TrekPanda,
the community-driven adventure travel company founded in Pune in 2017, has
completed 5,000 tours since its inception. Alongside this, the company has
announced its entry into international travel with curated group tour packages
across six countries. Countries like Sri Lanka, Bali, Vietnam, Thailand,
Georgia and Dubai. The expansion marks TrekPanda’s transition from a regional
trekking outfit into a full-service travel company with global reach.
The Journey From
Sahayadri Trails To 5,000 Tours
TrekPanda
started out organising weekend hikes in the Sahyadri ranges around Pune and
Mumbai. Back in 2017, co-founders Sunny Chordiya and Pushkar Bhandari pooled
together limited sources and shared their love of the outdoors to build what
they called “India’s coolest travel community.” The early days were scrappy
with small groups, word-of-mouth bookings and treks led by the founders
themselves. There was no app, no office and certainly no plans for international
expansion.
What
kept the company going was a growing list of repeat travellers who came back
because the trips felt personal, unscripted and genuinely fun. From those
weekend Sahyadri treks, the company gradually expanded into Himalayan treks
like Brahmatal, Har ki Dun and Kedarkanta. Then to backpacking trips to Ladakh,
Spiti, and the Northeast, followed by southern circuits through Coorg,
Hampi-Gokarna and Kerala. A corporate travel vertical also took shape, running
team-building retreats and offsite adventures. Today, TrekPanda operates
departures across more than 50 domestic destinations and runs multiple batches
per week during peak season.
Where is TrekPanda Is
Heading Next?
A
simple observation drove the decision to go international, as TrekPanda’s existing
customers were asking for it. Many of the young professionals and solo
travellers who had done three or four domestic trips wanted to explore abroad.
Still, they didn't want to plan it themselves or travel with large, impersonal
tour operators. They wanted the same community-first, small-group experience
just in a different country.
The
company chose six international destinations based on visa accessibility for
Indian passport holders, affordability and demand from TrekPand’s traveler
base. Sri Lanka offers beaches, temples and wildlife within a compact
geography. Vietnam covers everything from Hanoi’s street food culture to the
beaches of Da Nang. Bali appeals to the adventure and wellness crowd. Thailand
remains a perennial favourite for first-time international travelers. Georgia
is an offbeat pick with affordability, visa-free for indians, and rich in
mountain landscape. And Dubai rounds out the list as a perfect short-haul high
comfort option.
TrekPanda’s
international packages follow the same model that worked domestically.
End-to-end planning, small groups, a dedicated trip leader and a focus on local
experiences over tourist traps. Pricing is positioned as budget-to-mid range,
targeting working professionals in their twenties and thirties. Early packages
for Vietnam, for example, start at around INR 35,000-40,000 for a week-long
trip, excluding international airfare.
What The Founders Have
To Say
Speaking
about the milestone and the new launches, Sunny Chordiya, Co-Founder,
TrekPanda, said, “When we started in 2017, the idea was simple: to take people
on treks in the Sahyadris and make sure everyone had a good time. We never
planned to become a 5,000-tour company or an international travel brand. But
our travelers pushed us to grow. The 5K milestone is really their achievement.
And the international expansion is our way to say yes to what they have been
asking for.”
On
the operational side, TrekPanda has partnered with local operators and ground
handlers in each of the six countries. The company has trained its trip leaders
for international group management, covering foreign exchange handling, local
emergency protocols and cultural briefings. For Vietnam and Thailand, TrekPand
ran pilot batches in late 2025 using feedback to refine itineraries before the
full commercial launch.
Pushkar
Bhandari, Co-Founder, TrekPanda, added, “Our domestic business is strong and
growing. We are not moving away from treks, as Sahyadri treks will always be
part of who we are. But the market has changed, and our travelers have evolved.
A person who did their first Rajmachi trek with us three years ago is now ready
for Bali or Georgia. We want to be the company that grows with them.”
The Road Ahead for
TrekPanda
The
move comes at a time when outbound travel from India is growing rapidly. Indian
travelers took over 28 million international trips in 2024, according to
industry estimates, and that number continues to climb as passport penetration
increases and low-cost international airlines expand their networks. Looking
ahead, TrekPanda plans to add more international destinations in the second
half of 2026 with early interest in Nepal, Cambodia, Azerbaijan and Turkey. The
company is also exploring a membership programme for repeat travelers offering
early access to new trips and preferential pricing. On the domestic front,
TrekPanda intends to deepen its presence in the Northeast and expand its
corporate travel business.
TrekPanda
currently operates out of Pune, with trip leaders and operations staff based in
Bangalore, Mumbai, Rishikesh, Manali and Gurugram. The company caters to solo
travelers, friend groups, couples and corporate teams and has built a
reputation for eco-friendly travel practices and encourages travellers to
minimize waste on trails and respect local communities. You can book any trip
through TrekPanda’s website at https://trekpanda.in/ or through its social media channels.