We all travel differently. Some enjoy checking off lists of must-see tourist hotspots, while others prefer to travel with deep intention and a sense of ‘seeking.’ If your idea of travel leans towards the latter, you might already be aware of Workaway—a platform that enables travellers to be accommodated by hosts in exchange for volunteer work rather than money. For travellers seeking eco-friendly projects, meaningful exploration, cultural immersion, off-grid adventures, and slow living, Workaway has it all in a nutshell.
As a vegan travelling to a remote place (as many Workaway listings are off-grid), food is obviously a factor we must consider beforehand! While you can always set a filter for ‘vegan workaways’ in your search, it can be taxing to sift through the hundreds of thousands of listings to find the ones that are legitimately vegan-friendly AND have good reviews. So we’ve made that job a little simpler for you with this list.
Do note: you’ll need an account on Workaway to be able to volunteer at any of the following places.
These are totally vegan workaways:
1. A Vegan sanctuary needs your help in the countryside near Berlin, Germany
This is a vegan family-run sanctuary with beautiful animals rescued from slaughter. Besides the resident dogs, there are also 21 sheep, 3 guinea fowls, 16 chickens, 3 guinea pigs, 2 rabbits and 2 boars living in the forest. Everyone’s seen as an equal here! Apparently you should also be ready for chickens that visit the dinner table as they are curious! 😉
Read more here.
Discover vegan food in Germany here.
2. Build the most spectacular jungle eco hostel on the way to the lost city, Colombia
A Dutch couple, along with their Argentinian friend and permaculture expert, are building an eco hostel nestled in a jungle plot along the stunning Buritaca river. Aligned with their principle of sustainability, the food here is completely vegan. With hidden waterfalls around the corner, a neighboring cacao farm, and a magical jungle river, anyone who joins them is surely in for an adventure!
Read more here.
Discover vegan food in Colombia here.
3. Learn in a vegan farm about self-sufficiency farming & natural building near Phayao, Thailand
The main goal here is for it to become a self-sufficient vegan farm. Pure, the creator of this space, says, “Our inspirations come from Thai traditional agriculture but as vegans we have to mix those inspirations with our own values.” Set on 3 acres of land with food forests and vegetable gardens on contour, rice paddies and ponds, it’s a beautiful place to volunteer and learn.
Read more here.
Discover vegan food in Thailand here.
4. Learn about vegan lifestyle and how to live in harmony with animals and nature in Preolenna, Tasmania
A 25 acre dairy-farm-converted-organic-farm run by a vegan family of 4! They also have three cows, a goat, and a dog that are part of the family. If you’re near Tasmania and looking to learn about farming and building, all while experiencing a harmonious vegan lifestyle close to the beach, go ahead and add this vegan workaway to your list!
Read more here.
Discover vegan food in Tasmania here.
5. Help at a permaculture, yoga, meditation, raw vegan finca in the mountains near Malaga, Spain
Living in small wooden houses and caravans, this German family is all about that simple, sustainable lifestyle. They’re working on transforming their finca (aka estate) into a permaculture-designed fruit-forest, and their doors are open to volunteers. They live a raw vegan lifestyle and expect that their guests do the same while volunteering with them!
Read more here.
Discover vegan food in Spain here.
6. Help at a nature reserve in the beautiful mountain country of Waterval Boven, South Africa
This wildlife sanctuary is a home to sick, injured, and unwanted wildlife. Guests and volunteers from around the world seeking a deeper connection to animals and nature are welcome in this mystical place. With a rather large goal of setting up a wildlife sanctuary, there’s always something to do in this beautiful place. Daily meals are vegan!
Read more here.
Discover vegan food in South Africa here.
These are vegetarian/vegan workaways:
7. Help at an eco-project in a food and forage garden in the coastal town of Seaton, East Devon, UK
Tessa and her dog Daisy welcome guest volunteers who can support in their mission “to grow plants and community naturally with soul and spirit.” Overlooking the sea, and situated near many Bronze age earth works, there’s raw beauty all around! She says, “We envisage people and plants in harmony, developing creative spaces to nurture understanding, wisdom and knowledge of nature around us.”
Read more here.
Discover vegan food in the England here.
8. Discover a beautiful, mystical place in the Andes – an ecovillage in Chile
An ecological and sustainable project where you can learn about bioconstruction, organic gardening, native plants and trees, vegan/vegetarian cuisine, spirituality, and connectedness with mother earth through yoga, meditation, and river therapy. This workaway is vegan-friendly AND pet-friendly!
Read more here.
Discover vegan food in Chile here.
9. Help maintain a forest garden in an eco community in Bulgaria
This family with 3 small kids like to work as a team, celebrating and creating a “space of love” on an off-grid, hilly area. They are vegetarian but eat mainly vegan food, and try to live a healthy, happy, and simple life close to nature. The work is largely around the regeneration of deforested and eroded terrain.
Read more here.
Discover vegan food in Bulgaria here.
10. Connect with horses and learn about natural horse keeping in Alcoutim, Portugal
With 12 horses, 2 large dogs and 3 cats at this farm, no two days are the same! The non-ridden-horse farm is run by a Finnish-Portuguese couple who believe in natural horsekeeping. That means the horses are free; no horse-riding here! The couple are “almost vegan vegetarians” so rest assured your stay here will be vegan-friendly.
Read more here.
Discover vegan food in Portugal here.
If this list of amazing vegan workaways has left you with an itch to set out on an adventure, let this Q&A article with a full-time vegan traveller inspire you even further! 😉
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