Kimkim Trip Reviews for Finland

Our trip to the Arctic circle was spectacular, and Moonika deserves all the stars for planning it. It was a perfect trip for our family - tons of adventure and activities, and perfectly arranged. We went dog sledding, visited a reindeer farm, nighttime snowshoeing and snowmobiling, boating through the fjords, and trips to chase the aurora borealis, which we finally saw from a catamaran! Every guide was amazing and each of the companies she chose for our activities were phenomenal. Every piece of the tour was smooth - our transfers were seamless and hotels were great. I truly cannot say enough wonderful things about our experience, and highly recommend visiting Lapland, and planning your trip with Kimkim and Moonika in particular.

Activity Reviews

Helsinki City Walking Tour

Helsinki

Keito was an amazing guide, and did a great job showing us Helsinki

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Family Husky Safari

Rovaniemi

We loved the doggies!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

SnowHotel & Ice Dinner Experience

Rovaniemi

Very cool dinner and amazing ice sculptures

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Aurora Ice Floating

Finland

This was a super cool nighttime activity. I had never heard of it, but Moonika chose it for us, and we all loved it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Korouoma Canyon & Frozen Waterfalls Adventure

Finland

Beautiful scenery, and our guide was knowledgeable and friendly

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chasing the Northern Lights

Kilpisjärvi

It was cloudy, but our guide tried!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lappish Dinner

Finland

Great guides, beautiful trip, DELICIOUS dinner

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snowshoeing Tour

Finland

Our guide was really knowledgable and a lot of fun, too!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snowmobile Tour

Finland

The guides were so kind and helpful

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ice Fishing Experience

Ylläs

The guides were very nice and made sure we had an enjoyable experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sámi Culture and Reindeer Herding Tour

Kilpisjärvi

This was an amazing experience. The owner Mia made sure that my kids got to help feed the reindeer, and then took us on a tour of the beautiful property

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Northern Lights Sailing with Catamaran

Tromsø

The crew was wonderful and the food provided was tasty.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Polar Fjord Cruise With a Yacht

Tromsø

The yacht was comfortable, the views were amazing, and the upgrade to the polar plunge experience was fantastic!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I initially searched the internet to find a travel service specializing in Finland. Once I found KimKim and read reviews I decided to go with their agency. Tommy was our specialist and from the beginning he listened to my ideas, offered suggestions, made modifications as needed and provided answers to the many questions I had! The final itinerary was delivered to us a few days before we departed with all the reservations, vouchers for guided tours, transportation listed in detail. We experienced some confusion on the part of a hotel and our billing, but Tommy answered our inquiry quickly and got it taken care of.

In Helsinki we stayed at the Scandic Grand Central Hotel. It was a beautiful facility, very comfortable with lots of history and conveniently located for us to just step out the front door to begin our exploration of the city. Our transportation to and from the airport was quick and efficient. The driver who picked us up at the airport when we arrived ended up waiting an hour for us as our luggage was lost. It was a very snowy night, we were so grateful for his patience. Our explorations of the city were on our own and we loved Helsinki. If you want a real authentic Finnish sauna experience, look up the Kotiharjun Sauna - it was an amazing experience!

We flew to Rovaniemi (our own reservations) and again were met by a friendly taxi driver who took us to our accommodations. We chose to stay at the Apukka Rovaniemi City Apartments. Very modern, clean with a small kitchenette & bath, lots of storage for clothing and luggage , comfortable bed in a sleeping alcove, seating in living area and dining areas. We loved being able to people watch out the large windows and to easily walk into town to explore the area. It was a very short walk to the Safartica office where most of our adventures began.

Our adventures included:
1. ice fishing : after we were outfitted with an additional layer of protective clothing, we were driven to a beautiful lake where our guide showed us all the essentials of Finnish ice fishing. No luck but lots of fun. He even brought hot juice beverage to warm us up. Luckily no wind, so comfortable to be out.

2. Ice Floating : what a unique experience! A bus drove us way out into the countryside to a lake side area where there was a warm changing house, outdoor toilets, a Lappish tipi with a warm fire and marshmallows and of course the cleared area of the frozen lake. As our group was large we were split in two- one waited on land and the other went into the water. All the participants shared the task of taking photos of one another- a very friendly group. Once suited up in the immersion suits we waddled down to the lake, the guides were helpful and made sure each person entered and exited the water safely. Then we just floated- an experience I find hard to explain, but well worth it.

3. Husky safari: Can't get much better than to spend the morning with enthusiastic, well cared for dogs. It was such fun to actually guide (really the dogs did all the work) our own sled through gorgeous forest and lakeside. Again- very informative and friendly guides.

4. Snowshoe hike: We hiked about 6km through glorious Finnish old growth forest. It happened to be a blue sky day so it was just beautiful. Our guide, Eduard (I think is how to spell his name) was an enthusiastic outdoorsman and stopped frequently to explain the nature around us. Hot chocolate and cookies about halfway!

5. Arctic Night Reindeer Safari: The last evening we joined a group and were driven to a Finnish reindeer farm. Here we learned all about reindeer farming and had a ride through the forest in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. The reindeer and sleds were all connected with a young man leading the way. It was so quiet and peaceful . The reindeer were handsome animals (all male) and fun to watch them move along, sometimes the one behind would catch up to us and his head right next to us!

All the tours exceeded our expectations! We highly recommend having KimKim help you with your travel plans.

Final night we spent at the Scandic Helsinki Airport Hotel, as we had a very early flight. It was again very comfortable, with a very good restaurant. They even provide breakfast items for those getting up at 4am!

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Grand Central Helsinki

Helsinki

Beautiful, historic hotel centrally located for easy exploration of Helsinki. Very elaborate breakfast buffet included.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Apukka Rovaniemi City Apartments

Rovaniemi

In town efficient apartment, well appointed, quiet and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

very modern

Location

Staff

The front office clerk on the day we left was very friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Helsinki Airport

Vantaa

Literally right next to the airport and surprisingly very quiet. Comfortable rooms. Delicious dinner in the restaurant and quick breakfast snack at 4am!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Transport from Hotel in Helsinki to Helsinki Airport

Helsinki

The driver waited an hour for us on a stormy night as our luggage was lost and we had to complete a claim.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transport from Rovaniemi Airport to Hotel in Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi

Friendly driver, shared local info in the short drive to our hotel.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ice Fishing

Finland

Fun to be out on a beautiful lake learning how to bore a hole into the thick ice and use the very small fishing poles.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Northern Lights Ice Floating

Rovaniemi

After a bus ride out into heavily forested lands we arrived at the lake side cabin. The group was divided in two so one suited up right away and the other enjoyed the warm fire in the Lappish tipi. It was great fun to watch the others floating and help take their photos. There were three guides to help make the experience safe and fun. Once in the survival suits we trudged down to the opening in the lake and carefully descended the ladder into the water. Once floating it was so calm and relaxing. Do be sure to wear warm clothes to make the float the most comfortable. No northern lights but gorgeous Big Dipper!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Assisted with all aspects of the experience from donning the suits to getting in & out of the water and the warming tipi

Transport

Husky Safari

Finland

A truly fun way to begin our day with a trip to the husky farm. The local guides of the farm were informative and helpful . The dogs were enthusiastic and eager to get on the way. They were friendly and enjoyed petting and scratches when not working. The ride through the forest and around a frozen lake was magical. We were lucky... sunny sky, no wind and moderate temperatures. I can imagine it might be quite cold in other weather .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Informative, helpful

Transport

Snowshoeing

Finland

An afternoon hike through a Finnish forest at the Arctic Circle with soaring pines, blue sky and rising moon! The guide provided ongoing commentary about the natural environment, stopping to point out interesting aspects of the forest. The hike was on a well established trail, some incline but manageable. The guide constantly kept an eye on the group so no stragglers could get lost! Hot chocolate and cookies at the midway point.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide, Eduard (I think) was quite knowledgeable as he is also a forester and shared his obvious love of the out of doors.

Transport

Night reindeer Safari with chance of Northern Lights

Finland

We arrived at a reindeer farm lit up by torches on the path and lights on the buildings so it looked quite magical. The young woman oriented us to the facility and what to expect on the ride. Afterward she gave a fascinating lecture on reindeer farming. We all went to the starting point of the ride and waited off to the side for all the reindeer and the sleds to arrive. The reindeer & sleds were connected so no one was responsible for guiding their sleigh. We climbed in according to their instructions and settled under a blanket. The ride, led by one of the reindeer herders, was so peaceful through the forest across some open fields. The sky was cloudy so no northern lights but that did not make the trip any less enjoyable. Being so close to an actual reindeer was a real treat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

so interesting to learn about the world of reindeer herding and how important it is in Lapland.

Transport

Transport from Hotel in Rovaniemi to Rovaniemi Airport

Rovaniemi

Driver was right on time, drove us to the airport without delay, friendly.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

When starting the process, we had no idea that planning a trip to Lappland in Winter required so much planning. Our specialist Moonika was very patient as we understood the value we would get coming at Christmas versus another time, and helped to shift our plans into February. Traveling from Asia with a large family we were not sure about booking transit privately or through ride-sharing, but I'm glad we chose private cars for the plane/train transfers for the flexibility and help with all our bags, better to be comfortable when on the clock. On lodging, we found the right spaces where the entire family could fit comfortably and affordably. The activities and their providers were fantastic, regardless of the cold snap that hit us in Rovaniemi, and they were supportive of the needs of traveling with a 2-year-old. Overall we are left with great memories and thankful for the support we had to make this trip a reality.

We recently completed a trip to Lapland Finland with the assistance of our travel agent, Moonika Apart. In our communication I explained what I was interested in doing and accommodations we wished to reserve. She put together a wonderful itinerary for us and in addition she did so, around a photo workshop that I was attending. She planned accommodations, activities and drivers for us before and after my workshop. She truly listened to what we were hoping to do on this trip and gave her professional opinions and suggestions for excursions and accommodations. Everything she recommended and booked for us was excellent. She truly has a good knowledge of Lapland in Finland and what it has to offer. In fact, she traveled from her home town to our accommodation in Rovanemi to meet us and give us an opportunity to ask more questions in person.

Her communication was OUTSTANDING. She ensured our itinerary and accommodations were excatly what we hoped for. While we were in Lapland, she continued to keep open the lines of communication and inquired on how everything was going and if we needed anything just to contact her. I wanted to stop at a gift shop on our way to one of our longer stays and she coordinated this with our driver. There never was anything we requested that she did not provide and she was always on top of everything.

She knew I was interested in photography and 2 of the drivers she scheduled were also amateur photographers who understood my passion for it and gave me several opportunities on our drive to take photos.

I cannot say enough about the service Moonika provided and highly recommend her for any trip you would wish her to plan. I would utilize her service again in a heartbdeat. Thank you Moonika for everything you did to make our Lapland adventure fun, exciting, comfortable, easy and safe. Your are the BEST!

The Berrys

Hotel Reviews

Arctic Skylight Lodge

Äkäslompolo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nova Skyland Hotel

Rovaniemi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos

Rovaniemi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wilderness Hotel Inari & Igloos

Inari

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Finnish Legends and Stories Around the Fire

Rovaniemi

Our guide was very informative and presented many interested stories about Finland and the Sami Culture. The time in the teepee in the wilderness was very unique and we loved it. He served us hot berry juice and made pancakes served with fresh jam - delicious. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Ranua Wildlife Park Visit

Rovaniemi

Our guide and driver, Krista Kuu, was so pleasant and accommodating. She not only was an excellent guide, but we enjoyed her company - she is a very nice person. We had fun!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snowshoeing Tour

Finland

Awesome guides! Helpful and considerate. They took us on a beautiful snowshoeing adventure through a snowy wintery woodland and onto a lake/swamp where we enjoyed cookies and hot berry juice. A great 3 hour experience. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sauna Experience at Arctic Skylight Lodge

Finland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Aurora Camp by Sleigh Ride

Inari

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Husky Safari

Finland

Absolutely a fabulous experience. Highly recommend. The husky mushing was fun and so beautiful through the winter wonderland. After the ride we had an opportunity to take photos of the dogs and pet them. We also had hot berry juice and cookies in the warming hut. Would definietly do this again!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Aurora Hunt by Car

Saariselkä

Our guide did his best to drive us to clearer skies and we were able to see the aurora. It wasn't real dramatic but that is not the fault of the excursion or the driver - it is what Mother Nature provides or doesn't provide at any given time. The vehicle was clean, warm, comfortable and easy to get in and out of when we stopped to take photos of the Aurora. The guide was very conscientious in providing us the best experience possible.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ice Fishing by Snowmobile Sleigh

Inari

Our Guide Anita was very knowledgeable and skilled at ice fishing and she made good conversation. We didn't catch any fish, but the experience was still worth the time. On the way to the fishing location, we saw a few reindeer roaming the frozen lake. In the warming hut we had delicious reindeer soup, grilled sandwiches, cookies, hot berry drink. We enjoyed the excursion.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner at Ice Restaurant

Sinettä

The Ice Restaurant is unique and truly an experience to have. The food was very good, but we were just too cold to enjoy it. We both couldn't wait for the next course to come quickly so we could finish eating and leave. We also stayed overnight in the Snow Hotel and would definetly recommend it - we were warm in the snuggly sleeping bags they provided and we loved the experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Evening Snowmobile Tour to Wilderness Hut

Finland

Our two guides, Jana and Annina, were excellent. They outfitted us in snowmobile gear and gave us information on what the excursion entailed. I was apprehensive in driving the snowmobile since I hadn't done so in over 25 years. They had me drive the loop of the parking lot to get comfortable with the machine and assured me if I didn't want to drive after trying it we would switch drivers. Driving was easy and enjoyable. Throughout the 45 minute ride to the Wilderness hut, they had us stop a few times so the guides could check on our comfort and how did I feel about driving. They also stopped and pointed out the Aurora in the sky. Once at the Wilderness hut we enjoyed tasty reindeer soup, hot berry juice and a melted cheese and brown sugar dessert. Overall this was an excellent excursion; truly enjoyable and we always felt safe as there were two guides and two snowmobiles. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Aurora Camp

Inari

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Reindeer Ride

Inari

The reindeer ride was really enjoyable. So relaxing through the winter wonderland. Truly a ride in an absolutely beautiful landscape. Afterwards, we enjoyed stories from the Sami reindeer herder in a traditional Sami teepee, along with hot berry juice and cookies. Great experience.

Quality of Experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transport

Miglé made this the most seamless, stress-free international trip I’ve ever been on! I cannot recommend her enough - trip of a lifetime!

We absolutely Loved Finland and all that it had to offer. We managed to squeeze in so much during our 12 days there with activities, travel and transfers and 6 different accomodations. We would all love to come back again sometime.
Moonika was amazing to deal with right from the start. She helped tailor our itinerary to exactly what we wanted and there was lots of little tweaks along the way to fit everything in.
The transfer drivers were all brilliant too and very informative on the Finnish life. We had one driver 3 times and he was really great.
I was also very happy to meet Moonika in person when we arrived at the hotel. She went over all our tours in detail and asked if we had any questions. It was very comforting to know that she was nearby and always ready to help if needed.

Hotel Reviews

Kurula's Resort

Pyhätunturi

This resort is hands down AMAZING!! The views looking out of the rooms were just breathtaking and to have your own kitchenette for preparing meals was very handy. There is even a sauna in the room! The breakfasts were also beautiful. I wish i had used the resort sauna with ice bath in the lake but we were usually so exhausted after a days actiivities. The staff here are also wonderful and friendly. Would definitely come back here again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Location is only just outside Pyha but there is no shuttle so a taxi each way costs 20 euros. Otherwise the location is great!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cahkal Hotel

Kilpisjärvi

Cahkal Hotel was really an incredible hotel and I wish we had more time there. The staff were all so lovely and friendly and helpful. The rooms are beautiful as well with everything you need. The breakfast and dinner there was top notch- that Roast Reindeer was next level. We had an issue with a left behind Ski Jacket at Northern Lights Village the previous day and once I informed the receptionist, she called them straight away and arranged one of her drivers who was picking up clients that morning to bring to Kilpisjärvi, to collect the jacket. We were about to go on the 3 Borders Snowmobile Tour and it all worked perfectly. By the time we had got back from the tour and sat down for some soup, the jacket had arrived. I was super impressed with them!. Would not hesitate to recommend this Hotel to anyone. The views from the room and the restaurant were stunning as well. Love Love Love this hotel!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

So helpful - see comment above!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos

Rovaniemi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clarion Hotel the Edge

Tromsø

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Northern Lights Village

Sirkka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arctic Light Hotel

Rovaniemi

Authenticity & Character

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Activity Review

Ice Fishing Experience

Rovaniemi

Moonika organized a two week tour of Finland during November 2023. The weather was unseasonably cold which added to our experiences. Moonika arranged a variety of adventures ranging from Ice floating, Husky slay rides, Aurora viewings, Walks to frozen waterfalls and lakes, A Lappish workshop visit, City tours, all of our accommodation and most meals, transport between destinations, a zoo visit, a museum visit, etc.
The trip went seamlessly and allowed us to see some wonderful sights.
Moonika was professional in her service and attention to detail. We had a wonderful experience and look forward to using KimKim and Moonika for future travels.
Thank you again
Karen and Graham
Australia

This was a very last-minute trip. Our Travel Specialist, Moonika, showed her expertise and savvy in promptly providing an itinerary of travel, accommodations, and outdoor winter activities available during Rovaniemi's high season that had everything we wanted - plus a few things we didn't know we wanted! Our time in Helsinki was also fascinating, and the day trip to Tallin, Estonia was fantastic. While we were on the trip, Moonika stayed in touch and was especially helpful in contacting a snowmobile tour company to help retrieve a lost phone! You could tell she was poised and ready to go above and beyond to assure we had an unforgettable Nordic vacation, which is truly what we experienced.

First of all, i would like to thank Kim Kim, Svavar and Tommy for arranging and executing our trip in Finland really well.

We are group of 11 (3 of them is toddler) from Indonesia and this was our first time trip to Rovaniemi. Me and my family was very satisfied with the service. The communication with Local specialist was flawless and they really patient with us, the transportation provided was very good (very punctual and decent small bus /car), the activity schedule was ok (just last day a bit packed and we were very tired but still acceptable), and the vendor selection was great too ( some accommodate toddler to join the activity).

Thank you again for Kim Kim and local specialist !!

We booked our trip through Moonika from Kim Kim. She was amazing from start to finish and organised every aspect of our trip to Lapland. We normally don't use travel agents but her service was second to none and made us feel comfortable and in control the whole way. Our whole 5 day itinerary was absolutely perfect and in hindsight wouldn't do anything different.

Can't recommend enough.

A most amazing trip. The Finish and Lapland people are so warm and hospitable. I feel we saw the best of the best. Everyday brought a variety of new exciting experiences. Migle was there every step of the way checking to make sure everything ran smoothly. Trips were as promised, transfers on time and ran seamlessly. Hotel accommodations were clean, friendly, and the food has spoiled me for life. I highly recommend the husky rides, sauna and arctic dip, floating under the stars, lappish reindeer farm craft adventure. Every guide brought new interesting facts about their culture. The small group activities were perfect.
Appuka resort was absolutely beautiful.
Bundle up as the temps were between -15 and -28. With the proper clothes Migle recommended we were completely comfortable walking over frozen lakes, wooded trails, viewing the Northern lights late at night.
Outstanding trip!!

Moonika was the best! We have only been on cruises, never flown out of the country, so we did not know where to begin, when planning our Northern European Honeymoon!!
We chose Finland, as we LOVE Christmas, and wanted to experience the sight of the Northern Lights. We told Moonika our preferences and what we were looking for on our trip. She gave us everything we could've asked for and more!!
She gave us an unforgettable experience, with a SPOT ON itinerary! She went as far as telling our tour guides my nut allergy! Not only did she assist us in planning our trip, she was a phone call away the entire trip! Unfortunately, we caught a cold on night 3 and decided to miss out on an excursion. She and the tour guides were all in contact and knew that we did not go and she reached out to make sure we were okay. She was really on top of things! The overnight train was a couple hours late, and she reached out to assist us in getting us a partial refund. All we had to do was show up-she had literally everything else covered! Thank you Moonika for making our first European trip one we will never forget!

-The Newlyweds: Steph and Casey :)

Appreciate Francesca’s patience with helping me plan my trip, and her diligence in getting money back for me which the local tour overcharged for.
The experiences were amazing, once in a lifetime journeys. The suggested tours proved good overall. I preferred my time with WonderLapland on the northern lights trek. The ice floating was so funny though would have preferred visiting during the day rather than not being able to see much at night.
More info on what exactly each tour entailed and what to expect would be good for preparations.
Would also have appreciated suggestions for tours or excursions I didn’t know existed until I got there, like toboggan, and skipping waiting in line for ‘Santa’.
Francesca’s added walking guides and local places to see in the towns I stayed in were great additions.
It’s challenging to get across exactly what your intentions are via messaging. Would recommend kimkim offer a way to have at least one conversation with the travel specialist. As well as provide accommodation options so the traveler can research the options and advise the travel specialist if they’re willing to pay more or less for a hotel.
The Santa Clause Hotel in Rovaniemi was fine, though there were other options I saw once I was there that might have been nicer. It is centrally located, though so were many other options. Also didn’t like that the sauna was only available 6p-9p when most are at night tours or dinner during that timeframe. The F6 was lovely and I would stay there again, though I might have been willing to pay a little extra for a room better located within the hotel. There’s no sauna here though it was a very cool experience using the nearby public sauna in Helsinki. The glass igloo was a cool experience though for the cost, probably not worth it.
Thank you, Francesca for all the work you put into my adventure!

Caesar in Helsinki was a good guide
Soumenlinna was also a good visit

All the guides for activities in Rovaniemi were good......
Each adventure had its own charm-
Camp fire in the log cabin while waiting to spot the aurora
ride with the huskies
Sauna with a dip in the lake
Arctic float gazing at the aurora and the starry night sky

I wasn't a big one for reindeer feeding but it was something I have never seen so.... it made it complete.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Lilla Roberts

Helsinki

It was very well located and comfortable. They were accommodating and gave us 2 rooms with a common door. Walking distance to all sights and markets

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distances to all good food places...and groceries and shopping and feery

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were very comfortable

Overnight Train

Train was late by 5 hours due to track work. Although the cabins were spotless and comfortable for a cozy ride. Cafeteria with large glass windows was the meeting place for many friends and families

Authenticity & Character

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arctic TreeHouse Hotel

Rovaniemi

The cabin was at a height from which you had an eagles view of the town. Maybe even see the aurora. Walking distance to the Santa village.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distance to sant village with eating places

Staff

Very helpful about anything we requested.packed us breakfast on the day we had to leave very early

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Helsinki and Suomenlinna Private Tour

Helsinki

Caesar our guide was very knowledgeable . He spoke as he walked us to all the sites He took us on the ferry to the island and explained along the way . We eneded up having a delightful meal at the market, which was his suggestion

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Aurora Photography Tour

Rovaniemi

On time to pick us up. One look at us and the guide realized we wouldn't last the cold, so he got us suits for cold weather with boots and off we went to a private log shed far away in his vehicle. He lit a lovely campfire and it was beautiful starry night, caught a bit of the aurora with his professional camera, not so visible to the naked eye. Fed us with sausages and marshmallows and got chocolate and was willing to wait as long as we wanted..

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Autumn Husky Ride on Wheels

Rovaniemi

Felt as though we were riding on a chariot driven by huskies instead of horses. We were taken by shuttle to a hotel where we were given jackets pant and boots to help with the cold and prevent our clothes from getting dirty. We walked across to the kennel .Dogs were so excited and were ready for the ride through the farm land. Very enjoyable. Very cold despite gloves so took turns steering as hands were getting numb.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Reindeer & Wilderness Sauna Experience

Rovaniemi

Feeding the reindeer was not my cup of tea but joined in. It was fun..can be quite daunting when you feed them, as the reindeers come towards you with their antlers.... Should have worn some boots as our shoes got real dirty The Finnish Sauna by the lake in cold weather was another first and wonderfully refreshing. To jump into ice cold water in the lake after the Sauna made you transcend your comfort zone . Once done was rejuvenating!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Aurora Ice Floating

Finland

SURREAL The guide fitted is up with gear for the cold air by the campfire, then the telly tubby like floatation suit for the lake. Drive was comfortable. Needed a bit of light at the camp initially. Demo was done by the guide. It was just amazing flooding in 1C in a lake with the starry sky and the aurora over head.... The guides were so patient and let everyone float as long as they wanted. They set up a campfire and regaled the tourists with theirs jokes and stories

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guides were all good. Best was the first, Alvaro, a Spanish native who got into Finland on a lark working him into a Finnish expert. The others were just fine. Some operator error in determining exactly what was gonna happen. Moonika was always able to timely help/guide us thru. We got a great idea of the areas we went - Helsinki, Tampere, & Tourku. Each city’s foods were served us & all good. Great to very good hotels. Trains all well scheduled. We would use Kimkim again & will if they do winter tours.

My wife Miriam and I have traveled the world together for the last 40 years. Usually independent, self-guided. An occasional small group tour.

We asked kimkim to plan a 3 week private trip to Finland. August/September. Goals: to experience out of the way rural and urban destinations, visit skilled artisans in their workshops, sample good food, both hearty and simple, and learn what gives Finland its special character.

To fill every day’s schedule completely/sensibly, but with time/flexibility to veer off and see what was around the next corner.

Kimkim’s Moonika delivered exactly what we wanted.

And then some.

We explored fantastic landscapes, met intriguing people. Each day was singular and always in a different way than any before.

Studied with the most amazing artisans who shared details of their time-honored family trades, workshops, sometimes centuries old. A contemporary leather handbag designer/craftswoman personally demonstrated how she produces her beautiful work and sources her supplies.

Helped bake a favorite dessert with just picked berries … which, still warm from the oven, we enjoyed at the end of an action packed visit with a nationally recognized artisan family.

Bear watching in overnight wetlands blind • day trip to Estonia • Iitalia factory • sleeper train to Rovaniemi • dogsledding training tips • learned the different shapes and fuzz on reindeer antlers

While large groups of tourists plodded by, our local nature guides stopped to point out unique Finnish plants, trees, insects, rocks … and told a beloved folk story about the bird that just swooped by.

We learned the names of everyone’s family at home … their pets, too.

Thanks, Kimkim and Moonika, for making it all happen.

Fantastic.

David and Miriam
USA

Hotel Reviews

Overnight Train

Old-fashioned but totally contemporary and fun. Best night of sleep over all the nice hotels. Wish we could go again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Park Hotel Turku

Turku

The Park Hotel was a highlight. It was different from the modern ones and we loved the old one.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kurula's Resort

Pyhätunturi

The resort was the best. It'll be exceptional when it's done. The staff was superb and accommodating.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Arctic Wilderness Hike (Summer)

Rovaniemi

Easy to rate - because Barbara was hands down the best trail guide ever. Funny, smart, forward thinking ... plus taught us to use a fire starting flint, shared amazing stories and nature details from start to finish. But - we taught HER how to make a Finnish variation of our traditional "smore". Substitute a ginger cookie, delicious Finnish chocolate and strawberry flavored marshmallows for the traditional plain old graham crackers, dull American chocolate and white marshmallows ... grilled over a fire started with her flint.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Aurora Adventure at Lake Pyhäjärvi

Pyhä

Our guide "tried hard" but no aurora seen that night. But exceptional fun sitting around fire at his house with his devoted dogs, learning about his family and talking "horses". Visited stables andsaddle room of what might be the farthest north "western horse" operation. Unexpected fun,

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Porvoo Design Tour

Helsinki

My guide got mixed up with another group but the hotel staff and everyone involved were so helpful and friendly, turning the situation into a really fun memory.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Picnic Cruise along the Aura River

Turku

Despite the rain, the guide made it fun and interesting. The cruise was a highlight.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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The Industrial Past of Tampere

Tampere

The tower was super and the local craft shop was interesting.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Finnish Legends and Stories Around the Fire

Rovaniemi

The workshop was an unexpected highlight and the stories around the fire were in-depth, really interesting, and not touristy at all. The guide was passionate and knowledgeable, which made the experience even more special.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Bird & Wildlife Watching Tour

Pyhä

The Bird & Wildlife Watching Tour was superb, the guide was retired military and passionate about nature. The Aurora Adventure was fun, despite not seeing the lights.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Kuusamo to Pyhä Transfer with a stop at a Husky Farm

Finland

This was one of the very best stops of the entire trip! The hosts spent endless time with us. Super memories of lots of dogs barking, people laughing … and learning so much.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We did the Baltic Sampler trip (or I think that's what it was called) - starting in Helsinki, and then moving on to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Valdis was very helpful throughout and very responsive as we asked questions and made tweaks in the itinerary. He booked excellent hotels for us, and arranged for truly excellent local guides to help us truly understand the places we were visiting, as well as getting access to experiences like a tea ceremony, and a cooking classes. I highly recommend working with Valdis and this platform.

This is my second trip using KimKim and I could not be happier! Our local guide Moonika knocked it out of the park for our 11 day long Girls Trip! By the time we decided on the final trip, I believe we were on our 4th itinerary. Moonkia really listened to what we wanted and it turned out SO good. All the transport (busses, taxis, trains, walking) was seamless and easy. During the trip Moonika was easy to get ahold of though WhatsApp and answered all our questions as they came up.
Our trip was a great mix of culture and outdoor pursuits with a day in Helsinki and a day in Turku to learn about the old and new capitals. The evening bike tour and sauna was super fun. Our guide Philipe took us all around town and we ended up at a sauna overlooking to harbour and a cold dip pool in the Baltic Sea. We loved the train travel and the overnight train to Lapland was a unique experience. The third bunk was pretty high up there!
In Lapland we were booked in with a company called Yllas Experiences. We had a half day canoe trip with Jana who was an excellent guide and knew heaps about the surrounding nature. The next day we went on an overnight walking trip with Jussi. He was an allstar guide, cook, game player, and language teacher. Our breakfast of porridge with cloudberries and reindeer salami melt sandwiches was epic. We had awesome weather the the views of the fells of Lapland were stunning. Yllas experiences had very good quality equipment which was much appreciated!
Our trip finished with a visit to a reindeer farm where we got to pet, feed, and even kiss reindeer. The final stop was a lakeside sauna. Thank you again Moonika for one of the best trips I have ever had!
The two best tips I can think of are: First, ignore what people say about the mosquitoes. They can be not bad at all at certain times. Second, sauna as much as you can! Almost every hotel has a sauna and it it where you get some of the most intimate Finnish experiences.

Moonika was fantastic! She put together the perfect itinerary for us and we had the BEST Finland trip. All our excursions were super and loved all our guides. Phillipe on the bike and sauna tour was warm and friendly and very knowledgable. Our walking tour guide in Turku made it our favorite city, Joosi, Aku, and Juana from our canoe and backpacking excursion were so much fun. All our transportation was smooth with great drivers. Also loved the overnight train ride.
I will definitely be using Kim Kim again. This was the easiest and smoothest overseas trip I've taken. Loved all our hotels and the attention to detail. Having everything put together with transportation makes a huge difference. Moonika was even available to answer questions during our trip. Couldn't have asked for better. Thanks Moonika!

Hotel Reviews

GLO Hotel Art

Helsinki

Loved this place! Super cute, great atmosphere, and loved the breakfasts:) Just what we needed.

Authenticity & Character

Awesome decor

Location

Close to everything in walking distance

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Kakola

Turku

Such a cool concept and loved that they kept the prison theme going. Visiting the sauna is a MUST!!!

Authenticity & Character

Great prison decor and touches

Location

Easy walking distance to the city, close to an AMAZING suana. A must!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lapland Hotels Saaga

Ylläsjärvi

Loved the mountain (fell) scenary and looking out to see reindeer grazing on the hills.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lapland Sky Ounasvaara

Rovaniemi

Loved the attention to detail and surrounding beauty. The trails around the hotel are fantastic and a must for walking (or biking, skating, etc).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Loved being up on the hill with the view and all the nature trails. Only a half hour walk down to the city center. The view from the restaurant is fantastic.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Overnight Train

Clean and comfortable. Such a fun experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Love being able to see the countryside.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Helsinki Sauna Tour

Helsinki

This was a great addition to our Helsinki experience. Learned a lot about the Finns and Helsinki plus had a great time with our guide Phillipe. Highly recommended.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Turku City Walking Tour

Turku

Our guide made us fall in love with Turku. It was our favorite city we visited. Highly recommended!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canoeing Trip on River Äkäs

Finland

This was a fun and easy paddle. Our guide Janna was great and we had so much fun. Loved how peaceful the river was and just what we needed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

One-Night Camping Trip to the National Park

Finland

This was one of our favorite parts of our trip. The Fells were amazing and the scenary was better than expected. Our guide was great and we had so much fun chatting and playing Farkle by the campfire. Food was good and the gear was clean and comfortable. Highly recommended.

Quality of Experience

Trip was tailored for our desires.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Reindeer & Wilderness Sauna Experience

Rovaniemi

Eric was great! Super knowledgable and had tons of info on reindeer, Finland, and sauna history. Loved feeding the reindeer and the traditional sauna experience. The lake plunge was awesome.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I can’t travel without KimKim ever again! This is my fifth time traveling to Europe and I can’t imagine doing it without KimKim. Moonika took care of everything! The transfers were seamless, it was easy to access all of our tickets and passes needed. We never once worried about being on time for anything. Our guide Felipe for the Sauna Bike tour was amazing and was very knowledgeable about Helsinki and the sauna culture. Our Sea kayaking tour around the Archipelago was fantastic. Aavameri created a camping trip to remember. On to our Backpacking trip into the National Park with Ylläs Experiences, Yuusi put together our trip based on our experience and how far we wanted to hike. The food was great and who doesn’t love picking blueberries and cloud berries for breakfast. Nordic Odyssey was our final tour with a trip to a Reindeer Farm and a Lakeside Sauna. So fun to feed the reindeer and learn about this animal that makes Christmas so special. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend any of these experiences if you are looking to get to know Finland. Thank you Moonika we will back for a winter trip!

Hotel Reviews

GLO Hotel Art

Helsinki

Beautiful hotel, the staff was excellent! 15 min walk to 2 saunas and the beautiful water. Breakfast was great and they have plenty of seatings areas to enjoy a glass of wine or an Original.

Authenticity & Character

Great history and beautiful architecture

Location

Walkable to museums and the waterfront

Staff

Friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms and bathrooms were very clean

Hotel Kakola

Turku

Hotel Kakola was one of the favorite parts of visiting Turku, the Spa attached is incredible. You have to experience the saunas. There is also a brewery and cafe near but the restaurant inside was delicious! The history of converting the prison into a hotel a community is really interesting. When the Funicular is working it’s a fun way to drop down into the streets of Turku but you get your exercise on the steps if not

Authenticity & Character

Great history, love the way they preserved the characteristics of the prison but added modern style

Location

On top of the hill overlooking Turku

Staff

Great staff, very helpful and always available

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms and bathrooms were very clean

Lapland Hotels Saaga

Ylläsjärvi

Beautiful hotel, delicious breakfast. The rooms are modern and the sitting area outside was perfect for watching reindeer graze on the hillside

Authenticity & Character

Very Finnish, beautiful and modern at the same time.

Location

Away from other restaurants but during the winter you couldn’t ask for a better location

Staff

I can’t say enough about the staff, so helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lapland Sky Ounasvaara

Rovaniemi

Beautiful hotel, delicious breakfast. It is a 40 minute walk to the center of Roveniemi so unless you plan to make reservations for dinner there meals elsewhere can be tricky. The Nature trail created around the hotel is gorgeous a great way to start your day with an hour trek.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful style, very modern and rustic at the same time. Nature brought inside.

Location

It’s quite a ways from the city center but if being in Nature is your goal it is Perfect

Staff

The staff was very helpful and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms and bathrooms were very clean, the saunas always had plenty of towels

Activity Reviews

Turku City Walking Tour

Turku

Anu was lovely! So knowledgeable and made Turku one of my favorites in Finland. Such a beautiful city with a fascinating history.

Quality of Experience

Anu made sure saw the interesting and beautiful sites in Turku

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very knowledgeable

Transport

Helsinki Sauna Tour

Helsinki

Fun biking around Helsinki. Felipe was fun, easygoing and had lots of fun facts and tips for visiting the Saunas.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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