Kimkim Trip Reviews for Finland

It was great to work with Emerson. He was very aware of our likes/dislikes and developed an amazing experience for us. We always felt that he was as available if needed, he was very responsive. We felt that there was always someone out there looking out for us during the whole trip.
Our trip was quite long (30 days), involving many hotels, tours, rental cars, and train reservations. Emerson planned everything perfectly and our trip went smoothly due to his care and thoughtfulness.
Emerson was the perfect travel planner!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Lilla Roberts

Helsinki

Excellent location and beautiful suite with a small view of the water and park. The luxurious surroundings were comfortable and the suite was beautifully decorated with amenities. Our room had a lot of character with beautiful architectural details. We ate at the restaurant and the service and food were very good.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful architecture and character.

Location

Close to center of town, with many shops, restaurants, and sights. Close to everything.

Staff

Staff were very helpful (both hotel and restaurant).

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beautiful room and with a sitting area and dining table. The suite included amenities like Nespresso coffeemaker.

Arctic TreeHouse Hotel

Rovaniemi

A unique experience with a beautiful view. It felt like we were sleeping in the forest; a truly treehouse experience. Beautiful, modern decor and amenities. This was the smallest property we stayed at, but the room included a small sitting area. Our stay here was all about the view! Sleeping among the trees was amazing! We also ate at the restaurant and the service and food were outstanding.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel delivers 100% on the treehouse xperience with luxurious surroundings and view.

Location

Located away from town, but across Santa Village. The main attraction is the experience of feeling that you are in a tree house and sleeping among the trees. A once in a lifetime experience.

Staff

Staff were responsive and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms are small, but it is all about the view!!! There is a small sitting area were we could relax. The decor was beautiful and the bed very comfortable.

Iisakki Village

Ruka

We had a two bedroom villa and it was very spacious and comfortable. Modern decor and lots of amenities, including full kitchen and laundry machine (which was helpful as we had a long trip and it was convenient to do laundry during our stay). The villa also has a sauna which was nice to use, as it was private and convenient. The location of our villa was close to a lake. Beautiful surroundings. Breakfast was simple but adequate. The only minor negative was that we stayed outside the main season and the restaurant was not open for dinner. Because of the location, we needed to drive to find places to eat.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful woodsy location, providing an authentic forest experience.

Location

The location was beautiful if you want to be in the woods and experience the forest. We hiked from the property and it was very enjoyable.; we felt that we could get lost in the woods! The only minor negative was that because of the location and the closed restaurant during our stay (out of season in October), we needed to drive to eat dinner. But at the same time, the location offers a restful and peaceful stay.

Staff

Staff were helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Villa was simply decorated with all amenities needed, including separate bedroom, full kitchen, living room, sauna, and laundry facilities.

Arctic Light Hotel

Rovaniemi

The hotel and our suite room were beautiful. Nice decor modern decor, friendly staff, great amenities, and great breakfasts! Location was in the center of town with access to many shops and restaurants. We ate at the hotel restaurant and the food was amazing!

Authenticity & Character

Beautifully decorated and many amenities in our suite. Comfortable surroundings and roomy, with a sitting area.

Location

Center of town, close to river, shops, and restaurants.

Staff

Very friendly and helpful. Always greeted us with smiles and helpful if we needed anything.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfortable suite with sitting area and many amenities. Very nice decor.

Park Hotel Turku

Turku

The hotel was authentic and beautiful surroundings (across a park), but location was a bit far from the river area where most restaurants are located. Also, decor was a bit tired and the room didn’t have many amenities.

Authenticity & Character

It has character but decor was outdated.

Location

Would have liked a better location closer to the river

Staff

Staff were helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room didn’t have many amenities. Furniture and decor was outdated.

Hotel Haven

Helsinki

This was our first hotel in Finland and it was a dream. We loved the room, the breakfast, and the experiences we had at the bar. Staff were also very friendly. The view of our room was amazing and will recommend wholeheartedly for anyone who wants to have an amazing experience in Helsinki. Our room had a view of the water and the hotel was close to all the attractions. A five star experience…

Authenticity & Character

A great place to introduce us to Finland/Helsinki. The breakfast were delicious and they included many Finnish delicacies.

Location

Walking distance to shops, restaurants, and attractions.

Staff

Always greeted us with a smile and always willing to help, if needed.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The suite was amazing, roomy, beautifully decorated, comfortable with a sitting area, and the best view of the water.

Activity Reviews

Korouoma Canyon Wilderness Hike

Rovaniemi

We love this tour as it allowed us to be active an hike in the wilderness. The guide, Juhu, was excellent. We had great conversation throughout the hike, and enjoyed sausages around the fire during the hike. Juhu, our guide communicated with us before the tour to advise us on what to wear for the hike, as weather was rainy. We were ready for the weather and thoroughly enjoyed the hike despite the weather.

Quality of Experience

Juhu was knowledgeable and gave us a lot of information about the canyon and the forest. We were never rushed and enjoyed the beautiful hike. Sharing stories with each other.

Food

We shared sausages, with Juhu around a fire. The food was great and provided an authentic experience in the forest.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Juhu was a great guide. He provided a lot of useful information, while leading us through the hike. We highly recommend Juhu as a guide for this experience.

Transport

Very comfortable transport and convenient pickup from hotel.

Finnish Legends and Stories Around the Fire

Rovaniemi

This was a nice tour to learn about Finnish culture and legends. The tour met in downtown Rovaniemi, a short walk from our hotel. We were two couples in this experience. Because we were with another couple, we didn’t get to interact as much with the guides and get to know each other as with other private tours.

Quality of Experience

Because the weather was cloudy and rainy, we didn’t see the northern lights, but we still enjoyed the experience around the fire.

Food

Snacks (pancakes and jam) around the fire, were enjoyable.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable guides.

Transport

Transport from town to tour location was good.

Private Husky Visit & Cart-Ride in Autumn

Rovaniemi

This was an excellent tour, filled with excitement, joy, and warmth. Instead of a cart ride we opted for a hike with the huskies. What an experience in such beautiful setting. We got to know the huskies one by one in the kennel, and then we had an exhilarating hike with four of the huskies; the two of us and the couple who owns the farm. Our hosts were Antti and Aksana. Their welcoming and warm demeanor made our tour extraordinary!

Quality of Experience

This was an amazing experience. After our hike, we had snacks around the fire (homemade mustia pie and warm tea). We were blown away by their hospitality and authenticity. Of course we also loved the dogs!!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Antii and Aksana were amazing guides/hosts and provided us with an unforgettable experience with their huskies.

Transport

Antti picked us up at the hotel to take us to the farm, which was very convenient.

Private Dinner in a Glass Igloo Under Northern Lights

Rovaniemi

The experience was awesome, despite the bad weather. Unfortunately we were not able to see the Northern lights, as it was cloudy and rainy. But the meal was excellent and authentic, and the tour was very enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Beautiful location for a private dinner with authentic food prepared by the hosts.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

In addition to dinner, we had a tour of the forest thank you to Vadymir and the other hosts for the amazing tour and meal. It wwould have been even more amazing if we have seen the lights, but weather can’t be controlled. We still had a great time and enjoyed the delicious authentic dining experience.

Transport

Very convenient meeting at our hotel and very comfortable transport.

Private Reindeer Farm Visit

Rovaniemi

Enjoyed the authenticity of the tour. We learned a lot about the reindeers and the life of a reindeer farmer.

Quality of Experience

Authentic experience. Enjoyed our time learning about the reindeer farm.

Food

Great authentic snack prepared as part of the tour by the farm owner.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Juho and the farm owner were excellent in allowing us to have an authentic experience.

Transport

Excellent/comfortable transportation to the farm. The meeting location was also very convenient; across the street from our hotel. The tour guide also provided boots for us to ebable us to fully enjoy the farm without being worried about our shoes.

Tallinn Day Trip

Helsinki

We were very happy to add the day trip to Tallinn to our itinerary. Highly recommend to visit the beautiful old city and learn about its history. We took the ferry and had a great private tour of the city when we arrived. We were also lucky to meet our travel planner (Emerson) who lives in Estonia. After meeting with Emerson for a quick snack/lunch we had a private tour of the city. The guide (Christopher) was very knowledgeable and we learn a lot about Tallinn and its history.

Quality of Experience

It was a perfect day! Easy/convenient transport to Tallinn. We appreciated being able to meet our trip planner, Emerson. And the tour of the city was just perfect in terms of learning and allowing us some free time at the end to explore.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Christopher was very knowledgeable and we felt that we learned a lot during the half day tour.

Transport

We enjoyed taking the ferry/ cruise. The experience was unique and we enjoyed the time spent on the ship. The ship was very comfortable with plenty of areas to relax.

Private Tour of Finland's Nuuskio National Park

Helsinki

Amazing private tour with Jeff. The guide was very personable, we got to know a lot about the forest and we interacted a lot during the hike to get to know each other. The tour included a wonderful stew prepared by Jeff, including mushrooms that we gathered during our hike.m! This is a must to do!

Quality of Experience

An authentic hike and meal prepared by the guide.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jeff was an amazing personable guide. We learned a lot about the forest, and appreciated his teachings about what to pick in the forest, especially ligonberries and bilberries. We appreciated the excellent meal he prepared for us. A memorable experience that we will never forget.

Transport

It was very convenient to meet at the hotel. Very comfortable transportation.

Private Food Tour of Helsinki's Culinary Highlights

Helsinki

Excellent guide (Jolentha). The private tour was perfect to experience the culinary delicacies of Finland. We learned a lot and the experience enhanced our overall culinary experiences during the rest of our trip. Very authentic and enjoyable experience. The Guide selected authentic experiences.

Quality of Experience

Authentic locations to enjoy Finnish delicacies and get to know more about the culture.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Amazing guide (Jolentha) providing an authentic experience. The guide was very friendly, asked us a lot of questions to get to know us, which added to the positive experience.

Transport

It was very convenient to meet at our hotel.

Helsinki and Suomenlinna Private Tour

Helsinki

Excellent private tour to give you a sense of the city and the significance of Suomenlinna Island. Perfect tour to do at the start of the trip. The guides were excellent and covered a lot of information in relatively short amount of time (as we requested). We wanted a shorter tour for both the city and the island and this tour was perfect .

Quality of Experience

Excellent guides (Katia and Veera)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Excellent knowledge and interaction. This was a private tour, which allowed to ask questions and learn about the things that interested us the most. The guides were also very flexible and asked us questions to learn more about our interests.

Transport

Meeting at the hotel was very convenient.

Lilla did a wonderful job providing guidance along the way. She was genuinely invested in making certain things went well. Some tours were beyond expectations (bog shoeing in Estonia, hiking in Pyhajarvi, rafting in Rovaniemi, sauna tour in Helsinki) others were not what we had hoped. Overall we achieved our objective, having an active vacation and getting to know Finland.

Hotel Reviews

Arctic Light Hotel

Rovaniemi

Staff, location, room, and food were all best of your.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kurula's Resort

Pyhätunturi

Restaurant was not open. Nearest food was a two mile walk away. Unreliable taxi service.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Clerk provided us breakfast items from local store. Not great food, but we didn’t starve.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gorgeous room

Overnight Train

A wonderful experience and comfortable nights sleep.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cru Hotel

Tallinn

Excellent location. Restaurant was wonderful and staff was great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Home Hotel Jugend

Helsinki

They charged 20 Euros for early check in. Rooms were quite small for two travelers.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Korouoma Canyon & Auttiköngäs Waterfalls Adventure

Rovaniemi

Guides were very personable and knowledgeable of the area. It was a long drive and a relatively short hike but the nature and conversation made up for this. Cooking sausages over the fire was a bonus.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Too long

Fatbike Trip (Day or Night)

Rovaniemi

Cold, rainy weather did not stop the tour, thank goodness. Views were limited and our snack was a cold quick one, but what can you do? Guide was very patient and provided us a wonderful experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Flexible Northern Lights Hunting

Finland

Driver did everything possible to find lights. Unfortunately they were a no show.

Quality of Experience

No lights, long night of driving

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rafting Behind the Arctic Circle

Rovaniemi

Again, weather wasn’t great, but we made the most of our experience. Guide was very knowledgeable and provided a safe, exciting experience. I would have preferred a longer run than we had(had to drag raft back up river to make additional runs) but we enjoyed the experience. The trip included lunch and a sauna experience which we declined. We expected rafting, not eating or sauna.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Authentic Sauna by the Lake and Dinner

Pyhä

Nice sauna experience and good food, not great. Guide was very accommodating and provided a wonderful, personal experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From the Deepest Gorge to the Highest Peak Hike

Pyhä

Amazing experience. Guide was knowledgeable and seemed to enjoy the experience. Weather wasn’t great, but it was not a problem. This was a great hike!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Canoe Trip

Pyhä

Again, not a lot to do at 6:00 when it is dark at 7:30. Weather wasn’t great, but that wasn’t the issue. We should have gone at 4:00 and perhaps canoed on a river or something more fun than a lake.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Culture of Eastern Lapland Tour

Pyhä

Not much to hear about. Guide was informative but we wasted our time on this tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tallinn Old Town Walking Tour

Tallinn

Guide was ok. Seemed he was reading from a script. His mind was elsewhere.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Bogshoe Hiking Tour

Tallinn

Amazing. Wonderful experience and knowledgeable guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Helsinki City Walking Tour (2h)

Helsinki

Guide was knowledgeable and quite entertaining. I felt we got a good exposure of the Helsinki City Center and history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided Hike in the Archipelago Sea

Helsinki

Not much of a hike. (Less than 2 miles). Guide was knowledgeable and provided as much information as possible. Just not much there to see.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Helsinki Sauna Tour

Helsinki

Guide was informative, and fun to be with. Good balance of cycling and sauna time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our ten day trip to Finland was amazing. We had several discussions with Emerson, He took our goals, budget, interests, and physical abilities into consideration as he selected activities for us to complete on this trip. He did a terrific job! The attention to detail and personal service made this trip very special. We will give you feedback about the highlights in Helsinki’s, Levi, and Rovaniemi in terms of our transfers, hotels, and activities.

We spent four nights in Helsinki at the beginning of our trip. The transfers throughout Helsinki were outstanding. The vehicles were beautiful and comfortable and the drivers combined professionalism and friendliness. Hotel Kamp was also outstanding. The room was spacious, comfortable, and quiet. The staff were helpful and friendly, and the included breakfasts were delicious. While we enjoyed all of our city tours, our favorites were in Tallin (Christopher) and Porvoo. When talking to friends, we might suggest they skip the Soumenlinna trip. The trip to the Archipelago Sea (Alex) was a great way to get out of the city and see the beauty of nature close by.

The overnight train to Kolari was interesting. As described, we had our own cabin with two berths and a private bathroom. The cabin was quite small, with a very small window and little stool. We struggled getting into the top berth, but once we were each in our berths, we slept fine. Since we didn’t have seats in the regular compartment and there was no observation car, we spent a lot of time in the dining car when we were not sleeping.

Our transfer to Levi was great and the accommodations there were fantastic - probably our favorite of the entire trip. The Levin Iglut glass igloo was beautifully appointed and had a breathtaking view. The restaurant had a great breakfast, and we enjoyed delicious meals both nights at the hotel. The staff were friendly and helpful. It was a joy to be there. While the conditions were not ideal to see the Nothern Lights, our guide, Jukka, was knowledgeable and worked very hard to find a place where we could experience them through photography.

Our transfer to Rovaniemi was great and our suite at the Arctic Treehouse was beautiful. The restaurant at the hotel was good and the staff were all very helpful. All of our Lapland hikes were outstanding. The guides (Heli, Juno, Suka, and Ustav) were knowledgeable, interesting, and flexible while adjusting to our hiking needs and speeds. The sauna experience was one we will always remember, because we got to authentically experience a Finnish tradition in nature.

The advice to fly back to Helsinki was great. We enjoyed staying at the Hotel Haven. It was not as lavish as Hotel Kamp, but did the trick for our one night stay before heading home. Again, our transfer was on time and incredibly professional.

Our kimkim contact in Finland, Lilla Patricia, did a great job monitoring things while we were there. She checked in with us to see how things were going, served to reschedule a hike, and managed the situation when a tour was cancelled. We would definitely recommend kimkim to friends and will use you in the future. Thank you for a great trip.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Haven

Helsinki

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arctic TreeHouse Hotel

Rovaniemi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Levin Iglut Glass Igloos

Kitilä

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Overnight Train

Hotel Kamp

Helsinki

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Korouoma Canyon Wilderness Hike

Rovaniemi

It was so fun to see this part of Finland. The hike had a few places that were a little steep, but most of those spots had a rope or something to hold on to. We had a dry, beautiful day. If it was wet or snowy, this could have been slippery, but it was perfect for us. Our guide took many pictures of us along the hike.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Finnish Sauna Experience

Rovaniemi

This was worth the drive. We got to experience a Finnish cabin and wood fired sauna on a lake. The blueberry juice and snacks were appreciated.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pallas National Park Wilderness Adventure

Levi

The hike gave us an opportunity to get above the tree line and enjoy a gorgeous view. The guides took great pictures of us.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Aurora Tour by Van

Levi

Our driver did a great job finding a place where we could see the Northing Lights on a night with low activity and clouds. He found a spot with a break in the clouds where we could photograph the Northern Lights and enjoy seeing amazing stars.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Forest Adventure And Cooking In The Nature

Levi

It was our first time foraging, which was delightful. We learned a lot about mushrooms, blueberries, and lingonberries. Cooking the mushrooms on fire by a beautiful river was amazing. The meal our guide prepared was delicious. Definitely one of our favorite experiences.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hike in the Archipelago Sea

Helsinki

The hike was a comfortable speed, and our guide, Alex, taught us about the biology and geology of the location. The view was outstanding. We had our first sea buckthorn juice on this hike. So fun making a fire and having sausages, potato salad, and a pastry .

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Porvoo Private Day Tour

Helsinki

Our guide gave us great information both on the ride to Porvoo and during our walking tour. He pointed out historic places and suggested places to shop. The town was charming.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tallinn Day Trip

Helsinki

We enjoyed the ferry ride. Our guide, Christopher, gave us great insight into the history and current state of Estonia.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Helsinki and Suomenlinna Private Tour

Helsinki

Our Helsinki city tour was great. Our guide, Jolantha, gave us a great overview of the city and good suggestions of places to see on our own. The library was a great place to see on our own. The Suomenlinna part of the tour was just OK. We walked through the island but didn’t see anything up close. The cobblestones were hard to walk on.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

An Amazing Experience for Anyone and Everyone
We had such an amazing time taking in the culture around Finland. The entire trip was like a fantasy that I wish did not have to come to an end. Some of the major highlights were the attentiveness and service that were provided by Emerson and the tour guides. I loved learning about the culture, and everything was always within walking distance. My top favorites would have had to have been the Helsinki Nature Escape: National Park & Smoke Sauna. This was like escaping to a magical forest and living amongst the trees, and experiencing traditional saunas was something that even locals are jealous of, and you feel excitement experiencing the culture. Another highlight was the Unveiling Turku: History, Culture, and Culinary Gems. Another whimsical moment, but walking around the castle ruins and having afternoon tea was such a treat, and everyone we talked to was such a pleasant person who was very friendly and approachable. Highly recommend this trip for anyone looking for a whimsical experience and something a tad different.

Moonika was great. We shared with her via Zoom the kind of experiences we wanted and everything was pre planned and scheduled for us. She checked in with us numerous times while we were on the trip to Inari which made us feel very comfortable and very well taken care of. When we did have questions about the trip, Moonika responded in an extremely timely fashion. I would highly recommend KimKim and we would definitely work with them again.

Hotel Review

Wilderness Hotel Inari & Igloos

Inari

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right on the lake. We upgraded to a lakefront view.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bathroom is very small. No way to open windows to let in clean air. Private Sauna is awesome though.

Activity Review

Reindeer & Sami Handicraft

Inari

Very authentic experience. So interesting to meet the owner of the farm and to learn about Sami culture.

To Kim Kim & Emerson Siimer
Thank you for your assistance with making our trip memorable and fun, we appreciate from the bottom of our hearts. Overall, we are happy we chose to work with you, especially Emerson. All 11 days of our trip, all planned events, all transfers (except for some hiccups with one or two), all day trips, all the guides we had, all transportation arrangements were top class, that ensured we had a relaxed, stress-free trip. We thoroughly enjoyed every place we visited, every tour we did and every guide we got for the tours. Yana, Camille, Martin, Lena, Nadia, Moonika, Jorge, Stassi (I am forgetting the Guide we had for Porvoo, apologies) and above all, Emerson who stayed on top of all the activities, always be there for us, patiently answering all our questions and concerns and together, you all have made it a wonderful trip and we appreciate all of you.

All our guides are super knowledgeable, very friendly, greatly accommodating and very cooperating – we loved them all. Please give our gratitude and love to all. Some of the adjustments/changes you had to make to meet our needs & wants are simply outstanding, like taking us to several lighthouses in Tallinn and for arranging an internal tour of the lighthouse was amazing. We truly appreciate it.

We loved Tallinn, Rovaniemi, Porvoo, Helsinki & Turku (in that order), every food we tried and every day of our 11-day trip and all the new experiences during this trip and the fond memories we created. We simply wish it lasted longer. We can’t wait to work with you on our next trip in 2026.

Take care.

Truly

APMN
September 10, 2025

Hotel Reviews

Cru Hotel

Tallinn

Oh My God, the ups and downs, narrow walkways, twists and turns - an unbelievable experience. This place is a 'Character' and we loved the hotel and the experience it offered.

Authenticity & Character

Oh My God, the ups and downs, narrow walkways, twists and turns - an unbelievable experience. This place is a 'Character' and we loved the hotel and the experience it offered.

Location

perfectly located right in the middle of activities, attractions, restaurants, shops - we loved coming in and going out even at nights.

Staff

Friendly staff, the breakfast options were underwhelming. Could have been better. Actually, we skipped breakfast and had outside for a change and better options, to be honest

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very neatly arranged, well maintinaied, pleasant

Home Hotel Jugend

Helsinki

A fortress like look and feel but offered plenty of modern features and comfort. Breakfast was amazing. proximity to major attractions was a big plus.

Authenticity & Character

A fortress like look and feel but offered plenty of modern features and comfort.

Location

right in the center with major attractions within walkable distance.

Staff

very helpful and courteous staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

perfectly arranged, neat, clean and amazing hotel.

Overnight Train

A first-of-a-kind experience for us. The train ride with glowing sun along for the ride throught the night was so much fun. Dining car provided excellent food options. Rooms are small but very aptly set up especially the shower, wow.

Authenticity & Character

A fun train ride

Location

NA

Staff

The conductor was so nice and helped us catch the train when we arrived late, sincerely appreciate it.

Cleanliness & Comfort

beautiful

Arctic Light Hotel

Rovaniemi

Excellent hotel with truly amazing morning breakfast and out of the world dinner menu, loved the stay and the food. Staff is very courteous and helpful

Authenticity & Character

beautiful interior, good lobby, great dining options

Location

Perfectly located, walkable to the center and across from our travel agency. good restaurants a few feet away.

Staff

Thank you for a great service

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and decent and well decorated

Activity Reviews

Finnish Sauna Experience

Rovaniemi

I was afraid of Hot Sauna, sweating, etc. So skeptical about this but Emerson convinced me to give it a try and I did and totally blown away by the experience. Thanks to Emerson and the amazing guide Martin, I truly enjoyed this unique Sauna experience in a natural surrounding for a truly Finnish Sauna Experience. Totally awesome.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Martin was a cool and energetic guide who made the whole experience amazing.

Transport

the ride, the cabins, the surrounding, the lake and Sauna - a nice thrilling package

Reindeer Farm and Ranua Wildlife Park Visit

Rovaniemi

A thrilling, dream-come-true experience meeting the reindeers, so many of them, Again, it was raining. The experience could have been a lot better if it was a sunny day, we wish. We still enjoyed the trip

Quality of Experience

Visiting Reindeers, feeding them was a great experience., hearing about Reindeers, their behavior, farming, etc. was like listening to a cool story. Thanks to all.

Food

The buffer was yummy, unexpected and enjoyable.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Camille was very knowledgeable and friendly. She helped make the rainy day experience a better-than expected experience. The way she was explaining made it a cool experience, thanks Camille

Transport

Rainy day made it a little dampening but Camille helped make it a better experience.

Midnight Sun Photography Tour

Rovaniemi

Thrilling experience, fun hike and a very active and cool guide Yana. It was a cloudy day and so we missed the 'sun' but the experience was still worth it. To be on top of the hill at midnight was fun, could have been a lot more thrilling with the sun setting and rising. But, we still loved it. Yana made it so much more fun.

Quality of Experience

Thrilling hike and an unusual experience, especially on our first night in Rovaniemi

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yana was very friendly, knowledgeable, accommodating and she with her camera was a big bonus since I am a photographer too. Thanks Yana

Transport

Good ride

All Guides in Helsinki and Estonia perfect. Enjoyed the hotel but stuffy! Breaky and dinner appreciated. Porvoo was lovely with Maria. Turku hotel amazing…. We were better on our own there. Guide not the best. Train fun and we did sleep! Enjoyed the museums in Turku. Art gallery special . Rovaniemi, hotel excellent with friendly staff, room abit dramatic though! Our tours 100% wonderful. Saw lights thanks to Ryan and cannon hike guide a very nice person, Martin. Santa land very commercial. Reindeers farm was an unexpected highlight! A very impressive young man. Excellent and comfortable trip to Inari. There the trip went down hill. Resort atmosphere quite cold, dull staff and accomodation quite uncomfortable. Too hot! Highlight was the beauty of the lake and fabulous museum. Lilla is a delight and meeting her was a bonus. Well done Kim Kim

Hotel Reviews

Comfort Hotel Helsinki Airport

Vantaa

We were in the room for four hours….quiet and a comfy bed

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wilderness Hotel Inari & Igloos

Inari

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arctic Light Hotel

Rovaniemi

Authenticity & Character

But over the top in decorations

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Overnight Train

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lots of fun

Solo Sokos Hotel Turun Seurahuone

Turku

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gorgeous bed

Home Hotel Jugend

Helsinki

Bit stuffy again

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Northern Lights Tour with Professional Photos

Finland

Nice guy but no luck….

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Reindeer Farm Visit (No Safari)

Rovaniemi

A very intelligent enthusiastic young man we wish him well in the future

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Flexible Northern Lights Hunting

Rovaniemi

Ryan brilliant

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Korouoma Canyon & Auttiköngäs Waterfalls Adventure

Rovaniemi

Special time in our holiday

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Turku City Walking Tour

Turku

Quality of Experience

Porvoo Private Day Tour

Helsinki

Maria delightful

Quality of Experience

Transport

Tallinn Day Trip

Helsinki

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Helsinki and Suomenlinna Private Tour

Helsinki

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had a great trip. My granddaughters and I were constantly amazed by the first class hotels and the outstanding guides. We enjoyed all the activities, from learning about the history and culture to the hike and bike ride in Lapland. The guides were uniformly well informed, personable, spoke excellent English, willing to answer any question. Finland and Estonia are beautiful countries with impressive infrastructure and good examples of well-functioning democracies. The sauna in the country and campfire with Sami and Finish legends was a great capstone for a superb trip. Lilla was very responsive and helpful as our overall trip guide. Thank you. David Entin

Hotel Reviews

Hobo Hotel

Helsinki

Hobo Hotel in Helsinki exceeded our expectations and was one of the best hotels we've ever stayed in. Everything about it was top-notch, and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay there. The breakfast offered was particularly incredible, with a wide range of healthy options that my granddaughters loved.

Cru Hotel

Tallinn

The hotel in Old Town, Tallinn was quite unique. The building had historical charm, and our room was surprisingly spacious. An unexpected perk was having a sauna in the bathroom, which was a delightful surprise. The overall experience at this hotel was pleasant, despite its older feel.

Activity Review

Cultural e-fatbike Tour

Rovaniemi

The Cultural e-fatbike Tour in Lapland was a bit underwhelming. While the concept of riding fat-tire electric bikes was exciting, the guide's English was not as strong as others we experienced. Also, since it's harder to communicate during a bike ride, we couldn't engage as much as we'd like. Nevertheless, the guide proved to be wonderful during a subsequent hiking tour, which reassured us of his abilities.

I reached out to Kimkim to get assistance with designing a disc-golf focused trip to Finland in the Summer of 2025. I had the pleasure or working with Emerson, who was able to take my idea (start with the Professional Disc Golf World Championships in Tampere/Nokia, then travel Southern Finland playing the best courses in the world) and turn it into a reality. He took the time to understand what exactly it was I wanted to see and do, where and how I wanted to travel, and he put it all together so perfectly! It was the easiest trip I've ever had to plan. Emerson took care of everything, so that all I had to do was step off the plane and follow the itinerary. The accommodations were great and well-located so we had easy access to saunas, nature and local sites, we had good food all along the way, the rental car was perfect, and the recommended (non-disc golf) excursions were always well-worth it. Professional drivers showed up in very nice cars when expected, even a little early. Emerson kept in contact with me by e-mail before and several times during my trip to assure things were going smoothly. I felt extra safe and secure in the knowledge there was someone I could call any time of the day or night during my trip. Thank you Kimkim and Emerson for making this trip a dream-come-true!

From the transportation to the accommodations, every part of the trip was wonderful! I would recommend Kim Kim to anyone planning an overseas vacation.

Hotel Reviews

Solo Sokos Hotel Turun Seurahuone

Turku

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lapland Hotels Tampere

Tampere

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Aquarius Resort

Lappajärvi

I would recommend room darkening shades. We just happened to stay during the mid-summer holiday. It was a little difficult to sleep with the bright sky.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Original Sokos Hotel Arina

Oulu

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arctic Light Hotel

Rovaniemi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Overnight Train

The train was clean and the staff very helpful. I had a little trouble sleeping on the train due to the motion, but a fun experience.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Fabian

Helsinki

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Boat Trip from Nauvo

Turku

A definite high light of the trip!! Sami was great!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Turku City Walking Tour

Turku

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sauna Tour

Tampere

Nothing better than a Finnish sauna and a dip in the lake!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Industrial Past of Tampere

Tampere

Our guides really went out of their way to help us!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Oulu Walking Tour

Oulu

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Finnish Legends and Stories Around the Fire

Rovaniemi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Korouoma Canyon Wilderness Hike

Rovaniemi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Unfortunately, we did have some car trouble on the way home. Our guide did his best to remedy the situation.

Arctic Nightless Night Boat Trip

Rovaniemi

Quality of Experience

Food

The salmon was amazing!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Porvoo Private Day Tour

Helsinki

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Helsinki and Suomenlinna Private Tour

Helsinki

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We planned a two-week trip to Finland with the amazing help of Moonika. She was extremely helpful, and quick to adjust our tours and schedule as we planned the trip. Every tour guide we had was knowledgeable, the drivers were professional and always on time, and the hotels were excellent. I highly recommend KimKim for anyone who is planning a customized trip.

Hotel Review

Arctic Light Hotel

Rovaniemi

Excellent location; beautiful rooms. The breakfast buffet was over the top!

Authenticity & Character

The rooms had authentic decorations; arctic lights in bedrooms.

Location

Very walkable

Staff

Mark was very helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sauna Tour

Tampere

Excellent!! A way to get a real taste of Finnish culture. Matti and his colleague (can't remember his name) were very knowledgeable, and lots of fun! An experience I will never forget!!

Quality of Experience

Korouoma Canyon Wilderness Hike

Rovaniemi

The hike was great; only for people who could handle steep up and down hills. The guide, Quentin was amazing.

Food

Sausages on the fire were great!

Arctic Nightless Night Boat Trip

Rovaniemi

Wow!! All nine of us loaded onto a wooden boat, and we were escorted about 30 minutes up the river to a forest location where we enjoyed a nature hike, stories around the fire, and amazing fire-cooked salmon. A wonderful experience with nature. Saw the midnight sun and beautiful scenery.

Food

The salmon was excellent

Helsinki and Suomenlinna Private Tour

Helsinki

Both guides, Kaita and the guide on Suomenlinna were extremely knowledgable.

Boat Trip from Nauvo

Turku

Sami, our captain and Rufus, his first mate were excellent. He provided great information, and was very entertaining. The scenery and experience was first-rate. A once in a lifetime experience.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

There were highlights in every city we visited . All our guides and drivers were on time or early. With 9 of us on the trip, we each had different things we enjoyed. I especially liked the history given by the guides. A real highlight was the day sailing in the archipelago. It was an extraordinary family trip and Moonika was so helpful in our planning. I highly recommend Kim Kim & know other group members are planning to use the agency for future trips.

Hotel Reviews

Solo Sokos Hotel Turun Seurahuone

Turku

Lapland Hotels Tampere

Tampere

Aquarius Resort

Lappajärvi

The room by the lake where I stayed made me feel I was in a camp counselor’s room. Dated.

Authenticity & Character

Needs updating

Location

Staff

Very little interaction with guests

Cleanliness & Comfort

Update

Original Sokos Hotel Arina

Oulu

Arctic Light Hotel

Rovaniemi

Overnight Train

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Fabian

Helsinki

Activity Reviews

Boat Trip from Nauvo

Turku

This was a favorite activity! Depending on the weather, dress in layers, have a hat or hood, and perhaps bring gloves.

Quality of Experience

Informative and sense of humor of capt.

Food

The salmon soup was wonderful.

Transport

On time

Arctic Nightless Night Boat Trip

Rovaniemi

I appreciated the expertise of Tommy who set up my travels through Finland. If I had had some additional time I would have added an additional day in each city I visited. The only thing that was problematic was during travel to Turku where there was only 4 minutes to get off the train. With so many people trying to exit the train before the 4 minutes were made it difficult to exit the train with my luggage. I had to stay on the train and get off at the next stop. I was able to engage a cab driver to drive me to my hotel.

Moonika planned a wonderful Finland trip for my mother and I. She took the time to understand our goals and and created a perfect itinerary.

We rented a car and traveled to 5 different cities. All of the travel was smooth and well-curated. Our hotels were comfortable and in good locations. At each stop we had activities and tours booked, and we enjoyed them all. The local guides were all professional and friendly. The Sauna experience in Tampere was a highlight of the trip.

The whole experience exceeded expectations and we made many lifelong memories. Thank you Moonika!

Activity Review

Sauna Tour

Tampere

This experience was the highlight of our Finland trip! Matti was so professional and kind as he helped my mother and I navigate our first Finnish Sauna experience. We had so much fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We asked for an authentic Finland experiences and We had just that. It’s an amazingly beautiful country.
We really loved all the places we visited in Southern Finland and the Lakeland area.
Our guides in Turku, Tempère, and Rantasalmi were so accommodating and knowledgeable.
We especially enjoyed our Sauna experience with Matti.
The only snag was our rental car experience with Finn- Rent with pickup and drop off. Poor communication and difficult/ confusing drop off experience.
They could improve their customer service.
The car itself etc. was comfortable and reliable.
Our agent Moonika gets 5 stars for her communication with us and for planning what we wanted to do!
Thank you Moonika!

Hotel Reviews

RUNO Hotel Porvoo

Porvoo

Amazing breakfast! Had local Finnish musicians playing on Saturday night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right in Old Porvoo- charming.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Especially comfortable with amazing bedding and views outside.

Hotel & Spa Resort Järvisydän

Rantasalmi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lillan Boutique Hotel & Kök

Tampere

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Park Hotel Turku

Turku

Location great! Staff was lovely. Bedding good- all very clean Mattresses need replacement .

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Home Hotel Jugend

Helsinki

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Seal Watching Trip

Rantasalmi

This was a lovely boat ride even though we didn’t see any seals. Our guide was very knowledgeable and did his best. It became a bit rainy and the seals don’t like the rain! The lake is beautiful and did see ospreys. Lots of binoculars available on the boat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sauna Tour

Tampere

Matti was a fabulous guide- full of information and guidance given in a thoughtful way. He to us to a mixed public sauna on a gorgeous clean lake. I can’t say enough about our experience. It was an enlivening experience!! Bring your sauna shoes( flip flops are fine) and don’t eat only a small meal or snack, if needed, before heading out.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Turku City Walking Tour

Turku

Anna Marie is so knowledgeable about Finnish history and her strong connection to Turku. It was a rainy morning but we had a full tour. The hotel has well made umbrellas and the rain was not an issue. The tour does take more than 1.5 hours - realistically 2-2.5 hours and we walked fairly quickly with some inclines. Wear supportive sneakers!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

On foot only-

Guided Hike in the Archipelago Sea

Helsinki

Alex was so accommodating, knowledgeable and fun-Easy to talk to and be with as well. It was our 1st full day and we went out to this beautiful area with the freshest air. Alex pointed out many things along our trek and put together a fabulous lunch for us.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tommy was great at finding us a wonderful accommodation and transfers just as we requested. The cabin suited our needs perfectly, close to grocery and town and most importantly great access to the awesome ski trails at Ylläs. Since we were late in the season we were unable to partake of other things that may have interested us since they had closed. Tommy was responsive with some questions we need answered during the trip and was very helpful before the trip with helping us prepare for a different culture. We've never done a trip with a personal travel agent before and we were pleased with the excellent service provided by Tommy and his local contacts.

We had the best experience planning our trip with Moonika. She was helpful and even when we had to push out the trip by 6 weeks because of passport delays it was seamless. During our trip the guides and activities booked were perfect. We enjoyed our northern light tour, dog sledding with bear hill, reindeer sleigh ride with beyond arctic and ice fishing/orienteering with Nordic odyssey. Our accommodations were super nice, at great locations to city center for restaurants and shopping. I am thankful for the lifetime of memories that were made. Thank you KimKim for a memorable adventure. Will definitely use this company on our next adventure!

Hotel Reviews

Nova Skyland Hotel

Rovaniemi

Lovely hotel, great accommodation and great location!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arctic Light Hotel

Rovaniemi

Lovely hotel, fabulous location and great rooms!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Snowshoeing and Ice Fishing Adventure

Rovaniemi

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Reindeer Safari in the Nature of Lapland

Rovaniemi

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Family Husky Safari

Finland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Flexible Northern Lights Hunting

Finland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We did several things during our time in Finland. Just enough to keep busy but not burn out First, our trip organizer, Emerson is 10 stars. His attention to detail and organization ensured a stress free trip. THANK YOU!!

Of the 4 organized tours, two really stood out: the northern lights tour and visiting Tallinn. The northern lights tour with Beyond Arctic in Rovaniemi was excellent. Our guide (Leevi) was great and the gear provided was very much needed for the cold elements of the arctic. We were fortunate to see a great show!
The tour of old town in Tallinn with guide, Christopher, was AMAZING! Full of knowledge and funny! We did a day trip to Tallinn, but it deserves a couple of days to explore both old town and the new town! We grabbed a quick bite from The Third Dragon Medieval Tavern that is located in the old courtroom of Tallinn Town Hall. It was fun, the staff in character and the Elk soup broth was the perfect belly warmer on a cold day. Be sure to wonder off on side streets to find crafts off the beaten path. We visited Puupank. They have beautiful wood crafts.
I highly recommend using KimKim and will again in the future. Thank you!

What an incredible adventure we had in Lapland with kimkim! From the start, dealing with kimkim was responsive, pleasant, informative and uncomplicated. We were grateful to have Emerson assigned to us for our Aurora Borealis adventure. We wanted luxury accommodations, private transfers, private/small group activities, and plenty of opportunities for daily exercise, including swimming, gyms, and lots of cross-country skiing. The website portal made it simple to stay in touch with chats and virtual calls. Emerson went above and beyond to provide support and was always available for insights or to smooth out any snags throughout the trip.

While Hotel Kamp was under renovation, they put us in an incredible suite! The hotel is terrifically located, and we loved the access to the community outdoor pool which was just a few blocks away. Our tour guides in Helsinki and Tallinn were great!

The overnight train to Rovaniemi was less than ideal but certainly memorable. We suggest future guests consider renting an extra cabin for personal belongings, as carrying baggage up to the crowded second floor was very difficult and room very cramped. Quite unexpectedly, all the bathrooms in our train car were malfunctioning for the entire train ride, which was very unfortunate. We believe it was just that the train company provided us with a 50% refund.

Emerson’s excellent transfers once again were on time and super friendly once off in Rovaniemi. We met our tour guide with Johka who picked us up at the station and brought us straight to Jaakkola Reindeer Farm. We had such a delightful, unique, and private experience! The third-generation farm and its history added a fascinating charm for us. Our story – Jaakkolan Porotila

Next, the Arctic Treehouse provided superior and truly breathtaking accommodations, kind staff and great restaurant. Tired from the day, we pushed on. Quickly we were jump started by witnessing a rare red Aurora during our Arctic Tree Float. It was truly spectacular and a once in a lifetime experience!

The next day, we had a playful adventure with the huskies. We returned to the Arctic Treehouse for another fabulous dinner with the entire restaurant lit by candles for Earth Day, creating a magical atmosphere.

Emerson again book us the top igloo at the Levin Iglut Glass Igloos. Our snow house offered spectacular vistas and the restaurant had fantastic and truly artistic food. All the staff there are so lovely and kind!

Kinos Safaris provided us a great snowmobiling experience, but what was memorable was the rest stop for salmon soup and possibly the best blueberry dessert that I have ever had at this small outpost with the most delightful overseer.
That evening, James from Green Track Wooden Shoe Adventures led a special and private hike on fresh snow,. He is well versed and delightful sharing his vast knowledge for nature and the environment.

Next day we spent an afternoon in town, exploring the Sami Cultural Heritage Museum, petting reindeer, and dining at the King Crab Restaurant - all that we recommend highly.

Switching gears as our witnessing no more auroras, but amazing snowfall that night allowed for a wonderful hike at Saana the next day, and Cahkal Hotel was really super; staff and guide great and has a terrific restaurant!

Our journey then took us to Tromsø. Emerson, once again research extensively to find us this time accommodations that had a pool and found Saint Elizabeth Suites. Unfortunately, access to the pool wasn't always available (and not even open before 9AM?!?), but they did have a well-equipped health club. Please note that the front desk staff were not very accommodating or friendly. (Our Wondering Owl guide mentioned that the tourism industry in Norway isn't particularly welcoming, and we found this to be true, especially when compared to the more hospitable atmosphere in Finland.)

BTW, there was a mix-up with Wandering Owl's booking communication. We were picked up at 9:10 AM and dropped off at the Scandic Ishavshotel. At 9:30, we received a call from Wondering Owl informing us that due to recent flooding, they would be delayed picking us up at Brescia Harbor. We clarified that we were not at the harbor, but at the hotel. Thankfully, the tour did not begin till 10AM and they then confirmed that we would then be picked up on schedule at 9:50AM as there are other guests there waiting there. The tour went well, and the fresh snow made it beautiful.

Overall, our trip was brimming with unique experiences and unforgettable moments! We are deeply grateful for the adventure Emerson crafted for us – he is truly a tremendous asset to kimkim!

With appreciation and regards,
J & J

Our KimKim Guide, Emerson did a great our vacation plans. We gave him the general guidelines, and he put it all together. The people he selected were all top-notch. The drivers for the various events all arrived on time and were unfailingly professional. The Aurora Hunting guide from Beyond Artic did a wonderful job and found what seemed to be the only clear patch of sky in Levi, allowing us to see a wonderful view of the Aurora and take many wonderful pictures that will last a lifetime. Highest Recommendations