Amanda Delecca

Excellent trip. Amanda did an excellent job of understanding my requirements and tailoring a trip to my exact needs. She was very responsive in her communications and ensured that each aspect of the trip was handled smoothly.

The logistics of the trip were handled flawlessly; from various pick ups and drop offs (airport, hotels, trip legs, etc).

My guides were wonderful.

My cultural guide, Suman was extremely attentive and knowledgeable. I appreciated the personal touches; guiding me... read more

Excellent trip. Amanda did an excellent job of understanding my requirements and tailoring a trip to my exact needs. She was very responsive in her communications and ensured that each aspect of the trip was handled smoothly.

The logistics of the trip were handled flawlessly; from various pick ups and drop offs (airport, hotels, trip legs, etc).

My guides were wonderful.

My cultural guide, Suman was extremely attentive and knowledgeable. I appreciated the personal touches; guiding me through receiving a Hindu blessing and lighting candles for departed loved ones to buying me the best frozen yogurt in Katmandu.

My trekking guide, Rishi was a joy to spend 4 days with. He was very attentive and made sure I was safe and comfortable. His warm smile and sunny personality made each day special and fun. I really enjoyed getting to know him through each day of walking and the meals we shared.

The accommodations exceeded my expectations. Each hotel/guest house was very comfortable with modern facilities. The meals and service were excellent. The staff were consistently warm and accommodating. It was clear that everyone wanted to ensure I had an excellent experience.

The trek was perfect for my needs. It was just challenging enough to make me feel a sense of accomplishment when we reached each destination. The countryside is gorgeous and the historic sites fascinating.

My experience with Nepal was made incredible by the warmth and friendliness of the people.

Amanda planned for my travel companion and I a 8-days, 7-nights trip to Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara. It was both of our first trip to Nepal and I must say it was an eye-opening experience!

Here's what I liked and did not like about the trip:

The positives

- The planning was generally good and made sense. We arrived on late night of 20 February right before the Maha Shivatri festival on 21 February. Instead of planning for us to visit Pasupatinath temple that day (which would have been... read more

Amanda planned for my travel companion and I a 8-days, 7-nights trip to Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara. It was both of our first trip to Nepal and I must say it was an eye-opening experience!

Here's what I liked and did not like about the trip:

The positives

- The planning was generally good and made sense. We arrived on late night of 20 February right before the Maha Shivatri festival on 21 February. Instead of planning for us to visit Pasupatinath temple that day (which would have been exploding with millions of worshipers and impossible to get in), Amanda and team planned it on the following day, 22 February, when we still got to experience remnants of the festivities and the crowd, but still be able to get around the temple

- Being flexible in terms of our asks and requirements, e.g.: planning two separate hikes for us when we stated that we wanted to experience a bit of hiking during our trip, and planning a really enjoyable white-water rafting session for us even though we were not in the season for white-water rafting yet. (The rest of the crew had to be made up by other members of the rafting team, but we were good to go with two pax).

- Special mention goes to Ritesh from the Operations team, who has been extremely responsive throughout the trip and helping us whenever things did not go as planned. Due to weather conditions, our Everest scenic flight was cancelled twice, our hot air balloon and helicopter flight to Annapurna base camp were also all cancelled, and he was very diligent and fast in helping us liaise with the respective provider companies, and in helping us get our refunds. The trip would have been quite dreary if not for his help, with so many things being cancelled! So I must really thank him for being there (via text) for us

- Keshab as a guide for Pokhara - He is really young but he made up for it by his boundless energy. He doubled up as both a tour guide and as our trekking guide up the World Peace Pagoda, and was really helpful to us especially throughout our hikes, helping to carry not just one but both our bags as we made the journey up the steps. He also told us interesting stories of the attractions we were in, and made jokes and riddles along the way to liven up the atmosphere, and make sure both of us were well taken care of

- The guesthouses that were booked were really charming and full of the flavours of local Nepali architecture. I especially liked Milla Guesthouse in Bhaktapur and Thamel Villa in Kathmandu. The former felt really cozy with a lady owner who was so friendly and accommodating, and specially prepared our breakfast (baked our bread and made jam for us) late into the night! Whereas the latter was a bit more European in its architecture / chandeliers, but still really charming, and it tied up with a restaurant across the road for breakfast that was really delicious.

The (slight) negatives

- Amanda, while being fairly responsive, regrettably had a slightly different communication style from me. The itinerary she planned was a little high level and vague, and I realised I needed to be very specific when communicating with her, if not her responses may still not really answer the crux of the question. Also, there were some errors in what she communicated with us vis-a-vis what eventually panned out: E.g.: there was no heater in our hotel in Patan - Swotha Traditional Homes, even though she sounded pretty sure there were heaters in all our hotels; Or that after whitewater rafting, as we were enroute from Kathmandu to Pokhara, there were no shower facilities and only a small room for changing (we were of the impression from her there were shower facilities). I had also requested for her to try to put some of the information that she mentioned in our fairly long interactions on KimKim into the final itinerary, e.g.: estimated start and end time every day, emergency contacts, etc. But that was eventually not added into our itinerary and only passed to us on a handwritten paper that could have been easily misplaced on the 2nd day. Again, I acknowledge most of my frustrations could be attributed to a difference in communication styles, but at the amount we were paying: ~USD1.8K per pax for 8 days of mostly 3-star guesthouse accommodation, I believe I was justified to expect a little more

- Our guide in Kathmandu Valley, Pratikshya. She was very comprehensive, fluent in English and detailed in her explanations to us, which I agree with some of the other reviews written here. However, I felt there was still a little room for improvement. Throughout the few days in Kathmandu valley when we visited the various UNESCO world heritage sites, other than Pashupatinath temple, I felt she was a little bit rushed, and I did not have enough time to fully explore the various places or imbibe in the local culture and vibe. This was especially the case in the Bhaktapur Durbar Square, which was really pretty. We just briefly walked into the palace for a very short while (and wasn't sure if there were any other buildings in the square to explore), and then continued on our walk to the hotel. Granted, she did give us our Durbar Square tickets so that we could come back if we wanted to. But in the case of some of the venues, like Bhaktapur, it was a very long walk from our hotel and very difficult for two females to come back all the way in the dark. Also, we were travelling in a very small group of two. However, most of the time, she was walking ahead with my other travel companion and explaining to her, leaving me trailing behind and not knowing what is happening. I think the trip would have been more enjoyable if she made a bit more effort to involve both of us (given it is such a small group). Last but not least, on our hike up to Namobuddha, we were given the choice of two places to eat for lunch - the Namobuddha resort that served farm-to-table organic vegetarian meals, and the monastery restaurant. The former needed to be booked half an hour before we arrived. She briefly mentioned the choices the night before and I opted to decide on the day itself. She asked us for our choice again midway through our hike. However, as the information was incomplete / erroneous and my travel companion was extremely strong-minded, I was compelled to make a decision I did not want at a time I was feeling very exhausted - Pratikshya told us that the resort only had a fixed vegetarian menu every day (without telling us what is the menu that day) whereas the monastery restaurant had an ala carte menu where we can order whatever we want. Also, we could drink beer in the monastery restaurant but not at the resort (something I wanted to do to celebrate our achievement of completing the hike). The impression I got was that the resort was more touristy whereas the monastery restaurant was more authentic. But when we finally made the hike up I realised it was anything but! The monastery restaurant had only a menu handwritten on the board of 7 dishes (most of them included things I could find in my local country like Fried Rice and Fried Noodles), was full of tourists, and last but most importantly, could not serve beer because it was a restaurant owned by the monastery. I had to go the the restaurant opposite if I wanted beer. I felt a little cheated because I might have enjoyed it a little better if I went to the Namobuddha Resort and tried food that was actually grown locally. But there was no more time to try or change my decision after the hike, as we could not afford a slightly longer lunch and had to drive down to Bhaktapur, for which she rushed through anyway.

- Kimkim's payment policy: We were a little uncomfortable having to pay 100% of our trip costs even before the trip commenced, and were worried that Himalayan Trails would not be incentivised to put in good service as a result. Thankfully it turned out OK, but it would be good if kimkim can review its payment policy to leave some percentage (perhaps 10% or so) to be paid at the end of the trip.

Firstly planning our trip with Kim Kim was a delight. The team really asked the right questions and understood what we were looking for in an itinerary. Amanda answered all my detailed questions about safety and they were able to use their local knowledge to suggest the best way to customise our experience. The accommodation exceeded our expectations in terms of cleanliness and luxury. We were given full disclosure regarding the eco lodge not having hot running water but the warmth of the... read more

Firstly planning our trip with Kim Kim was a delight. The team really asked the right questions and understood what we were looking for in an itinerary. Amanda answered all my detailed questions about safety and they were able to use their local knowledge to suggest the best way to customise our experience. The accommodation exceeded our expectations in terms of cleanliness and luxury. We were given full disclosure regarding the eco lodge not having hot running water but the warmth of the staff (a Nepalese family of three generations) more than made up for it. The highly educated, well informed and friendly guide Surbash gave us insights into Kathmandu that enriched our experience and made lifelong memories.
Himalayan trails provided us with reliable, safe drivers and vehicles that were always in the right place at the right time to smooth our journey, often keeping our luggage secure so we could explore unencumbered. Kim Kim and Surbash only recommended food outlets they had tried and enjoyed and they could vouch for the hygiene standards, so we were able to taste a range of modern and authentic Nepalese food and not risk an upset tummy.
We had no concerns regarding procuring clean drinking water although resources are scarce but I would advise any western woman to take a ‘she wee’ device to ensure comfort during days of visiting historical sights and transiting through local airports etc.
Finally, we were pleasantly surprised by how well the Kim Kim staff communicated with us throughout the trip. I was not expecting each different staff member that dealt with us to be so fully informed of our itinerary and requirements. Kripa remained in daily contact to help us navigate changes to our itinerary due to the weather and maximise the enjoyment of our visit.

Nepal is a stunning location with fascinating history. We had an exciting and memorable trip and would definitely book with Kim Kim again and come back to Nepal in future.

Gathered our far-flung family (Mom, Dad, Son (23), Daughter (20) in Nepal for a couple of weeks' vacation January 2020.

Travel Made Easy:
Amanda crafted an excellent itinerary to meet our request to mix trekking with a few relaxing days. KimKim team headed by Raj worked together to make every transfer from arrival to departure smooth (drivers to/from airports, hotels, trailheads as well as arranging for Trekker's Cards, entry fees).

Guides:
Our trekking guide Rajesh and porters were... read more

Gathered our far-flung family (Mom, Dad, Son (23), Daughter (20) in Nepal for a couple of weeks' vacation January 2020.

Travel Made Easy:
Amanda crafted an excellent itinerary to meet our request to mix trekking with a few relaxing days. KimKim team headed by Raj worked together to make every transfer from arrival to departure smooth (drivers to/from airports, hotels, trailheads as well as arranging for Trekker's Cards, entry fees).

Guides:
Our trekking guide Rajesh and porters were friendly, knowledgable and helpful. They even found a great spot to dry out and warm up on one rainy day. In Kathmandu, Pratikshya delivered a great crash course on Nepal's World Heritage sites and religions while connecting us with tasty lunches.

Highly Recommend:
Great for families like ours who always wanted to see the Himalayas and are trying fit a lot in to a couple of weeks.

The Manaslu Trek was fantastic. Everyday was stunning new scenery, amazing people and fascinating villages. Amanda was brilliant at fielding all our questions and patiently allowing us to investigate all options before settling on a final itinerary. Sonam, our guide and her team were incredible. Calm, capable and great fun. They gave us an amazing insight into Nepalise life and were so open, friendly and encouraging. They really made the trip.

Took the Pikey Peak 8 day tour and was tailored to our requirements. Amanda was extremely helpful and professional throughout. The planning.The trek was superb and the guide and porter were absolutely fantastic . The whole team delivered a unique and 1st class unforgettable trip. I would not hesitate in using this team again in the future.

We had the most incredible Manaslu trek! It was brilliantly organised by Amanda who was incredibly informative and remained undaunted by our endless questions and changes to the itinerary. Our guide Sonem was just amazing and could not have been more caring and supportive. She really looked after us, trying so hard to secure the best accommodation and manage our expectations, checking the food and the kitchen at the tea houses, often cooking for us herself. She was so full of energy fun... read more

We had the most incredible Manaslu trek! It was brilliantly organised by Amanda who was incredibly informative and remained undaunted by our endless questions and changes to the itinerary. Our guide Sonem was just amazing and could not have been more caring and supportive. She really looked after us, trying so hard to secure the best accommodation and manage our expectations, checking the food and the kitchen at the tea houses, often cooking for us herself. She was so full of energy fun and warmth: we all loved her. Her team of porters and sub guide were also so cheery warm and positive. Watching over us cheering us on and never complaining.
The trek was more of a challenge than anticipated and the altitude punishing, but the scenery was spectacular as we climbed from rivers to jungle stunning open plains and the majestic awe inspiring mountains. The villages, people we met on the trail, mountain mules and Yaks were fascinating: new wonders every day. We all loved it: there were highs and lows, times spent huddled frozen in our sleeping bags hugging hot water bottles, cold showers and seriously basic accommodation but our spirits always lifted when we were walking and we all feel a huge sense of achievement. We are so looking forward to the comforts of home but will never forget Nepal and Manaslu.

This was our first time using KimKim but it has been a very positive experience and I would not hesitate to recommend it to others. Himalayan Trails were our tour agent and from the outset they were nothing but efficient helping us to plan exactly what we wanted from our trip. Amanda was quick to respond to any queries and provided lots of additional useful information to ensure we were well prepared in advance. The accommodation we had was full of character and in traditional Nepali style... read more

This was our first time using KimKim but it has been a very positive experience and I would not hesitate to recommend it to others. Himalayan Trails were our tour agent and from the outset they were nothing but efficient helping us to plan exactly what we wanted from our trip. Amanda was quick to respond to any queries and provided lots of additional useful information to ensure we were well prepared in advance. The accommodation we had was full of character and in traditional Nepali style rather than anonymous chain hotels, every pick up or meeting happened on time, she even managed to find us last minute accommodation when one of our guest houses had overbooked. Our trekking guide, Mindu, kept us safe, fed and watered and motivated when we needed it - his cheerful singing and whistling along with his infectious laugh kept us entertained for 4 days on the Muldai trek. Our city guide, Subash, was always on hand to answer our endless questions and was great company painting pictures of the sights we visited with lots of stories. He soon joined in our teasing and banter (and gave as good as he got!). We had a fabulous trip but it was the people we met who made it so special. We have fallen in love with Nepal and will definitely be back and will not hesitate to use Himalayan Trails again. Thank you everyone - you did an amazing job!

From back home in Australia, our contact Amanda in Kathmandu was fantastic!
She was always readily available to help with all of our, (many) questions along the way. From accommodation and itinerary, to connecting us to a city guide, as well as our amazing trekking guide, Priscilla❤️, we couldn't be happier with all that was offered.
Amanda was professional, courteous and lovely and helped us to enjoy our trip of a lifetime, including playing her part in a secret marriage proposal at the... read more

From back home in Australia, our contact Amanda in Kathmandu was fantastic!
She was always readily available to help with all of our, (many) questions along the way. From accommodation and itinerary, to connecting us to a city guide, as well as our amazing trekking guide, Priscilla❤️, we couldn't be happier with all that was offered.
Amanda was professional, courteous and lovely and helped us to enjoy our trip of a lifetime, including playing her part in a secret marriage proposal at the Larke Pass!
As tough as the Trek was, (chest infection upping the challenge even more...), the overall adventure has been incredible. Thank you Amanda !

Oooh we really enjoyed it! It was so impressive, such a beautiful landscape and country. The people are really friendly and the food was good. Fortunately we were lucky with the weather so the view was amazing. Tendu was a nice guide, he really took care of us.
The only little negative thing was that the driver didn't find our hotel where we stayed after the trekking tour. So we had to help him with google maps. But it can happen, so we forgot it immediately when we arrived.

I found KimKim (and Amanda) totally on the ball, professional, and very competent. They responded to emails/questions very promptly and were very attentive to detail. The greeting and meeting in Kathmandu was helpful and the trip itself was excellent and tailored to our needs. Overall very pleased.

Our Nar Phu and Manang trek was an unforgettable adventure. Especially the Nar and Phu part of the trek was outstanding with amazing landscapes and breathtaking views, great hikes, incredibly friendly and hospitable people who always had a great smile for us and a deep insight into local culture.
Our guides Mingmar and Dorje were supergreat and a lot of fun and would always offer support when needed. We spontaneously changed the second part of our trek due to my fear of heights, which was... read more

Our Nar Phu and Manang trek was an unforgettable adventure. Especially the Nar and Phu part of the trek was outstanding with amazing landscapes and breathtaking views, great hikes, incredibly friendly and hospitable people who always had a great smile for us and a deep insight into local culture.
Our guides Mingmar and Dorje were supergreat and a lot of fun and would always offer support when needed. We spontaneously changed the second part of our trek due to my fear of heights, which was good for me and Mingmar found some perfect alternative for us. Both our guides were a great source of information on Buddhist and local culture and history.
Amanda is the best local specialist you can get. No matter what kind of questions, requests and problems we had when planning our trek, she would always find a perfect answer or solution within no more than a few hours. You can hope for no better, more helpful, likeable specialist! Thank you so much for planning the best trek with us!

EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS!!

We just completed a 3.5 week vacation in Nepal that included stays in Kathmandu and other cities, tours of heritage sites and a national park and a trek in the Annapurna region.

We have traveled extensively in Europe and elsewhere and have always made our own arrangements, and have done very well. For a trip to Nepal you need professional assistance and we received exemplary service at every stage of our trip.

Before we arrived in Nepal, Amanda helped us with all... read more

EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS!!

We just completed a 3.5 week vacation in Nepal that included stays in Kathmandu and other cities, tours of heritage sites and a national park and a trek in the Annapurna region.

We have traveled extensively in Europe and elsewhere and have always made our own arrangements, and have done very well. For a trip to Nepal you need professional assistance and we received exemplary service at every stage of our trip.

Before we arrived in Nepal, Amanda helped us with all the planning and arrangements. They customized the trip for us. They have many pre-planned treks in Nepal, but they can be customized to fit your time frame, experience, and interests. We considered a number of options before settling on our itinerary. Amanda provided us with lots of useful information. We followed her packing guide and used everything on the list, but didn't need anything else. I would suggest for your trek that you have a clean pair of socks and underwear for each day, you can wear the same pair of pants trekking each day but is is comforting to put on clean dry socks and underwear every day. We had lots of back and forth in the planning stage, and their communication system keeps everything in one place so you can easily check on what has been sent or reread information--really helpful.

When we arrived in Nepal, Raj was our primary contact. This turned our to be critical to the success of our trip. He was amazingly flexible, helpful, and knowledgeable. We made a number of changes/additions as the trip went on. Originally, we had planned a trek in the Everest valley during the monsoon season, Amanda prepared us very well for the potential weather related difficulties that could occur. We spent two days in the airport trying to fly into Lukla, but the airport was closed due to weather. After the first day, Raj suggested a number of options if the weather continued. After the second day we decided to change our plans and Trek in a more accessible area. We contacted Raj from the airport and he completely changed our itinerary, booked new flights and accommodations and we flew out that afternoon. It was so impressive!

I also want to point out that EVERYONE was always early for every appointment--every meeting, driver, tourguide, etc., arrived 15-30 minutes before they were expected, which gave us great confidence.

We urge you to request Naresh Nachhiring to be your trek guide--he was spectacular. We had the opportunity to observe a number of guides, and we were so grateful Naresh was our guide--there really is a difference. Naresh is soft spoken, very experienced/capable (doing this work since he was 14), honest, kind, small ego, big heart, he has the "helper gene". On the trek, the guide has lots of discretion, he chooses where you stop and eat and sleep, the places may look alike, but they are not! Naresh always found us the best location, the best room, and he was always looking for ways to be quietly helpful. He adjusted his service to our needs, our pace, our interests. He would leave us alone to walk together, but then he was there to put a rock in a stream to make it easier for us to cross, or point out a safer path through a challenging section, or show us something we would have surely missed. He never pressured us or tried to make us fit his needs, he served us. It was so cool to be with someone who is so experienced, yet he still take such pleasure in what we were seeing--monkeys playing in the trees, a beautiful waterfall or vista, a mountain view he must have seen hundreds of times before, yet still enjoyed. We enjoyed all our time together--he is a real person who is easy to be with, never playing a role or putting on an act. Ask for NARESH!

We had several city guides and by far the best one was Pratikshya--ask for her! She doesn't run through some prepared script that feels like it has been said a thousand times. She is like visiting a new place with a friend. Easy, tells you a little bit, if you want more she knows it. Fun to be with, she really made every experience with her enjoyable, relaxing, informative (without overdoing it). She is relaxed, genuine, honest, knowledgeable. The perfect guide!

At the end of our trip we stayed in 3 locations that were not typical Nepali hotels/teahouses. These are more western in style, but also really enjoyable for different reasons. Temple Tree Resort is in Pokhera, and we stayed there the nights before and after our trek--a real treat, amazing facility and service--we were spoiled and loved it. Namo Buddha Resort, near the Namo Buddha Monastery , is 13 gnome cottages built by a German couple 20 years ago on a hilltop overlooking a beautiful valley. We are not vegetarians, but we thoroughly enjoyed their amazing vegetarian meals made from all organic produce they grow on site--stay here if you plan to visit Namo Buddha. Milla Guesthouse in Bhaktapur is a 4 room exquisite mini hotel built by a Austrian Architect, involved in the restoration of Nepali religious sites. Bhaktapur is rich in history but badly damaged by a series of earthquakes, the latest in 2015, this hotel with amazing service is a gem in the rubble--stay there if you visit Bhaktapur, it is right in the center of everything. We never would have found these three places without Amanda and Raj's help.

We had many drivers, and lots of different experiences from primitive to luxury but all exceeded expectations. We were will taken care of and prepared because we recieved exemplary service at every turn. Highly recommended.

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... read more

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!

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!

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... read more

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.

I took the 5 day Pikey Peak Trek and the experience was amazing. Amanda and my guide/porter Rishi met me at my hotel the night before in Kathmandu. They went over my list of what I was packing, and gave me some valuable advice. They picked me up at my hotel and drove me to where we met our public transportation. The trek met all of my expectations. The views were amazing, and the tea houses were great. It was wonderful to submerse yourself in the Himalaya culture for five days. ... read more

I took the 5 day Pikey Peak Trek and the experience was amazing. Amanda and my guide/porter Rishi met me at my hotel the night before in Kathmandu. They went over my list of what I was packing, and gave me some valuable advice. They picked me up at my hotel and drove me to where we met our public transportation. The trek met all of my expectations. The views were amazing, and the tea houses were great. It was wonderful to submerse yourself in the Himalaya culture for five days. Everyone was friendly and welcoming, and my guide was amazing, very helpful, and always asking me what I wanted to make my experience better. I would highly recommend this trek to someone who is in good physical condition and wants to experience the authentic local culture.

I have just returned from one of the most memorable experiences in my life. My eight day trip to Nepal, trekking in the Solukhumbu region was incredible. From my initial conversations with Amanda who helped me build a personalised itinerary, through to the planning, support, customer service and guide, the whole team were amazing. Every detail was covered and every question answered (always a bonus when you are traveling to a destination for the first time).

A special mention must go to my... read more

I have just returned from one of the most memorable experiences in my life. My eight day trip to Nepal, trekking in the Solukhumbu region was incredible. From my initial conversations with Amanda who helped me build a personalised itinerary, through to the planning, support, customer service and guide, the whole team were amazing. Every detail was covered and every question answered (always a bonus when you are traveling to a destination for the first time).

A special mention must go to my guide, Wangchhu Sherpa, who is absolutely top-class. Wangchhu really made the trip with his local knowledge and explanations of the local culture and Sherpa people. At every tea house or hotel we were made welcome with a smile and some great food. We shared some laughs and lots of chats on so many topics as we trekked, taking in some absolutely stunning views and incredible scenery. I'd definitely recommend including Pikey Peak if you can. The 360 degree views at sunrise are stunning. You can't argue with Sir Edmund Hilary!

I have no hesitation in highly recommending Amanda, Wangchuu, Sitaram and the team for a trekking adventure in Nepal. I'll definitely be heading back to Nepal next year to continue my adventure in one of the most stunning places on earth!

I can highly recommend Amanda at Kim Kim/ Himalayan Trails and am very grateful for the care and thought she put into planning my trekking trip in Nepal. I felt that my needs were really listened to and that she made a conscious effort to suggest accommodation that she felt I would enjoy. Our guide Sumon was knowledgeable and engaging and helped to make the trip more interesting and tailored to our needs. Overall a very enjoyable experience and I would definitely use the company again - they are professional, attentive and experienced.

We had an excellent trip trekking strting at POKHARA - Panchase - Bhadure -Sarangkot our tour guide Chhirig CAP Lama was extraordinary helping us all along. Others Ngima,Santa and Karma were also friendly and helping. we enjoyed our trek immensely.
National Park Chitwan Jungle Villa resort , our guide was DUKHI RAM CHOUDARY who had an excellent knowledge of the animals and village . He seemed very passionate and helpful. We thoroughly enjoyed the National Park and recommend people to go and visit anytime.

Amanda and Himalayan Trails were amazing at planning a customized trip for my honeymoon. It was such a memorable experience. Exactly what we needed although we couldn't explain it exactly at the start...she knew what we wanted.

And execution was flawless. A few things on my trip didnt work out (flights, altitude sickness) but Amanda managed to adjust the trip on the spot each time with no extra cost or headache.

Wonderful experience. Unique memories.

We just completed our first vacation with Kimkim support - and we absolutely loved it! Our family of four travels a lot, and we consider ourselves pretty sophisticated travelers. Our trip was to Nepal where my wife and I lived for a year 15 years ago - so why Kimkim, you might wonder? I sure did, initially! I stumbled over their website and loved it (and Nepal info I can judge, I feel) and then started my online discussion with Amanda from Kathmandu-based Himalayan Trails. She was incredibly... read more

We just completed our first vacation with Kimkim support - and we absolutely loved it! Our family of four travels a lot, and we consider ourselves pretty sophisticated travelers. Our trip was to Nepal where my wife and I lived for a year 15 years ago - so why Kimkim, you might wonder? I sure did, initially! I stumbled over their website and loved it (and Nepal info I can judge, I feel) and then started my online discussion with Amanda from Kathmandu-based Himalayan Trails. She was incredibly available and quick and proactive in her responses. Based on her recommendations, we added a few real gems to our itinerary: Two nights at an herb farm just outside Bhaktapur - rammed earth homes which are beautiful and home grown food which was amazing. A final night at Traditional Homes Swotha in Patan, a beautifully restored Newari house in an unbeatable location.
Amanda met with us at the beginning of our trip and even loaned us a simple local phone...invaluable as our US Iphones did not accept the local SIM cards.
Beyond some great recs, everything organized by Kimkim was top notch: The jeeps were a bit better than what we could find ourselves (and you do want the AC to work when you drive through KTM!) - and Amanda was incredibly helpful when we had to make a late adjustment to our itinerary.
Overall a truly memorable trip, made possible by the incredible support Amanda and Himalayan Trails provided!

If its your first time going to Nepal and you don't use Himalayan Trails, you are making a mistake. period.

8 day trek in Langtang Valley Nepal . Stunning and unforgettable ! Great Guide (Chhiring) and the organisation of everything was great. The Langtang Trek is perfect for a first timer but it is not easy, so make sure you have done plenty of walking before and have got yourself reasonably fit! Tips? take your own toilet roll, a face flannel for washing ( may not get a warm shower for several days), travel light and take layers of clothes not heavy jumpers, and one or two walking poles. Don't... read more

8 day trek in Langtang Valley Nepal . Stunning and unforgettable ! Great Guide (Chhiring) and the organisation of everything was great. The Langtang Trek is perfect for a first timer but it is not easy, so make sure you have done plenty of walking before and have got yourself reasonably fit! Tips? take your own toilet roll, a face flannel for washing ( may not get a warm shower for several days), travel light and take layers of clothes not heavy jumpers, and one or two walking poles. Don't bother buying a Nepal phone card or wifi connection - just enjoy being out of touch , its still all there when you reconnect! I saw a post you can do this trip cheaper on your own . Well maybe you could , but if you want someone to take care of everything and not have to worry about who, what, when, where and how, then I recommend Amanda and the team

We had a great time everything was very well organised and we didn’t have to think about anything. A special thanks to Naresh and Pemba for making our trek to Pikey Peak so easy and fun! It was a great trip and the Himalayas are truly beautiful and amazing. Highly recommend it to everyone!

Guide was Rishi
Trip arranged with Amanda

Everything went as planned . Very professionally managed . Rishi was a seasoned guide who took care of everything

I knew nothing about kimkim before booking our trek in Nepal. All started with an inquiry to which Amanda responded. She was fantastic - answering my countless questions, responding quickly to all our requests re suitable trek, etc.
After having everything planned one of our sons had an accident which meant we had to start from scratch and replan a trip that would cater for him. Nothing was a problem for Amanda and her suggested revised itinerary was perfect for us.
Our guide Tendu and our... read more

I knew nothing about kimkim before booking our trek in Nepal. All started with an inquiry to which Amanda responded. She was fantastic - answering my countless questions, responding quickly to all our requests re suitable trek, etc.
After having everything planned one of our sons had an accident which meant we had to start from scratch and replan a trip that would cater for him. Nothing was a problem for Amanda and her suggested revised itinerary was perfect for us.
Our guide Tendu and our porters, Pemba & Dolci could not have been better. Apart from looking after us so well, we quickly felt they were more like friends we were lucky enough to trek with. They were so friendly, informative and perceptive - so quick to respond to individual’s needs during day while trekking and all other times.
The tea houses varied in their facilities, but we loved them all - all in great locations, clean, comfortable and great food.
Amanda also felt like do much more than a travel consultant - she met us in Kathmandu both before and after our trek.
My husband & I shared this holiday with our two adult sons and their partners. We all want to return to Nepal for another trekking experience - hopefully with the help of Amanda and accompanied by Tendu, Pemba & Dolci.

As I only delt with Amanda online and very briefly in Nepal I gave 4 stars, this is not a reflection on her service as she was very helpful and easy to liaise with. I wanted to save the five star rating for our wonderful guide Sonam and porter Mik Ma (hope i spelt his name right). Everything was perfect. My first trek and apart from it hurting badly on my very sole it was awsome.. Josh

We were doing the EBC trail and had to be evacuated due to my husband getting high altitude sickness and sent a request on Kimkim for an alternative for the remainder of our stay in Nepal and got a promt response from Amanda with an excellent description of our trip and great service from her in all respects. We had a great experience, loved all the hotels on our route except one but I suspect that the options were rather limited as we booked our trip with almost no notice. The guide and porter were lovely, their English a little limited but that did not cause any problems.
A lovely time!

We had a fantastic trek for our honeymoon and would highly recommend Amanda, our guide Tendu Sherpa and the entire Himalayan Trails team. Amanda was so responsive and helpful in planning our adventure - and went above and beyond to track down my bag that arrived late from our airlines and helicoptered it to the Himalayas to meet us a few days along our trek - really grateful! We have already recommended them to our friends!

The experience was great. We could have done with a rest afternoon and a better driver to return back with. However Wangchu was a great guide who was very knowledgeable and helpful

The Nar-Phu trek was superbly organised, kimkim tours were great to deal with, Amanda was fantastic to deal with and very knowledgeable and our guide and porter were both brilliant and so helpful and fun to do the trek with. Would recommend the trek to anyone looking for a extremely interesting and varied out of the way trek and certainly would have no hesitation in recommending using kimkim tours.

I joined a group departure on Manaslu Circuit and was very satisfied with everything, we had a great knowledgeable guide who made sure everything was ok, the porters were also great, the whole trip went smoothly, amanda was very helpful and always answered my question quickly, she also helped me to arrange a car which drove me to chitwan after the trek, no complains :)

Had a wonderful time trekking Annapurna Base Camp and Muldai Peak with my awesome guide Nawang. Raj, Erin and Amanda were super helpful and accommodating as plans changed, and made all the logistics effortless. Truly an unforgettable trip!

Hi ! We did the Pikey peak and Solu trek package. It was even better than we expected. Amanda our local specialist really understood what we wanted, I asked for a trek with the least amount of tourist and she delivered. We did not see any tourist until the end of the trek, so our entire trek was nature and the locals (Sherpa coulture). Very sweet people, warm and very hospitable. We stayed in tea houses and they were great. Our guide Pemba was really great, he knew his stuff well and was... read more

Hi ! We did the Pikey peak and Solu trek package. It was even better than we expected. Amanda our local specialist really understood what we wanted, I asked for a trek with the least amount of tourist and she delivered. We did not see any tourist until the end of the trek, so our entire trek was nature and the locals (Sherpa coulture). Very sweet people, warm and very hospitable. We stayed in tea houses and they were great. Our guide Pemba was really great, he knew his stuff well and was very good about taking décisions when the weather was less than ideal. He was also really great at the Phaplu airport, a very tiny airport with very few flights and weather plays a huge role in you getting your flight and so does the delivery of goods to Lukla. So after stressing a bit thinking we may not get our flight, our guide found a way and we flew on saturday as planned, thank you Pemba for your hard work! Now our sherpas, they were so amazing, Dowa 1 and Dowa 2, they both had the same name so the told us to add the number when Calling their names. They were so great, they also did most of the cooking for us at the tea houses, they really went out of their way for us to be confortable and well fed.

As for the trek itself I loved all of it, my favorites, I really enjoyed Japre, I loved where we stayed at Pikey basecamp, climbing up to Pikey Peak at 6am in the fog and then seeing Everest was pretty magical. We all really enjoyed Loding village it was really relaxing after two hard days of Walking. When we arrived in Junbesi we immediately climbed to Thubten Choling Monastery, now that was the nicest most amazing mistical monastery I have ever visited. The monks where really warm and hospitable, they even invited us to their tea room for some delicious tea with milk and some local cookies.

I could go on and on, but if you want a trek that is a bit challenging but yet very enjoyable and minimal tourist with a real experience of the Sherpa culture, this is a really great trek. Thank you Amanda for your hard work and thank you Pemba for all the strings you pulled to get us back to Kathmandu ontime. I can't wait for my next trek in Nepal!!!

Audrey

The overall experuence was exactly what we hoped for.
Nice people, flexible when plans changed and had a lot to tell about places we visited.
We have done only 5,5 days in nepal, kthmandu to pokhara and some rafting in between an staying in a fantastisch riverside camp.
All perfectly arranged.
My only point of comment would be that the drive to and from the Famous Farm (which was fantastic to stay btw) was too long (due to the road conditions) related to the total time we where in Nepal.
Besides that, all perfect!

Mingma and the porters were lovely and very helpful, and I was grateful to them for flicking leeches off my shoes! It was a good route with lots of different and pretty immediate scenery, even if it was too cloudy to see the mountains. I was happy with the level of difficulty of the trek. I loved the first tea house in Ghandruk. I was a bit disappointed with the lack of views but had plenty of warning that this could well be the case in monsoon season.

I have nothing but kind things to say regarding my recent trip to Pikey Peak in Nepal. Both Rachel and I had never been to Nepal before, and were overwhelmed with the kindness and hospitality we experienced both with the company and people we stayed with throughout the trek.

Needless to say, you need a guide if you have never hiked or journeyed through Nepal before. It is not only essential for your safety, but also because local guides have immense amount of knowledge and insight about... read more

I have nothing but kind things to say regarding my recent trip to Pikey Peak in Nepal. Both Rachel and I had never been to Nepal before, and were overwhelmed with the kindness and hospitality we experienced both with the company and people we stayed with throughout the trek.

Needless to say, you need a guide if you have never hiked or journeyed through Nepal before. It is not only essential for your safety, but also because local guides have immense amount of knowledge and insight about Nepal culture, people, language, and places. It really adds to the trip to have guide who can help show you these parts of Nepal as well.

Our six day trek was wonderful. Picky Peak gave us beautiful view of various mountain ranges, including Mount Everest. Naress, our guide, was absolutely wonderful in providing us with any assistance we needed (whether it be encouragement on long hiking days or making sure all of our lodging was warm and accommodating). We also enjoyed our porter, Mingma Sherpa, who taught us different words in the Sherpa language and took us around a monastery in Junbesi.

My only critique of the trip was feeling under prepared in terms of packing as my friend Rachel also expressed in her review. If you go during the rainy season, it is very cold at night, especially at high altitudes. Perhaps an area of improvement for KimKim could be more transparency in telling us to pack warmer clothes, a sleeping bag, and other necessities.

Overall though, excellent company, guide, porter, and experience. Would certainly recommend to anyone who has limited time but wants to explore Nepal!

100/10 would strongly recommend booking through kimkim for a trek through Nepal!

I inquired on a whim just to ask a few questions and Mads and Amanda took full reigns to cater the trip specifically for what we wanted to see, do, and experience all within our time frame. Their tips were very informative and helpful as well as prompt.

As for the actual trek, we got taxi pick up with our guide, Naress, on the first day and he accompanied us 24/7 after that. Naress was AMAZING. He cared for us... read more

100/10 would strongly recommend booking through kimkim for a trek through Nepal!

I inquired on a whim just to ask a few questions and Mads and Amanda took full reigns to cater the trip specifically for what we wanted to see, do, and experience all within our time frame. Their tips were very informative and helpful as well as prompt.

As for the actual trek, we got taxi pick up with our guide, Naress, on the first day and he accompanied us 24/7 after that. Naress was AMAZING. He cared for us on the 14 hour Jeep ride to Phaplu and made sure we knew what was going on. He always made sure we were fed, warm, and taking breaks to rest. His guidance was necessary and he taught us so much about Nepali culture. He also taught us plenty of Nepali phrases we could use to talk to the people we met at the tea houses. We also had a Sherpa, Mingmar Sherpa, who carried some of the luggage weight. GRATEFUL FOR THIS. My favorite town was Junbesi where we visited a monastery, but the highlight of the trip was seeing Everest from the top of Pikey Peak. A little cold due to the rainy season climate, but absolutely stunning.

On the jeep ride back, Naress purchased an extra seat so that we would have more room on the 8 hour ride home. This. was. life giving. THANK YOU NARESS!

Overall, the only thing I was confused by was the packing list. I don't remember being told we would have a Sherpa or that we should bring x, y, z warm gear. Maybe that could be an improvement?

I cannot thank the kimkim team enough for this trip. I have already recommended the company to 4 different friend groups heading to Nepal later this year, and I will certainly go back to kimkim if I return to Nepal one day.
Thank you and happy trails!

It was truly a pleasant and wonderful experience from start to end! Amanda and Mads were really awesome and prompt in answering my queries. Thank you for their patience because it took so long to confirm my trip. Co-ordination of the team was flawless, it was a thoughtful gesture for us to meet Raj at the end of the trip to review the trek and also to understand the company a little more. The trek was awesome, it was really beautiful and the landscape was so varied and diverse! Chhiring was a... read more

It was truly a pleasant and wonderful experience from start to end! Amanda and Mads were really awesome and prompt in answering my queries. Thank you for their patience because it took so long to confirm my trip. Co-ordination of the team was flawless, it was a thoughtful gesture for us to meet Raj at the end of the trip to review the trek and also to understand the company a little more. The trek was awesome, it was really beautiful and the landscape was so varied and diverse! Chhiring was a professional, helpful and fantastic guide! He went over and above to make our experience memorable, it was enriching to hear stories of his experience, the history and culture of the region. Our porters, Santa and Mannosh were also awesome! it was pleasant to have them around and I was very grateful for the hard work that they put in, we also had fun afternoons playing card games and sharing laughs! Himalayan trails has a stellar team! I will not hesitate to go on my next trek in Nepal with them again!

An amazing trek, short but challenging for us. Beautiful landscape and views of the Annapurnas. Our guide Tendu and porter Dorje were very patient and accommodating. We went in the off season, but were very lucky with both the weather and open tea houses. The only unfortunate thing was that the packing list provided to us was definitely optimized for the fall and winter, and we were way over-laden with warm clothes, rain gear and sleeping bags that we didn't need. Overall a fantastic experience from start to finish.

Our guide, porter, and drivers in country were all wonderful; knowledgeable, reliable, friendly, and helpful.
After spending 7 months planning the trip with Amanda, it was disappointing to be redirected to other individuals for the final lead up, and then also during the trip.

The trip was amazing, I enjoyed every moment of it. Chhiring, our guide, was incredible, helped us all the time.

The whole trip- all the connections the tour guides, the hotels- awesome!
Thanks!

This was my second visit to Nepal and my second time using this company. Amanda and Tendu provided excellent service once again!!

I contacted Amanda to have her set up a tour for us on short notice. She was always quick to respond, friendly, accommodating and answered all of our questions. We did a three day trip through Pokhara, Dhampus and Bandipur, which would have been hard to do on our own. We stayed at fantastic guest houses and had some great views. Our guide Tendu was very knowledgeable and friendly. I will be coming back to Nepal and I will be using this company again!!

Trip was excellent. Amanda was more than awesome. I give her 10 stars, not just five. She handled all our needs, last minute changes and beyond.

Mingma and Dorje were top-notch and literally saved our trek by being agile in the face of Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Muktinath. They stayed informed of his changing schedule and altered our trek route and time-table to enable our visit. They both were knowledgeable, fun, and a pleasure to trek with. During trek days they stayed close to us... read more

Trip was excellent. Amanda was more than awesome. I give her 10 stars, not just five. She handled all our needs, last minute changes and beyond.

Mingma and Dorje were top-notch and literally saved our trek by being agile in the face of Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Muktinath. They stayed informed of his changing schedule and altered our trek route and time-table to enable our visit. They both were knowledgeable, fun, and a pleasure to trek with. During trek days they stayed close to us in sketchy areas and gave us space in easier areas.

All transfers and accommodation were great.

The entire crew made it possible for Donna and I to drop into Adventure travel for two weeks and not lose any of that time to waiting for permits, negotiating for taxis, etc, etc, etc.

Thank you Amanda, Mingma and Dorje. Thank you kimkim!

Both the Upper Mustang Valley trek and the Annapurna Base Camp trek were fantastic and both so very different. Our guide, Pemba, was awesome and really went out of his way to make things as easy as possible for us. Would definitely recommend him, and our porter, Amar, was also great. We met some fantastic people, both local and trekkers on these trips and had lots of laughs with them. Every day was different and every day was memorable. It is very hard to pin point any particular day, but we'll never forget the view when we got to Annapurna Base Camp.

I can not say enough how amazing our experience was with Kimkim. I worked wih a Amanda who customized our trip to fit the very limited time we had in Nepal. We did a 3 day trip and were able to hike and explore the Kathmandu area which would have been very difficult to do on our own. We had a hiking guide and a city guide and both were amazing, knowledgadble and super friendly. We loved the hotels Amanda reserved for us. The Namo Buddha Resort was beautiful and very peaceful. If and when I go back to Nepal I will use this company. I highly recommend them!

The Manaslu Trek was everything we hoped for and more! Right from the start, our travel specialist Amanda, was very helpful and quick to answer all of our questions and concerns. She helped to plan and organize the perfect trip tailored specifically to our requests. The online booking experience was also very efficient and easy.

Upon arriving in Kathmandu we had the opportunity to meet with both Amanda and our guide Chhiring and were given a full briefing of the itinerary prior to the... read more

The Manaslu Trek was everything we hoped for and more! Right from the start, our travel specialist Amanda, was very helpful and quick to answer all of our questions and concerns. She helped to plan and organize the perfect trip tailored specifically to our requests. The online booking experience was also very efficient and easy.

Upon arriving in Kathmandu we had the opportunity to meet with both Amanda and our guide Chhiring and were given a full briefing of the itinerary prior to the start of the Trek. Amanda also took the time to meet with us at our hotel after the trek to debrief about our trip. Everything was very well planned and organized.

We had a wonderful experience throughout the trek enjoying the spectacular scenery and observing the village life along the way. Our guide Chhiring, and porter Santa, were both extremely attentive, professional and respectful. We felt well taken care of and are grateful to have had them accompany us on our trek. In addition, Chhiring's knowledge and experience provided us with detailed insight into the local culture and trekking routes through the Himalayas.
From start to finish we received great service that surpassed our expectations! Thank you to all involved for making this a trip to remember! Tina & Jason

I had a wonderful experience on my trip to Nepal. I will remember it forever. Amanda organised us a wonderful Trip. Mingma Sherpa our guide was very professional & friendly, happy to accommodate our changes when asked.
Megshha Karki our yogi was very friendly & made us laugh often. He is a funny guy. His yoga sessions helped us continue on our Trek everyday with all our aches & pains. The Porters, Bashil, Hindu, Navarus, Rokman & Mingmar 2 were all very friendly & helpful, ready to help us... read more

I had a wonderful experience on my trip to Nepal. I will remember it forever. Amanda organised us a wonderful Trip. Mingma Sherpa our guide was very professional & friendly, happy to accommodate our changes when asked.
Megshha Karki our yogi was very friendly & made us laugh often. He is a funny guy. His yoga sessions helped us continue on our Trek everyday with all our aches & pains. The Porters, Bashil, Hindu, Navarus, Rokman & Mingmar 2 were all very friendly & helpful, ready to help us whenever needed. I was almost virtually carried down the mountain a couple of times with my bad knees. I looked forward to their cups of tea to warm us up. The accommodation we stayed in varied from Ok to terrific, but the families were always friendly & inviting. The toilets were a bit difficult for me with my knees 7 took a bit getting used to. We were fed lots & I loved the food. The trail was difficult at times but we loved it. Seeing Everest for the first time was amazing. Walking past Glaciers & seeing the Rhodedemdrum Forest was beautiful. People said Namaste with a smile wherever we went.
We had such a good time travelling together for the 10 days & I would recommend it to anyone thinking of going.