Kimkim Trip Reviews for Iceland

There wasn’t a detail left untouched for our trip to Iceland. Gummie was incredibly thorough. For ease of use I had our pdf of the trip printed into a presentation book and we kept it in the car with us, plus now it’s a great detailed keepsake. The rental from Blue Car came with WiFi and we found that to be so helpful. Each hotel stay was perfect and went beyond expectations for unique settings, boutique style rooms and staff experience. We found the restaurant recommendations super helpful as well as tips like getting wine or liquor at Duty Free in the airport upon arrival. We packed appropriately for all kinds of weather and went out on our adventures regardless of weather until the unexpected snow storm in the East Fjords changed our plans. We made a quick plan B to enjoy the Vok Baths and a quiet rest day. Overall, we loved our entire Iceland experience and the KimKim service was excellent.

Gummi did a great job. We thoroughly enjoyed his knowledge & passion for Iceland !
We are grateful that our last hotel in Iceland kept Toni's purse for us. It made our trip much more relaxed knowing they had her purse for us.

Hotel Review

Hotel Odinsve

Reykjavik

They kept Toni's purse for us. This made our trip much more relaxing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Icelandic Food Walk

Reykjavík

Very interesting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Faxaflói Bay Whale Watching Excursion

Reykjavík

We saw 2 whales.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon by Amphibian Boat

Iceland

Fantastic experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Glacier Ice Cave Experience as part of a Private Tour

Iceland

Good tire changing experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Geothermal Bakery Experience

Golden Circle

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Laugarás Lagoon - Lerki

Iceland

Excellent activity.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Víðgelmir Lava Cave Experience

Iceland

Fun walking in an ice cave.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thor Thorsteinsson was our guide and was truly perfect….fun, knowledgeable, calm, genuine. His tempo for the days was fit everyone’s capabilities and interests.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Nordurland

Akureyri

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hótel Drangshlíð

Skógar

The rooms were fine . I don’t remember exactly but was not impressed with the meal… I can’t remember details, sorry

Authenticity & Character

Location

Loved the remoteness

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

ODDSSON Hotel

Reykjavik

Keyless entry was helpful since our arrival was so early. Free Breakfast were good and soup was available for dinner time. Nice sitting area for games and dining. Our last day departure was 7am; breakfast opened then so we were not able to eat. Food for that day would have been appreciated. ODDSSON is a beautiful hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

For the tour experience I would have liked staying in the center of town.

Staff

Friendly, accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

We loved the bedding

Activity Reviews

6 Day Summer Ring Road Group Tour - Day 5

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Inside the Volcano tour

Iceland

Again, this was an “over the top “ experience.

Quality of Experience

We loved our hike to the base camp and the soup afterwards was a lovely treat

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guides serenaded us on our way up to the top with an Icelandic song! That was an unexpected bonus in such a setting.

Transport

Whale Watching Tour

Iceland

We were so lucky to see a humpback whale for most of our trip to the fjord.

Quality of Experience

The Geothermal Vok Baths

Iceland

This was so different from the Blue Lagoon and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Quality of Experience

Less crowded made it extra special

Skaftafell Glacier Hike

Iceland

Again, a once in a lifetime opportunity. It really was thrilling.

Quality of Experience

Uniqueness of it!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

6 Day Summer Ring Road Group Tour - Day 3

Iceland

Quality of Experience

We loved all of our many waterfall stops!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Katla Ice Cave Tour

Iceland

We had no idea what to expect and were in awe of this experience. Beautiful and just a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable

Transport

6 Day Summer Ring Road Group Tour - Day 2

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Thor really was a perfect guide….so knowledgeable, he had side sites that he shared and was just fun!

Transport

The van was very comfortable

Horse Riding

Iceland

Our 2 grandsons were allowed to ride faster at the end of our ride which they loved. We asked for this and the owner accommodated them. They would have enjoyed even more time and the faster pace.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very helpful

Transport

Gummi was excellent an tour guide and travel agent. His knowledge of Iceland and travel in general was outstanding

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Odinsve

Reykjavik

Didn't ike the property. Rooms were not at all spacious. stayed there 2 nights, rooms were not serviced. Property is in need of maintenance.

Authenticity & Character

while the location was good, the property is not well maintained.

Location

decent location

Staff

staff a bit surly at times, Clerk was more interested in smoking breaks than receiving guests. Rooms were not serviced

Cleanliness & Comfort

rooms were extremely small even for iceland standards. Badly in need of maintenance and repair

Hótel Kría

Vík

modern property inside the village of Vik.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hótel Grímsborgir by Keahotels

Ásborgir

Property has many individual building

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hótel Húsafell

Húsafell, Borgarbyggð

Authenticity & Character

Location

great Hub for day trips

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Center Hotel Arnarhvoll

Reykjavík

Great location by the water, Staff were very attentive and responsive.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Icelandic Food Walk

Reykjavík

Large group

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Faxaflói Bay Whale Watching Excursion

Reykjavík

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon by Amphibian Boat

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Glacier Ice Cave Experience as part of a Private Tour

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

flat tire

Geothermal Bakery Experience

Golden Circle

Laugarás Lagoon - Lerki

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

we had to take our own taxi

Transport

hired our own taxi,, roundtrip pretty expennsive

Víðgelmir Lava Cave Experience

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gummi organised our Icelandic adventure for us, and he did the most fantastic job! As we were visiting for 3 weeks, he really took the time to personalise our trip to meet our needs. The activities and sights chosen were remarkable, just the right pace, and no detail was left unturned. We had maps to follow, and local recommendations to help break up the days. Gummi was thorough, responsive and friendly throughout the whole process and at all times we felt that we were in capable hands. We would recommend Gummi and KimKim to anyone.

The KimKim experience waw pretty outstanding. I had to converse multiple times with Eric in setting up the trip. Eric was always adaptive and prompt in making the changes that I requested. He set up a daily series of places to visit each day with the most important places to visit being listed first and optional side excursions given time available. His suggestions were great. This is the second time I have visited Iceland and was able to see and experience places I had not been to before. My wife and I really enjoyed the Ice cave exploration at Katla and the glacier hike on the Vatnajokul at Vik. The hotels we stayed at were 3 and 4 star places. I think they all were exceptional especially if you are used to European hotels. We really liked the Vogasfjos Hotel which had exceptional meals which were were all farm raised. 1001 Nott in Egilsstadir and the Hofsstadir Country Hotel were exceptional. My wife stated that this was one of the coolest trips she has ever taken. My hats off to KimKim and Eric. Be aware though that things are expensive in Iceland.

The trip was great. Iceland was amazing. We did A LOT of stuff. Probably too much for the short time we were there. But it was worth it. Most the experiences were great. A couple were good, but probably didn't have to do, but still enjoyed them. Be prepared to drive a lot. Nothing is close. Average driving is about an hour between things. Some things are more than 2 and half hours away. But the drives are always beautiful and unique.

Hotel Reviews

Black Beach Suites

Vik I Myrdal

This place is so stylish and modern—very nice! It has a great little bar to unwind. If you’re traveling with a larger group, it’s a good idea to book the same type of rooms so they can be put next to each other. The whole property is broken up into a few different buildings. Some only having 4 rooms. We had a standard room and one with a bit more flair, but they were in different buildings. With kids needing to split up, that was a bit of a challenge. However, the hotel staff were incredibly helpful and found the best solution for us. I’d definitely choose to stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vatnsholt Hotel & Guesthouse

Selfoss

We all felt right at home here! The rooms are designed with singles and couples in mind, much like a hostel, but it was perfect for our short stay. We had our own space in the building, which was just what we needed. Plus, there was a playground for the kids and horses to see right on the property. The place was spotless and well-kept. They do offer a small breakfast, but it’s enough to keep you going until lunch. If you need groceries or restaurants, you’re about a 15-20 minute drive from the main town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Miðhraun - Lava Resort

Stykkishólmur

We had an amazing time staying here! The farmhouse was perfect for all six of us. The restaurant served some of the best food we’ve ever tasted in Iceland. The kids absolutely loved the little playground with the bouncy inflatable. And the thermo spa was a real treat. The farmhouse had everything we needed for a long stay, and we wish we could have stayed longer.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Old Charm Reykjavík Apartments

Reykjavík

This apartment was a lovely one block from Reykjavik’s main street. Finding it took a few turns, as GPS can be a bit off. Plus, it’s on a one-way street, so if you miss it, you’ll have to loop around. There’s parking, but it can be a bit cramped, especially if you have a larger vehicle like we did. A smaller car would work just fine. The apartment had quite a few stairs, which is okay if you’re staying for a few nights. However, carrying big, heavy suitcases up the stairs for just one night can be a bit of a hassle. There’s plenty of room for the six of us. I definitely recommend it for a longer stay in Reykjavik, but it might not be the best choice for a quick visit.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Reykjavík Puffin Watching

Reykjavík

This was a decent experience. It’s a larger boat, which means more people crowding the rails to grab a glimpse, but that’s okay, used to those types of tours. However, because it’s bigger, the boat can’t get too close to the shore to see the puffins. You really need binoculars to get a good look. They are very small. Little white dots on the shore line. The boat does provide binoculars, but there is a limited supply. Unless you’re a serious bird watcher and enthusiast, I’d probably pass on this tour. It's Iceland, so many other things to see. The boat was clean, and the crew members were friendly and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hadde & Freyes -food tour - were entertaining and informative.
Emile and his staff- snorkelling - were great. Eager to help with dry-suits, etc. Led the group while he helped with a few minor issues, as the professional he is.
Volcano tour - My husb & I thoroughly enjoyed our visit with one of the female guides, walking back to base after our fascinating tour.
Kayak - WONDERFUL experience, all around. Gummi of Kim Kim did an amazing job keeping our group active and entertained! Wd highly recommend!!

What a fabulous trip to Iceland!

Gummi, our coordinator at KimKim did a marvelous job from our very first interaction - he was in tune with our aspirations for the trip and designed an itinerary that exactly what we were hoping for. He was very responsive with any questions, and stayed in touch with us throughout our experience. We will certainly be recommending Gummi to family and friends that want to enjoy the beauty of Iceland, and we will be using KimKim again for future travel.

Well done, Gummi!

When the flights for one of our party were cancelled, Gudmundur had to help her catch up with us two days later. And we were in the Westman Islands! We called on him a number of times when things went a bit sideways and he was always helpful.

Emanuela was absolutely fantastic. She listed to our wants and was able to create a great trip. Even while in Iceland she checked in to make sure everything was going well.

Activity Reviews

Inside the Volcano (Meet On Location)

Iceland

Fantastic experience, very unique opportunity to go 450 feet below the surface. And they finished the trip off with a great bowl of lamb stew. The guides were very entertaining and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Whale Watching RIB Boat

Iceland

We got really lucky and saw three humpback whale. They were up close only 30 feet away at most

Hvamsvik Lagoon

Iceland

This was simply amazing, 100% recommended it to anyone looking for something just perfect

We worked with Emanuela Grieco to design an 8-day trip all over southern Iceland. She did a great job. We went back and forth for several weeks planning all the details. We took out what we did not want and chose what we did want. Her team made all the reservations (4 hotels; multiple events most days) and bought all the tickets. We literally had only to show up to all the places we planned. It saved us so much time from finding all the places to go and things to do. She tailored it just for us. Then gave us a detailed itinerary (38 pages) with plans and dining options for each day. She even gave us Google map links to easily get from point A to point B. Very happy we used Kimkim and Emanuela to handle all the details.

Hotel Reviews

Aurora Hotel at Reykjavik-Keflavik Airport Terminal KEF

Keflavík

Conveniently close to the airport terminal. About a 5-minute walk. Very good breakfast buffet. Room was very nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hótel Kría

Vík

Great location. Likely the nicest hotel we stayed at. Bathroom door is a bit wonky. Clear glass sliding door, with blacked out section only in the middle.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Greenhouse Hotel

Hveragerdi

Another great location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

We did self checkin. No real interaction with staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Reykjavík Marina - Berjaya Iceland Hotels

Reykjavík

A bit older, with beds in the not-so-comfortable range. But the location was perfect.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Basically close to everything in the downtown area.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

ATV to Black Sand Beach and Plane Wreck

Iceland

Another must do. The black sand beach is amazing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zodiac boat tour among the icebergs

Iceland

Great fun. Lot's of titanic moments, when the boat hits the tiny icebergs and one hears the scraping. But we did not sink and nobody fell out. The face of the glacier is huge. And the seal we came upon hardly gave us a second thought before going back to sleep on his own private floating island.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ice cave tour under Katla glacier

Vík

Fascinating to see natural caves formed by water melting in the glacier.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snorkeling at Silfra fissure

Iceland

This was really the highlight of the trip. The water is 35 degrees Fahrenheit/1.7 celsius. Crystal clear. Because it is coming straight from glaciers higher up, after filtering through miles of underground lava layers, it is also very clean and pure. We all took long soothing drinks straight from the spot where we put in.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Víðgelmir Lava Cave Experience

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Food Walking Tour

Reykjavík

A nice sampling of some of the local places and foods.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Inside the Volcano (Meet On Location)

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Reykjavík Puffin Watching

Reykjavík

The puffins are cute, but the visit is very passive. We sat in the boat and watched them float, dive for food, or fly. Would not do this again.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Adam and his colleagues at Icelandoffbeat were fantastic. Adam prepared a detailed trip plan based on our discussions that included hotels, sites, driving plans for each day, tickets for activities and food suggestions. Everything was mapped out. When our plans had to change because our ferry to the Westland Islands was cancelled, he adjusted our plans in real time, switching hotels and ticketed activities while sending us new itineraries so that we didn’t miss a single thing we had planned to see. He checked in throughout the trip. His prep work allowed us to focus on the sites, which were all stunning. And the activities that he booked - an ice cave, lava cave, boat ride on a glacier lagoon, two geothermal baths - all were excellent. It was an entirely stress free trip because of his planning.

Hotel Review

Fosshotel Núpar

Kálfafell

Well situated for South Coast sites. Plenty of room and great breakfast and dinner

Activity Reviews

Laugaras Lagoon

Iceland

It was so relaxing to soak in the lagoon with a drink in hand after a long of sightseeing.

Quality of Experience

Katla Ice Cave Tour

Iceland

One of our favorite activities. So amazing to see. The hike up the glacier to the cave wasn’t too hard. Just one steep portion but we had crampons so we felt comfortable. Our guide was fantastic. Kinda fun to drive off-road to get there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon amphibian boat tour

Iceland

Visually stunning to see blue icebergs floating in the lagoon. The guide was very knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Whale Watching Tour

Iceland

Everything went smoothly but we saw no whales.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Blue Lagoon

Iceland

Nice to soak in the lagoon after our flight.

Quality of Experience

Gummi was an excellent coordinator of our trip and took personal interest as we started our adventure. He stayed in touch and reached out quickly when we hit a snag or two. Not only professional but someone who genuinely cared that our trip was a positive one .
Iceland was amazing and the itinerary fit our needs .

We had the most wonderful trip to Iceland planned by Gummi! It was fast paced, and we saw so much of the beautiful country. He thought of everything including driving directions and restaurant recommendations. It could not have been a better trip!

Hotel Reviews

Vík Apartments

Vik I Myrdal

Our two bedroom in my room was very clean and right in the middle of town. The heated bathroom floors were an added plus.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pier Apartments

Vestmannaeyjabær

An absolutely wonderful place to stay! The kitchen was so well stocked and the house was so clean. You were literally on the harbor. We loved our night here!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Stracta Hotel

Hella

A good place to spend the night. We had a private apartment, which god us out of some of the craziness. It seemed like a very busy hotel with lots of people coming and going. It was a good spot for one night after a long day.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Miðhraun - Lava Resort

Stykkishólmur

A great place to spend two nights. Loved the hot tub, sauna, playground and sheep. Room was very clean!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rey Apartments

Reykjavík

Good location and plenty of space. A little loud, but that is because you are so close to everything!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Icelandic Food Walk

Reykjavík

This was the perfect way to end our trip. We loved walking around the town and trying all the authentic foods. Our guide was funny and informative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lava Show Vík

Vík

This was a very fun one hour activity before we had dinner and Vik. Our host was so knowledgeable and we learned a lot about volcanoes and what happens before and after an eruption.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Explore Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon by Zodiac Boat

Iceland

Riding in a boat in a lagoon surrounded by icebergs that just came off a glacier is a once in a lifetime experience. We also were able to see Harbour seals that were incredible. I know that I will never do anything like this again and I am so happy that my family had this experience. It was truly incredible!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Glacier Ice Cave Experience

Iceland

We really enjoyed this experience. It was neat to be able to see a glacier from the inside. I will say that it was more physically challenging than I expected, but I would recommend this to anyone.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

One Hour Rib Safari Trip

Westman Islands

This was one of our favorite activities we did throughout the week! The tour guide was so fun and the driver played the best music. Being able to get on the water around the islands was perfect. The suits that they gave you kept us extra warm and dry. I would 100% recommend doing this.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Víðgelmir Lava Cave Experience

Iceland

This was a fun introduction into what a lava cave was. Our tour guide was wonderful and we learned a lot. Definitely worth going to see.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Emanuela and her team need to be commended for making our vacation in Iceland to be remembered for as long as I live. It was incredible to the experience the nature's beauty in Iceland. Trip planning, route tips, hotel accommodation, food spot recommendations and precautions to be taken, provided by Emanuela and her team were on the spot, helpful and made our trip more enjoyable, relaxing and stress free. Keep up the good work !!

Emanuela did an outstanding job planning our Iceland trip. From the very beginning, she worked with patience, professionalism, and attention to detail, helping us organize every aspect of our journey.
The itinerary she put together was thorough and well organized, making our entire journey smooth and hassle-free. Everything went exactly as planned, and we never ran into any issues along the way. Her recommendations for hotels and activities were excellent, and the car arrangement was comfortable and convenient.
What impressed us most was her responsiveness and dedication to customer service. When we experienced issues with our wireless network, Emanuela immediately reached out to her local contacts and ensured the problem was resolved promptly.
Thanks to Emanuela’s hard work and attention to detail, we were able to relax and fully enjoy our vacation. We truly appreciate all her support and would highly recommend her to anyone planning a trip.

My wife and I spent a glorious 7 days exploring the Snæfellness Peninsula, Akureyri and out to Lake Myvatn with a day in Reykjavik at the end of our trip. We had the trip of a lifetime, and the major part of that was due to our local specialist extraordinaire, Guðmundur Óli, AKA Gummi.

Gummi was very attentive to the vibe of the trip we were envisioning. He crafted a preliminary itinerary for us, and was great and speedy about making certain tweaks and adjustments, fine-tuning the activities and sight-seeing to meet our requests. Once we arrived in Iceland, Gummi remained completely available and responsive to any of our questions, and if any problems arose he solved them in a matter of minutes, no matter what time of day. His down-to-the-minute itineraries were super helpful, as were the driving maps and personal recommendations he provided.

Iceland in and of itself, is a magical, wonderous place. In 7 days we got to see so many incredible things and experience so much that we could not have planned on our own. Even so, we know we've only scratched the surface of this beautiful country, and when we return, we'll be tapping Gummi to help us expand our explorations!!!

We had a great experience with KimKim and our recent trip to Iceland. Planning with Noga could not have been easier. She and her colleagues were responsive and helpful, before the trip and when we were in Iceland. Nothing was overlooked. We felt the cost of this trip was very reasonable and Noga and team really listened to the type of accommodations we wanted, the adventures we wanted, the foods we liked, etc. We traveled the last week of May - it was cold and we had 2 solid days of strong wind, low temps, and sideways rain. It didn't ruin the trip by any means, but go prepared with lots of layers and - especially - waterproof outer layers. From what we heard when we were there, you're likely to need it. Highlights of our trip were the glacier hike and a private full day jeep tour that brought us into remote parts of the mountains not accessible by regular vehicles. If you can swing a private tour, do it. They can tailor the day around you and your likes/dislikes/athletic abilities. The island itself is hard to describe - otherworldly. Visit!

Gumi met all of our wishes for an active, energizing travel around Iceland. His recommendations for activities, restaurants, and lodging were all spot on. Everything was timed out so there was no anxiety around where and when we needed to be somewhere. The cadence was perfect, mixing strenuous days with relaxing spa days. Gumi had us well prepared for what to bring and what to expect (don’t forget your rain suits!). He took care of unusual occurrences (a spa was closed due to an unexpected issue and we were quickly rebooked to another one). We could not have asked for a better planned and executed vacation.