In 2017, Shreyas took a solo trip to the Himalayas during his college break, where he was exposed to ‘slow-living’ communities.
He was so taken by them that he skipped his graduation day to set off on a gap year trip across the country.
“I did the typical low-budget backpacking routes, a couple of organised treks (Everest Base Camp, Kanchenjunga Base Camp, etc) and a couple of volunteering gigs,” he says.
He recounts that at 22, he grew tired of the bohemian backpacker style of travel and switched to a more reclusive style of camping/adventure travel.
“I realised that what I was experiencing was far beyond the scope of what a packaged tour or a backpacking trail or a luxury resort could offer,” says Shreyas.
That’s when he decided to start ‘Map My Stories’, and curate mindful and immersive journeys inspired by his explorations.
“The itineraries are designed in a way to not only engage with, but also support local communities and offer a well-balanced mix of everything from culture to nature to adventure,” he says.
He recounts a recent trip to Sikkim, where the group helped renovate a portion of a 19th-century Buddhist monastery.
They learnt to make bamboo souvenirs, jammed with indigenous musicians, went caving, swam in natural pools and river beaches, and learnt to brew local beer as well.
Shreyas forms groups of like-minded travellers and organises fixed departures once a month for 6-10 days.
A group journey may cost anywhere from around Rs 26,000 to Rs 30,000, depending on the group size and location. The group capacity doesn’t exceed more than six members.