Our Amazing Team
Diverse and passionate experts!
Just like our destinations, our team is a mix of cultures with distinctly individual outlooks. Our backgrounds vary widely - from corporate law, finance, event planning and design to hotel management. Yet our shared passion of travel has led us all to Chinkara Journeys. Our mission is to offer our guests the best private trips. Meet a few of us below!
SAURABH AGRAWAL
Chinkara Journeys was established by Saurabh Agrawal. Saurabh began his career at GreenGondwana with John Ash, the pioneer of ethical tourism in Chhattisgarh. Saurabh has studied in both India and Australia and holds a Master's degree in Tourism. He has eight years of in-depth experience of wildlife, tribal and cultural tourism and has a particular passion for lesser known specialist destinations in India.
SURBHI AGRAWAL
Surbhi also hails from Central India, and has a professional background in finance and the experience of meeting the highly demanding requirements involved in organising corporate travel and seminars. Her work's focus to date has been in both Delhi and Central India where she worked under a variety of domains from resorts to International NGOs.
Surbhi also works part-time at Aakanksha, a Raipur based school for mentally challenged children.
SOPHIE HARTMAN
She has recently gained an MA in the Languages and Cultures of South Asia, with a focus on Hindi and Bengali literature. She speaks Hindi and Bengali. Sophie handles all UK enquiries and accompanies specialist tours.
Sophie is the British member of the Chinkara Journeys team. She co-ran GreenGondwana for four years, having been a friend of its founder, John Ash. She has travelled extensively in India over the past twenty-five years, and has been particularly closely associated with Chhattisgarh for the past ten.
STEPHAN BEUTNER
Stephan Beutner, is our German team member and tribal specialist. Stephan holds a Master's degree in Social Anthropology and Philosophy, in which he specialised on the tribal societies of India. He has been travelling to India for almost a decade and has developed a special interest in the tribes of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa. He has published several articles and given lectures on Central India.
He also writes for suedasien.info, a German internet portal about India. Currently Stephan is working towards his Ph.D. with its thesis focusing on the Baiga people of the Maikal hills. At Chinkara, he leads specialist tribal tours, providing invaluable insights and a superb and friendly link with the Baiga, amongst whom he has spent so much time. Stephan speaks Chhattisgarhi and Hindi.Surbhi also works part-time at Aakanksha, a Raipur based school for mentally challenged children.