Veggies Abroad Vegan Travel Podcast

In this episode of the Veggies Abroad Podcast, Rebecca sits down with Jenny and Melissa to talk about their recent vegan group tour through Portugal, followed by their own adventures in Paris and London. They share what it was like navigating Lisbon’s steep hills in surprising autumn heat, the joy of making traditional Portuguese tiles, their favorite cities on the itinerary, and the vegan dishes they loved (including unforgettable pastéis de nata and plenty of creative desserts). The conversation explores how group travel with like-minded vegans changes the experience, from connecting over meals to forming friendships that carry far beyond the trip.After Portugal, the pair continued on to Paris and London, where they wandered iconic neighborhoods, sampled vegan croissants and pastrami sandwiches, discovered 3D-printed salmon at a London’s Unity Diner, and clocked more than 30,000 steps a day exploring both cities. They break down what surprised them, what they’d do differently next time, and the highlights that stood out in each destination. The episode also touches on traveling solo, tips for choosing a vegan-friendly group tour, and where they hope to travel next.Learn more and book your own vegan adventure: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.veggiesabroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Don’t forget to check Instagram for photos from the trip!Want to join a future adventure? Keep an eye on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠veggiesabroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for upcoming vegan group tours and travel resources.

Get ready to toss some biodegradable confetti — it’s our 50th episode! Join host and chief veggie pusher Rebecca Gade Sawicki and her partner-in-travel Matt as they celebrate this milestone and explore the surprisingly vegan-friendly side of Greece.Forget what you’ve heard about feta and seafood — Greece’s mainland is filled with compassionate adventures, mountain villages, ancient history, and plant-based eats. Rebecca shares insider tips from her travels through Athens, Dimitsana, Nafplio, and Crete, including must-try vegan restaurants, scenic road trip routes, local wineries, and responsible tourism experiences that support family-run businesses.Whether you’re dreaming of a romantic seaside town, a hike through quiet mountain trails, or a taste of authentic Greek olive oil, this episode is packed with ideas to help you plan an ethical, veggie-powered trip to Greece. Listen now and start planning your next plant-powered adventure.Learn more and book your own vegan adventure: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.veggiesabroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Don’t forget to check Instagram for photos from the trip!Want to join a future adventure? Keep an eye on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠veggiesabroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for upcoming vegan group tours and travel resources.

Did you know that not all wine is vegan? From egg whites to fish bladders (yes, really), many wines use animal products during the refining process - but not in Sonoma with La Belle Vie Tours. In this episode, Rebecca sits down with Michelle Rulmont, founder of La Belle Vie, to explore how she created a vegan-friendly wine tour through California’s iconic Sonoma Valley.Michelle shares the surprising truth behind why some wines aren’t vegan, how boutique wineries are embracing minimalist winemaking practices, and what makes Sonoma a laid-back alternative to Napa. You’ll also hear about farm sanctuary visits, vegan cheese pairings, and tips for planning your perfect wine getaway.If you’ve ever wondered what’s in your glass - and where to sip responsibly and deliciously - this conversation will inspire your next trip to wine country. Learn more about Michelle’s tours: La Belle Vie Vegan Wine ToursLearn more and book your own vegan adventure: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.veggiesabroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Don’t forget to check Instagram for photos from the trip!Want to join a future adventure? Keep an eye on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠veggiesabroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for upcoming vegan group tours and travel resources.

Traveling with food allergies can feel overwhelming—even impossible at times. In this episode of the Veggies Abroad Vegan Travel Podcast, Rebecca sits down with Karine, a travel advisor and lifelong adventurer who has lived with a severe sunflower allergy since childhood. Karine shares her journey of learning how to travel safely, from creating allergy cards in multiple languages to hiring chefs abroad and carefully packing her own meals.She also introduces us to her four-legged travel companion, Elton, a specially trained service dog who can detect even trace amounts of sunflower in food. Together, they’ve tackled everything from Michelin-starred restaurants in Italy to remote beachside eateries in Costa Rica.Karine offers practical advice for travellers with allergies—research, communication, and preparation are everything—while also shining a light on how the travel industry is (and isn’t) improving in allergy awareness.Whether you have allergies yourself or want to better understand the realities of travelling with them, this conversation is full of insight, personal stories, and encouragement.Learn more about Karine and her services: https://www.langsignaturetravel.com/Learn more and book your own vegan adventure: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.veggiesabroad.com⁠⁠⁠ Don’t forget to check Instagram for photos from the trip!Want to join a future adventure? Keep an eye on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠veggiesabroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for upcoming vegan group tours and travel resources.

In this episode of the Veggies Abroad Vegan Travel Podcast, Rebecca Gade Sawicki chats with Tara McCallum from Intrepid Travel about something we don’t talk about enough in tourism — gender inequality. While women make up more than half the global travel workforce, they’re still underrepresented in leadership and often stuck in lower-paid, insecure roles. Tara shares how Intrepid is working to change that — from increasing the number of female tour leaders in places like Morocco and Nepal to designing women-only expeditions that open doors for connection, storytelling, and real community impact.The conversation also explores how travellers can support women on the ground, why representation matters, and how even small changes in who creates and leads travel experiences can have lasting effects. If you’ve ever wondered how to make your travel more meaningful and supportive of the people you meet along the way, this one’s for you.Learn more about Intrepid Travel: https://www.intrepidtravel.comWant to join a future adventure? Keep an eye on ⁠⁠veggiesabroad.com⁠⁠ for upcoming vegan group tours and travel resources.

What happens when two self-proclaimed homebodies—one of whom isn’t even vegan—decide to take a leap of faith on a fully plant-based group tour around Iceland? In this episode of the Veggies Abroad Vegan Travel Podcast, host Rebecca Gade Sawicki reconnects with Nathan and Ashley, two travelers who joined her recent Iceland adventure, to unpack what made the trip unforgettable—from surprise puffin sightings and foot-soaking waterfalls to some seriously unexpected vegan food highlights (yes, even at gas stations!).Nathan shares his initial hesitation about joining a vegan group tour as an omnivore and picky eater (spoiler alert: he’s now a fan of chickpea soup and Icelandic vegan cheese), while Ashley confesses her pre-trip tattoo research and the real reason they chose Iceland in the first place. The pair dish on the joys of group travel, wild karaoke sessions in the van, and why Reykjavík gave off big city vibes in the best way possible.Expect honest reflections, hilarious moments (hello, seaweed snacks from hell), and a peek at what it’s really like to travel through a country with little vegetation and still find incredible plant-based meals.Want to join a future adventure? Keep an eye on veggiesabroad.com for upcoming vegan group tours and travel resources.