Can you really enjoy French Alps vegan adventures without spending your holiday worrying about where your next meal will come from?
Annabel Giraud-Telme says you can.
Annabel is the founder of Wild Wee Adventures, a movement-based travel business built around hiking, yoga, creativity, community and vegan-friendly experiences.
She is based in the Hautes-Alpes, a lesser-known part of the French Alps that she believes deserves far more attention.
In this episode of The World Vegan Travel Podcast, Annabel talks to Brighde about leaving the fast-paced fashion world behind, creating Wild Wee Adventures, exploring the Hautes-Alpes and travelling as a vegan in rural France.
She also shares some very practical advice for staying well-fed while hiking in the mountains.
From Fashion Week to Mountain Peaks: A Career Pivot
Annabel was born and raised in England, but her family comes from the French Alps.
Growing up, her summers were spent running around the mountains before heading south towards the Côte d’Azur.
At the time, she did not realise quite how lucky she was.
Those early experiences gave her both mountains and sea, and the Alps became a place she could return to throughout her life.
Her professional life initially took her somewhere very different.
Annabel worked in fashion and had her own business in London. Her work included London and Paris Fashion Weeks.
It was exciting, but it was also fast.
She began questioning whether she wanted to spend the rest of her career in an industry where there was always pressure to chase the next thing.
After COVID, Annabel went to spend time with her grandparents in the Alps.
What was supposed to be a three-month sabbatical changed everything.
“This is where I need to be,” she remembers thinking.
The three months turned into years.
Annabel began spending more time outdoors and eventually found work in the tourism industry. She spent several years leading hiking, biking and multi-adventure holidays before taking the next step and creating something of her own.
What Is Wild Wee Adventures? Inner & Outer Movement
The name Wild Wee Adventures gives a good clue about the personality behind the business.
For Annabel, being able to have a “wild wee” means she is somewhere safe, outdoors and surrounded by nature.
But the “wee” also reflects something bigger.
Wild Wee Adventures is about adding small adventures and moments of play back into everyday life.
Annabel wants adults to reconnect with some of the freedom and curiosity they had as children.
That idea shapes the experiences she creates.
A typical Wild Wee Adventure might begin with yoga or mobility work before heading out on a hike.
There could be a picnic in the mountains, stretching afterwards and then a large communal vegan meal.
Another day might include yoga followed by a creative workshop.
It is not simply about exercise.
Annabel describes the concept as both inner and outer movement.
The aim is to slow down, step away from the pace of city life and reconnect with yourself, other people and the simple joy of playing outdoors.
For anyone looking for an Alpine yoga retreat with hiking and community built into the experience, this combination is an interesting alternative to a traditional wellness retreat.
The Hautes-Alpes: France’s Underrated Alpine Gem
When international travellers think about the French Alps, names such as Chamonix and Savoie often come to mind first.
The Hautes-Alpes receives far less international attention.
That is exactly what Annabel finds exciting about it.
Historically, the region has relied heavily on agriculture, skiing and local tourism. Many of its ski areas are smaller and more locally focused than the internationally famous Alpine resorts.
Visitors are more likely to come from France or nearby European countries than from farther afield.
But Annabel believes that is beginning to change.
For travellers interested in Les Hautes-Alpes travel, the region offers mountains, history, outdoor activities and a strong local character without the international profile of some of the Alps’ best-known destinations.
There are thousands of kilometres of hiking opportunities.
Annabel talks about everything from shorter day hikes to long-distance adventures using France’s famous GR routes.
There is also the Col du Noyer, one of the famous mountain passes associated with the Tour de France.
Travellers who want longer adventures can hike from refuge to refuge, while those who prefer a more relaxed trip can stay in one area and explore different trails each day.
The region also has a cultural side.
During the conversation, Annabel talks about artists and craftspeople who have chosen mountain life, as well as the area’s links to photographer Vivian Maier.
For her, that mix of landscape, history, art and community is part of what makes the Hautes-Alpes so interesting.
Vegan in the Mountains: “It Exists, I Promise”
Of course, there is one question that comes up quickly when vegans start thinking about a mountain holiday in rural France.
What are you going to eat?
Annabel knows the concern well.
She says many people look at the mountains and immediately think there will be nothing vegan available.
Her answer?
“It exists, I promise.”
That does not mean travellers should expect vegan restaurants on every mountain corner.
Planning still matters.
Annabel has led many outdoor trips and knows first-hand that finding vegan food in rural areas can sometimes require more effort.
But things have improved.
More people understand what vegan means, and simple meals such as lentil soup, polenta with mushrooms and other naturally plant-based dishes can sometimes be found even in mountain areas.
Self-catering is another useful option.
French supermarkets, health food stores and small local shops can provide plenty of ingredients for simple vegan meals and hiking lunches.
The trick is knowing where the shops are — and, just as importantly, knowing when they are open.
Practical Tips for Vegan Hikers in Rural France
Annabel has developed a simple system for travelling vegan in rural France.
Preparation removes much of the stress.
Pack Protein Powder & a Shaker
One of Annabel’s most consistent travel habits is packing protein powder and a shaker.
It gives her a reliable backup when the available food is uncertain.
At breakfast, she might combine protein powder with oats and vegan yogurt before heading out for the day.
It means she starts an active day knowing she has already had a useful source of protein.
For vegans doing long hikes, having a few dependable foods can make a big difference.
Use HappyCow & Contact Places Ahead of Time
Annabel recommends using HappyCow to research vegan and vegan-friendly options before arriving.
But she does not rely on apps alone.
Contact restaurants and accommodation providers ahead of time.
An email or phone call can help you find out what they can provide before you arrive hungry after a long day outdoors.
There is one particularly French detail to remember: avoid calling restaurants during meal service.
They may simply be too busy to answer.
Check French Shop Opening Hours
This may be one of Annabel’s most important tips.
Check opening hours before travelling.
Sundays, Saturdays, public holidays and midweek closures can all catch visitors by surprise.
Annabel likes to arrive at a new destination by mid-afternoon whenever possible.
That gives her enough time to find the local shops and stock up before they close.
Do not assume that a supermarket that appears online will still be open when you arrive.
A little research beforehand can save a great deal of frustration later.
Vegan Hiking Snacks: Keep Them Simple
Annabel’s favourite vegan hiking snacks are not complicated.
She likes raisins and peanuts, dates with nuts and seasoned chickpeas.
Chickpeas can be prepared beforehand with paprika, cumin, salt and pepper and carried as an easy snack.
Brighde and Seb often take another classic hiking option: baguette sandwiches filled with vegan deli slices, vegan cheese, mayonnaise and Dijon mustard.
Tofu and tempeh can also work well, particularly products that are packaged for easy travel.
The point is not to create elaborate trail meals.
It is to carry foods you know you enjoy and that will keep you fuelled.
Do Not Forget Hydration
Annabel also pays close attention to hydration.
When she is hiking or biking, she uses electrolyte drops and makes sure she continues drinking throughout the day.
Altitude, physical activity and increasingly hot summer temperatures can all increase the need to pay attention to fluids.
Food matters on the trail, but so does water.
Local Staples: Carrot Salad, Taboulé & Vegan Options
Sometimes the simplest French foods are the easiest.
Brighde mentions finding ready-made grated carrot salad and couscous taboulé in small SPAR supermarkets.
Annabel is also a fan of grated carrots and beetroot.
Lentils, vegetables, vegan yogurts and an increasing number of vegan cheeses and meat alternatives can also be found in France.
Just remember to read labels.
A food that looks plant-based is not necessarily vegan. Butter, mayonnaise, egg or meat ingredients can still appear in unexpected products.
Accessibility: Hikes for Every Level
One of the attractions of the Alps is that you do not have to be an elite mountaineer to enjoy them.
“There is something for everyone at every level,” Annabel explains.
A visitor could choose a short half-day hike, a full-day walk or a much longer journey across the Alps.
Experienced hikers can explore multi-day GR routes in France, staying in mountain refuges or camping along the way.
Others can stay in one village and choose different day hikes.
Many mountain areas also have lifts and other infrastructure that make higher landscapes easier to reach.
The Hautes-Alpes does not have the same concentration of gondolas as somewhere such as Chamonix, but Annabel says local ski stations still provide different ways to enjoy the mountains.
Good infrastructure and mobile phone coverage can also make hiking feel more approachable.
That does not mean mountain preparation should be skipped.
Annabel still stresses the basics: take water, food, suitable clothing, a charged phone and a backup power source.
And remember that turning around is always an option.
A mountain holiday does not need to be about conquering the hardest possible route.
Building Community: Retreats, Gardens & Shared Joy
Wild Wee Adventures is still growing, but Annabel already has a clear picture of where she would like it to go.
Her long-term dream is to create a permanent Hautes-Alpes retreat base.
She imagines a piece of land with a movement studio, a community garden and spaces where people can stay, create and collaborate.
There could be intimate retreats led by different people from around the world.
Community is a major part of that vision.
It is also one of the reasons she likes including private chefs and communal vegan meals in her adventures.
Travellers can enjoy their holiday without constantly having to work out where the next vegan meal will come from.
Instead, food becomes part of bringing people together.
Expanding Beyond the Alps: Iceland & Beyond
Although the French Alps are Annabel’s home base, she does not plan to stop there.
During the podcast, she talks about a trip to Iceland with her collaborator and friend Kiki.
That particular adventure is vegan-inclusive rather than exclusively vegan.
Longer term, Annabel hopes Wild Wee Adventures can work with vegan hotels, guesthouses and other like-minded businesses around the world.
The Alps will remain home.
But the idea behind Wild Wee Adventures can travel.
Movement, play, community and good plant-based food do not have to belong to one destination.
French Alps Vegan Adventures Are About More Than Hiking
Annabel’s story is not simply about swapping Fashion Week for mountain life.
It is about creating a different way of travelling.
Her French Alps vegan adventures combine movement with time to slow down.
They combine hiking with creativity.
And they combine vegan travel with the kind of community that can make a trip feel much more meaningful.
For travellers who have dismissed the French mountains because vegan food sounds too difficult, Annabel has a simple message.
It can be done.
You may need to check opening hours.
You may need to bring your protein powder.
You may occasionally need to carry your own lunch up the mountain.
But that is a small price to pay for days spent hiking through one of Europe’s most beautiful landscapes.
And perhaps, as Annabel would put it, adding a little more play to your day.
Connect With Annabel and Wild Wee Adventures
You can learn more about Annabel’s upcoming retreats and adventures at wildweeadventures.com.
Follow Wild Wee Adventures on Instagram at @wildweeadventures.
You can also follow Annabel personally on Instagram at @annabelgiraudtelme.
And, of course, listen to the full episode of The World Vegan Travel Podcast to hear Annabel and Brighde’s complete conversation about vegan travel, hiking and life in the Hautes-Alpes.
Learn More About What is Discussed on the Podcast
- Wild Wee Adventures – Annabel’s retreats, upcoming adventures and travel experiences.
- Hautes-Alpes, France – More information about the region, hiking, villages and outdoor activities.
- HappyCow – Useful for finding vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants and shops while travelling.
- GR Hiking Routes in France – Information on France’s long-distance Grande Randonnée trail network.
- Col du Noyer– One of the famous Alpine mountain passes mentioned in the episode and a well-known Tour de France route.
- Vivian Maier – Learn more about the photographer Annabel mentions when discussing the cultural history of the region.
- Opinel – The French folding knife and picnic sets Annabel uses for hiking and outdoor meals.
Other World Vegan Travel Content Connected With This Episode
- Vegan B&B France | French Countryside Near Paris
- Vegan France: Castles, Caves & Elephant Sanctuaries
- Vegan Retreat France: Permaculture & Conscious Living at Moulin Scalagrand | Frederique Peutz
- Mindful Gite: Vegan Retreat in Southwest France | Ingeborg Vijn
- Vegan Stores in France
