Kimkim Trip Reviews for Nepal

I can whole heartededly recommend working with Bishal and with the guide Sanu. The choice to use an agency wasn't one I came easily to. Historically, I've always thought it was better to do everything on your own, but in this case I've learned I couldn't be more mistaken. I was extraordinarily busy leading up to the trip and the choice to work with Bishal to ensure all the details were arranged was great. Throughout the trip I realised how grateful I was that I could trust every thing was in place. (And it always was thanks to Bishal and the team.) When I look back on the trip now and consider what it would have been like not to have a guide I realise how much how much of Nepal I would have missed. Sure, I would have seen the views, but I would not have gotten to know the culture as well as I did. I also appreciated the small touches - pretty sure we were one of the few folks to have fresh pommegranate at ABC! Thank you to all at Blue Sheep!

My guide was Rishi and he did a really nice job of supporting me throughout the trek as I am not terribly athletic. It was a really lovely experience. The driver was very helpful and patient as well.

Our Manaslu trek and the detailed planning and attention we received was wonderful! We work with an outstanding team, organized by Ngima, his sons Tashi and Lakpa, guided by Ang Gelu and pampered by the herculean effort of our porter Kunga.

From the planning perspective Ngima and his Sons were outstanding, making sure we were picked up from the airpot, shown where to rent & purchase trekking equipment and in my case taken to the airport twice when there was trouble with my flight. Communications leading up to the trip were clear, prompt and informative.

For the trek itself Ang Gelu was attentive and patient with us and clearly showed his professionalism and experience. We always felt safe and well cared for. Gelu was also flexible when we decided we wanted to stay longer at higher altitude. Kunga constantly greeted us with a smile and carried our bags to our door. When we weren’t trekking, both of them made sure we were well fed, comfortable and always had hot tea when we wanted it.

The trek itself was fantastic. We were worried at the start since there was a day and a half section on a road under development (on which, the government forbids tourists transportation). That being said, once you’re past it, it’s pure bliss and awe. I’m hard pressed to pick a favorite section as the whole thing varies with each elevation specific layer of ecosystem. All I can say is I would absolutely recommend it. I already have many times!

My experience in Nepal was simply superb! I met a number of great people along the way including my trekking guides and porters as well as other local guides and and touring specialists.

The trek around the Manaslu circuit was simply breathtaking with incredible views and a moderate amount of physical exertion it was the best trekking experience I could have asked for.

Additionally my sight seeing tours in Kathmandu were fantastic and i managed to see an incredible 5 out of 7 UNESCO world heritage sights within the Kathmandu valley.

In summary I would recommend a similar trip to anyone. Reshma my local specialist was a fantastic facilitator in organizing the whole experience for me and I would recommend her to anyone I know . All in all it was a great trip and I would definitely do it again!

We had a fantastic time in Upper Mustang thanks to our guide Chhongba who did his very best to make sure we have a memorable experience. Especially the fact that we were able to alter travel plans half way through the trip has been much appreciated. We can without hesitation recommend the KimKim team to anyone who is looking for a well organised trip that is tailored to individual preferences.

We had a wonderful experience in Nepal. Seeing the Himalaya’s were magical. Nguma set up our trip. He gave us an awesome experience. Definitely a trip of a lifetime. Although trekking through the Himalayas is challenging Ngima set us up with an awesome guide and porter. Our guide’s name was Ngima also. He did a great job of guiding us through the mountains with no altitude sickness. He was super nice and tried to help us at every turn. During our trip there was a cyclone that hit India. Ngima made sure we were safe and made sure we got on our flight off the mountain. Our hotel in Katmandu was great and quiet. The people were so nice. Ngima set us up with a driver and a guide to show us the sites in Katmandu. As we exited the car at the airport, Ngima wrapped us both with white scarfs, for safe travel and good luck. He also bought us lunch at a really good restaurant. We really enjoyed ourselves and would highly recommend this company. It is perfect Thank you so much Ngima and company.

We appreciate Amanda for her timely replies and great recommendations while working around our budget. She provided us with important tips such as the need for face mask due to dust and currency change opportunities. She made it a point to meet and greet us at the beginning of the tour and came to see us off at the end as well.

The entire trip was seamless. The guides and transport were on time. We especially appreciate that arrangements could be made for us to have the same guide and driver wherever possible. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Mata Chan, Panauti and Kasara Resort, Chitwan National Park.

White water rafting at Trishuli was good for beginners to try out the activity. It was rather mild and although the water looked muddy, it was fun!

Maya Devi temple in Lumbini is indeed worth a visit but staying overnight was unnecessary. Half a day would suffice. If there was a flight out to Kathmandu in the evening after the visit, it would be better as we waited all day for our flight back to Kathmandu in the late afternoon of the following day. We could have covered 1 more town or activity in that 1 day. The visit to the pilgrimage site would be better in the early morning or later afternoon as it was really hot at mid day.

Overall a well organised trip. We felt safe and didn't have to worry about anything. Great job, kimkim!! Thank you!

This was Pikey (Peekay) Peak trek We enjoyed this trek and the trip. The trail overall was a bit more off the beaten track with fewer other trekkers hogging the showers, the stove and the views - which was what we wanted. First two days uphill were harder work and weather. But we were rewarded with perfect clear skys for the views from Pikey Peak 1 & 2 (do both) which were fabulous. Actually enjoyed the trail back down more than the up, which is unusual. May have been the weather. Check out the monastery at JunBesi - welcoming and worth the detour. Our guide Chepal was knowledgeable about the area, reliable and helpful. Likewise Erin in Kathmandu. Whole trip went off without a hitch. If doing again - try to fly in and out of Paphlu. Take an extra rest day at JunBesi perhaps. Spectacular airport and the alternative is a hr drive to or from Kathmandu. Also quite interesting but once is probably enough.

Mindu, bacenta and our porters were so helpful and lovely for our hike! We definitely would recommend using Kim Kim, Amanda and our guides in Nepal to other friends and family. Thanks again for helping organize this trip for us as we were all so time poor in the lead up. Big thanks to Amanda for always answering our questions quickly and seeing us pre and post hike! It was a nice touch that we all appreciated!

My husband and I were excited when we made the decision to travel to Nepal for a trek and to explore the country, however, were having difficulty in figuring out the logistics on our own. We were so fortunate to connect with Kripa through KimKim.

We highly recommend working with Kripa. During the planning process, she answered all of our questions in a timely manner and was friendly/professional/helpful. She gave us all of the information we could possibly need to prepare for our travels. She helped us to plan the exact trip that we wanted, including time in Kathmandu and Pokhara, a four day/three night Trek and three nights in Chitwan National Park. When we got to Nepal, she met us upon arrival to introduce us to our guides. All of our guides and drivers were punctual, kind and professional. We had Tendu as our guide for our Trek, and he went above and beyond to make sure that we were comfortable and had everything we needed. His experience trekking was also very impressive. Kripa met us at the end of our stay in Nepal to check in on how everything went.

This was our first time using any type of travel company, and we found it to be extremely helpful. With all of the logistics taken care for us, we were able to focus on the experience of being in Nepal. We had a vacation that we will never forget and will hopefully be returning in the future for more trekking.

Amazing trip to Nepal: the Muldai + Poon Hill trek was an excellent choice for our group (3 adults + 4 children, ages 10-14): it offers breathtaking views of the Annapurna range; a good balance between trekking difficulty to relax/chill-at-the-teahouse time; a variety of trail sceneries: sunny mountain crests with long vistas; lush river valleys; occasional patches of snow; small villages; tiny teahouses and spectacular views from Poon Hill (Muldai was cloudy, but worth the early wakeup and hike nevertheless).
Amanda's insight and attention to detail as we were discussing itinerary were invaluable; she met us at our Katmandu hotel and introduced us to Rajesh Darhel, our guide: Rajesh’s combination of patience, knowledge, responsibility and flexibility worked perfectly for all of us; his assistant Rabin B.K. Ghandruk made a great connection with the children, and together they found the right pace for everybody.
…..and then, at the last day of our trek, as we were starting to make our way back to Pokhara to catch a flight; when a traffic jam for the ages blocked the roads; when all flights were being cancelled due to heavy fog, and it seemed like we were going to miss our flight home from Kathmandu - that’s when Rajesh, with the support of Amanda and the Himalayan-Trails office in Kathmandu really made the difference: they took care of everything: Yes - we got back to Kathmandu very late (or – very early the next day…) - but we knew all along everything is taken care of, so we could just lean back and enjoy the scenery.
Thanks Amanda, Rajesh, Robin; special thanks to Probin, Sachin, Santosh and Nirajan.

Our experience with kimkim was very professional. All the logistics were prefect in regards to response time, flexibility in customizing the itinerary and even helping us with a separate personal trip by changing local flights!
The trek we did was in Pikey Peak.. so not many people going there. Was very quite trek and beautiful. Although we could not see the mountain ranges for most of the trek due to weather. Our guide Mingmar was very accommodating and the porter Pasang Sherpa blew my mind away carrying 30kg over the 6 days.
Kimkim might be a bit more expensive than other operators.. but worth it if you want peace of mind and professionalism.

The entire trip was professionally run and well coordinated. Pasang was always available and extremely helpful. Lapka was great on the ground, our guide Pemba was brilliant and our young porter Pasang was really nice too. Really enjoyed the trek, Pemba was extremely knowledgeable and patient with us, particularly as we are in our late fifties and not as fit as we once were! The hotel manaslu was fine too, as were the tea houses - especially the food.

I couldn't recommend kimkim enough to people planning for an adventurous trip away. The way in which Erin tailored the trip to my desires and ability made the planning process so easy, simple and quick given I started organising my trip at very short notice.

Our guide Sonam was absolutely exceptional and made our trip. She was always extremely professional, helpful and would always know how to make us smile in times of hardship. When I undoubtedly return to Nepal I hope I am paired with Sonam again as she was not only our guide for our time trekking but a friend, which we laughed with and shared stories about our different lives. Pekma and Thilen, our porters were also incredibly kind hearted and helpful, bonding with our group and helping us achieve our goals. The route suggested by kimkim was breath taking and so unique, trekking through isolated valleys and untouched ancient towns tucked away on the Annapurna Conservation Area. With the combination of Sonam, Pekma and Thilen and the incredible route we took, it made this experience one of most unforgettable and enjoyable trips of my life.
Many Thanks!!

In my opinion Priscilla was different from the other guides because unlike others where they try to set an itinerary up the mountain, she keeps her options open by deciding based on my capabilities and is very attentive to my wellbeing and gives the impression that I can trust her. She also shared with me the local culture, way of life, and a wealth of knowledge on native plants. This effectively made my trip up in the mountains an enjoyable experience, not just a trek through the pass. She also has a positive attitude which makes her company highly enjoyable. I would highly recommend her as a guide.

I did encounter some issues with my porter; at times he has conflicting opinions to Priscilla and sometimes I'm not sure who I should listen to, as he says that he's usually a guide and only being a porter because he has time. I also had to say a few words to him about going through the content on my phone without my authorisation and using my phone to take photos of himself. However this stopped after I expressed my unease with him doing that.

It was overall an enjoyable experience, I will book with you again in the future if I come back to Nepal for another visit. Thanks heaps.

We had a great experience from planning our trek with Kripa through to leaving Nepal after 10 unforgettable days. Our guide Tendu and porter Gulu were exceptional and passionate about trekking especially through their home region of Nepal. Great trek which was quiet and spectacular.

My husband, daughter (18) and I have just returned from a week in Nepal, a trip organized by HIMALAYAN TRAILS (HT) - trekking in the Annapurna Valley, visiting Pokhara and Kathmandu. A long held dream has been fulfilled and exceeded by our well-conceived and finely executed trip. From our planner, Reshma, and our guide Rissi to our porters, drivers and the staff in our accommodations, the level of expertise and professionalism were outstanding. Reshma’s depth of experience and her responsiveness provided us with a stimulating itinerary – from the duration of our treks, to the quality of the lodges (mostly Downey and Ker). The organization was impeccable but most importantly our days were filled with beauty, joy, surprises and comfort. In organizing our adventure, Reshma quickly grasped the type of experience we sought and we, in turn trusted her to make the right decisions. Rissi has a ton of experience. He is kind and extremely responsible. Every lodge was in a spectacular setting with charm, comfort and healthy, delicious and filling meals. When we hit a challenge at the end of our trip, Reshma, Raj and others from HT went well beyond the call of duty. Our last day in Kathmandu began with a medical issue (nothing to do with the trip): our friends were on site immediately, found us excellent care and supported us throughout the day as we dealt with the aftermath. It is a pleasure to recommend HT. If you choose them, you will be richly rewarded.

Mads, his team and especially our guide and porter could not be faulted when it can to looking after us. A dream trip

Our trip to Phu Nar was incredible. Our guide Dawa and porter Malan were impressive. They worked so hard to ensure our safety and comfort every step of the way. At times our trek was very challenging and physically tough due to the track conditions. The level of difficultly was high but the scenery and cultural experience was exhilarating. Our interactions with village locals, drivers, tour guide and Erin our tour organizer was perfect. No complaints and highly recommend KimKim

This trip was an amazing experience owing to the excellent organisation provided by Sudarshan before the trip as well as along it. In addition, the Guide was extremely helpful and was always ready to help, as he knew everything about the trek itself and therefore gave us all the help that we needed. To sum up, it was an incredible trip due to the organisation and help provided beforehand as well as for the “best in class” guide that came with us. So we definitely look forward to our next trek with them.