There is something about being packed into a van with a bunch of people, some you know, some you have never met before, with music playing in the background and dancing to rhythm, snacks being passed around and everyone laughing like you have known each other for years.

This is the new travel culture that seems to be catching on among Kenyans.

More people are now choosing to travel as a group, either with friends or with total strangers, by joining travel packages organised by travel companies.

For me, Kitui was never on my bucket list. Not even somewhere in the ‘maybe one day’ section. But one day I was scrolling through social media, and I bumped into a video of people ziplining, sky cycling, swimming and swinging from a giant swing at Revelation Recreational Park. That is when I realised it was a travel package being advertised. Just by the sight of that, I was 100 per cent convinced this was a much-needed trip.

I wanted the adrenaline. I wanted the escape. And, more than anything, I wanted to get away from the Nairobi hustle and bustle for a while.

Days later, me and several others became part of an amazing experience at Revelation Recreational Park in Kitui county.

The highlight of the trip was not only the adrenaline-filled activities but also travelling with people I had never met before. Somewhere between the music blasting from the vehicle, the yapping, shared snacks, laughter and the anticipation of what awaited us at the park, strangers slowly became travel buddies. And with that experience, I realised the reason why group travel is gaining popularity in Kenya.

Over the past few years, I have seen a growing number of travel companies offering packages to different destinations, both within Kenya and outside the country. The convenience alone is enough to understand why.

Take, for example, a three-day package trip to Samburu that could cost around Sh9,000, inclusive of meals, accommodation, team-building activities and visits to popular destinations, such as Buffalo Springs. Now, if you decided to plan the same trip on your own, you could literally empty your wallet.

Let us not even talk about fuel prices these days. For someone driving their own car, the cost of fuelling the vehicle to travel all the way to Samburu can quickly turn what was supposed to be a fun weekend getaway into a financial crisis. And with the economy being what it is, not many people are willing to spend that kind of money.

This is where travel packages come in. Travel companies bring people together, arrange transport, accommodation, meals and activities, allowing travellers to pay one amount instead of having to worry about every little detail.

And the options are everywhere. There are travel companies offering different destinations at different prices, meaning all one has to do is find a package that fits their budget.

You want a chilled-out weekend? There is a package for that. You want an adrenaline-filled adventure? There is a package for that, too. You want to travel outside Kenya? There is a company out there ready to sort you out.

Sometimes it takes one spontaneous decision to have an unexpected, best experience of your life.

So, if you have been that person constantly saying in your group chat: “Tutapanga trip lini?” for the last one year, consider this your sign to find a package that suits you and go for that trip! Even alone, you can, because you will discover new destinations and find new people with the same interests as you.