Intrepid Travel has relaunched its Real Food Adventures tour range. The 21 tours have been revamped to include a new plant-based experience on every itinerary, part of Intrepid’s ongoing commitment to decarbonize their business and inform a more climate-conscious future for travel.

“Plant-based diets are a major opportunity for mitigating and adapting to climate change,” said Intrepid’s Global Environmental Impact Manager, Susanne Etti. “Plant-based foods generally have a much lower carbon footprint than animal-based foods. As Intrepid continues to innovate in ways that promote and support sustainability, including a delicious meal that showcases local fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds is just one way that we are investing in the health of our planet,” she added.

Intrepid’s Real Food Adventures were originally launched in 2013 with six trips designed to give foodies a culinary experience focused on grassroots cuisines and culture. After a pandemic-induced hiatus, today, the reintroduced range features 21 tours including longstanding favourites like Mexico, India and Vietnam as well as newer itineraries in South Korea, The Balkans and Israel & Palestine.

New for 2022 is a selection of 21 plant-based experiences that were curated to promote and normalize less carbon-intensive eating habits and to show travellers the importance of making climate-conscious decisions in everyday life. While the tours will still feature signature meals with traditional meat and fish dishes, the trips have been designed to show the importance of balance and moderation when it comes to making small but significant changes towards a more climate-friendly lifestyle.

Highlights of the reintroduced Real Food Adventures and 21 plant-based experiences include:

South Korea Real Food Adventure (8 days from $3,385 CAD)

On this trip, travellers will visit South Korea’s slow food capital in Jeonju, dive deep into seafood in Busan and experience the labyinthian Gwangang Market in Seoul, famously featured in the Netflix series ‘Street Food’.

Plant-based experience: On Day 4 travellers will immerse themselves in monastic life during a temple stay in Gyeongju, which includes a plant-based dinner with chanting meditation and an optional (but recommended!) martial arts class.

Italy Real Food Adventure (8 days from $3,090 CAD)

Uncover the secrets of Italian cuisine while travelling from Venice to Rome. Inspired by the kitchens of the nonna, Italy’s food is authentic and surprising – pizza and pasta are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the diverse array of unforgettable food you’ll find on this adventure.

Plant-based experience: On Day 5 travellers will stay in a traditional Tuscan farmhouse in San Gimignano. Dinner that evening will be a plant-based spread made with ingredients freshly harvested from the farmhouse garden beds, including homemade pasta, salads and vegetables.

Japan Real Food Adventure (12 days from $6,715 CAD)

Ignite your tastebuds on a culinary journey through Japan’s most delicious hotspots. To the glittering skyscrapers of Tokyo and the lush alps of Takayama, slurp on soba and sample some sake as you work your way through the contrasting flavours of the land of the rising sun.

Plant-based experience: On Day 8 travellers will venture into mountainous Koya-san, spending the night in a monastery and discovering shojin ryori – a traditional plant-based Buddhist meal with over 800 years of history.

Mexico Food Adventure (9 days from $1860 CAD)

Get an authentic taste of Mexico on this journey through some of the country’s most famous culinary regions. Meander through Oaxaca’s aromatic markets, take to the streets of Puebla to sample some the city’s local specialties, indulge in fresh seafood on the beach, and take to the streets of Mexico City on a taco crawl to experience a delightful culinary heritage that goes back thousands of years.

Plant-based experience: On Day 4 travellers will enjoy a plant-based spread at a local restaurant specialising in dishes from the Isthmus region of Oaxaca. Tuck into tasty gorditas, tamales with huitlacoche, vegan tlayuda and seasonal fresh fruit.

Vietnam Real Food Adventure (12 days from $2,425 CAD)

From pho and ancient buildings in Hanoi, banh khoai and imperial citadels in Hue, banh xeo and lantern-lit streets in Hoi An and banh canh and pulsating markets in Ho Chi Minh City, experience Vietnam’s cuisine and its tightly woven place within the culture.

Plant-based experience: On Day 5 after a dragon boat cruise on the Perfume River, travellers will enjoy a special lunch stop for a plant-based Buddhist meal at a pagoda, followed by a visit to the royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc.