
Chris McCarty
I have spent a good amount of time traveling around Iceland and most recently Morocco. In Iceland, I've mostly focused on Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Westfjords, and North. The best way to experience Iceland is to get away from the bus tours that stick to Reykjavik and the Golden Circle and to explore all the other hikes, waterfalls, volcanoes, and hot springs that Iceland has to offer.
What places and activities do you specialize in?
"Iceland, Morocco, Germany, Norway, Spain, Argentina, Peru, and much of Western Europe."
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"Several years ago I was in Peru with 2 friends from back in middle school . One was living in South America, and the other was visiting with me. After a fun day of exploring the ruins and markets of Pisac (just outside of Cusco) the informed local friend sent us on our way to the next town of Ollantaytambo....on motor taxi.
We soon discovered the loudest and bumpiest way to travel in Peru as we sat in the back with our large backpacks barely fitting inside the small cart as we yelled back and forth to each other (not in a mean way, it was the only way to hear). At one point the driver stopped to pee on the side of the road as we wondered if we were even going to the right place (this was pre iphone maps to double-check). We managed to make it to within 5 miles of our destination before we were let out and somehow figured out how to make it the last 5 miles.
It was a pretty fun adventure that we laughed about from the comfort of our beds that night. It shows you that while traveling by tour bus may be more predictable, there are better ways to create lifelong memories. "
Featured trips & expertise

Wachusett Mountain Hike & Brewery
Spend a morning hiking the trails around Wachusett Mountain, which offers great views over central Massachusetts from the peak of Wachusett Mountain. Recharge and relax the afternoon away at nearby Wachusett Brewery, enjoying a flight of local brews, good food, and often live music in the outdoor setting.

Day Bike Ride to Chappaquiddick (Martha's Vineyard)
Leave the car behind and set out along flat bike paths along the coastline as you ride from Oak Bluffs to remote Chappaquiddick Island ("Chappy"). Relax on the windswept beaches on the small island made famous by the Kennedys. The total ride is about 18 miles (9 miles each way), with a very short bike ferry to cross the water.

The Best of Franconia Notch, White Mountains - 3 Days
The White Mountains in northern New Hampshire is New England's top hiking destination, easily accessed from the Boston area (only 2 hours away). Hikes in this region are steep, but rewarding with gorgeous views of the wilderness. Introduce yourselves to "The Whites" with a shorter hike along the Welch-Dickie Loop, which offers great views for (relatively) minimal efforts. On your other days, climb to either side of Franconia Notch to hike along the ridgelines. Spend your evenings back in Lincoln or North Woodstock enjoying great local food and beer. You could also consider camping in the Notch or a bit further east in the heart of the Whites.This trip can also be easily extended with a few more days by exploring Pinkham notch to the east (home to Mount Washington).

Cape Cod Road Trip Getaway - 7 Days
Spend a relaxing week on the Cape with this road trip getaway. Start with a few days on Martha's Vineyard to help you quickly adjust to the pace of the Cape. Relax on windswept beaches, bike along island trails, and enjoy warm evening nights. Then it's back to the mainland Cape, where you will explore the more sparsely populated areas of the Lower and Outer Cape. Hike marsh-side trails, top massive sand dunes, climb local lighthouses, and refuel at weathered roadside clam shacks.The drive is only 2 hours from Boston to Provincetown (without traffic), and you can easily split this itinerary in two as well, with a long weekend in Martha's Vineyard or a few days in the Outer Cape.

Coastal Maine Road Trip - 9 Days
This coastal road trip is the perfect way to explore the top sights and hidden coasts of Maine, aptly referred to as "Vacationland". The route is quite flexible: you'll follow the bend in the coast from Portland to Camden to Acadia, with opportunities to explore lesser-visited peninsulas along the way. You can stick to the better-known spots (Portland, Camden, Acadia) or spend some time off the beaten path with a kayak ride through a marsh south of Portland, a boat trip to Monhegan island, or a day hiking around Isle Au Haute, part of Acadia National Park.
Recent trip reviews for Chris
2-Week Ring Road Self-Drive Itinerary: Highlights of Iceland and the Remote Westfjords
Iceland
|
May 24 - Jun 8, 2019
Chris did a great job putting together a memorable trip around Iceland, encouraging us to explore some of the more remote areas. We had all kinds of weather from sleet and snow and wind to warm sun. No problem at Lake Myvatn with bugs, probably because it was a bit cool. Good marsh bird watching there and at Djupivogur. Loved Seydisfjordur and the newly renovated guesthouse, Vio Lonio. Appreciated being pointed to the various little museum: Sheep Farming Museum in Holmavik, Herring Museum in... read more

Trish & Fin, welcome back! So glad you had such a memorable trip to Iceland, and I'm thankful you managed to avoid the black flies at Myvatn. I'm jealous you witnessed kayakers going over a waterfall--that must have been such a site. Sorry we didn't include the opportunity for you to do the same--maybe on your next kimkim trip? ;-)
Best,
-Chris
Trip to Iceland
Iceland
|
Mar 31 - Apr 8, 2019
Great trip overall. Chris was very responsive and easy to work with and has been supportive of working with me to address the few issues that did come up on the trip.
see all the key spots in the south
Iceland
|
Nov 20 - Nov 23, 2018
KimKim really is a great service. Chris (online) listened to what I wanted to see in Iceland and planed things out perfectly. We were on a very short trip — just 4 days, but we got to see everything we wanted and then some. Our actual tour guide Rhenar (hope I'm spelling that correctly) was amazing. He drove the mini van and told us about every location we went. Rhenar really brought Iceland to life for us—telling us all about the volcanic activity, the glaciers, the ego-thermal areas, and so... read more
Iceland and the northern lights
Iceland
|
Nov 20 - Nov 24, 2018
Great trip
Beautiful country
Great and friendly service
I will use your services again!
Thank you
Trip to Iceland
Iceland
|
Nov 13 - Nov 18, 2018
Chris was very helpful in helping select, discuss, and finalize the exactly right itinerary for my trip needs. All the details were quickly, efficiently and correctly handled. Very thorough knowledge of all aspects of local life and entertainment and fantastic value overall as a service.
Trip to Iceland
Iceland
|
Oct 8 - Oct 15, 2018
I procrastinated my trip planning to Iceland until it was a week before my departure and I decided to try Kimkim. Chris was pleasant to work with and the process was seamless. It took less than 2 days to complete the planning as I wasn’t very picky on what I wanted to do and just let Chris do his work.
Adventurous family ring road-trip
Iceland
|
May 27 - Jun 7, 2018
Chris did a great job helping plan our unforgettable trip.
I have a few suggestions; please advice traveler to Lake Myran (sp) of the absolutely aweful sworn of black flys in the area. We couldn’t walk around the lake because we were not prepared for the flys. We were pretty disappointed as the area and walked looked beautiful. Face nets are essential.
Also, toward the fiords in the northeast coast, were advices to take road 92 to 96. These roads are now just highway one.
Lastly, our... read more
Iceland Northern Lights and waterfalls
Iceland
|
Nov 11 - Nov 17, 2017

Shaky. Definitely made it right - but I think we all would have preferred a smoother communication channel and not necessarily between us and Chris but rather getting the needed info to us to smooth the process i.e. direct contact info for accommodations (phone #'s!), the very important knowledge that an accommodation does not accept credit cards even though the reservation was secured with a credit card. Little things that need to be tightened up.
We could book through booking.com... read more
Hiking iceland
Iceland
|
Sep 6 - Sep 20, 2017
What an amazing country and a well planned trip! Plenty to do and see.
Only issue was a few rough roads which could have been avoided that weren't really appropriate for an RV. In particular the road north of Detifoss. Best to approach from the south which is bitumen.
Adventure with the Girls
Iceland
|
Sep 13 - Sep 20, 2017
I am SO glad we used Kimkim to organize our trip. I can't believe how quickly the time passed between booking our flights and when it was actually time to fly out. All of that planning I thought I'd have time to do disappeared in 6 months. It was so convenient to have an idea of the distances to travel, what to see and where, things to skip when we were short on time, and the highlights of each location. It brought a lot of peace of mind and much-needed structure to our road trip.
Chris... read more
8-Day Ring Road, including Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Iceland
|
Sep 16 - Sep 24, 2017

Chris put together a great itinerary and I am amazed at how much we saw. I really appreciated his insight and guidance on places to see. A great example is Seydisfjordur, a beautiful little Scandinavian village at the end of a fjord on the eastern coast. He had us there for a night and it was charming. Not knowing Iceland, I'm not sure on our own we would have ventured all the way out there.
Chris was very easy to communicate with and always promptly answered my questions or concerns.
iceland wonders
Iceland
|
Sep 16 - Sep 24, 2017
I asked for breakfast included in all my accommodations, but some did not have breakfast and some others I had to pay extra and this was not communicated to me. Would also be good if there was more information given on the conditions of the roads in Iceland, as some were very bad with gravel and many potholes.
Some miscommunication about the tours cancellations. But at least the refund was completed promptly.
Honeymoon!
Iceland
|
Sep 12 - Sep 23, 2017

We loved Chris's attention to detail when planning our trip. He really sought our unique experiences for us, and crafted a wonderful itinerary. Each day was a good balance of sight seeing and experience the culture through food and museum suggestions. So many things we would have missed if it weren't for his suggestions and guidance - we are so glad we went with kimkim for planning our honeymoon!
Chris is GREAT! He was extremely attentive with all of our questions and concerns about anything... read more
Honeymoon!
Iceland
|
Sep 12 - Sep 23, 2017
Our trip was absolutely perfect. I wouldn't have changed a single thing about our route, durations of stays, or destinations. Chris was so helpful throughout the entire process and kimkim made our honeymoon unforgettable. Would highly recommend and use again!
We wouldn't have had nearly as amazing of a honeymoon if it weren't for Chris's endless help! Thank you!
Iceland - with fam
Iceland
|
Aug 14 - Aug 19, 2017
Great planning and coordination, however hotel accommodations were a bit out of control in terms of pricing and availability. $350 each night was expensive- were there alternatives such as renting a van that could sleep 3-4, just a thought. Thanks!
Trip to Iceland
Iceland
|
Aug 30 - Sep 2, 2017

Chris' attention to detail was really appreciated. He did an excellent job with our trip from my first inquiry through to his "check in" note during our travels. We really enjoyed the out of the way and less visited places he suggested, and the hotels were fabulous!
As stated earlier Chris was friendly, knowledgeable and efficient. His suggestions were excellent, particularly his advice about how much we could realistically see and do in 3.5 days
Solo trip in Iceland for ~6-7 days
Iceland
|
Aug 24 - Aug 31, 2017
Response time was excellent, and the expert was very accommodating to my requests
Explore Iceland in 5 days - Seven Optimized Itineraries to help you make the most of your Short Trip to Iceland
Iceland
|
Jul 29 - Aug 9, 2017
Our trip was an amazing experience, we enjoyed the "adventure" of the suggested route, focusing on West and North Iceland. However, as a first visit to Iceland, we were disappointed we did not spend more time in Reykjavik and area. It deserves more. The suggested activities and places to see along the route were not always organized according to the drive. I also think it would be more helpful in the planning stages if you had more knowledge of the traveler(s) - sort of a "get to know your clients". All in all, it was great. Chris did a great job. Thank You.
Girls Road Trip
Iceland
|
Aug 16 - Aug 22, 2017

We had a difficult time sticking to the timeline as it seemed there was too much stuff for us to do in a day if we wanted to sleep in until about 8 and be at our hotel by 6 or 7 pm or so. Would be nice to have discussed how much we wanted to squeeze in one day. Otherwise, fantastic recommendations. All the restaurants, hotels, hikes, etc. were fantastic. Iceland is amazing.
Chris was prompt in responding to any questions and did a great job of booking all of our hotels and flights and... read more
Iceland adventure
Iceland
|
Aug 8 - Aug 16, 2017
Chris was great!
Glaser family in iceland
Iceland
|
Aug 10 - Aug 18, 2017

Without the help of Chris McCarty at Kim Kim, I would have been lost attempting to coordinate hotels and find sights around the coastline of Iceland. The timing from one location to another was perfect. This made a once in a lifetime trip as efficient as possible. Thank you
Nature trip
Iceland
|
Aug 10 - Aug 16, 2017
Very nice trip overall
Iceland driving tour
Iceland
|
Jul 25 - Aug 2, 2017
Chris was great to work with. He provided good recommendations for lodging and took care of making the arrangements. When one of the locations cancelled our reservation at the last minute because of a double booking he quickly helped us find another place. The sightseeing recommendations were very good.
Volcano, Waterfalls, Fjords
Iceland
|
Aug 7 - Aug 11, 2017
Our first time with KimKim. We learned more about how to communicate with our tour planner. Some our fault, some his. We had a very difficult and unsatisfactory say at Centri Lodge. The other two locations were satisfactory. Yes, we dis comment back to the travel sites on all stays.
Communication of what we expected in lodgings vs. what we had. Other tour comments were in line in terms of what to do and see.
Summer adventure
Iceland
|
Jul 22 - Aug 1, 2017
Really was a great trip. Day 2 needed a bit more instructions on sequence of stops. Food recommendations give were excellent, we could have used more recommended restaurants near we're we were booked to stay each night. Everything was really great and we had an awesome time.
countryside of iceland
Iceland
|
Jun 23 - Jul 7, 2017
Our trip involved the Ring Road and our advisor, Chris timed each day perfectly with the amount of driving and sight-seeing. The majority of the accommodation was wonderful with only two exceptions. The car rental was better than expected and all of the tours we requested were as described.
We had requested the Silfra snorkeling tour in January and received our vouchers from KimKim in March. After being in Iceland for over a week, we received an email from the snorkeling company requesting a... read more
weekend at Glacier Lagoon
Iceland
|
Jul 11 - Jul 17, 2017
Chris from Kimkim was a tremendous help, from beginning to end. He helped with all kinds of planning, even calling hotels I had booked separately to make sure they had the right kind of beds ready. Kimkim literally made the difference between a high anxiety trip and a relaxed one. Very highly recommended!
Chris went above and beyond what I would have expected. As a result, the trip was both better and easier than it would have been without his help.
Iceland 2 week family summer getaway, with some of it off the beaten track
Iceland
|
Jul 5 - Jul 18, 2017
We had a great trip to Iceland! Loved the country and expansive and beautiful landscapes. Kimkim (Chris) provided us with the inside knowledge we needed to plan this trip. The accommodations were good. Two weeks was about the right amount of time for this trip, as we covered a lot of miles.
Chris was great to work with and was very patient in answering my numerous questions. Glad that he recommended that we visit the westfjords, as this was one of our favorite parts of the trip. For some... read more
Family trip to Iceland
Iceland
|
Jun 30 - Jul 9, 2017

It was very close to perfect. But, instead of sending a series of emails with the rental car, accommodation, and activities information, it would be better if all that information was accessible from the kimkim website so everything would be in one place.
Chris planned great activities, and he did a wonderful job with the accommodations. I wish there was more detail in his itinerary, though. Maybe he could include the price range for recommended restaurants and/or a warning that certain places had very limited restaurant options.
Iceland Driving, Hiking, Camping
Iceland
|
Jun 22 - Jul 1, 2017
Amazing specialist helping us out and made it a really special and exciting trip tailored just the way we wanted. Thank you to his dedication!
Again, fantastic specialist and was 100% the reason our trip was so perfect. Big thanks to him in particular. Chris is who really made the trip awesome and ensured that personally.
Unique Ways to Explore Iceland in 5 days
Iceland
|
Jun 21 - Jun 27, 2017
The accommodation near Vik, Sólheimahjáleiga Guesthouse , was outrageously expensive for what it was , and compared with the proper hotel the next night, Litli Geysir Hotel
You should add the Lava Centre to your itinerary. http://www.lavacentre.is/ We enjoyed a hour or two there and it provided some useful information about the thermal region. One of the useful titbit was to watch for the dome to form in the geyser before it erupts:
Long weekend in Iceland
Iceland
|
Jun 30 - Jul 4, 2017
Chris planned a perfect itinerary for us. We only a long weekend to spend in Iceland and we felt that we got to see a lot in a little time. Additionally, Chris encouraged us to stay away from tourist traps and instead explore an area that we might not have thought of on our own. Our activities were a great balance of active and relaxing. Looking forward to going back another time to explore a different area.
June
Iceland
|
Jun 14 - Jun 17, 2017
Overall, the experience with KimKim was quite good. Need to check the rules about the car rentals. We were shocked by the massive deposit required by Sixt Car Rental in Iceland. Nowhere on our paperwork did it denote that they wanted a $2000 hold on our card for 20 days. We were forced to buy added insurance to get the deposit down. Also, need to be careful about where you book people based on their 'lifestyle'. Our second stay was at a hostel which was very inappropriate for who we were. It... read more
Iceland Adventure
Iceland
|
Jun 1 - Jun 12, 2017
I do have some feedback, really for North Sailing, but wanted to share here too since they are a partner of KimKim. We went on a whale watching tour which departed from Husavik. The seas were rough on the day of our reservations. When we checked in, the person assisting noted this to us - I was not sure exactly what this meant. They had already canceled some of the other trips that day.
We were provided with the jumpers, raincoats, and gloves. The waves were about 10 feet high and a number... read more
Unique Ways to Explore Iceland in 6 days
Iceland
|
May 27 - Jun 2, 2017
I was very pleased with the work done by kimkim.
My family and I really made it challenging for Chris to arrange our plans: We were located in 3 different cities all giving different feedback. Chris did an excellent job coordinating and adjusting to our {changing} needs.

Hi William, I'm very glad that you and your family had a nice time in Iceland, even despite some unforeseen obstacles. We're always up for the challenge to help design the perfect trip, and we hope to see you again soon wherever your next travels may take you.
Explore Iceland
Iceland
|
May 19 - May 27, 2017
Chris had very good suggestions and advice during the planning stages of the trip. His experience was very valuable in customizing the trip. Everything went on smoothly. We had no trouble finding accommodations. The places were comfortable and as cheap as one could get in Iceland. The places were also located strategically such that we could get to the attractions reasonably quickly and before it got completely mobbed.
Chris also provided detailed recommendations for each day for... read more

Hi Amol, thank you for your review and your photos (they look great!). I'm glad that you had a smooth trip and enjoyed the places we recommended. Hope to see you again soon!
-Chris
Iceland 101
Iceland
|
May 13 - May 18, 2017
The north and east was great, the south was so-so. Some of the hotels were passable. The food was good but outrageously expensive.
Chris was very responsive to the wide range of questions. Response time varied a lot depending on his schedule or travel
Anniversary trip
Iceland
|
May 4 - May 11, 2017
It would be great if kimkim could provide google maps links that provide a driving route. I manually created google maps routes each night for the next day- although i am fine with doing it, but i dont think other folks would have been ok with tackling that activity. The manual entry was challenging with the spelling of icelandic destinations.
Chris' trip was outatanding, and I greatly appreciated how he went the extra mile to find a riding tour that was appropriate for my wife's riding experience. It was a highlight of the trip!

Patrick, I'm glad that you had a nice trip and that your wife enjoyed the riding experience! Thank you for the feedback about the Google maps, we have been more consistent with this since your trip for our future travels, and I'm sure that they appreciate your part in that.
-Chris
Iceland Variety Trip
Iceland
|
Apr 9 - Apr 17, 2017
We had an amazing time, and thought that KimKim did quite a good job, especially given the short notice for our trip. There were several issues that could have been better:
1) There was several recommendations of places to go that were simply impossible to see at the time of the trip - as an example, the Leirhnjukur Lava Fields were completely inaccessible. This happened to us on several occassions, which caused us to spend time that could have been better spent at places that were simply... read more
adventure and sight seeing
Iceland
|
Mar 29 - Apr 4, 2017
Chris was very fast to answer, and so informative!

Hi Mari, thanks for your review. It looks like you had a great trip!
iceland in 9 days
Iceland
|
Apr 25 - May 4, 2017
It was pretty much perfect. One day we drove a long way to some hot springs, probably ended up being and extra 2 hrs to find they didn't open untill 4pm. Should've checked but worth adding to the info sheet. Didn't mind too much though.

Hi Anna, I'm glad that your trip was (mostly) perfect, thank you for your note about the hot springs, we will make sure to inform future travelers of this so that they can plan their day accordingly.
Best,
-Chris
Self Drive tour for family with young children
Iceland
|
Apr 7 - Apr 17, 2017
It was helpful to have someone with knowledge of the area to help us book rooms. However, the itinerary seemed somewhat generic rather than customized. For example, there were several recommendations on the itinerary that were not open during the winter season. Also, because it was winter and the roads were not always in the best condition, it would have been nice if the itinerary was a little more specific with directions (i.e. what roads were before/after) rather than just saying look for the signs. We relied a lot more on a Rough Guide and a detailed map than I had expected to.
Top 12 Family Activities in Iceland
Iceland
|
Apr 14 - Apr 18, 2017
I was really pleased with the itinerary put together for us. We weren't able to do everything but we did almost everything and found some other interesting additions along the way.
Nature, Culture, Unique Experiences, Less Crowd
Iceland
|
Apr 5 - Apr 18, 2017
The whole trip was planned half-way easier knowing what to do and what shall be expected in Iceland with assistance of kimkim's service.
Chris was able to adjust / alter the itinerary according to our preferences and requests and it turned out to be a successful journey. Most of the time we stayed 2 night straight at the same hotel and as a result it allowed us to revisit places and savor the dramatic landscapes we were not able to enjoy at the first day due to extreme weather condition in this April.
Honeymoon adventure
Iceland
|
Mar 27 - Apr 5, 2017
The trip was amazing. Loved the tips on stops and restaurants. Really happy with most of the accommodations. Will definitely be using Kimkim in the future
Only complaint was we weren't the happiest with the car rental place, didn't seem the reputable. Also the accommodations at the centric house, while centrally located, were very dirty for the price paid. Other than that, very happy.
Loved working with Chris, however would like an heads up when credit card would be charged so we could make sure the money was in the account.

Hi Sara, thank you for your review and great photos! Looks like the two of you had a nice time. I'm glad that you enjoyed Iceland.
Thank you for your feedback on the car rental place, we are looking into this a bit more to decide if this is the right partner to work with for future travelers.
Best,
-Chris
Family trip
Iceland
|
Mar 26 - Apr 1, 2017
We had the BEST time! Thanks so much Chris!

You're VERY welcome, Laura!
Iceland Adventure
Iceland
|
Mar 17 - Mar 31, 2017
We were really pleased with Chris's response time and the trip schedule for making our way around the country. It was clear that Chris was not aware that a few of the sites and one of roads were closed for the winter. I also specifically asked about Glymur falls in the winter and if the log was across the river and what it would be like in March. Chris said the log would be there, however it was clearly marked on the sign at the trailhead that the log is not there in the winter. The hike... read more
Iceland in Winter
Iceland
|
Mar 16 - Mar 19, 2017

Chris was very helpful and insightful. Always repsonded promptly.
Loved his suggestions and his possible itineraries he laid out for us. There were options and comments to help us gauge how we can cover all that we intended to see.

Grace, what great photos you took! Hope the snow wasn't too much in March, but it sure makes some of those photos quite magical.
I'm happy that you liked the suggestions and options that we put together for you.
Best,
- Chris
Iceland
Iceland
|
Mar 3 - Mar 10, 2017
Chris was there to help me with everything with a fast response!

Hi Mike, I'm glad that you enjoyed the service and I hope you had a great time in Iceland. Hope to see you back again for your next trip!
8-Day Ring Road Adventure: Explore Iceland’s Top Places Along Its Most Famous Road
Iceland
|
Feb 22 - Feb 28, 2017
My itinerary was great overall. Well paced, stopped at many terrific highlights and quite achievable.
It did however feel like it was written quite generically - that is to say, just a copy paste job rather than something tailored. As an example, one restaurant in Hellnar which was recommended (and pretty much the only one for miles) was closed for the winter. This is confirmed with a search on Google, it's not a one off. I would expect this recommendation to be removed for winter trips.... read more

Hi Matthew, I'm glad that overall you had a good experience.
Regarding the car hire, thank you for sharing your experience, we have stopped using these services for our other travelers, as we want the process to be as transparent as possible.