A trip to Kashmir has been on my bucket list for the past 5 years. I had been checking different websites and vendors for the perfect itinerary. I reached out to almost all the major travel companies. My ideal trip was simple: a group tour with two days of leisure. The problem I faced with most of the travel agencies was that they couldn’t provide me with a hybrid group tour with 2 days of leisure included. I was either being offered a basic group tour or a personalized package. What I needed was a mix of both.
After spending almost a week with this issue, one day I came across Thrillophilia on Instagram. I also noticed hundreds of amazing Thrillophilia reviews by travelers across the world. So, I reached out to their team and was connected to one of Thrillophilia’s destination experts, Hemant. I am still amazed by how he explained everything to me. I told him about the issues I’d been facing with getting my itinerary prepared. He offered me a very simple solution: a group tour with 2 days of leisure. So I would be part of the group tour for 7 days, but for 2 days, I’d follow a different plan than the rest of the group.
I asked him how it would affect the overall costs of the tour. He simply told me that it would entirely depend upon the kind of activities I’d like to include in those 2 days. The part that I love the most about Thrillophilia is how they manage to customize an itinerary as per your preferences. My original plan was to explore Srinagar, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam. So he soft-blocked a seat for me on a group tour for Kashmir for 9 days. He kept two days off in the middle of the tour, where I could roam around on my own.
Kashmir tours are known to be quite expensive, and it worried me a bit. But, thanks to Hemant, I could save a lot on the trip. He helped me with the financial aspect and kept it very honest and transparent. I was made aware of the kind of expenses I might end up handling while on the tour. All in all, before even heading out for the tour, I knew exactly how much it was going to cost me.
Thanks to Hemant, I was able to plan an itinerary that was pocket-friendly. Moreover, their dedicated team took care of everything and made the entire process quite easy for me. Thrillophilia also assigned me a Guest Experience Officer (GEO), who was responsible for supporting me throughout the trip. During the tour, one night I was craving an ice cream, and he even told me about the nearest ice cream parlor to my hotel. What more could I ask for? It’s like having a friend in Kashmir who knows how everything works.
After a detailed discussion with Hemant, a beautifully customized itinerary was shared with me. It included every detail, such as my accommodation, transfers, meals, and more. It got me all excited, as it was finally happening – my FIRST TRIP TO KASHMIR!
Day 1 and Day 2 in Srinagar
Upon my arrival, I got a super warm welcome from Thrillophilia’s team at the airport. I was then taken to my hotel in a clean and tidy car. After some rest, I enjoyed the delicious buffet breakfast. Later, I headed out for a sightseeing tour with my group in a coach. Guess what? I didn’t have to trouble myself looking for a food joint. They offered a packed lunch to us during the tour. After the sightseeing tour, I even had some extra time left to explore the nearby areas on my own. So I took a little walking tour of the places around my hotel before dinner (my GEO told me about some really interesting places around).
Day 3 in Gulmarg and Day 4 in Pahalgam
After exploring Srinagar, it was time for me to head for Gulmarg. After a solid breakfast in the morning, I was transferred to Gulmarg with my group in a coach. After reaching the hotel, I checked in and rested for a while before heading out for a sightseeing tour. I loved the pace of the tour, as it allowed me enough time between the transfers and activities. The next day, I was transferred to Pahalgam with the group via coach.
Day 5 in Pahalgam – Leisure Day
This is the part I was most excited about. These were the 2 days that I wanted to dedicate to exploring the place on my own. Hemant had arranged for comfortable transport within the city for me. While the group was out enjoying their sightseeing tour, I had a great time visiting various tourist places in the region. I explored many areas, including Betaab Valley and Aru Valley.
Day 6 and Day 7 in Pahalgam – Srinagar
I was especially impressed by how Thrillophilia’s team arranged transport and accommodation for my 2 custom requests. There was another day designed as per my choice in Srinagar. It included shikara rides, visits to Mughal gardens, and whatnot! The GEO stayed in touch with me to confirm my pick-up, drop-off, check-in, and check-out.
Day 8 and Day 9 in Srinagar
After exploring the best places in Srinagar, the trip came to an end. Hemant was kind enough to plan it in a way that I was lined up with the group during the departure. I even made a few good friends in the group (we’re now planning a get-together to talk about our experience in Kashmir). I was transferred in a clean vehicle to the airport, from where I took my flight back home.
I will say that the 9-day Kashmir Tour from Thrillophilia is among the best trips I’ve ever had. It was an awesome tour that covered comfortable transfers, top-class stays, delicious meals, and exciting activities. Thank you, Thrillophilia, for making this trip a memorable one. I surely add my positive review of Thrillophilia and look forward to booking more trips with them.
