The best books about vegan travel

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been living a semi-nomadic lifestyle and traveling the globe for all my adult life, and travel has truly shaped who I am. In 2014, when I learned about the many advantages of a vegan lifestyle for my health, the planet, and the animals, I felt compelled to make the change. There was one thing holding me back, though, which was the fear that being vegan would ruin travel. Fortunately, I gave it a trial run anyway during a three-week trip to Greece and discovered that being vegan actually made traveling even more fun! Ever since, I’ve been sharing my global vegan discoveries on my website, the Nomadic Vegan.


I wrote...

Veggie Planet: Uncover the Vegan Treasures Hiding in Your Favorite World Cuisines

By Wendy Werneth,

Book cover of Veggie Planet: Uncover the Vegan Treasures Hiding in Your Favorite World Cuisines

What is my book about?

Discover the many plant-based dishes that are hiding in plain sight in the world’s best-loved cuisines. Intrepid globetrotter and vegan travel expert Wendy Werneth has explored 117 countries on 7 continents, sampling countless local specialties along the way. In Veggie Planet, she highlights the many naturally vegan dishes in 11 of the world's most famous cuisines and shows you just how vegan-friendly they really are. 

But Veggie Planet is more than just an international travel guide for people interested in the vegan lifestyle. Since the cuisines it describes are widely available (think Chinese, Italian, Indian, etc.), Veggie Planet is a godsend not only for when you’re traveling but also for when you want to enjoy a delicious vegan meal while eating out, even in your own hometown.

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of The Essential Vegan Travel Guide

Wendy Werneth Why did I love this book?

This guide is full of practical tips for traveling as a vegan, including how to plan and organize your trip, how to get insider help and advice from vegan locals in your destination, and even how to engage in vegan activism or volunteer work while traveling. 

The author is a keen world traveler who became vegan back in 2008, so she draws on lots of personal experience and also shares some funny personal stories so you can learn from her mistakes!

By Caitlin Galer-Unti,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Essential Vegan Travel Guide as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

After a day of sightseeing, you are in no mood to pick pepperoni off your pizza or nibble on undressed lettuce leaves. “The Essential Vegan Travel Guide” is here to ensure that your vacation is filled with good times and good food. Stop stressing, because the only thing you should be worrying about on holiday is whether red or white pairs better with your seitan piccata!Ever wondered "where can I find vegan food near me?" Or do you want to know where a vegan, vegetarian or healthy eater can eat, no matter where you travel?This step-by-step travel guide shows you…


Book cover of Japan: A Travel Guide for Vegans

Wendy Werneth Why did I love this book?

I hesitate to recommend vegan guidebooks about specific destinations, because in most cases I find them unnecessary. If all you need are listings of veg-friendly restaurants, that kind of info is generally best found on the Internet or on apps like HappyCow, as it changes so quickly.

Japan, however, is one destination where it’s really helpful to have some background info about the local language and culture as it applies to vegan travel. Jesse Duffield has made multiple trips to Japan and offers insights that most foreign tourists simply wouldn’t know about.

The traditional food eaten in Japan is largely plant-based, and yet it can be surprisingly difficult to avoid hidden animal ingredients such as dashi, the fish-based stock used in most soups and sauces. This book will help you to navigate the fascinating but confusing world of Japanese cuisine and enjoy the many culinary delights it has to offer.

By Jesse Duffield,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Japan as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

July 2021 Update
Sadly, many vegan restaurants have closed over the last year and a half, and I am unable to visit Japan to update this book, and with such heavy restrictions on tourism, there would be little point in doing so. It has not been updated since March (2021) and is unlikely to be updated in the foreseeable future. However, this book could still be useful for anyone planning a trip for when the borders re-open. I am therefore reducing the price to $2.99 (the minimum price allowed on Amazon).

The Veg Travel Guide to Japan is the first…


Book cover of The Lotus and the Artichoke: Vegan Recipes from World Adventures

Wendy Werneth Why did I love this book?

Justin Moore, the creator of the Lotus and the Artichoke website and recipe book series, has spent years traveling the globe and joining locals in their kitchens, learning directly from them how to prepare their traditional dishes. All in vegan versions, of course!

This is the book that kicked off the series of cookbooks back in 2012, and it offers a great overview of delicious, authentic vegan dishes from around the world. If you’re interested in a specific cuisine, you may also want to check out Justin’s vegan recipe books on Mexican, Sri Lankan, Malaysian, Indian and Ethiopian cuisines.

He’s currently crowdfunding an update to the original book too, so keep an eye out for it when it hits the shelves!

By Justin Moore,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Lotus and the Artichoke as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Escape into other culinary worlds with 100+ delicious vegan recipes inspired by my many years of travel & adventures in nearly 40 countries! Discover delicious Indo-Chinese dishes (mostly unknown outside India; beloved among Indians and backpackers), incredible Indian feasts, Chinese and Southeast Asian treats and wonders, Italian, French, German and other exciting European vegan variations and converted classics. You’ll find super tasty African medleys from the North, West and East, All-American go-to greats and family favorites, seductive sweets from around the world, and a variety of super-charged salads.


Book cover of Veggie Hotels

Wendy Werneth Why did I love this book?

If you’re dreaming of travel but unable to hit the road at the moment, this is the perfect coffee table book for the vegan armchair traveler. Written by the creators of the Veggie Hotels web-based directory of vegan and vegetarian hotels, this book is full of gorgeous photos of some of the best cruelty-free digs around the world.

You’ll also find plenty of useful information about all the services and activities these veg and vegan accommodations offer, such as yoga and cooking classes. And chefs from the on-site restaurants even share some of their most popular recipes in the book.

By Teneues,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Veggie Hotels as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Even with the loveliest hotel room and a beckoning pool, the perfect vacation can be spoiled when the restaurant forces you to make a meal out of side dishes. For vegetarians and vegans, a hotel vacation suiting their culinary lifestyle can still be quite a challenge. But there are outstanding alternatives out there, you just have to find them! Travel journalists, Thomas and Karen Klein, had the same thought, so, in 2011, they joined forces with Peter Haunert to launch the hotel partner and website, VeggieHotels, a portal featuring 100% vegetarian hotels and inns. In addition to purely vegetarian-vegan hotels,…


Book cover of Vegan Travel Handbook 1

Wendy Werneth Why did I love this book?

Since there are not that many vegan travel books on the market (yet), this title sneaks onto this list, but with a caveat. This book is a collaboration by multiple authors, and some parts are definitely better than others.

The general travel information was clearly written by a vegan and is right on point. However, some of the destination-specific sections seem to be lifted from Lonely Planet’s other titles and weren’t written from a vegan perspective.

While the information about vegan food options in various countries is accurate, a vegan lifestyle is not just about food. Rather, it’s about avoiding causing harm to animals as far as possible through the choices we make in all aspects of our daily life.

Some of the activities mentioned in the Vegan Travel Handbook do not fit within this worldview, which may be off-putting for vegan readers. Nevertheless, for new vegans or vegan-curious travelers who are wondering what the most veg-friendly destinations are around the globe, this book gives a useful overview and plenty of specific recommendations that will help you plan your next trip.

By Lonely Planet Food,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Vegan Travel Handbook 1 as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Whether you've been vegan for years or are travelling as one for the first time, The Vegan Travel Handbook will help you discover, plan and book a huge range of vegan-friendly adventures around the globe.

Get essential advice and expert tips on everything from where to go when and the best vegan restaurants, accommodation and cities, to how to stay healthy on the road and order food with confidence. We also reveal unmissable vegan tours, festivals and food trucks.

From cooking classes in India to wildlife watching tours in New Zealand, Lonely Planet shows you how to explore the world…


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Kanazawa

By David Joiner,

Book cover of Kanazawa

David Joiner Author Of Kanazawa

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

My book recommendations reflect an abiding passion for Japanese literature, which has unquestionably influenced my own writing. My latest literary interest involves Japanese poetry—I’ve recently started a project that combines haiku and prose narration to describe my experiences as a part-time resident in a 1300-year-old Japanese hot spring town that Bashō helped make famous in The Narrow Road to the Deep North. But as a writer, my main focus remains novels. In late 2023 the second in a planned series of novels set in Ishikawa prefecture will be published. I currently live in Kanazawa, but have also been lucky to call Sapporo, Akita, Tokyo, and Fukui home at different times.

David's book list on Japanese settings not named Tokyo or Kyoto

What is my book about?

Emmitt’s plans collapse when his wife, Mirai, suddenly backs out of purchasing their dream home. Disappointed, he’s surprised to discover her subtle pursuit of a life and career in Tokyo.

In his search for a meaningful life in Japan, and after quitting his job, he finds himself helping his mother-in-law translate Kanazawa’s most famous author, Izumi Kyoka, into English. He becomes drawn into the mysterious death of a friend of Mirai’s parents, leading him and his father-in-law to climb the mountain where the man died. There, he learns the somber truth and discovers what the future holds for him and his wife.

Packed with subtle literary allusion and closely observed nuance, Kanazawa reflects the mood of Japanese fiction in a fresh, modern incarnation.

Kanazawa

By David Joiner,

What is this book about?

In Kanazawa, the first literary novel in English to be set in this storied Japanese city, Emmitt's future plans collapse when his wife, Mirai, suddenly backs out of negotiations to purchase their dream home. Disappointed, he's surprised to discover Mirai's subtle pursuit of a life and career in Tokyo, a city he dislikes.

Harmony is further disrupted when Emmitt's search for a more meaningful life in Japan leads him to quit an unsatisfying job at a local university. In the fallout, he finds himself helping his mother-in-law translate Kanazawa's most famous author, Izumi Kyoka, into English.

While continually resisting Mirai's…


5 book lists we think you will like!

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