homegrown ingredients - great for vegans with the choice of exotic fresh fruit and local dishes including Gallo Pinto (rice and beans) and Bunuelos (dough balls with syrup). La Laguna is a nature reserve in Nicaragua and, with no motor boats allowed in the lake, it makes for a most idyllic vacation setting. WHERE TO STAY: Apoyo Lodge is situated right by the lake and featured direct access to the lagoon and wellness activities. As well as daily yoga classes the lodge also has a completely plant based and gluten free restaurant. GO MEAT FREE IN KOYASAN, JAPAN A UNESCO World Heritage site, the mountain of Koyasan (Mount Koya) is on the beautiful forested Kii Peninsula, more than 800 meters above sea level. It was traditionally considered sacred, and is a major pilgrimage site for followers of the Shingon school of Buddhism. A special vegetarian (often vegan) diet is followed by monks and believers in Buddhism. It is called Shojin Ryori in Japanese, which can be translated as “Food of Devotion” and you can enjoy some monastic succulence at some of the century old restaurants. Koyasan is a perfect location for vegetarians where they’re guaranteed to have a wide choice of dishes. WHERE TO STAY: Jokiin is based in the heart of Koyosan and is a one-minute walk from the Kongobu-ji temple where visitors can partake in Morning Prayer. Vegetarian cuisine is available at the property with local vegetarian cafes and restaurants a stone’s throw away also. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA Australia’s largest city, Sydney is filled with famous landmarks, coastal trails and some of the best national parks in the world. Sydney is also well known for its award-winning restaurants and bars, perfect for the foodie traveller. WHERE TO STAY: Hailed as Australia’s first vegan hotel, Ovolo Woolloomooloo offers a completely plant based restaurant in the hotel, Alibi, which is run by Matthew Kenney a top restaurateur and vegan chef.