At Agoda, we believe that travel is more than just seeing new places. It’s about stepping outside your comfort zone, connecting with people, and discovering new perspectives. That’s why we launched the Agoda Purpose Prize Competition, to inspire our employees to seek out meaningful journeys that challenge and transform them.
In this blog, we’re spotlighting one of our three winners: Rajat Prajapati, a Senior Product Manager based in Agoda Bangkok. Rajat set out for Mongolia, a land of endless horizons and ancient nomadic traditions. Driven by a desire to experience a culture unlike any other and to learn a new skill, he found himself immersed in a world where nature, animals, and people live in harmony.
Here, he shares what it felt like to win the Purpose Prize, what drew him to Mongolia, and the lessons he brought home from his unforgettable adventure.
The moment my name was called
Last year, when our CEO Omri announced the Agoda Purpose Prize Competition winners in our Town Hall, I was working from home. I remember being glued to the livestream.
My name was the last to be called, and I couldn’t help but leap up and shout like a kid! Ecstatic, honored, and a little bit stunned. The leadership team saw something purposeful and exciting in my travel idea, and that recognition meant the world to me.
But more than anything, I hoped my journey would inspire others to step out of their comfort zones and rediscover themselves. whether in Mongolia, the land of eternal horizons, or anywhere else that calls to their spirit.
Why Mongolia? Seeking the unconventional path
There were two main reasons I felt drawn to Mongolia. First, it’s an incredibly unique destination—the least densely populated country in the world. There are more sheep than humans, and ancient nomadic traditions are still very much alive. I wanted to experience and appreciate this remarkable culture firsthand, knowing it may gradually change with modern times – or that one day it might exist only in videos and memories.
Second, I’d read that there is no better place in the world for horse riding than Mongolia! I try to learn a new skill or have a unique adventure every year, and horseback riding was at the top of my list. Experiencing the art of horse riding in Mongolia made my journey unforgettable. Now that I’ve started riding, perhaps one day I’ll return to Mongolia to learn horse archery during the summer Naadam festival.
A journey of rediscovery
This trip felt like a continuation of a journey I began during Covid, when I left my home in Bangalore and lived out of a backpack for nearly a year, drifting across India from place to place. That chapter taught me two important lessons: you don’t need much to be happy, and I truly love experiencing nature in its wildest, rawest form.
That’s why Mongolia, where 40% of people still live in harmony with nature, called to me so strongly. As the locals say, “All we need are our five animals and we can live forever.” The vast grassland steppes, endless horizons, and the quiet presence of animals with no humans in sight offered me a rare chance to witness communities living with minimalism and balance—and to deepen my own connection to those principles.
Learning about nomadic life
My days in Mongolia were filled with unforgettable moments. I visited two Mongolian families, and each encounter was completely unique. The first family lived about 60–70 kilometers from the capital. With their kids home for the weekend and a few fellow travelers around, I introduced them to some card games that quickly became a hit. Someone also had a pickleball paddle, so we drew a line in the dirt and made up our own game. No rules, just laughter and pure fun.
With the second family—my horse guides for a three-day valley ride—I got to experience nomadic life up close, staying with different families each night. My guide and I talked endlessly about horses: how to spot a fast one, the care involved in raising a racehorse, and even down to the types of grass they eat.
Every family welcomed me with something new to try: goat cottage cheese, yak yoghurt, milk tea paired with local snacks. Wanting to give something back, I cooked my favorite breakfast, shakshuka, and on another occasion, egg fried rice. Even just adding a few spices to a Mongolian dish brought smiles all around. Mongolian food is ultra-simple—potatoes and meat for nearly every meal—but when I shared new flavors, my hosts were so delighted that they gifted me a traditional horse-riding outfit.
On my last day, my host prepared Khorkhog, a special feast of sheep’s meat. I was deeply moved by their respect for the animals. Nothing goes to waste, and leaving any part uneaten is considered disrespectful. They even scrape the bones clean with a knife.
I could write pages about these families, but what stayed with me most was their profound understanding of nature and animals. They know which horse is a troublemaker, which one is an introvert, and which is a bundle of energy. Like humans, animals have personalities, and here, everyone knows them.
My most treasured memory
If I had to choose one favorite memory, it would be galloping across Mongolia’s vast, open landscapes—sometimes with my guide, other times racing with fellow travelers. That feeling of freedom, the wind in my face, the endless grasslands stretching out before me, is something I’ll carry forever. If I had to choose one favorite memory, it would be galloping across Mongolia’s vast, open landscapes, sometimes with my guide, sometimes racing with fellow travelers. That feeling of freedom, the wind in my face, the endless grasslands stretching out before me, is something I’ll carry forever.
The moment my host handed me a traditional riding outfit, I felt like a kid again, beaming with pride as my fellow riders looked on with envy. Riding a horse in Mongolia is pure, unfiltered freedom, a reminder of the wild spirit that city life so often buries.
With no devices, no notifications, just the rhythm of the horse and the sweep of the steppe, I found myself fully present, letting go of everyday worries and simply living in the moment.
Lessons to carry forward
This experience taught me the value of being truly present. Sometimes, you just need to put the phone away and simply soak in the world around you. Every journey like this deepens my respect for minimalism and strengthens my love of nature.
I’m now planning to make it a yearly ritual to declutter and let go of what I don’t need. Less really is more. And after seeing how every part of an animal is respected in Mongolia, I’ve become more mindful about meat consumption. I’m committed to cutting down and never letting any go to waste.
Travel, at its best, transforms us. Mongolia reminded me that happiness is simple, nature is powerful, and freedom is found when we let go and live fully in the present. My hope is that my journey encourages others to seek out their own wild horizons, wherever they may be.
Bridging the world through travel
Inspired by Rajat’s travels? Our other winner, Junil, traveled to Zambia to work with local students—read his story here.
If you share our love for travel and learning, join us at Agoda! Explore opportunities today.
