Kimkim Trip Reviews for Indonesia

We are flying back now but rest assured we will provide reviews…. Marc was amazing. He “got” us and created the most amazing vacation we’ve ever been on. My only complaint literally, is that you don’t have a way yet for us to use him for all our vacations he’s amazing Kim Kim is amazing. Thank you.

We had an amazing 2-week trip in Bali and Lombok! First, everyone loooooved Tejaprana Resort and Spa in Ubud. It was amazing in all ways -- the property, our rooms with pools overlooking the jungle, the spa, the food, the service, the passionfruit drinks! We stayed for 5 nights and could've stayed longer.
Mt Batur hike - It was exactly what we anticipated. Glad we had a beautiful sunrise as we knew that's not guaranteed. The hike was tough in parts but totally worth the 2am wake up call.
Bike ride from Kintamari -- This was in the top 3 activities for the group. Amazing day! The two guys from Infinity were wonderful. It was an exhilarating day cycling through the villages and countryside.
Cooking class -- Excellent. However, it lacked some "intimacy" because of its scale. There were 3 other classes happening at the same time. Good food in a beautiful home, though. [I'd skip the market tour next time.]
Overall food in Ubud -- We ate really well...from Compound Warung to Mozaic. Breakfast and snacks at Tejaprana were delicious!
The traffic in Ubud was NO JOKE. We were glad we hired Edi to get us around a couple of those nights. We did use Grab a few times and that worked out for us, as well.
Budi (tour guide)-- What a great guy! So full of life and an amazing sense of humor. We enjoyed our time with him which was only the one day (as we did Pasir Putih the following day instead of Lempuyang). We got to Besakih early before the crowds which was really nice. We had the place to ourselves. And Tirtagangga brought a smile to our faces. Who doesn't love feeding koi and eating ice cream? :)
Amed -- Stayed at the Griya which had pros and cons. I think we would have given it 5 stars had we not just stayed at Tejaprana. The coastal view from the pool made up for it, though. And good food in their restaurant.
We opted for a day at Pasir Putih beach instead of visiting Lempuyang due to the crowds. Edi (driver) took us. He seemed pleased that we wanted to go there. Wow what a beautiful beach. Quiet. Cheap, great warung food and beers. Perfect weather. Super relaxing. A memorable day for us.
Sunset boat ride and BBQ -- The boat ride was lovely and HOLY COW the BBQ was amazing. We didn't know what to expect but it exceeded our expectations! Quite a spread.
Our guide in Lombok-- Maliki! Too much to type but we will probably keep in touch with him. Really great guy. :)
Snorkeling was a good day. So many turtles which made it memorable...a really nice day on the Gilis and in the water.
The Mahagiri Villas in Sanur were great. We arrived and checked in and congregated at one villa, ordered a bunch of snacks and beer, sat in the pool. We were happy.
Then we pulled ourselves together and walked the backstreets of Sanur and wished we had had one more night there, fyi. Lovely town. Walkable. Hit the night market. Ate dinner on the promenade. It was an ideal final day.
And Edi (our driver).
EDI!
Loved him. He's great. We established so much trust with him. What a good guy.
Last but certainly not least -- Marc. Our travel specialist. We were so glad we took his advice on so many things...staying at Tejaprana (it wasn't our first choice), the bike ride he picked, hiring Edi for additional driving services. I could go on and on. Marc is a great communicator and we were tough customers. We highly recommend using Marc. We'd take this trip all over again.

This was the first time I used KimKim/mytripology. I worked with two different planners—Priscilla and Jessica. Together we created a lovely itinerary for Bali and Komodo. Unfortunately my airline was delayed and we had to cancel the first day. While they were able to rearrange and reschedule most activities, the first night hotel was not willing to give me a refund. Kimkim offered a dinner as compensation. A nice gesture but surely a hotel given two days notice should refund room rate. Also we had booked a high end liveaboard boat in Komodo. Apparently the boat company decided to cancel out prepaid reservation in favor of a private charter. Again KimKim scrambled and was able to get us on another boat (of lower quality), but it made me wonder about their vetting quality of tour operators. We did get the monetary difference refunded. All that said, our online daily contact, Deta, was very polite and responsive and quite helpful along the way. I would give the whole experience 4.5 stars.

We had an amazing 3 week trip to Indonesia, visiting 4 islands (Java, Kalimantan, Bali, Flores/Komodo). Myriam did an excellent job planning the trip, she was very responsive both during the planning and while traveling. Everything worked out as planned and on schedule. All the guides were knowledgeable, spoke good English, though sometimes they had some difficulty understanding it. The hotels were all good. The best experiences were the Komodo and Kalimantan boat trips and Prambanan and Borobudur temples near Yogyakarta.

Hotel Reviews

Ketapang Indah Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Private cruise trip in Komodo National Park

Labuan Bajo, Indonesia

Food was ok, could have been better. Staff smokes a lot

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Golo Hill Top

Very basic

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sri Ratih Cottages

Breakfast was not very good

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Taman Sari Bali Resort & Spa

Pemuteran

Authenticity & Character

Location

on beach

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Private Klotok Boat

Pangkalan Bun

Great food. Staff smokes a lot.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

No hot water, AC didn't always work

Lava View Lodge Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tugu Malang

Malang

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta - MGallery Collection

YOGYAKARTA

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

FM7 Resort Hotel Jakarta

Tangerang, Banten

Authenticity & Character

Location

near airport

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Prambanan: Indonesia’s Largest Shivaite Temple Complex

Yogyakarta

Visiting Prambanan was one of my favorite experiences in Yogyakarta. This Hindu temple complex is truly magnificent and a must-see for its beautiful architecture and historic significance. The guide was knowledgeable and the tour was informative, showing the highlights of this ancient cultural landmark. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area.

2 nights Liveaboard Cruise: Discover Flores & Komodo

Komodo Island

The liveaboard cruise around Flores and Komodo was a fantastic highlight of the trip. The combination of on-land hikes with beautiful views and encounters with Komodo Dragons, along with snorkeling on great beaches, made it an exceptional experience. The boat and crew were nice, with the highlight being the knowledgeable team pointing out wildlife and ensuring we could take great pictures.

The trip was amazing. The hotels were excellent. The only constructive criticism was the guide in Lumbak was not very good. Asink was very pleasant but didn’t really guide us thru the area especially considering how wonderful the other guides were. Also the tasting lunch was not good and would not recommend using that restaurant in the future. Otherwise everything else was spectacular.

Myriam, Budi, Putu, and all of the other guides and drivers were amazing. The trip was perfectly planned, and everything was smooth as could be. I would give this team my highest recommendation!

Kimkim needs to do a better job vetting local specialists. We dealt with 3 different specialists at Shanti Travel since first planning our trip. The high turnover should have been a red flag. We spoke about our concerns to someone from Kimkim before our final payment was due. All of the specialists were pleasant to deal with and were responsive, but only had months to a few years of experience.
The most egregious error had to do with an internal flight that Shanti (Kimkim) booked for us at the very start of our trip. The 6 am flight had been cancelled months before and was never rebooked by the agent. If we weren’t staying at the airport hotel and checked the flight status at the airport counter the night before, we would have shown up in the morning and had no flight ( and would have missed the early morning flight on a different airline which we wound up taking). They did not apologize or take ownership of the mistake.
The best part of our trip we arranged on our own, a 12 day snorkel liveaboard cruise in Raja Ampat on Wisesa.
That said, we enjoyed our itinerary to Borneo, Yogyakarta, East Java (Bromo, Tumpak Sewu), Bali and Gili Air. On previous trips with Kimkim to India and Cambodia, we had guides and drivers. On this trip to Indonesia, we had drivers, some of whom spoke limited English, and then guides which we would meet at some of the stops hired on the spot.
We were very pleased with Kimkim in the past and have recommended them to several friends. Now, I’m not sure that we would use them again.

Hotel Reviews

Slow Private Pool Villa

Gili Air

Having a villa with our pool was great. We would be delivered breakfast each morning to enjoy at a table next to our pool. The location was good, a short walk to the west facing beaches. There were many restaurants and bars along the beach to watch the sunset and have dinner.

Authenticity & Character

Location

If there is a hotel as nice as this, but closer to the beach, it might be preferable

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arkamara Dijiwa Ubud

Bali

The hotel is in a beautiful peaceful location, a short drive away from the center of Ubud. The room was very nicely decorated. The pool was beautiful. Breakfasts and dinner at the hotel were excellent, with a Balinese dancer at dinner. We enjoyed the spa very much.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Peaceful location near rice fields away from the traffic in central Ubud

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tugu Malang

Malang

This was one of my favorite hotels and I had to request it myself. The agent had originally recommended a place closer to Tumpak Sewu which was more rustic. Since we were staying at Lava View Lodge (very rustic) the night before, we opted for more luxury, but a longer drive. Tugu Malang was beautiful, like a museum. There was a tea house with excellent complimentary afternoon tea. À la carte breakfasts were amazing. The staff couldn’t be better.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A quieter area in Malang to walk around a bit. Close drive to Colorful Village. 2 hour drive to Tumpak Sewu, but definitely worth the drive. Much closer to Surabaya airport

Staff

Some of the best service I’ve ever had at a hotel

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lava View Lodge Hotel

The only plus to this hotel is the proximity to Bromo. For sunrise, we needed to leave at 2 am instead of 12:30 am. We had the best room (suite) and the bathroom was like what you would picture at a train station. The bed was comfortable enough but I couldn’t sleep at all because of people talking all night in a seating area outside our room, as well as the lights outside our room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta - MGallery Collection

YOGYAKARTA

Beautiful hotel, excellent breakfast. Staying in the section near the pool may have been nicer.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Service was excellent and instantaneous

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rimba Lodge

We spent almost all of our time, including meals, on the houseboat, the service and food which was very good. The boat wasn’t the most comfortable though. Instead of staying at Rimba Lodge, which was very rustic, I would recommend staying on a luxury deluxe houseboat and sleeping on the boat.

Authenticity & Character

I

Location

On the river, in the National Park, but sleeping on a luxury boat with AC would be more comfortable.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Jakarta Airport Hotel

Jakarta

Our flight arrived early and Kimkim should have booked the room for the night before so that we could check in early morning. Instead, we had to pay at the front desk. The room rate was very inexpensive.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Gili Islands Snorkeling

Indonesia

We had arranged on our own snorkeling in Raja Ampat immediately preceding this trip with Kimkim. Nothing can compare to that. For this snorkel trip, we had a private boat and got to see the underwater statue near Gili T and some pretty coral and fish at Gili Meno. There were too many other people at these sites for it to be very enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Canoe & Trekking at Bratan Lake

Indonesia

This was a great day, heading north from Ubud to a much quieter region. Probably what Bali was like 25 years ago. With a guide, we paddled an outrigger canoe (he did most of the work) on Beraton Lake. We got very close to the Ulun Danu Temple, built on the lake. On the other side of the lake, the guide led us on a hike through the jungle, pointing out various edible, medicinal plants and spices. We then had a picnic near a waterfall. We didn’t have as much time as I would have liked to spend walking around the rice terraces which were nearby.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience Taman Beji Griya - Purification Ritual

Indonesia

This is a unique experience and fun. With a guide, we visit a temple under a waterfall and make offerings along the way. We were barefoot, wearing only a sarong with a swimsuit under. Also this day, we visited Sangeh monkey forest and went to a dance performance at Ubud Palace.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Tumpak Sewu

Indonesia

Very beautiful waterfall. The panoramic viewpoint was great and there were many people with drones. I went with the guide down the more than 400 steps to the bottom. Some were a little slippery, but there was a railing the whole way. The guide took photos and videos on his phone and then sent it to me via Airdrop at the end.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunrise Trek to Mount Bromo

Mount Bromo, East Java

We were lucky that most of the clouds cleared as we got close to sunrise. About 5 cones are visible with Bromo constantly sending up smoke. The largest peak, Meru, has small eruptions about every 15 minutes. There are 3 viewpoints and the traffic to get there for sunrise is horrendous. We stayed at the closest hotel (which I wouldn’t recommend) and left the hotel at 2 am. Many jeeps were already there, parked on both sides of this narrow road near the viewpoints. We parked a bit further down the road to be able to make a quicker exit after sunrise. This meant we hiked up the road to the highest viewpoint, breathing all the exhaust from jeeps blocking the road. Once there, we waited in the cold for 2 hours until sunrise. Bring a down jacket, hat and gloves. After sunrise, it took more than an hour waiting in traffic. Some jeeps are just parked in the center of the road, preventing passage. From here, we drove through the sea of sand and climbed the steps to the rim of Bromo.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Madakaripura Waterfalls

Indonesia

The waterfall is beautiful and one of the highest in Indonesia. It doesn’t get the same crowds as Tumpak Sewu yet. The problem was that the road leading up to it was washed out and we had to take a motorbike taxi through the forest, crossing a stream over a rickety bamboo bridge. The river was brown which occurs from run off after the rainy season. The guide was very helpful in assisting us to the waterfall navigating rocks while crossing the river 3-4 times. They provide a helmet to wear and a poncho and sturdy waterproof sandals are needed. I’m not sure I would do this again (mainly because of the motorbike ride).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was concerned about our safety and took good pictures for us.

Visit Borobudur Temple, Pawon Temple, Mendut Temple, and Yogyakarta Market

Yogyakarta

Another place on our bucket list. It’s the largest Buddhist temple in the world. Photos don’t do it justice. It’s not allowed to have private guides We were placed in a group of about 10 people with an English speaking guide who was very informative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking class in Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta

We did this in the late afternoon so did not go to the market with the guide to get the ingredients. Instead, this served as our dinner. We cooked some typical Indonesian dishes, including Gado-gado (tempeh and vegetables), shrimp with spices cooked in banana leaf and rice. Our guide, Yasmin, was great and we enjoyed conversation with her about life in Indonesia.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Visit Prambanan Temple and see Ramayana Show

Yogyakarta

A Hindu temple from the 8th century almost as impressive as Angkor Wat. Our guide was excellent, explaining the exquisite carvings in the stone. One section depicted the Ramayana story, which helped us to understand the dance performance that evening. The performance is typically done in an outdoor venue with the illuminated temple as a backdrop if the weather cooperates. Our driver took us to a nearby restaurant for dinner before the performance.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience Silver Class in Kota Gede

Yogyakarta

This was fun. The jewelry is filigree, using silver wire to make earrings and a pendant. It was a private session and we had a lot of help. You need good eyes. We didn’t have the time to complete the pieces, but they finished them for us and delivered the pieces to our hotel.

Borneo: Rimba Lodge – Pondok Tanggui – Camp Leakey – Rimba Lodge

Pangkalan Bun

We had more than 2 days going up and down the Sekonyer river, which was very peaceful with many birds. We stopped at the 3 orangutan feeding stations where rangers put out food at specified times during the day. We had to cross over about 3-4 boats to get to the docks. There were quite a lot of people at each of the stations, but we were fortunate to see the alpha male, females and juveniles at each stop. At several times, we were able to see orangutans in the wild as we were cruising the river, as well as many Proboscis monkeys. Our guide, Saiful, was one of the best on our entire trip, explaining and spotting wildlife. The food was very good and Saiful gave us information about each of the dishes and snacks we were served.

Quality of Experience

Food

The quantity, variety and tastiness of the food served for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as snacks was excellent. The cook did not speak English, but our guide explained all of the dishes.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Saiful was an excellent guide.

Transport

We had the best time on our honeymoon to Lombok! It was so seamlessly organized by our specialist, Arizta and her communication was so easy and reliable! Special shoutout to our driver in Lombok, Kus, who made the trip beyond memorable. He was so funny, easygoing and especially knowledgable about the island. He seriously was the best. He was punctual and made it so we never had to even think about when we had to be somewhere, he knew exactly when and where we needed to be and got us there safely and his communication was also so reliable. He also had great insight to extra excursions on our free days so we also had the best time! He went above and beyond! I would recommend him for anyone visiting the island in need of a driver! Our accommodations were also top notch. We wanted something a bit more off the beaten path but also some time to be in a more populated area to just walk, explore and relax. Aritza accommodated both of these requests and balanced the time perfectly! Our excursion were also prefect! Nate, in Tetebatu, was so so knowledgable and we had so much fun learning and exploring the village he grew up in! All of the villagers and people we met along the way were beyond kind and generous. Thank you all for organizing and taking the work out of the vacation so we could just sit back, relax and enjoy!

Activity Reviews

Experience Plaga Rose

Kuta, Lombok

The guides were so fun and so relaxed, it made the day perfect! The snorkeling was so much fun and the reefs looked beautiful. The beaches were beautiful and the sand truly did look pink and the water was pristine blue!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking with Guide in Ricefields, Waterfalls & Monkey Forest

Tetebatu, Lombok

This was such a perfect day! Nate was the best guide! He was so knowledgable and had such good energy! The trip was topped it off with the best beef rendang we tried during our vacation at the warung.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing experience using Kimkim to plan our honeymoon in Bali. They did a fantastic job creating a well-balanced itinerary with a great mix of activities, from sightseeing to relaxation, and included a variety of restaurants and cafés that really let us experience the local food scene.

What stood out the most was their support during the trip itself. They were always available to answer questions and were incredibly responsive whenever our plans shifted. When we were running late or needed adjustments, they handled everything smoothly and made sure our itinerary stayed on track without adding any stress.

Jessica and Deta were so wonderful to work with! Overall, the planning felt thoughtful and personalized, and their on-the-ground support made a big difference. We’d definitely recommend Kimkim to anyone looking for a seamless and well-organized travel experience.

Super happy with the organisation, planning and support during the trip.

Overall a great trip to Indonesia, wonderful locals with a serenity quality to their culture, refreshing. We did not make it to Cunca Wulong waterfall & cultural dance due to fatigue from previous 3 days on Liveaboard to Komodo Island. Saw Komodo dragons resting & saw a blue manta ray while snorkeling -epic snorkeling for us which was unexpected. Driver was punctual, polite & kind. Our Sudamala Resort stay was relaxing & felt high-end for
accommodations. Great breakfast banquet each morning. Wonderful staff! Ciella, our contact was helpful & responsive to many questions.

We had a wonderful experience working with Kim Kim to help plan part of our Indonesian adventure in Bali, Lubuan Bajo and Komodo. Caroline and Welton were excellent planners and concierges. They were both professional, friendly and so responsive to our requests and questions. They really helped make traveling in a part of the world that we had never visited before so easy and stress free. Our driver Ketut was the best! Thank you Kim Kim for an amazing vacation. We will definitely call you again! 🥰

George helped me plan an amazing trip to Borneo with my daughter. He was very responsive to my feedback and created a WhatsAppp group linking himself with my guide and drivers whilst I was travelling. I always felt that I could reach out to him if I had any questions.

We were always picked up on time from our hotel and airports by someone holding up a sign with my name on it. Our local guide in Borneo, Mr. Krishna, was very knowledgeable and willing to answer my many questions.

Hotel Reviews

Anara Airport Hotel

Jakarta

Very western rooms with not much character but the breakfast buffet was amazing. Very convenient for an overnight stay. I would stay there again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rimba Orangutan Eco Lodge

the rooms are basic but are clean and have A/C! The staff was incredibly friendly. We saw different types of monkeys on the hotel grounds.

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Patra Bali Resort & Villas

kuta

Basic rooms but great if you need a place to crash 6 min away from the airport.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day 3: A Morning with Orangutans and Afternoon of Cultural Discovery

Borneo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day 2: Journey into the Heart of Orangutan Research at Camp Leakey.

Borneo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arrival: The Bornean Orangutan and Wildlife Tour

Borneo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Tanjung Puting National Park

Borneo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Artiza from Shanti travel was amazing!! She came up with a one of kind itinerary and beautiful places to stay in Bali!
Putu was our driver in Bali. He made the trip! We really had a fabulous time that we will remember forever ❤️❤️

Hotel Reviews

The Sun of Granary Resort and Villas

Ubud,Bali

Beautiful grounds, friendly staff and nice rooms. The breakfast was good but the dinners were not that great... We tried traditional and Western meals and both be very disappointing. I love me some Pringles, but they served them to us on a plate as an appetizer for dinner!?!

De Moksha Eco Friendly Boutique Resort

Tabanan

The staff, food and grounds were beautiful!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Alindra Villas & Spa

Jimbaran

This place was amazing!! I wish we had more time there. The rooms and grounds were beautiful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Pura Luhur Uluwatu and Ketcak Show

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Silver class in Ubud

Ubud, Bali

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience Balinese Cooking Class- Shared

Ubud, Bali

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience VW Safari Car Tour - Besakih

Ubud, Bali

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience Taman Beji Griya - Purification Ritual

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Travel Tanah Lot to Ubud via Tanah Lot Temple

Indonesia

Overall the trip was amazing. I only gave George a couple of weeks to get a 2 week trip planned for me and he did amazing. I really enjoyed speaking with him regarding my trip because it gave me a chance to let him know what I wanted and for him to offer suggestions of things I didn’t know about. I would recommend working with George for all your planning needs.

My guide for the first 8or so days was fantastic. Tini made my trip so memorable. It was like I was traveling with one of my best friends. Ultimately, all she wanted was for me to enjoy myself and not worry about a thing. She made sure to explain about everything. Her knowledge was never ending and more importantly her passion for her culture really shown through. What I appreciate most is the little things. She would bring me traditional cakes and treats in the morning to try from her family or even sharing a blessing ritual moment together. When I was hospitalized due to some unforeseen illness she stuck by me the entire time until she knew I was comfortable and well taken care of. She even went out and bought me food to hold me over while there and went to my hotel to get me anything I needed. They truly don’t make people like her anymore. Amazing human being and even better guide. If you can request her.

Ardy was my driver the entire time I was with my guide and he was the best. Always ready and there for Tini and I with whatever we requested. He went above and beyond to make sure we were good and also offered some great recommendations for restaurants to try as well. Any place I wanted to stop at like a grocery store, etc he was accommodating.
As far as hotels, they were all great just unfortunately far from most areas providing restaurants and shopping but a quick ride on the back of a scooter is no big deal when downloading the app.

Activities were immaculate. If you can do a ritual purification ceremony with Pak Nyoman, do it. You truly feel a weight lifted off your shoulders. He has a gift and it was a very private event that I cannot begin to put into words.
Whitewater rafting and atv tours were awesome as well. My guide, Candy, for whitewater rafting was fun and knowledgeable. He pointed things out during our rafting and took pictures for me. Such a sweet soul and made the adventure so much more fun.
Because of George I was able to fit so much in such a short time but never felt overwhelmed or exhausted. He planned every detail and made this adventure that much more enjoyable. I didn’t have to worry about a single thing except what time to wake up. Even when he found out I was in the hospital he checked on me.

My local Indonesia contact was also a great source for recommendations for my free time. Additionally, she made sure I was well taken care of.

I cannot speak highly enough about the service KimKim offers. While I noticed price transparency was a top complaint I did have that worry myself. After getting at least a breakdown from George (you cannot get pricing for everything due to contractual agreements with luxury services like this- yes this is common in the industry) and experiencing everything in person the price is well worth it. My estimated costs were not much more than what I ended up paying but when you consider everything that goes on behind the scene like placing the guide & driver in a hotel as well or paying for all parking and entrance fees it all makes sense. Don’t let the lack of transparency dissuade you from using this service. George stayed within my max budget I had set.

I will definitely use again.

Activity Reviews

Bali Jungle ATV Adventure: Waterfalls, Rivers & Underground Tunnels

Ubud, Bali

Fun day riding the trails

Quality of Experience

They go over all everything before beginning and give you a test run in muddy waters. So much fun. Don’t forget to bring your phone.

Food

Little cafe with a view at your 1/2 way stopping point. You do not need to bring money they will have a bill for you at the end. They had sandwiches, gelato and drinks for purchase

Guides, Drivers and Staff

There to help when you need it.

Transport

White-Water Rafting Adventure on the Ayung River:

Ubud, Bali

Candy, my guide, was amazing. I was worried because it was just him and I but he made this trip so memorable. Definitely a lot of work because there were just 2 of us but he made it so much easier,m. When we would float he would take time to explain things like the meaning of the work Ayung. He even took pictures and videos of me. Loved every minute of this adventures

Quality of Experience

Food

Restaurant had good food and great views

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Candy is the best

Transport

A Spiritual Morning: Melukat Water Blessing

Munduk, Bali

Pak Nayoman truly had a gift. I felt such a weight lifted after the ceremony. But what made me realize his talents was I didn’t have to say a thing and he knew why I was truly there. I hate crying in front of people but he made me feel so comfortable to release all my negative energy. This was a private ceremony and I felt comfortable throughout. They made me feel at home.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This trip was an adventure. Something different every day and the guides were fabulous. I could not tell you which activity was my favorite. Sometimes the days were too long and could have been made a little shorter by eliminating some of the village trips. However village trips like the one immersing the culture of Bali was wonderful. But trips where we watched someone make palm sugar and tempeh were not. The hotels were absolutely great and we wished that we could linger in them a little longer like the one in Jiwa Jawa. I know that this was an adventure trip but I wish that we had some time to explore local markets. I like to buy a souvenir to remember my trip.

Hotel Reviews

FM7 Resort Hotel Jakarta

Tangerang, Banten

Nice hotel but rather removed from everything, therefore it was not possible to go and walk outside. The plus was that it is near the airport.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Sun of Granary Resort and Villas

Ubud,Bali

Beautiful hotel. But the restaurant had a rather limited menu.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Menjangan Dynasty Resort - CHSE Certified

Pejarakan

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ketapang Indah Hotel

Banyuwangi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Jiwa Jawa Bromo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very inviting lush gardens where you can linger all day

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta - MGallery Collection

YOGYAKARTA

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Anara Kualanamu

Sumatera Utara

Only slept there so cannot make a comment

Ecolodge Bukit Lawang

Bukit Lawang

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cultural Immersion and traditions at Rumah Desa

Indonesia

Wonderful introduction to the culture of Bali. Taking part in the a religious ceremony and helping to cook a meal as well as a close excursion in the rice field and watching the field being prepared and the rice transplanted.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sekumpul Waterfalls Adventure

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver and staff were excellent. They insisted that we get out of our wet clothes after a drenching rain and brought our suitcases to us. Then we enjoyed a warm home cooked meal at the local restaurant,

Transport

Snorkeling around Menjangan Island

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring the Local Plantations

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunrise from the Mount Bromo Caldera

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Traditional Javanese Villages

Indonesia

Sharing the culture and food with the family of this village was wonderful. Interacting with the young children added to the trip. The home cooked meal was one of the best.

Quality of Experience

Food

the home made food was one of the best

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Borobudur: A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Prambanan: Indonesia’s Largest Shivaite Temple Complex

Yogyakarta

Quite crowded but we went at the end of the holidays, so many people there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bukit Lawang trek to bat cave and Landak River

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Becak tour

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jungle Exploration & Adventure Day - Meet the Orangutans

Indonesia

I never thought that I would see an orangutan this close. The orangutan performed for us for 20 minutes. This activity alone made my trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great trip, well organized and comfortable.
Our local specialist was George; he was cooperative and attentive.
Our local guide Putra was amazing and very informative and helpful.

We had all wonderful guides who were prompt and took us to all the places that they were supposed to. They were all knowledgeable and helped us to understand what we were seeing. Due to the holiday after Ramadan the traffic was unusually heavy, and we spent a long time traveling. One guide seemed to be on a schedule and she took so much time getting us to our next place. She did not want our arrival to be before a set time. It was late and we had an early flight out. It was much too much for one day.

Marc, our travel agent, prepared the trip to our specifications. The hotels were all good.

Thanks for planning this trip so well. We enjoyed it.

Judith Lewin-Kossover

Priscilla was very professional and did a great job organizing our tour.

Our driver, Odik, was just a delight. He was always early, which meant we were never running behind schedule. He answered our questions, and provided commentary from time to time, especially when the Guide wasn't with us. He was very alert to my desire to take a photo from inside the car and would stop or slow down as traffic permitted. And speaking of traffic, it's a little crazy navigating the roads. There were a few times when I closed my eyes because I thought something bad was about to happen, but it never did.

Our guide, Badi, was likewise very engaging and informative. He provided lots of great historical and background information on the places we visited. He dealt with our on-the-fly requests to find an ATM we could use, and to buy some liquor to take home with us.

All of our outings were much better than the descriptions. We were particularly happy with the cooking classes at Rumah Desa and Paon Bali were excellent! Well-organized, efficiently delivered, and informative. The Monkey Forest was a delight as well, getting to be up close and personal with the animals.

One tiny downside...it would have been helpful to have a level-of-effort rating on some of the walks. I was able to do pretty much everything, but my traveling companion had to forgo some of the walks, or sections of walks, because they were just a little too strenuous.

In the end, though, I will be happy to recommend Kimkim and our consultant, Marc Urban to anyone who asks!

Hotel Review

Tejaprana Resort & Spa

Bali

We felt like we sat down in the lap of luxury when we arrived at Tejaprana. Once you turn off the very busy street, you descend (literally) into an island paradise of quiet and green and luxury. Frankly, we were happy to spend all of our free time at the resort, partly because we'd been traveling for a long time, and partly because it's just so damn nice. Similarly, Aruna Restaurant is excellent! We ate our way through most of the Balinese offerings they had on the menu, sometimes more than once. Staff is very friendly and welcoming, from the top management to the people cleaning the resort.

Authenticity & Character

I can't speak to the authenticity of the establishment, since I've had little exposure to the culture. But the character was very much in line with what I expected.

Location

It was relatively central to all that we wanted to see. It took us a while to understand that you can't move very fast in Bali, particularly in congested areas. But all was great.

Staff

From top to bottom the staff was excellent! Pandi, the restaurant manager, was particularly helpful and welcoming.

Cleanliness & Comfort

When your hotel is in the middle of nature, as is Tejaprana, you can't expect it to look 100% pristine at all times. So there were times that there were leaves and other natural debris scattered about. But it wasn't in the least offensive. Cleanliness was top-notch.

Activity Reviews

Visit a local market & enjoy a cooking class

Indonesia

The market walk was interesting, because it gave us such a good glimpse into daily life. The cooking class was exceptional, start to finish!.

Quality of Experience

well-run and delightful from start to finish!

Food

OMIGOD! SO GOOD!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff was really great! It seemed like they very much enjoy what they do!

Transport

Cultural Immersion and traditions at Rumah Desa

Indonesia

It was absolutely fascinating to step into the world of a Balinese family, if only for part of a day. Our guide (I wish I could remember his name, but he was 6'5" tall, so very distinctive among Balinese men) did a great job introducing us to religious traditions and other aspects of daily life. I enjoyed learning about their 18-character alphabet, and getting a memento of my name written in Balinese. It was also interesting to see the amount of labor that goes in to producing coconut oil, coconut milk, and grated coconut.

Quality of Experience

Nope. Start to finish, it was excellent.

Food

The meal we helped to prepare was excellent!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I've talked about our driver elsewhere. The staff was uniformly warm and welcoming.

Transport

Discussed elsewhere.