Meet the Founders of Grass Routes …

Co-founder, Claire Prest
Claire’s taste for travel developed as a youngster camping with her folks throughout homeland Australia. It wasn’t until her first travels in India however that the travel bug stuck and she made it her mission to find meaning in the teeming madness.

Claire worked throughout India and South East Asia for an expanding adventure travel company, exploring, managing and selling destinations. Her passion for authentic cultural exchange always the bottom line, sharing the magic with others the icing on the cake.

Travel for Claire is about breaking boundaries and building bridges. Loosening her social conditioning to make space for different modes of thought and beliefs has enriched her life immeasurably. Claire enjoys the thrill of discovering new destinations and meeting new people almost as much as she enjoys getting under the skin of a place. She has lived in various parts of Asia since 2000, but it is the remote region of Orissa that has captured her heart.

Grass Routes is about putting down roots and taking responsibility for the greater impact of tourism. Working closely with local communities to provide sustainable solutions for mutually enjoyable experiences, Grass Routes offers a more humane alternative to consumer travel.

Co-founder, Pulak Mohanty
Pulak’s passion for travel started from humble beginnings in hometown Puri on the East Coast of India. Cycling rustic country roads and exploring neighbouring villages he was touched by the indiscriminate warmth and genuine humanity of people unknown to him. Little did he realise back then, these initial discoveries would provide impetus for many remarkable journeys ahead …

After travelling through Europe, Pulak returned to India to work for a foreign owned travel company sharing amazing adventures with people from all over the world. Naturally the next evolution was a return to his roots and to share his experiences with the many who had first opened their homes and hearts.

Pulak exudes an infectious passion for people from all walks of life. His uncanny ability to strike instant rapport has won many friendships and much affection. A creature of nature at heart he is most at home sharing jibes with the fishermen of Chilika Lake and sleeping under the stars.

Grass Routes is about giving back. The desire to return the gift of faith so openly shared with the very people who first encouraged the aspiration of open dialogue and universally shared experiences. A tribute to the generous people of Orissa, Grass Routes is my homage to you.

Grass Routes  | Orissa Tour  | Tribal Tour  |  Puri | Responsible Travel  |  Sustainable Travel