The Indian Startup Show · 2026-06-07 · 23 min
Turning Wanderlust into a Business. Can falling in love with a place completely change the trajectory of your life? For Alankar Chandra, a trip to the Masai Mara did exactly that. Today, I speak to Alankar Chandra, the CEO and Founder of Wild Voyager and Ilora Retreats. An IIM Ahmedabad alumnus, Alankar left his comfortable corporate job to pursue his true passions: wildlife and travel. In this episode, we discuss how he turned his hobby into a thriving experiential travel company, born out of a desire to rekindle a true sense of wonder through authentic adventures. Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur or a travel enthusiast, Alankar’s journey from having zero background in the travel industry to building a successful business is packed with incredible insights. In this episode, we discuss: The Lightbulb Moment: How falling in love with the Masai Mara inspired him to leave the corporate world behind. Starting from Scratch: Navigating the industry without a travel background and treating the first year as a "discovery phase." Building the Business: Effective marketing strategies, getting early customers, and lessons learned from what didn't work.
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