Kimkim Trip Reviews

Great trip to Costa Rica, our first time. First guide from San Jose to la fortuna was our favorite. Appreciated drivers with snacks and drinks in the car. Sloth adventure was great! As was the tour with Socio in Manuel Antonio. The catamaran tour was okay….good food and drinks, BUT no visability for snorkeling apparently anytime around rainy season and they made like it was possible. The places we stayed at were wonderful. Wildlife around and incredible views! We were surprised by how much food costs here compared to Mexico and Guatemala. That would be the only reason I may not recommend it to friends.

Hotel Reviews

Gran Hotel Costa Rica, Curio Collection by Hilton

San José

Authenticity & Character

Breakfast food was below average of previous hotels. Not as much ethnic food and no fresh egg section until later.

Location

Right next to opera house

Staff

Friendliness at desk

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great room service menu

Hotel La Mariposa

Manuel Antonio

Best views of any hotel I have stayed at. From the garden and pools to the sea, mountains, to the jungle. Several varieties of monkeys come by, and they had a mother sloth and baby in their huge garden.

Authenticity & Character

Garden, animals, flowers. Some ethnic food at breakfast

Location

Sunrise to sunset views

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

So many windows for them to clean…some streaks….forgot to supply filters in coffee.

Arenal Springs Resort

La Fortuna

Great pools with natural springs wandering around. Many iguanas on trees and rocks around pools. Restaurant not our fav because of all the Italian food. Pool food offered some choices including sushi. Expensive dinners. Would have liked more ethnic choices. Great breakfast choices. Excellent view of Arenal. Cabins are duplexes and lively

Authenticity & Character

Iguanas. Some ethnic breakfast food was great

Location

View

Staff

Very punctual, friendly, lovely

Cleanliness & Comfort

Costa Rica Marriott Hotel Hacienda Belen

San José

Great pool!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Fairly near airport—nothing else around except industrial area

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Excellent guide. Found way more creatures that we could imagine. Got excellent pictures from our guide

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Sloth Observation - Day or Night Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Excellent and came back with great pictures thanks to the guides telephoto lenses. Then after finding the sloths and birds, monkeys, etc..,you come back and they have some great local food! Excellent

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River

Arenal/La Fortuna

At the end they had some local food and drinks and chocolate demonstration. That was a lovely touch

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to New Zealand was a great success and this is the most important, far more than some difficulties during preparation phase.

Good things first:
- Complete timing was good; we followed the schedule, attended all planned activities and we even added some additional ones.
- Hotels were all appropriate, the Lake Ohau Lodge was very different and somehow unique with their group dinner, but we enjoyed this one also
- All organized transportations were correct and timely
- Both rentacars were good and spacious; the roads on both islands are good without too much traffic, so I did not have problems driving on the left side
- Both organized walking tours were good, guides very professional and knowledgeable
- I like to specially mention Wine tour in Wellington, which was exceptional. We had great fun and we learned much more then just pure facts about wine and the region
- All included activities were good; our highlight activities were Tasman glacier cruise and Te Puia geysers in Rotorua.

In preparation phase we had to invest much more of our time as in any other of our previous Kimkim trips. Kathrin was always eager to help, but there were various reasons we had more problems than usual
- At very beginning we proposed to base our trip on one already prepared trip published on Kimkim but we ended up with fairly different final plan.
- This caused a lot of communication and modifications, and 12 hours’ time difference was the main reason that preparation took much longer than expected
- Some unfortunate mistakes happened during the preparation phase too, but as I said previously the important point is that we had very nice trip to New Zealand.

Best regards

Zvonko

Peter was our guide in Tokyo, and Hiroshi was our guide in Kyoto. Both men were wonderful!!! Very knowledgeable, polite, and blended into our family.

We had a very good experience working with Rachel (Brazil specialist located in São Paulo) from the Kimkim team. She worked with us to tailor our trip and patiently answered my many questions throughout the process. All the drivers we had were punctual, professional and very nice. Our English speaking local guides were all outstanding: Reginia in São Paulo, sat down with us before we began to get to know our preferences and customized our day tour to suit our style. Marcos in Foz do Iguacu was excellent, making sure we never felt rushed, knew the best spots to take photos, ensured we started early enough to avoid the biggest crowds and the heat of the afternoon. He was equally friendly and professional. In Rio we enjoyed our driver and guide Alessandro (Alex). He showed us as much of Rio as one can see in two days. He is a knowledgeable and fun guide. Finally our guide in Jericoacoara, Jonathan was a very nice fellow who enjoys his job. We were never rushed. The vibe was definitely chill and fun and we had a blast. We really found the Meu Agente app to be helpful (it’s not perfect) but we referred to it frequently. WhatsApp was available to us to contact Rachel or her colleagues while we were travelling. I would recommend downloading the Latham and Gol apps prior to your travels to help get informed of last minute gate or schedule changes in real time. This is our first trip to Brazil and booking through the Kimkim team was a real pleasure and really made our trip stress free.

We had a wonderful time in Belize. Our lodging, Azure del Mar, (https://www.azuredelmar.com/), provided a peaceful and lovely setting to relax before and after our many activities. The food at the beachfront hotel's restaurant was quite good, with an expansive menu and delightful wait staff. Sunrises were stunning, and we enjoyed hearing the parrots as they swooped through the trees near our room. When not at the lodge, we snorkeled, rode horses through the jungle, visited a Mayan ruin, sampled local chocolate, and tubed down a not too lazy river at the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. We truly appreciated the guides . They were all attentive and provided lots of local information about each area we visited.
We had a few minor issues regarding one of our outings, (mostly our fault), but KimKIm was quick to jump in and make sure we had what we needed to make the outing a success!

Hotel Review

Azure Del Mar

Placencia

Lovely hotel with attentive staff. Great food, expansive menu. Getting to the village area of Placencia isn't walkable; golf carts or bicycles are available, but neither appealed to us. But there was plenty to do at the hotel for those few hours that we weren't away on an adventure!

Authenticity & Character

The staff was so warm and engaging; we were treated like very special family members.

Location

Very nice beach and easy walk to the lagoon to see the sunset.

Staff

Maria and all the wait staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfy beds!

Activity Reviews

Jungle Ride and Swim Adventure

Placencia

The setting for this outing was awesome. Although we were there to ride horses, I was delighted at the setting--pea hens, toucans, egrets galore, and farm animals were everywhere. The ride itself was lovely, though muddy. Our guide was a pro and the horses were great. We stopped for a rest at the river, but didn't see a waterfall. Afterward, we went to lunch at a local diner, which was great.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snorkel at Silk Cayes

Belize

Can't even begin to say how great this outing was. So many fish-from small brightly colored, to parrot fish, rays, and nurse sharks. We saw several types of coral, including brain and fan and more. We were thrilled to see a giant see turtle as well! Our guide made a point of making sure we saw everything we could on this outing.

Quality of Experience

The easy-going vibe on the boat as we made our way to the snorkeling site. After being dropped off for snorkeling, divers went to their own spot and we all regrouped later.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The camaraderie of the several staff on the boat. And the lunch that was provided was delicious!

Transport

Our driver was a gem. Just chatty enough to keep us interested, but quiet enough that we could take it all in.

Leny was fantastic prepping for the trip. After numerous live calls we adjusted our itinerary to our needs and timing. Leny was patient and made all the necessary adjustments. The trip was fantastic and every day we had a text outlining our day and travel. Just an awesome experience and Leny was the best

This is the second trip we have used with Kim Kim. I really appreciated how well everything was organized. We contacted you with a change and it was handled quickly. We really loved the app. It made keeping track of the details so easy. The route feature was wonderful as we were driving and it made getting directions very simple. Love how you planned the trip with all the details we had requested. Thanks so much! We will use you again

Joan & Don

Hotel Reviews

Parador de Cardona

Cardona

We loved the experience of staying in the hotel. I do think one night would have been enough since there was not much to do unless you drove.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beautiful and unique. Staying in a castle was incredible

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Loved the restaurant

H10 Imperial Tarraco

Tarragona

Loved this hotel. The location was perfect. The lobby was beautiful and we loved the roof top bar.

Authenticity & Character

Location

We could walk to everything. Food- shopping and sightseeing. We could see the ocean from our room

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

H10 Racó del Pi

Barcelona

No lobby or place to sit and relax but our room was clean and comfortable

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Excursion to Montserrat Monastery & Scenic Mountain Hike

Barcelona

Loved this hike and learning about the Monastery. I wish this excursian was longer. There was a lot to see and wonderful hiking

Quality of Experience

I loved the hiking. Wish it had been longer

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was very informative. He made the trip very enjoyable

Transport

Van was comfortable

Bastien was wonderful and very cooperative. He is not a local specialist to the level that I would expect - but I am a very experienced traveler who is looking for very specific experiences. Once we arrived in Japan, the guides he had arranged were excellent and were the kind of local specialist we needed as part of the planning. My suggestion is to introduce the traveler to the in-country guides earlier in the process - it would have avoided some confusion on our end and un-necessary back and forth in the planning.

Having said all of that - we had an amazing trip. Bastien and Kim Kim saved us an enormous amount of time and the in-country guides and resources were excellent.

Kind regards,
Louise

Our trip was filled with truly unique experiences! We were lucky to have Pedro help plan our itinerary—he took the time to understand our interests and priorities, and crafted a week packed with amazing tours, cooking classes, cultural performances, and meaningful family time. Every part of our Portugal adventure was wonderful. Thank you, Pedro!

Our trip was excellent - we travelled with two children, 8 and 11, and everything was perfectly curated for them. The hotels were spectacular and the activities were really fun! Having activities in the morning left the afternoon free for lounging by the pool and relaxing in hot springs. Suggestions of what to bring and wear were very helpful. My only recommendation would be more details on where to drop the car off - we thought as per the instructions it was AT the airport but it was about 10 minutes away and required a shuttle back. This could have been a problem if we were short on time. Would definitely recommend this trip.

Trip was amazing. We loved it. Some of our hotel reservations were messed up and that should not happen. It happened twice on this trip. Our Guide Ilyace was absolutely incredilbe and we had tons of fun with him. Very knowledgable about his country.

Hotel Reviews

Riad Kalaa

Rabat

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Braya

FesfE

Riad is open and you can hear everyone coming and going.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lina Ryad & Spa

Chefchaouen

Heated pool was great and massages top notch. Just a beautiful hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Top notch

Location

On a hill in the blue city with an amazing view.

Staff

Everyone treated us great and very helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was perfect. Shower massive.

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Spectacular setting. Glorified glamping with even heating blankets. Music was fantastic at night and everyone should try this once in a lifetime.

Authenticity & Character

Top notch

Location

2 hour camel ride and loved it.

Staff

Everyone was amazing

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sleeping arrangements were perfect and beds comfortable.

Riad Ksar Ighnda

Ait Benhaddou

Our favorite hotel of the trip. Pure luxury and setting was amazing. Food top notch, views amazing, fabulous pool and service fantastic. They even had a small gym which was rare in Morocco.

Authenticity & Character

Everything is authentic and very clean

Location

Staff

Top Notch

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perfect

Riad Diamond of Marrakech

Marrakech

Small room but good hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour of Fez Medina

Fes

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hammam & Spa Experience at Les Bains D'Orient Marrakech

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Drive from Merzouga to Aït Benhaddou via Ouarzazate

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chefchaoeun to Fez via Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknes

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer from Fez to Merzouga Desert

Morocco

Ilyace our driver was awesome.

Quality of Experience

Food

Lamb chops we purchased from a butcher than grilled over charcoal. Delicious

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dine with a Local Family

Morocco

So much fun learning about the culture and getting to eat with a family that lived in the medina.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Aït Benhaddou to Marrakech via Tizi n'Tichka Pass & the High Atlas Mountains

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ilyace top notch

Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride in Marrakech

Marrakesh

Best air ballon ride in the world. Magical.

Quality of Experience

Watching a sunset come up over the mountains in a hot air balloon is something you will never forget.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I was very satisfied with my kimkim experience. It's the initial ease off set up through an application but then with the human touch of an old school travel agent. Nick was well and formed and I felt safe trusting his judgment. My time was allocated very sensibly and the two places I stayed at were very well chosen.

Green Sawak was incredibly professionally run - their systems were so efficient. The room I stayed in was great value, clean, cute, well air-conditioned and with a nice hot shower. Also such a comfortable arm chair that I feel asleep on the second afternoon and missed the cultural talk!

I will say that there is a certain amount of luck with the guides. I was fortunate to be in a group led by Ikki - high energy, very funny, very informed, good English. On my last morning I took an optional cruise (NOTE: make sure to book early, they will not try to upsell, you must speak to reception), and the guide was much less involved and informed.

We saw elephants, crocodiles, monkeys, eagles, hornbills.... It was very successful.

The second stay at Borneo Sepilok Rainforest Resort, I chose to just do things by myself. The first day I saw the sun bears and orangutans (arrive at 2pm!). The second day I spent the entire day in the Rainforest Discovery Centre. The BSRR is just 2-3 minutes drive from all these attractions, and they had a little car they took me back and forth in - 1 EUR per journey. BSRR is beautiful with lovely flowers and good food.

I could have fine -tuned any of the parameters of this trip, but letting the experts do all the research worked really well. All I had to do was arrive at Sandakan airport with my cameras and the rest just happened.

Thanks kimkim and Nick for a brilliant trip.

This is our second time using KimKim and we are already planning to use it again this summer. Every part of the trip was perfectly planned, explained, and timed out. Accommodations were perfect, drivers were on time and friendly, tours were awesome. We loved it! Angela (Aggeliki) was responsive, helpful, and the trip was wonderful. We definitely want to come back to Greece one day.

Hotel Reviews

Casa Delfino

Chania, Crete

The location was great. We loved being tucked away in the old port. The staff was helpful and friendly and the breakfast was really good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Athina Luxury Suites Santorini

Santorini

The staff was super friendly and helpful. The view from our balcony was beautiful and the breakfast was delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Athens Woo Suites

Athens

The front desk was so welcoming and friendly and the location is perfect for exploring around Acropolis. The rooftop breakfast was amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Jeep Tour to Knossos and Archaeological Museum

Chania

Olga was the best! We were exhausted as it was our last day on the trip but she kept the conversation going and played good music. The palace and museum were both very interesting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The 7 Villages Of Apokoronas Tour

Chania

Very interesting and we loved the stops for coffee and food and cheese! Yohan was a great guide and very knowledgeable and friendly. We were stuffed by the end of the day, but all of the food was so good.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking at the Edge of Caldera Winter 2026

Santorini

Petra was the best! We loved this hike. Probably our favorite activity of the trip. Beautiful views and we loved his conversation and stories. Wonderful day!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran Cruise winter - spring 25-26

Santorini

The staff on the boat was friendly and accommodating and the food was delicious. Great views!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Athens Highlights Mythology Tour

Greece

Very interesting! Our guide was really knowledgeable and sweet.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guadalupe in Seville for tour of Alcazar and Catedral was an excellent, informative and entertaining tour guide.

Fabulous Golden Triangle Trip
Loved seeing all the sites and experiencing India's Gold Triangle. Our guide in Agra, Mr. Jugnu, was funny, entertaining, full of information and a great photographer.

Hotel Reviews

The Lalit Hotel, New Delhi

Delhi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

ITC Mughal

Agra

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

ITC Rajputana

Jaipur

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

ITC Grand Central

Safe, Comfortable, Friendly Staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

New Delhi Sightseeing

India

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jaipur Sightseeing Tour

Jaipur

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Old Delhi Sightseeing

Delhi

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the marvelous and historic monument : Agra Fort

Agra

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Taj Mahal Sunrise Visit

Agra

Unique perspective when contrasting with the sunset visit the night before.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Take a stroll through the historic garden (Mehtab Bagh) for the most magical views of the Taj Mahal by TUK-TUK

Agra

Loved seeing the Taj Mahal at sunset, providing a perspective on the enormity of the Mahal.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Spiritual Walk in Jaipur

Jaipur

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Mumbai With a Private Guide

Mumbai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mumbai - Elephanta Caves

Mumbai

Spiritual history, our guide was friendly and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Angel was the best! She patiently worked with us over many months of planning our trip to Japan, giving us expert advice while also responding to our requests. During the trip, she checked in with us every day, making sure that we had the information that we needed. And when we had to make big changes, due to the illness of one of our group of four, she worked tirelessly to adjust the itinerary. It was like being taken care of by a trusted friend or family member! In several cities, we had tours with excellent local guides, including in Tokyo, Kanazawa/Shirakawago, Kyoto, Nara and Hiroshima/Miyajima. We did a very fun guided bike ride outside of the charming town of Takayama, as well as a wonderful self-guided two days of walking on the Nakasendo Trail. Only the two food tours were disappointing. The hotels were all nice too, with the exception of the one in Kyoto. Our stays in Hakone, Takayama and Miyajima were especially memorable. My friends and I would highly recommend working with Angel!

Hotel Reviews

ASAI Kyoto Shijo

Authenticity & Character

It was too busy, with a crowded and noise restaurant and lobby area.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms very small. Breakfast choices very limited and the food not very good.

Mercure Hida Takayama

Takayama

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

One Day Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Tour

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Osaka

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Nara City Tour, Overnight in Osaka

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Cycling in Takayama

Takayama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Shirakawago Day Trip by public transportation

Kanazawa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tokyo City Tour

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I can't say enough about Ravi and how responsive he was to our every need! Given the 12 hour time difference between Colorado and India, it was amazing how quickly he responded to emails. Because our trip focused on our grandson's wedding, this was a somewhat complicated itinerary but Ravi handled it flawlessly. We also very much enjoyed Kevin, who met our flight and welcomed us to India and made sure everything went smoothly. We give high marks to kim kim!

Paula did an incredible job creating an absolute once in a lifetime vacation for me and my bestie! It was everything we asked for plus more! From climbing the Sydney Bridge to riding camels in the outback to snorkeling in the great barrier reef and sipping the delicious wines in Yarra Valley to hanging out with the locals (wallabies, Koalas, kangaroos, wombats, the list goes on). We learned so much about the Aboriginal people, the eco systems and all the different things that make Australia so unique! All of our tour guides had a real passion for what they do and you could tell none of this was a job to them, it was a passion! Paula you really brought the dream to life, thank you!!

What an incredible experience! As a first-time female solo traveler in Asia, I couldn’t have asked for a smoother, more enjoyable trip. The Kimkim team was fantastic, and a huge shoutout to Leny, my amazing Kimkim agent, who was always just a message away with helpful insights, restaurant suggestions, and even quick itinerary tweaks while I was in Japan. Truly a godsend!
My journey took me through Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Takayama, Kanazawa, and back to Tokyo over the span of two weeks. The big cities were so much fun to explore—especially with the thoughtfully chosen hotels that made each stay comfortable and convenient. The smaller towns gave me a completely different perspective on Japanese culture that I never would have discovered on my own.
Every hotel was excellent, the food was out of this world, and the tours were exactly what I hoped for—most ended up being private, which made everything feel so personal. The tour guides were incredible and really brought each destination to life.
If you’re a female solo traveler wondering if this is doable—it absolutely is! Kimkim made it stress-free and enjoyable from start to finish. 10/10 would recommend, and I’m already planning my next trip to Japan!

Hotel Reviews

Park Hotel Tokyo

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mercure Hida Takayama

Takayama

The public baths are a huge win! What a great hotel and location. But beware, there are a LOT of tours that stay here too, so there tend to be long wait times to the elevators or breakfast in the mornings.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Thousand Kyoto

Kyoto

Really such a fantastic location to get anywhere you need in Kyoto and beyond. In the center of it all!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Matsuzakaya Honten

Kanagawa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hyatt Regency Tokyo

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Authentic Sumo Experience in Tokyo with Chanko-nabe Lunch

Tokyo

Wow, wow, wow—this experience was absolutely amazing! Learning about sumo wrestling directly from retired sumos was unforgettable, and then having them cook a delicious lunch for us? How cool is that! The sumos were hilarious, passionate, and so eager to share the history and culture of the sport. After the meal, we even practiced and had a match in the ring with them—which was hysterical fun and such a unique memory. 10/10 recommend, especially because our tour guide, Mayu, was so personable and an excellent translator, making the whole experience seamless and enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo forest & Garden Half-Day Walking Tour

Kyoto

My tour guide, Ayuri, was absolutely amazing! I loved this entire tour—it gave me the chance to see areas that most travelers overlook because of the usual “tourism blinders.” Ayuri’s knowledge and passion made the experience unforgettable.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimono wearing and Tea ceremony (Sado) in Kyoto (Private)

Japan

I can’t rave enough about this Tea Ceremony experience! The women running the tea house were incredibly kind and generous with their time. What was supposed to be a 30-minute visit turned into an hour and a half of conversation, laughter, and exchanging stories with the staff. This was truly the highlight of my entire trip—an authentic, heartfelt experience that I’ll never forget. If you’re considering it, don’t hesitate. I recommend it 100%!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Relaxing Evening: Private Onsen and Kaiseki Dinner

Hakone

Hakone is a beautiful and fun destination, but I realized that traditional ryokans aren’t for me. While the experience is unique and deeply rooted in Japanese culture—complete with traditional clothing and footwear—I personally found it a bit uncomfortable. For travelers who want an authentic cultural stay, I highly recommend trying a ryokan at least once. However, if you prefer familiar comforts, this experience might push you out of your comfort zone and could feel a little stressful. The site itself was amazing and the staff incredibly attentive.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ghibli Museum & Ghibli Film Appreciation Bus Tour (Round Trip from Shinjuku)

Tokyo

As a huge Studio Ghibli fan, visiting the museum was an absolute dream come true. My tour guide, Michico, was incredible—so knowledgeable and passionate, and it made the experience even more special knowing she was a fellow Ghibli fan. She was truly a highlight of the trip! The museum itself is something beyond words—magical, whimsical, and full of surprises. It’s a must-visit for any Ghibli lover. I spent hours exploring, letting my inner child lead the way, and loved every minute of it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Master Tokyo's Must-Sees: 5-hour Tsukiji, Akihabara & Asakusa Highlights Tour

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ken was a great tour guide and made the experience so fun and personal! 10/10 for Magical Trip

Transport

This is my 4th trip with Kim Kim and have loved everyone of them. I thought Truly Swahili to be fantastic. All their drivers and guide were outstanding. Duncan our driver in Amboseli was incredible and went out of his way to give us an amazing experience in Kenya. Anthony had a tough act to follow because Duncan was so amazing but he held his own.
In Tanzania, Kaka and Simba went out of their way to make sure we completed the 5 and made us laugh tons. The professionalism and customer care of the truly Swahili team showed all the way to the end when Irenemical came to say hello and good buy on our last day.
Highly recommend the whole team from planners to guides and driver!!

Hotel Reviews

Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp

Arusha

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lemala Ewanjan Tented Camp

Arusha P.O. Box 14529, Arusha. Tanzania.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Lo

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sarova Mara Game Camp

Nice to be on the tend and all but felt more like a more commercial property than some of the boutique places that we were at. Still nice but not as great as elephant gorge which was the highlight property of our trip

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Elephant Gorge Camp

Nairobi

Loved the elephant gorge… the location of the property is incredible. True immersion. The place, the team, everything!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Loved being in a conservancy. The grounds are beautiful

Staff

Super helpful and attentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

Villa Rosa Kempinski

Nairobi, Kenya

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Safari Experience at Ngorongoro

Kenya

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Maasai Culture and Heritage Tour

Kenya

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Safari Experience at Serengeti National Park

Kenya

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Game Drive

Kenya

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Safari at the Maasai Mara

Kenya

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Game Drive at the Maasai Mara

Kenya

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Safari Experience at Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Safari Experience at Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Duncan was simply wondrrful. Great driver!

Transport