Bhubaneswar: From youths seeking adventure in the hills to senior citizens planning for pilgrimages, group trips are making holidays not just more affordable, but also safer and far more enjoyable. Be it international destinations, Himalayan treks or spiritual circuits, group trips are the preferred choice for many in Odisha.
“When I was working, I hardly got a chance to go on holidays due to professional demands and family duties. After retirement, I got a chance to fulfil my long-cherished dream of exploring new places through group trips,” said Sabitri Devi, a 72-year-old retired nurse, who recently returned from a seven-day trip to Maharashtra where she visited three ‘jyotirlingas’ and other places. “Everything from stay to travel was taken care of. I felt safe and made many friends on the journey,” she added.
For many elderly travellers, group tours have opened up opportunities to visit places they only dreamed of. From Dwarka and Vaishno Devi to Rameswaram and Kanyakumari, and the high altitudes of Kedarnath and Badrinath — spiritual tourism is thriving.
“We have been taking two to three trips a month to different religious places. Each group comprises 30-40 travellers. When people travel in groups, costs for accommodation, transportation and activities get split and reduce significantly. People also meet and connect with fellow travellers from diverse backgrounds, and when in groups, they help each other,” said Bichitra Sahu, a group trip organiser.
Younger travellers, on the other hand, are chasing adrenaline rush. Treks in Spiti Valley, bike rides through Leh and Ladakh, camping in Kashmir, and weekend getaways to Shimla, Manali, Dehradun, Nainital and even Kerala backwaters are top favourites.
“For us, group trips are not just about saving money, it’s about sharing experiences. I recently went on a biking tour to Ladakh with 15 others from different parts of the state. We clicked instantly and bonded over our love for mountains,” said Ankit Ranjan, a 27-year-old IT professional from Bhubaneswar.
Budget international travel is also becoming accessible. Groups are now travelling to neighbouring countries like Nepal and Bhutan, and even to destinations like Singapore and Malaysia, thanks to competitive packages offered by local tour operators who customise itineraries based on group size and preferences.
“Earlier, going abroad felt like a luxury. But I travelled to Malaysia with a group of 25 people for under Rs 70,000, inclusive of flights, hotels, meals and sightseeing,” said Poonam Pradhan, an executive in a private company. “It was my first international trip, and I didn’t feel nervous because I had company throughout.”
Travel organisers are witnessing a sharp rise in bookings for group tours. Agencies in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur and Rourkela are offering packages tailored to families, students, senior citizens and women-only groups. From chartering buses and trains to booking bulk airline tickets, they manage logistics that individual travellers often find overwhelming.
“Group tours are the future. We now run trips almost every weekend — religious yatras, hill station getaways, wildlife safaris and even international tours. Since the cost is split, people are more inclined to travel frequently. After Covid-19 pandemic, the craze for travelling has increased manifold,” said Shyam Sundar Biswas, of a Bhubaneswar-based agency.
Another travel organiser, Sasmita Parida, said, “We have seen a 60% rise in enquiries since last year. People from towns like Balasore and Jeypore are showing interest in curated group packages.”