Away Chiang Mai Thapae – A Vegan Retreat
Away Chiang Mai is a vegan oasis just a short distance from the old town that offers the perfect vegan and wellness retreat to those who enjoy creative plant based food and mindfulness during their travels. Opening in 2017 this all vegan retreat has received high acclaim from guests from around the world, whilst the growing demand for vegan travel will see them expanding the resort to include a new plant based cafe, wellness studio and thirty brand new rooms opening at the start of 2025. Having followed the press releases and social media around their opening, and enjoyed watching their success from afar, we were both very excited to find out for ourselves just how amazing Away Chiang Mai really was. Our deluxe room featured contrasting dark wood furniture and azure blue walls, with plenty of natural light from the large windows which opened onto the quaint balcony overlooking the pool. This was the perfect spot to contemplate life at the end of each day, or to enjoy a morning cuppa before embracing the day ahead. Our bathroom had a separate rain shower, and blue floor tiles that complimented the framed artwork of the same palette upon the walls. This minimalist and stylish design created a relaxing and inviting space, which made us feel at home and relaxed at Away Chiang Mai. Choose to join private yoga and meditation classes during your stay, enjoy a relaxing massage or spend your time swimming in the refreshing pool, this is a vegan retreat that you will most certainly not want to leave.
The Vegan Food
There’s something pretty special about heading down to breakfast and being able to peruse the buffet without having to ask for help. The breakfast buffet at Moreganic, the on site vegan restaurant at Away Chiang Mai is of course fully vegan and means you can eat absolutely everything. During our stay we certainly tried to do exactly that. From vegan waffles with fresh fruits, to DIY salad platters and from Thai green curries with stir fried veggies, to baked beans, roasted potatoes and vegan sausages we slowly but surely ate our way through the buffet. Freshly baked croissants, moist carrot cake, ciabatta and focaccia loaded with sun dried tomatoes and garlic kept our carb levels high, whilst pressed juices and soy milk lattes kept us hydrated. If only all hotel and resort buffets were like this, the world would be a better place.
Of course we made sure to dine at Moreganic other than just for breakfast and were suitably impressed. With plenty of soups, noodles, pasta and Thai dishes to choose from, it was tough to know which direction our vegan lunch should take. But as we are in Thailand and we are huge fans of Thai cuisine, it seemed like the right decision to ‘eat local’ whilst in Chiang Mai. What followed was a delectable soft tofu red curry, flavour packed and something we would most certainly order again. This paired perfectly with pineapple and cashew fried rice which was served in half a pineapple and also had small cubes of vegan ham for that salty umami and extra layer of texture. A platter of vegan versions of Northern Thai appetisers was served with salad and a smoky chilli dip, we enjoyed trying vegan Thai sausages with herbs for the very first time, and we both loved the chilli dip. Our lunch was completed with what can only be described as deep fried banana spring rolls which were served with creamy coconut ice cream, crunchy biscuit crumble and a rich and decadent chocolate sauce. A little bit naughty, but oh so very nice.
The Vegan Essentials
Being a vegan retreat, of course our bedding was feather free, whilst the bathroom amenities were suitable for vegans and within refillable and planet friendly ceramic dispensers. The signature welcome drink was butterfly pea flower and lime (our favourite), whilst the drinking water was in glass bottles and snacks in the room were also vegan, including mini bars of vegan chocolate from local Thai brand Siamaya in our fridge. Normally we have to worry about all of the above being vegan friendly, but there were none of those worries at Away Chiang Mai.
The Vegan Food Quest Verdict
We can only hope that this is the future of vegan travel, and that the growing demand leads to more 100% vegan resorts and hotels opening throughout the region. In the meantime, rest assured that the future of vegan travel has already arrived in northern Thailand. Away Chiang Mai is every vegan travellers dream, and we loved every minute of our stay. From the friendly staff team to the stylish room, and from the inviting pool to the bespoke yoga classes it delivered on every level. And of course, all of the food is perfectly plant based and that made us smile each and every day during our stay.
We were guests of Away Chiang Mai Thapae but please rest assured that their generosity in hosting us didn’t influence our views.
Away Chiang Mai Thapae – A Vegan Retreat
9 Thapae Soi 5
Thapae Road
Chang Mai
Telephone: +66 5390 4974
Email: stay@awaychiangmai.com
Cost From: £95 / $125 (November 2024)