In this exclusive interview, Sasha reveals her ambitious plans for Oddtrips and how her childhood in Kazakhstan inspired her travel dreams.
Q: Sasha, before we get to Oddtrips, can you tell us a little about what it was like growing up in Kazakhstan?
A: Growing up in Kazakhstan was idyllic. I was born in a small village near Stepnogorsk and there was not much around at the time.
We lived on a small property where my family had cows, pigs, chickens and a large vegetable garden. We were incredibly self-sufficient and my time was mostly spent outside.
Our two cows would be taken to a communal paddock for grazing all day long and they would come back on their own in the afternoon and stand near the gate. It was truly like a different world.
The idea that there was a big world out there was completely foreign to me, I only found out about Australia at the age of nine years old. I cherish my upbringing, as it was incredibly peaceful.
Q: Now you’re in Melbourne and you’ve created Oddtrips. How did the idea first come about?
A: I have always been drawn to travelling to weird and wacky destinations. Having come from somewhere that barely anyone has heard of, we wanted to create something that could highlight places like Kazakhstan and other less-visited destinations which have so much to offer travellers.
There is a growing movement against mass-tourism and we wanted to make it easy for our community to connect with local operators and give back to the communities they visit.
Q: So what does Oddtrips offer and has it been a success thus far?
A: Our main offering is self-guided, private and small group tours to underrated destinations.
All of our trips are built with local operators in each destination with a focus on ensuring their communities are supported by our travellers.
We have seen a huge response in our first few months, with more than 5,000 people now part of our community.
We are so excited for 2026 with travellers booked in for trips to more than 25 countries and our local partners are excited to welcome them and give them a truly immersive experience.
Q: Why do you think slow, immersive travel is particularly popular right now?
A: There is so much noise around these days that people are seeking travel experiences that provide a bit of a reset.
People are looking for sustainable options that steer clear of the over-tourism we are seeing in places across Europe and Asia.
While we have trips that still include popular spots, we do not offer large coach tours and aim to ensure every traveller gets the most out of the trip.
Q: Do you think Australians will be particularly receptive to the services you offer?
A: Australians are historically very well-travelled and we are already seeing an incredibly positive response to our offering.
Most of our travellers have been to many countries but want something more immersive. They want to be led by locals, experience their culture and do it in a way that is meaningful without paying exorbitant prices.
Q: Finally, have you set any goals or ambitions for Oddtrips?
A: 2026 is going to be a huge year. We already have many travellers booked in to see the world with us.
Our team will be getting on the road to meet our partners, learn from them and develop new products with the goal of sharing these incredible places with more people.
We want to engage further with the travel industry in Australia and we welcome any advisors or suppliers to reach out and have a chat about how we can work together.
