Backpacker Deals
Backpacker Deals is an Australian online travel marketplace (operated by Travello Pty Ltd, founded 2014) that aggregates discounted tours, activities, campervan rentals, and bus passes for budget backpackers across 28+ countries, with cashback rewards redeemed in its sister Travello app.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersMelbourne, Australia
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Backpacker Deals does
Backpacker Deals is an Australian-operated online travel marketplace founded in 2014 by Travello Pty Ltd that aggregates tours, activities, day trips, multi-day tour packages, campervan rentals, car rentals, and bus passes for budget-conscious travelers. The platform serves a primarily consumer backpacker audience aged roughly 18-30 — gap-year travelers, solo travelers, working holidaymakers — and lists approximately 2,400 activities across more than 28 countries, with the densest catalog in Australia and New Zealand and additional coverage in Fiji, Southeast Asia, North America, and parts of Europe. The core technology stack is a self-serve web booking platform paired with native iOS and Android apps that integrate with the sister Travello social travel network, enabling cashback earned on Backpacker Deals bookings to be redeemed only inside the Travello app.
The business operates a transaction-fee model, earning commissions on each booking plus affiliate referral fees from tour operators, campervan rental brands, and activity providers. Distribution is anchored on the Travello app integration, which functions as a closed-loop rewards and social commerce surface rather than a pure acquisition channel. The company supplements this with content marketing (an extensive blog), SEO, TikTok influencer partnerships (including named creators Sofia Ligeros and Laura Elizabeth), email newsletters, an affiliate/promoter program, and a Trustpilot-anchored reputation (4.9/5 across 743 reviews). There is no disclosed institutional funding, headcount, revenue, or M&A activity; the company appears to be privately held and bootstrapped by the parent entity Travello Pty Ltd.
Customer acquisition runs through product-led and community-led motions: travelers discover the platform organically, book directly via the website or app with instant confirmation, and return into the Travello ecosystem to redeem cashback on subsequent bookings. Notable distribution partners include G Adventures, Intrepid Travel, Mulgas Adventures, Dingos Fraser Island Tours, Awesome Adventures Fiji, and Yasawa Adventures Fiji, alongside industry association memberships with BYATA and Adventure Queensland.
Backpacker Deals firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Backpacker Deals
- Legal name
- Travello Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://backpackerdeals.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Backpacker Deals is an Australian online travel marketplace (operated by Travello Pty Ltd, founded 2014) that aggregates discounted tours, activities, campervan rentals, and bus passes for budget backpackers across 28+ countries, with cashback rewards redeemed in its sister Travello app.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Backpacker Deals industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Travel Marketplace
- NAICS
- Tour Operators (561520), Travel Agencies (561510)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Travel Subscription, Membership & Deal Clubs (THAKAAAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Hiking, Trekking & Backpacking Tour Operators (THAAADAA), Escorted Coach & Bus Package Tour Operators (THAKADAA)
Keywords
Where Backpacker Deals is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Melbourne
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Backpacker Deals business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel
Revenue model
- Booking Commissions: The platform earns commissions on each tour, activity, and campervan booking made through the website, with cashback rewards funded from these commissions
- Affiliate Partner Revenue: Partnership arrangements with tour operators and activity providers who list on the platform, earning referral fees for customer acquisition
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Tour and Activity Bookings |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Campervan Rentals |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Cashback Rewards |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Backpacker Deals product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Backpacker Deals is an online travel booking marketplace that aggregates discounted tours, day trips, multi-day tours, adventure activities, campervan and car rentals, and bus passes from third-party operators across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and other international destinations. Customers discover, compare, and book experiences directly via the website or mobile apps with instant confirmation, and earn up to 10% cashback on bookings that can be redeemed within the companion Travello social travel app.
Product overview
Backpacker Deals is a discount travel booking platform operated by Travello Pty Ltd that functions as a travel agency marketplace. The core platform enables users to search, compare, and book tours, activities, day trips, and multi-day experiences across multiple destinations worldwide. The product portfolio includes the main online booking platform (Backpacker Deals), the companion Travello mobile app (a social network for travelers), the Cashback Rewards Program (up to 10% cashback on bookings), Campervan Rental Booking, Car Rental Booking, Bus Passes, and a Travel Blog/Inspiration content platform. The platform primarily serves backpackers and budget-conscious travelers with offerings spanning Australia (1653+ activities), New Zealand (417+ activities), and other destinations including Fiji, Thailand, Vietnam, USA, Mexico, and Indonesia.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Travello: The companion mobile app for travellers, used in conjunction with Backpacker Deals for cashback rewards and booking management.
Products and services
- Backpacker Deals Online Booking Platform Discount travel booking platform enabling users to search, compare, and book tours, activities, day trips, and multi-day experiences across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and other destinations worldwide, with cashback rewards and a best-price guarantee. Targeted at backpackers and budget travellers.
- Travello Mobile App Social networking app for travellers that integrates with Backpacker Deals, allowing users to access earned cashback rewards and book additional experiences directly within the app. Available on iOS and Android with a $15 first-booking incentive.
- Campervan Rental Booking Comparison and booking service for campervan rentals from all major brands in one place, including a $50–$100 Tour & Activity voucher with every hire and instant booking confirmation. Targeted at backpackers and road-trip travellers, primarily in Australia and New Zealand.
- Multi-Day Tours Extended tour packages ranging from 2 days to 7 weeks covering destinations across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and other locations, including East Coast Australia tours, outback adventures, and international multi-country itineraries. Targeted at backpackers and gap-year travellers.
- Day Trips and Excursions Single-day tour experiences including adventure activities, wildlife encounters, cultural tours, scenic flights, and water-based activities across Australia, New Zealand, and other destinations. Targeted at short-stay travellers and backpackers.
- Adventure Activities High-adrenaline experiences including skydiving, white water rafting, 4WD tours, bungee jumping, ziplining, and helicopter flights across Australia and New Zealand. Targeted at adventure travellers and backpackers.
- Car Rental Booking Car rental booking service allowing users to compare and book vehicle hires for independent travel and road trips. Targeted at backpackers and self-drive tourists.
- Bus Passes Intercity and regional bus pass booking for budget travellers, covering routes across Australia and New Zealand. Targeted at backpackers seeking low-cost transport between destinations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 10% cashback earned on all bookings
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Backpacker Deals
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Backpacker Deals technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Backpacker Deals partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- BYATA (Backpacker & Youth Travel Association of New Zealand)minorIndustry association membership connecting Backpacker Deals with other backpacker and youth travel operators in New Zealand. Provides credibility within the youth travel sector.
- Adventure QueenslandminorIndustry association membership recognizing Backpacker Deals as an approved adventure tourism booking partner in Queensland, Australia.
- Yasawa Adventures FijicorePrimary distributor of Yasawa Islands tours including Yasawa Pass, Coconut Cruiser, Yasawa Wanderer, and other island hopping packages. Multiple exclusive multi-day island hopping products listed.
- Awesome Adventures FijicoreKey distribution partner for Fiji experiences including Bula Pass, Fiji Explorer, and Short & Shark tours across the Mamanuca Islands.
- G AdventurescoreReseller partnership for G Adventures 18 to 30somethings tours including Brisbane to Cairns, Sydney to Brisbane, and Most of the Coast multi-day experiences.
- Intrepid TravelcoreDistribution partner for Intrepid Travel products including Uluru, Daintree, and Red Centre multi-day tours with eco camping and adventure options.
- Mulgas AdventurescorePrimary partner for Uluru Rock to Rock camping tours with 4.91 rating from 342 reviews and 5,800+ bookings.
- Dingos Fraser Island TourscoreKey distribution partner for K'gari (Fraser Island) 4WD tag-along adventures with highly rated 3-day and 2-day tour options.
- Travello AppcoreSister company and technology platform integration providing social networking features for travellers, cashback redemption system, and mobile app infrastructure for Backpacker Deals.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Backpacker Deals competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- TourRadar: TourRadar is a multi-day tour aggregator marketplace connecting travelers with 2,500+ tour operators globally. Both platforms function as multi-day tour OTAs with similar commission economics and serve overlapping backpacker/adventure traveler demographics.
- STA Travel: Historically the dominant backpacker-focused travel agency specializing in student/youth multi-destination tours, flights, and insurance. Backpacker Deals occupies similar ICP and product mix (multi-day tours, gap year packages) as STA Travel's traditional offering.
- G Adventures: G Adventures is a leading small-group adventure tour operator with strong 18-30s tour portfolio. It is simultaneously a Backpacker Deals supply partner and a direct competitor, since travelers can book G Adventures tours either through Backpacker Deals or directly at comparable prices.
- Intrepid Travel: Intrepid Travel operates small-group adventure tours with a dedicated 18-35s brand. As a Backpacker Deals distribution partner and a direct booking competitor, Intrepid mirrors Backpacker Deals' backpacker demographic and multi-day tour product positioning.
- Contiki: Contiki is a 18-35s-focused escorted tour operator with multi-day packages across Australia, NZ, and Europe. It directly competes with Backpacker Deals' multi-day tour category for the same young backpacker ICP.
Broad incumbents
- GetYourGuide: GetYourGuide is a global, well-capitalized tours & activities marketplace with broad consumer and backpacker inventory overlap. It competes directly on Backpacker Deals' core activity-booking offering but with vastly broader geographic coverage and supplier breadth.
- Viator: Viator (owned by Tripadvisor) is the largest global tours & activities marketplace. While broader in audience, it directly competes with Backpacker Deals on backpacker-relevant activities across Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia.
- Klook: Klook is an Asia-based tours & activities platform with deep presence in backpacker-heavy destinations (Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia). It overlaps meaningfully with Backpacker Deals' SE Asia expansion ambitions and competes on price/cashback mechanics.
Emerging players
- Headout: Headout is a curated tours, activities, and experiences marketplace focused on last-minute and mobile bookings. It competes with Backpacker Deals on day-trip and adventure activity inventory, particularly in major backpacker cities.
Others
- Travello: Travello is Backpacker Deals' sister social travel app and platform owner. While technically a related party rather than competitor, Travello functions as an adjacent community-led network where users discover trips and could evolve into a competing booking surface.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Backpacker Deals social profiles
Digital presenceBackpacker Deals financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Backpacker Deals leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Backpacker Deals funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Backpacker Deals M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Backpacker Deals
What does Backpacker Deals do?
Backpacker Deals is an online travel booking marketplace that aggregates discounted tours, day trips, multi-day tours, adventure activities, campervan and car rentals, and bus passes from third-party operators across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and other international destinations. Customers discover, compare, and book experiences directly via the website or mobile apps with instant confirmation, and earn up to 10% cashback on bookings that can be redeemed within the companion Travello social travel app.
Is Backpacker Deals a public or private company?
Backpacker Deals is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Backpacker Deals founded?
Backpacker Deals was founded in 2014. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Backpacker Deals based?
Backpacker Deals is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Backpacker Deals make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Booking Commissions are the primary driver. The others are affiliate Partner Revenue.
Who are Backpacker Deals's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are TourRadar, STA Travel, G Adventures, Intrepid Travel and Contiki. Broad incumbents are GetYourGuide, Viator and Klook. Headout is listed as an emerging player. Travello is listed as an others.
Does Backpacker Deals have an API?
No public API is recorded for Backpacker Deals.
What industry is Backpacker Deals in?
Backpacker Deals's product category is Online Travel Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAKAAAL, Travel Subscription, Membership & Deal Clubs, with a secondary code of THAAADAA, Hiking, Trekking & Backpacking Tour Operators. Its NAICS code is 561520 and its SIC code is 7900.