Aakanksha Monga: A Young Solo Traveller From Behind a Corporate Desk

Aakanksha Monga, a young solo woman traveller, enjoys challenges and has an unquenchable hunger for adventure. Born on February 3, 1997, in Delhi, India, her journey is as stunning as the destinations she explored. Covering from hidden beaches to harsh mountain trails, she has travelled close to 50 countries, creating a million-strong community of enthusiasts eager to follow in her footsteps.

Aakanksha’s love for travel is deeply rooted in her upbringing. Growing up in an army family, she often called a new city home every couple of years. These frequent relocations across India and beyond sparked a fascination for new cultures and experiences. Returning to her childhood, her first memorable journey to Paro, Bhutan, at age six left a memorable mark. Surely, that trip ignited her lifelong affair with exploration.

Education and Early Career

Aakanksha completed her schooling and plus 2 at Sanskriti School, New Delhi, followed by pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce with Honors from 2017 to 2020 at Hindu College, Delhi University. Although her formal education was rooted in commerce, her heart is obviously elsewhere, travel and explore!

After college, she began her career as a consultant at Bain & Company and later worked as a Creator Manager Associate at LinkedIn. Yet, despite the security of her corporate career, she wanted to pursue travel, which truly ignited her passion.

Her transition to full-time content creation began in 2020 when she went on her first solo trip to Udaipur, funded by her internship savings. Inspired by travel influencers she followed on Instagram, she began sharing photographs and videos of her adventures. It wasn’t long before she realised that creating content wasn’t just a hobby; it was her gig and she needed to continue to the fullest.

Why the Solo Travel Revolution? To Break Barriers!

Aakanksha’s journey has her set of challenges, as a young woman in India, solo travel was often met with scepticism and restrictions. Earlier to all this, her parents didn’t allow her to travel even with friends during college. Instead of being disheartened, she used this restriction as her driving force. She was determined to break free from societal stereotypes and prove that women can travel independently and fearlessly.

Initially, her travels were economical. She backpacked on a tight budget, stayed in hostels and even door-stepped hotels and hostels, trying to offer promotional content in exchange for accommodation. After all this, she is what she is today, and only through sheer persistence and resilience has she built a name for herself. Today, even after she has a dedicated team and the backing of renowned brands, her modesty and hard work remain at the core of her success.

A Million Dreams, One Community, One Platform

Aakanksha’s creative storytelling and immersive content have got her over a million followers across Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Her audience appreciates her content for breathtaking landscapes with insightful narratives. She speaks about the cheapest flights and local stays by introducing India’s first travel-hacks course on her website. TravelAMore has transformed the way people perceive travel.

Her collaborations with prominent brands like Visa, Nykaa, Intel, and tourism boards from Switzerland, Germany, and Hong Kong have further made her one of India’s fastest-growing female travel influencers. She connects with people from diverse backgrounds and shares meaningful stories that make her content relatable and impactful.

Academically, An Achiever Too!

• She earned a Certificate for Exemplary Academic Performance from Sanskriti School, New Delhi, in May 2017.
• Her entrepreneurial spirit won the Education Summit Initiative organised by India Today in January 2015.
• As the Marketing Head of a business model aimed at providing internship opportunities to school students, Aakanksha proposed a start-up idea that secured the first prize of ₹50,000.
• Her performance in national-level exams achieved 97% in the AISSCE (2017).
• A spot-on perfect 10 CGPA in the SSC (2015).

All Without Adventures and Challenges? Certainly Not!

Aakanksha’s favourite destinations include Indonesia and the culturally rich villages of Northeast India. At the same time, Indonesia’s active volcanoes and serene waterfalls stunned her and she found India’s soul shining brightly in the Northeast’s traditions and hospitality.

For her, Travelling isn’t just about destinations; it’s about growth. Over the years, she has adapted to different cultures, learned to communicate beyond language barriers, and developed a deep sense of kindness and empathy. Her travels have made her adaptable, grounded, and a firm believer in the power of human connections.

Just About Travel? She’s an Educator too!

Aakanksha’s content goes beyond just showcasing the beauty of places. In a few of her videos, she educates the audience on sustainable practices, affordable travel and teaches local culture. She ensures the information she provides in her content adds value to her viewers’ lives. Whether they are seasoned travellers or just starting or someone who’s just lazy lying on their couch scrolling through. Her storytelling features extraordinary tales, like meeting an 80-year-old traveller who visited India 41 times. This encounter reinforced her belief in living life to the fullest and never quitting what one desires in life.

Through her TravelAMore, she guides travellers and content creators, let’s say A-Z of what’s required for starting travel content creation or generally exploring places. Despite the challenges of competing in an ever-growing content creation space, Aakanksha is focused on her mission to inspire and educate and probably cover all countries once, if possible twice in her lifetime.

Isn’t it great to see someone who wants to break barriers and empower others? She’s proud of creating an online community with equal representation of men and women, proving that travel isn’t limited by gender. She inspires women to step out of societal constraints and explore the world on their own terms. Yes, with the current scenarios around the world, not just women but no one has a risk-free adventure and I understand there are numerous risks, but are we just gonna give up?

Is this a controversy?

One simple controversy about Aakanksha Monga arose when some claimed that her travels and content creation were only possible because of financial support from her family. Others suggested she came from a privileged background, with comments implying that her lifestyle was funded by “a rich dad.” These assumptions often overshadowed her hard work and efforts in building her brand.

Additionally,

Aakanksha Monga made a positive impact that extends beyond her travels and content creation. In July 2016, she dedicated herself as a volunteer with Pravah, an NGO focused on society and the environment. As a 7-day program in Kandhikaal Village, Uttarakhand, she engaged in health surveys, community sensitisation programs and cleanliness drives. She immersed herself in the village’s day-to-day activities and gained firsthand experience with grassroots challenges and solutions. Her work with Pravah reflects her dedication towards society and promoting change.

The Road Ahead, more dreams to unfold!

Now based in Delhi, Aakanksha continues to explore the world with a closed backpack and an open heart. Her collaborations with global brands and tourism boards have increased her standard and approach towards new adventures. Her TEDx talks and Forbes India story highlight her global influence.

As the proverb goes, the journey is as important as the destination, Aakanksha believes in the same. Whether it’s hopping on a rickshaw in India or skiing down an ice slope in northern Europe, she remains a storyteller at heart, always inspiring others to take the leap.

If we look at the world just like her, the world is a playground of endless possibilities. Waiting to be explored and cross-marked adding points. No matter what, she chases and let us all join her to discover the magic of travel by just following her!

Check out her Instagram / YouTube / LinkedIn

Also to read about Kavya Karnatac aka kk.create Click HERE!