DeccanTrails | Mukta Gage

DECCAN TRAILS

A web platform for planning, executing, and sharing your

hiking trip in Maharashtra

DeccanTrails is a web platform designed to transform your Maharashtra trekking experience.

The platform empowers travelers to plan, execute, and share unforgettable adventures through personalized itineraries, local guide connections, and build a vibrant community.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Travel Enthusiasts

Hikers

SCOPE OF WORK

User Experience

User Interface

THE STARTING POINT

Lack of immersion in the communities, culture and traditions surrounding the trails creates a shallow connection with the region, limiting the potential for transformative travel experience.

NAVIGATING A HIKERS MIND

To determine whether other travelers shared the same concerns about their trips, I created a list of questionnaire to understand what factors majorly influence the trip.

The questionnaire was divided into three phases: planning, executing, and sharing, to get a better understanding of the relationship between them.

I grouped the interviewees based on their hiking experience levels: beginner, intermediate, and expert. By analyzing their questionnaire responses, I identified common challenges faced by each group.

TO HIKE OR NOT HIKE? Tackling Common Trip Challenges

THE DISCOVERY

-Hikers have a significant need for easy-to-use tools and clear information.

-Hikers desire features for cultural immersion and community connection.

-Offline functionality and accessibility are crucial for diverse terrain and weather conditions.

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES: One Step at a Time

THE BACKPACKER'S PROFILE

To get a clear visualization of whom this platform would be designed for, I created

a user persona. This helped me focus on the most important challenges and motivations

of the user.

FROM PEAK TO POST: Understanding the User's Journey

In order to enhance the user journey: from planning to sharing the trip, I mapped out all the actions, to find areas of intervention. Each challenge faced was analyzed to identify opportunities to help.

HEAD-TO-HEAD: Comparative Analysis of Key Players

Competitor analysis revealed key players, their strengths and weaknesses. This identified opportunities for the unique value propositions: a balance of customization and personalization of itinerary, maximum local engagement, affordability, focus on safety, and a enhanced user journey.