What Backpackers United does

Backpackers United, legally registered as BU Travel Co, is a Bangalore-based adventure travel company founded in 2017 that organises guided treks and group tours across India and select international destinations. The company runs 50+ curated itineraries spanning single-day sunrise and night treks in the Western Ghats (Uttari Betta at ₹699, Skandagiri at ₹1,499), weekend Western Ghats treks (Kudremukh, Kodachadri, Kumara Parvatha, Tadiandamol at ₹2,999–₹3,999), multi-day Himalayan expeditions (Hampta Pass ₹7,999, Kashmir Great Lakes ₹15,999), weekend getaways (Wayanad, Kodaikanal, Munnar, Ooty), and international packages to Thailand, Singapore, Maldives, Dubai, Bhutan, Bali, and Vietnam. All trips originate from Bangalore with multiple city pickup points, and the company caps departures at 20 participants to enforce a small-batch, on-the-ground operational model rather than acting as a marketplace or reseller.

The product surface is delivered through a web-based booking platform (backpackersunited.in) supplemented by WhatsApp-based consultation, pre-trip briefings, and group coordination. Transaction processing is handled by third-party payment gateways including Razorpay, Cashfree, and PhonePe. There is no disclosed proprietary AI/ML, mobile application, or API surface — operational differentiation is concentrated in the company's certified, first-aid-trained trek leaders, local permit relationships, and curated itineraries rather than in software. The company also operates a Partner Network of local outdoor activity providers that extends supply without proportionate internal headcount build-up.

Commercially, Backpackers United runs a transaction-based revenue model: customers pay per-person fees for all-inclusive packages covering transport, accommodation, meals, permits, and guide services. The customer base is fragmented across five personas — solo young adults (primary), friend and college groups, corporate teams, couples, and families — acquired primarily through organic digital channels (website, blog/SEO, social media, WhatsApp) and word-of-mouth referrals rather than paid advertising. The company appears to be bootstrapped under founder ownership with no disclosed external funding, no public management team details, and 11–50 employees, consistent with a sub-$5M revenue, operationally focused small business in the Indian adventure travel niche.

Name

Backpackers United

Legal name

BU Travel Co

Website

https://backpackersunited.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Backpackers United is a Bangalore-based adventure travel operator founded in 2017 that organises guided treks and group tours across India's Western Ghats, Himalayas, and select international destinations, serving solo travellers, college groups, families, couples, and corporate teams through small-batch departures capped at 20 participants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adventure Travel Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (56152), Tour Operators (561520), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land (48711)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Hiking, Trekking & Backpacking Tour Operators (THAAADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hiking, Trekking & Mountain Guiding (THAJABAA), Adventure & Expedition Travel Agencies (THAKAFAB)

Keywords

• Adventure trekking tours
• Group travel packages
• Guided hiking trips
• Weekend getaway packages
• Corporate team outings

Headquarters

HQ city

Bangalore

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Trek and Tour Package Sales: Customers purchase all-inclusive trek and tour packages priced per person. Pricing is transaction-based and one-time per booking, covering transport, accommodation, meals, guide services, and permits. Packages range from budget day treks (₹699) to premium international multi-day tours (₹49,999). The model relies on fixed-departure group trips and private group customisations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Backpackers United is a Bangalore-based adventure travel company that organizes expert-led treks, group tours, and customized itineraries across India's Western Ghats, the Himalayas, and coastal regions, as well as international destinations such as Thailand, Maldives, Singapore, and Meghalaya. It serves individual trekkers, friend groups, families, and corporate clients through fixed-departure group trips, private-group customizations, and dedicated corporate travel programs.

Product overview

Backpackers United, operated by BU Travel Co, is a Bangalore-based adventure travel company offering a portfolio of experiential travel products centered around trekking and group tours. The core offerings include treks (Western Ghats, Himalayan, waterfall, beach, one-day, and sunrise categories) and group tours (weekend getaways and multi-day experiences). The product line extends to international tour packages across Thailand, Singapore, Maldives, and other destinations, plus specialized Coastal Karnataka tours. The company also provides Corporate Travel services and Private Group Bookings with customized itineraries. All bookings are managed through a website-based platform with WhatsApp communication, while payment processing is handled through third-party payment gateways including Razorpay, Cashfree, and PhonePe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Weekend Treks (Western Ghats) Fixed-departure weekend and one-day guided treks departing from Bangalore across the Western Ghats, targeting individual trekkers, friend groups, and families seeking short-duration outdoor experiences.
• Himalayan Treks Multi-day guided Himalayan expeditions for trekkers seeking high-altitude, longer-duration treks, with end-to-end arrangements including logistics, accommodation, and meals.
• International Tour Packages Curated international group tours to destinations such as Thailand, Maldives, and Singapore, bundling travel, accommodation, meals, and guided experiences for individual travelers and friend groups.
• Domestic Group Tours Group tours to domestic destinations such as Hampi, Mangalore, Coastal Karnataka, and Meghalaya, combining sightseeing, cultural experiences, and outdoor activities for individual travelers and groups.
• Corporate Travel Programs Customized corporate travel and team-outing programs for organizations seeking off-sites, retreats, and group experiences, handled through a dedicated enquiry and booking flow.
• Private Group Customizations Tailor-made private group itineraries built around the customer's chosen destination, dates, and group size, drawing on the same trek and tour inventory as fixed-departure offerings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50,000+ trekkers served since 2017 with zero major safety incidents reported
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Banjara Camps & Retreats: Banjara Camps & Retreats operates nature-based stays, camping experiences, and curated retreats across India with strong Northern and Central India presence. It competes indirectly with Backpackers United's nature-based stays and group retreat offerings, particularly for experiential travelers.

Direct peers

• Indiahikes: Indiahikes is an India-based trekking operator offering guided Himalayan and Western Ghats treks with a similar small-batch, safety-first, certified-leader model. It is the closest direct competitor to Backpackers United in the organised Indian trekking category.
• Thrillophilia: Thrillophilia is an Indian adventure and experiences marketplace offering treks, weekend getaways, and international packages. It competes with Backpackers United for the same Bangalore-led, young-adult, group-travel customer across both Western Ghats and Himalayan inventory.
• JustWravel: JustWravel is an India-focused group travel operator running fixed-departure treks, backpacking trips, and international packages aimed at young solo and college-group travelers. Its GTM and product positioning closely overlap with Backpackers United's community-led, fixed-departure model.
• Trekup India: Trekup India operates guided small-group treks and weekend trips originating primarily from Bangalore and South India. Its product mix, customer profile, and departure geography directly overlap with Backpackers United's core Western Ghats and weekend getaway offerings.
• Adventures365: Adventures365 is an Indian adventure travel operator offering trekking, camping, and weekend group tours across India. It targets similar solo and group traveler segments and overlaps on Western Ghats treks and fixed-departure weekend tours.

Broad incumbents

• MakeMyTrip: MakeMyTrip is one of India's largest OTAs, offering flights, hotels, holiday packages, and a growing adventure and experience vertical. It is a broad incumbent that competes for the same Bangalore leisure-traveler wallet and has the marketing and capital reach to crowd out independent operators.
• Yatra: Yatra is a large Indian OTA providing flights, hotels, holiday packages, and corporate travel. Its holiday and corporate offerings overlap with Backpackers United's weekend tours and Corporate Travel vertical, making it a relevant broad incumbent peer.

Emerging players

• Tripoto: Tripoto is an India-based travel community and trip-planning platform that also facilitates bookings for treks, tours, and experiential trips. It overlaps with Backpackers United on adventure content marketing, community-led discovery, and a young-adult traveler base.
• GoStops: GoStops is an Indian backpacker hostels and group travel brand operating a chain of hostels and community-led trips across India. It targets the same solo, young-adult, community-driven backpacker persona that anchors Backpackers United's customer base.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/backpackers-united

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Backpackers United