We Wanted India, Not a Tour Package and Planout Changed Everything

This is the heartfelt story of Sabrina and Trinh, two friends from the Netherlands who had 18 days, big dreams, and no clear place to start, until India transformed from overwhelming and intimidating into something safe, human, and unforgettable.

India had always been a dream.
But planning India felt impossible, confusing, and honestly, a little scary.

Especially for two women traveling alone, trying to navigate a country larger, louder, and more complex than anything they had ever experienced.

They didn’t want a package tour.
They didn’t want a guide holding a flag.
They didn’t want to be rushed through the same tourist spots everyone sees.

What they wanted was simple, yet hard to find, a well-planned journey with real local support, someone who could help them understand India the way locals actually live it.
Not a scripted experience.
Not a sales pitch.
Just guidance that felt human.

They searched everywhere, TripAdvisor, travel blogs, Instagram, endless forums.
There was information everywhere, but confidence nowhere.
Everyone seemed to be selling something, but no one was actually guiding.

Until, quietly, almost like a secret, someone in a travel group wrote:
“Try Planout. They don’t advertise. They actually care.”

They hesitated.
It sounded too good to be true.
A team that doesn’t sell packages?
Doesn’t push fixed itineraries?
Doesn’t upsell?

Just locals helping travelers experience India safely.

Still, they decided to take the call.

And within the first five minutes, everything changed.

There was no sales pitch.
No pressure.
Just someone who genuinely understood why two foreign women might feel uncertain.

They talked about where to go, what to avoid, how to move safely, how to choose the right stays, and how to design an 18-day itinerary that actually flowed, without rushing or overwhelm.

They chose Planout’s Pro Plan, not because it was premium, but because it gave them exactly what they needed:

• A trusted local buddy in every state
• Real people they could message anytime
• Daily check-ins for peace of mind
• Guidance matched to their pace, comfort level, and travel style

And that changed everything.

Suddenly, India didn’t feel overwhelming.
It felt like stepping into a home where someone was already waiting for them.

Throughout their journey, they stayed in safe, clean, and thoughtfully chosen places, traveled smoothly even through remote regions they could barely pronounce, and explored hidden villages, quiet temples, untouched lakes, and small cafés where strangers became friends.

Every morning came with a check-in.
Every night ended with shared stories.

Not once did they feel alone.
Not once did they feel unsafe.

Planout never sold them experiences.
They simply shared India the way locals would share it with their own friends.

By the time they left, they realized something unexpected.

This wasn’t a service.
It felt like a family.

They returned home with thousands of photos, countless memories, and one promise, to share their story so other travelers know they don’t have to figure India out alone.

India is big, raw, magical, confusing, beautiful, and overwhelming, all at once.
But with the right support, it becomes one of the safest and most meaningful journeys of your life.

For Sabrina and Trinh, Planout wasn’t just another travel company.
It was a community of locals who genuinely care.

And sometimes, that’s all it takes to turn a hesitant “maybe” into the most unforgettable 18 days of your life.