“Driving wasn’t something I ever imagined for myself. Not because I couldn’t, but because no one around me ever thought I should. Once I sat behind the wheel, it felt like reclaiming a part of myself I had never known was missing,” says Anupreeti Ajit More (48), a home baker in Kolhapur.

Across India, women have always travelled. They have crossed cities and states, carried families across generations, and managed responsibilities that stretch far beyond any map.

Yet when it comes to driving, especially long-distance self-drive journeys, women have historically participated far less. This gap has less to do with ability and more with confidence, access, and the lack of spaces where women feel supported enough to explore freely. 

In recent years, that has begun to change. More women are stepping into the driver’s seat, not only for errands or school runs, but for independence. The road offers a sense of self that daily life rarely makes space for. 

At the centre of this shift is Embarq Motorworld, a self-drive experiential travel company that has spent over a decade helping women take charge of their journeys, both on the road and within.

Through Embarq, women sign up for self-drive road journeys where they are behind the wheel of their own cars, travelling in a guided convoy across cities, countries, and sometimes even continents. From handling permits and breakdowns to mapping unfamiliar terrain, the logistics are taken care of so that participants can focus on the experience of driving and discovering at their own pace. 

Two women, one vision

The story begins with Mumbai’s Sujal Patwardhan and Pune’s Medha Joseph, who first met in 1999 during their MBA at IMERT, Pune University. “We clicked instantly because we shared the same curiosity, the same urge to explore, and the belief that travel could change the way you see life,” says Medha, now 47.

Both grew up in families where travel was encouraged. “Even as children, we were pushed to venture out,” Sujal (47) tells The Better India. “Driving is about making your own choices and taking control of your journey.”

Their personal passion grew into something much larger in 2015, when they, along with a small group of friends, embarked on a 57-day self-drive expedition from Hyderabad to Morocco, covering three continents and over 23,000 kilometres. “There was no plan to start a company. We just wanted to see what it felt like to navigate the world on our own terms,” Medha admits.

The journey revealed a clear contrast. Self-drive adventures felt natural for many Europeans, but for most Indians, they remained daunting. “Back home, the thought of driving such distances was overwhelming for many. Crossing borders, handling paperwork, travelling through unfamiliar roads, and dealing with language differences, each step added to the hesitation,” she adds.

When they returned to India on 1 August 2015, the idea of creating a platform for Indian travellers had taken shape. And by 12 October 2015, ‘Embarq Motorworld’ was officially registered.

It was bootstrapped for the first five years. During this time, their journeys also brought new people into the fold. In 2019, they met Neeta Lad on one of their trips, and the connection grew into a strong professional bond. She later joined as an investing partner, and the three now hold equal stakes in the company.

Learning the ropes, one journey at a time

Embarq’s early trips were cautious and small-scale pilots. Initially, these self-drive journeys welcomed both men and women, and their first domestic expedition in Punjab, aimed at friends and family, involved only 15 participants. 

“It was a learning experience,” Sujal shares. “Apart from routes, we realised how to make travellers feel secure, confident, and supported every step of the way.”

Soon after, they launched their first international expedition to Kyrgyzstan with 23 participants, many of them first-time international drivers. She emphasises the attention to detail involved, “Every route is personally recce’d by us. Every stop, fuel station, hotel, and washroom is checked in advance. It is exhausting, but necessary if we want our participants to feel safe.”

Over the next few years, they expanded across India, Central Asia, Europe, and Southeast Asia, taking hundreds of travellers on journeys that prioritised emotional comfort alongside adventure. In this time, they conducted 115 expeditions, hosted 1,400 travellers, and covered 23 countries.

When women took over the steering wheel 

By 2018, it was becoming obvious that more women were interested in the trips, with many travelling solo for the first time. The duo started getting calls from women who expressed a need for trips specifically designed for them. “Initially, we did not want to label travel by gender. But listening closely, we realised women were not asking for exclusion, they were asking for safety and freedom,” Medha says.

That realisation led to a turning point. 

In January 2019, Embarq organised the first all-women self-drive expedition, from India to Thailand. Planning began eight months earlier, in May 2018, and involved extensive paperwork, safety logistics, and cross-border coordination. Only 16 seats were offered.

“The kinds of questions that came in spoke volumes,” she shares. “People asked, if it is all women, who will lead? Who will handle emergencies? Many could not imagine women managing every aspect of such a journey.”

The convoy made it to the destination without a hitch, but what lingered was the lasting impact it had on the women. “The confidence with which the women returned was astonishing. More than driving, it was about reclaiming space in their own lives and seeing the world and themselves with a fresh perspective,” Medha adds.

Designing journeys through a woman’s lens

Embarq stands out because every trip is shaped around the real needs and insights of women travellers. “All our women-led trips are designed by women. Every route, stop, and interaction is planned from a woman’s perspective,” Sujal explains.

Every two hours, the convoy comes to a planned stop. Sujal and Medha personally vet each hotel along the route before the trip dates. Walkie-talkies keep all cars connected, while lead and support vehicles move alongside the group. At every stage, a backup plan is ready, making sure the journey runs smoothly. 

“If someone feels uneasy, we stop. There is no pressure to keep moving. The journey adapts to the traveller and not the other way around,” she adds.

Each morning briefing includes the roads and the dynamics of the group. “We remind everyone that we travel together and we support one another,” Medha explains. “It builds trust and camaraderie that lasts long after the trip ends.”

Stories from the road

For Anupreeti (48), a home baker from Maharashtra, Embarq opened the door to a life full of possibilities she had not dared to dream of. 

“I had only just learnt to drive. I had never driven long distances by myself. During one drive, a short 70 to 80 km stretch became a turning point. With Sujal guiding me, my fear disappeared, and that drive became a memory I will always carry. I came back believing in myself,” she says.

For Anjana (41), a baker from Bengaluru, the Kashmir to Kanyakumari expedition in March 2025 combined thrill with vulnerability. “Highway driving can be intimidating,” she admits. When her car started giving off a burning smell in the mountains, another participant stayed with her. “It showed me the depth of what women supporting women can mean.”

For Sulekh (48), a senior engineer and a mother of two, the expedition offered a rare pause from constant responsibility. 

“My elder daughter is well-settled in her career, while my younger child has special needs. Being a mother of a child with special needs has shaped me emotionally and mentally. My life revolves around care, planning, and attention to others,” Sulekh explains. “But this journey with the team felt like breathing out. For 10 days, I could step away from my daily routine and reconnect with myself. It reminded me that I deserve space, growth, and adventure.”

For Sujal, seeing these changes was moving. “Every time a woman drives further than she imagined, every time she laughs freely or trusts her instincts, I feel that all our work matters. It is not about the distance covered on the road, it is about the distance travelled within.”

‘We cried when we reached the destination’

In March 2025, Embarq launched ‘The Bold Route Series’, beginning with the epic Kashmir to Kanyakumari expedition. Around 40 women drove across India in 25 cars over 10 days.

“When we reached Kanyakumari, we all cried. By then, it was no longer just a physical journey. It had become personal and emotional for all of us,” Medha says. Explaining why the moment was so overwhelming, she adds, “They came from such varied backgrounds, and many of them were fighting battles at home that nobody knew about.” 

Some, she notes, had secured permission to join the journey only after a lot of convincing, which made reaching the destination even more meaningful.

The Bold Route has become the organisation’s signature experience now. These are long and carefully designed journeys where women traverse diverse terrains, cultures, and personal fears together. Each trip includes safety workshops, mechanical training, and sessions on self-awareness. “The road teaches you about patience, resilience, and joy,” Sujal says.

Where the road leads next 

By January 2026, Embarq has taken over 100 women on redefining journeys. On 8 March 2026, International Women’s Day, they flagged off their new Bold Route: Kutch to Kibithoo, traversing India from west to east.

“Our message to all women is to step out because the road is kinder than you think,” Medha says.

For many who have already taken that step, the journey continues to stay with them long after the road ends. “I realised I am capable of more than I ever thought,” Anupreeti says. “The road gave me the courage to live a life on my own terms.”

“Independence doesn’t mean isolation. I realised it means learning to trust yourself while trusting others. That is the bond we formed,” Anjana adds.

Sujal sums it up, “This is not just a road trip. It is a movement. Every woman who joins takes a piece of herself back that she may never have known existed.” 

Medha smiles and adds, “And that, for me, is the true journey. Not the miles, but the metamorphosis.”

All pictures courtesy Sujal Patwardhan

© The Better India