Ditch your travel itinerary and follow this trail

2026-03-10 - 23:14

Mowgli Venture aims to take participants back to nature, and create friendships along the way. (Mowgli Venture pic) SHAH ALAM: On one trip to Pulau Kapas, the guides at Mowgli Venture have a strange ritual. Before the group even gets deep into the jungle trail, someone inevitably asks the same question: “Did you see him?” “There’s a pit viper that we always see – at this point we call him a resident friend in Kapas,” laughed co-founder Masha Ramnai. “We’ve been seeing him for the past few years on our trips. These days when one of us spots him, we’ll take a photo and send it to the others like, ‘He’s here today.’” For most travellers, encountering a snake in the wild might sound alarming. But for the team behind Mowgli Venture, it is simply part of the magic of being out in nature – the kind of unscripted moment that reminds people they have stepped far away from the predictable rhythms of city life. That philosophy sits at the heart of the adventure travel company founded by Kovin Siva, Masha and Celine Tay. The trio first crossed paths through hiking circles and mutual friends who loved the outdoors. Celine Tay, Masha Ramnai, and Kovin Siva were hiking buddies before starting Mowgli Venture. (Mowgli Venture pic) “Kovin comes from a geology background,” Masha explained. “But he never actually went into the oil and gas industry. He was very much a forest person – always exploring waterfalls and nature.” Before Mowgli Venture existed, Kovin was already leading small groups on waterfall trips and hikes. Those spontaneous adventures became the blueprint for the company. The founders decided to launch the company in March 2020 – just as the world shut down during the pandemic. The team then pivoted to local hiking and camping trips around Malaysia, which quickly took off during the periods of restricted movement. Today, Mowgli Venture runs weekend escapes around Malaysia and longer trips across Southeast Asia, including Pulau Kapas and Borneo. Travel packages start from RM650 and can go up to RM2,500, depending on duration, destination and activities. In places like Borneo, local guides run trips end-to-end, creating a circular economy for the local communities while giving travellers a richer, more authentic experience. Mowgli Venture organises local and international trips. (Mowgli Venture pic) And most trips are nature-based, with a strong ecotourism focus. Guides encourage travellers to appreciate and respect the environment, often sparking conversations about conservation and even spontaneous beach clean-ups along the way. While the scenery is often the main attraction, something else began happening on Mowgli’s trips: strangers started forming real connections. Many of their adventures are open trips, where individuals sign up and join travellers they have never met before. That mix can lead to unexpected outcomes. “Recently, a pair of participants who joined one of our trips just got married,” Masha said with a smile. “They actually met through the Mowgli Venture trip.” Romance aside, friendships are far more common. “We’ve had people who became friends and started hiking together outside of our trips,” she said. “Some even motivate each other with their fitness journeys.” The sense of community is intentional. Unlike many tour operators, at least one of the founders is usually present on each trip. “You will see us on the tour with you,” Masha said. That personal approach has turned many travellers into repeat customers. Most Mowgli Venture trips are nature-based, with a strong ecotourism focus. (Mowgli Venture pic) For Masha, the deeper goal behind Mowgli Venture is to rethink what travel should feel like. “Travel feels very watered down these days,” she said. “People go somewhere because an influencer posted a picture there. They take the same photo and move on.” Mowgli Venture tries to slow things down. Instead of rushing between landmarks, trips often involve hiking through jungles, exploring remote beaches or discovering lesser-known trails. Before offering any itinerary, the team personally scouts each location. Those explorations help them design trips that are adventurous but still accessible. “We always ask ourselves: is this something the common person can do and still go back to work on Monday?” Looking ahead, Mowgli Venture plans to expand to new destinations while training local guides to run trips. “It’s still a Mowgli Venture coded experience. You’ll feel the same vibe and the same level of expertise,” said Masha. But the goal remains the same: to help people step away from crowded itineraries and rediscover something simpler. Follow Mowgli Venture on Instagram.