New Vegan and Vegetarian Wildlife Tours Are Offered by Naturetrek

A number of new vegetarian and vegan wildlife tours have been revealed by specialty natural world travel operator Naturetrek, expanding its impressive selection of small group tours and cruises for 2024.

In line with the growing trend of plant-based diets for sustainability, animal welfare, and health, Naturetrek has fully embraced the need for and interest in more vegan and vegetarian eating alternatives this year with its new itineraries.

Says Naturetrek’s Managing Director, Andy Tucker: “After years of vegetarians and vegans having to endure the frustration of being served ham omelettes and tuna salads in Mediterranean Europe and elsewhere, an up-and-coming collection of fine-dining hotels specialising in vegetarian and vegan cooking is taking the market by storm. We have worked hard to identify those in the best areas for wildlife, and the happy result is that we now have a new range of wildlife holidays to offer clients who follow a meat-free or plant-based diet. It will also doubtless please those omnivores amongst our clientele who are curious and keen to learn more about vegetarian and vegan cuisine.

“Our new vegetarian and vegan wildlife tours promise to deliver three delicious, healthy, and appetite-satisfying meals per day. We know ourselves – with several of us in the Naturetrek office being life-long vegetarians or vegans – that it has often been necessary to compromise on meal quality and variety when travelling. At long last, that will not be the case with this new collection of tours! It makes perfect sense to offer committed vegans and vegetarians what they seek, especially when so many of us often opt for such meals simply because they both taste and look so wonderful.”

Whether embarking on a safari through India’s tiger reserves or exploring the forested mountains of Andalucía’s Serranía de Ronda, Naturetrek has gone above and beyond to find hotel partners in prime wildlife locations that will satisfy even the most discerning plant-based or meat-free travelers. Every holiday is guaranteed to provide delectable, healthful, and fulfilling meals. Our carefully chosen hotels will serve breakfast and dinner, and there will be a vegan/vegetarian version of the well-known Naturetrek picnic, offering a variety of options and a delicious spread that is well-balanced.

Highlights of the new collection of vegetarian and vegan holidays include:

Spring in Greece’s Northern Peloponnese

Take an 8-day tour of Greece’s beautiful Peloponnese peninsula, just as it bursts into spring. Based in a delightful hotel on the north-east coast of the Peloponnese, that specialises in both vegetarian and vegan cuisine, guests will visit Lake Stymphalia – one of the EU’s Natura 2000 reserves – in search of the region’s most unique birds, reptiles, amphibians and plants – alongside exploring Kalogria’s wonderful Stone Pine forests on the north-west coast, as well as heading into the mountains in search of Rock Thrush (pictured above), Alpine Newt, Greek Clouded Yellow and Spotted Fritillary. With beautiful, secluded beaches, ancient chapels, friendly people and mouth-watering Mediterranean vegan and vegetarian cuisine, it will deliver an unforgettable Greek adventure for one and all.

Departing Tuesday 15th April 2025, prices for an 8-day holiday start from £2,295 pp, including flights, accommodation, three vegetarian/vegan meals per day and the expertise of a Naturetrek Tour Leader.

Wildlife of Italy’s Northern Alps

Explore Italy’s northern Alps on an 8-day adventure in search of the wonderful summer alpine wildlife of the region, staying at a stylish, superbly-appointed vegan hotel. Enjoy excursions to Alpine pastures, sun-lit meadows and other wonderful habitats in search of sought-after plant species – such as the Lesser Butterfly Orchid, One-flowered Wintergreen and Edelweiss – plus butterflies, and hopefully a rare sighting of Alpine Marmot and Alpine Ibex, alongside soaring Lammergeier and a variety of other birds such as the Nutcracker and Black Woodpecker. Located in the southern Tyrol, within easy walking distance of the Texel Group Nature Park, the hotel’s excellent facilities include a natural bathing pool, Finnish sauna, outdoor forest sauna, hot stone lounge and an indoor pool with a salt electrolysis system. Guests will enjoy a 5-course vegan gourmet dinner each evening, and a delicious vegan breakfast buffet each morning.
Departing Sunday 14th July 2024, prices for an 8-day holiday start from £3,295 pp, including flights, accommodation, three vegetarian/vegan meals per day and the expertise of a Naturetrek Tour Leader.

India – Tiger Direct

Experience the heart of Tiger country on a 9-day safari combining two of India’s finest Tiger Reserves – the Pench and Kanha National Parks. Flying straight into Nagpur, in Madhya Pradesh (heartland of the Tiger), this tour is free of large cities and endless overland journeys and truly maximises the time spent in India’s wonderful national parks. Explore a wide range of habitats on morning and evening game drives, looking for Tigers, Sambar, Spotted and Swamp Deer, Gaur, Wild Boar, and perhaps even Leopard, Dhole or Sloth Bear, as well as a colourful profusion of birds. An optional extension to tourist-free Tadoba Tiger Reserve is recommended for unmissable wildlife encounters. India excels in producing vegetarian and vegan food and, alongside delicious daily menus, guests will enjoy a private cooking demonstration of traditional Indian cuisine by their hosts. Departing Sunday 2nd February 2025, prices for a 9-day holiday start from £2,995 pp, including flights, accommodation, three vegetarian/vegan meals per day and the expertise of a Naturetrek Tour Leader.

Naturetrek’s current range of vegetarian and vegan tours (seven departures at present, in Scotland, Spain, Italy, India and Greece) can be viewed here.  More are currently being planned!