Road trip in an RV, the motorhome

Kavita Kanan Chandra

There is reason to cheer for travellers and the tourism industry on the occasion of World Tourism Day, which falls tomorrow. After a lull of almost two years, there has been a resurgence of travel, though with a paradigm shift. Slow, sustainable, responsible travel with the utmost concern for hygiene, safety and social distancing has prompted more travellers to hit the roads for holidays.

How much does it cost

Caravan rentals vary according to the service they provide. Some charge only for the RV and driver. Some come all-inclusive of fuel and food. Many luxury campervans or motorhomes offer a well-planned itinerary, customised to customer’s preference.

On an average, the cost ranges from Rs2,500 to Rs25,000 per person per night depending on the size and category of the caravan that may accommodate four to eight persons. Renting a caravan can be economical if you carry or cook your own food.

One outcome of the penchant for road tripping is the growing popularity of caravan tourism. Referred to as RV (recreational vehicle like a motorhome, campervan or luxury caravan), these are customised vehicles meant to be a home on wheels, giving flexibility and freedom to travel on road. The globally popular concept minimises risking infection as against travelling in public transport and use of public spaces in transit.

With barely a few RV rental options available a decade back, the pandemic has changed the RV scenario in India. The tourism departments of states like Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra are promoting caravan tourism on their websites. Recently Kerala announced its launch in a big way while Gujarat’s proposal is in the planning stage. Several private entrepreneurs operate caravans in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Ladakh and the North-East.

“It’s only after the pandemic that Indians have woken up to caravan tourism,” says Captain Suresh Sharma. A pioneer in caravanning for 21 years, he started by building his own caravan. Today, his company offers caravanning in Himachal Pradesh.

The state governments are providing incentives by introducing policies to help entrepreneurs in this industry. The caravans and caravan parks are to be registered under the state tourism department, which also ensures their marketing and management. “We get support from the government in terms of building norms and from a rental perspective, creating parking locations for the caravans,” says Sachin Panchal, whose start-up Motohom has tied up with Maharashtra tourism.

The RVs come with chic interiors, equipped with kitchenette, toilet cubicle, showers, foldable beds, lounge space and refrigerator; that could be well-stocked to take care of dining on the way. Alternately, some state tourism departments also provide options for packed meals, hygienic places to eat, besides partner hotels to stop and freshen up. Most RVs are driven by drivers. However, self-drive options are also available.

According to Ajit Kumar Bhaskar, GM, Transport, Madhya Pradesh Tourism, pioneers in caravan travels since 2010, “We saw an increase in enquiries and bookings by leisure travellers during the pandemic. Now, we see an interest among pilgrims too.” Recently, small groups of Jain pilgrims travelled in these caravans, along with a cook and special food items.

MP tourism has two caravans, each accommodates eight passengers, has a separate driver’s compartment and costs Rs60/km. The parking could be done at night in one of the 70 hotels of MP tourism. They have tied up with tourist organisations in other states across India.

Barring MP, most other state tourism departments are outsourcing RV rentals to private entrepreneurs and companies.

“We introduced a new tourism initiative as people’s attitudes are changing towards travel,” says Rajeev GL, Deputy Director, Marketing, Kerala Tourism. Kerala plans to launch 100 caravans by January 2022.

Karnataka tourism has listed the company details of participating RVs on its website. The website also mentions that tourists can camp around in locations like Hampi, Gokarna, Badami, Kudremukh, Sakaleshpura, Belur, Halebidu, Sakrebailu and Kodagu.

Maharashtra tourism had also flagged off caravan tourism last year. One of the goals was to make remote tourist attractions accessible to travellers and benefit local communities in far-flung places. There’s also an itinerary for exploring Maharashtra’s tribal areas, where one can savour home-cooked tribal cuisine and buy local produce.

Caravan tourism is popular in the West and as the concept expands in India, it would open up the country for Indians and foreigners like never before. When every 100 kilometres travelled in India brings about a change in culture, traditions, cuisine, attire, topography of the terrain and language of the people, just imagine the mind-boggling diversity waiting to be discovered.

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