WHO ARE WE
About The Founder
“I’m Riju Ganguly, a solo entrepreneur from Kolkata and the founder of The Unofficial Escape. I started this brand to help people explore India’s quieter, lesser-known places with confidence, especially families, older couples, and first-time explorers who don’t want rushed, touristy holidays. My job is to listen to your needs, design trips that feel human and honest, and connect you with local people who treat you like guests, not room numbers.”
The Gap in the Market: Why Travelers Struggle Alone
Travel agencies often feel like cold, transactional machines these days. They bundle up experiences like factory-made widgets, jack up prices for foreign tourists without a second thought, and treat cultural immersion as just another item to check off, instead of the deep, soul-stirring moments travel should be.
If you’re like most of us, middle-class families or elders chasing those peaceful adventures, you know the struggle all too well. Offbeat gems in North Bengal and beyond, the places where India’s raw beauty and hidden stories truly shine, seem completely out of reach. Scams and overcharging are everywhere, hitting foreigners with crazy markups on rides, stays, and tours. Even us Indians stick to the usual crowded routes, held back by language barriers across our 22 official languages and 122 dialects. So many incredible spots stay undiscovered, and that authentic India we crave slips right through our fingers.
Nowadays, too many people rely on YouTubers to find new places, but here’s the thing, they are often paid to spotlight just a handful of spots, leaving all the others unexplored. I get it because I have been there. For the past two decades, I have traveled the length and breadth of India as a passionate explorer, bumping into the same frustrations time and again. That is why I started The Unofficial Escape, straight from a traveler’s heart, to make offbeat places easy for you, no matter where in India you come from.
We have poured in the groundwork, scouting every trail and forging real local connections, and we are still out there researching on the ground every day to bring you these one-of-a-kind experiences. Forget the hype or markups. We offer straightforward access to offbeat wonders and rich moments that are both educational and cultural.
You will head home with stories of local legends, hands-on traditions, and precious family memories to share with your kids. Pan-India insights explained simply, prices that actually make sense for your wallet. Your offbeat adventure awaits, completely barrier-free
WE BRING THE SOLUTION!
Knowledge, Authenticity, Affordability
Founded in 2025, The Unofficial Escape was born from Riju’s nearly two-decade-long personal exploration across India. Having traversed remote valleys, tea estates, and village communities, Riju recognized a pattern: the most transformative travel experiences happen when you have three things that conventional agencies rarely provide—genuine local knowledge, small group intimacy, and transparent, fair pricing that doesn’t exploit curiosity.
Plan Your Next Adventure With The Unofficial Escape
Share your dates, budget, and who’s travelling. We’ll suggest a simple, honest itinerary – no spam, no pressure to book.