Who are the Travel Scientists?

We are the Men in White Coats. We have come to take you away…. this is going to be awesome.

The Travel Scientists are the result of a stroke of genius, mild fever, and sleep deprivation upon the mind of our founder and Chief Scientist, Aravind Bremanandam. Whilst hurling through the eye of a sandstorm inside an antique Lada in rural Mauritania, inspiration struck him squarely in the brain and said…

“Well…this is a start. Now, how do we make this entirely more amazing?”

The (then) young entrepreneur and adventurer gathered together a super-team of like-minded experts in unconventional motorized travel and international shenanigans, and so formed The Travel Scientists!

Short weeks later in 2006 the very first ‘Rickshaw Challenge’ exploded onto the scene. Almost literally. The pageantry, noise and mild insanity of this inaugural rally across India in the depths of monsoon season set the tone for what was to come.

Soon adventurers from right around the world had heard of this band of madcap motorized misfits. In 2008, to meet demand and plan ever-greater rallies, we established a permanent base and laboratory in Budapest.  Today our rallies reach from the jungles of Tamil Nadu to the frozen stretches of the Baltic Sea, from the shores of the heart of the Caucasus Mountains to the deserts of America’s Wild West, along the Silk Road, to The Roof of the World, and all the way back to the coast of the Mediterranean.

There might be days when the Travel Scientists forget to wear pants, but there is absolutely no one in the world better or more dedicated to the study, development, creation, and sharing of incredible adventure travel.

Why are we doing this?

Our mission is actually quite simple – we want to cackle manically as we resurrect the spirit of adventure. It’s alive! And so are you! Now act like it!

World travel used to be synonymous with an irrepressible sense of fun, adventure, and discovery. What’s the point of journeying thousands of miles just to visit a slightly transformed version of home? Numbing guided tours, soulless hotels and plastic cuisine have nearly extinguished the visceral thrill of exploration. We want more viscera in our cuisine! Too much? OK, but you get the idea.

We’ve seen things most people wouldn’t believe, met incredible new friends, and lived unforgettable adventures. It is our privilege to now share those things with you. You’ve already shown you have exactly what it takes – a willingness to step away from the familiar and embrace the spirit of discovery that burns bright within each.

So find a team to accompany you through this madness, get your car ready (or rent one from us) and sign up for a road trip, that will definitely change the way you look on the world!

We are the Men in White Coats. We have come to take you away…. this is going to be awesome.

The Team

Aravind, Chief Scientist

Aravind is the brain behind and the lead organizer of the wildly popular Rickshaw Challenge that races rickshaws all over India, the all you can drive event India’s Cup and the rather special rally event Bullathon. He has also raced in Africa several times and assists with adventure rallies all over the globe. If it’s got a motor, a bad road and a party and a beer at the end, you can almost guarantee he’ll have been there at least once.

Attila, Head Scientist

Attila is a veteran road warrior with several rallies under his belt. No matter which continent, he completed these mostly with crazy vehicles like an old Soviet Lada or a Hungarian bendy bus as a part of the Bus Number 7 project. He’s also the lead organizer of the epic Caucasian Challenge and the snow filled Baltic Run, during which he’s handling everything from tyrannical border guards to local nomads. Like Indiana Jones he will eat anything – except broccoli.

Guy, Lead Scientist

His relaxed personality is a great compliment to all the activity a massive international event tends to generate. With a background in psychology studies, digital art and international travel he brings a rich sense of diversity and experience to these events. Guy is the magician doing his work in the background – he makes sure our communication with the participants is flawless and nobody is left with anything resembling an unanswered question.