Kimkim Trip Reviews for Nepal

Amanda played a pivotal role in making our trek through the Annapurna region unforgettable. Her knowledge and enthusiasm for trekking in Nepal were evident from the start. She provided invaluable insights and recommendations, ensuring our trip was tailored to our interests and fitness levels. Amanda's professionalism and responsiveness made the planning process seamless and stress-free. Her coordination with the local team was impeccable, allowing us to focus solely on enjoying the trek.

Special shoutout to our trekking guide and porter, Chhepal and Furi, who were truly outstanding. Their expertise and knowledge of the terrain enhanced our trekking experience immensely. They were attentive, supportive, and always made us feel safe during the trail. Also, the accommodations provided along the trek were fantastic. The lodges were comfortable, clean, and offered breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes.

We're immensely grateful for Amanda and the team for an exceptional service and support. Thank you for an amazing adventure—we can't wait to plan another trek with you soon!

Nepal was really lovely

Pros:
1. they took care of everything!
2. the guide was really great.
3. The first hotel called Hana lo was excellent.

Cons:
1. It was smoggy and visibility was minimal in the places we trekked.
2. The reason we used kimkim for the first time is because we are terribly busy with work this year and dont have time to research and book ourselves. In response to several queries like, where to get SIMs etc, we would get a web link guides. Which is exactly what we were trying to avoid by using Kimkim. So would suggest in the future answers like "at the airport after exiting immigration" than a website blog.

Our experience with KimKim was pretty much perfect from the initial contact right through the entirety of our Manaslu circuit trek.
Amanda was friendly and her responses were always prompt and helpful. We really appreciated the opportunity to meet with both Amanda, and our guide, Suman, in Kathmandu, the day before our trek.
Suman was professional and courteous through and through. He was sensible, measured, endlessly knowledgeable and a pleasure to spend time with. His English was impeccable and we always felt safe with him.
Our porter, Laxman, was very friendly and hard-working, and we felt lucky to have him on our ‘team’ too.
The Manaslu circuit trek was absolutely epic - The jaw-dropping scenery was rivalled only by the unique cultural experience we had.

Had an awesome experience in Nepal thanks to Amanda, Chhiring, Pratikshya, and Rasheev. (sp?) We were met at the airport, brought to our hotel and after a short rest, met by Amanda and the guides and briefed on the whole trip. The trekking was full of amazing views and the city tours were informative and fascinating.

Booking was a breeze and keeping up communication with changing plans was easy. We had a really great trip and our local guides were lovely.

We (family of three-mom, dad, 7yr old) travelled with KimKim in Nepal for a trekking adventure. With Amanda's help, we chose the Balthali Village Trek. Our guide was Tendu. He is so awesome. He is kind, knowlegable, funny and overall the best. He shared a lot of great information with us. We felt safe and informed of local customs and culture. We would love to come back and trek again (requesting Tendu!). The trek we completed was not a super intense trek as we have a small human (and mom/dad are not experienced enough or in the best physical shape) but it was the right amount to get to see some of the beautiful countryside of Nepal and the smaller towns/villages that we would not have seen otherwise. We loved each place we stay but our favorite was the stay in Panauti at Matan Chhen. We defintiely want to come back and stay a couple of nights extra here. We LOVED this trip and are already looking to come back!

If I could give 10 stars I would!

I wasn't sure what I wanted to do for an 11 day adventure so I asked Chhewang to put something together. I knew I wanted to see Everest and wild life and we worked together to create the perfect itinerary. The process was easy and the communication was perfect. Whenever I had a question or concern, it was addressed immediately.

We were picked up at the airport by Rikzin and he was our guide for at least half the trip. The airport is hectic and it takes a while to get the visa, but once you are through, your guide will be ready to pick you up.

Weather is unpredictable and we had to make a few changes on the fly; but, there was nothing we couldn't switch around. Some of the hikes were difficult for my traveling companion and we were able to get those modified.

Everyone was kind, in contact with us using Whatsapp, and empathetic to our needs. It was indeed a trip of a lifetime and we were taken care of like royalty.

Make sure you tip! No one asks but these folks work their butts off! Show them some love!

Gyaljan, our guide was super knowledgeable and also fun. He really was fantastic. It was also great to meet and spend time with Chhewang who helped us to plan out the trip we wanted. Our last night at the traditional Nepali dinner & dance was such a nice way to end our visit. Swayambunath and Changu Narayan temple were both really special spots thanks to Gyaljan sharing so much info and stories, both Buddhist and Hindu. The aarti ceremony at Pashupati was great to experience. And one of the biggest highlights was our hike on our 2nd day and having a delicious lunch outside at the farmhouse!

My wife and I had an amazing time during our visit to Nepal. Sangita and her team were extremely nice and accommodating. They provided us with excellent service and communication regarding the plans for our trip. Our guide, Bhim, was a very knowledgeable and amazing guide who provided us with great information and friendship during our trek. We highly recommend Sangita and her team and we plan to come back to Nepal for another trek. We highly recommend their services!

The whole team at Himalayan Trails were excellent from start to finish. They were extremely accommodating including:
- Grishma, who tailored our trip to our (multiple) changing needs
- Pratikshya, who guided us around a hectic but historic Kathmandu area, giving us a real sense of the amalgamation of so many different cultures
- Raj, who ensured the trip went smoothly
- Dawa and Kumar, who guided us around the Kathmandu valley, weaving through beautiful towns and villages, getting us to amazing places to see crisp views of the Himalayan Range
- Ritesh, who made the quiet town of Panauti come alive with his stories, and both Ritesh and Dawa for a lovely home made dinner!

110% worth the experience, and according to Dawa, Annapurna and Everest base camps will be no problem for us! Looking forward to visiting again!

One of our favorite adventures. Amanda was extremely helpful and responsive in planning and making adjustments to accommodate our input. The guides were great, always flexible and kind. The trek was beautiful with lots of interesting sights and villages along the way. It was exactly what we were looking for.

Certain things are priceless. Life constantly throws challenges at you, so it is important to have a tour company as flexible and well-connected as social tours. They were able to change plans for us at a moment's notice. When sickness ravaged us, things were moved around seamlessly. We never had to worry a single time about missing anything or enduring the hassle of reorganizing / rescheduling. More importantly, Social Tours has taught us about responsible tourism. Eco-friendliness, sustainability, community-driven and their people-first values made them stand out from all other travel agencies we ever worked with.

About the tour itself: the walking tours led by Bippin (e.g. Hinduism and Buddhism) as well as the hike with our trekking guide Parbati will always live in our memories as the highlights of Nepal. I have never seen two philosophies and belief systems living so harmoniously side-by-side. Eating freshly grown food while staying with the mountain locals was also a once in a lifetime experience.

Sangita and her team provided us with excellent service for our trip to Nepal.

Bhim and his son were absolute stars getting us up to Australian Camp. I felt safe the whole time.

Bipin shared his extensive knowledge of the holy sites in Kathmandu, and was a welcome companion at lunch and on a shopping expedition.

Sangita was very responsive, and organized everything with great efficiency.

This was an amazing trip. We had a great time with Rikzin. He had a great personality and was very knowledgeable and made sure that we were safe and happy on our trek to Everest Base Camp. We both happened to have birthdays while on the trek, and he made sure that we each got cake and were celebrated. The entire trip to Nepal was so well planned and everything went seamlessly. Highly recommend!

We had an incredible experience in Nepal. It was obvious that all details were considered thoughtfully - the meals, hotels itinerary, local connections. We especially enjoyed our local guides Ric and Boss, also Chewwan and others, who went out of the way to ensure we had what we needed and enjoyed the adventures. Everyone we interacted with was professional, personable, and genuinely invested in the tour. We had a very positive experience and would do this and many other trips with Responsible Treks in the future.

Ngima was fantastic throughout the whole booking experience. Every time we asked a question he would respond within a few hours with helpful comments.

When we landed in Kathmandu Ngima was there to collect us, take us to our hotel and run through the timings of the trek. Ngima also organised rental equipment for a few bits of gear we didn't have.

We trekked with our guide Ang and porter Lakpa. They were both exceptional through our Langtang trek and we couldn't have asked for anything more from them.

We built up a close relationship with them over the week we were trekking and we're going to miss them now that the trek is over.

Overall it was a brilliant experience all round.

My recent trip to Nepal was everything I could have asked for. My friend and I were in Nepal to see wildlife and Sangita knew exactly what to plan for us to see what we wanted. We ended up visiting two national parks and seeing TWO tigers. The transportation was also super easy and well planned and Sangita was even able to rearrange last minute when my friend missed his flight so he didn't miss anything. Overall it was a fantastic experience using kimkim and I will be using it to plan most of if not all my future trips.

Hotel Review

Rhino Lodge Bardia

Bardia

Rhino lodge has friendly staff, excellent service, and amazing guides that helped make our time in Bardia unforgettable!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Super friendly and flexible based on our needs and desires.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Jungle Activities

Bardia National Park

We spent all day in the park from early morning to late evening in search of tigers. We found tracks and other signs they were in the area and out guide knew exactly what area to search. Eventually we came across a huge tiger in the middle of the road in a thrilling encounter!

Quality of Experience

Our guide was excellent and tailored our safaris to our desires and ultimately delivered. The jeep was awesome and comfortable as well!

Food

The lodge food was delicious and we were asked when we wanted to be served to it was convenient too!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

One hour Everest Mountain Flight

Kathmandu

This flight is spectacular. While it doesn't get as close to the mountains as we thought it would, it still delivers views of mount everest and other Himalayas that you can't get anywhere else. Definitely recommend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Nepal. Evening Welcome Dinner

Kathmandu

While we didn't get to do this as a welcome dinner and more of a goodbye dinner it was still awesome nonetheless. It was really fun to meet Sangita who we couldn't have done this trip without and she was delightful. The food was also delicious as well.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Jungle Activities in Chitwan

Chitwan National Park

We did boat, walking, and jeep safaris all in one day since we only had a single day in Chitwan. Needless to say it was packed and we really had a great experience. We saw rhino, deer, peacock, two species of crocodile and ANOTHER tiger!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trek in the Himalayas arranged by Sangita and her team was AMAZING. Everything was coordinated really well and we had a terrific experience overall. The guides she set us up with, Bhim and Mahn, we excellent. They were really kind, funny, knowledgeable and provided great service. We were impressed by all of the tea houses and lodges that we stayed in along our trek and the route was well planned based on our groups needs. Sangita and her team were very professional and made sure we had everything we needed and answered all of our questions. We had 2 meetings with them before the trek so that we could hash out all the details and they made sure we were 100% set. I would definitely recommend booking with Sangita for any Nepal adventures whether it is a trek, a Chitwan jungle tour, or anything else that they offer.

Wow. What an amazing experience. Sangita, Bipin, Rabin, and the entire Namobuddha team made our first visit to Nepal outstanding. The communication, logistics, pace, and friendship really sets apart this team from the rest. They were really easy to work with, followed through, and were very professional all while being friendly and approachable. My entire family (wife and two young boys 11 &13) had an amazing time.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Yukhang

Kathmandu

Great location and friendly staff. Overall we really enjoyed our stay here. We had a small issue with one of the rooms but it's was remedied almost immediately. The included breakfast was nice and filling and the rooms were cozy and relatively comfortable. The location is what really made this work for my family and I. Close enough to all the action but off the path enough that we couldn't really hear the sounds of the city.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Landmark Forest Park

Sauraha

WOW! Beautiful grounds. Comfy rooms. Great restaurant. Friendly staff. This hotel was really nice and was definitely our most comfortable stay in Nepal.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Locally Run Lodge

These were perfect. The beds weren't the most comfy but having a bed and warm blanket at the end of a day of trekking was fantastic. The shared bathroom was better than expected and most had an option of toilet-type. The food at all of them was amazing! It took a long time to get the food (because they were literally making it from scratch!...which is awesome) so bring some games or a book or something. The walls are thin and it's basically a hostel so earplugs might be helpful for some. In my opinion, though, this is the way to see Nepal!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Traditional Stay

Mangalbazar, Kathmandu

Great location in Patan. Really close to durbar square and local shops and restaurants (If, for whatever reason, you get a bit tired of delicious Nepali food, try the Ramen place right across the street. Yum!) Comfy rooms. Amazing bathrooms! Nice staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Welcome Dinner

Kathmandu

We loved this! Bipin is awesome and immediately helped us feel at home and welcomed. His knowledge of Kathmandu and Nepal and his many years of experience with tourists was evident. The restaurant was really good too.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Market walk(2-3 hrs)

Kathmandu

This was a welcome treat. It doesn't matter how much you study before you go somewhere, there's nothing that compares to having a local show you around. This was great. Bipin was patient and knowledgable in his explanations and helped us feel welcomed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We walked.

Full Day Jungle Activities in Chitwan

Chitwan National Park

OMG Chitwan is amazing. The jeep safari was neat but the highlight was the canoe ride down the river. We spotted crocs from the boat. Beautiful National Park.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Drive from Kathmandu to Dhap (2850 m)

Dhap

This was rough....not because anyone did anything wrong though. The road to the Dhap from Kathmandu is just long, chaotic, slow, bumpy, windy, steep, and loud, etc. It's just a long uncomfortable car ride. On the bright side, there were multiple stops and the places we stopped for food was always delicious....and on the even brighter side...after you climb out of the valley you can almost immediately see the mountains and some of the views are amazing! The mountain views did get me and my family even more excited to get out there and start hiking them! Bipin and Sangita did change some things around for our drive back and that helped make a big difference for us. Thank you.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trek from Dhap to Jhapre (2820 m / about 4-5 hrs)

Jhapre

Loved this. This was an easy short day. We made it to Jhapre by lunch and then just rested and chilled out the rest of the day. You've got an immediate view of the mountains and at times it felt like we were hiking straight to Mt Everest. So cool. Our guide Rabin and two porters were fantastic!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trek from Jhapre to Pikey Base Camp (3600 m/ about 5-6 hrs)

Pikey Base Camp

This leg was a bit longer and a lot more uphill! The elevations are real out here and at times the grade was between 30-45%....but you cannot beat the views already! Though a longer and more strenuous day it seemed to go by quickly and knowing there was a warm meal and horizontal bed waiting for you helps a lot too.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning, Trek to Pikey Peak (4060 m) and Trek to Junbesi (2700 m/total 8-9 hrs)

Junbesi

Ok real talk. The views from the top of Pikey Peak will stay with you forever. We had perfect weather and though it was COLD and windy up there I was shocked by the panoramic beauty on display...and of course you know that pics don't do it justice!...BUT...there's a looooooot of hiking on this day. We were not mentally prepared for it. We had trained and stuff but on this day you wake up EARLY (4:30a) to summit by sunrise (which is worth it) but after you summit you go back down for breakfast, then back up for lunch, and then waaaaaaay back down for Junbesi. Our legs were toast by the end of this day. Junbesi is a great little town and the accommodations were really nice. I'm not sure there's a way to shorten this leg because of how remote you are at this point in the trail so just be prepared. It's waaaay worth it though....and the way to Junbesi takes you through some of the most beautiful parts of the trail.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trek from Junbesi to Salleri(About 4-5 hrs)

Junbesi

Drive from Salleri to Patan

Salleri

Patan walk

Patan

There's nothing better than exploring a new place with a passionate local person...and Bipin is that person!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Junbesi to Thuptenchholing Monastery ( 3200 m / about 4-5 hrs)

Junbesi

For us this was optional but it's so worth doing! There's an entire day of rest after the previous day's hike and this short trek up to the monastery is optional. So if you need to physically recover you have the option but if you're feeling okay this is strongly recommended. It's pretty much straight uphill for about 1.5 hrs but once you're up there it's beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sangita was a wonderful travel planner. She was kind and easy to interact with. She listened and took care of all the details. She and her team made sure we had everything we needed. When our domestic flights were unexpectedly cancelled mid-trip, she quickly came up with a plan B to do the same thing in a different city that was closer and didn't require a flight. The various guides she set up for us in-country were lovely as well. I would especially recommend Rabin as a trekking guide.

Hotel Reviews

Kantipur Temple House

Jyatha, Kathmandu

I cannot say enough about this amazing place. It was like stepping into a different world. At once simple and luxurious, it was the perfect place to stay when we began and ended our time in Nepal. The staff are generous, helpful, kind, and so very friendly. The food/meals were delicious. The architecture was mesmerizing and you could spend hours studying the carved wood and intricate details of the brick and wood rooms. Every nook and cranny of this place has character. DO NOT MISS this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Gorgeous old-world charm.

Location

Walking distance to great restaurants and shopping. Very safe.

Staff

Very kind and helpful with room service or anything else we needed.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was crisp and clean.

Hotel Everest View

This hotel was really fun but seemed a little dated for the price. Though after nearly 12 days of hiking, the room and especially the shower was a real luxury. The views were beautiful and the dining experience was wonderful because of the service and the super cool architecture (and fireplace!) and use of the mountainside as part of the building.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Unparalleled location high up on a ridge away from everything else.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was clean, just slightly dated perhaps for the price you pay to stay here.

Mountain lodge-Lukla

Such a lovely place to spend the night in after trekking without showers for nearly 2 weeks! The staff was friendly and helpful from the moment we arrived and exchanged our hiking boots for slippers. The rooms are small, but clean and nice. The shower and bathroom were clean and had hot water. I especially loved the dining room (gorgeous painted walls and ceiling!) and the sunroom/sitting room at one end of the building (great place to relax and read!).

Authenticity & Character

Architecture, art, and overall style were beautiful

Location

Away from the main area of town. Quiet and safe.

Staff

Helpful and kind

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Trek from Tengboche to Dingboche ( 4,360 m/ 3-4 hrs)

Dingboche

Quality of Experience

Fly to Lukla. Trek from Lukla to Phakding (2,610 m/3-4 hrs)

Phakding

The flight and landing at the Lukla airport was unlike any other flight you'll ever take. It is a MUST DO. Loved it. Don't forget to stay around and watch other flights landing and taking off! Grab some tea in Lukla and then head out for the first day of hiking. It's an easy day and a good day to get used to hiking and the weight of your bag.

Trek from Namche to Tengboche(3867 m / about 4 hrs)

Tengboche

I think this is the hardest day of hiking. Lots of uphill, but you will make it and it will be so worth it! Tengboche is a unique place with beautiful views of the mountains!

Trek from Lobuche to Gorakshep to EBC & back to Gorakshep (8-9 hours)

Gorak Shep

This hike was nice and was THE DAY to get to EBC. It was what we had been waiting for. Totally worth it.

Quality of Experience

Trek from Gorak Shep to Kalapatthar to Pheriche (7-8 hours)

Pheriche

Do not miss Kalapatthar!! It is going to be tempting to sleep in when it's 4:30am and you don't want to get up in the literal freezing cold, but the views are breathtaking. This was my favorite day of the hike. Please do not pass it up!! Hike all the way to the top. Your guide will tell you about halfway up that the views are not all that different at the top, and that's mostly true, but they are actually different in that the top gives you a 360 view. If you are physically able to hike to the top, do it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Visit Pashupatinath Temple & observe evening Aarti Ceremony

Kathmandu

This is a must-do while in Nepal. Take your time soaking in everything with all your senses.

Quality of Experience