Kimkim Trip Reviews for Nepal

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

From my first contact with Amanda I knew that I had found the ideal person to work with for my upcoming trek in Nepal. Amanda is an excellent communicator, friendly, quick to respond and worked efficiently to curate the perfect itinerary for my needs. Her enthusiasm for her role is obvious, allowing me to be certain I had found the right fit for me.
The trek itself ran very smoothly. Gelu, our guide, was exceptional - an intelligent, conscientious and professional gentleman whose knowledge and experience added greatly to our experience. Nothing was too much trouble for him. Sange, our porter, is a reliable, hardworking and caring soul whose frequent smiles were heartwarming.
All in all, our entire experience with Kimkim and Himalayan trails was way beyond our expectations. Many thanks to a fantastic team!

Our trip was arranged by Sangita (logistics) and Bipin (city guide). Bipin did a wonderful job, showing us surround the cities of Kathmandu and Patan! Sangita did a fabulous job making sure our trip flowed well, tickets were purchased and drivers showed up on time. During our trek in the Himalayas, Rabin was our guide. He was an absolute superstar. He was endlessly patient, compassionate, extremely knowledgeable about the trek and surrounding region, and attentive to our needs. This trip far exceeded our expectations!

Good organization and quick communication. I was very pleased

I travelled to Nepal to visit the Himalayas, Chitwan and Kathmandu. It was a very memorable experience with a good combination of high mountains, rainforest, busy Kathmandu and last but not least; the Nepali culture.

My 5 days trip to the Mustang regionJomsom, Kagbeni, Muktinath and Marpha with magnificent view of the Annapurna range was a wonderful experience. My guide Chhiring Lama had all the local knowledge you can ask for and always made sure that I had a good time and things (lodging, food, transportation and more) went well.

Next I went to Chitwan to go on safari in the national park to see the wildlife there. I saw plenty of rhinos and also a tiger. Always exiting.

In Kathmandu I went on a couple of day excursions seeing famous sights and monasteries in the Kathmandu valley.
When travelling, I like not to have all days organized, but to have some days without a program and do what I like.

Kunchok well understood this and let me be do my own things when I wanted to, but was always awailable (on whatsapp) to arrange and assist as required. Perfect.

KimKim ( and their partner Responsible Treks) can be recommended as a competent, service minded and trustworthy partner on your trip to Nepal.

Torstein Bringa

Our trip to Chitwan was fantastic! Sangita planned everything really well and the tiger tops resort was wonderful. There was one hiccup with the airport pickup but Sangita acted quickly to resolve it. The one major note to add was that if you fly to the nearest airport when coming to Chitwan, there is still an almost 2 hour drive to get to the park on an awful, bumpy road so be prepared!

I booked my Everest Three Pass Trip with Ngima Dorji Sherpa through the kimkim site. From the start Ngima was fast with providing answers to my questions and was clearly knowledgeable. I decided to chose his guiding company in large part because I wanted a local company and learned Ngima runs the only Sherpa owned guiding operation in Nepal. Once the trip started Ngima was fabulous with airport pick up and the tour of Kathmandu. He was generous enough to invite me and two other trekkers to a book launch party (Step by Step!) and we enjoyed an amazing night and dance party. Nigma somehow arranged me to fly to Lukla direct from the Kathmandu airport, saving the 4 hr transfer. He has fabulous connections and this came in handy a few times. Once in Lukla I met my guide Pemba and porter Dil. Both were super friendly and we got along right away. On trek I was impressed with Pemba's knowledge of the area and the people. He was quite connected to people in nearly every community and it meant some great access to the local culture including visits to schools, health centers and local Sherpa teahouses. Pemba was also great at adjusting our daily schedule when we were making great progress and also did his best to adjust to avoid the more overcrowded towns. On the harder pass crossings Pemba was great with pacing and ensuring we took enough breaks to keep our energy high. Towards the end of the trip I ended up picking up a parasite and both Pemba and Ngima were incredibly supportive to make some major adjustments in the plans and get me the medical treatment I needed. Getting sick is never fun but they did everything they could to ensure it was as smooth as possible. Overall it was an amazing visit to the Himalayas. I loved that the trek was a physical challenge with views that will stay in my memory forever. I cannot say enough great thinks about Ngima. As a guide company operator he does the perfect job in planning and communication. As a person Ngima is warm, generous and deeply connected to his community. It was a pleasure to meet him, Pemba and Dil and hope to get back to Nepal soon to share another adventure with them.

A friend from Denmark and I have just completed a most wonderful 3 week trek around Kanchenjunga. Everything went well, from the moment we were met at Kathmandu airport by Ngima Dorji Sherpa the Director of Nepal Myths and Mountain Trails to the moment we were farewelled at the airport 25 days later. Ngima provided us with an excellent guide Ang Gelu and very strong porter, Kunga. These two gentle men took us on a most amazing adventure. We are experienced walkers. Kunga led the way and Ang Gelu stayed with us making sure we were in good shape. If we wanted to stop for photographs, short diversions from the track (I am a geologist) or study the landscape, Ang Gelu kindly allowed us the time. His English is excellent and he joined in many of our discussions - both serious and in fun. Ang Gelu and Kunga always made sure we had accommodation at our tea houses and took an active role in organising our meals. We often saw Kunga in the kitchen assisting with the preparation of our meals and those for other trekkers.

The Kanchenjunga trek passes through beautiful country - through villages and farmlands, wonderful forests and then the barren landscapes above the tree line. The mountains and valleys are huge and Kanchenjunga is a true giant. Jannu is another magnificent mountain. I particularly enjoyed the two nights and days we had at Ramche, close to the South Base Camp. It is a wonderful mountain location. Another highlight was the day spent crossing the passes between the Ghunsa Khola and Kabeli Khola. The distant views to Makalu, Everest and the Himalayan foothills are breathtaking.

I can't thank Ngima, Ang Gelu and Kunga enough for organising and supporting such an amazing trip.

Interaction with the KimKim platform was incredibly easy and Kunchok was extremely helpful and responsive. He compiled a diverse itinerary that kept us moving from location to location, which is exactly what we wanted.

We enjoyed staying at Pema Boutique Hotels as the location was excellent -right by the Buddha Stupa. This was the perfect introduction to Kathmandu.

Flying to Pokhura is preferred over flying and we had a quick flight on Yeti Air. We loved the Hotel Barahi in Pokhura. Ideal location, charming grounds and great food. Our guide for trekking to ABC was fantastic! Pema was knowledgeable, patient, kind and happy to adapt our itinerary to add in an extra hike. The small chalet at ABC camp was magical! The food was good and the coffee was surprisingly excellent.

The trip to Nagarkot was interesting in the fact that we stayed at an all-inclusive resort. This is not normally our preference, however, the balcony to the room afforded amazing views. This quirky small town was the source of many giggles, so it made the stop worthwhile. If going to Naragkot please make a stop at the long suspension bridge - breathtaking scenery and a long bridge leading to small waterfalls.

The Hotel Ambassador was comfortable and had a great rooftop bar. We would normally want something more traditional but this was an excellent choice, just 10 minutes walk to the hustle and bustle of Thamel.

Overall the trip was wonderfully planned and expertly executed! Thank you to WikiLama, Pema and Kunchok for an unforgettable experience. Thank you!

Our guide Tendu was exceptional, also the two porters were very nice and helpful

All good! Mads is professional, responsive and knowledgeable. Suman, our MTB guide was great as well: good English, very motivated and flexible.

Absolutely amazing trip. Perfect organisation by Mads and his guides.

Entire Annapurna Circuit experience was amazing. Our guide, Suman Thapa did a great work to make all the logistic work and to assure max experience for us. Kudos!

It was an unforgettable Nepal trip. The communication, planning, support, service and expertise were second to none. Kripa, Susmita, Tendu and his brother and brother-in-law, our city guide in Kathmandu, all the drivers were all such good people. The trip itself was well thought through for our needs and expectations. The accommodation in the teahouses and hotels were well planned. And we even got a momento! How thoughtful is that. Thank you for all the effort and friendliness. Wishing you everything of the best.

As a seasoned traveller, I look for the most authentic experiences I can have when visiting another country.

KimKim and Kripa provided just that:
Great Nepali guide and driver (Pratiksha and Suar) who took great care of me and helped me to understand Nepal on so many new levels, and who showed me many off the beaten path places to see and visit;
Staying in authentic Nepali hotels, and shopping in Nepali-owned shops;
Great meals filled with discoveries;
Great walking tours of all the local towns, villages, and temples.

It was an amazing trip, and we are already planning our next visit.

I wanted to do a trekking in the Himalayas for quite some years, and finally chose to book with Kimkim. From the beginning to the end, Amanda is very helpful in answering questions, helping us getting ready for the trip, helping resolving problems and ensuring everyone has the best experience possible.

My guide Chhiring was very knowledgeable and professional. He introduced a lot of knowledge about the history of Tsum Valley and Manaslu Circle to me. He made sure I'm properly taken care of each day and the pace is a one that I'm comfortable with. He helped modify the schedule a bit so we have an extra day on the main circle, which is very helpful with resting and acclimation. He arranged with other teams to make sure I stay in the same hotel that my newly-met trekking friends stays at, which makes the trip more fun to me as a lone trekker. The great attention to detail that he has made this trip an outstanding experience.

My porter Ngima is also very helpful in transporting my luggage, helping me with meal orders, preparing fruits for every meal and marching to hotels with my heavy luggage in fast speed to ensure I get the best room possible. What he does is not easy, and I greatly appreciate all the effort to make sure my experience is an outstanding one.

I'll definitely come back for more trekking in the future, now that I have been amazed by both the beauty of the himalayas and how helpful the trekking staffs are!

The team and Chhiring went above and beyond to help us out during difficult times. We really soothe prompt help and support they provided us. We’ll definitely come back.

Our Nepal tour exceeded all our expectations. From the very start, Amanda (our Kimkim rep) impressed us with her meticulous planning and responsiveness. She was very knowledgeable and addressed all of our queries and concerns, helping us curate the exact experience we were after.
The Himalayan Trails team in Kathmandu was equally impressive, responsive, and accommodating - adapting seamlessly to our evolving needs. Their commitment to ensure we had the best journey was evident every step of the way, making us feel genuinely welcomed.
The highlight of our adventure was the Pikey Peak trek. Even though we needed to slightly adjust our plans, Tendu (our trekking guide) made sure we got the most out of our trek and displayed exceptional thoughtfulness throughout - which made it a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Moreover, our guides in Kathmandu and across Nepal were not only highly knowledgeable but also passionate about sharing their insights - enriching our understanding of Nepal's culture, history, and landscapes. Therefore, we would definitely recommend Kimkim and Himalayan Trails , which will no doubt ensure you too will have an unforgettable journey.

Sangita helped is with every detail of our trip. Our group was large and complicated, but she responded to every problem promptly and positively. Our guides were also very kind, working to accommodate the needs of everyone.