Egypt Was the Destination, But the Trip Ended Up Feeling Personal: Rijul Anand’s Trip with Thrillophilia
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PNR: BKDPNMQ2X8C
Rating: ★★★★★
Traveller: Rijul anand
Trip Duration: 11 Days | 9 Nights
Date of Travel: 20 Nov 2024 to 30 Nov 2024
Package Booked: 11 Days High Experiential Private Tour to Egypt
Most Egypt trip reviews usually begin with the pyramids. Rijul’s story somehow started with customer support.
More specifically, with Akhil Pareek.
By the time the trip finally happened, they had already been discussing it for months. Not because the booking was difficult, but because Rijul had questions about literally everything. Flights. Cruise category. Hotel rooms. Internal transfers. Whether the trip would feel too hectic after Day 5.
At one point, he admitted he probably called more than necessary.
Still, Akhil never rushed through conversations. That mattered to him later.
Cairo Did Not Feel Real at First
The trip began in Cairo with a stay near the pyramids. That first evening included the Sound and Light show, which Rijul honestly expected to be overrated.
It turned out better than expected.
There was sand blowing into people’s shoes every few minutes, kids running around with glowing toys, random vendors shouting in the background… and then suddenly the pyramids lit up against the night sky. Everybody went quiet for a bit.
He remembers that part clearly. The next day covered the usual Cairo attractions: Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx, Egyptian Museum, and Khan El Khalili Bazaar.
The bazaar became his favourite part unexpectedly. Not because of shopping. Mostly because it felt messy and alive. One shopkeeper tried convincing him to buy perfume oils “special for Bollywood actors.” Another offered him tea and refused payment after learning he was visiting from India.
Rijul still regrets not buying a small handmade lamp there. He kept thinking he would return later.
He did not.
Alexandria Felt Slower, Which Helped
The Alexandria day trip could have easily become exhausting. Long road journey. Full sightseeing schedule. Early start.
But somehow the pacing worked.
They visited the Catacombs, Pompey’s Pillar, Roman Theatre, and saw the Citadel of Qaitbay from outside. Somewhere in between, the driver stopped near the waterfront because half the group wanted tea and snacks.
That random break stayed with Rijul more than some of the monuments.
Maybe because everybody looked tired and relaxed at the same time. Somebody dropped their biscuit into the tea and blamed the bumpy roads. Small, stupid moments like that start becoming part of the trip later.
And this was the point where Rijul realised the itinerary had been planned properly. He usually gets irritated during packed holidays. This time, he did not feel rushed constantly.
The Nile Cruise Changed the Mood Completely
After Cairo, the trip moved towards Aswan and the Nile Cruise.
The entire atmosphere shifted there.
Cairo had traffic, noise, and movement all day. The cruise felt slower. People spent more time sitting quietly on the deck than talking. Even meals stretched longer for no reason.
Rijul particularly liked the early morning Abu Simbel visit, though waking up that early felt painful at the time. Everybody looked half asleep during the drive.
But the temples made the journey worth it.
He also realised midway through the trip that Akhil had actually understood his travel style correctly while planning things. There was enough sightseeing to keep the days full, but not so much that the trip became exhausting. That balance is harder to get right than people think.
Luxor Was Exhausting in the Best Way
Luxor was probably the busiest stretch of the itinerary. Hot air balloon ride before sunrise, temple visits after breakfast, then the Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple… the whole day moved quickly.
Oddly, the hot air balloon ride ended up being the calmest moment of the trip.
No loud conversations. No traffic sounds. Just cold air and the strange silence you get when everybody is staring at the same thing.
Later, while transferring towards Hurghada, the exhaustion finally hit him properly. He slept through most of the drive.
Hurghada itself felt like a pause button. No heavy sightseeing. Just beaches, slower mornings, and time to breathe a little after days of travelling between historical sites.
One evening, he spent nearly an hour watching tourists fail at parasailing landings near the shore. Nobody around him could stop laughing.
The Trip with Thrillophilia Stayed With Him for Unexpected Reasons
When Rijul talks about Egypt now, he obviously mentions the pyramids, the cruise, and the temples.
But mostly, he talks about effort.
About somebody remembering details he mentioned months earlier. About hotel check-ins happening without unnecessary arguments. About getting exactly the room category discussed during booking. Small things. But during international travel, those small things decide your mood quickly.
That is why he still says Thrillophilia, for him, feels synonymous with Akhil Pareek.
Not because the trip was magically perfect every second. There were tiring days. Long drives. Moments where everyone just wanted proper chai instead of another buffet breakfast.
But the trip felt cared for.
And honestly, that is probably why it stayed with him this much.
Also Read: Across America, One Experience at a Time: Usha & Anil's Journey with Thrillophilia