How AI Is Revolutionising Travel Planning For Young Indians

Planning a trip used to mean hours of scrolling through websites, juggling opinions, and struggling to find the perfect balance between budget and fun. But now? Thanks to AI, the travel game for young Indians—especially those under 30—is changing fast. AI-powered travel planning is making it easier, faster and way more personal to cut through the clutter and build the perfect trip. To get the real scoop, we spoke to three voices shaping this new era: Hari Ganapathy from Pickyourtrail, the founders of The Tarzan Way, and a seasoned traveller, Merlyn D’Souza, who mixes AI with good old human intuition.

The AI Sidekick

“AI is like a sidekick that slashes decision fatigue,” says Hari Ganapathy, Co-founder of Pickyourtrail. And honestly, that’s exactly what today’s young travellers need. With hundreds of destinations and thousands of experiences at their fingertips, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Hari explains that their AI doesn’t just filter options, it actively curates personalised journeys based on a traveller’s preferences and previous choices, whether that’s a serene wellness retreat, a honeymoon, or an adrenaline-pumping adventure.

Pickyourtrail’s AI handles the heavy lifting—sorting flights, hotels, and routes; leaving travellers with ready-made itineraries that feel tailored, not templated. But Hari stresses this is only half the story: “Our human travel experts bring the cultural context, creativity, and emotional nuance that AI can’t touch.” That’s the magic mix.

The pace is crucial here. Hari notes that most young Indians finalise their trips roughly 40 days before takeoff, and AI-driven platforms meet this demand by delivering personalised, ready-to-book plans lightning-fast. The result? Travel planning that’s flexible, efficient, and stress-free—perfect for busy 30-somethings who don’t have time to waste.

Adaptive Travel Concierge

“Our AI learns and evolves like a savvy travel concierge,” say the founders of The Tarzan Way. Unlike cookie-cutter packages, their AI builds itineraries from scratch. It digests global reviews, sentiment analysis, and insights from over 500 local writers, people who know the hidden gems, the little cultural quirks, and the stories that bring a place to life.

What’s more, their system is dynamic. As travellers tweak their plans in real time, the AI adjusts instantly, making every itinerary feel less like a product and more like a friend’s thoughtful recommendation. The Tarzan Way is also committed to responsible travel: their AI ensures suggestions respect local customs and communities, which adds a deeper layer of meaning to the journeys.

A standout example is a 27-day European trip designed for a traveller with anxiety. Instead of the usual tourist-packed cities, the itinerary focuses on calm, offbeat spots and crowd-free experiences. What used to take weeks of painstaking manual research was crafted by AI in minutes, with the same care and thoughtfulness you’d expect from a travel expert.

Looking ahead, The Tarzan Way plans to integrate creators and influencers more deeply, allowing locals to feed real-life tips into the AI. The vision? Trips that don’t just tick boxes but connect travellers to real communities and soulful experiences.

The Human Connection

“For me, AI is a helpful assistant, but the human connection makes the trip special,” says Merlyn D’Souza, Senior Account Director at Communicate India. On a recent family trip to Sri Lanka, Merlyn’s husband—Everol D’souza, Founder of ED Fotografii, combined AI tools like ChatGPT with local vendor advice to craft a budget-friendly itinerary that suited everyone—from toddlers to grandparents.

AI suggested alternatives to the usual hiking and temple visits, recommending relaxed activities like a turtle hatchery and an elephant sanctuary that were toddler- and elder-friendly. Merlyn appreciates how AI offers a neutral, well-informed perspective, but she insists that the warmth and cultural nuance of human interactions are irreplaceable. “AI can guide you, but it can’t replace the emotional layers a local host or a trusted vendor brings.”

Her experience reflects a hybrid approach many young Indians are adopting: using AI for research and booking efficiency, while leaning on human connections to add soul and spontaneity to the journey.

What Young Indians Want

The travel desires of India’s 30-somethings are becoming increasingly clear: they’re seeking offbeat, less-explored destinations like hidden gems in Sri Lanka or the serene beauty of Kashmir, preferring quiet, immersive experiences over crowded tourist traps. Their ideal itineraries are personalised and flexible, seamlessly blending adventure, culture, wellness, and even family-friendly elements. Budget-wise, they prioritise smart spending—opting for authentic local experiences that deliver value without stretching the wallet. AI-driven platforms like Pickyourtrail and The Tarzan Way are rising to the occasion, offering fast, adaptable, and culturally attuned solutions. And while the convenience of tech is undeniable, travellers like Merlyn show that the true magic often lies in pairing AI efficiency with the irreplaceable human touch.

The Road Ahead

AI isn’t here to replace travel agents or erase human expertise. Instead, it’s the ultimate co-pilot, handling data crunching and logistics, so travel pros can focus on adding that spark of creativity and emotional resonance. As Hari Ganapathy sums it up: “We believe in the A+A model—AI for logic, Agents for magic.”

The future of travel planning is smarter, faster, and more meaningful—a partnership between technology and human insight that creates journeys that are efficient, personal, and unforgettable. For young India’s travellers, that means their dreams just got a turbo boost, with AI as a trusty guide.

If you’re a busy 30-something juggling travel dreams with real life, these AI tools could be your new best friends for cutting through the chaos and helping you build trips as unique as your playlist. But remember, always keep a human in the loop; travel is more than just logistics—it’s stories, emotions, and connections that stick with you long after the plane lands.

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