Popular as the Mountain Trekker, Varun Vagish has steadily climbed the popularity charts for his simple, relatable content. He inspires you to dream of travelling the whole world, without burning a hole in your pocket. Team TS sat down for a chat with him.
One Himalayan adventure you will never forget, and why?
I can’t forget the bus ride, which was my first chance of travelling on a bus roof while coming back from Hemis Gompa. Can’t forget the first sip of the local salty butter tea with a slice of local traditional bread made up of yeast and cereals. The vast plains near River Indus, the climb of Khardung la and the best part – my two-days long return journey in HRTC bus from Leh to Manali, which passed through the world’s most amazing landscapes. This was Ladakh to me in June 2001. Unlike today, there were only a few shops in the main Leh market and very few vehicles. That was my first trip to Ladakh and will always be close to my heart.
The biggest life lesson your travels have taught you so far?
I have travelled to many lesser-known areas in different countries. Travelled with locals whom I met for the first time, stayed with them, learned many new things about their culture and lifestyle. The best part was they didn’t expect anything in return, not even money. Such travel experiences have proven that the world is beautiful and so are its beings. You just need to go beyond your comfort zone to experience the best in the world and the best of your life.
The most beautiful sight you’ve ever seen?
I can’t choose one. While thinking of the most beautiful sight many places start flashing in my mind. Şavşat and Cappadocia in Turkey, Altai mountains in Russia, beautiful white sand beaches of Koh Phangan (Thailand), crystal clear sea of Mauritius, Moon-like structures on the landscape of Spiti and Ladakh.
What is the one travel mistake you will never make again?
I will never go again without my camera.. have been travelling this way since 2001. I travelled extensively in India, especially in the Himalayas, but never documented those trips. Today when I see a lot of people got motivated to travel after watching my travel videos, I wish I could have started filming my earlier trips also. My dream of seeing Indian backpackers in every nook and corner of the world could have come true a little sooner.
Equipment wise, what are the essentials that a Youtuber must have?
A camera, which can capture excellent visuals and audio, is all one needs to have to be a travel YouTuber.
You have an amazing number of people following you. What do you consider to be your success secret?
I want my people to travel as much as they can. To convince and lure them I put my best efforts to share information in the most interesting manner. Also, I try to travel on a budget to show that travelling is not a costly affair and someone having very fewer savings can also get the courage to travel.
Thousands of youngsters dream of making money from their travel blogs/vlogs.. what’s your advice to them?
Ask yourself if you really love travelling or making videos! Don’t start vlogging or blogging by getting fascinated by the glamour of travel vloggers. Do whatever you love to. Because whoever is your role model today has actually put their best efforts in what they loved to do. Same goes with travel blogging/vlogging. For me travelling is a passion and I love making videos to share my travel tales.
A piece of advice for the dreamers who want to travel the world but don’t have the money to?
My total travelling expenditure for 15 days in Europe was less than 10,000 Rs. Watch my Thailand & Malaysia series where I travelled with an even lower budget. My videos will show you some unconventional ways of travelling which do not need money for travelling. Like many others, you will feel motivated and get the courage to travel the world.
