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Get to know Ahimsa Travel Club
About Ahimsa Travel Club
Our curiosity for the world combined with the principals of ahimsa and veganism became a way to explore the wonders of this planet through compassion and deep respect for all beings.
Ahimsa is a Sanskrit for nonviolence in thought, word, and action and the compass we travel by. We blend the principles of Ahimsa with the ethics of Veganism such that every adventure becomes an opportunity to engage with animals, people and the environment through a lens of compassion and protection.
If you're hearing about us for the first time, we're the merger of two beloved vegan travel companies that have been operating since 2010. Veg Jaunts and Journeys (Kim Giovacco) and Escape To (Prachi Jain) found each other and in 2025 realized we were building toward the same thing: a world where traveling can uplift animals, cultures, ecological habitats and each other. Together, we have hosted over 2,000 travelers around the world on vegan tours and retreats.
Meet Our Team
Meet Kim Giovacco, CEO
When I was in my 20s and 30s, I loved nothing more than grabbing a guidebook, booking a flight, and jaunting through some incredible destinations. As a vegetarian at the time, I never felt I could join an organized tour because I knew food choices would be limited at the restaurants chosen for the group. Then, a few years ago, when I became a vegan, my travel choices were even more limited. Not only for food, but for animal compassion. Many tour companies offer the chance to ride an elephant, or visit a local leather market — but that was not for me. I loved traveling solo — but I knew there was something missing. There were places I longed to visit but did not feel quite comfortable traveling alone. I was definitely missing a sense of camaraderie, the “instant friends” a tour provides. And, having everything planned for me. So, what was a vegan filled with wanderlust to do? Well, after decades spent on the periphery of the travel industry – working at a well-known map publisher, the Korean tourist office, then the economic development board for Singapore – complemented by my 25 years of personal travel experiences – I founded Veg Jaunts and Journeys in 2016. I created this company to give travelers like us the kinds of tours and experiences I had missed out on. My tours and custom vacations are crafted exclusively for travelers who follow a vegan lifestyle. Of course, I seek out all vegan restaurants for us and engage travelers in vegan-friendly activities and excursions along the way – such as visiting an animal sanctuary or taking a vegan market tour, along with activities that reflect the history or culture of the destination.
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Meet Prachi Jain, President
When I was 18 years old, I was sitting at the DMV on line for my driver's license. Next to me was a mother and son who looked miserable. An idea flashed in my mind: "I wish I could take them on a trip around the world and make them happier". 5 Years later I would take a gap year after burning out from a post-college corporate job. I was born into Jainism and turned vegan at the end of 2009 after watching Forks Over Knives. This is also when I had a bad car accident which caused me to be on bed rest and plot my next move. I decided to take a gap year in 2010 at the age of 24 and go intern for a travel magazine in India. I started my first company shortly after, helping gap year students and travelers volunteer abroad in India. After finding success and building a strong student travel community, I realized it wasn't aligned to my vegan values. So I took another gap year age at 31 and started Escape To, a vegan travel company fully aligned with the principles that I lived by. Escape To was supposed to only do vegan tours in India and Sri Lanka...and then the pandemic hit and I suffered many losses of people I loved. I took a quick trip to Mexico City for art week in 2022 and it brought my soul so much happiness. That's when I realized we actually need to start hosting vegan tours all over Mexico...and the world. In 2025, Kim and I decided to combine forces and our mission to help travelers find incredible places to visit, make friends, and help grow the vegan travel movement. My biggest passions are designing itineraries, helping vegan businesses around the world grow, and learning from indigenous communities about the plethora of plant-based food that they eat. I try to lead my tours with indigenous wisdom in mind and building community through cooking, discovery and dialogue around ahimsa.
Meet Jackie Burke, Trip Organizer and Tour Leader
Originally from Austria, Jackie has been exploring the world since she was a little kid, traveling to European countries like Greece, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, and Germany. When she spent a year on Fuerteventura during college, she caught a case of wanderlust that has never left her. She now lives in Charlotte, NC, carrying her love of cultures and languages wherever she goes, and has continued to follow her passion for exploring the world. Veganism is central to Jackie’s life. She has always been deeply connected to animals and nature, and that passion led her to become a certified health coach and certified in plant-based cooking. At home, her six cats keep her busy and remind her daily that all animals are sentient beings who deserve to be loved. She knows firsthand how challenging it can be to travel as a vegan-but for her, that challenge has become a joy. Researching, planning, and finding vegan-friendly restaurants, hotels, and hidden gems is her superpower, and she loves creating exciting itineraries. Jackie is thrilled to be part of a community that shares her vision: traveling the world with compassion, curiosity, and a spirit of adventure.
Meet Pradeep Krishnappa, Manager and Tour Leader
Based in Bengaluru, Pradeep is a social entrepreneur focusing on fair trade, sustainability in fashion and travel. Pradeep has led dozens of vegan tours in destinations like India, Sri Lanka, Switzerland and more. When he's not running tours, he runs the Ethic Attic fair trade cafe and boutique with his lovely wife Rachel in Bengaluru. Pradeep brings decades of non-profit background with a sharp focus on tribal cultures and sustainability which he infuses into the itineraries and the overall mission and ethos of Ahimsa Travel Club. Travelers love Pradeep's sense of humor, hospitality and tireless spirit that keeps the groups laughing and at ease whether he's taking them through the jungles of Sri Lanka or the mountains of Switzerland.
Ahimsa's Community Impact
Ahimsa Travel Club is a community built on compassion that extends far beyond our itineraries. We partner with animal sanctuaries around the world, channeling a portion of every journey toward their care and long-term sustainability. Between trips, we bring our community together through vegan potlucks and reunion dinners, creating space for travelers to reconnect, share stories, and keep the friendships that started on the road alive. We also collaborate with grassroots non-profits in the destinations we visit, supporting local efforts in animal welfare, environmental stewardship, and cultural preservation, so our presence gives back to the places that welcome us. Wherever you are between adventures, you can stay close to the Ahimsa community: join us at festival booths, potlucks, and reunion dinners, follow along and connect with fellow travelers online, and subscribe to our newsletter for stories, spotlights, and the first word on new trips. Once you travel with us, you're part of the family for good.
Animal Sanctuaries
We support animal sanctuaries worldwide. From rescued animals to wildlife rehabilitation, we work closely with animal sanctuaries to understand their unique challenges and provide them support through donations, material supplies, awareness, and volunteers.
Potlucks and Meetups
We host potlucks, meetups and reunion gatherings around the world bringing together new and familiar faces around food and friendship. Interested in hosting your own Ahimsa potluck or meetup? Get in touch and help us grow the vegan travel movement.
Non-Profit Work
Our travels help us learn about some of the most incredible organizations doing work around the world for the betterment of the environment, women, human rights and more. From a rainwater harvesting NGO in Mexico to a women's microfinance mission in India, we support, learn from and shed light on non-profits.
We believe in inclusive travel
At Ahimsa Travel Club, we believe that travel and migration are a natural and important part of the human experience. Every traveler deserves to feel seen, safe, and fully welcomed on the road. Our inclusive travel values are founded in the same principle of ahimsa that guides everything we do: non-harm toward people, animals, and the planet. We are committed to creating journeys where diverse bodies, backgrounds, identities, and needs are welcomed and celebrated.
Anti-discrimnation
Travelers are welcome regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, or nationality. Our team is able to address discrimination if it arises, including from local vendors or other guests.
LGBTQ+ affirming
We research and communicate destination-specific safety considerations for queer travelers before every tour. We respect and use correct names and pronouns, and address any disrespect swiftly. We will never ask you to hide who you are, and we will always have your back.
Global South
We acknowledge that international travel involves systemic inequities from visa burdens, currency disadvantages, and historical exclusion from travel spaces. We actively work to lower barriers for travelers from underrepresented regions, including in our marketing imagery and language.
Senior and Older Travel
Our team communicates and is mindful about pace, rest stops, and physical demands so older travelers can self-select confidently. We love hosting senior travelers, who add a richness to the inter-generational experience of being in community together.
Sustainability Manifesto
We're more than just a travel company; we're a community passionate about exploring the world while disrupting the travel industry to usher in a more sustainable and ethical tourism model. We aim to ensure continued long-term cross cultural experiences for future generations, and know that we play a role in shaping how tourism extracts resources from Mother Earth. We believe in the transformative power of travel, but also in the responsibility we hold to experience destinations in a way that respects both the environment and local cultures. This manifesto outlines our core values and how we strive to achieve sustainable and ethical vegan travel environment and local cultures.