In 2025, travel among Indian professionals has taken an interesting turn. It is no longer just about family trips or solo getaways. There is a growing trend of colleagues transforming into travel companions, giving rise to what the internet is calling “frolleague” trips. A combination of the words friend and colleague, the term describes those coworkers who share a bond strong enough to travel together beyond work meetings and project deadlines. What once may have seemed unusual is now becoming a mainstream part of urban professional life.
This shift did not happen overnight. While the concept has existed in Western work culture for some time, the post-pandemic shift in India’s work dynamics has made it more popular here. Hybrid work, flexible hours, and digital workspaces created distance from traditional friendships but brought colleagues closer through constant collaboration. Bonds formed over back-to-back Zoom calls and deadline pressures slowly turned into genuine friendships. For many professionals, these relationships have now extended beyond the office walls into airports, resorts, and trekking trails.
Recent travel studies have revealed that nearly 30 percent of professionals in cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi have taken a trip with colleagues in the past year. Among younger professionals, the numbers are even higher. Over 40 percent of millennials and Gen Z employees say they would rather travel with work buddies than with family or childhood friends.
The appeal is easy to understand. Frolleagues often belong to similar age groups, have overlapping income brackets, and most importantly, align when it comes to managing leaves and travel budgets. It becomes easier to plan a quick weekend escape or a budget-friendly break without over-explaining your choices. These trips also offer something that few other social circles do familiarity without emotional weight. People feel comfortable, yet not burdened. There is space for conversation, bonding, and even silence without judgment.
Mental wellness experts also view this as a positive development. Travelling with colleagues can lead to better empathy, improved teamwork, and stronger communication back at work. Shared experiences outside the office tend to humanise people, building trust that often reflects in professional interactions later. It also acts as a much-needed break from the pressures of work while still keeping people connected in a constructive way.
Popular frolleague destinations include domestic gems like Coorg, Alibaug, Varkala, and Rishikesh. Some groups prefer heritage cities like Jaipur or cultural towns like Pondicherry for their mix of exploration and ease. For those with a slightly higher budget or more flexibility, short-haul international options such as Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Dubai offer a perfect mix of comfort and cultural familiarity. These trips are often activity-driven. Trekking, kayaking, yoga sessions, or even culinary tours form part of the itinerary. In many cases, travellers also turn the trip into a light working vacation, taking advantage of flexible policies by working remotely from the destination.
However, frolleague travel does not come without challenges. Differences in seniority, work habits, and personal boundaries can sometimes lead to awkward moments. There can be unspoken pressure to participate, especially when the trip includes someone in a leadership position. To make these getaways successful, open communication and mutual respect are essential. Setting expectations early on about the purpose of the trip, budget limits, and personal space can help avoid discomfort later.
Interestingly, the travel industry is also beginning to catch on. Many boutique hotels and travel startups are offering curated frolleague packages. These often include co-working access, flexible check-in, group discounts, and wellness-focused activities. Some companies are even supporting such getaways through wellness budgets or informal team-building initiatives. For organisations focused on employee retention and culture building, such experiences offer a fresh approach to bonding and morale.
Frolleague trips represent a larger transformation in how Indian professionals view relationships, work-life balance, and the idea of meaningful time off. The traditional divide between work and personal life is slowly fading. Friendships formed through work are now being celebrated, extended, and nurtured outside formal spaces. These getaways are more than travel they are a reflection of a modern professional culture that values emotional wellbeing, shared experience, and the freedom to redefine friendships.
For more such travel trends and tips on where to head next with your frolleagues, follow Travel Moves on Instagram and Facebook.
